A few days ago, we read the last story in Genesis; yesterday, we moved into Exodus. The ending of Genesis is significant, however, so we should pause there for a minute.
We have talked before about how so much of the Bible unpacks God's promises to Abraham and shows how those promises were progressively fulfilled. Joseph clung to God's promises. He clung not only to those promises that he saw fulfilled but held tightly to the promises yet to be fulfilled. He believed that God would eventually take his family to a land of their own, where they would be blessed and bless others.
Look at Joseph's dying words to his family: "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob . . . God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place." (Genesis 50:24-25 NIV) Joseph died with hope of what was to come. He died looking for the day that God would "come to the aid" of His people and, by doing so, rescue and bless them.
The phrase "come to the aid" is a translation of the Hebrew verb that means "visit." That Hebrew verb, visit, refers to God's divine intervention for the sake of blessing. Joseph died knowing that the blessings would come and promises be fulfilled when God visited his people.
Fast forward many generations and years.... a girl named Mary is pregnant. During that pregnancy, she stays for three months with a family - Elizabeth and Zechariah. Elizabeth and Zechariah knew the story of Mary's pregnancy. They knew that she was carrying God's Son. Zechariah becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies about the baby Mary is carrying and what that baby would do. (See Luke 1:68-79). You know what Zechariah says? In prophesying about and describing the significance of Jesus' pending birth, he says God has visited and come to His people through that baby (Luke 1:68).
As a result of Jesus visiting us, many promises and blessings have been fulfilled.
Yet, we still suffer, struggle, sin. Our bodies wear down and people die. At times, addictions can appear more powerful than God. There are many promises that have not been completely fulfilled. You know that. I know that. John - one of Jesus' disciples - knew that.
Towards the end of John's life he, like Joseph, longed and hoped for what was yet to come. What is so fascinating and encouraging is that much of his hope rested in what Joseph's hope rested in. In some of John's final words, he describes and expects God's complete redemption of us and the final fulfillment of all of God's promises to us (Revelation 19 - 22). The final fulfillment of those promise is tied to one thing - when Jesus visits us once again (Revelation 19; 22:7, 12, 20). And so, John ends with the plea filled with hope "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
Joseph knew that God's promises would be fulfilled through God's coming and visiting. Joseph hoped and longed for that. Jesus came.
John knew that God's promises will be completely fulfilled when Jesus comes again and visits this earth. John hoped and longed for that.
What am I hoping and longing for? What are you hoping and longing for? Is our hope tied to God finally fulfilling all of His promises when Jesus comes. Or, is our hope tied to simply trying to make our lives today more comfortable and manageable?
Come, Lord Jesus. Come.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Will someone explain Ex 4:24 please
My hope is not attached to God fulfilling his promise when Jesus comes back. I hear about Jesus returning so often that it becomes a cliche that I am numbing towards. I witness people using this as a means to escape the tough demands of this life. (e.g. I hope Jesus comes back before I have to do this presentation, etc.)
My hope is more tied to temporary pursuits and making it through another day. Because of this, the results can make me frustrated
--Bill Hnat--
Ex 4:24-Moses had ignored the covenant God had with His people. In Genesis 17:14 we read "Anyone who refuses to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for violating the covenant." Moses was not only part of the covenant family but the leader, who would deliver Israel from Egyptian captivity. The act of not circumcising his son was in violation of this covenant.
-Dawn
Ex 4:24 is related to Moses' failure to observe/obey the covenant of circumcision (see Genesis 17:9-14 in addition to the two verses following Ex 4:24.). Maybe there will be some discussion when we hit Exodus 4 later this month. Peace to you.
Post a Comment