Israel: The Miracle Nation #5

Monday, February 7, 2022

“But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30 KJV).

How will the LORD God prove Israel is His miracle nation?

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all learned the nation descending from them would originate and become God’s people only because of His grace. Man’s efforts could never accomplish the Abrahamic Covenant. Their performance was irrelevant—for they could all do nothing to accomplish God’s will.

Leaving Genesis and coming into Exodus, we find Israel in Egypt, suffering slavery and genocide under a malicious Pharaoh. It takes the LORD God’s power to free Israel, for she is unable to save herself. “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he [grace!] cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea” (Exodus 15:3,4). “And because he [grace!] loved thy fathers, therefore he [grace!] chose their seed after them, and [He] [grace!] brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt…” (Deuteronomy 4:37).

Having delivered them through the Red Sea (Exodus chapter 14), God also provides the Jews with potable water in the desert (chapter 15), feeds them with manna/bread (chapter 16), supplies them with more water and even military victory over the Amalekites (chapter 17), and finally imparts wisdom to the Jewish leaders (chapter 18). Here are six instances of God’s grace furnishing Israel with everything she needs—but could not provide for herself.

In chapter 19, at Mount Sinai, God makes an offer: “[3] And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did [grace!] unto the Egyptians, and how I bare [grace!] you on eagles’ wings, and [I] [grace!] brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed [law!], and keep my covenant [law!], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Let us see Israel’s choice….

Israel: The Miracle Nation #4

Sunday, February 6, 2022

“But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30 KJV).

How will the LORD God prove Israel is His miracle nation?

With Jacob fleeing from his older twin brother (unbelieving, violent) Esau, he leaves Canaan and travels far to the northeast to the home of their mother’s family. Once at Padanaram, Jacob is to meet with his uncle Laban, his mother Rebekah’s brother, and seek out a wife (Genesis 28:1-5). Jacob, spending 21 years working for his dishonest uncle (chapter 29), is delivered from repeated scams only because the LORD is on his side (see Genesis 28:15).

Read chapter 31: “[4] And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah [his two wives, daughters of Laban] to the field unto his flock, [5] And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. [6] And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. [7] And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.”

In chapters 29–30, Jacob’s four wives (Leah, Rachel, and their two servant girls, Zilpah and Bilhah) bear him 12 children—11 sons and one daughter. Benjamin will be conceived later (chapter 35). These 12 sons of Jacob become the heads of Israel’s 12 tribes. Notice how God regulates these births: “[29:31] And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. [32] And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. [33] And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also:…. [30:17] And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. [18] And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband…. [22] And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb…. [24] And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.”

Again, Israel is God’s miracle nation….

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Israel: The Miracle Nation #3

Saturday, February 5, 2022

“But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30 KJV).

How will the LORD God prove Israel is His miracle nation?

At age 100 years, Abraham finally saw the birth of Isaac, the son God freely promised him (Genesis 21:5). Sarah was 90. The writer of Hebrews penned the following commentary: “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable” (Hebrews 11:11,12).

However, Ishmael (the product of Abraham’s flesh) clashed with his younger half-brother Isaac (the result of God’s grace). With teenager Ishmael teasing little Isaac—the conflict between Hagar and Sarah now transferred to their respective sons—Abraham is forced to evict Hagar and Ishmael so Isaac can grow up in peace (Genesis 21:8-13; cf. Galatians 4:21-31). Again, works-religion (man’s efforts) and grace (God’s efforts) cannot coexist. The situation of Ishmael and Isaac is clear proof of this transdispensational (across the Bible timeline) truth. Had the LORD not enabled Abraham’s elderly body to produce seed, and Sarah’s aged womb to use that seed to bear a child, there would be no Isaac… and, thus, no Israel. Israel is God’s miracle nation.

Let us fast-forward several decades. Isaac is now 60 years old (Genesis 25:26), and he and his wife Rebekah have been childless for 20 years. (Does this not sound familiar?!) “And Isaac intreated [asked, pled] the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived” (Genesis 25:21). Yet, something is noticeably different here: Isaac did not repeat his parents’ folly. Whereas Abraham and Sarah connived, Isaac prayed because he depended on God’s grace! The LORD works, and twins Esau and Jacob are born to Isaac and Rebekah (verses 22-26), Jacob becoming the next heir of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 28:10-15). Jacob is the latest patriarch of Israel, and he too must learn Israel will result from God’s work not his own….

Israel: The Miracle Nation #2

Friday, February 4, 2022

“But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30 KJV).

How will the LORD God prove Israel is His miracle nation?

Taking matters into their own hands, Abram and Sarai schemed to “help” God do what He apparently failed to do! Using Hagar as a surrogate mother for Abram’s son seemed like a good idea—until they all began suffering the complicated problems resulting from their sin. Firstly, pregnant Hagar fought most bitterly with childless Sarai (Genesis 16:4-11). Abram fathering Ishmael meant Abram could still work in his flesh, perform and strive—and this system of law conflicted with God’s grace. Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, is not God’s promised child and not the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.

In chapter 17, some 13 years later, Abram is now 99 years old (verse 1). Having waited at least 25 years (but possibly as many as 50 years!) for the promise, Abram (like Sarai) is now unable to reproduce. Will this be a difficulty for the LORD? Of course not! Here, the LORD appears to him with a message. Abram is renamed “Abraham:” he was “high/exalted father,” but now he is “father of a multitude” (verses 4,5). God orders him to be physically circumcised, signifying his righteousness he has had by faith since chapter 12, and also denoting his cutting off from his flesh or abilities to “help” God (see Genesis 17:6-14; cf. Romans 4:9-22; Galatians 4:21-31).

With Sarai barren, and Abraham sterile, neither party can “assist” the LORD now! Having intentionally delayed until they are reproductively powerless, God in His grace intervenes (Genesis chapter 17): “[15] And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. [16] And I will [grace!] bless her, and [I will] [grace!] give thee a son also of her: yea, I will [grace!] bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her…. [19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will [grace!] establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”

Yet, Abraham’s flesh will again disrupt God’s plan for him….

Israel: The Miracle Nation #1

Thursday, February 3, 2022

“But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30 KJV).

How will the LORD God prove Israel is His miracle nation?

The Bible says in chapter 12 of Genesis, verses 1-3: “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Sometime back in chapter 11, God had directed Abram to leave his homeland (Ur of the Chaldees; cf. Genesis 11:27-32; Acts 7:2-4).

We want to carefully note how emphatically the first-person singular pronoun appears during the ratification of the Abrahamic Covenant. Almighty God speaks: “…a land I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and [I will] make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and [I will] curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” At the heart of the Abrahamic Covenant is what the LORD God will do for Abram—not what Abram will do for the LORD God. Again, the issue is grace (God’s efforts) as opposed to law (man’s efforts). Be quite sure to understand that.

Via the Abrahamic Covenant, God (!!!!) will form a “great nation” through Abram. Of course, this is the origin of Israel. The LORD claimed Abram would father a multitude of people, but there is one glaring problem. Abram’s wife Sarai is “barren” and childless—not only without offspring but physically unable to have them (today’s Scripture). After waiting for at least a decade, Sarai and Abram gave up on God’s promise. In chapter 16, Sarai decided and encouraged Abram to use her slave girl, Hagar, as her surrogate. Relying on human wisdom (secular advice, not Divine revelation!!!!), and performing in his flesh (law!!!!), Abram fathered Ishmael. Grace has been forced aside in favor of law….

333’s 3900th – The Path to Maturation

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

“[God our Saviour] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 KJV).

Dear saints and readers, only by God’s grace, “333 Words of Grace” celebrates its 3900th devotional today!

What is the Lord doing right now? Exactly what would He have us do at this moment? The average church member would likely give incorrect answers—or no answers at all. In fact, even most genuine Christians would find these questions challenging and intimidating. There are three reasons for Bible illiteracy.

Firstly, they really have no idea what the clear Gospel of Grace even is. “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Instead of this pure, straightforward message, they have heard various pseudo-gospels. “Make Jesus the Lord of your life, repent and turn to God, recite the ‘sinner’s prayer,’ confess your sins.” As long as they have an adulterated Gospel message, there is no adequate basis for faith or trust, so they remain dead in their trespasses and sins. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, they lack spiritual discernment.

Secondly, they are not using the inspired, preserved words of God. In English, these are the words of the Authorized Version King James Bible. Unfortunately, they have believed the “scholars” and purchased some alleged “easier-to-read” contemporary English version—nothing but a perverted, natural-man, watered-down, ever-changing text that only the spiritually naïve value. The result is weak, confused, immature Bible students, aware of general “Divine thoughts” as opposed to trained in specific Divine words.

Finally, if they do they have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and do use the proper Bible text, they are not “study[ing]… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Since they have failed to recognize the dispensational distinctions God has placed in His Word, they have no clue concerning where they are in His purpose and program. They have not been told—or they refuse to see—the Apostle Paul is God’s spokesman to them (Romans 11:13), Romans through Philemon God’s words to and about them!

Brethren, over the course of these last 3900 days, we have striven here to correct all three deficiencies. Though we have come far, we still have a long way remaining. Onward to devotional #4000! 🙂

Saints and Silly Stories

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3,4 KJV).

Yea, today’s Scripture can apply even to genuine members of the Church the Body of Christ.

I have a friend in the grace ministry going back more than a decade. Once denominational like myself, this brother (through our ministry) came to understand and enjoy the Scriptures rightly divided. However, over the course of the last eight years, especially since his wife’s death, he has gradually slipped deeper and deeper into doctrinal error. While I have repeatedly advised him to be careful, he just continues listening to all sorts of weird people. He knows better, but he has become so addicted to these self-styled “prophets” and “prophetesses” because they teach just what he wants to hear. They further disorient him, increasingly seducing him from sound Bible doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1,2).

False teachers—especially in the name of supposed “Christianity”—capitalize on vulnerable souls who so desperately seek peace, answers, and relief. For over two years now, the coronavirus pandemic has greatly afflicted the world. People are worrying, hurting, and dying. Unemployment, inflation, sickness, and isolation are just some of the detrimental effects. Widespread political problems also contribute to unrest. Yet, here come “Christian” preachers with all their denominational doctrines, idly speculating as to what they think “God” is doing. Failing to approach the Bible dispensationally, they do not have a clue what the Lord is doing! Hearing my friend’s “tales,” I can see just how confused he is (and they are). Once, he even apologized after distracting me with certain stories he read online. I replied (most politely, of course), “The Devil is using them to distract you!” He was speechless.

Saints, no matter how “strong” or “dedicated” we are, we can always fall. Let us always be mindful that we are in a spiritual battle. If we are not daily arming ourselves according to Ephesians 6:10-20, the Adversary will certainly be merciless as he wounds us!

Our two latest Bible Q&As: “What does ‘several’ mean in the King James Bible?” and “What is the ‘maw?’”

One More Night with the Frogs! #3

Monday, January 31, 2022

“And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10 KJV).

Who has replied with, “To morrow,” and why has he answered thusly?

Before we dismiss today’s Scripture and its context as mere “fairytales told around ancient Jewish campfires,” we would do well to see the modern parallel. Whenever an unsaved person responds to the Gospel of Grace with, “Let me have fun in the world first, and then I will become a Christian,” he or she is following in Pharaoh’s footsteps. “I just want to live in sin one more day, before I submit to my Creator’s will.” Whenever a believer in Christ responds to the Gospel of Grace with, “Let me have fun in the world first, and then I will behave like a Christian,” he or she is also following in Pharaoh’s footsteps.

Overall, Pharaoh was both deceived and deceptive. When he noticed the plague of frogs ending, he saw no reason to keep his word. He still refused to free Israel! “[12] And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. [13] And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. [14] And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank. [15] But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” After another eight devastating plagues, Pharaoh desperately forced Israel out of his land—only to ultimately fight them with his army and drown with all his troops in the Red Sea!

Friends, may we not be foolish or proud. If we are suffering “frogs” today—the ill effects of our sin—may we not be willing to spend one more night with them. Rather, let us trust Paul’s Gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Herein is deliverance from the penalty of sin (Hell and the Lake of Fire) and the power of sin (worldly living).

Our two latest Bible Q&As: “How can there be ‘eleven’ Apostles if both Judas Iscariot and Thomas are absent?” and “Was Apollos at fault in 1 Corinthians 16:12?”

One More Night with the Frogs! #2

Sunday, January 30, 2022

“And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10 KJV).

Who has replied with, “To morrow,” and why has he answered thusly?

This plague of frogs was the second of 10 Divine judgments on Egypt because Pharaoh relentlessly held the nation Israel hostage. Actually, it was Satan using Pharaoh to keep the Jews as his political prisoners. Concerning these curses, JEHOVAH God proved He was superior to whatever the King of Egypt worshipped or even thought himself to be (pharaohs were regarded as gods—they were self-centered, to say the least). Remember, the King of Egypt, in a most unenviable position, proposed in verse 8: “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.” That is, if Israel’s God removes the frogs, Pharaoh would release Israel.

Now, let us recall the words of verse 9: “And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?” In other words, “Pharaoh, you have the honor of deciding what time you prefer I pray to the LORD to take away the frogs.” The King of Egypt, not the LORD or Moses, has been given the power or privilege to determine just how long he wants to suffer this type of judgment.

Pharaoh’s answer is in today’s Scripture: “To morrow.” In his stubborn pride, the king makes a poor decision. He is willing to let the plague continue just a bit longer before he considers freeing Israel. To wit, “I would rather tolerate these unpleasant frogs one more night before I think about submitting to the God of Israel!” Willful Pharaoh has no one to blame but himself for his misery. The Egyptians have no one to blame but their defiant monarch for their suffering….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Can you explain, ‘God save the king?’”

One More Night with the Frogs! #1

Saturday, January 29, 2022

“And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10 KJV).

Who has replied with, “To morrow,” and why has he answered thusly?

Reading today’s Scripture with its context: “[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. [2] And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs: [3] And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs: [4] And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.

“[5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. [6] And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. [7] And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

“[8] Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. [9] And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? [10] And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. [11] And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.”

What happens next? Let us see….