Despite everything, hope for us all - 27 March 2024

Walking and praying, I sensed something in my spirit – that hope would not disappoint. In fact, as the verse above reveals, when we place our hope in the God of Jacob, we are blessed.

The God of the Bible, of Jacob and the patriarchs, has always existed and always will. His name as revealed to Moses is I AM. Present tense and he is omnipresent – the God of eternal hope.

He was a beacon of light to the patriarchs, to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and their offspring even when they suffered in Egypt. When the Light of the World entered the world two millennia ago, he fled to Egypt for a while too, when his life was in danger.

He came back to his homeland and worked through his Twelve Disciples. On their testimony and that of the prophets (Ephesians 2:20-22), he founded his church, which forged unity among people now one in Christ.

He has held true to his Word. We can depend on him, we can place our hope in him, and we can turn to him. He is God Immortal, the God who sees (El Roi), heals (Rapha) and the God who was killed for our sin: Yeshua, Immanuel, the great I AM.

During his trial, Mark 14:62 records Jesus’s words. “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

John recorded Jesus’ I AM statements: I am … the way, the truth and the life; the bread of life; the light of the world; the door for the sheep; the good shepherd; the resurrection and the life; and the true vine.

This week, some may meditate on the statements uttered by Jesus on the cross, specifically the penultimate one, “It is finished”. He came and lived perfectly, following every statute and dying without sin. He spent himself on saving you and me. He had done everything he had set out to do.

There is no way he has plans to let us down. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is working, he is doing what he does best, being God and orchestrating everything according to his purposes. He has a solid track record. He never fails.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your complete, inerrant Word. Thank you for the cross, for saving us from an eternity spent apart from you. Amen