Devotion 2. The First Promise of a Savior
The third chapter of Genesis is a bleak story. Humanity rebelled against God, choosing Satan’s lie over God’s truth. They (and we) became children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), separated from God (Isaiah 59:2) and subject to death (Genesis 2:17).
As a result of sin, God proclaimed judgment on all the parties involved: man, woman and Satan. The first is the judgment on the snake, the figure of Satan. But the curse or judgment on Satan also contains God’s word about the future. It is a word of hope for the future of humanity. It is the promise of a redeemer.
God said:
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
(Genesis 3:15, ESV)
Most people either fear or loathe snakes. They are often used as symbols of evil in movies and books. That comes from this event. In my experience, women especially fear snakes. It is the first level of fulfillment of this word: there is enmity between women and snakes. Women fear them and want them killed or want to kill them. They hit them with hoes and shovels until they kill them, severely bruising their heads. Sometimes their husbands come to the rescue and kill the snake, as Adam should have done in the Garden.
But there is a greater picture of this enmity here, it is the enmity between Satan and his followers\offspring and God’s people. The Bible unfolds this story as the forces of Satan attack God’s people through Egyptians, Caananites, Assyians, Babylonians and Romans.
Then there is the greatest picture, the greatest fulfillment. In the fullness of time God revealed the ultimate offspring, the offspring that would finally crush the head of Satan, or defeat him. It is the offspring of woman but not of man, the virgin born offspring. That offspring or seed is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us this in several ways. Luke gives the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3, showing him to be the offspring of Eve through Seth (Luke 3:38).
Jesus said he saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening (Luke 10:18). The 72 he sent out reported that demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17). Revelation tells us Satan was restricted so that he no longer could deceive the nations (Revelation 20:1-3). Jesus told a parable about binding the strongman to illustrate that he healed illness and drove out demons because he was God (Mark 3). He cast out demons repeatedly (Mark 5 for example). He demonstrated his power and dominion over Satan.
Once Christ was revealed, Satan and his forces went into a frenzy to try and kill him. Herod tried to find him and kill him because he feared he would grow up to be king, but God warned the Wise Men in a dream and they went home by another route to avoid Herod (Matthew 2:11-12). Then Herod killed all of the male babies in town he could find, but Joseph took Jesus to Egypt out of harm’s way (Matthew 2:13-16).
Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He tried to deter Jesus from the Father’s purpose and his mission (Matthew 4). He later used Peter to try and deter him from the cross (Matthew 16:23).
Ultimately, and ironically, the Jews become the forces of Satan arrayed against Christ, Eve’s offspring, whom God purposed to crush Satan’s head. Jesus called them the children of the devil (John 8:44). They rejected him in favor of a criminal and had him crucified (Matthew 27:15 et seq). John referred to them as the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9).
But none of these people or their actions stopped God’s purpose. The crucifixion was God’s plan all along. He even stated in the law way back in the wilderness that a man who hangs on a tree is under God’s curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). He punished sin in the suffering and death of the sinless Son. Referring to the verse in Deuteronomy, Paul said “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). In Romans 8:3, Paul said ‘…by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…”
God then announced the satisfaction of sin and the triumph over Satan by raising him from the dead (Romans 4:25). Jesus rose from the dead and made a spectacle of his enemies. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him (Colossians 2:15) He is at the right hand of the Father, sitting on a throne, ruling his kingdom from heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 1 Peter 3:22). He will stay there until the time all his enemies, and ours, are put under his feet (Acts 2:34-35).
When Jesus returns in glory, he will complete his victory. He will take Satan and his minions and cast them into eternal punishment away from his people and their dwelling place (Revelation 20:7-10). Then he will live in the midst of his people on the earth he restores, the new Eden, the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3, 22-27, 22:1-4). And we will live with him forever in that new Eden with no sorrow, no pain, no hunger, and no death, only worship, joy and fellowship forever.
Then the promise of Genesis 3:15 will be completely and finally fulfilled.
Friday, December 02, 2011
Devotion 1: Before the Foundation of the World
Before this world was created, the Father chose the Son to be the savior. He sent him into the world to be born of a woman, live as a man and die as a substitute for our sins. The Bible gives us several glimpses of this truth.
John 1 says that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Just as Genesis 1:1 says “in the beginning God…” to communicate that God existed before the creation, John tells us that Christ existed before the world was created. He was with the Father. He was and is God.
Jesus himself prayed “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5. Before the world was created, Christ was with the Father and had glory with him. He was in the form of God and equal to God, according to Philippians 2:6-7, but took on human form. Can you even imagine that? We do not want to give up our comforts, the approval of friends or our place in society for Christ. But he gave up heaven and glory to take on human flesh and die for us.
So, Christ existed from eternity. He did not begin to exist when he was born into human form. He was only revealed to us at that time. Peter said it this way: He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19.
Jesus not only existed before his physical birth on earth, his mission was also determined before his birth and even before the world was created. Paul wrote to Timothy: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:8-10. Peter preached at Pentecost saying “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God…” Acts 2:23. So Christ’s birth and mission were set before the world was even created.
God also chose believers in Christ before creation. Ephesians 1:3-4 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Revelation 13:8 reinforces this idea. Speaking of the beast, it says ‘and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Jesus’ birth, mission and the salvation of believers was decided before the creation of the world.
At Christmas we often concentrate on a helpless little baby in a manger as the beginning of Christ’s life and work. But it was not. In eternity before the creation of this world, the Father chose him and he agreed to be the Savior. All through human history, God worked to bring about his purpose to send his son at the right place and the right time to accomplish his purpose. He was not deterred by the disobedience of his people, the designs of Satan, the attacks of sinful men and women or the governments of the world. Even King Nebuchadnezzar had to confess “…he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand…” Daniel 4:35.
Beyond the cuteness of the baby in the manger, the exoticism of the wise men and the drama of the poor Jewish couple is the sovereign God who purposed to redeem people from sin and reconcile them to himself through the sacrifice of his eternal son and who brought it about over thousands of years.
That is a God you can worship.
Before this world was created, the Father chose the Son to be the savior. He sent him into the world to be born of a woman, live as a man and die as a substitute for our sins. The Bible gives us several glimpses of this truth.
John 1 says that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Just as Genesis 1:1 says “in the beginning God…” to communicate that God existed before the creation, John tells us that Christ existed before the world was created. He was with the Father. He was and is God.
Jesus himself prayed “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5. Before the world was created, Christ was with the Father and had glory with him. He was in the form of God and equal to God, according to Philippians 2:6-7, but took on human form. Can you even imagine that? We do not want to give up our comforts, the approval of friends or our place in society for Christ. But he gave up heaven and glory to take on human flesh and die for us.
So, Christ existed from eternity. He did not begin to exist when he was born into human form. He was only revealed to us at that time. Peter said it this way: He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19.
Jesus not only existed before his physical birth on earth, his mission was also determined before his birth and even before the world was created. Paul wrote to Timothy: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:8-10. Peter preached at Pentecost saying “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God…” Acts 2:23. So Christ’s birth and mission were set before the world was even created.
God also chose believers in Christ before creation. Ephesians 1:3-4 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Revelation 13:8 reinforces this idea. Speaking of the beast, it says ‘and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Jesus’ birth, mission and the salvation of believers was decided before the creation of the world.
At Christmas we often concentrate on a helpless little baby in a manger as the beginning of Christ’s life and work. But it was not. In eternity before the creation of this world, the Father chose him and he agreed to be the Savior. All through human history, God worked to bring about his purpose to send his son at the right place and the right time to accomplish his purpose. He was not deterred by the disobedience of his people, the designs of Satan, the attacks of sinful men and women or the governments of the world. Even King Nebuchadnezzar had to confess “…he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand…” Daniel 4:35.
Beyond the cuteness of the baby in the manger, the exoticism of the wise men and the drama of the poor Jewish couple is the sovereign God who purposed to redeem people from sin and reconcile them to himself through the sacrifice of his eternal son and who brought it about over thousands of years.
That is a God you can worship.
25 Devotions for December
I am writing and posting 25 devotions for December. I got the idea to post in on Facebook and have, starting yesterday. It dawned on me today I should post them here also. So, I will. You will just have to read two of them in one day to catch up.
I pray they are blessing to you.
I am writing and posting 25 devotions for December. I got the idea to post in on Facebook and have, starting yesterday. It dawned on me today I should post them here also. So, I will. You will just have to read two of them in one day to catch up.
I pray they are blessing to you.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Recognizing A Good Deed
I am often disgusted by the behavior of those I see around me. However, today I saw a great thing done. A woman at work is going into cancer treatment. She has long blonde hair. Since she knew her hair would fall out eventually, she cut it and donated it. How generous to think of making someone's life better while you are suffering.
I am often disgusted by the behavior of those I see around me. However, today I saw a great thing done. A woman at work is going into cancer treatment. She has long blonde hair. Since she knew her hair would fall out eventually, she cut it and donated it. How generous to think of making someone's life better while you are suffering.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Clayton Cramer's Blog: Temperature Change In U.S. Since 1999: Watt's Up With That? has a summary of the data. Every region of the lower 48 has a declining average winter temperature since 1999 (even t...
Does anyone have Al Gore's email address?
Does anyone have Al Gore's email address?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Saturday, September 03, 2011
2 Kings 10
The Reign of Jehu
This chapter continues the story of the Lord working through Jehu to fulfill his word given through Elijah that Ahab’s line or house would be destroyed. It also shows Jehu ridding Israel, the northern kingdom, of Baal worship.
Forcing A Decision (10:1-5)
Jehu was intent on following the Lord’s instruction to eliminate the line of Ahab. He wrote the guardians of Ahab’s sons telling them to fight for them. These people were the leaders of the city of Samaria. They were rulers, elders and guardians of the sons. The intent was to force them to declare their allegiance. They could side with the House of Ahab or with Jehu.
The leaders thought that if Jehu could slaughter two kings, he could slaughter them. So they refused to fight. They sent Jehu a message of surrender and willingness to serve him.
A Test of Loyalty (10:6-11)
Jehu tested their loyalty by requiring them to kill Ahab’s 70 sons and behead them. Jehu then proceeded to kill all others who were allied with Ahab, his great men, his close friends and his priests. He wiped out his whole house.
Jehu’s Theology (10:10)
Every word of the Lord will come to pass regarding Ahab would come to pass. That word was spoken through the Lord’s servant, Elijah, and fulfilled by Jehu. This is emphasized by location. The message is delivered between to stacks of bloody heads. This is the point of this whole story.
Jehu Destroys The House of Ahaziah (10:12-14)
Because Ahaziah had married into Ahab’s house, his house was also destroyed. The Queen Mother, his mother, was Athaliah, the grand daughter of Omri. Omri was Ahab’s father and the first of that line to rule in Israel.
Support From A Radical Believer (10:15-17)
Jehonadab appears as a mysterious figure here, for we do not know who he is. Jeremiah 35:6-7 refers to him and his family as radical believers. Jehonadab instructed them to live in tents, not own things and not drink wine. His descendants in Jeremiah’s time still obeyed those commands. The Lord held them up as an example in contrast to the rest of Israel who did not obey the Lord’s commands.
Jehu treated him with respect, greeting him and not challenging him. He is glad of his support. He demonstrates for him his zeal for the Lord.
Killing the Prophets of Baal (10:18-27)
Further demonstrating his zeal for the Lord, Jehu kills all of the priests of Baal in Israel. They were likely supporters of the House of Ahab, which supported them through the years. So, it was two birds with one stone.
His plan was ingenious. He called for a great sacrifice to Baal and demanded all of the priests attend. It appeared that he was signaling and even greater following of Baal under his kingship than under Ahab’s. But he deceived them.
Jehu got them all in one room. He posted soldiers to keep them from escaping. He tricked them into wearing robes or vestments so they would not be confused with servants of the Lord. Then he killed them all. He destroyed the temple. He desecrated the sacred stone. As a final desecration, the Israelites used it as a latrine.
So the worship of Baal is completely destroyed in Israel. You would not have foreseen this while Ahab and his clan ruled. They seemed invincible. Then the Lord raised up a new man and empowered him to overthrow the king and the pagan worship system in one fell swoop.
Here are a couple of thoughts about this story. Jehu was not a perfect man. Yet God used him to accomplish his perfect will. He can do that. He is God.
Judgment is a messy affair. It demonstrates God’s wrath against sin. It shows us how much God hates idolatry. Think about that when you put other things before your devotion to God. He hates it. 1 Corinthians 10:14 tells us to flee from idolatry. Examine your life. What do you put before God? What do you invest your time in? Where does your energy go, your effort? Repent if it is not the kingdom of God and devote yourself to him.
Now skip ahead for a moment to verse 30.
Jehu’s Reward (10:30)
Jehu’s devotion and zeal was rewarded with sons on the throne. He is like a miniature David in this respect.
Jehu’s Failure & God’s Judgment (10:28-29, 31-33)
The writer sums up Jehu’s reign as he has with all the kings. He had a great commendation. He destroyed Baal worship in Israel. That was a huge thing. It was a huge work for the Lord. He had zeal for the Lord. He was fired up.
But one thing he did not do was destroy the golden calves. He continued in that sin. Why would he do that, with his zeal for the Lord? He may have assumed it was ok because it had been done for so long. It was tradition. He associated it with true worship, but it was not. It confused worship of God with Canaanite religion, where the head god was referred to as a bull, having strength and virility. Even Baal was occasionally portrayed as a bull. We must always examine what we do and what our churches do against scripture to make sure we worship God as he wants to be worshipped. Jesus, always in harmony with the Father, said God seeks those who will worship in spirit and in truth. Our doctrine must be pure. Our practice must be pure. The Bible, God’s word, sets the standard for both.
In continued judgment of the worship of the golden calves, God stripped away more territory. Moab and Edom were already lost. Syria was again a forceful enemy. Syrian then took away all of the territory of Israel east of the Jordan.
In doing this, God continued to keep his covenant. Once again we look at the curses of Deuteronomy 28. God said through Moses:
However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his command and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…” (15). One of those curses is set out in verse 25: The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.”
Just as God did in judgment of Solomon’s idolatries, God acts against the idolatry and unholy worship of Israel by continuing to reduce its size. Hazael of Syria is God’s instrument of judgment, just as Jehu was. Elijah told them that in advance.
But still they did not repent.
Jehu’s End(10:34-36)
He had a long reign of 28 years. He son succeeded him, as the Lord had said.
The Reign of Jehu
This chapter continues the story of the Lord working through Jehu to fulfill his word given through Elijah that Ahab’s line or house would be destroyed. It also shows Jehu ridding Israel, the northern kingdom, of Baal worship.
Forcing A Decision (10:1-5)
Jehu was intent on following the Lord’s instruction to eliminate the line of Ahab. He wrote the guardians of Ahab’s sons telling them to fight for them. These people were the leaders of the city of Samaria. They were rulers, elders and guardians of the sons. The intent was to force them to declare their allegiance. They could side with the House of Ahab or with Jehu.
The leaders thought that if Jehu could slaughter two kings, he could slaughter them. So they refused to fight. They sent Jehu a message of surrender and willingness to serve him.
A Test of Loyalty (10:6-11)
Jehu tested their loyalty by requiring them to kill Ahab’s 70 sons and behead them. Jehu then proceeded to kill all others who were allied with Ahab, his great men, his close friends and his priests. He wiped out his whole house.
Jehu’s Theology (10:10)
Every word of the Lord will come to pass regarding Ahab would come to pass. That word was spoken through the Lord’s servant, Elijah, and fulfilled by Jehu. This is emphasized by location. The message is delivered between to stacks of bloody heads. This is the point of this whole story.
Jehu Destroys The House of Ahaziah (10:12-14)
Because Ahaziah had married into Ahab’s house, his house was also destroyed. The Queen Mother, his mother, was Athaliah, the grand daughter of Omri. Omri was Ahab’s father and the first of that line to rule in Israel.
Support From A Radical Believer (10:15-17)
Jehonadab appears as a mysterious figure here, for we do not know who he is. Jeremiah 35:6-7 refers to him and his family as radical believers. Jehonadab instructed them to live in tents, not own things and not drink wine. His descendants in Jeremiah’s time still obeyed those commands. The Lord held them up as an example in contrast to the rest of Israel who did not obey the Lord’s commands.
Jehu treated him with respect, greeting him and not challenging him. He is glad of his support. He demonstrates for him his zeal for the Lord.
Killing the Prophets of Baal (10:18-27)
Further demonstrating his zeal for the Lord, Jehu kills all of the priests of Baal in Israel. They were likely supporters of the House of Ahab, which supported them through the years. So, it was two birds with one stone.
His plan was ingenious. He called for a great sacrifice to Baal and demanded all of the priests attend. It appeared that he was signaling and even greater following of Baal under his kingship than under Ahab’s. But he deceived them.
Jehu got them all in one room. He posted soldiers to keep them from escaping. He tricked them into wearing robes or vestments so they would not be confused with servants of the Lord. Then he killed them all. He destroyed the temple. He desecrated the sacred stone. As a final desecration, the Israelites used it as a latrine.
So the worship of Baal is completely destroyed in Israel. You would not have foreseen this while Ahab and his clan ruled. They seemed invincible. Then the Lord raised up a new man and empowered him to overthrow the king and the pagan worship system in one fell swoop.
Here are a couple of thoughts about this story. Jehu was not a perfect man. Yet God used him to accomplish his perfect will. He can do that. He is God.
Judgment is a messy affair. It demonstrates God’s wrath against sin. It shows us how much God hates idolatry. Think about that when you put other things before your devotion to God. He hates it. 1 Corinthians 10:14 tells us to flee from idolatry. Examine your life. What do you put before God? What do you invest your time in? Where does your energy go, your effort? Repent if it is not the kingdom of God and devote yourself to him.
Now skip ahead for a moment to verse 30.
Jehu’s Reward (10:30)
Jehu’s devotion and zeal was rewarded with sons on the throne. He is like a miniature David in this respect.
Jehu’s Failure & God’s Judgment (10:28-29, 31-33)
The writer sums up Jehu’s reign as he has with all the kings. He had a great commendation. He destroyed Baal worship in Israel. That was a huge thing. It was a huge work for the Lord. He had zeal for the Lord. He was fired up.
But one thing he did not do was destroy the golden calves. He continued in that sin. Why would he do that, with his zeal for the Lord? He may have assumed it was ok because it had been done for so long. It was tradition. He associated it with true worship, but it was not. It confused worship of God with Canaanite religion, where the head god was referred to as a bull, having strength and virility. Even Baal was occasionally portrayed as a bull. We must always examine what we do and what our churches do against scripture to make sure we worship God as he wants to be worshipped. Jesus, always in harmony with the Father, said God seeks those who will worship in spirit and in truth. Our doctrine must be pure. Our practice must be pure. The Bible, God’s word, sets the standard for both.
In continued judgment of the worship of the golden calves, God stripped away more territory. Moab and Edom were already lost. Syria was again a forceful enemy. Syrian then took away all of the territory of Israel east of the Jordan.
In doing this, God continued to keep his covenant. Once again we look at the curses of Deuteronomy 28. God said through Moses:
However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his command and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…” (15). One of those curses is set out in verse 25: The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.”
Just as God did in judgment of Solomon’s idolatries, God acts against the idolatry and unholy worship of Israel by continuing to reduce its size. Hazael of Syria is God’s instrument of judgment, just as Jehu was. Elijah told them that in advance.
But still they did not repent.
Jehu’s End(10:34-36)
He had a long reign of 28 years. He son succeeded him, as the Lord had said.
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