They had said they would follow all of God’s commands, they had seen the miracles, they had seen the clouds of smoke surround the Mount as Moses went up to speak with God.  As God wrote the tablets of stone and gave Moses all the parts of the law, the people became filled with fear and wondered if Moses would return.  They wanted someone to lead them and then made idols of Gold to worship and to be as their God.  We may look at them and say, “What a foolish people they were. If God had done all that in my life, I would never doubt Him.”  Don’t kid yourself.  They did not have the gift of the Holy Spirit inside them to guide them as we do.  They saw God as “a thick unapproachable cloud—as is the case under the law”.

Artwork used by written permission Ronald Barba

Can you count the number of times that you thought you had heard God’s voice you had said, “Yes, Lord.”  Then in the dark recesses of the night or when trials seem to arise, you would fall before Him defeated.

Oh, neither am I making excuses for them; but, merely saying we are so much like them.  When God sends us to a place and the command as to the next step tarries, do we not also try to fix it all with our own hands?  We turn our backs on God and we seek pleasures from this world.  We seek recognition, position, and self fulfillment.  When Moses returned, he found the people dancing around and worshipping the “golden calf” that they had made.  Were it not for grace, all would perish.   Then the question that was of utmost importance.  “Who is on the Lord’s side?” (Exodus 32:26).    So, all those who chose to follow God were saved and those who did not perished.  So let me help you distinguish here—those of us who know Christ as our Savior, may at times struggle in

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Love, Grace, and Mercy 5B—Mosaic Covenant with Israel →

We have spent quite some time looking at the covenant of God with Abraham.  That same covenant was re-iterated to Isaac (Genesis 26:3 and to Jacob (Genesis 28:13).  A careful reading of the lives of Isaac and of Jacob would once more prove that it was God who remained faithful and provided a means of redemption—the only thing that they offered was a heart bent toward following God.  Once more the only acts of righteousness found in Isaac and Jacob would be God’s righteousness poured out through them because of faith.   The years would pass and in jealousy, the sons of Jacob would sell their brother Joseph into slavery.  After years of slavery and imprisonment—his faith standing firm through trials, he was given a position of power in Egypt and became instrumental in saving his family.  Upon his deathbed, he told all his brothers and his children that God would again call them out of Egypt into the Promised Land.  Ironically, they became the slaves of the Egyptians before this would occur and Moses was called out to lead the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land. 

photo used courtesy of istockphoto

They witnessed many miracles along this journey from the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea and the provision of manna and water.  God had shown Himself as their redeemer and their provider.  Then they came to Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 19: (AMP)

^“3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him out of the mountain, Say this to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: ⁴ You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These

Continue reading God’s Covenant of Love, Grace, and Mercy 5A—Mosaic Covenant with Israel →

Before we conclude this discussion of God’s covenant with Abraham, we need to take a glimpse as to Abraham’s part—since a covenant is between two parties.  The full definition is that of a formal, binding agreement between two parties.  We have discussed with great detail the fact of God’s Faithfulness in completing all that He promised.  God’s promises to Abraham as outlined in Genesis had been to include 5 promises.

1.  That God would make of Abraham a great nation

2.  That God would bless Abraham both in material and spiritual blessings

3.  That God would make the name of Abraham great.

4.   That through Abraham, nations would be blessed (The Messiah would come)

5.    That God would give Abraham and his seed the Promised Land.

photo used courtesy of @Istockphoto.com

God’s covenant of Faithfulness and redemption is to those who accept Him by faith. Faith is the willingness to sign over all the details of your life, trusting that God has the perfect plan for you.  Faith is trusting God and is demonstrated by obeying Him—and leaving all the consequences to Him even when we cannot see  tomorrow’s light.

Certainly, if we look at history we can  see that God has performed and fulfilled His part of the contract with Abraham.  What we have failed to look at was what Abraham’s part of the contract was?  We did speak about faith, but faith is something that is demonstrated by actions as well.  Let us look at James 2: “¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?²³ And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”  So you might say then is it works or is it Grace?  True faith by its nature will be demonstrated

Continue reading God’s Covenant Love, Grace and Mercy (Part 4g)–Abraham’s Faith Demonstrated →

We have spent many days in this study of God’s covenant with mankind looking at the life of Abraham and how God’s covenant remained and stood firm because of God’s faithfulness.  We have watched while God demonstrated His Grace, His Love, and His Glory to Abraham.  It was God who had taken Abraham by the hand and taught Abraham to trust in God’s faithfulness and God’s plan.  God now wished to symbolically demonstrate in a spectacular manner the plan of redemption and at the same time demonstrate the faith that Abraham had learned. 

photo used courtesy of @istock

God’s Glory shines brightest when His children trust Him against all odds, waiting through difficult trials, obeying when man’s logic would say no, and dying to one’s own desires; that God’s magnificent Glory might be reflected back to Him as sunlight brilliantly reflects from a mirror.  There in the midst of all that surrounds, the child is enwrapped with God’s abiding love, joy, hope, and redemption.

  There is no greater place of ecstasy for God’s child while a mystified, unbelieving world looks on.  That was the case when, now God asked Abraham as recorded in Genesis 22 to take his son, Isaac and sacrifice him on the altar.  The very command would seem so unreasonable and so unimaginable.  Surely, Abraham had heard wrong—but in that time with Abraham God had spoken very clearly and there was no doubt what God had said.  Yet, all the years of Abraham’s life had taught Him to trust in God’s Faithfulness to complete all that He had promised within His covenant with Abraham.  God was faithful and Abraham set out to do as he was commanded.  If you have read the story, you know that God at the last moment provides a ram to be the substitute.  Look at

Continue reading GOD’S COVENANT LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY (PART 4f) Abraham →

Twenty five years had passed from the time that God had first made His covenant with Abraham.  Abraham’s faith had waxed and waned; though his heart yearned for God.  God with great patience, mercy and grace had proven to be faithful to Abraham and had guided his every step.  God had walked with Abraham, spoke with Abraham, had sent signs, and had been ever faithful.  Then the time was right—God’s timing.  Genesis 21: 1 “And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.² For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.³ And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.⁴ And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.⁵ And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.”

used by courtesy of @istock

How incredible must have been Abraham’s joy when Isaac was born.  Think about this.  Could Abraham have felt the same marvel 25 years prior?  If Sarah had born Isaac 25 years prior, there would have been joy; but nothing to compare to the joy that came now.  God might have been glorified; but not nearly as much as now when it required a miracle of God for Isaac to be born.

God was calling out a people to be His chosen from whom He would one day send His son to be the redeemer and it was necessary that the lineage begin with an event so great that all would know that God was the most High Almighty God who was their nourishment and their provision and that knowledge be carried forward through the generations.

Is there some promise of God that you are still waiting for the answer?  You wonder if the problem is your own lack of faith at moments.  You stumble along at times; wondering if God could ever use such a one as you.  Yet, step by step;

Continue reading GOD’S COVENANT LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY (PART 4e) Abraham →