Adam and Eve knew God as the great Creator. When we contemplate the meaning of the first couple of chapters in Genesis, we recognize the awe-full power it took to create the world and everything in it, and by what gracious provision He sustains it.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their descendants, knew God as the Covenant-Maker. He promised to make them His own people, a nation that He would bless. Those early patriarchs lived long enough to see the beginning of that promise fulfilled.
Moses and the people he led through the wilderness knew God as the Law-Giver. How complicated the sacrifices and feasts and the rituals of personal and community purity were! But there was no other way to please God.
Joshua and Gideon and Deborah knew God as "Commander-in-Chief." They understood how futile it is for the enemies of God to stand against Him. They conquered their foes when they followed their Leader's command.
The judges knew God as The Ultimate Authority. They tried, often unsuccessfully, to bring the Israelites under the authority of God. Time after time, the people's rebellion and idolatry was evidenced in corruption from within and oppression from without.
The prophets knew God as a Voice, the Message-Giver. Over and over, the prophets relayed to the people what God was saying. Through His spokesmen, He reminded them of the promises. He assured them of blessing if they were faithful; He warned them of sorrow and destruction if they were not.
The kings knew God as Ruler, if they knew Him at all. The kingdom was divided; one king reigned over ten tribes and the second king was over the remaining two. Some followed God faithfully while others were violent and wicked.
Then Jesus came. Was this not the only way that God could reveal Himself as Father? He wanted many children, but no one knew He could be understood as Father until the Son Himself
came to reveal that to us. Some still acknowledge God only as creator or law-giver or ruler of everything. He is all those, of course, but to those who know Jesus, God's Son come to us as man, He is our loving, concerned, tender-hearted Father.
"No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27 NLT) Or as another rendering paraphrases it, "The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to"! (Luke 10:22 MSG)
MaryMartha
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Art from http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Picture.htm
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their descendants, knew God as the Covenant-Maker. He promised to make them His own people, a nation that He would bless. Those early patriarchs lived long enough to see the beginning of that promise fulfilled.
Moses and the people he led through the wilderness knew God as the Law-Giver. How complicated the sacrifices and feasts and the rituals of personal and community purity were! But there was no other way to please God.
Joshua and Gideon and Deborah knew God as "Commander-in-Chief." They understood how futile it is for the enemies of God to stand against Him. They conquered their foes when they followed their Leader's command.
The judges knew God as The Ultimate Authority. They tried, often unsuccessfully, to bring the Israelites under the authority of God. Time after time, the people's rebellion and idolatry was evidenced in corruption from within and oppression from without.
The prophets knew God as a Voice, the Message-Giver. Over and over, the prophets relayed to the people what God was saying. Through His spokesmen, He reminded them of the promises. He assured them of blessing if they were faithful; He warned them of sorrow and destruction if they were not.
The kings knew God as Ruler, if they knew Him at all. The kingdom was divided; one king reigned over ten tribes and the second king was over the remaining two. Some followed God faithfully while others were violent and wicked.
Then Jesus came. Was this not the only way that God could reveal Himself as Father? He wanted many children, but no one knew He could be understood as Father until the Son Himself
came to reveal that to us. Some still acknowledge God only as creator or law-giver or ruler of everything. He is all those, of course, but to those who know Jesus, God's Son come to us as man, He is our loving, concerned, tender-hearted Father."No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27 NLT) Or as another rendering paraphrases it, "The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to"! (Luke 10:22 MSG)
MaryMartha
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scripture marked MSG is taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Art from http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Picture.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment