Amazing Love, How can it be?

This book- God’s word, is his story that demonstrates his character and love, his heart to protect, provide, encourage, lead, direct, engage.  It is hard, often to understand the cultural dynamics of the Old Testament. This is a several thousand years old history of a culture foreign to our own. Sometimes we get caught up in what seems unfair to us, culturally and overlook God’s purpose and his heart.

Israel was God chosen nation. Israel is his chose nation. Their father, Abraham was NOT a man of faith in God UNTIL God engage him. He believed God and was accepted by God as righteous. He was accepted because he believed God’s words to him, from that belief, Abraham moves forward in obedience. In essence he did as God instructed and lead him. Israel was not a nation- God made them a nation and gave them a land with conditions, keeping his promise to Abraham. The Old Testament reveals the character of God and His ability and heart to keep His promises to His people. The Old Testament is a historical love story. God loves, God promises, God protects, Gods is righteous and just – the very character of God is laid open in this inspired historical record.

Watch for it as you read it. It is beautiful and often brutal. The good guys do not always come away untouched. There are consequences for choices. The justice of God goes both ways.  This is not a fairytale where the magic genie makes everything perfect. It is a real account of real people who made real choices. It is the account of a real God and how he interacts with real people.

Look for his provision and protection. Take notice of His character.  It is fundamental to the relationship He longs to have with you, so fundamental He wrote it down and it has remained for thousands of years unchanged.

Fundamental to one’s understanding of God is his unalterable character. God is the same, yesterday today, and forever. In a world where everything changes rapidly and frequently, this concept of eternal consistency is difficult to comprehend, but how comforting to know something the same stays; someone can be counted on. As God wooed and approached Abraham, He comes to each of us; longing to bring us into relationship; exampled in many lives like Moses, David, Noah, Abigail, Joshua and countless others. The connecting thread has not changed; God loves, God made a way to bridge the gap from us to him; God opens our eyes to accept His loving provision and in faith He moves us forward. It all flows from Him. Our provision, His ultimate demonstration of love and provision is the sacrificial gift of his only son, Jesus Christ; the perfect sacrifice, acceptable to a righteous unchanging God. He made the way. He loves so much – He has done the work- believe. The eyes to see, He has given you if you will accept the gift; this amazing gift of faith through God’s provision, His son. What Jesus did on the Cross, dying, out of love for his Father and sinful man, rising from the dead, because God brings the ultimate, eternal victory over death, and now seated by His Father, working on behalf of those who believe in His provision, His work, His way.

Amazing Love, How can it be?

If you would like to talk with me about this God of love, please email me at ebenezersofgrace@gmail.com