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Steve Webb
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  1. Sep 23

    Luke 24:28-Did Jesus Pretend?

    Did Jesus pretend He was leaving? We take a closer look at Luke 24:28, an intriguing Greek word, and what happened when two disciples urged the risen Jesus to stay.

  2. Sep 16

    2 Kings 2:23-24-A Bald Prophet, 2 Bears, and 42 “Boys”

    Did God really send two bears to kill 42 little children because they made fun of a bald prophet? That's how the story in 2 Kings 2:23-24 is often told. But is that what the Bible actually says? In this episode of Verses We Missed, we look at who these “boys” really were, why the Hebrew matters, what was significant about their coming out of Bethel, and what “Get out of here, baldy!” may have meant in light of what had just happened to Elijah. A Bald Prophet, 2 Bears and 42 “Boys” Before Elisha ever meets this group on the road, 2 Kings 2 has been establishing something important about him. Elijah is gone. His mantle has fallen to Elisha. The Jordan has parted. And God has demonstrated that Elisha is His prophet. Then Elisha heads toward Bethel. What happens next has become one of the strangest—and perhaps most misunderstood—stories in the Old Testament. Read and compare translations of 2 Kings 2:23 and 2 Kings 2:24 at BibleHub. Why Does Bethel Matter? This confrontation doesn't happen in a vacuum. Elisha has just left Jericho and is traveling toward Bethel—a place with an important history in Israel's rebellion against God. After the kingdom divided, Jeroboam established an alternative center of worship at Bethel and placed a golden calf there. For that background, read 1 Kings 12:25-33 at Bible Gateway. So why does a large group come out of Bethel to confront God's newly established prophet? Were They Really Little Children? The NIV calls them “boys.” Other translations use words such as “youths,” “young lads,” and “little children.” But the Hebrew expression is ne'arim qetannim, and its meaning isn't quite as simple as the familiar retelling suggests. You can examine the Hebrew wording in BibleHub's interlinear of 2 Kings 2. Who were these people? How old were they? And what can the same Hebrew terminology elsewhere in the Old Testament tell us? What Does “Go Up, Baldy!” Mean? The NIV renders their taunt, “Get out of here, baldy!” But the Hebrew uses a command meaning go up. That's particularly interesting because someone else had just “gone up” earlier in the same chapter: Elijah. Coincidence? A command for Elisha to leave? Or something more pointed? And What About the 42? Two bears come out of the woods, and 42 are mauled. But does the passage actually say that 42 people were killed? This is a sobering account of God's judgment. But it's also a good example of why we need to read difficult Bible passages carefully rather than relying on the version of the story we've heard repeated over the years. Related Scriptures 1 Kings 12:26-33 - Jeroboam establishes worship centers at Bethel and Dan. 1 Kings 18 - Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 19:15-21 - Elisha is called to follow Elijah. 2 Kings 2:1-22 - Elijah's departure, Elisha's mantle, and the healing of Jericho's water. Genesis 14:14-24 - An important comparison for the Hebrew word ne'arim. Podcast Chapters 00:00 A Bald Prophet, 2 Bears and 42 “Boys” 00:54 Welcome to Verses We Missed 01:45 Who Were Elijah and Elisha? 02:55 Elijah's Mantle 04:32 Jericho 05:02 Bethel 06:05 Were They Little Children? 08:28 “Go Up, Baldy!” 10:08 The Curse 11:24 Jericho and Bethel 12:34 What Did We Miss? 13:39 Application 14:55 Prayer 15:55 Value for Value 17:44 Closing Thoughts Support the Show Verses We Missed is a value-for-value podcast. If this episode gave you something of value, consider returning value with your Time, Talent, or Treasure. Pray for the ministry, share this episode with someone who might need to hear it, contribute your skills or creativity, or support Lifespring! Media financially. Learn more at https://lifespringmedia.com/support/. More from Lifespring! Media If you enjoy digging deeper into God's Word, you might also enjoy these other podcasts from Steve Webb: Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind Lifespring! In Touch With God’s Character Lifespring!

  3. Sep 14

    Deuteronomy 20-22: There Are Two

    Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the law. Deuteronomy 20-22. I’m calling today’s episode “There Are Two.” And I have an important announcement today. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Aaron Burden on Unsplash Comments on Deuteronomy 22 Have you ever heard the phrase, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”? I don’t think I’m a fool, but if I am, so be it. Every so often, current events and/or cultural conditions can’t help but influence my commentary on the day’s reading. This is obviously not a political or a news show, and I do dislike participating in political speech on this show. As a matter of fact, I don’t think that what I’m about to say is political, because I’m only going to talk about what the word of God says. But some might want to paint today’s episode with a political label. Whatever. What I am about to talk about needs to be addressed, especially with what’s going on in our current culture. Genesis 1:27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. Genesis 1:31And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. (GW) Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the Lord your God. (GW) Now listen. I’m not a transphobe. I do not hate people of either sex if they disagree with me or Scripture. And I am certainly not afraid of them. That is what “phobia” means. You know that, right? The reason I’m talking about this today, my motivation, in everything I say on this show, is to explain the Scriptures in such a way that the true nature of God is revealed. I believe that when He is properly understood, people’s hearts will be changed and eternal lives will be saved. Failing that, my hope is that there will at least be understanding, and maybe even less antipathy. When these scriptures were written, it was common for men and women to wear clothes that were similar. Both sexes wore long robes, but with distinctive styles that differentiated between the sexes. Deuteronomy 22:5 was a command not to blur the lines between the sexes or to purposely dress in the manner of the opposite sex. You see, as Genesis 1:27 says, God created only two sexes. Male and Female. There is not a spectrum. It’s one or the other. Now, before you say, “But Steve, some people are born with the organs of both.” Yes, I know that’s true. But hear me.  We live in a fallen world. We live in a world that is suffering the effects of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation has been under a curse. Romans 8:22 says, “All creation groans…” Every living thing on the planet is less than God intended it to be. Humans were not meant to die. Humans were not meant to be born with any kind of defects. There was not supposed to be any disease. Every system on the planet is not what God intended. The weather is not the way God intended. Earthquakes were not supposed to be something we worried about. Everything is broken. Sin ruined everything. Including how we think about ourselves and each other.  Birth defects do happen, and when a baby is born with a defect, it is not because God made it happen. It is because of the condition of the world. Yes, God allows bad things to happen, but He is not the cause of bad things happening. Couldn’t He just step in and stop bad things from happening? Sometimes He does, but other times He doesn’t. God is sovereign, which means that He does what He does, and He answers only to Himself. But know this: His way is perfect. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he…” One day, everyone who has ever been born will see that and acknowledge that. So, back to the subject at hand. God says that it is wrong to dress in the manner of the opposite sex. Why? Because, for one thing, it is rebellion against God’s will. If he created you as a male, He wants you to be a male. If he created you as a female, He wants you to be a female. God truly does love you, and He has a marvelous plan for your life. He wants the very best for you. To reject that plan is really cutting off your nose to spite your face.  As I have said many times on this show, God’s laws are not given to take our fun away. God is not a cosmic killjoy. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us.  But there is an Enemy. He is called Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, the god of this world and many other names in the Bible. His mission from the beginning of the creation, has been to pervert God’s creation and keep people from having a relationship with God. He takes what is beautiful and perverts it. What we are seeing in our culture today, with the blurring of sexual boundaries and distinctions is nothing new, as is evident by the fact that God talks about it in Deuteronomy 22. People today think they’re being progressive by advancing this agenda. They’re not progressive. They’re puppets of Satan himself.  The Good News is that their sin can be forgiven. God said in Ezekiel 18:23, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” And 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  Repentance is turning away from, going in an entirely new direction. It is agreeing with God that I have sinned. That I want to begin living as He wants me to. That I acknowledge that His way is better than my way.  But listen. I cannot do it on my own. It is impossible for me to live a perfect life. Only one man has ever done that. His name is Jesus. But Jesus is more than a man. He is also God. He is fully God and fully human, and He is the only way that I, or anyone else, can have a restored relationship with God. John 3:16-21 says, “16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” God loves you. And He loves you enough to give you free will. You must decide. The time is now. If you have not yet accepted the free gift of salvation that Jesus is offering you today, you can do it now. You may not have tomorrow. The Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I were reminded recently how quickly our lives could be snuffed out, with no warning. We were involved in a hit and run traffic accident, and believe me, there was absolutely no time to think about what was happening. We were driving along a street that we have been on literally thousands of times before, little more than two miles from our home. All of a sudden, there was a terrible crashing sound of metal against metal, our car shook, and I had to wrestle the steering wheel to keep control. LeeAnn screamed and I watched the car that had sideswiped us accelerate down the road in front of us. Praise the Lord, we were not hurt, but we could have been. Instead of rear ending our car, he sideswiped it. The point is, you never know how or when your life will be over.  Will you make the decision now to follow Jesus? If you want to have a changed life….a changed eternity, let me lead you in a prayer where you will tell God that you want to turn from your sin, and that you want to follow Jesus. Will you pray with me? Once I publish this podcast, I don’t know who or where or when it will hear it. I still have episodes from almost 18 years ago at lifespringmedia.com. And I have no idea how many episodes are on hard drives all over the world. So whether you’re hearing this on the day I publish or days, weeks, months or years later, this invitation is for you to hear right now as you’re listening to my voice. Decide NOW that this is the day to have your eternity changed. Pray with me. “Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you now confessing my sins. I know that I have not lived the way I should, and I ask You to forgive me now. Thank you for sending Your son, Jesus, to take my sins upon Himself. Jesus, I’m asking You to be my Lord and my Savior now. Show me how I should live. Teach me. Help me to follow You. Thank you for hearing my prayer, Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.” If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family. You might have felt like a weight was lifted from you, you might have felt some strong emotion, or you might have felt nothing. Whatever you felt, that’s ok. Our relationship with God is not based on emotions. Our relationship with God is based on His promise. God promised that anyone who accepts Jesus will be saved. If you accepted Jesus just now, you are saved, because God promised it, and He always keeps His promise.  If you did just pray that prayer with me, I have a gift for you. It’s free. I want to send you a special edition of the New Testament called the New Believer’s Bible. All you have to do is send me a quick email with your name and address so I can mail it to you at my expense. This NT has hundreds and hundreds of note

  4. Sep 9

    Proverbs 16:3 - Roll It Over to God

    What does it mean to “commit” your work to God? Proverbs 16:3 gives us a vivid Hebrew picture that may change how you think about your plans, desires, and trusting God with what comes next.

  5. Sep 7

    Deuteronomy 16-19: You Consulted A What?

    Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Monday. We’ll read Deuteronomy 16-19.  I’m calling today’s episode “You Consulted A What?”   Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Drew Beamer on Unsplash Comments on Deuteronomy 18 One thing that comes through very clearly in this chapter of Deuteronomy is that dabbling in the occult is something that God will hates. That means playing with horoscopes, Tarot cards, numerology, Ouiji boards, or trying to contact the dead through seances or anything else. Some people consider this type of thing “just having fun”. But when you read this chapter of Deuteronomy, you see that God does not see it that way.  There is a world that we do not see. The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:12 that “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Beloved, the enemy of our souls and his demons really are out to destroy us. There is a spiritual battle, and the occult is one method they use to gain footholds in people’s lives. So the further you can stay away from these things, the better.  Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 16 NIRV; Ch. 17 HCSB; Ch. 18 NASB; Ch. 19 ERV Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00Just having fun. INTRO S12E327 – 0:09This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. How’s your day going? Today’s Monday and we’re going to read Deuteronomy 16 through 19. I’m calling today’s episode, “You Consulted A What?” The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e327. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started. DEUTERONOMY 16 (NIRV) – 0:41Deuteronomy, chapter 16. (1) Celebrate the Passover Feast of the Lord your God in the month of Aviv. In that month he brought you out of Egypt at night. (2) Sacrifice an animal from your flock or herd. It is the Passover sacrifice in honor of the Lord your God. Sacrifice it at the special place the Lord will choose. He will put his Name there. (3) Don’t eat the animal along with bread that is made with yeast. Instead, for seven days eat bread that is made without yeast. It’s the bread that reminds you of how much you suffered. Remember that you left Egypt in a hurry. Remember it all the days of your life. Don’t forget the day you left Egypt. (4) Don’t keep any yeast anywhere in your land for seven days. Don’t let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day be left over until the next morning. (5) You must not sacrifice the Passover animal in any town the Lord your God is giving you. (6) Sacrifice it only in the special place he will choose for his Name. Sacrifice it there in the evening when the sun goes down. Do it on the same day every year. Be sure it’s the day you left Egypt. (7) Cook it and eat it. Do it at the place the Lord your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents. (8) For six days eat bread that is made without yeast. On the seventh day come together for a service in honor of the Lord your God. Don’t do any work. (9) Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to cut your grain in the field. (10) Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks in honor of the Lord your God. Give anything you choose to give as an offering. Do it in keeping with the blessings the Lord has given you. (11) Be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. Be joyful at the special place he will choose for his Name. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites who are living in your towns. So should the outsiders and widows who are living among you. And so should the children whose fathers have died. (12) Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. Be careful to obey the rules I’m giving you. (13) Gather the grain from your threshing floors. Take the fresh wine from your winepresses. Then celebrate the Feast of Booths for seven days. (14) Be filled with joy at your feast. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites, the outsiders, and the widows who are living in your towns. And so should the children whose fathers have died. (15) For seven days celebrate the feast in honor of the Lord your God. Do it at the place he will choose. The Lord will bless you when you gather all of your crops. He’ll bless you in everything you do. And you will be full of joy. (16) All your men must appear in front of the Lord your God at the holy tent. They must go to the place he will choose. They must do it three times a year. They must go there to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths. No man should appear in front of the Lord without bringing something with him. (17) Each of you must bring a gift. Do it in keeping with the way the Lord your God has blessed you. (18) Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes. Do it in every town the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. (19) Do what is right. Treat everyone the same. Don’t take money from people who want special favors. It makes those who are wise close their eyes to the truth. It twists the words of those who do what is right. (20) Follow only what is right. If you do, you will live. You will take over the land the Lord your God is giving you. (21) Don’t set up a wooden pole that is used to worship the goddess Asherah. Don’t set it up beside the altar you build to worship the Lord your God. (22) Don’t set up a sacred stone to honor another god. The Lord your God hates Asherah poles and sacred stones. DEUTERONOMY 17 (HCSB) – 4:33Deuteronomy, chapter 17. (1) “You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a defect or any serious flaw, for that is detestable to the Lord your God. (2) “If a man or woman among you in one of your towns that the Lord your God will give you is discovered doing evil in the sight of the Lord your God and violating His covenant (3) and has gone to worship other gods by bowing down to the sun, moon, or all the stars in the sky — which I have forbidden — (4) and if you are told or hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report turns out to be true that this detestable thing has happened in Israel, (5) you must bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing and stone them to death. (6) The one condemned to die is to be executed on the testimony of two or three witnesses. No one is to be executed on the testimony of a single witness. (7) The witnesses’ hands are to be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from you. (8) “If a case is too difficult for you — concerning bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults — cases disputed at your gates, you must go up to the place the Lord your God chooses. (9) You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Ask, and they will give you a verdict in the case. (10) You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the Lord chooses. Be careful to do exactly as they instruct you. (11) You must abide by the instruction they give you and the verdict they announce to you. Do not turn to the right or the left from the decision they declare to you. (12) The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the Lord your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. (13) Then all the people will hear about it, be afraid, and no longer behave arrogantly. (14) “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations around me,’ (15) you are to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. Appoint a king from your brothers. You are not to set a foreigner over you, or one who is not of your people. (16) However, he must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire many horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ (17) He must not acquire many wives for himself so that his heart won’t go astray. He must not acquire very large amounts of silver and gold for himself. (18) When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. (19) It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes. (20) Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue ruling many years over Israel. DEUTERONOMY 18 (NASB) – 7:35Deuteronomy, chapter 18. (1) “The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the Lord’s offerings by fire and His portion. (2) They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them. (3) “Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks

  6. Sep 2

    Colossians 1:11 – When You Can’t See the Wall

    What does Colossians 1:11 mean? Paul talks about being strengthened with God's power and glorious might—but what he says that power is for might surprise us. In this episode of Verses We Missed, we explore why God's power doesn't always look like immediate healing, deliverance, or victory. Sometimes the race keeps going, the prayer remains unanswered, and we can't see the wall. What does God's strength look like then? Browse more episodes at Recent Episodes. When You Can't See the Wall Colossians 1:11 (ESV) Colossians 1:11 (ESV) "being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;" Those are big words: all power and his glorious might. We might expect Paul to be talking about miracles, dramatic victories, or obstacles disappearing. Instead, he talks about endurance and patience. Why would God's glorious power be needed for something as ordinary-sounding as endurance? And why does Paul add those especially challenging words, "with joy"? You can read Colossians 1:11 in context at ESV.org. When God's Power Doesn't Look Powerful We love victory stories. We love answered prayers, healing, provision, and deliverance—and we should celebrate when God does those things. But what about the story that isn't finished yet? What about the prayer you've prayed for years? What about the difficulty that is still there when you wake up tomorrow morning? Colossians 1:11 points us toward a kind of divine strength we can easily overlook. When You Can't See the Wall When I was younger, I was a competitive swimmer, and my best event was the 400-yard freestyle. It was an endurance race, and endurance didn't magically appear on race day. But there was one advantage I had in the pool that we often don't have in life's hardest circumstances: I knew exactly where the finish line was. Sometimes in life, you can't see the wall. In this episode, I share why that old swimming experience has given me a new way to think about Colossians 1:11—and about friends of mine who have been praying for healing for years without receiving the answer they've hoped for. Should We Pray for Deliverance or Endurance? Of course we should pray for healing and deliverance. But Paul's prayer in Colossians gives us another way to pray when the answer hasn't come. Maybe we've become so focused on asking God to demonstrate His power by removing the trial that we've overlooked another way His power can be at work while we're still in it. That's the part of Colossians 1:11 I don't want us to miss. For more background on the setting, themes, and structure of Paul's letter, see BibleProject's guide to the book of Colossians. Related Scriptures Colossians 1:9-14 — The larger context of Paul's prayer and the source of the believer's joy and thanksgiving. James 1:2-4 — The testing of faith and the development of steadfastness. Romans 5:3-5 — Suffering, endurance, character, and hope. Podcast Chapters 00:00 When the Victory Hasn't Come 00:56 Welcome to Verses We Missed 01:33 Strengthened for Endurance 03:39 What Swimming Taught Me About Endurance 05:14 When You Can't See the Wall 06:58 Another Way to Pray 08:54 Endurance, Patience, and Joy 11:53 Strength for One More Stroke 13:48 Prayer 15:38 Value for Value 16:44 Keep Swimming Support the Show Verses We Missed is a value-for-value podcast. If this episode encouraged you, consider returning value in whatever way God puts on your heart—by praying for the ministry, sharing this episode with someone who needs encouragement, contributing your time or talent, or supporting Lifespring! Media financially. Learn more at https://lifespringmedia.com/support/. More from Lifespring! Media If you enjoy digging deeper into God's Word, you might also enjoy these other podcasts from Steve Webb: Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — Journey through the Bible with readings, commentary, and practical application. Lifespring! In Touch With God’s Character — Explore the names and character of God revealed in Scripture. Lifespring! — Bible teaching, Christian encouragement, interviews, and conversations about following Christ.

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