The Light at the End of the Tunnel

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

A Christmas Study, Part 2

Monday, December 3, 2012

Scripture Reading: Romans 5

“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” If you're anything like me, you opt to receive the bad news first, just to get it over with. Well, way back in Genesis 3, Satan got the bad news first. He had successfully convinced Adam and Eve to sin against God, but in verse 15, God promised Satan “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

This verse is the first description of what Christ would do for mankind on the cross. His heels would be bruised with the nails that held him to the cross, but Satan's control over mankind through sin and death would be crushed through Christ's sacrificial act!

Certainly, Adam and Eve needed some good news on that difficult day—a light at the end of the tunnel—as they faced the consequences of their disobedience. God told Adam he would now work exceptionally hard for the very food that he ate, and He told Eve that child-bearing would bring her pain and difficulty. Together, they faced expulsion from their beautiful home in the garden of Eden, and worse, separation from daily fellowship with God.

As if that weren't enough, they knew that the effects of their choice would extend to future generations. In today's reading, the apostle Paul describes this effect. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, . . . in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—” Here also, Paul follows the bad news with some truly good news. Verse 18 reads, “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.”

How appropriate. The good news of Christmas, is a free gift! It's not some corny Black Friday gimmick either, but rather, the Christ child in the manger—the fulfillment of the promise God made so long ago.

The fact that God offered mankind this hope IMMEDIATELY after their disobedience shows that He has always been more interested in loving us than judging us. Truly, His holy character requires that he demand holiness in those who approach Him, but in His great love, He would not leave us without a way to put on that holiness and regain His presence. That “presence” would be regained through the “present” of His Son. The light at the end of the tunnel is Jesus Christ, the Light of the world!

The Fresnel Lens

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

Anyone who has been to the Portsmouth seawall, has likely visited the famous Hog Island Fresnel Lens. Those who crafted this particular type of light were able to use much lighter materials and thinner surfaces to produce a more penetrating and far-reaching light.

In recent years, I have encountered many people who wonder at the value of the Old Testament, for which I have always had a special love. To me, it's pages are not only as God-breathed and inspired as the New Testament, but they also present an amazing parade of signs, prophecies, and promises. This parade doesn't end with Santa Clause, but with a baby in a manger.

The Old Testament is a Fresnel lens. As a whole, it's subject matter is heavy, but seen in lighter, more individual layers, it works together to shine a tremendous light. The wisdom of the Old Testament was lighting the way, even when the coming of Christ was as distant as the North Star, twinkling over the winter sky's horizon.

The Star is, perhaps, one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas that we know. The Star of Christmas was first prophesied in Numbers 24:17. In this passage, the evil King Balaak had hired the prophet-for-rent, Balaam, to curse the children of Israel. Four times Balaam tried. Each time God's Spirit overtook him and caused him to offer a blessing instead. The third blessing included this utterance—the first mention of the Star: “I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not nigh. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.”

The word “star” in this verse comes from the Hebrew “Kowkab” and implies blistering penetration. In its figurative form, it means “Prince.” As truly as the star led the wise men to the Christ child—the Prince of Peace—that same Christ child would bring a blistering penetration to the sinful hearts of men and offer them a cure through His death and resurrection.

This Christmas season, I pray these advent studies will bless your heart and deepen your appreciation for the gift of God's Word, as well as the gift of the Christ child. Our devotions will take us on a journey through the Old Testament. We will begin with the promise of a redeemer, and come finally to the manger, where the promise was kept. Amidst the darkness of the first sins, God provided a light of hope—promising Adam and Eve that they would see Him, though not now; that they would behold Him, though He was not yet near.

Prayer for Light

Prayer for Light

by Ceceilia Jones

Jesus,

Light of the World,

May we begin to see the world

in the light of the understanding that

YOU

give us.

*

Lord,

As YOU chose

the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor

to receive the greatest news the world had ever known,

so may we worship you in meekness of heart.

We ask for your blessings

as we study each day.

Amen.

A Moral Man Transformed, Part VI

Genesis 18 and 20 make for another interesting contrast. Here we have a very full three month period of time. I say three months, because we know that God has promised Isaac in a year, and his conception takes place in chapter 21 after Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, and Abram has journeyed south and pitched camp in Gerar. In chapter 18, Abram is visited by two angels (the ones that continue on to Sodom and Gomorrah) and a Theophany. Abraham recognizes His Lord and shows appropriate hospitality. At this time, Sarah also hears God's intention to give she and Abraham a child, and she hears it from God's own mouth. What has been a promise to her husband from her husband's God, becomes a personal promise to her from her God. As the travelers prepare to leave and head toward the plain, Abraham is invited to walk along with them, and God reveals His plan for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram boldly pleads with God to consider mercy if the angels find even ten righteous men in the city. He no doubt is pleading for his nephew Lot's sake especially. Having God's promise that the cities will be spared for the sake on ten righteous, Abraham returns home.

From Abraham's perspective, though we're not given these details, the next few days must have been horrific. His camp was right over the mountain ridge from a disaster. The sky was likely black from the storm of God's judgement--screams audible--thunder, lightening, and fire visible. The air was probably thick with soot and ash. Whether Abraham moved his camp south out of fear or necessity, we do not know, but move south he did--toward Kadesh where Abimelech was the ruler.

Here we see a previous side of Abraham return--the side of him easily overcome by fear--and in the presence of that fear, Abraham gives into an old sin. In chapter 20, we see a repeat performance of Abraham's early trip into Egypt. He tells Sarah to say she is his sister, so the men in the land will not kill him for his wife. The results of Abraham's half-truth are very similar to the results which occurred in Egypt. The king takes Sarah, intending to add her to his wives, God curses Abimelech's house, and Abraham is forced to 'fess up. By God's grace, Abraham is allowed to stay in the area (they kicked him out of Egypt), but it must have been an awkward and poor start in their new location.

What occurred to me as I read these accounts was simply this: obedience to God draws us near to God and makes us bold with Him. When we allow ourselves to be distracted by circumstances around us, we lose clear spiritual sight and fall prey to fear and sin. Abraham's swift obedience to God in regards to circumcision was followed by a season of fellowship and boldness. When he set his eyes on the disaster of Sodom, he became fearful and returned to an old sin. Everyone of us has experienced this cycle, so may we be mindful and keep our eyes on God and our hearts set on obedience!

A Moral Man Transformed, Part V

Genesis 16 seems to descend into a valley when compared to the previous chapter's mountain-top experience. An appropriate sub-title might be "Drama, drama, drama!" Chapter 16 finds Sarai coming to her husband and presenting her case. "Now Abram, we've been trying to have a baby ever since we left home. I know your God promised He would make you the father of a great nation, so we must be missing something. We're being to narrow minded where we need to be practical. You just need to take another wife. God must intend to keep His promise that way."

Well, Sarai's line of reasoning worked with Abram, and pretty soon Hagar was expecting, and there was baby-momma drama all over the place. Hagar, who had likely been serving Sarai since that first detour into Egypt, got on her high-horse when she found out she was pregnant. Perhaps she was emboldened, no longer a subservient "friend" figure to Sarai, but now an equal competitor. Whatever it was, pretty soon Sarai was in Abram's tent sobbing "My fault is on you! The Lord judge between us, but I'm pretty sure that this must be your fault!"

Abram basically responded, "My fault! Whatever. Do what you want." So Sarai did, and whatever she did must have been pretty extreme, because Hagar ran away. At least that's kind of what we assume, although one must take into consideration that Hagar was a bundle of pregnancy hormones and caught up in some pride. Sarai may have just put her in her place, and that was enough to send Hagar packing. I guess I just won't know until I get to heaven, but it's fun to imagine.

In the meantime, we're also forced to call Abram's true motives and feelings into question. At the beginning of the chapter, we can really understand how Abram might have been drawn in. He'd just had the promise of God renewed to him in an amazing conversion experience. What if Hagar was the way God intended to work? I think we've all gotten in trouble at one time or another, twisting God's will in our lives to fit into what WE WANT. But if Abram believed that this way was God's way with such conviction, why would he allow Sarai to send away the mother of his promised off-spring? No, there had to have been some doubt on Abram's part as he went into this situation, if he was so quick to dismiss his responsibility in dealing with the consequences.

As usual, God is the best part of this story. Hagar, an Egyptian unbeliever, is now wandering in the wilderness carrying Abram's child. God sends an angel to find her, give her instructions, and make her a promise regarding her son, Ishmael. Hagar was a servant and a woman--powerless in this situation and time period--yet God undertook for her and the son she carried. What great compassion! Not only did Hagar receive help and direction, but she was also introduced to the nature of her husband's God. She was impressed that in the middle of nowhere "God sees me!" though by her own admission, she was not looking for Him. Our God has not changed! He sees us all the time, in all circumstances; and often, when we are not looking for Him or to Him, He stoops to help us in our greatest times of need!

So, Hagar returns to her mistress, and the two must work things out (or at least manage co-existence), because in verse 15, Ishmael is born. Then chapter 17 skips forward 13 years. You have to wonder if Abram had started to doubt. Even with the great experience of chapter 15, we all know that it's human nature to forget even God's most dramatic interventions to us with time. Maybe Ishmael is God's promised son . . .

And then chapter 17. God appears to Abram in another vision and reaffirms yet again, his promise, but after all these years in which Abram has demonstrated both blind obedience and belief, a wise God knew that it was time to give this human servant a few concrete land marks to hold onto. First of all, he changes Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah. How dramatic it must have been--especially at first--to be reminded of God's promise every time his name was called!

Secondly, Abraham was given the command to circumcise all the males of his company both now and always. This physical sign was to remind, not only Abraham, but also every man born in the years to come of God's promise that salvation would come to all nations through the Hebrew people!

Finally, though God assured Abram that he would bless his first son Ishmael, he also revealed that he did indeed plan to fulfill his promise through a son that Abraham and Sarah would have together--even in their old age. For the first time, God did not just promise, but he set forth a time for fulfillment. In one year's time, Abraham would hold God's promised son--Isaac--in his arms.

I think I started out my study of these couple of chapters feeling disappointed to find this great "Father" so fallible. After all, doesn't the old hymn read "Faith of our Fathers," not "Faults of our Fathers"? However, as I kept meditating on all that happened here, I found myself praising God. Abram is no different than any of us. He had strengths and weakness. Abram needed God. Abram sought God, and God was faithful to draw him near. Abram struggled with issues of the old man and of the flesh. Sometimes Abram was obedient, and sometimes he failed. God's promise and presence were consistence regardless of Abram's performance. Praise God for His reliable character--both in Abram's life and my own!

A Moral Man Transformed, Part IV

In Genesis 15, Abram is finally made new. He no longer just a moral man, but a man who's heart has been transformed and redeemed through the act of belief. In verses 1 to 5 God comes to Abram in a vision, and Abram cries out with his inner doubts. He wonders how God's promises can come about when he still has no child and heir. Again, God reaffirms that Abram's own biological child will be the father of a great nation that will number more than the stars of the heaven. This time, Abram just believes. God knows His heart and the saving work is done.

And what is Abram's first act as a transformed man? To doubt. "Whereby shall I know?!" We humans don't change much over time. More than two thousand years later, Paul pens Romans 10:9 and 10, "That if though shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, though shalt be saved." Mere verses later, he offers this reaffirmation in Romans 10:13. "He that calls upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." It can be no coincidence that God's inspired Word first leads in the way of salvation and then reiterates the surety of it.

Nevertheless, God does not upbraid Abram for his question, but rather gives him instructions for worship. After he has obeyed, God reaffirms His promise and gives Him a level of insight into his future. He gives details and boundaries that those of us reading are blessed to see fulfilled in time.

Tithes and Giving

I just wanted to start a brief study on tithes here, since I noted the first occurrence of a tithe in my reading. In Genesis 14:20, Abram gives a tithe of the spoils of Sodom to Melchizedek, priest of the most high God (most likely a theophany). As I continue to read God's Word, I want to study God's commands and attitudes towards giving--whether it be time, talent, goods, or money.