Marian
Scriptures: Matthew 24:6-7 Genesis 12:1-3 Isaiah 53 John 14:3 Romans 8:38-39 Romans 11 Numbers 6:24-26
Micah 5:2, Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Zechariah 9.9, Psalm 22:16, Isaiah 53:3-5, Psalm 16:10 (Eight prophesies foretelling the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus)
In Matthew 24:6-7 Jesus warned His disciples:- “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom”
At the time of my birth WWII was raging and the war in Europe didn’t end until I was approaching my fourth birthday. During those war years we could not have imagined the full horror that was taking place in the gas chambers in Germany where six million Jews, including babies, children, men and women of all ages were held captive in dire conditions whilst they awaited their fate in the terrifying gas chambers.
In recent times we have watched helplessly as news broadcasts announce the many conflicts around the world, as well as persecution and wars. As the attack of Russia against the Ukrainian people continues, we woke up on October 7th to hear of the unexpected and unprovoked onslaught upon the Jewish people by Hamas. Around 1400 Jewish people from cradle to Holocaust survivors were brutally slaughtered in ways too traumatic to even imagine. Many more were seriously injured, whilst another 200+, including infants and children, separated from their parents, were dragged away by Hamas and still remain captive hostages. It is impossible to imagine the fear they will be experiencing.
Whilst preparing to write for Annie’s Bread of Life this week I have witnessed, with a heavy heart, the headlines each day, and realise how the media have slanted truth, thus inciting a terrifying rise in antisemitism worldwide. It leaves me fearful that my life on earth might possibly end as it began, witnessing another horrible and cruel world war and the slaughter of yet more Jewish people solely because they are born Jewish!
I have precious Jewish friends living in Israel, and other friends who are volunteers working tirelessly in charitable aid to both Jews and Palestinians. I hear the truth through them. They tell me that such was the horror done to innocent babies, children, pregnant women, families, the elderly, including holocaust survivors on 7th October that many who saw footage caught on CCTV cameras had to be taken to Hospital suffering extreme trauma. The cries of the innocent are heard again, and yet again the world is blaming Israel.
In Genesis 12:1-3 we read of God’s promise to Abram: “I will make you into a great nation, and will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you, I will curse. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Through hundreds of years that follow this promise, the Bible highlights Israel’s highs and lows, times of obedience and times of disobedience. Their history is documented and we are able to read the heartfelt prayers of the Psalmist, prayers which still hold relevance for us today. We have insight into the writings of the prophets who have proved to be undeniably accurate. Isaiah 53 foretells the death of Jesus in astonishingly accurate detail.
In his book entitled Science Speaks Author Peter Stoner gives us a remarkable illustration to show how Bible prophecy proves that Jesus was truly God in the flesh. He lists eight Old Testament prophesies about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus (I’ve listed these references above). Multiplying all these probabilities together produces a number of 1×1028. Dr. Philip Ryken, an American Theologian concludes that dividing this number by an estimate of the number of people who have lived since the time of these prophecies (88 billion), produces a probability of all eight prophecies being fulfilled in the life of one person to one in one hundred quadrillion!
As I reflect upon the relevance of all we are witnessing today against the backdrop of Biblical prophesies, I find hope in knowing that His Prophesies and His Promises are irrevocable, and those not yet fulfilled will be in His time.
Turning to the New Testament, we find many promises of Jesus within the gospels – some warn us of times of tribulation, whilst others promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Even as we pass through earthly death He promises, in John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am there you may be also.” Romans 8:38-39 assures us that NOTHING will ever be able to separate us from His Love. We can draw great comfort through these wonderful promises, even when the storms of life are at their roughest.
In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul gives us an amazing and encouraging picture of God’s plan for both Jews and Gentiles who will one day become one people through His “cultivated Olive tree”. Many Hermeneutic scholars believe that the root is the Holy One of Israel (God Himself) combined with His Covenant Promise He gave to Abraham. The trunk is Jesus Christ, the natural branches are the Jewish believers in Messiah, the grafted in wild olive branches are the Gentile believers, and the severed branches that will one day be grafted back into the trunk are the Jews who have been blinded to truth, but will one day have the veil removed from their eyes, by God, to see their Messiah whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:19).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that in the midst of our broken, confused and suffering world, You stand, perfect in Holiness, ever steadfast. Thank You that Your prophesies and promises remain true, even when we don’t understand the ways of mankind. In the darkness we reach for Your hand, believing that it is in darkness that Your light shines brightest. Thank You that in Your time You will fulfil all that You have prophesied and promised. AMEN