2 Epiphany

2 Epiphany - Sunday

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Isaiah 49:1-6 The Lord’s Servant

Psalm 40:1-12 The Lord’s Deliverance

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Thanksgiving

John 1:29-41 John’s Testimony

The Lord’s Servant calls the coastlands (of the Mediterranean Sea; neighboring countries) and the people from far off. God called his servant from his mother’s womb and named him before he was born (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). God put God’s Word, the sharp two-edged sword of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12), in his mouth and protected him in the shadow of God’s hand; God made him a polished arrow and hid him in God’s quiver. God declared him his servant, Israel, who would glorify God. The servant seemed to have labored in vain to exhaustion, but trusted in God to bring forth results.

The Lord created him in his mother’s womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob (renamed Israel by God; the inheritor of the birthright; father of the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel) back to God, and gather Israel to him. God has honored the servant and has become his strength.

God declares that the salvation of Israel alone is too small a thing (compared to the sacrifice of God’s Son); his sacrifice must be a light to the nations (Gentiles), “that his salvation may reach to the end of the world” (Isaiah 49:6c).

The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, declares “to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the servant of rulers: ‘Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you” (Isaiah 49:7).

Those who have trusted, obeyed, and waited patiently for the Lord, including the psalmist and myself, testify that the Lord hears and answers our cries. He draws us up from the pit of trouble, the quagmire of evil, and even the grave of physical death. He sets our feet upon the rock (of salvation; Jesus Christ) and guides and protects our daily path. He gives us a new song of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done for us and will fear (have appropriate respect for the power and authority of) God and put their trust in the Lord.

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods” (Psalm 40:4)! The Lord has blessed us with goodness far beyond our awareness and ability to recall (compare John 21:25).

God doesn’t want sacrifice, offering, or religious ritual; he wants us to use our spiritual ears to hear, trust and obey him. He wants us to come to him, to store up his Word in our hearts, and delight in doing his will, as the Scripture (the Bible) has said.

When we have experienced his deliverance, we are intended to, and should want to testify and share the good news in the congregation of believers, and among our neighbors in the world. Let us not restrain our testimony or hide God’s saving help within our hearts. Let’s not keep to ourselves the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness and his power to deliver and save.

If we trust and obey him, the Lord will not withhold his mercy, steadfast love and faithfulness from us when we are beset with trouble; he will preserve us forever. When evil and sin overtake and threaten to overwhelm us, and we see no way of escape, the Lord will deliver us without delay.

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was called by God to be an apostle (a messenger; of the Gospel; Acts 9:1-21; NB v. 15) of Jesus Christ. He was writing to the Church at Corinth which had been established through Paul’s ministry; to those who had been sanctified (purified and consecrated) in Jesus Christ, called to be saints (“sanctified” Christian believers; i.e., “born-again” Christian disciples) together with all Christians everywhere who accept and acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Grace (unmerited favor) and peace (with God and mankind) are only from God through Jesus Christ.

Paul was thankful to God for the grace the Corinthian Christians had received through Jesus Christ, through whom they received every spiritual blessing, by which their testimony to Christ was confirmed. Paul was confident that the Lord Jesus Christ would preserve and sustain them without guilt as they waited for Christ to be revealed at his Second Coming on the Day of Judgment, because God, who had called them into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, is faithful.

John the Baptizer was preaching and baptizing in the wilderness, and saw Jesus passing by, after Jesus had been baptized by John. John told the people to look and see the “Lamb of God (the sacrificial lamb of Passover), who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b). John had said that this man was coming after John, in chronological appearance, but was before John in importance and existence (John 1:1:26-27; John 1:1-3, 14).

John had been sent by God (Luke 3:1-3), to preach water baptism for repentance, to prepare the people for the revealing of the Messiah. John himself did not know who the Messiah was, but God had given him a sign: the one on whom the Holy Spirit descended from heaven as a dove and remained was the Messiah. God had told John that the one on whom the Spirit had descended would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John saw the sign, and testified that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

The next day John was talking to two of his disciples when Jesus again walked by, and John told his disciples to look and see the Lamb of God. The two heard what John said and followed after Jesus. Jesus turned and asked them what they were seeking, and they asked Jesus where he was staying. Jesus invited them to come and see, and they stayed with Jesus that day because it was already 4:00 PM. One of the disciples was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew went and found Simon and told him that they had found the Messiah.

Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of the prophecy by Isaiah of the Lord’s servant. God called him forth from the womb of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38) and named him before he was born (Matthew 1:18-25). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to raise up a prophet who would declare God’s Word; Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14).

Jesus came to his own people, Israel, and his own hometown, Nazareth, but they did not welcome (Luke 4:16-29), trust and obey him. Instead they crucified him. It seemed that the Lord’s servant had labored to exhaustion and physical death in vain, but he trusted in God the Father to bring forth results. Jesus rose from physical death to eternal life, demonstrating existence beyond physical death, and victory over sin and evil. God has honored Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11) and has become his strength.

Jesus was and is despised and abhorred by nations including Israel, but God’s Word of prophecy, that kings would see, arise and prostrate themselves before him, began to be fulfilled at his birth, in the visit of the Magi (“Wise Men;” the “Three Kings;” Matthew 2:1-11). It will be fulfilled ultimately at his Second Coming on the Day of Judgment, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy of God’s servant, but Israel was intended to follow that example. Instead, Israel turned aside from that call. The Church and each believer is the New Israel, the heir to God’s call to servanthood, to carry on the mission of Christ to bring forgiveness and reconciliation to a spiritually lost and dying world.

This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and come to know, trust and obey God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through Jesus Christ, by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Bible is the record of God’s dealing with his people. God’s Word is faithful and eternally true. As we trust and act on his Word, we experience God’s faithful mercy, love and deliverance for ourselves, and our faith grows. If we want his deliverance we must be willing to trust and obey his Word.

If we have experienced for ourselves the truth of God’s Word and his deliverance from trouble we will want to share our testimony with others. We must follow the example of Jesus and carry on his call to proclaim his Gospel of salvation to the end of the world. The Lord will provide his strength (and guidance) and make our efforts productive through his indwelling Holy Spirit.

Paul is intended to be our example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ. God called him to be the Lord’s servant, to learn from Jesus and then to testify to the Lord’s deliverance and salvation (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right) to the end of the world. Paul demonstrates “discipling” ministry and personal testimony.

John the Baptizer was the last Old Testament prophet and the first New Testament prophet, and yet his role was less than the least “born-again” disciple (Matthew 11:11). John trusted and obeyed God’s Word and Spirit, experienced the fulfillment of God’s promised sign, and testified to his experience.

Andrew is intended to be an example to us of a disciple and apostle. Andrew heard and acted upon the testimony of John, he came to personally experience Jesus, and immediately went, found his brother, Peter, and testified to his experience. All he needed to do was say, ‘Come, and see for yourself.’

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

2 Epiphany - Monday

posted 01/16/05

Psalm 27:1-9 My Light and Salvation

Those who make the Lord their light (understanding; standard of righteousness) and their salvation (from evil; sin; death) need not fear any person or thing. When evildoers attack and slander the Lord’s people they will not prevail. Even though the enemy seems to greatly outnumber God’s people they can be confident.

The one important thing to pray for and seek is to spend all the days of our life in the house of the Lord, to experience his beauty and learn his teachings. In the day of trouble the Lord will conceal and shelter his people, and set them high “upon a rock” above their enemies. Then his people will bring offerings and rejoice and sing to the Lord.

The Lord will hear and answer those who call upon him in faith (obedient trust; Hebrews 11:6). God wants us to seek his presence (Deuteronomy 4:29; 1 Chronicles 16:10-11), and when we seek him with our hearts he will not hide from us.

What is the meaning and purpose of life? For most people it seems to be to maximize pleasure and avoid troubles for as long as possible. All effort is directed at achieving “security” by our own resources. But security is never achievable by worldly resources; it always seems to take just a little more than we have.

I believe that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek and come to personal knowledge and experience of God (Acts 17:26-27), who is the only true source of security, and the security he provides is eternal. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be “re-born” (John 3:3, 5-8) to spiritual, eternal life. Our personal relationship with God and spiritual “rebirth” is only possible through Jesus Christ, God’s one and only provision to accomplish that purpose (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).

Jesus taught his disciples to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, ahead of even daily necessities like food and clothing (Matthew 6:25-33). If we put God first in our lives he will provide all those other things as well, and we will have security in the assurance that we have eternal life in paradise restored in heaven. Nothing can happen to us in this world that the Lord cannot deliver us from.

True wisdom and understanding come from God, not what the world falsely calls wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). The standard of righteousness by which everyone is judged is Jesus Christ, not the worldly standard of goodness.

The one important thing to seek in this lifetime is the presence of the Lord, to experience his goodness, faithfulness and love, and to learn his teachings; to learn to trust and obey his Word, fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). The Lord wants us to seek him. When we begin to trust and obey him he reveals himself to us (John 14:21, 23).

The Lord does not ask what is impossible for us. The place to begin to seek God is in his Word, the Bible. The way to put God first in our lives is to set aside time each day to read his Word, mediate on it, pray seeking his will and guidance for us for that day and then remember and apply it.

2 Epiphany - Tuesday

posted 01/17/05

Isaiah 9:1b-4 The Light of Life

Zebulun and Naphtali were part of what became the Roman province of Galilee, beyond the Jordan (on the west bank). The way of the sea was the highway from Damascus, probably by which the Assyrians had invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel.*

In former times the Lord brought that region into contempt, but later glorified it (by bringing forth the Messiah from it).

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness (or “shadow of death;” KJV), on them has light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The Lord has multiplied the nation of Israel and increased its joy; they rejoice before the Lord as at a great harvest, or as at a great military victory they divide the plunder.

The Lord has broken Israel’s yoke and burden and the rod of its oppressor as in the day of Midian (Judges 7:15-25).

The Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes was destroyed by the Assyrians in 733-732 B.C.* because the leaders and people disobeyed God’s Word, practiced idolatry, and refused to heed the Lord’s prophets. In the time of Jesus, Galilee was a Roman province, “Galilee of the nations (i.e. Gentiles). It was generally regarded with contempt. Nathanael who became one of Jesus Twelve disciples asked if anything good could come from Nazareth (in Galilee; John 1:43-46). The religious leaders of Israel rebuked Nicodemus over whether the Messiah could arise from Galilee (John 7:45-52).

Jesus was given as a light to the “nations” (not just to the Jews; Luke 2:32; Isaiah 49:6). Jesus has and gives the light of (true, eternal) life (John 1:4-5, 9; John 8:12).

We are all in the spiritual darkness of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and ignorance of divine wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:17-27, 2:1-8). Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is the revelation of God and the revealer of divine enlightenment (John 1:9, 14:8-9; 16:13).

Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is the Holy Spirit within us who cleanses us, makes it possible for us to know the Lord personally, and makes it possible for us to know, remember and do God’s will. It is by the gift of the Holy Spirit that we are spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3. 5-8). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The true Church of all “born-again” disciples is the “New Israel.” It is by the Holy Spirit that we experience and express the joy of salvation and eternal life, beginning now in this world. The Holy Spirit is the “first-fruit” of the harvest of eternal life in the presence of the Lord.

Jesus is our Savior who has broken the yoke and burden of sin, and the rod of Satan, which is death (Hebrews 2:14-15).

The day of Midian was the great victory of Gideon and three hundred men over the vastly larger army of Midian, by faith (obedient trust) in the Word of God (by prophetic dream; Judges 7:15-25) and the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6; Judges 6:11-21).

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Isaiah 9:1n, p. 833, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

2 Epiphany - Wednesday

posted 01/18/05

Amos 3:1-8

The Lord’s prophet warns the people of Israel, the one family on earth whom God has chosen, that he will punish them for their sins.

The prophet cites proverbial wisdom showing that things happen for a reason; actions have consequences. Two individuals don’t walk together except by agreement. Lions roar when they have caught their prey; not when they are hungry. Birds don’t ordinarily just fall out of the sky for no reason. A snare does not trip unless something activates it. Watchmen don’t blow trumpets without reason for warning. Evil doesn’t come upon a city unless the Lord allows it. The Lord reveals what he is doing to his prophets who serve him. “The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy” (Amos 3:8)?

Israel had a special covenant relationship with the Lord. God was faithful to his covenant, but Israel kept falling away from their obligation to trust and obey God, and refused to heed the warnings of God’s prophets. As a result, Northern Kingdom of the divided monarchy was destroyed by the Assyrians in 733-732 B.C.¹ The Southern Kingdom of Judah did not heed the prophetic warnings and the example of the Northern Kingdom, and was carried off to exile in Babylon for 70 years from 587-517 B.C.,² in fulfillment of prophecy.

Amos was a shepherd who was called to prophecy against the Northern Kingdom during the height of their political power and prosperity. Amos was called to preach God’s judgment against the Northern Kingdom for reliance on military might, great social injustice, rampant immorality and superficial religion (and idolatry).³ Amos’ message was unwelcome and he was expelled by the religious authorities from the religious center at Bethel. (Bethel had a reputation as a center of idolatry).

Aren’t America and the Church, at least in America, in the same situation today? Don’t we have a government which relies on military might instead of diplomacy and faith (obedient trust) in God’s Word? Doesn’t our government tolerate great social injustice and enact policies which cause it? Isn’t immorality rampant in our land? Isn’t there rampant idolatry (loving and serving anything as much or more than the Lord; modern examples are wealth, power, success, pleasure, home, and family)? Isn’t the religion of many “Christians” superficial ritual?

God’s Word is the same today as it was in the time of Amos. America and the Church have come to think that we are exempt from God’s judgment and punishment because we are God’s chosen and favored people. God’s Word is no more appreciated by the political and religious leaders and people than it was in Amos’ day.

The lion has roared; the trumpet has sounded; the Lord God has spoken. Are we wise enough to fear (have proper respect for the power and authority of) God and trust and obey his Word? “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)?

¹ The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Isaiah 9:1n, p. 833, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

² ibid, 2 Kings 24.20-25-7n, p 498

³ ibid, Introduction to Amos, p 1107

2 Epiphany - Thursday

posted 01/19/05

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Church Unity

The Church at Corinth had been founded by Paul’s ministry and Paul continued to “disciple” the members, by letter. One of the families had reported to Paul that there was dissension among the members, and Paul urged them to reconcile and be unified in mind and judgment. The members had been divided by loyalty to various leaders. One group identified with Apollos, another identified with Peter, and some with Paul. Each group thought they were superior to the others.

Who one is baptized by is not important; the name of Christ in whom they were baptized is what is important. Christ is the one who was crucified for them, not Paul, or Apollos or Peter. Paul made his point by saying that he was glad that he had baptized only a few individuals there, so that being baptized by Paul wouldn’t be a source of division. Paul said that his role in the Congregation had not been to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, and not with eloquence or human wisdom, so that their faith would not depend upon human ability but on the power of the cross.

Problems in the first century church recorded in the New Testament are still within the Church today, and the New Testament should be our guide in identifying and correcting them. Isn’t there much disunity within the Church today over the same issues? Members still seem to divide over loyalties to particular leaders, which has led to the splintering of the Protestant Church into various denominations.

Instead of focusing on our common Apostolic doctrine recorded in the New Testament, denominations emphasize distinctions in interpretation (see 2 Peter 1:20). Instead of making “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ, Churches have made “members,” and “disciples” of a particular denomination or pastor. Many members are biblically illiterate, and prefer to adopt a list of denominational distinctions rather than to read and learn the Apostolic doctrines recorded in the New Testament.

Instead of reading the Bible and being led by “born-again” disciples to spiritual rebirth and a personal relationship with the Lord through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, people seek a personal relationship with the pastor or leader and seek guidance through him (or her). People choose eloquent oratory over sound Biblical teaching, because they don’t know the Bible. In many instances the Church has become a “consumer” religion instead of a “disciple-making” ministry.

2 Epiphany - Friday

posted

Matthew 4:12-23 Jesus’ Ministry Begins

Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptizer and had been tested in the wilderness for forty days. Then, after John had been arrested (by Herod Antipas; Luke 3:19), Jesus left Nazareth and dwelt in Capernaum, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, in Galilee, the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region of the shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time, Jesus began to preach, calling the people to repent because the kingdom of heaven was imminent.

As Jesus walked on the shore of the Sea, he saw Simon Peter and Andrew fishing with a net on the shore and invited them to follow him and become fishers of men. They immediately left their net and followed Jesus. Further on Jesus saw James and John the sons of Zebedee with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them and they immediately left their father, the boat and the nets and followed Jesus

Jesus began traveling throughout Galilee and teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Gospel of God’s kingdom, and healing every disease and disability.

According to Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was not well-received in his hometown, Nazareth (Luke 4:16-31), and was virtually thrown out, so he moved to Capernaum. In Capernaum he called Peter, Andrew, James and John, commercial fishermen. They were making a living fishing, but at Jesus invitation, they left their jobs and the tools of their trade and followed Jesus, learning to become “fishers of men.”

John the Baptizer had preached repentance (returning from disobedience to faith in God) in order to prepare for the coming Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed in Hebrew and Greek; i.e. God’s “anointed” eternal savior and king). When Jesus began his ministry, John’s role was completed. John was imprisoned and later beheaded (Matthew 14:3-12).

Jesus continued John’s call to repentance, announcing that God’s kingdom was coming (in Jesus). Jesus preached the Gospel of God’s plan of salvation [from sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and eternal condemnation which is the consequence of sin; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right]. Jesus’ healing miracles were to reveal who Jesus was, and to demonstrate that Jesus can also heal spiritually. Jesus’ resurrection from physical death to eternal life demonstrates the reality of existence beyond physical death, and the promise of eternal life in him.

Jesus is the light of God’s righteousness in a world of spiritual darkness (John 3:16-21). Jesus is the light of divine wisdom and knowledge in a world of spiritual ignorance and foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8; John 1:9). Jesus is the light of eternal life (John 1:4-5, 9; 8:12) in a spiritually dying world.

Jesus used the imagery of fishing with a net to illustrate the fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:47-50) at the end of this age. At that time, the angels of God will gather all who have ever lived, and they will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in this life (Matthew 25:31-46), like net fishermen fill their nets and then toss out what is bad and keep the good.

Until then, fishing for men is more like fishing with baited hook. The Gospel is the bait, and it must be presented fully and honestly, but attractively to be received so that people will come to it and want to stay.

When we answer the call of the Gospel in Jesus Christ we must leave the worldly life we had in order to follow Jesus, but when we do, he will show us and teach us a better life. We’re called to be his disciples, to learn the Gospel by first-hand personal experience with Jesus, through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Then we’re to carry on Jesus’ ministry to preach repentance and healing to the sinful and spiritually dying world.

At the end of the age (or the end of our lives), repentance and restoration will no longer be an option. In that day, our eternal destinies will be forever fixed.

2 Epiphany - Saturday

posted 01/21/05

Jeremiah 33:6-9 Promise of Restoration

Hebrews 11:1-16 Examples of Faith

Luke 17:5-10 The Mustard Seed

Judah was about to go into exile in Babylon because of their disobedience of God’s Word, and their idolatry. But the Lord promised that he would heal them and restore them to health, security and prosperity, and rebuild them (Jerusalem and the temple) as they were before. The Lord promised to cleanse them and forgive them of all their sin and guilt, and their rebellion against the Lord. Jerusalem’s name will become a joy, a praise and a glory to God among the nations of the world, and they will tremble with fear before God because of all the good and prosperity the Lord will give Jerusalem.

Faith means being certain of receiving what has been promised, and believing in what is not seen. Throughout Israel’s history, people who had faith in God received his approval.

By faith, Abel’s offering was more acceptable to God than Cain’s and received God’s approval, attested to by God’s acceptance of the sacrifice. Although Abel died, his example testifies to his faith. Enoch was taken up to heaven because he had faith and had pleased God. “And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Noah believed God’s warning and acted in faith without having seen the events God had foretold. He built the ark and saved his family. By his faith the world was condemned “and he became the heir of the righteousness which comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7b).

Abraham obeyed God’s call by faith, when God told him to go to a place he had never seen, and didn’t know where it was, which he was to receive as an inheritance. Abraham, and his descendants, Isaac, and Jacob who shared the promise lived in tents in the Promised Land as visitors without ownership or citizenship in the land, because they looked forward to the eternal city of God where they would have permanent homes (instead of tents). By faith in God’s promise Sarah conceived when she and Abraham were beyond the age for conception. So from one man who was at the end of his life, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore.

All these people died believing but not having received the fulfillment of God’s promise, although having seen it coming as from far away. They all recognized and acknowledged that they were aliens and visitors on this earth seeking an (eternal) homeland. They could have returned to the land of their birth, but instead they desired a better, heavenly country. “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16).

Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus replied that faith as small as a tiny mustard seed is sufficient to accomplish the most seemingly impossible things.

A servant’s duty to his master doesn’t end at the end of the day’s work. He still has the duty to attend to his master’ needs first, before receiving his compensation. The master doesn’t thank the servant for the performance of his duties; so we also should not expect special commendation for doing our duty to God and fulfilling his commands.

God’s Word is absolutely true and trustworthy. The hallmark of God’s Word and the test of prophesy is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God warned Judah, the remnant of Israel, through the example of the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of the divided monarchy, and through his prophets, to repent and return to obedient trust in God’s Word or suffer the consequences, but Judah refused to listen and obey.

Through Jeremiah, God promised Judah, before it happened, that Babylon was going to attack and carry them off to exile for seventy years. Even then, they could have repented and avoided exile up until the moment Jerusalem fell to the enemy, but Judah refused to repent and return to the Lord. So God withdrew his favor and protection and allowed Judah to be carried off to Babylon by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar in 588/587 B.C.*

God promised to bring Judah back from exile after seventy years and restore them to what they had before, and God fulfilled his promise. In 517 B.C.,* after the seventy years of exile, Judah dedicated the Second Temple replacing the one destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Seventy years of exile was a virtual life sentence for those who were adults at the time of the exile. The Israelites who went into exile in Babylon because of disobedience and unbelief died in Babylon. But those in exile who believed God’s promise of healing and restoration returned to the Promised Land a healed and restored people.

The Old Testament of the Bible is the history of God’s relationship with Israel, but it is also intended to be a parable and metaphor for life in this world. If we know and believe God’s Word we can learn to avoid the same mistakes Israel made.

In one sense Babylon is a metaphor for Hell. Those who refuse to trust and obey God’s Word will be condemned to eternal death in the “Babylon” of Hell.

In another sense, Babylon symbolizes our life in this world. We are all born into exile in “Babylon,” and the only way out and to the Promised Land of God’s kingdom in heaven is by knowing, trusting and obeying God’s promise in God’s Word.

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is the (only) way to God and eternal life in God’s kingdom in heaven; the (only divine, eternal) truth, and the only way to (true, eternal) life (John 14:6). Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God’s Word), salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction in Hell, restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and eternal life which begins now in this lifetime (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The Bible contains great promises and also ominous warnings. We will either believe the promises or we will experience the grave misfortunes that the warnings are intended to help us avoid. In order to receive the promises we have to know what they are so that we can claim them by faith.

Faith is obedient trust. People in this world believe in all sorts of things, but faith in God and God’s Word is the only faith which will not ultimately prove untrue and disappoint us. Lots of people think faith is getting whatever they believe if they believe “hard enough.”

Faith is not wishing something is true. One cannot truly believe something without acting accordingly.

“Religion” is mankind’s attempt to get God to do their will and favor them. The true relationship with God is faith, seeking to know and do God’s will. If we want God’s approval, we must trust and obey him.

God is our master and we are his servants. Do we expect God to wait on us and serve us? Do we expect God to give us special recognition and reward for doing God’s will and his commandments? Do we expect God to give us what we want without first doing what he wants?

Abraham’s life is intended to be an example. Each one of us is called by God to leave where we are, where we feel comfortable at home, and go to a place we’ve never known, can’t see, and don’t know how to reach, except by trusting and obeying God’s Word and guidance. The journey is for our lifetime, beginning with the first step in faith, and continuing one day at a time. We will be aliens and travelers heading for a place we will never reach in our lifetime. But as we walk in faith we will see the goal from afar, as we experience God’s faithfulness and love daily and see the fulfillment of God’s promises along the way.

Faith is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, indivisible, the least amount possible. If we have any faith in God’s Word at all, if we “plant” it by acting upon it in obedient trust, God will cause it to grow to maturity and to a size that is supernatural beyond our earthly expectations.

* Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Exile,” digital edition, bibledatabase.org - http://bibledatabase.org/eastons.html