includes index and biblioraphy

The author has carefully chosen 31 old testament passages that are difficult to understand and more difficult still to preach.The sacrifice of Issac, God`s command for Hosea to marry a harlot, Moses` use of the bronze serpent to hear snake bitten israelites - these and many other passages are illuminated for the preacher who no longer wants to fear these texts. in each chapter, Achtemeier discusses the text and then offers suggestions for forming a sermon based on that text. in treating specific unsettling passages, authro also addresses thematic difficulties found throughout the Old Testament, such as frequent militaristic portrayals of God, the oftern perplexing behaviour of Old Testament prophets and the many anthropomorphic descriptions of God.