Category: God’s omniscience

Joseph and Jesus #12

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

“These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report” (Genesis 37:2 KJV).

Let us search the Scriptures to see how Joseph is a type of the antitype Jesus….

We Berean Bible students have seen how Joseph and Jesus are alike in excess of 20 specific traits and circumstances. This is certainly not coincidental. To those who want to see, hear, and believe, it is as clear as can be. Joseph served as a template, foreshadow, preview, pattern, or outline: by nature, that is a type in the Bible. Centuries later, the antitype (Jesus Christ) shared those same qualities and underwent those very situations. By studying the one, we better appreciate the other, rejoicing how the LORD God was omniscient, knowing well in advance what would occur all along. Joseph’s whole life—even seemingly insignificant attributes and situations—prophesied what another beloved Son would be like and what He would experience.

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:10,11). Like the other Old Testament prophets, Moses (who wrote about Joseph in Genesis) possessed limited knowledge. He had no idea the Holy Spirit was using him to present Messiah’s two comings with such vivid details—one arrival to suffer and die, and a return to conquer and reign. Stephen, speaking in Acts 7:9-16, had more light than Moses, for by that time the Lord Jesus Christ had already come once and the saints in early Acts were anticipating His reappearance. With a completed Bible canon, we have even greater insight than Moses and Stephen combined. May we be thankful!

Joseph is just one of several types of Jesus Christ: other examples include Joseph’s brother Benjamin, plus Adam, Abel, Noah, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, David, and Solomon. While beyond the scope of this study, they too are equally fascinating.

God’s Perfect Timing

Saturday, December 17, 2022

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4,5 KJV).

As today’s Scripture indicates, the birth of Jesus Christ was no accident—God planned its exact moment from eternity past.

When God placed the first man, Adam, on earth, He purposed that man would “subdue [control] it,” to “have dominion” over it and everything on it (Genesis 1:28). Nevertheless, Adam sinned by joining Satan in his rebellion against God. Because of sin, man was now unable to accomplish on earth what God originally created him to do. God left the human race a promise, however, that there would come a Man, who would do what Adam failed to do. Instead of cooperating with God’s adversary like Adam had, this “seed of the woman” would “bruise [Satan’s] head” (Genesis 3:15).

Traveling up through the Scriptures, we see how God lays the groundwork for that seedline. In Genesis 12:1-3, or 2,000 years after Adam’s sin, we read God’s covenant with Abraham, that through Abraham a nation, Israel, will be born, and salvation and blessing will flow to the Gentiles through Israel. The seed of the woman becomes the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16).

In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, and 1,000 years after Abraham, we read of God’s covenant with King David, that “his seed” will inherit his throne and reign forever. The seed of the woman and of Abraham becomes the seed of David.

About 1,000 years after David, Matthew 1:1 speaks of Christ’s birth, and declares, “…Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” This is exactly what God had promised for thousands of years!

Jesus Christ’s birth was not some haphazard event of nature. God the Father had preplanned the exact moment of the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ (today’s Scripture). Over a period of some 4,000 years, the three members of the Godhead worked to bring about the birth of man’s Redeemer, a plan they had even before man was created! Amazing!

The Man from Kerioth #4

Friday, November 4, 2022

“…Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4 KJV).

After Satan and the Antichrist, he is probably the most despised Bible character. Meet Judas Iscariot!

Unbelieving Judas’ downfall was materialism or avarice. Once he let that dominate him, the rest of Satan’s will appealed to him. Even though the context is the ministry of the local church (Paul’s Pastoral Epistles—1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon), the following words of this the Dispensation of the Grace of God are advisable even for individual Christians.

First Timothy chapter 6: “…[5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment [clothing] let us be therewith content. [9] But they that will [desire/wish to] be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows…. [17] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; [18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate [share]; [19] Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

How many preachers and teachers (or even church members) these last 2,000 years would be better off today had they heeded the above counsel, instead of mismanaging God’s money in their local assemblies because of their insatiable appetite for accumulating material wealth? Saints, it is absolutely not a sin to be rich monetarily, but if we are striving for this end instead of aiming to be “rich in good works” (1 Timothy 6:18), then we resemble that most despised man from Kerioth. Our name will be just as distasteful in others’ mouths as his is!

The Man from Kerioth #3

Thursday, November 3, 2022

“…Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4 KJV).

After Satan and the Antichrist, he is probably the most despised Bible character. Meet Judas Iscariot!

The Holy Bible ties materialism and Judas Iscariot together. John 12:6 reveals him to be the Apostles’ dishonest treasurer—someone who pilfered from God’s people and was, apparently, so skillful at erecting a façade that no one suspected what he was really doing with their funds. “He was a thief,” but they had appointed him to “have the [money]bag!”

We also know from Scripture: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26:14-16). “And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him” (Mark 14:10,11). “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude” (Luke 22:3-6).

Indeed, Judas did not work for free! He would turn Jesus over to Israel’s apostate religious leaders, but only if he got paid for all his trouble: “What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?” (Matthew 26:15). The 30 silver pieces he received were roughly three- or four-months’ wages—the price of a dead slave (Exodus 21:32) or a field (Matthew 27:3-10; Acts 1:16-19). This greed for material goods was prominent amongst lost Jews throughout Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew 19:16-26; Matthew 21:12-13; Matthew 23:14; Mark 10:17-27; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 16:19-31; Luke 18:18-27; Luke 19:45,46; John 2:13-17; John 6:15,26,27)—people so distracted in wishing for more worldly goods that they overlooked their need for forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the Lord Jesus. Even today, material blessings are sought at the expense of spiritual blessings….

The Man from Kerioth #2

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

“…Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4 KJV).

After Satan and the Antichrist, he is probably the most despised Bible character. Meet Judas Iscariot!

Carefully consider John 6:64: “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” The Lord was not the least bit surprised when Judas Iscariot actually did betray Him. While the other 11 Apostles knew nothing of the real Judas until they beheld him leading that Christ-rejecting mob in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ understood his heart from the beginning. Yea, God incarnate in His omniscience could read the hearts of all who were supposedly “believing” and “following” Him (John 2:23-25; John 6:15,26,27,43,64-66). Paraphrased, He told the bread-seeking crowds, “You alleged ‘disciples’ do not fool Me!” (John 6:65). Realizing He had looked into their faithless hearts, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66).

Satan always uses whatever avenue he can to reach whomever he can. Of course, his sneaky efforts usually go undetected until it is too late. Look at his cheap flattery in Genesis 3:1-5. Observe his clever terminology in 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15. Contemplate his “devices” or schemes (grudges dividing Christian brethren) in 2 Corinthians 2:10,11. Recall his “wiles” or tricks against which we must guard in Ephesians 6:11-18. Whatever weaknesses we have, he exploits them. Yet, we always have a choice to be informed concerning his ways, using God’s wisdom imparted to us so we resist the Devil’s will (see 2 Timothy 2:24-26). Remember, Satan does not take over someone without their consent.

John 12:3-6 suggests Judas Iscariot made himself vulnerable to satanic influence via one specific sin or wicked inclination: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

Material wealth was Judas Iscariot’s idol….

ARCHIVED: “Should Christians observe All Souls’ Day?”

God’s Perfect Timing

Friday, December 17, 2021

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4,5 KJV).

As today’s Scripture indicates, the birth of Jesus Christ was no accident—God planned its exact moment from eternity past.

When God placed the first man, Adam, on earth, He purposed that man would “subdue [control] it,” to “have dominion” over it and everything on it (Genesis 1:28). Nevertheless, Adam sinned by joining Satan in his rebellion against God. Because of sin, man was now unable to accomplish on earth what God originally created him to do. God left the human race a promise, however, that there would come a Man, who would do what Adam failed to do. Instead of cooperating with God’s adversary like Adam had, this “seed of the woman” would “bruise [Satan’s] head” (Genesis 3:15).

Traveling up through the Scriptures, we see how God lays the groundwork for that seedline. In Genesis 12:1-3, or 2,000 years after Adam’s sin, we read God’s covenant with Abraham, that through Abraham a nation, Israel, will be born, and salvation and blessing will flow to the Gentiles through Israel. The seed of the woman becomes the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16).

In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, and 1,000 years after Abraham, we read of God’s covenant with King David, that “his seed” will inherit his throne and reign forever. The seed of the woman and of Abraham becomes the seed of David.

About 1,000 years after David, Matthew 1:1 speaks of Christ’s birth, and declares, “…Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” This is exactly what God had promised for thousands of years!

Jesus Christ’s birth was not some haphazard event of nature. God the Father had preplanned the exact moment of the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ (today’s Scripture). Over a period of some 4,000 years, the three members of the Godhead worked to bring about the birth of man’s Redeemer, a plan they had even before man was created! Amazing!

The Secret Things #12

Monday, September 27, 2021

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV).

Let us notice the difference between the “secret things” and the “revealed things!”

In the beginning, Father God intended to glorify His Son, Jesus Christ, in Heaven and Earth. From Adam onward, an earthly kingdom exemplified the Creator’s message to man (Matthew 25:34; Acts 3:19-21). In this prophetic program, once Adam sinned by following Satan (a spirit being who had already corrupted Heaven with sin), the LORD began forming a new people in the Earth to be His kingdom of priests. The nation Israel was born, eventually receiving God’s words through Moses (today’s Scripture). As more centuries transpired, however, it became clearer Israel would not receive their King or their kingdom. In unbelief, they crucified Him, the Lord Jesus Christ! Israel’s temporary spiritual fall before God concerning Messiah’s rejection was no secret (Luke 2:34).

Of course, the God of Scripture is omniscient: Satan would not outsmart Him at Calvary’s cross (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). In eternity past, the Godhead had already determined to use that blood shed on the cross to form a second group of believers. Here is the mystery program, information God never told anyone about until He revealed it to and through the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:25,26). What would happen to the world through national Israel’s temporary fall? To save Paul (Saul of Tarsus) and those Jewish and Gentile unbelievers like him, God revealed a new Gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:3,4): through Israel’s fall and Paul’s ministry and message (Romans 11:11-14), the Lord would make an heavenly kingdom of people: the Church the Body of Christ.

Now, with all prophetic truth revealed through the non-Pauline Scriptures, and the Pauline Scriptures unveiling “mystery” (previously hidden) truth, we know all God’s will (Ephesians 1:8-10). As Israel was without excuse concerning the “prophetic” things revealed to them through Moses (Dispensation of Law), so we are without excuse concerning the “secret” things revealed to us through Paul (Dispensation of Grace). We know what God is doing today (Romans through Philemon), and what He is not (the rest of Scripture). “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:38).

The Secret Things #11

Sunday, September 26, 2021

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV).

Let us notice the difference between the “secret things” and the “revealed things!”

Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit were not surprised when Israel murdered their Messiah-King by nailing Him to Calvary’s cross in unbelief. Jesus’ death was already known to the Godhead, planned since eternity past: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:22-24).

Centuries beforehand, the Old Testament prophets glimpsed Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection in types and shadows (Genesis chapter 22; Psalm 16; Psalm 22; Psalm 69; Isaiah chapter 53; et cetera; cf. Hebrews chapter 9)—although God intentionally withheld all details until later (see 1 Peter 1:9-11). By Satan and his angels participating in Jesus’ death, they assumed the prophetic program was forever destroyed—the King’s very people had rejected and executed Him! Yet, in God’s wisdom, after Calvary transpired, He revealed to the Apostle Paul the “mystery” or secret things, the full scope of Jesus’ finished crosswork.

Had Satan been omniscient (all-knowing), he would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)! Not only would that blood shed on Calvary pay for Israel’s sins via the New Covenant, that shed blood would become the basis for another entity—the Church the Body of Christ. Both the nation Israel and the Church the Body of Christ would thereby become God’s people in Earth and Heaven (respectively), thus glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ in both realms—just as Father God had wisely purposed all along (Colossians 1:14-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; Ephesians 3:1-11).

We now summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

The Secret Things #4

Sunday, September 19, 2021

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV).

Let us notice the difference between the “secret things” and the “revealed things!”

Nearing the end of his earthly sojourn, the Apostle Peter remarked as the Holy Ghost led him: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15,16). May we be extremely careful to notice these words, re-reading and re-reading and re-reading them.

Dissecting Peter’s comments, we arrive at the following simple conclusions. Firstly, according to the Holy Spirit through Peter, Divine “wisdom” was given to the Apostle Paul. (Paul’s ministry and message are not to be confounded with the ministry and message of the 12 Apostles!) Secondly, Paul had written these Divine revelations down. (They were Scripture, unveiled and accessible!) Thirdly, Peter confessed these Pauline doctrines were “hard to be understood.” (Peter had not directly received these teachings from the Lord, and Peter had not taught them to Paul either!) Lastly, men “unlearned and unstable” “wrest” these words of Paul. (Ignorant and dangerous people pervert or twist Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, to the point of destroying or ruining their souls!)

If we study church history—the last 2,000 years—we can see why all those myriads of confusing heresies (forms of false teaching) have arisen. Whether the “church fathers” of the first 1,000 years; or the denominational founders of the last 1,000 years; their fundamental problem was a failure to respect the uniqueness of Pauline revelation. To them and their billions of followers, the secret things of God revealed to and through Paul remain hidden, for, as Peter himself observed, these souls have fallen into the spiritual trap that existed in the century when Pauline revelation was first given….

The Secret Things #3

Saturday, September 18, 2021

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV).

Let us notice the difference between the “secret things” and the “revealed things!”

We now compare two simple Bible passages. Firstly, Acts 3:19-21: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Here, the Holy Spirit is guiding the Apostle Peter to preach about that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Jesus Christ coming to Earth to found a literal, physical, visible kingdom has been God’s message and intention going all the way back to Adam (Matthew 25:34; cf. Genesis 1:26-28).

Secondly, Romans 16:25,26: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:….” Here, the Holy Spirit is guiding the Apostle Paul to preach about “the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest….” Whatever Paul’s message was, it was something God had not revealed until his ministry, and thus never to be confounded with prior Divine revelation.

The most fundamental problem with Christendom today is it repeats the doctrinal errors early Christians made. Distinguishing between the prophetic program and the mystery program is ever so critical to Bible understanding—if words mean anything, that is! As in the Apostles’ day, so Satan’s evil world system is still laboring fervently to keep God’s secret program a secret….