Good morning,
Genesis 12:1-4 God made an unconditional covenant with Abram. So begins the story of the nation Israel and the Messianic line, which led to Jesus.
Week four of the “Bible Is” series focuses in on Israel. The Bible is about Israel. Beginning in Genesis 12 and going through the rest of the Old Testament, the central theme centers around Israel. Its beginnings, time in Egypt, the Exodus, wandering in the dessert forty years, entering into the promised land, their obedience, rebellion, their prophets, and kings. It tells us that when they obeyed, they were blessed and when they disobeyed, they were cursed, just as God had told them. We see how their walking away from God caused them to fall into the captivity of the Assyrians and Babylonians. And how repentance caused God to restore them and allow them to go back to Jerusalem rebuild the temple, walls of the city, and worship God.
It seems as we enter the New Testament, God is through with Israel and the church had taken their place. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! The Old Testament prophets prophesied about the coming Messiah. They prophesied of how the nation of Israel would come back to their land. That God had not forgotten His covenant with Abram. The gospels all tell of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, coming to earth, to pay the sin debt for all mankind. Then in the book of Revelation, God deals with Israel again. Twice Satan had Israel on the ropes and was ready to destroy them and twice God step in to thwart Satan’s plan. No, God is not done with Israel.
Come with me on a journey to explore what the Bible says. The Scriptures are always helpful, encouraging, and challenging. That’s how we grow in our relationship with God!
The Bible is about Israel
BOOKS OF POETRY
JOB
Job’s suffering, God’s goodness
PSALMS
David appoints the Levites to make petition and to thank and praise the God of Israel
PROVERBS
The book of wisdom
ECCLESIASTES
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man
SONG OF SOLOMON
Picture of the bridegroom (Christ) and His bride (His gentile Church)
These books are experiential-personal, dealing with the human heart. God uses these books to challenge, encourage, motivate, and comfort us. We see God’s hand as He teaches us how to be victorious in our walk with Him.
Next, we will see a group of men God entrusted with telling us the future, warning Israel of the present, and telling us of the Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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