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Nineteenth-century philosopher John Stuart Mill, in an address at the University of St. Andrews, said: “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” This famous quote (a version of which is sometimes attributed to Edmund Burke) has been adapted and repeated since, from Tolstoy to John...

In our passage today, the Lord promised to remove the fear of His Servant. Yes, enemies confronted and contended against His people, but the helping presence of the Lord would be sufficient to drive out their terror. They were His chosen people, the descendants of Abraham—the friend of God (v. 8). They were the only nation from among all peoples...

A favorite pastime for sports fans in recent years has been to argue about who is the G.O.A.T.—the Greatest Of All Time. Is Michael Jordan or LeBron James the greatest basketball player? Has Tom Brady conclusively claimed G.O.A.T. quarterback status? Did Tiger Woods supplant Jack Nicklaus as the G.O.A.T. golfer? Can anyone dispute boxer Muhammad...

Gelotophobia (literally, “fear of laughter”), sometimes also known as catagelotophobia, is the fear of being ridiculed or laughed at by others because of a mistake, miscue, or malfunction. It is a social disorder affecting millions of people, keeping some from speaking or performing in public settings. As everyone knows, the pain from ridicule...

The expressions “I’m just the mailman” and “Don’t shoot, I’m just the messenger!” try to ward off bad consequences for those who must deliver harsh or unwelcome news or instructions. The message bearer seeks to avoid receiving the ire that’s really directed toward the sender of the message. Being a bearer of good news often has the opposite...

After the long, cold, cloud-covered winters in Chicago, residents of the Windy City are glad to see the blue sky peek through in March or April. Sometimes the blue sky will be accompanied by a few rain clouds. But after the spring storms have passed, the sign of the Lord's covenant often breaks through: A huge rainbow or double rainbow appears...

The major image in our reading today is that of the crimson-stained Lord coming to save. His salvation has two aspects. First, He comes to destroy the enemies of God. In His perfect justice, He will slaughter His enemies and be splattered with their blood (63:3–7). The picture of the wrath of God is akin to someone standing in a winepress...

In The Republic, Plato attempts to outline a Utopian society. The fifty-year education of the upper class would give the leaders the wisdom to eliminate poverty, live in a just society without lawyers, and rarely send people to war. The wise philosopher-kings would bring about a harmonious society free from the vices common to humankind.

Our Scripture passage today is a story about recognition. Judah comes to know himself more truthfully, which leads to a significant change in his life.

The Blue Heart Campaign is the United Nations’ attempt to raise awareness about the global epidemic of human trafficking. This persistent abuse has lingered for millennia; in our passage today, we see that Joseph has been sold to slave traders, who in turn sold him to a wealthy Egyptian.