The rich God of Israel - 25 March 2024
By Imogen Campbell
(Di)temana ya Bibele
1 JOHANESE 3
Bana ba Modimo
Personally, that is great news, the proverbial Good News of the Bible. Sinners who are completely out of the running for righteousness get to have a second chance; we get to be part of the family of God. I don’t know if there is better news than that.
As Christians in a new dispensation, we get to experience the God of Israel, we get to become co-heirs with Israel, the people to whom the promises were made. As those grafted into this olive tree, we get to enjoy the blessings. It is not something to take lightly or for granted. In my heart, I am singing “Hallelujah”. How about you?
This God of Israel is incredible. He never reneges on his promises. It may take a while to reach fruition, but his Word is true. He promised Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, that he would be the father of many nations. By the age of 99, Abraham was asking God if the promise couldn’t come through his son Ishmael and he laughed to himself. He thought his body was as good as dead. God said no, it would come through his aged body.
Sarah, Abraham’s wife, laughed too. Modern-day women would too. She denied it when asked but God told her she definitely laughed. And He knows things like that. One year later, when Abraham was 100, God delivered. A bundle of joy arrived. Not before God had the final say though. “Then the LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Will I really have a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’ ” (Genesis 18:13-14)
Some of us may be facing some serious challenges in our lives; situations may seem desperate and hopeless. May we never forget the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Nothing is impossible for him or too hard for the LORD.
In the New Testament, Luke 1:37 expresses it so beautifully, “For no word from God will ever fail.” In other words, if God said, we can take it to the bank. In a world filled with so much insecurity, the security we have in God is absolutely mind-blowing.
Prayer: God Almighty, truly that is who you are: almighty. We praise your name and thank you for the blessing of being in your family, adopted as sons and daughters. Amen
