The concept of "alternating" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, the idea of alternation or change is present in various forms throughout the Scriptures. This entry explores the biblical understanding of alternating patterns, cycles, and changes as they relate to God's creation, human life, and spiritual principles.

Creation and Natural Cycles

The Bible begins with the account of creation, where God establishes the natural order, including cycles and patterns that involve alternation. In Genesis 1:3-5 , God creates light and separates it from darkness, instituting the cycle of day and night: "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness He called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."

This alternation between day and night is a fundamental aspect of creation, reflecting God's design and order. Similarly, the changing of seasons is another example of God's ordained cycles, as noted in Genesis 8:22 : "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease."

Human Life and Experiences

The Bible acknowledges the alternating experiences of human life, including times of joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 famously articulates this concept, stating, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."

This passage highlights the alternating nature of life's experiences, emphasizing that each has its appointed time and purpose under God's sovereign plan.

Spiritual Principles

In the spiritual realm, the concept of alternating is evident in the life of believers, who are called to alternate between the old self and the new self in Christ. Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs believers to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

This spiritual alternation involves a transformation from sin to righteousness, reflecting the ongoing process of sanctification in the believer's life.

Divine Judgment and Mercy

The Bible also presents alternating themes of judgment and mercy, demonstrating God's justice and compassion. In the prophetic writings, God often alternates between pronouncing judgment on His people for their sins and offering mercy and restoration upon their repentance. For example, in the book of Hosea, God declares judgment on Israel for their unfaithfulness but also promises redemption and healing: "Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has injured us, but He will bind up our wounds" (Hosea 6:1).

This alternation between judgment and mercy underscores the balance of God's character and His desire for His people to return to Him.

Conclusion

While the term "alternating" is not directly used in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in the natural order, human experiences, spiritual transformation, and the balance of divine attributes. These alternating patterns reflect the complexity and depth of God's creation and His relationship with humanity.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Alternate.

The Shadow of Disappointment.
... was in this mood that Jesus found the two disciples whose words I have selected
for my text;"faith and doubt, disappointment and hope, alternating in their ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/the shadow of disappointment.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... After years of alternating favor and local persecutions, the first general persecution
(ch.3) broke upon the Church, rudely testing its organization and ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

Early Danish Hymnody
... Of the few real hymns in use, some were composed with alternating lines of Danish
and Latin, indicating that they may have been sung responsively. ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter one early danish hymnody.htm

Useful Phrases
... allegorical vein. allied subjects. alliterative suggestion. all-pervading influence.
alluring idleness. alternating opinion. altogether dissimilar. altruistic ideal ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

Hymns of Praise and Worship.
... and so, stave by stave, in alternating strains, sprang that day from the inspired
lips of Ambrose and Augustine the "Te Deum Laudamus," which has ever since ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter i hymns of praise.htm

But this Again is Held by Other Wise and Most Acute Men to be An.. ...
... the courses of the moon, that cycle of years which we have mentioned; the days being
computed before in which the year rolls on in its alternating courses, by ...
/.../the paschal canon of anatolius of alexandria/section xii but this again.htm

Grundtvig's Hymns
... A study of his poetry is, therefore, not unlike a journey through a vast country,
alternating in fertile valleys, barren plains and lofty heights with ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter fifteen grundtvigs hymns.htm

A Great victory
... Akin to this picture is the one of the people of Israel at the time of this story,
and the alternating feelings of pleasure and sadness keep constantly coming ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/a great victory.htm

Translator's Note
... After a long discipline, strangely alternating between fiery persecution and
contemptuous toleration, the Church entered upon a new era, when in 323 Constantine ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/translators note.htm

The Rhythm of Life
... Its natural method is rhythmic, intermittent, work alternating with rest, activity
and receptivity succeeding one another, the rhythm of life. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/vii the rhythm of life.htm

Alternating (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Alternate. Multi-Version
Concordance Alternating (1 Occurrence). Exodus 39:26 a bell ...
/a/alternating.htm - 6k

Preacher (27 Occurrences)
... two kinds-first a series of "I" sections, sections uttered in the 1st person singular,
a record of a personal experience; and second, an alternating series of ...
/p/preacher.htm - 48k

Ecclesiastes (1 Occurrence)
... two kinds-first a series of "I" sections, sections uttered in the 1st person singular,
a record of a personal experience; and second, an alternating series of ...
/e/ecclesiastes.htm - 27k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... AUTHORSHIP 1. Against the Mosaic Authorship (1) Alternating Use of Divine Names
(2) Traces of Late Authorship 2. For the Mosaic Authorship (1) Certain Passages ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Intermittent (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Coming and going at intervals; alternating;
recurrent; periodic; as, an intermittent fever. 2. (n ...
/i/intermittent.htm - 6k

Favor (184 Occurrences)
...Alternating in English Versions of the Bible with "grace," it is used chiefly of
man, but sometimes also of God (Genesis 18:3; Genesis 30:27; Genesis 39:21 ...
/f/favor.htm - 40k

Mad (22 Occurrences)
... that of Saul, who, from being a shy, self-conscious young man, became, on his
exaltation to the kingship, puffed up with a megalomania, alternating with fits ...
/m/mad.htm - 19k

Madness (13 Occurrences)
... that of Saul, who, from being a shy, self-conscious young man, became, on his
exaltation to the kingship, puffed up with a megalomania, alternating with fits ...
/m/madness.htm - 17k

Pill
... 30:37, 38, Jacob "peels" (so the Revised Version (British and American)) off portions
of the bark of his rods, so as to give alternating colors (compare 30:39 ...
/p/pill.htm - 8k

Peel (1 Occurrence)
... 30:37, 38, Jacob "peels" (so the Revised Version (British and American)) off portions
of the bark of his rods, so as to give alternating colors (compare 30:39 ...
/p/peel.htm - 9k

What is the enemy within? | GotQuestions.org

Alternating: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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