Abraham's faith journey (prophet) #14

 September 25, 2020 (Friday)

      Last time I promised to explain some things about Genesis 22. I left much for you to consider on your own. Please read to the end, because I'm going to suggest some things that require explanation.

      The “dark twist” in Abraham’s faith journey is the severity of the test. God required him to sacrifice, the “only son.” If we have been reading Abraham’s story up to this point, we know Isaac was not the “only son.” The other thing which seems inconsistent is the human sacrifice part. This is something God hates. So, is the story wrong?

      One of my ways to understand Scripture is the realization that everything is “accurate” but not necessarily “true.” Pay careful attention, or you will misunderstand me. The Bible records the facts accurately, but that is different from truth. For instance, the king of Babylon (presumably a “type” for the Devil) claims to be the “bright and morning star.” This happens to be one of Jesus’ titles. The Bible accurately records the king saying the words, but they were not true. (He is not the "bright and morning star.") 

      Another way I understand biblical prophecy is to recognize that the prophets sometimes saw multiple events as one occurrence. It’s like looking through a tube with multiple glass lenses. Each lens has part of what looks like the same image. This story is prophetic in nature. Moses, the writer of Genesis, is considered to be the most important prophet of the Old Testament. 

      What we have when Abraham is told to take his “only son” is actually a foreshadowing of another story. It is accurate that Isaac was the “only son,” who was home. The spiritual truth about the “only son” is reserved for another story. Jesus declared, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16 ESV]

      It is disturbing that God would ask for a human sacrifice. This practice, God hates in the strongest sense of the word. “You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.” [Deuteronomy 12:31 ESV] Yet, our peace rests on human sacrifice. Let me explain.

      Abraham prophesied that God would provide a “lamb.” (See Genesis 22:8) It is accurate that God did NOT provide Abraham a lamb as a substitute for Isaac. (See Genesis 22:13). Yet, Abraham's prophecy is true. It is true that God provided a lamb as a substitute for us. John the Baptist declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” [John 1:29 ESVb]

     Paul explained it this way, “For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” [Romans 3:25a NLT] Remember the three-day trip Abraham took? (See Genesis 22:4) On the third day after His crucifixion, (Jesus) “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 1:4 ESV]

     Seeing Jesus in the imagery of a lamb, John testifies, “Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders.” [Revelation 5:6a NLT] The horrific idea of a single human sacrifice, Jesus dying in our place, shows us the severity of our sin and the depth of God’s love and willingness to forgive.

     All prophesied by Abraham, through Moses, and fulfilled in Jesus.

Victory over death part 10

April 13, 2020

Remember Monday? Before the pandemic, a lot of people felt the drain of having to go back to work after a brief couple of days rest. 

Let me back up and cover one event that happened on the day Jesus was resurrected (Sunday).

Two men are walking to a small town near Jerusalem called Emmaus, it’s about seven miles. We find the account in Luke 24:13 – 34. The stage is set with these words, “They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him.” [Luke 24:14 – 15 CEB]

The idea of being “prevented” comes from the Greek word that is a “passive imperfect.” The “passive” shows us that they were acted upon, they did not act. The “imperfect” gives us a clue this was continuing something already happening. 

What prevented them from recognizing Jesus? I am so glad you asked!!! (Hint: The clues are in the text.)

There are a series of not understanding or believing. After Jesus asks them a second time what they were discussion we watch them explain three reasons why people are blinded.

1. They did not understand Jesus. “…They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet.” [Luke 24:19 CEB] These two were willing to understand Jesus as a prophet, but not as God.
2. They did not understand the nature of death. “But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.” [Luke 24:20 CEB] They thought death is the end.
3. They made it political. “We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago.” [Luke 24:21 CEB] The idea of a redeemer or deliverer (the Messiah/Christ) was based on politics.
4. They did not believe the eye witnesses. “But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.” [Luke 24 22 – 24 CEB]

Jesus’ rebuke strikes like a hammer on an anvil because Jesus intends to reshape our thinking. “Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about.” [Luke 24:25 CEB] The “dull minds” comes from the Greek idiom “slow in heart.”  Literally Jesus says, they lack sense (foolish), and are stupid (slow to comprehend and act). Jesus could have left them blinded by their flawed thought process and hard hearts, but that is not His intentions for anyone.

With the care and accuracy necessary for the blacksmith to shape the metal to his will; Jesus proceeds to give them THE Bible lesson, “Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.” [Luke 24:27 CEB]

Later their eyes were opened. They recognized Jesus. They recognized there were signs before, “They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?” [Luke 24:32 CEB]

Their errors: they reduced Jesus to a “just” a prophet (or a good teacher), they thought death was the end, they made it political, and they didn’t believe the witness given to them. (Did they just explain one or more reasons you do not believe in Jesus?)

If Jesus is the living God who has conquered death, there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by following Him. If Jesus is NOT the living God who conquered death, there is nothing to gain and everything to lose by rejecting Him.