Living By Faith in His Name – February 17, 2017

Following the plague of the flies, the first of the plagues that distinguished the Israelites from the Egyptians, things were going to get deadly for the Egyptians. Up until now, the plagues merely caused discomfort, misery, and inconvenience, but now God was going to bring on another round of plagues, and this time people and animals would die. The livelihood of the whole Egyptian society would be destroyed and the land would be devastated. But it did not come without full warning. God had this message for Pharoah. He told Moses to go again to Pharoah, and this time Moses was to announce this message to Pharoah:

 

Living By Faith in His Name – February 12, 2017

The words of the Old Covenant/Old Testament Scripture spoken by Abraham, beautifully and meticulously, prophesy the ultimate provision of the coming of the One Who would give His life for our salvation.

As Isaac wondered out loud to his father, “Where is the sacrifice?”, Abraham answered,

“God will provide Himself a Lamb” (Genesis 22:8, KJV)

In the New Testament Scripture, the ultimate sacrifice comes through Jesus, this promised One. His conception and birth is announced to Joseph in a dream preparing him for what is soon to come regarding his beloved Mary, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. ” (Matthew 1:21)

When Jesus has been born, grows up and becomes a man, beginning His three and a half year ministry on earth, John the Baptist proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV)

The promises of Jesus include provision both in this life (Matthew 6:25-33; Philippians 4:19) and in the life to come. (John 14:2-3)

Living By Faith in His Name – February 11, 2017

As a woman, I love that the first appearance of “the angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament is to a woman. And not just any woman, an Egyptian slave woman. Someone who was not highly valued or regarded by people, but she was indeed highly valued by the Lord. What an amazing thing that God loves and comforts even the lowliest one from a human perspective and seeing her – really seeing her, knowing her heart is breaking – and comes to her, showing Himself to her, and loving her. This is the true God. This is the One we serve – the God who sees me and makes Himself manifest to us, sacrificing His One and Only Son to save us from our sins, to make us fit for His Kingdom, to make us His own! Wow!!! Just Wow!!!