JANUARY 10 READING…GENESIS 21-23 & MATTHEW 4
The theme of today’s reading is the confirmation of the “Son of promise”. Though religious minded people want to do for themselves what only God can do, that never turns out as it should. Bible believers know that only God can fulfill His promises…that He has not called us to do what only He can do, but trust Him to be God. Isaac is the “son of promise” …God told Abraham and Sarah that He would provide a son. It was impossible for Sarah to bear a son at her age…but with God, all things are possible. There is a principle in this event of Isaac’s birth, and his growing as a young boy. Don’t miss this…that which comes from God, belongs to God. Abraham’s faith was challenged with this truth, as God required him to give Isaac back to him. There is a second principle we must not miss in this event, that God Himself always provides that which is required. In the sacrifice of Isaac, God provides a sacrifice of a ram. Abraham’s faith is confirmed, and God’s covenant once again is established in all the earth.
In Matthew 4 we have the temptation of Jesus. In these temptations, and in His overcoming them, Jesus affirms that He is the “Son of promise”. He is able to deal with the temptations from Satan like no other human ever has. But, He also showed us the way to victory over Satan’s temptation through being led by the Holy Spirit, and relying on the Word of God. Jesus begins His earthly ministry in the northern region of Israel in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus calls His first disciples, and begins His teaching in the region of the Galilee. All this is confirmation that Jesus is the “Son of promise”.
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TOMORROW’S READING…GENESIS 24 & MATTHEW 5