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
THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS
MAJOR PROPHETS
Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel
MINOR PROPHETS
Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Warned Israel of coming judgement, captivity, restoration, their Messiah, the millennial reign of Yeshua, and their eternal home in the new heaven
God chose these men about the future of the world. In some cases, they had no idea what they were writing about. But under the inspiration of God, they wrote what God told them.
Isn’t it great that these men were obedient to God?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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