Part human, part computer . . .

Today’s pundits are often amusing. They predict everything from the scores in basketball games to who will win the next election. They argue their choices and convince sponsors to pay air time for their discussions. Sometimes they hit the target, but mostly not. Most of the time, modern seers are simply gambling!

It would be interesting if our society went back to the Old Testament test for a true prophet: everything he predicted must come true. One hundred percent. Otherwise they were considered false, not speaking for God, and sometimes put to death. The standard is high!

That the Old Testament has hundreds of prophecies that have already come true is rather amazing and one of the convincing arguments for the inspiration of Scripture. Who can know the future but God? Who can convey future events to mere humans but the Spirit of God? No guessing allowed.

Today’s devotional has references to prophecy from the Old Testament. Jesus was with two disciples after His resurrection. At first, they did not recognize Him, but when they did, He took them into a Bible study . . .

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.'” (Luke 24:45–49)

The OT prophets wrote of Jesus coming to earth (even saying He would be born in Bethlehem) and that He would suffer and die for our sin and rise from the dead on the third day. They also wrote that this good news would be shared with the world. All of that came true — how wonderful!

God also spoke through them about a promise, a power that would give them all that is needed to be His witnesses . . .

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” (Joel 2:28–29)

Joel was written several hundred years before this promise was fulfilled, but like all biblical prophecies, it came true. The Spirit is here. He comes in dreams and visions and with the power needed to live as God wants His people to live.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I’ve lots of reasons to be excited today, but this reality gives me overwhelming joy and hope. Like those early disciples, I am an ordinary person, yet God pours His Spirit out that I might have all I need to do all that He wants me to do. No excuses. No fears. Yesterday, a surgical procedure occurred that makes me part human and part computer (no kidding), but when You saved me, something more amazing happened; You gave me Yourself and a oneness with You that surpasses anything any heart surgeon can do. My computer-driven heart can fail, but through the power of the Holy Spirit You have given me life — a never-ending life that does not depend on electronics or batteries.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

Blessings and the ultimate blessing

Genesis 47-50 

Genesis ends with Jacob’s family settled in Egypt. Yet the passing of the patriarchs marks the beginning, not the end, of what God will do in the lives of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  

I'm encouraged that the passing of one generation is not the end. As I trust God, I can say to our children, “God will be with you” and rely on Him to work out His purpose in their lives, a good thought as grow older.  

When Joseph's family arrived in Egypt, he settled them on prime Egyptian land. Jacob counted Joseph’s 2 sons as his own, and blessed all 13 before he died. Then Joseph buried his father, reaffirmed his forgiveness of his brothers, and obtained a promise that when God brought their offspring back to Canaan, Joseph’s bones would be returned to his homeland.  

Two things stand out in my mind. First is that the patriarchal culture put an emphasis on the birthright and special privileges of the firstborn. Also important was the blessing, usually given to the oldest son, but also to the entire family. As Jacob neared the end of his life, he called his sons around him and blessed them. Here are two examples: 

“Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. 

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. . . ." (Genesis 49:5-10). 

A few contemporary theologians and authors have picked up on this custom and exhorted Christian parents on the necessity of "blessing" our children. While encouraging them is vital, it is easy to miss how closely Jacob's words were to prophecy. He wasn’t merely telling them what he desired for their lives, but looking ahead with prophetic vision to what their lives would actually become based somewhat on their current character. 

Simeon and Levi's 'blessing' didn't seem like one. In Judah's case, it was very positive, even looking ahead to what the life of his descendant would be, pointing to Jesus Christ. 

Would I bless my children the same way? If God give me a clear view of the future and it didn't look too good, would I be able to tell them, or even believe God. If their future was to be bleak instead of prosperous, could I call it a 'blessing'? My affection and my bias could not give an objective blessing. I could only offer my deepest desires, all positive of course. 

The other part of these four chapters that touches my heart and boosts my faith is when the brothers came to Joseph after Jacob died. They were fearful that now he would take revenge for what they had done to him many years before. But Joseph wept when they spoke to him. He said, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them." (Genesis 50:17-21) 

Joseph was a man of integrity and a good example of how to respond to my God. He is a God of ultimate kindness and grace. He does work all things together for the good of His people. He assures me when I am fearful, and takes care of all my needs. 

Evidence of God

2 Kings 4:18–5:27, Mark 14:51–15:15, Proverbs 6:12–19, Luke 7:16, Mark 14:61–64, Mark 14:71, Mark 15:2

Miracles are sometimes defined as God breaking His own rules. He goes beyond normal to show His presence and His power. He did so in the OT with miracles done by His prophets. These miracles were often repeated by God in the person of Jesus Christ.

For instance, the son of a couple who welcomed Elisha into their home suddenly died. Elisha came into the house, “went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.” (2 Kings 4:32–34)

Jesus restored to life the son of a widow (Luke 7:12-17) Some of the onlookers made the connection and said, “A great prophet has arisen among us! . . . God has visited his people!” (Luke 7:16)

Elisha also multiplied insufficient food to feed a multitude. He said, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’ ” So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.” (2 Kings 4:42–44) Two instances in the NT describe Jesus feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes, and the disciples gathered up basketfuls of leftovers.

Elisha also healed a leper called Naaman who was the army captain of Syria. (2 Kings 5:1-15) Jesus did this several times, yet the religious leaders made no connection between what He was doing and what God’s prophets did in their OT history. How did they miss it?

One possibility is in Solomon’s description of those who miss seeing what God is doing because of sin in their lives. He calls them worthless, wicked, and deceitful trouble-makers. He adds six characteristics that God hates: “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:12–19)

Some of these qualities were (and still are) displayed by the enemies of Jesus Christ. Solomon called all six of them abominations to God.

In the NT, the religious leaders arrested Jesus and asked questions like, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” They didn’t get it even though Jesus told them, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Instead, they called His answers and claims blasphemy and condemned Him. (Mark 14:61–64) Would they have done the same to the prophets? Why weren’t they enraged at the miracles of Elijah and Elisha?

Peter knew who Jesus was and called Him “the Son of the Living God” but in the end denied it saying, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” (Mark 14:71) Pilot, a Roman, asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:2) He might have believed His answer, or at least was willing to call Him the King of the Jews and release Him, but in fear of the Jews, he denied the clear evidence also, then he put Jesus to death.

This impresses me with at least two things. One is the OT continually points to Jesus, whether people see it or not. The second is that miracles might amaze people, but they will not necessarily convince anyone of the power and presence of God.

The power of God

Daniel 7:1–8:27, 2 Thessalonians 1:1–12, Job 41:21–34

God makes His power known in many ways. One is in creation. In the book of Job, He describes a great beast that He formed. Part of this description says: “His belly is armor-plated, inexorable — unstoppable as a barge. He roils deep ocean the way you’d boil water, he whips the sea like you’d whip an egg into batter. With a luminous trail stretching out behind him, you might think Ocean had grown a gray beard! There’s nothing on this earth quite like him, not an ounce of fear in that creature! He surveys all the high and mighty— king of the ocean, king of the deep!” (Job 41:30–34, The Message)

Job stopped questioning God after this description. Since God can create a beast like that, is there anything He cannot do? However, many people have decided that there is no Creator and the worlds around us happened by chance or some other means than the power described in the Bible. They miss seeing the power of God.

Governing the affairs of the world is also included in God’s to-do list. While this power is described in many ways, prophetic declarations and their fulfillment are most amazing. This week, a radio preacher said that at least 100 prophecies from the book of Daniel have already been fulfilled. Imagine God writing a to-do list and over the decades and centuries of time, as those events happen He checks them off.

Yet the list has more events that are yet to happen, like this one: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14) This points to Jesus Christ whose kingdom is “already but not yet” among us.

God’s unlimited power goes by the theological word ‘omnipotent.” He displays it in a general way like the creation of our planet, and in specific events like prophecy and its fulfillment. But God’s power is also seen in the lives of His people. He has the power to build my faith, to increase my love for others, to protect me from anyone who wants to hurt me, and to even use me to show the world that judgment is coming. His Word puts it this way:

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–10)

God takes care of me, but He does not ignore those who do not know or obey Him. Some of this passage is not very popular for even Christians struggle with the idea of eternal punishment. Yet God says those who reject His offer of forgiveness and eternal salvation will not enjoy those gifts. How can they when they have made it clear that they are not interested in being with the Lord forever?

My understanding of eternal condemnation is being separated from God without all the good He is and does. There is nothing but emptiness, no beauty or light but darkness and ugliness, no sense of consistent care or a solid rock on which to stand. Instead, there is fear and unsteadiness, no love but alone and abandoned.

My short description makes me feel both horror and gratitude. I am glad to be a child of God who enjoys His power, but there is a great burden in my heart for those who don’t know Almighty God because they have ignored or rejected Him. His power is evident. His love is not far away. All that He is is best displayed in His Son who gave His life that we can know and enjoy our powerful Creator.