Category Archives: plan of God

the earthly family of heaven’s king

Matthew 1:1-17.  The Gospel of Matthew is a great adventure story by which readers are confronted with the reality that they have been visited by an extra-terrestrial: heaven’s king, Jesus Christ.  Matthew first encountered the king when he was called … Continue reading

Posted in ethnic Israel, family, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, plan of God | Tagged | Leave a comment

times of threshing

Isaiah 21.  The punishment that God’s people would face under the oppressor (in this case, Babylon) for their disobedience was like grain, which is crushed to separate it from its chaff, and then violently thrown to the wind for winnowing.  … Continue reading

Posted in love, plan of God, relationship with God, suffering | Tagged | Leave a comment

sometimes God says no

2 Corinthians 12:1-10.  As I write this, I am going through a severe spiritual battle.  Something that I really expected to happen has not happened.  Like Paul and his thorn in the flesh, I have prayed many times about this, … Continue reading

Posted in confidence, dependence upon God, faith, faithfulness, obedience, plan of God, submission, will of God | Tagged | 2 Comments

stumped

Isaiah 6.  King Uzziah had lived his final ten years as a leper, with his son Jotham taking his throne instead. In contrast to the earthly king’s shame, Isaiah sees the glory of the heavenly king, who is always on … Continue reading

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the foolishness of God

1 Corinthians 1:18-31.  The human mind is capable of astonishing leaps of insight, connecting the dots of thought and idea in a way that makes sense of an altogether complex world.  But the unaided human mind stops and opens its … Continue reading

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drawing people to God

Romans 15:1-13.  Christ is our example as we seek to preserve the faith of those who differ from us theologically.  He welcomed the Gentiles and gave them the same hope that the Israelites had, as the scriptures attest. “The root … Continue reading

Posted in church, ethnic Israel, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, plan of God, witness | Tagged | 1 Comment

God and Israel

Romans 11.  Paul asks a rhetorical question — “has God rejected Israel?”  He answers: “By no means.”  His explanation can be summed up by three phrases 1) present remnant: Paul and others are Jewish branches currently in the olive tree.  … Continue reading

Posted in ethnic Israel, grace, Jesus Christ, plan of God | Tagged | 1 Comment

behind the scenes

Exodus 5:1-6:9.  It appears on the surface that Moses’ first attempt at delivering the people of Israel fails.  God is doing something behind the scenes that sets up the board for a new kind of operation. He is giving Pharaoh … Continue reading

Posted in confidence, patience, perseverance, plan of God, redemption, suffering | Tagged , | 1 Comment

preparing for the mission

Exodus 2:23-3:22.  All the while Israel was groaning because of their slavery and crying out to God, the LORD was preparing Moses for the task of leading them out of Egypt.  The LORD taught Moses by having him raise a … Continue reading

Posted in leadership, ministry, patience, plan of God, preparation, trust | Tagged , | 1 Comment

strange deliverance

Exodus 1:22-2:22.  This story begins with a birth, and ends with a birth.  Moses is born with a death sentence on his head. He is delivered by means of God’s sovereignty and the intervention of several women.  Pharaoh had commanded … Continue reading

Posted in deliverance, Jesus Christ, plan of God | Tagged , | 1 Comment