“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient days.” – Micah 5:2
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” – Zechariah 9:9
By now in our journey, we can see that this great story…our story…the Bible…is One story. Even though it was written over thousands of years by many different people about many different things, we can see the work of One Author with One message…God made us, loves us and will stop at nothing to win our wayward hearts back to Him. Whether Old Testament or New Testament, prophetic warnings or wise instruction, a wondrous miracle or a tragic failure…every verse drips with the sweet honey of the same message. It is a story, from cover to cover, that reveals to us a “Loving Father” chasing us through history…calling to us…caring for us…and giving us opportunities to come home.
This truth changes the way we read and digest the Scriptures and heals a misunderstanding that has existed for centuries, that the Old Testament and New Testament send a different message. Some see a God of anger and wrath that has a change of heart when Jesus comes. This could not be further from the truth. God did not change and He has not changed today and…He will not change. As we finish the Old Testament, I hope that you can see what the Apostle Paul meant when he said,
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16
We finish the Old Testament with several Books called the Minor Prophets. This name is given because they are shorter in length and not because they are any less important. They were written during dark times of Israel’s rebellion against God and the consequences that came as a result. However, each of these snapshots has a word of hope. They refer to a “Day of the Lord” that will come. They point to a Messiah…a Savior who would come to rescue. They point to Jesus and His life and death and resurrection!
As we step back from the Scriptures in the Old Testament we can see the bigger picture. We can see that there is a map…a Biblical GPS that points us to Jesus! Our God wanted to make sure we did not miss it when He came to save us. The Old Testament is filled with hundreds of prophesies (details) that point ahead to the coming of the Messiah. We are told how and where He would be born, what tribe He would come from, what He would do, and…how He would suffer and die…be buried…rise again…all for us. Jesus fulfilled them all! A perfect match!
Yet, we will find as we launch into the next part of our story that many did not recognize Him. Even those who studied and kept the map seemed to have a hard time separating their own expectations from the markers given in the Scripture. Sometimes the thing that we are looking for is right there “under our nose”, as we say.
Today, people are still trying to put a square peg into a round hole. They think that maybe, if they pound a little harder or try another angle…maybe what this world has to offer with it’s pleasures and empty promises will meet the need that is deep within each of them…the need for a Savior.
Throughout the Old Testament, even through the Minor Prophets, God has revealed a clear plan. We have been given clear directions and in the New Testament we see the fulfillment.
In your story, have you recognized Jesus as your Savior who has come to give you life? Are you trying to fill the need of your life with what the world has too offer? He longs to meet your deepest need to be loved…to come home.
This is His story…it can be your story