Blog Outline

In 52 brief snapshots we will try to paint a picture of Jesus as hinted at, indicated, outlined and glimpsed in the Old Testament. We will not be providing a comprehensive study but we hope it will be both accessible and helpful to you and serve to deepen both your understanding of, and relationship with, the greatest man who ever lived.

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

The royal line of Judah

Genesis 49:8-12

Jacob lived to be over 130 years old. Towards the end of his life he gathered his 12 sons together and prophesied over each of them in turn (see Genesis 49). This fascinating prophecy has many interesting features but in terms of this blog verses 8-12 are most relevant.

The heart of the prophecy about Judah is the elevation of Judah to being the person through whom the royal line of Israel would come. The account of Genesis so far seemed to indicate that Joseph and his sons would be the leading tribe. Indeed, as we read through the Old Testament we will see Ephraim rise to lead the nation. However, in due course God would choose the tribe of Judah instead (see Psalm 78:67,68).

God says that ‘the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet’ (v10). This indicates that kingship is being given to Judah. But this bestowal of kingship is not just a temporary appointment. Judah is being designated as the royal line forever. And this even before the nation has formed, gained any territory or thought of appointing a king!

Judah means ‘praise’ and God says that Judah’s brothers will praise him (v8). In addition, verse 11 describes activities that only can happen when there is peace and abundance. When put in the context of being the royal line it signifies that the reign of his descendants will be marked by obedience, abundance and peace.

Judah is also described as ‘a lion’s cub’ (v9) and ultimately from this lion’s cub will come the one who is worthy to open the scrolls, Jesus, ‘the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah’ (Revelation 5:5).

Further reading     Revelation 5:1-10

Worship video

To think about
What prophetic words have been spoken over you? Which ones have happened? Which ones do you need to pray over and even remind God about?

Creative Response
Journal page by Bernice


Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them. Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group.

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Joseph

Genesis 37-50

The story of Joseph spans chapters 37 to 50 of Genesis and has a number of aspects that point us to Jesus. I only have space to highlight a few in brief here and the whole account is worth some study and reflection.

Firstly, Joseph is rejected, betrayed and sold by those closest to him. The story begins with Joseph as his father’s favourite which annoys his 11 other brothers (37:3,4). He also has some dreams in which he sees his family bowing down to him. He shares these dreams with his family (37:5-11). These revelations are not well received and the brothers see an opportunity to kill Joseph (37:18ff). In the end he is not killed but is sold to some foreign traders for 20 shekels of silver (37:25-28).

If we look forward to the events of Gethsemane we see Jesus is betrayed by one of His closest friends, Judas, for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Upon being arrested by the authorities following this betrayal, He was then abandoned by those closest to him (Matthew 26:47-56).

Secondly, Joseph is wrongly convicted. After being sold into slavery Joseph ends up in the house of Potiphar (Genesis 39) where he serves as overseer in the house. Potiphar’s wife wrongly accuses Joseph of sexual exploitation and he is thrown into jail (39:7-23).

Jesus, too, is wrongly accused and during His trial it is even said by Pilate, ‘I find no guilt in Him’ (John 18:38). However, He is sentenced to death – an unjust punishment for a crime He didn’t commit.

Thirdly, Joseph is involved in the salvation of many. Through an interesting series of events that leads to Joseph becoming in charge of the nation of Egypt and developing a system for storing up food in the good years to help them through years of famine, the story concludes with the nations coming to Egypt to get food in order to stay alive. The account concludes with Joseph saying to his brothers, ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive’ (50:20).

Exactly the same could be said of Jesus: His betrayal, conviction and murder was meant for evil, but through it God preserved or saved many people (Acts 3:13-16).

Further reading    Matthew 26:14-27:26      Acts 3:11-26

Worship Video

To think about:
Have you ever experienced a time of rejection or betrayal?  How did you deal with it?

Creative Response
Journal page by Bernice


Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group


Wednesday, 10 February 2016

The sacrifice of Isaac

Genesis 22:1-14

God blessed Abraham with his promised son. He was named Isaac, which means ‘he laughs’. In due course God spoke to Abraham saying, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you’ (v2).

At first reading this is a shocking commandment for God to give and on a human level is pretty much impossible to make sense of. However, God is testing Abraham (v1) and He is about to give one of the clearest indications yet of His future plans. Abraham does as God requests and makes his way to the place where he plans to sacrifice Isaac.

The language of God’s command to Abraham reminds us of the sort of language God uses about Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism God says, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17). In one of the best known verses of the Bible John summarises the incarnation as follows, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…’ (John 3:16). So both Jesus and Isaac are described as the son, the only son, and the son who is dearly loved.

It is also worth noticing that Isaac has to carry the wood that was to form the basis of the fire for the burnt offering (v6). This too, is echoed in the experience of Jesus who had to carry the wood of His own cross, on which He would be killed (see John 19:17).

Not only that, but Isaac realises that there is no animal for the sacrifice and asks, ‘Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ (v7). Abraham responds with, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb’ (v8). Ultimately Abraham was spared sacrificing his son because God intervened and provided a ram.

In Jesus, God does provide His one and only beloved Son as a sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:36).

Further reading: John 1:36    John 3:16    John 19:17-18

Worship Video

To think about:
In what areas have you been tested by God?
Has God ever asked you to give up something that was going well because although you didn’t know at the time he had something better planned for you?

Creative Response:
Photo by Bernice


Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group.   

 

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

The birth of Isaac: Echoes of the incarnation

Genesis 18:1-15

Abraham had been promised a son by God. In Genesis 12, 15 and 17 we see a picture build up as God tells Abram that he will have many descendants in a series of promises. God reinforces His promise in chapter 17 by saying changing his name from Abram (which means ‘exalted father’) to Abraham (which means ‘father of a multitude’).

In Genesis 18 we see God visit Abraham and reinforce the message face to face. The Lord appears and tells him that he will return in a years’ time and Sarah will have a son (v10). Sarah overhears and her reaction is to laugh and declare that this is impossible due to her age by saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child when I am so old?’ (v13). On a human level this is understandable as she was about 90 years old at the time. God responds to her laughter by assuring her that this will indeed be the case.

There are some incredible similarities with the story of Mary being told that she would give birth to Jesus. An angel appears to Mary and announces the fact that she is going to bear a son (Lk 1:31). Mary’s reaction is one of surprise and she exclaims, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ (Lk 1:34) The barriers of being beyond child-bearing age, in the case of Sarah, or being a virgin, in the case of Mary, have the same result: it is impossible to conceive! Unless, of course, God is involved in producing a miracle!

However, God’s response to both women is striking. To Sarah He says, ‘Is anything too difficult for the Lord?’ (v14). To Mary He says, ‘For nothing is impossible with God’ (Lk 1:38). The tone is similar. The message is the same. ‘Look beyond your circumstances to God who can do all things’.

These women could not, in the natural, become pregnant, but such barriers are insignificant when it comes to God.

Further reading: Luke 1:26-38

Worship video


To think about:
Have you experienced times when barriers have seemed insurmountable but God has turned the situation round?

Creative Response:
Journal page by Bernice
Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group.