Category: Old Testament Background

Passover Parallels

The more I study the Bible, the more I marvel at how seamlessly it weaves together God’s plan of deliverance for all people. The story of the first Passover in Exodus 11 & 12 includes so many rich symbols that point the way to Jesus in the New Testament. There are incredible parallels between the tenth and final plague in Egypt and Jesus’ blood that was shed to save humankind. For me, this magnifies God’s capacity to focus on vast plans and intimate details at the same time. Rather than trying to explain or interpret the similarities between the deliverance of the Israelites and the deliverance of all people from sin, I’m going to let the Scriptures speak for themselves. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of the first Passover, take a peek at Exodus 11 & 12 for fuller context. 

Death of Firstborn

“Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.” (Exodus 11:5)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

New Beginning

“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year…Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.” (Exodus 12:2 & 17)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17)

Lamb Without Blemish

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household…The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.” (Ex 12:3, 5-6)

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29)

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Saved by Blood

“Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs…The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:7 & 13)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:8-9)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

Jesus Celebrates the First Communion Using the Passover Meal

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover…

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”(Matthew 26:17-19, 26-29)

After the tenth plague, the Israelites walk freely out of Egypt and leave slavery behind. After Jesus’ death, everyone who believes in Him walks freely out of the slavery of sin. Click here and celebrate this incredible act of mercy and grace by listening to Micah Tyler’s “Walking Free.”

Post inspired by Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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Not OK with OMG

Remember the first time you read an abbreviation in a text message? Maybe it was “LOL” (laughing out loud) or “FYI “(for your information) or “BTW” (by the way). Once you learned what the different abbreviations meant, you probably saw them as quick and easy ways to communicate simple sentiments. I’ve incorporated several into my texting vocabulary, but there’s one that I’ve never added and never will: OMG (oh my God). Even writing it here makes me cringe a little. 

From the time I was a child, my parents were emphatic about their kids not saying, “Oh my God.” For them, it was on par with using forbidden swear words. This confused me because I heard other kids use the phrase regularly with no reaction from adults. My parents had a similar stance about using “Jesus Christ” to express frustration, anger, or disgust—it was definitely not ok, ever. I followed these rules without thinking much about them, mostly because I didn’t want to get in trouble.

As I grew older those two phrases became more and more common among my peers, in popular culture, movies, and TV shows. Even people I knew and respected used them. But as I studied the Bible more, my negative reaction to hearing God’s name misused began to match my parents’ feelings about it.

Two of the most well-known places in Scripture that show why this matters are the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament and the Lord’s Prayer in the New Testament. Let’s start with the Old Testament when Moses delivers the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. Since they were newly freed slaves, these laws helped them to establish their own society. The commandments were applicable then and still are now. The first three explain the relationship between God and His people. The Lord starts off by commanding us not to have any gods before Him and not to make or worship idols. In the third commandment He says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” (Exodus 20:7, NIV)

 One commentary explains: “The third of the Ten Commandments forbids taking or using the Lord’s name in an irreverent manner because that would indicate a lack of respect for God Himself…The name of the Lord is holy, as He is holy. The name of the Lord is a representation of His glory, His majesty, and His supreme deity. We are to esteem and honor His name as we revere and glorify God Himself. To do any less is to take His name in vain.”

In the New Testament, Jesus models the most fitting way to treat God’s name in the opening lines of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9b, KJV) The word “hallowed” here is a transliteration of the Greek “hagiazó” meaning “to make holy, consecrate, sanctify.” When a name is hallowed, it’s set apart as holy and treated with special honor and care. 

In Scripture, God’s name represents His nature, attributes, and entire being. His name reflects His glory and commands awe, wonder, and praise, as we see in these psalms:

 “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1, NIV)

“He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever–holy and awesome is his name.” (Psalm 111:9, NIV)

By hallowing His Father’s name in the opening 0f the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus shows us that honoring and praising God should be the first thing we do when we engage Him in prayer.  One commentary explains, “Too often we barge into God’s presence with presumptuous ‘to-do lists’ for Him, without being mindful of His holiness, His awesomeness, and the vast chasm that separates our nature from His. That we are even allowed to come before His throne is due only to His gracious, merciful love for His own (Hebrews 4:16). We must never take that grace for granted.”

Like God the Father, the name of Jesus also deserves to be handled with reverence and awe. Between the book of Acts and Revelation, the New Testament invokes the name of Jesus thirty times to bless and heal people. Using Jesus’ name enabled His disciples to perform miracles and to speak with authority. One of the best New Testament passages that shows the power of His name comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(Philippians 2:9-11, NIV)

Knowing that all people will one day bow at the mention of Jesus’ name should cause us to feel humility and awe. How could we ever debase it by using it as a cuss word? And why would we want to use the name of His Father carelessly in conversation or a text message?

If “Oh my God” or “Jesus Christ” are phrases you use, please don’t feel judged or criticized, but do consider asking the Lord if you’re showing Him the reverence He deserves. If you’re feeling convicted, confess it and ask Him to tame your tongue (and your typing fingers). Desiring to give God the honor and respect He deserves is a prayer that aligns perfectly with His will.

Take some time to reflect on the power of Jesus’ name by listening to Natalie Grant’s “Your Great Name.”

Commentary quotations from:  https://www.gotquestions.org/Lords-name-vain.html

Tying a Bow on Genesis

The book of Hebrews tells us that God’s Word is alive and active. Having just finished studying Genesis for the third time, I can attest to the truth of this statement. I’ve delved into the stories of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Joseph, Judah, and Tamar at different seasons in my life; although the tales remain the same, the truth I glean from them continues to expand.

Here are a few of the things that stood out to me in my most recent journey through Genesis:

  1. God is sovereign.  He possesses supreme and ultimate power. He gives us free will and doesn’t force us to follow His ways, but He is still the One who is ultimately in control. Because of this, I’m better off trusting Him than trying to do things my own way.
  2. God keeps His promises. It may take a long time, but He does come through in the end. (Think of Sarah, who waited 25 years to get pregnant with the child promised by God.) This means He’s trustworthy and I can rest in that knowledge even when I don’t see how He’s working in the moment.
  3. God is faithful. He remains true to us even when we doubt Him, make poor choices, or disobey. Seeing the Lord’s faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants despite their many blunders encourages me. Even when we fail, God’s plans prevail. We are fickle, but He is faithful.
  4. God is worthy. He deserves our honor, praise, and obedience. Seeing how He accomplishes His plans despite the ways people try thwart them (intentionally or unintentionally) inspires me to yield to Him as Lord of my life.

Knowing these truths, I’d be wiser to exert my energy trusting God than trying to control things using my own strength and wisdom. I’m striving to be less anxious when I don’t see or understand what the Lord is doing. My goal is to trust Him as I wait for answers, clarity, or direction. Rather than concerning myself with how events unfold, I want to focus more on what God is teaching me and how He wants to use me with the people and circumstances I encounter. I want to be less focused on why He’s allowed certain things in my life and more attuned to how He can use them to deepen my faith and impact others.

Reading the stories of Sarah and Rebekah has convicted me of my tendency to take matters into my own hands instead of trusting God. I overthink many things and try to play out scenarios multiple steps ahead of where I am. Rather than trusting God with how a situation will unfold, I try to anticipate each option and make contingency plans for it. My knack for being capable and productive doesn’t always leave room for God to work in His way and His timing. Realizing this is humbling and convicting.

The story of Joseph provides powerful examples for training me in righteousness. Seeing his faithfulness to God in difficult times while surrounded by unbelievers inspires me to be true to God and His ways. Like Joseph, I want to be honest and authentic about the Lord’s presence in my life instead of downplaying it in certain company. I’m also inspired to follow Joseph’s example by using my gifts to bless others in every setting, not just ones where people already love and honor God. I don’t want to be timid about pointing others to the solid foundation He provides.

Studying Genesis also bolsters my faith in the consistency of God’s Word from Old Testament to New. It always delights me to recognize the many elements that point us toward Christ. The lives of Joseph and Judah include many examples that I’ve discussed in other posts. During this season of studying Genesis, I was also struck by Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28:

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’” (Genesis 28:12-15, NIV)

Until Jen Wilkin’s teaching in God of Covenant, I’d never understood that the stairway between heaven and earth is Christ Himself. When we reach toward Jesus to intercede for us, we stand at the gate of heaven. He is the mediator between God and humans—the One who makes it possible for us to access the Almighty.

The ten weeks of studying the book of beginnings have come to an end. The “seed plot of the Bible” has provided rich soil for digging into relevant topics for our lives today. The stories and people in Genesis are messy and complicated, but God used them for His redemptive purposes, just as He does with us. Some situations make us scratch our heads in confusion or blush at sordid details; we wonder how a sacred book could be filled with such broken and sinful people. And yet, it’s these unsanitized stories and flawed characters that show Scripture’s authenticity. They give us hope that no one is disqualified from being accepted by God or used to advance His kingdom.

Understanding these truths prompts me to pause for a moment of worship. “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship beautifully shares the story of the gospel. Listen now and be in awe of our sovereign, faithful God who keeps His promises and is worthy of our praise.

Jen Wilkin, God of Covenant: A Study of Genesis 12-50, Lifeway Press 2018.

The phrase “seed plot of the Bible” was originally coined by Arthur W. Pink in Gleanings in Genesis.

Jesus: Our Kinsman Redeemer

Sometimes things we encounter in the Bible are hard to understand without a bit of historical or cultural context. Reading through the Old Testament book of Ruth, we learn that Boaz is identified as a kinsman-redeemer of Naomi and Ruth. Although this isn’t a term we use in current times, understanding it will help us see how the idea of a kinsman-redeemer relates to us.

You may remember that Ruth, the impoverished Moabite, gleaned in Boaz’ fields to provide food for herself and her mother in law, Naomi. After Ruth reported how kindly she was treated by Boaz, Naomi encouraged her daughter in law to make a bold move, saying:

“Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

Ruth willingly followed along with Naomi’s somewhat risky plan. Here’s what happened next:

“When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! ‘Who are you?’ he asked.‘I am your servant Ruth,’ she said. ‘Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.’” (Ruth 3:2-4, 7-9, NIV)

Uncovering Boaz’ feet was an act of humility and submission for Ruth. By asking him to spread his garment over her, she was requesting his protection over her through marriage. While all of this may sound like ancient history, there is significant personal application for us today because as a kinsman redeemer, Boaz stands as precursor or “type” of Jesus. 

“Through his actions, Boaz communicates Christ. His person and character illustrate the incredible hesed [love, goodness, kindness] that Christ possesses for his people, as well as, the great measures he is willing to take to redeem his bride. Though Ruth arrives at Boaz’s bed, empty-handed and humbled to the core, Boaz treats her with respect and kindness (3:10-13). Disgraced by her position and despised for her ethnicity, the young Moabite woman appears to have little to offer. Yet, despite all this, Boaz views her as a worthy woman (3:11). Though Ruth comes from a family that has turned their backs on the Lord, the Lord turns his face towards Ruth and reveals himself to her through Boaz. Boaz foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate kinsman redeemer who will redeem a bride for himself—the church…Though Boaz redeemed the line of Elimelek, Jesus would come to redeem all the people of God. It was him to whom Boaz’s position pointed to, for in the person and work of Christ was found the true definition of kinsman-redeemer.”1  

Boaz paid a high price financially and socially to redeem Ruth, bring her into his family, and make her his bride. In a similar but greater way, Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us from sin and death and to reconcile us with the Father by cleansing us of our sin: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11, NIV)

Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth and Naomi, Jesus redeems those who place their faith in Him and lavishes them with His love and grace: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,” (Ephesians 1:3-7, NIV)

Through Christ, we gain direct access to God and all the blessings that come with it. We transition from being outsiders to members of God’s family:“Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  (Ephesians 2:12-13, NIV)

Because of Boaz, Ruth’s status changed dramatically–she ascended from being a poverty-stricken outcast to a beloved wife. She was grafted into the most esteemed family tree among the Israelites–the line that would produce Jesus, the Messiah and King of Kings. Like Ruth, our status changes dramatically when we accept Christ. Let’s rejoice in having a kinsman-redeemer who delivers us from a life of spiritual poverty and gives us a new identity as chosen, accepted, and beloved members of God’s family.

Listen to the lyrics of “My Story” by Big Daddy Weave and praise God for how they fit both the story of Ruth and Boaz and the story of Jesus and those who put their faith in Him. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIHmYBKkGa8

1. Stephanie van Eyk, “The Ultimate Kinsman Redeemer” https://www.ligonier.org/blog/ultimate-kinsman-redeemer/

Nicki Koziarz, A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, Lifeway Press, 2018.

Listen for God Right Where You Are

She wanted to be a missionary, but God gave her eight children who needed her love. Although she never got to share the gospel overseas, Priscilla Shirer’s grandmother “accepted what God had placed in front of her as an invitation to partner with Him in the purposes He’d planned for her life.” (p.142) Her faithfulness and obedience changed the trajectory of the lives of her children and grandchildren. And many of her family members continue to have a far-reaching impact on others today.  What she did can happen in the life of any person who trusts God and follows His lead. Priscilla explains, “In discerning God’s leading one of the most impactful requests you can make is to ask God to open up your eyes to see—to really see—where He is working around you and then jump on board with it…The Holy Spirit reveals God’s plan to you as He orchestrates the circumstances of your life.” (p. 142)
 
The Bible provides numerous examples of people who traveled on unlikely paths to achieve God’s purposes. Each of their stories illustrates powerful truth we can apply to our own lives. Priscilla encourages those doing her study to learn from some of these characters (see page 144 if you’re doing it). Below you’ll find a brief summary of each of their stories. Choose the one you identify with most and use the suggestions that follow to prompt your prayers.
 
Joseph: We find his story in Genesis 37-50. One of Jacob’s twelve sons, he received a coat of many colors from his father that showed he was the clear favorite. As a teenager, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and sent to Egypt. Through years of slavery and an unjust incarceration, God continued to refine him as a leader and to equip him with experiences that would shape his character. Eventually he rose to be second in command of Egypt and saved the entire region from a deadly famine. Amazingly, he also saved his brothers from the famine, forgave them, and acknowledged that what they had intended for harm, God had used for good. He traveled down a long and difficult path into the “sovereignly arranged purposes of God.” (p. 144)
-Are you in a season where life seems unfair? Does it seem impossible that God could use the bad things that have happened to you for good? Maybe, like Joseph, you can ask God to use this time to shape your character and to prepare you for what comes next.
 
Moses: His story unfolds in the book of Exodus, starting with being spared from a death sentence as a baby. His mother’s plan to save his life by floating him in a basket in the Nile led to adoption by a princess. He was raised in the house of Pharaoh, where he learned how to be a leader. After murdering a slave driver at age 40 and fleeing into the desert, he spent the next 40 years herding sheep. Only then did he discover God had been preparing him to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites to freedom. Once he brought them out of Egypt, he spent another 40 years with them in the wilderness before leading them to the Promised Land (which he never got to enter).
-Are you in a wilderness season like Moses was for forty years (twice)? Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn as you’re waiting for Him to reveal His plans for you.
 
Ruth: We find her story in the Old Testament book of Ruth. As a young widow, she chose to leave her home country of Moab and travel to Bethlehem with her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. With no money and no prospects for the future, she provided for herself and Naomi by gleaning in the fields alongside other poor people and foreigners. Her upstanding character and faithfulness to her mother-in-law caught the attention of the field owner, Boaz. Eventually they married and had a son who was in the lineage of Jesus.
-Are you in a season where the tasks before you seem menial? Pray that God gives you the faithfulness and character of Ruth to execute them for your good and His glory. You may be surprised to discover how He uses them to impact others and to bless you.
 
Esther: We read her story in the Old Testament book of Esther. As a Jewish girl living in Persia, she found herself recruited into the harem of King Xerxes after the execution of his previous queen. Eventually, she became his replacement wife and later risked a death sentence when she approached him in the throne room without an invitation. The courageous appeal she made saved her people from annihilation and turned the tables on those plotting against them.
-Do you have a personal or professional relationship with a powerful person? Can you leverage that relationship to help someone else? Pray and ask God to use you to influence him or her in ways that glorify Him and further His kingdom on earth. 
 
Daniel: His story unfolds in the Old Testament book of Daniel. As a captive from Israel brought to Babylon, he served in the royal courts of three different kings. During his lifetime, his integrity, wisdom, and faithfulness to the one true God always showed clearly. In one story, rivals plotting against him created a trap that would make his devout faith worthy of a death sentence. After being thrown into a lion’s den for praying to his God, his life was miraculously spared and God received all the glory.
-Are you facing persecution because of your faith? Is there a place in your life where others disregard or dislike you because you follow Jesus? Pray and ask God to help you stand firm, to protect you, and to bring glory to Himself through you, just as He did with Daniel.
 
Ananias: We find his story in Acts 9 when God appears to him in a vision and calls him to restore Saul’s sight after he’s struck blind on the road to Damascus. Knowing Saul was actively persecuting and killing Christians, Ananias questioned God’s directive to help him. After the Lord made it clear that this was His plan, Ananias overcame his fear and went to find Saul. He healed him, prayed for him to receive the Holy Spirit, and baptized him.
-Is there a challenging person God has placed in your life for you to impact? Pray and entrust your fears to God and allow Him to use you.
 
None of these characters knew how their situations would turn out, but they chose to trust God anyway. For some, they endured decades of hardship before seeing how He was going to redeem their circumstances. When we get discouraged waiting and wondering how God is going to work something out, we can take heart remembering these stories.
 
“So, instead of asking God to reveal His will for the next twenty years of your life, refocus your request. Ask Him to give you the courage to fully engage in what he has put before you today, as well as the faithfulness to stay on the path until He gives you different or new directions. Keep a firm confidence in His purposes, His plans—and His perfect timing.” (p. 153)

Click on the link below and find some inspiration by listening to “Confidence” by Sanctus Real.

Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God, Lifeway Press 2018.

Overwhelmed (In a Good Way)

Staring at the computer screen, a lump formed in my throat as music filled my ears and images flashed before my eyes. Tears streamed down my face as an overwhelming sense of awe swept over me. Once the final note of the song had played, I brushed the tears away from my cheeks and tried to fathom why an awesome, all-powerful God would choose to have a relationship with a finite and sinful person like me (and really with any person at any point in history).

It all started as I was looking for a worship song to accompany the first week of a new Bible study, Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation. I didn’t anticipate ending up in a heap of tears when I clicked “play” to watch a lyric video of Hiillsong United’s “So Will I (10 Billion X),” but that’s exactly what happened. I guess the visuals helped me realize how the song brilliantly and beautifully sums up the message of Scripture.

As I read the lyrics and watched the accompanying images on the screen, the song gave me a deeper understanding of the wonder of God’s creation, sovereignty, and grace. Scattered throughout the lines are references to key points in Scripture. In a span of about ten minutes, I located numerous passages with direct correlations to the song’s lyrics. Each one tells something about the wonder of God’s creation and His redemption of humankind. Here are a few of them:

-God was there at there at the start of creation, before the beginning of time (Genesis 1:1-3)
-The vapor of His breath formed the planets (Psalm 33:6-9)
-The heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1-4)
-Everything God created reveals His nature and points praise back to Him: angels, the heavenly hosts, sun, moon, stars, creatures of the sea, lightning, hail, snow, clouds, wind, mountains, hills, trees, animals, birds, kings, princes, rulers, young and old, men and women (Psalm 148)
-No word God speaks is in vain, nothing He says comes back void (Isaiah 55:11)
-Rocks cry out to Him in praise (Luke 19:40)
-God chases down our hearts through all of our failure and pride (Matthew 18:10-14 & Romans 8:1-4)
-Jesus was abandoned in darkness to die (Mark 15:33-34)
-As God speaks forgiveness, our failures disappear (Psalm 103:12, Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:9)
-Jesus lost His life so that we could find ours and He left the grave behind, just as we will (1 Corinthians 15:22)
-Jesus gladly chose to surrender His position of equality with God and died to save us. He calls us to surrender our lives to others in love, just as He did (Philippians 2:4-8)
-God never leaves us behind (Matthew 18:10-14, Hebrews 13:5b)

Fixating on how, why or when God created the earth distracts us from the most basic fact laid out in Scripture—simply that He did create it. Realizing that our lives are tiny blips in the Lord’s grand scheme is both inspiring and humbling. He has always been and always will be. He knows what came before we existed and what will happen long after we’re gone. He sees the big picture that we’re incapable of grasping. He stands outside the boundaries of time and intellectual comprehension that limit us.

I’ve intentionally kept this post short so you’ll take the time look up a few of the Scriptures listed above. (If you only have time for one, read Psalm 148.) Take a moment to watch and listen to the video. Read the lyrics and enjoy the pictures that illustrate them so beautifully. Let the words of praise overwhelm you in the very best way. Although people today overuse the word “awesome,” this is one place where it’s exactly the right word to describe who God is and what He’s done for us.

Click on the link now and enjoy Hillsong United’s “So Will I (100 Billion X).” Trust me, you’re going to miss out if you skip over this part of the post. Taking a few minutes to reflect on the awesomeness of God is well worth your time.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation: A Study of Genesis 1-11, Lifeway Press 2017 (Week 2)

The Significance of “I Am”

To people with an appreciation for good grammar, a book title like Finding I Am may provoke them to pull out a red pen to suggest corrections. However, to those who recognize “I Am” as a name for God in Scripture, it makes more sense. Lysa TerKeurst’s Bible study Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart is based on Jesus’ “I am” statements in the gospel of John. To grasp the significance of the title, it’s important to understand the weightiness of the phrase “I am.”

The Jews in  the New Testament reacted strongly when Jesus used this name to identify Himself:

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” (John 8:58-59, NIV)

The Jews of Jesus’ time understood the significance of the phrase “I am” in a way not all of us do today. It was such a holy name that they wanted to stone Him as a blasphemer for speaking it aloud and using it to refer to Himself.

To understand the name, we need to look back to the Old Testament. The Israelites had emigrated to Egypt from Canaan during a severe famine. Jacob, who had been re-named “Israel” by God, was the patriarch of the family. Along with his eleven grown sons and their wives and children, Jacob had arrived in Egypt at the invitation of his son, Joseph, who had risen to a position of honor and power there. (This is the same Joseph that received the coat of many colors from his father and that was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was a teenager. His story is in Genesis 37, 39, 40-50). The Israelites first arrived in Egypt as a large, extended family of about seventy people. The Egyptians also called them Hebrews.

After Joseph’s death, life for the Israelites began to deteriorate as new Pharaohs that didn’t know him came to power. Feeling threatened by the growing numbers of Hebrews, the Egyptians eventually enslaved them and began slaughtering their newborn boys. They feared the increasing Israelite population, believing they would grow too powerful and would eventually turn against Egypt.

Exodus chapters 1 & 2 describe the birth of Moses, the Hebrew child who was spared from death, hidden in a basket in the Nile, found by Pharaoh’s daughter, and raised as a prince in the palace until the age of forty. Our story begins when Moses was eighty years old and had been living as a shepherd in Midian for forty humbling years. He first encountered God when he approached a burning bush in the wilderness while tending his flocks. A voice from the fire spoke to Moses and identified Himself as the God of his forefathers. The Lord told him to return Egypt to free the Israelites from their 400 years of slavery. Obviously, Moses had a few reservations about what God was asking him to do:

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’  God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 3:13b-15, NIV)

God identified Himself using the name I AM WHO I AM, also shortened to I AM. The Hebrew translation for this name is Yahweh (pronounced YA WAY). Later, this name was transliterated into a Latin version of the name: “Jehovah,” which means “the self-existent one.” By calling Himself I AM, God revealed that He had no beginning and will have no end. Because it is considered a holy name, it would never have been written with vowels but instead would have been written YHWH. Jews considered the name so holy, they would not speak it out loud, but would substitute the name Adonai, which means “Lord,” in its place. Anytime you see “LORD” in all capitals in your Bible, it is translated from the name I AM. When you see “Lord” with lower case letters, it is the translation of Adonai.

So, for Jesus to speak the name “I Am” aloud and to use it to identify Himself was incredibly impactful to the Jews. The ones in the passage above saw it as blasphemy and wanted to put Him to death for using it. Others bowed before them when they realized He was the promised Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.

The “I Am” statements Jesus makes throughout the book of John reveal different qualities about Him and tie to significant symbols from the Hebrew Scriptures. I love seeing how the New Testament fulfills and completes the Old Testament and can’t wait to unpack some of the specific places highlighted in Lysa TerKeurst’s study over the next few weeks.

Mark Schultz’s song “I Am” beautifully captures the significance of the name in both parts of the Bible. Click on the link and listen!

Lysa TerKeurst, Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart, Lifeway Press, 2016.

Strangers Here- Women of the Word Part 6

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How did Rahab feel standing on the plains of Canaan looking at the charred remains of Jericho? Her home had been reduced to rubble and all of her friends and neighbors were now dead. They’d trusted the thick walls of stone to protect them rather than submitting to the living God that led the Israelites. For six days the people of Jericho watched with a mix of fear and curiosity as the Israelites marched around the city’s perimeter carrying the Ark of the Covenant. They’d heard the stories about this mighty God, but Rahab alone had chosen to believe and follow Him.

Trusting the God of the Israelites had made Rahab a stranger in her own city. But when the walls came down on the seventh day of the Israelites’ marching, she faced a new challenge as a stranger in their camp. From an earthly perspective, she was an outsider in both places. In Jericho her faith in God kept her apart. With the Israelites, her status as a foreigner and a prostitute probably didn’t win her many friends.

The Bible doesn’t tell us the story of how Rahab integrated into their community. Beyond what’s recorded in Joshua, chapters 2 and 6, we have little information about her.  We don’t know how she and Salmon met or when they decided to marry. In fact, it’s not until we read the New Testament that we learn they had a child. Matthew 1:5 tells us that Salmon and Rahab were the parents of Boaz and the great great grandparents of King David. The genealogy continues through the centuries until it ends triumphantly at Jesus, the Messiah.

Still, Rahab had no idea she would end up in the family line of a great king and the Savior of the world. So why did she risk it all? Why did she abandon the people of her city? Why was she willing to accept its destruction? Why did she want to live among the ones who had obliterated all that she knew and loved?

The answer is simple, really. Rahab’s eyes weren’t on her earthly surroundings–they were on God. She told the Israelite spies: “The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:11b, NIV) She knew it was futile to fight against Him or to try and preserve her city and way of life. She held those things lightly in comparison with knowing and following the living God.

Long before the words of the New Testament were inspired, she exemplified the call for all believers to live as strangers in the world. We are simply travelers passing through this life on our way to something better. The apostle Peter urges believers saying: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:13-15, NIV 1984 edition)

Peter reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus and to be holy or “set apart.” Living this way means not placing our hope in worldly things like financial security, physical health, or even significant relationships and meaningful endeavors. The good things we experience in this life are blessings from God, but not our ultimate hope. Followers of Jesus know these things lack lasting value compared to the hope we have through Him. We hold them loosely, knowing they are only a small taste of the true joy, security and peace that await us.

Peter continues writing in this passage: “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:17-19, NIV 1984 edition)

Rahab lived as a stranger in reverent fear. She saw God’s power and let her awe of Him guide her choices. She knew what He had to offer was better than anything else. Her example inspires and humbles me. And it makes me wonder. Am I living a life set apart for God? Do I see myself as a stranger here? Do I hold loosely to worldly comforts and pleasures, or do I put my hope and security in them? Am I attaching myself too tightly to material possessions? Am I investing my time in things that are eternal or wasting it on frivolous activities with no lasting value? Am I like the people of Jericho, fortifying my earthly protections when I should be surrendering to the One True God?

Rahab became a stranger in her city when she chose to accept a God no one else acknowledged. And she was an outsider in the Israelite camp because she was a Canaanite. But she was never a stranger to God. He knew her, loved her and had a plan for her. He redeemed her life and then placed her in a family line that would ultimately produce the Redeemer of the whole world.

It couldn’t have been easy for Rahab. There were probably days when living for God meant being lonely.  Maybe she thought she would never belong anywhere. I think we can relate with her difficulties. There are days when it’s hard to be set apart. It doesn’t always feel good to live as a stranger in our world. It can be painful, lonely and uncomfortable. But God promises this is all temporary—which is why our hope is in Him, both for this life and the one to come.

Maybe you recognize the symbol in the photo at the top of this post. The “N-O-T-W” on my family’s bulletin board is a simple reminder that we are “Not of This World” –we were made for something more. The song “Strangers Here” by Tenth Avenue North also offers a great perspective on the joys and challenges of living set apart. Click on the link below and be encouraged:

Continue reading “Strangers Here- Women of the Word Part 6”

The Lion of Judah- Women of the Word Part 5

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Reading the Chronicles of Narnia as a child, I became captivated by Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter and their many adventures in the magical land of Narnia. As an adult, I re-read the books to my kids and reveled in them again. C.S. Lewis portrays the central character, Aslan, as a Christ figure. His choice to use a lion for this role is no coincidence; he knew the deep biblical symbolism associated with this majestic animal.

If you’ve been following along with this series of posts based on Women of the Word: The Family Tree of Jesus, then you know the next two characters in the family tree are Leah and Tamar. Both women were closely connected to Judah, Jacob’s fourth born son. Near the end of Jacob’s life, he pronounced a blessing on each of his sons. His words for Judah relate directly to the symbolism C.S. Lewis borrowed to create the character of Aslan:

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:8-10, NIV)

 Despite being Jacob’s fourth son, Judah received the distinct honor of being the one through whom God’s blessing would continue. Jacob prophesied that the mantle of lordship and power, symbolized by the scepter, would remain in Judah’s family line until “he to whom it belongs” came (The Messiah). And ultimately, He would command the obedience of the nations.

The promise of the Messiah began in Genesis, first with Adam and Eve when God said that Eve’s offspring would one day crush the head of the serpent, Satan (see Genesis 3:14). The promise continued with Abraham, whose offspring would bless all people on earth (see Genesis 12:3). With Abraham’s great-grandson, Judah, we see the Messiah symbolized as a strong lion that would one day command the obedience of the nations. (We are still waiting for this part of the promise to be fulfilled).

The next time we see this term used is in Revelation, the last book of the Bible. In this yet-to-be fulfilled prophesy, the writer, John, describes the Messiah as both a lion and a lamb. The scene he describes is a vision of the heavenly throne room. In it, John sees that there is a scroll in the “right hand of him who was seated on the throne.” He begins to despair because there is no one found worthy to approach the hand of God to take and open the scroll. But John’s fears are unfounded:

“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals… He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” (Revelation 5:5, 7-9, NIV)

This connection between the first and last book of the Bible amazes me. John describes how Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills the prophetic statements made thousands of years earlier. As the sacrificial lamb, He washes away the stain of sin through His death on the cross, making it possible for all who follow Him to share in His ultimate victory over death. As the lion, He represents the conquering King who will return to slay the enemies of God.

Remember the last sentence of Jacob’s blessing to Judah? He talked about Judah’s family line ruling until One came who would command the obedience of the nations. Now, read this verse from Revelation:

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13, NIV)

John’s prophesy mirrors Jacob’s—both show that one day the whole earth will have no choice but to bow down and worship at the feet of the Lion of Judah who the New Testament reveals as Jesus.

The seamlessness of the Bible leaves me in awe. Jesus is woven throughout the pages, from Genesis to Revelation. Taking a step back to view the bigger picture every now and then gives me an even deeper understanding of God’s greatness and the way His perfect plan unfolds in His perfect timing.

I’ve attached a song that ties together the tremendous symbolism of the Lion and the Lamb. Although this is an audio version with no lyrics written out, you can clearly understand the words of Doug Eltzroth’s song “Judah’s Great Lion Now Lamb.” So click on the link, close your eyes and take a moment to worship Jesus, Judah’s great Lion who became a lamb so that we could know God and enjoy eternity with Him. And if you haven’t read the Chronicles of Narnia, go find a copy of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and get started!

Continue reading “The Lion of Judah- Women of the Word Part 5”

Unintended Consequences of Taking Control- Women of the Word Part 3

We don’t always think of the consequences of ignoring directions and doing things our own way, do we? I think most of us like to believe we’re in control. Even when things are clearly laid out for us, we’re sure we know better.

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Giddy with anticipation, the kids could hardly contain themselves as we waited for the other families to arrive. It was a warm summer morning and we’d invited some friends to join us for a day of fun at a small lake about an hour from home. All of us were meeting at a central location so we could caravan together. As an afterthought, I’d also printed directions for each family, just in case we got separated (this was before the era of smartphones and navigation systems).

Shortly after getting on the road, one family called to say they needed to make a stop but would catch up with us at the lake. An hour later, the caravan arrived and we began unpacking towels, coolers, inner tubes and water skis.   Keeping an eye out for the family who had peeled off from the group, we began our day of fun, assuming they would arrive at any minute. After an hour, I called them. When they described their location and wondered how much longer it would take to arrive, I was perplexed. They were miles north of the lake and actually needed to get off the freeway to head south toward us. I couldn’t figure out how they had veered so far off course.

It turns out that they’d decided to deviate from the directions and take a “short cut,” which actually bypassed the lake and deposited them on the freeway quite a bit north of where they needed to be. Once we figured out they were heading in the wrong direction, they turned around and eventually joined us, albeit frazzled and several hours late. I’d never thought to include directions for what roads not to take.

We don’t always think of the consequences of ignoring directions and doing things our own way, do we? I think most of us like to believe we’re in control. Even when things are clearly laid out for us, we’re sure we know better.

That was certainly true with Abram’s wife, Sarai, in Genesis 16. (They were later re-named “Abraham” and “Sarah” by the Lord). Despite the fact that God had promised Abram he would be the father of a great nation, Sarai got tired of waiting and decided to take control of their situation.

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’ Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.” (Genesis 16:1-3, NIV)

Sarai’s decision to take control had some unfortunate and unintended consequences. Although Hagar did conceive a child according to Sarai’s plan, the pregnancy caused her to show contempt toward her barren mistress. Before the child’s birth, an angel told Hagar: “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (Genesis 16:12, NIV)

And once the child, Ishmael, was born, he must have been a source of tremendous grief for Sarai. With a second family, Abraham’s heart was divided and his responsibilities were increased. And even when Sarah (at this point re-named by God) gave birth to Isaac and saw God’s promise fulfilled, Ishmael continued to cause her pain.

“ The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, ‘Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.’” (Genesis 21:8-13, NIV)

True to His promise, God allowed Ishmael to have twelve sons (listed in Genesis 25). However, the passage ends with a sobering fulfillment of what the angel had prophesied before Ishmael’s birth: “Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.” (Genesis 25:17-18, NIV)

And to think, the contempt and hostility Sarah and her descendants experienced was all a consequence of her decision to take control. In spite of her “shortcut”, God kept His promises, but He also allowed the consequences of her actions.

I think we’re all tempted to take shortcuts instead of doing things God’s way. We don’t like waiting and we don’t like the time it takes for a process to unfold. We forget that growth and maturity develop slowly and that God rarely caters to our desire for instant gratification. Few of us want to walk the long, slow road of obedience and let God’s plans unfold in His perfect timing.

But when we rush God’s timing and try to “help” Him fulfill His promises sooner, we create problems for others and ourselves. It’s like trying to force a tightly closed flower bud to open instead of waiting for it to bloom. In the process of trying to get the flower to look the way we want, we ruin it.

Where are you tempted to take control instead of trusting God? What unintended consequences have you reaped from doing this in the past? Is there a situation in your future that you’re tempted to manipulate and control so it will turn out the way you want? Let Sarah’s story be a warning to you. God’s sovereignty will always prevail, but He won’t stop you from creating a mess for yourself when you do things on your terms.

If you’re tempted to take control and need some encouragement to wait on God, click on the link and listen to Meredith Andrews’ song “Soar.” It will remind you of God’s promises and that He is bigger and better than any plans you can make on your own.

Continue reading “Unintended Consequences of Taking Control- Women of the Word Part 3”