Many say that GRACE is the acrostic for Great Riches At Christ’s Expense. God showed us amazing grace when He sent His Son to die on a cruel cross for all of us who were lost in our sin so that we might have eternal life. This is an indescribable love. This week Nader delineates for us how God has shown us His great acts of grace from the beginning of time, yet on may occasions His gift of grace was rejected.
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The life of the nation of Israel in the wilderness has many lessons for Christians. In chapter 22-24 of the book of Numbers, we see that God cares for His people and does not allow Balaam to curse Gods' people, so He turns the curse into a blessing and protects the people of Israel.
“Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, 'Return to Balak, and this is what you shall speak.' So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab. And he took up his discourse and said, 'From Aram Balak has brought me, Moab’s king from the mountains of the East, saying, ‘Come, declare Jacob cursed for me, and come, curse Israel!’ How am I to put a curse on him upon whom God has not put a curse? And how am I to curse him whom the LORD has not cursed?” Numbers 23:5-8
But in chapter 25 we see that the people of Israel are reconciled to sin and the world and live like idolaters, so they are trapped. The same mistake that Adam and Eve made in the Garden of Eden, their children repeated in the wilderness. God's commands were a shield for them, but they put the shield of God on the ground and embraced sin and the world. The Word of God is given to protect us. But how does God's Word protect us? I think everyone has seen the symbol of a bone and skull on bottles of toxic and chemical substances. A skull and crossbones is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two long bones crossed together under or behind the skull, which is generally used as a hazard and death symbol that warns of danger, usually in regard to poisonous substances, such as deadly chemicals. Yes, the Word of God acts like a skull and crossbones sign to warn us. God warns us with His Word and if we disobey it, we will die.
“But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:17
“They shall therefore perform their duty to Me, so that they do not bear sin because of it and die by it because they profane it; I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” Leviticus 22:9
Even when God commands stoning, it does not mean that human beings must be killed by stoning, but that He wants to show His hatred and disgust for human sin. He gives this warning ruling like a skull and crossbones sign so that man avoids sin and does not die. God does not enjoy the pain and death of human beings, but rather He asks them to live by obeying His commands and not to disrespect Him but to glorify Him.
“Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure at all in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then should you die, house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11
But what do I mean by that? As I study the Word of God in the Old Testament, I try to better understand the indescribable grace and love of the Heavenly Father in the New Testament through Jesus Christ and what a great work Christ has done for us on the cross. And this makes me try not to abuse God's grace, but instead it gives me the desire to move towards a holy life.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
So from what point of view do you read the Old Testament? Do you apply it in your life of faith? I hope we can all understand the indescribable work of Jesus Christ in the light of the Old Testament, who died in our place and then rose again!!!
Nader your little brother in CHRIST
GOD BLESS YOU. AMEN
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