Understanding God's Loving Restoration

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction Created in God's Image, But...

It explains that we are created in God's image, but that image was flawed when Adam and Eve sinned. 

Sometimes we take God's forgiveness, redemption, and restoration for granted. And we forget that our sins grieve God's heart.

For most Bite Size Bible studies, I use the NIV translation, but in this study, I've used a variety of reliable translations and more than one translation for certain verses. This can be helpful in gaining a fuller understanding of a passage. But avoid these poorly translated paraphrases: Errors: The Message & The Passion Translation. And don't be misled by KJV Only claims.

1. Sin, rebellion, and unbelief trouble the heart of God because they further damage His image in us and distance us from Him.

Ephesians 4 talks about our maturity and unity in the Lord. The full chapter is linked if you want to read more of the context: Ephesians 4.

NIV Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

NLT Ephesians 4:30: “And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”

AMP Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].”

Have you ever thought of God's grief/sorrow when you sin? Understanding how He grieves should make us take our sins seriously, repenting fully and humbly.

2. The good news is that believers are in the process of restoring our souls to better reflect the image of God.  

NIV Ephesians 4:21-24: “When you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

NLT Ephesians 4:21-24: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Are you putting off and putting on? If not, seek the Lord!

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated 2026 

 

Handling Hard Questions Biblically

Before doing this Bible study, please read the one-minute introduction We Must Trust God with 3 Mysteries of Life. Or listen to it on YouTube: 3 Mysteries.

It explains that:

1. We won't understand everything in life.  
2. Not everything has a logical cause and effect.
3. People don't need "good reasons" to sin. 

Bible Study

As you read through these passages, consider how they can help you when you are confused and discouraged by difficulties in life.

God's Prerogative

Deuteronomy 29:29: The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. 

Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

I am blessed to know that my knowledge will never match the knowledge of our all-knowing God. If I could understand everything He understands, He would be on my level, but He's not!

Job's Friends

Job's friends could not deal with the fact that Job was righteous but was suffering. So they tried to find reasons for his tragedies.  Below is one accusation from Eliphaz.

Job 22:5: Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?

And this is God's response to Job's friends:

Job 42:7: After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 

For additional insights see the 1-minute devotion Job's Friends   

Joseph's Choice

The world is full of examples of people who faced hardship and did the right things and people who faced similar hardships and did the wrong things. Sin is a choice. 

Joseph wisely chose to live his life on this premise:

Genesis 50:20: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.   

Genesis 50:20 is the Old Testament equivalent of Romans 8:28, putting the hard mysteries of life into God's hands and trusting Him to work out everything for our good.

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

For additional insights see Bad Blood  

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated 2026 

 

Studying God's Unique Rescues

Before doing this Bible study, please read the one-minute introduction 3 Unique Ways God Rescued His People. It explains that the psalmist Asaph was discouraged so he remembered all that God had done in the past.

It's helpful to look at some of the characteristics of Old Testament situations, not because God will do exactly the same thing in our lives, but because they show us some unique ways God strengthens people's faith.

In the passages below, note how bleak things looked for the people.
Then note how God rescued them.

Exodus 14:10-18: 

No Place to Run

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 

Reminder of Who's in charge

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

God's "Plan C" Rescue

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”  

For additional Thoughts, read "God's Plan C". 

Have you ever felt like life offered you two bad choices and no good choice? Seek God. Perhaps He has a third choice you never imagined.

Joshua 2:9-11, 6:20-23: 

Rahab's Fear and Faith

[Rahab] said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 

The Look of Hopelessness

20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. 

Sometimes when God asks you to conquer something enormous, He makes it easier than we ever imagined!

God Destroys Rahab's Walls & Places Her on the Rock

22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. 

Remember that our God can save a prostitute in an evil, pagan city. If you're praying for a loved one's salvation, keep praying.

For more insights, read these 1-minute devotions about Rahab's story:

The Prostitute

She Had A Past and a Future

Crumbling Walls

A Scarlet Cord

God Honors a Prostitute

Jonah 2: 

From the Depths to the Heights- 

God Saves Jonah from His Unfounded Fears and False Values

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. 7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. 9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. 

I hope that studying these times when God rescued His people will help you understand that our God works in mysterious ways. We can't always figure Him out, but we can trust Him!!

If you're headed in the wrong direction, don't be like Jonah. Turn back and trust God's purposes in your life. Avoid the belly of the whale situations.

For additional insights, you might enjoy this 1-minute devotion:

Don't Let Circumstances Eat You

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2026.