Field Notes are quick sketches from the Biblical world – the people, places, rulers, etc. that show up in Scripture and shape the story around them.
Sometimes that still means looking at the armor Paul describes in Ephesians. If that’s what you’re after, you can find each piece of the armor in the sidebar links at right.

  • Field Notes: Nile River

    The Nile River was the lifeline of ancient Egypt, providing water, food, and transportation.

    It is where Moses was placed in a basket and found by Pharoah’s daughter (Exodus 2).

    It is where the first plague occurred, when the water was turned to blood (Exodus 7).

    The Nile played a central role in Egypt’s power and daily life during the time of the Exodus.

    The pyramids were already ancient by the time of Moses, so he likely saw them. Jesus was brought here as a baby, so it is not likely He saw them…though, to be fair, He probably knew they were there.

    Nile River and delta from orbit, via NASA (public domain)

  • Field Notes: Mary, mother of Jesus

    Mary of Nazareth was the mother of Jesus and was chosen by God to bear the Messiah through the Immaculate Conception by the Holy Spirit. She appears in the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke and later during Jesus’ ministry. She was present at the crucifixion and is also mentioned among the early believers gathered…

  • Field Notes: Miriam, sister of Moses

    Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron and is described in Scripture as a prophetess. She appears prominently during the Exodus and leads the Israelite women in song after God parted the Red Sea and defeats the Egyptian army. Later, she and Aaron challenge Moses’ authority, and Miriam is temporarily struck with leprosy before…

  • Field Notes: Jesus

    Sometimes temptation shows up as the easy way out. After forty days of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus was starving when the Tempter came to Him. The suggestion seemed innocuous. Turn the stones into bread, eat them so you won’t be hungry. Solve the problem. End the hunger. Take the shortcut. But Jesus responded with…

  • Field Notes: The Thief on the Cross

    Sometimes it all seems lost. There is no hope at all. Only darkness seems to lie ahead. Two criminals were crucified beside Jesus. One joined the crowd in mocking him. The other saw something different. He admitted his own guilt and recognized that Jesus had done nothing wrong. In the middle of that hopelessness, he…

  • Field Notes: Isaac

    Sometimes we just get tired of fighting. Conflict arises, and yeah, we could go at it again – but those times when we choose not to are the pinnacle of self-control and often where peace can be found. Isaac’s servants dug a well in the valley, and the local herdsmen immediately claimed it as their…

  • Field Notes: Joseph

    We’ve all had a moment when doing the right thing costs us immediately. Joseph was a slave in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, when Potiphar’s wife began pressuring him day after day. Joseph could have done it in secret. No one would have ever known. No one would have stopped him. But…