Isaiah 63:9-12
In all their affliction He was afflicted,
And the Angel of His Presence saved them;
In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;
And He bore them and carried them
All the days of old.
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;
So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,
And He fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old,
Moses and his people, saying:
“Where is He who brought them up out of the sea
With the shepherd of His flock?
Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them,
12 Who led them by the right hand of Moses,
With His glorious arm,
Dividing the water before them
To make for Himself an everlasting name,
The New King James Version
God’s word is never invalidated His promises are sure. He has always kept a remnant of the Israelites who do not bow to idols. Throughout the Old Testament He carried them He was their guiding light always directing their path. In their unbelief they broke His heart and they separated themselves from Him. Unbelief in their Redeemer King, the promise of the Father, is the ultimate sin. In the age of grace, faith not works, equals salvation only found in Christ Jesus. Although nothing happens without His knowledge the world is under the influence of satan, the deceiver of our souls, and we choose whom we will serve in our free will.
Joshua 2:8-13 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
Years after its happening the news of the parting of the Red Sea was known throughout the land and the people feared the Lord.
John 8:39-42 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
The righteous leaders of the Jews denied the glory of Jesus, their God and Redeemer King. They chose to rely on their genealogy through Abraham as their free ticket to eternal life. Carla
Jesus concedes their physical descent from Abraham but disputes their automatic inheritance of the promises to Abraham on that basis alone. Behavior, not bloodline, determines who are truly children of Abraham.
The deeds of Abraham refers to Abraham’s faith. The New Testament frequently credits Abraham with saving faith because of his trust in Yahweh (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6).
Abraham did not try to kill God’s messenger if he didn’t like the message. Insinuating that Abraham is not truly their father because they are emulating someone else. With Jesus questioning their parentage, they appeal to one greater than Abraham—God Himself—as the founder of their faith and the one who established the behavior by which they claim to live. Their rejection of Jesus reveals how distant they truly are from following God properly. Faithlife Study Bible
The Pharisees believed that being a descendant of Abraham guaranteed them a place in heaven. The works of Abraham included paying honor to those who spoke in the name of God (Genesis 14; 18).
We were not born of fornication: From ancient times, this has been interpreted as a sneer, as if to say, “We are not illegitimate children, but You are.” Apparently gossip had followed Jesus for many years, alleging that He had been conceived out of wedlock. The NKJV Study Bible
Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham’s works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.
Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men’s souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
John 8:37–38 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
Deuteronomy 32:6
Do you thus deal with the LORD,O foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father, who bought you?
Has He not made you and established you?
John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
His enemies will be scattered and those who hate Him shall flee from His presence. The righteous will rejoice. In His second coming all the prophetic Scriptures will be fulfilled. All God’s promises reside in and come to pass in Jesus the Christ. Carla
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."
Throughout Scripture, God spoke through many prophets like Isaiah to foretell events, and Jesus has always been at the center of His promises. Jesus is the Savior who will crush our enemy's head as promised in Genesis 3:15. He is the One born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He is the One betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13). He is the One who puts an end to all sin (Daniel 9:24) and the One who will return to bring His people home with Him forever (John 14:2-3). Jesus' fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, and over 300 additional prophecies throughout Scripture, proves the accuracy of the Bible and provides assurance of our faith. God's record of faithfulness in the past means we can trust Him to keep His promise for the future.
Someday, darkness will be permanently dispelled for believers in Jesus. The light that dawned in Galilee foreshadows the Day of the Lord when His rule will be fully established for all eternity; then no other source of light will be needed, neither sun nor moon, because Jesus Himself and His radiance will illuminate heaven (Revelation 21:23).
This truth encourages us to live our present days on earth, no matter the darkness of today or uncertainty of tomorrow, in anticipation of the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise. We know He has been, and He will be, faithful. First5
Christmas reminds us to glory in the simplicity and wonder of one day; it unveils the extraordinary that our hurried lives conceal and neglect. We have been given such immense possibilities. We desperately need to make clearances in our entangled lives to let our souls breathe. We must take care of ourselves and especially of our suffering brothers and sisters.” Letting our souls breathe. Indeed. And taking care of ourselves and one another. Exactly.
And let us not forget... "Peace is our gift to each other." (Elie Wiesel)
And here’s the deal: Peace is always, always small steps. Little gestures.
(Fitting that this reminder for peace this season, does not come from trumpets, or armies, or might, or braggadocio. It comes from a child in a manger. Yes. It comes from a child.)
And on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we lit the Angel's Candle: symbolizing peace... the purity and justice that a baby in a Bethlehem manger brought to our world. A reminder of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.” Sabbath Moments
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