Transformer - 11/28/2021
God Being Almighty Assures Promises
Once to Abraham and once to Jacob, God refers to Himself as Almighty. God uses this descriptive word of Himself to introduce His promise to these two patriarchs. Based upon this fact these two fathers of the Israelite nation could have the assurance that God could and would fulfill His promise.
When God announced that circumcision would be the sign of the covenant He would establish with Abraham, He described Himself as Almighty (Genesis 17:1). It seems from the context that God used this characteristic as a guarantee that He would keep His agreement with Abraham and future generations.
When God spoke to Jacob and changed his name to Israel, God prefaced the statement by describing Himself as Almighty (Genesis 35:10). When his father, Isaac, sent Jacob to his uncle’s house to find a wife, Isaac referred to God by using this same term.
One question to ponder is how did these three patriarchs have the confidence that God was “Almighty”? Why would this descriptive word provide such assurance to them?
While we might look at the rest of the Bible and come to the same conclusion, these ancestors of the Israelite nation did not have the information we currently have. This fact makes the point even stronger; their limited information still produced the same result. How?
The answer must be that they were told of the many acts which God had done and possibly more than what is revealed in the book of Genesis up to their respective places in the account given by Moses. The method of this revelation is irrelevant; them receiving it is of utmost importance.
However, looking solely at the Genesis record, the stories of the creation, flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed show how Almighty God really is. Bringing everything into existence from nothing, causing a universal flood, and destroying two cities with the use of brimstone and fire coming from heaven definitely shows God’s power.
In our world today, people should have the same confidence in God as these three men did in ancient times. The events are still historical facts. The power they demonstrate should be as convincing today as it was back then.
While it may be hard for us to envision in our minds a being with such great power; it does not diminish the fact that these stories manifest God’s all-powerfulness. He is still the same omnipotent God today!
By reading subsequent chapters in Genesis, as well as the remainder of the Bible, this description of God is only magnified. Just like these three patriarchs, this information should give great assurance of God being the Almighty to those who are living God’s way. ~ cgm
Exploring the Bible
How old was Abraham when God promised him a son (Genesis 12:4)?
According to Ezra (7:6) the scribe, who gave the Law of Moses?
What must a person do to get wisdom from God (James 1:5)?
Thinking on the Word…
Contents of 1 Corinthians
Paul after leaving Antioch (of Syria) for the last time and traveling “through the Galatian region and Phrygia strengthening the disciples,” comes to the city of Ephesus. While evangelizing this city, word came to him of some problems in the church at Corinth.
This information could possibly have come from two sources: one, Chloe’s people; and two, a letter the Corinthians sent to Paul replying to his previous letter. Chloe’s people possibly could have told Paul about the division within the church, the sexual immorality between two church members, and church members filing lawsuits to settle their disputes.
From the letter Paul received he deals with some abuses concerning marriage and personally abusing the liberties they had in Christ which they thought removed any moral restrictions. They were also abusing some of the acts of worship like the Lord’s Supper along with having the wrong attitude about the spiritual gifts they had been given and their proper use. They lacked the proper understanding of the resurrection, both of Jesus and the faithful Christian. The final subject Paul deals with in this letter is “the collection for the saints.”
Paul’s letter, which is divided into sixteen chapters, has much to say about present day life. The church is not to be following the practice of men, but rather should be following the practices taught by Jesus. Marriage is a subject for every generation. Dealing with a fellow-Christian who has wronged us is always a current subject.
The instructions Paul gives concerning our worship to God is very important to current day Christians. While he does not discuss all that is in the worship service, he does correct some abuses the Corinthians were doing and therefore gives some instructions as to how they are to be done.
The book of 1 Corinthians is very relevant to modern day Christians. It is a book worth spending several hours thinking on its contents. It is a book which will help every Christian to be living the righteous and justified life as God would have them live. ~ cgm
Words of Wisdom
“Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones.” - Proverbs 15:30
Fat on the bones is not looked upon in our society as a good thing. Doctors want there to be as little fat on the bones as possible. However, in this proverb it is describing a positive thing.
Hearing “good news” helps us to understand the descriptive phrase “bright eyes.” It is information which will make the heart glad or filled with rejoicing. Using the word “bones” to denote the body, this “good news” will bring satisfaction to the person who hears the information.
Everyone likes to hear good news. It seems to bring some positivity to our daily lives. It causes us to have a happy moment in our day. We just feel better when we hear good news.
In the New Testament, the word gospel has the meaning of “good news.” The best part of this good news is that it tells us of the actions of Jesus which provides a means by which individuals who have sinned against God can be forgiven. By God granting us forgiveness, we are able to escape His wrath which will be upon the disobedient.
As one considers the gospel, it should gladden their heart. It should excite them every time they hear the message, think about the message, or share the message with someone. It should truly make them feel satisfied and good.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly “good news” for everyone. While we should be happy for this information, we should equally be happy because God has made provision for us to have access to this good news even today. It should fill our eyes with excitement, make our hearts glad, and put a little “fat on our bones.” - cgm