Out of Zion with Susan Michael

In Part 2 of Connecting the Bible to Israel Today we talk about the development of Christianity. As the early church grew it became predominantly gentile and not only lost appreciation for its Jewish roots but became hostile toward them. However, a critical turning point in this sad story was the translation of the Bible into the everyday languages and the birth of a Bible-based segment of Christi...

In Part 1 of Connecting the Bible to Israel Today we talk about the development of Judaism. During the time of Jesus’ ministry there were four main sects in Judaism, but after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD only one remained. Find out which one and what it means to be a Jew today. Show Links: Visit our educational website: http://www.israelanswers.com Please partner with Susan to make this...

Shabbat is the Hebrew word for the 7th day of the week on which God rested from creation thereby making it holy and a day of rest for His people. The Jewish people have a special greeting that is more like a blessing for this day—Shabbat Shalom! May you have a blessed and peaceful Shabbat! Join me here each Friday for a Shabbat Shalom devotional and a peaceful close to a busy week. Subscribe to th...

We all have questions, and it seems that with everything going on in the world these days we have more questions than ever. Here at Israel Answers we want to help you find answers. Join us here each week as we connect Israel, the Bible and you! Once you understand what God is doing you will understand what you need to do! Bring your questions and together we will find the answers on Israel Answers...

Many of us are looking for more peace in our hectic lives. But what is true peace as found in the Hebrew word Shalom? It is a peace that comes from being made whole – having something provided that we had lacked. As you end a hectic week take time to reflect on what God has provided for you. He paid the price so you can be made whole and know true peace—Shalom! Subscribe to this channel so you wil...

With so many different Bibles available today, it is good to know the best ones for specific purposes. When it comes to reading through the Bible from start to finish, the job has been made much easier by F. LaGard Smith in his Daily Bible. Learn how this Bible has changed lives and hear LaGard’s personal story of a project birthed by one simple statement made by his father. Show Links: Please par...

One of my most favorite memories of living in Israel was experiencing the peace and rest of a Shabbat. Many of us are lacking peace these days, so every Friday I plan to share with you a short devotional to bring inspiration and peace to the close of your busy week. Subscribe to this channel so you will receive a Shabbat Shalom blessing each week! Text “Zion” to 72572 to sign up for text alerts. S...

This week we reach the end of the Bible and can, therefore, better understand the beginning! The book of Revelation climaxes with what God had intended in Genesis but lost—fellowship with mankind. The Bible tells this amazing story of paradise lost and man’s need of redemption. It ends with the good news that God—the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End—could now tabernacle with redeemed man...

We are going to close out the New Testament with books written from a Hebraic world view. The books of James and Hebrews were written to Jewish members of the early church and written about subjects of great concern to them. The last book—Revelation—was not only written in a very popular Jewish writing style of the day but is full of Old Testament symbolism. One ancient story in particular provide...

In Paul’s final letters he advices the young leader Timothy how to handle specific problems in the church under his care. Only when we understand what was happening in Ephesus and the small church there do we understand why Paul said what he did about not allowing the women to teach. Too many times these verses have been applied to all women at all times. This week we will discover which women Pau...

The Apostle Paul was hand-picked by the Risen Christ for a pioneering and ground-breaking calling. This zealous Jew was called to take the good news of the kingdom to a pagan, gentile world. Could anything have been harder? Why Paul? It is the same reason He has called you—because of who you are. This episode complements the daily readings from our Walk Thru the Bible reading plan for January 10-1...

Romans is considered to best, most concise presentation of the gospel in all of the New Testament. Interesting that it also includes the most thorough treatment of God’s dealings with the people of Israel and how the church should relate to them. Why was that so foundational that Paul included it – and yet it is hardly taught in churches today? This episode complements the daily readings from our...

The early church was initially made up of Jews who believed Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and boy were they surprised when gentiles started getting saved. This introduced so many problems into the already difficult life of the early church. But I am so grateful for the way the Jewish leaders handled the situation and for the wonderful apostolic leadership of Paul. They were true pioneers and visio...

Two of the most exciting portions of Scripture include the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the early church. In-between those two events is a conversation between Jesus and the disciples that confirmed a future role for Israel. In the meantime, the church was to be born and empowered by the Holy Spirit to take the gospel of the kingdom to all the nations. And if th...

Experience the final week of Jesus’ life and listen in as He begins to prepare His disciples for what lies ahead. He warns of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and describes His eventual return to earth at which time He takes up His throne and judges the nations for their treatment of His people. This episode complements the daily readings from our Walk Thru the Bible reading plan for December 1...

Do you sometimes bemoan the holidays because of family squabbles? Well, you haven’t seen anything until you hear about Jesus’ holidays. Each time Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for a holiday, He has major confrontations with Jewish leaders because of the large following He has. This episode complements the daily readings from our Walk Thru the Bible reading plan for December 6-12, covering John 8-12;...

Jesus used parables depicting common every day events in order to convey spiritual truths. While they were an effective teaching tool the disciples often asked for further explanation. We too need the help of the Holy Spirit to understand all that Jesus taught. More than His teachings, however, many of Jesus’ actions also held great meaning and demonstrated He was the Messiah, the Son of God sent...

This week we will come to the heart of Jesus’ message and purpose. The people were looking for someone to free them from the brutal rule of Rome. Jesus had come, however, to reveal the heart of the Father to the people and to die on behalf of their sins. Now was not the time to confront Rome or establish the throne of David over the House of Jacob as the angel Gabriel had announced to Mary. That w...

This week we will come to that climactic moment the world had been waiting for—the moment God had been setting the stage for not only throughout the Old Testament but also during the 400 year period in between the Old and New Testaments. That amazing moment has arrived and we begin the story of Jesus’ birth. Every detail has rich, prophetic significance. This episode complements the daily readings...

Hear the story of the Old Testament summed up in just 15 minutes. This is an excellent review of the Old Testament and great way to prepare to read through the New Testament. Understand the grand story behind all the stories of the Bible.   Show Links:  Walk Thru the Bible 4th Quarter Reading Plan – https://icejusa.org/walkthrubible Sign up for our Israel Tour Interest List - https://icejusa.org/o...

Nehemiah demonstrates great leadership as he brings a third group of exiles back to rebuild Jerusalem. He encounters much resistance but in the end the walls are rebuilt. Ezra leads the people in a renewal of their covenant with God and a joyous celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. However, it is not long before the people are once again in disobedience. So, the Old Testament ends with the rea...

The temple has been rebuilt but Jerusalem is still in ruins. Yet, Zechariah is given visions of a day when Jerusalem is the center of world attention and the nations will come up to worship the Lord there. At the same time, God is using a courageous, young Queen Esther to save the Jewish people from extinction. God’s promise to bring the Messiah through them can still be fulfilled.  This episode c...

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah are used by God to bring correction and encouragement to the people of Israel tasked with rebuilding the temple. Their words echo those to Moses and Joshua hundreds of years earlier: “be strong for I am with you.” They are not to be discouraged—there is a day when the glory of this temple will be even greater than that of the previous one. This episode complements...

After seventy years of exile, singing the songs of Zion in a foreign land and wondering if God would ever favor them again, the children of Israel witnessed the end of the Babylonian empire. The new Persian king, Cyrus, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple. It was a moment filled with joy but also sorrow for all they had lost and now must rebuild. This episode complement...

The book of Job teaches many lessons—one is how God speaks with power and not just words. When God speaks to us it is often accompanied with an overwhelming peace or with the resolve and commitment necessary to obey His prompting. Job encountered this power when God spoke to him, and his life was forever changed. This episode complements the daily readings from our Walk Thru the Bible reading plan...