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Reasons to Believe

Gideon-Part 1-Unbelief and Doubt

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Based on Judges 6 (NKJV)

“Now, these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

1 Corinthians 10: 7-9

A Personal note:

As I read Gideon’s story, I asked myself this question to make it more meaningful to my own Christian experience:

Are the actions of Gideon ones I should emulate? Can I follow his example in my relationship with God? Or was his story one written to caution me about testing God?

Gideon’s experience with God starts off badly but ends up with one of the most remarkable examples of God’s leadership and might. God is the center of the story. It is all about faith and trust in Him.

Gideon would eventually learn and trust in God and become a picture on the great wall of faith found in Hebrews 11. But before He got there, he was a man of doubt and mistrust.

Learning From Mistakes-God’s Grace

 The Lord has preserved the stories of the people of God in the Old testament primarily to help future generations learn from their mistakes. God’s people were, by no account, perfect, even those who are mentioned in Hebrews 11‘s people-of-faith chapter.  Many started off on the wrong footy but would eventually find the narrow path of faith in Jesus. Most often, they learned by trial and error with God. Faith, my friends, is the only path that leads to life. It is a trusting relationship with the One who made us and rescued us!   May we learn from the mistakes of ancient Israel and our own!

Gideon is a victorious warrior who struggles with trust in God’s word, much like many of us.  But eventually, He would learn to trust God.  Paul puts Gideon among the other great people of faith.

Gideon’s story is one of the longer and more detailed ones in the Bible. Paul seems to say that with these words.”

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon

Hebrews 11:32

Testing God

Before Gideon became an illustration of a man of faith, he had a crisis of faith when he “tested” the Lord.  This is something we should not do, as God points out in the passage above. 

We should not test Christ, as some of them did. The question remains for us.  Do we test God…even unconsciously?

In so many words, Jesus said the same thing first:

 Then said Jesus unto him, Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe John 4:48

Signs and Wonders in Ancient Israel

Throughout the history of God’s dealings with ancient Israel, signs and wonders were prevalent among the people of God. Perhaps the most famous came from the rescue of the Israelites from Egypt.

Their history with God was an unending circle of prosperity and blessing, rebellion, enslavement, repentance, and God’s rescue through both prophets and signs and wonders. Once they were comfortable, the cycle would start over again.

Had they consistently remained faithful to God alone, even in the tough times, they would have been blessed, protected, and prosperous. Despite their circumstances, trust was God’s ultimate goal for Israel and is the same for us today!

Thought Question:

Is my experience with God consistent, or do I go through a similar cycle as the children of Israel? How does this affect my witness for Him?

The Egyptian Experience: Miracles, Unbelief-Gripe, and Complain

Before the experience of oppression with the Midianites, Egypt had enslaved God’s people. Egypt became Israel’s oppressive, racist master for 40 years (Numbers 32:13). The children of Israel’s unbelief led them to adjust and accept their new way of life.  They became comfortable with slavery. They began to look, talk, and walk like Egyptians.  The promised people had gone so far from God that their unbelief would follow them through the desert of their escape despite the miracles God performed, starting with the ten plagues that fell on Egypt but not on them! (Exodus 8:22, Exodus 9:4, Exodus 9:11   

Despite the miracle of escaping through the Red Sea that God parted just for them, then closed up on their drowning enemies (Exodus 13:18, Exodus 15:4), they griped and complained throughout their entire escape.  They wanted to go back to the comforts and rich foods of Egypt.

In the desert, the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Exodus 16: 1-3

They saw the miracle of manna falling from heaven to feed them (Deuteronomy 8:16, John 6:31); the pillar fire provided light and direction (Exodus 13:21). Even their clothes did not wear out, nor their feet swell (Nehemiah  9:21). Can you imagine having 40-year-old garments that looked like you had just purchased them yesterday or walking all day and your feet felt fine?

Despite all this, they did not trust and obey! Consequently, those who escaped their captors through the might of God’s hand never reached the promised land, except for a few. This is because they did not take God at His word, which led to a lack of trust in God. They had failed the test of faith and trust in God.

Thought question:

Has unbelief and not trusting God made me a person who complains, gripes, and is a weak follower of Christ? If so, how do I increase my faith?

Preconceived Scenarios-A Trait of God’s People

At the time of the Messiah’s arrival, rescue from the Romans was choreographed in the Jews’ minds as a military action complete with swords and multitudes of people led by a mighty king or general.  But because they believed more in their imagination than the word of God, they slew their Messiah, who would have made them a great nation of evangelists had they simply believed (trusted) Him in His word.

Perhaps their biggest mistake was not knowing God or His word for themselves. They depended on professional teachers of the law, the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. Here was the source of misinformation!

All of this came honestly to the people of Christ’s time on earth, but it had its roots in their ancestry.

Enslaved Again! 

In chapter 6 of Judges, we see the children of Israel at the cycle point of enslavement again.  This time, enslavement came in the form of oppression by the Midianites.  The reason for the oppression is found in the first verse of this chapter (6):

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years.

Englaved again! And again, they cried out for deliverance.  God heard and was prepared to deliver them. But here starts the story of their deliverer-Gideon. Rather than trust God in His word and promises, Gideon wanted assurance of God’s guidance through signs and wonders.  But even these signs did not increase his faith for long.

A Rebellious People and God’s Grace

Through an unnamed prophet, God sent a reminder of their miraculous delivery from Egypt.  God would soon deliver them similarly through Gideon by destroying the Midianites, as He did in Egypt.

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you and drove them out before you and gave you their land.

Judges 6:7-9

Because of God’s love, grace, and mercy, He would (yet again) deliver them. God would do more than stop the persecution.   He would give His people the land of the Midianites and bring peace to the people for 40 years! Wow! God always goes beyond our expectations! 

But, before God powerfully used Gideon, Gideon went through phases of doubt and unbelief. Because this story was recorded for posterity, we can learn lessons on faith from Gidon and the bad decisions of the children of Israel. 

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition (instruction) upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  

1 Corinthians 10: 11

Thought Question: Will I react differently to difficult daily living and thought decisions that must be made?  How about the worldwide time of trouble?  Will I repeat the people’s sins of unbelief as recorded in the Bible?

Gideon’s Had Good Reason For Doubt

Gideon had reasons to fear and doubt that God would deliver the children of Israel. His brothers had fallen during the battles with the Midianites. He was the only remaining son of Joash.  Also, the Manasseh tribe was the weakest of the other twelve tribes.  But it was Joash”s remaining (only) son who would deliver the enslaved Israelites. Because of these circumstances, Gideon had doubts:

“O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

Judges 6:15

“Gideon was the son of Joash, of the tribe of Manasseh. The division to which this family belonged held no leading position, but the household of Joash was distinguished for courage and integrity. Of his brave sons, it is said, “Each one resembled the children of a king.” All but one had fallen in the struggles against the Midianites, and he had caused his name to be feared by the invaders. To Gideon came the divine call to deliver his people.” Prophets and Kings, p. 546

God Sends Encouragement-Unbelief Example #1

To encourage Gideon to trust His promise of deliverance (as He did with Egypt), God sent both an unnamed prophet (Judges 6:8) and the Angel of the Lord (Judges 6:12).

 “….the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel

Judges 6:8

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

Judges 6: 12

The Angel of the Lord reminds Gideon who he is, a “mighty man of valor‘ brave and strong. But despite this powerful compliment, Gideon complains to God!  He instantly becomes a man of complaints against God and doubt.

Gideon said to Him, “O my lord IF the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” v.13

Was God responsible for their troubles?  Had He forsaken them? Remember verse 1 of Judges 6.  They had left God and went after other gods and did evil in plain sight of God!

Nothing has changed since the beginning of time.  People who doubt God, even His existence, always fall back on the IF and Why reasoning. Example: IF God cares or exists, then WHY (fill in the blank)…why is there suffering and war? Or Why did He let my child die? 

Thought Question:

Often, I bring trouble upon myself, or others bring pain and suffering to me. I often don’t want God around, so I separate myself from the protection offered to me because things don’t go as I thought or planned. How can I change this?

God makes a promise to Gideon.

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” v. 14

These words of the Lord should have been enough.  But Gideon doubted again even after the compliment and encouragement from both a prophet and an angel of the Lord.  This led to unbelief example #2.

Unbelief (Doubt)-Example #2

So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” v. 15

Instead of trusting God and taking Him at His word, Gideon looks at His weak family, and he points out to God that he is the least of the weakest! What a pity party!

A famous saying of Christians is, “God said, I believe it, and that settles it.”  But that is usually stated in the comfortable pew with other believers in good times. So in difficult times, how often do we doubt instead of simply believing what God has said? 

But Gideon’s doubts don’t stop here.  He tests God by requiring a sign from Him. Example #3

Unbelief and Doubt Example #3

Then he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. Judges 6:17

Instead of trusting God, taking Him at His word, or (at the least) knowing God enough to acknowledge His character of love and mercy is sufficient, he looked for a sign.  Is our relationship with Him based on signs or simply knowing Him personally?  Which is more important? Signs or trusting God at His word?

An offering of meat and bread. 

The Angel of the Lord instructed Gideon to put the offering on a rock and pour the broth over it.  Then fire came out of the rock and consumed it. God did the same with Elijah in 1 Kings 18:38. This impressed Gideon.  It was a clear sign of God’s power.  But he still had doubts.

Tear Down the Alters

Later that night, God tested Gideon’s faith by commanding him to tear down the altar to Baal and the wooden image beside it.  Then Gideon was to build an altar to God and put an offering (bull) along with the wood from the image he destroyed!  But Gidon was still not strong in his faith.  He was so afraid that he took ten men to do the work, and they did it with the cover of night! Again, a similar experience for Elijah in 1 Kings 18:32

Before God could deliver the Children of Israel, they had to get some things straight in their own lives.  Worship God and Him only!  Tear down the idols in their lives. Gideon successfully had the altar and wooden image destroyed.

Thought Question:

Are there cherished alters in my life that need to be torn down? Idols that affect my witness for Christ… Things that take my eyes off of the only true God…things like money, position, tradition, or cherished unbiblical beliefs?

When the city’s men discovered what had happened to their offering and idol, they demanded to know who it was.  Joash, Gideon’s father, told them,

But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself because his altar has been torn down!” Therefore on that day, he called him Jerubbaal,[ saying, “Let Baal plead against him because he has torn down his altar.”

Judges 6: 31,32

These are some pretty snarky and bold statements form Gideon’s father! But notice that Gideon did not boldly tell them, “It was me!” Instead, his father (Joash) exhibited confidence in God in the face of the city’s men! Joash’s argument against idols has long been, “let them take care of themselves if they are as powerful as you think.”

But Gideon’s doubts don’t end.  He demanded another sign despite four already given:

1.) The encouraging words of an unnamed prophet.

2.) The appearance Angel of the Lord reminds Gideon that he is a “man of valor.” The Angel tells the encouraging story of God’s salvation of the people from Egypt;

3.) The sign of the offering being consumed.

4.)  The destruction of the idols and His father standing up for the true God instead of Baal.

Unbelief and Doubt-The Sign of the Fleece Example #5

“So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said….” (Judges 6:36)  There is that word again, “IF.”  This fleece was not the will of God.  It was a test by Gidon to seek assurance and instructions that God had already given Him!  God had already said the victory was his! Gideon did not trust God.  He wanted a sign! Let me repeat it again!

It was a test by Gidon to seek assurance and instructions that God had already given Him!  God had already said the victory was his! Gideon did not trust God.  He wanted a sign!

Author

God, in his mercy for this doubter, answered the request as Gideon requested. 

Look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said. V. 37

And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.” V 38, 39

But the doubt kept coming.

  Unbelief and Doubt-The Sign of the Fleece-Part 2- Example #5

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” V 39.

And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground. V. 39

Testing God

Gideon was not a believer that subscribed to trusting God in His word.  He did not express faith in a God that He should have known.  Instead, like the “wicked and adulterous generation” seeking signs and wonders, Gideon demanded signs like the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. 

Thought Question:

Is the story of Gidon our example or a lesson of His mistakes we are to learn from?  Is asking for a sign a practice of doubt when making tough or seemingly impossible decisions? 

How the Story Should Have Gone in Three Words:

Grace, Faith, and Obedience are three in one. It is understanding the grace and character of God that is the solid foundation for unshakable faith or trust in God’s promises that leads to obedience.

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” God desired Gideon would know Him and His word enough to trust Him through a simple request or prayer rather than testing Him with fleece.  We are not to tempt the Lord (Test the Lord) through signs and wonders. We must know God enough that He will do what He says,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11: 6

“You shall not tempt( test) the Lord your God as you tempted (tested) Him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers, to cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken. Deuteronomy 17: 16-19

…whatever is not from faith is sin Romans 14:23

In a sense, we should have an advantage over the people of the Old Testament.  They had signs and wonders; we have examples of their mistakes despite the miracles.

It is a high spiritual experience not to be this type of Gideon, but rather have faith like the gentiles who trusted in God’s willingness to answer prayers. “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Luke 5:12. No signs, no wonders requested, only trusting in God’s will.  The miracle for the Leper came at the choice of God after he trusted in God’s will.

Of the approximately 35 miracles performed by Jesus, there was no fasting, no signs, and no wonders, no fleece test. Instead, it was faith that God desires of us.  He wants us to know Him…to trust Him!  In the final analysis, to require a sign is an act of doubt, not faith.

But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these, I delight,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:24

Gideon’s Eventual Victory

In Judges Chapter 7, we will see the crossover from a doubter to a mighty man of valor.  What made the difference? Was it all the signs and wonders?   This we will examine next time!

Faith, Reasons to Believe, What to Do With Doubt

WHAT TO DO WITH DOUBT PART 2

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“If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about me.”

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel… By which also ye are saved… unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, ow that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

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Have you been able to see Jesus in the books of Moses (Generally accepted as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,  Numbers, and Deuteronomy)?  Have you seen Him in the other books of the Old Testament?

If you haven’t seen Jesus in the Old Testament you have missed 59% of the story about Jesus.

Come with me as we take a walk with two disciples who, after a three to four hour Bible study with Jesus had their lives changed.  They went from massive disappointment to solid believers in Jesus.  It can do the same for you.

This is written in first-person for a “reality” version of the story. At the end is some additional material which should appeal to your logic.

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It was early in the morning and the sky was getting brighter as I walked the dusty road speaking in low tones with my friend Cleopas about the things which had transpired over the last few days.  So many things!  All very bad!

It started with the arrest of Jesus in the Garden east of the city.   During the night and into the early morning of the Preparation Day (Friday) the soldiers and mob began to move Him between the governor and religious leadership. Then they beat Him to a pulp and eventually crucified our Friend and Leader on a Roman cross on the hill outside of Jerusalem later in the afternoon of the Preparation Day.

I watched from a distance as He hung His head and took his last breath.  He said something at the end, but I was unable to hear because I was trying to stay far enough away so that no one would try to connect me with Him .  I would certainly be labeled as a fanatic believer in this prophet who the clergy had called a blasphemer.  This led to his death.  I think I saw Peter off in the distance.  He appeared to be on his knees with his face in his hands.  His disappointment must be very great!

There had been an earthquake and the sun refused to shine.  Darkness took over the land like a thick smothering blanket.  Everything seemed out of place…frightening.  The large curtain in the temple had been ripped from top to bottom by some unseen hand. There were even reports of people, considered saints,  coming out of their graves and appearing to many in the city! (Matthew 27: 51-53)

My personal disappointment is great because I believed everything He had taught.  I was amazed at His great miracles and works of kindness. His followers thought Him to be the Messiah prophesied by many of the prophets hundreds of years ago.  He was going to set up His kingdom and deliver my people from the iron rule of Rome.  We thought He was the coming king upon which hung on all our hopes.

But, it seemed like He did not want the office of king.  I had left everything to follow Him and learn His teachings. My commitment all came to nothing on Friday afternoon when He died.  Now only doubt, but also sadness and disappointment hung on Cleopas and me like a heavy smelly cloak belonging to someone else.  I  want an explanation, but the reality of deception was creeping into my thoughts and it made me feel sick and foolish.

On top of everything else, the body of Jesus is missing!  The women followers said He was alive, confirmed by a couple of other disciples, but I know better.  It is just wishful thinking on their part. No one could have survived the beating, the nails, the loss of blood, and finally the sharp sword in the side.  I saw it and refuse to believe anything but what my eyes can confirm. There was no mistaking… the vision of so much blood and the pale appearance of death was real.

It is the first day of the week. Fresh days lie before us as we make our way to Emmaus to start over;  a walk of about 8 miles. It will take me the usual 3 1/2 hours or so to walk…maybe longer today because of our conversation and a heavy heart. This will give us plenty of time to try and put all the pieces together….to try to understand and make sense of everything and to decide what to do with the rest of our lives.

All of a sudden, an unexpected stranger walks up from behind and joins us.  He asks,

“Why are you so sad and what are you discussing?”

I find these two questions odd in the light of the excitement and well-known events of the weekend. Slightly agitated and amazed Cleopas speaks before I can open my mouth and he answers the question with a question.  He throws in some sarcasm for good measure.

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem that does not know the things which happened there these last few days?”

 I am even more amazed when the stranger asks,

“What things?”

In disbelief, we began to explain to the young manr the events of the weekend.  Reviewing everything does not help my disappointment and we rush through them as a courtesy to the stranger.

“These things concern Jesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.  But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.  Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  Then they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” Luke 24: 19-24

Then the stranger calls Cleopas and me “foolish ones” and that we are “slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken”  This is certainly not so! I have always believed the prophets.  I have come from a family who believes in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and I have read it often.  The prophets said, that the Messiah would come and deliver Israel from its enemies.  But the stranger began to recite the writings of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy) and all the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Malachi, etc)  of the Tanakh and explain things I had missed in my readings.

The stranger clearly points out passages that were references to Jesus.  For the next 3 hours, I am amazed at the knowledge and clarity of the stranger’s words.  As I listened to the stranger recite our ancient books, I begin to see that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the sins of the world, but that He would be raised up the third day!  How had I missed that?  Why had we not believed Jesus when He said it was necessary for Him to die and that he would rise again?  It was like I had been reading the scripture the way I wanted it to read instead of letting it talk to me!  Indeed, we felt foolish but encouraged by the words of the stranger.  My heart burned within me!  I wanted to hear more!  This was all exciting and new to me!

As we get near the village where we plan to rest, it is almost dark. I don’t want the stranger to go and I look for excuses for Him to stay the night so we can hear more. Thankfully, He agrees to have supper with us.  As He breaks the bread, I recognize those hands and the manner in which He breaks it!  I finally look across the table into his eyes at about the same time as Cleopas.  It is Jesus!  As soon as we recognize him, He disappears!  We had been talking to Jesus the whole time and we didn’t recognize Him!

With intense excitement and joy, Cleopas and I jump up and run the 8 miles back to Jerusalem!   We must tell the 11 who were behind closed doors who share our confusion and disappointment.  When we arrive,  we find them huddled in a group in fear and disappointment.  Out of breath, we begin to tell them what had happened over the last several hours.  As we are telling them, Jesus appears in the room!

Everyone jumps back.  They think they are seeing a spirit, but Jesus tells them it is Him and that He is not a spirit. To prove it, He invites them to touch Him and He asks for something to eat.  They give Him some fish and some honeycomb.  After everyone settles down and the scales of their eyes begin to fall away, Jesus repeats the same type of study Cleopas and I heard on the road to Emmaus.  This time, He uses the entire Tanakh including the Psalms to explain how He is found all through scripture. All the disciples begin to understand that He had to die, but that He would rise on the third day.  How could we have missed this?  It was right there!

Then He said to us,

“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.  that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.  (And He opened our understanding that we might comprehend the Scriptures.”) Luke 24:44

Do we need  Jesus to open our understanding of Scriptures?  Have we missed Jesus as we have read the Old Testament?  What did Jesus teach these two disciples when He explained passages from all the books of the Old Testament?  Is the Old Testament not relevant to New Testament Christians?  Have we misunderstood Jesus?  What does the entire Bible  teach about Him?

 Next, we will take a look at Jesus through the eyes of one who is a well-known doubter Thomas and attempt to understand why the resurrection of Jesus is an absolute cornerstone of the Christian faith. In fact, without it, Paul says we are most pitiful of all men. But, after we see through the eyes of Thomas we will exclaim as he did:

“My Lord and My God.”  John 20:28 

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ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

What is the possibility of one man fulfilling only eight of the Old Testament prophecies?

It is 1 x 1028 or 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Given this and the time span between the writings of the Old Testament and the fulfillment by Christ in the New Testament, the prophecies were either given to the prophets by God, or the prophets just wrote them down as they thought they should be. With Christ fulfilling all eight prophecies, what are the odds the prophets were just guessing?

“Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me”

Psalm 40:7.

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”

Revelation 19:10.

“…all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me”

Jesus Christ, Luke 24:44.

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”

Jesus Christ, John 5:46.

“To Him give all the prophets witness”

Acts 10:43.

353 Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ!

Prophecy Fulfillment
1. Gen. 3:15Seed of a woman (virgin birth)Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:18
2. Gen. 3:15He will bruise Satan’s headHebrews 2:14, 1John 3:8
3. Gen. 3:15Christ’s heel would be bruised with nails on the crossMatthew 27:35, Luke 24:39-40
4. Gen. 5:24The bodily ascension to heaven illustratedMark 16:19
5. Gen. 9:26, 27The God of Shem will be the Son of ShemLuke 3:36
6. Gen. 12:3Seed of Abraham will bless all nationsGalatians 3:8, Acts 3:25, 26
7. Gen. 12:7The Promise made to Abraham’s SeedGalatians 3:16
8. Gen. 14:18A priest after the order of MelchizedekHebrews 6:20
9. Gen. 14:18King of Peace and RighteousnessHebrews 7:2
10. Gen. 14:18The Last Supper foreshadowedMatthew 26:26-29
11. Gen. 17:19Seed of Isaac (Gen. 21:12)Romans 9:7
12. Gen. 22:8The Lamb of God promisedJohn 1:29
13. Gen. 22:18As Isaac’s seed, will bless all nationsGalatians 3:16
14. Gen. 26:2-5The Seed of Isaac promised as the RedeemerHebrews 11:18
15. Gen. 28:12The Bridge to heavenJohn 1:51
16. Gen. 28:14The Seed of JacobLuke 3:34
17. Gen. 49:10The time of His comingLuke 2:1-7; Galatians 4:4
18. Gen. 49:10The Seed of JudahLuke 3:33
19. Gen. 49:10Called Shiloh or One SentJohn 17:3
20. Gen. 49:10Messiah to come before Judah lost identityJohn 11:47-52
21. Gen. 49:10Unto Him shall the obedience of the people beJohn 10:16
22. Ex. 3:13-15The Great “I AM”John 4:26, 8:58
23. Ex. 12:5A Lamb without blemishHebrews 9:14; 1Peter 1:19
24. Ex. 12:13The blood of the Lamb saves from wrathRomans 5:8
25. Ex. 12:21-27Christ is our Passover1Corinthians 5:7
26. Ex. 12:46Not a bone of the Lamb to be brokenJohn 19:31-36
27. Ex. 15:2His exaltation predicted as YeshuaActs 7:55, 56
28. Ex. 15:11His Character-HolinessLuke 1:35; Acts 4:27
29. Ex. 17:6The Spiritual Rock of Israel1Corinthians 10:4
30. Ex. 33:19His Character-MercifulLuke 1:72
31. Lev. 1:2-9His sacrifice a sweet smelling savor unto GodEphesians 5:2
32. Lev. 14:11The leper cleansed-Sign to priesthoodLuke 5:12-14; Acts 6:7
33. Lev. 16:15-17Prefigures Christ’s once-for-all deathHebrews 9:7-14
34. Lev. 16:27Suffering outside the CampMatthew 27:33; Heb. 13:11, 12
35. Lev. 17:11The Blood-the life of the fleshMatthew 26:28; Mark 10:45
36. Lev. 17:11It is the blood that makes atonementRom. 3:23-24; 1John 1:7
37. Lev. 23:36-37The Drink-offering: “If any man thirst”John 7:37
38. Num. 9:12Not a bone of Him brokenJohn 19:31-36
39. Num. 21:9The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted upJohn 3:14-18, 12:32
40. Num. 24:17Time: “I shall see him, but not now.”John 1:14; Galatians 4:4
41. Deut. 18:15“This is of a truth that prophet.”John 6:14
42. Deut. 18:15-16“Had ye believed Moses, ye would believe me.”John 5:45-47
43. Deut. 18:18Sent by the Father to speak His wordJohn 8:28, 29
44. Deut. 18:19Whoever will not hear must bear his sinActs 3:22-23
45. Deut. 21:23Cursed is he that hangs on a treeGalatians 3:10-13
46. Joshua 5:14-15The Captain of our salvationHebrews 2:10
47. Ruth 4:4-10Christ, our kinsman, has redeemed usEphesians 1:3-7
48. 1 Sam. 2:35A Faithful PriestHeb. 2:17, 3:1-3, 6, 7:24-25
49. 1 Sam. 2:10Shall be an anointed King to the LordMt. 28:18, John 12:15
50. 2 Sam. 7:12David’s SeedMatthew 1:1
51. 2 Sam. 7:13His Kingdom is everlasting2Peter 1:11
52. 2 Sam. 7:14aThe Son of GodLuke 1:32, Romans 1:3-4
53. 2 Sam. 7:16David’s house established foreverLuke 3:31; Rev. 22:16
54. 2 Ki. 2:11The bodily ascension to heaven illustratedLuke 24:51
55. 1 Chr. 17:11David’s SeedMatthew 1:1, 9:27
56. 1 Chr. 17:12-13To reign on David’s throne foreverLuke 1:32, 33
57. 1 Chr. 17:13“I will be His Father, He…my Son.”Hebrews 1:5
58. Job 9:32-33Mediator between man and God1 Timothy 2:5
59. Job 19:23-27The Resurrection predictedJohn 5:24-29
60. Psa. 2:1-3The enmity of kings foreordainedActs 4:25-28
61. Psa. 2:2To own the title, Anointed (Christ)John 1:41, Acts 2:36
62. Psa. 2:6His Character-HolinessJohn 8:46; Revelation 3:7
63. Psa. 2:6To own the title KingMatthew 2:2
64. Psa. 2:7Declared the Beloved SonMatthew 3:17, Romans 1:4
65. Psa. 2:7, 8The Crucifixion and Resurrection intimatedActs 13:29-33
66. Psa. 2:8, 9Rule the nations with a rod of ironRev. 2:27, 12:5, 19:15
67. Psa. 2:12Life comes through faith in HimJohn 20:31
68. Psa. 8:2The mouths of babes perfect His praiseMatthew 21:16
69. Psa. 8:5, 6His humiliation and exaltationHebrews 2:5-9
70. Psa. 9:7-10Judge the world in righteousnessActs 17:31
71. Psa. 16:10Was not to see corruptionActs 2:31, 13:35
72. Psa. 16:9-11Was to arise from the deadJohn 20:9
73. Psa. 17:15The resurrection predictedLuke 24:6
74. Psa. 18:2-3The horn of salvationLuke 1:69-71
75. Psa. 22:1Forsaken because of sins of others2 Corinthians 5:21
76. Psa. 22:1“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”Matthew 27:46
77. Psa. 22:2Darkness upon Calvary for three hoursMatthew 27:45
78. Psa. 22:7They shoot out the lip and shake the headMatthew 27:39-44
79. Psa. 22:8“He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him”Matthew 27:43
80. Psa. 22:9-10Born the SaviourLuke 2:7
81. Psa. 22:12-13They seek His deathJohn 19:6
82. Psa. 22:14His blood poured out when they pierced His sideJohn 19:34
83. Psa. 22:14, 15Suffered agony on CalvaryMark 15:34-37
84. Psa. 22:15He thirstedJohn 19:28
85. Psa. 22:16They pierced His hands and His feetJohn 19:34, 37; 20:27
86. Psa. 22:17, 18Stripped Him before the stares of menLuke 23:34, 35
87. Psa. 22:18They parted His garmentsJohn 19:23, 24
88. Psa. 22:20, 21He committed Himself to GodLuke 23:46
89. Psa. 22:20, 21Satanic power bruising the Redeemer’s heelHebrews 2:14
90. Psa. 22:22His Resurrection declaredJohn 20:17
91. Psa. 22:27-28He shall be the governor of the nationsColossians 1:16
92. Psa. 22:31“It is finished”John 19:30, Heb. 10:10, 12, 14, 18
93. Psa. 23:1“I am the Good Shepherd”John 10:11, 1Peter 2:25
94. Psa. 24:3His exaltation predictedActs 1:11; Philippians 2:9
95. Psa. 30:3His resurrection predictedActs 2:32
96. Psa. 31:5“Into thy hands I commit my spirit”Luke 23:46
97. Psa. 31:11His acquaintances fled from HimMark 14:50
98. Psa. 31:13They took counsel to put Him to deathMt. 27:1, John 11:53
99. Psa. 31:14, 15“He trusted in God, let Him deliver him”Matthew 27:43
100. Psa. 34:20Not a bone of Him brokenJohn 19:31-36
101. Psa. 35:11False witnesses rose up against HimMatthew 26:59
102. Psa. 35:19He was hated without a causeJohn 15:25
103. Psa. 38:11His friends stood afar offLuke 23:49
104. Psa. 38:12Enemies try to entangle Him by craftMark 14:1, Mt. 22:15
105. Psa. 38:12-13Silent before His accusersMatthew 27:12-14
106. Psa. 38:20He went about doing goodActs 10:38
107. Psa. 40:2-5The joy of His resurrection predictedJohn 20:20
108. Psa. 40:6-8His delight-the will of the FatherJohn 4:34, Heb. 10:5-10
109. Psa. 40:9He was to preach the Righteousness in IsraelMatthew 4:17
110. Psa. 40:14Confronted by adversaries in the GardenJohn 18:4-6
111. Psa. 41:9Betrayed by a familiar friendJohn 13:18
112. Psa. 45:2Words of Grace come from His lipsJohn 1:17, Luke 4:22
113. Psa. 45:6To own the title, God or ElohimHebrews 1:8
114. Psa. 45:7A special anointing by the Holy SpiritMt. 3:16; Heb. 1:9
115. Psa. 45:7, 8Called the Christ (Messiah or Anointed)Luke 2:11
116. Psa. 45:17His name remembered foreverEphesians 1:20-21, Heb. 1:8
117. Psa. 55:12-14Betrayed by a friend, not an enemyJohn 13:18
118. Psa. 55:15Unrepentant death of the BetrayerMatthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:16-19
119. Psa. 68:18To give gifts to menEphesians 4:7-16
120. Psa. 68:18Ascended into HeavenLuke 24:51
121. Psa. 69:4Hated without a causeJohn 15:25
122. Psa. 69:8A stranger to own brethrenJohn 1:11, 7:5
123. Psa. 69:9Zealous for the Lord’s HouseJohn 2:17
124. Psa. 69:14-20Messiah’s anguish of soul before crucifixionMatthew 26:36-45
125. Psa. 69:20“My soul is exceeding sorrowful.”Matthew 26:38
126. Psa. 69:21Given vinegar in thirstMatthew 27:34
127. Psa. 69:26The Saviour given and smitten by GodJohn 17:4; 18:11
128. Psa. 72:10, 11Great persons were to visit HimMatthew 2:1-11
129. Psa. 72:16The corn of wheat to fall into the GroundJohn 12:24-25
130. Psa. 72:17Belief on His name will produce offspringJohn 1:12, 13
131. Psa. 72:17All nations shall be blessed by HimGalatians 3:8
132. Psa. 72:17All nations shall call Him blessedJohn 12:13, Rev. 5:8-12
133. Psa. 78:1-2He would teach in parablesMatthew 13:34-35
134. Psa. 78:2bTo speak the Wisdom of God with authorityMatthew 7:29
135. Psa. 80:17The Man of God’s right handMark 14:61-62
136. Psa. 88The Suffering and Reproach of CalvaryMatthew 27:26-50
137. Psa. 88:8They stood afar off and watchedLuke 23:49
138. Psa. 89:27FirstbornColossians 1:15, 18
139. Psa. 89:27Emmanuel to be higher than earthly kingsLuke 1:32, 33
140. Psa. 89:35-37David’s Seed, throne, kingdom endure foreverLuke 1:32, 33
141. Psa. 89:36-37His character-FaithfulnessRevelation 1:5, 19:11
142. Psa. 90:2He is from everlasting (Micah 5:2)John 1:1
143. Psa. 91:11, 12Identified as Messianic; used to tempt ChristLuke 4:10, 11
144. Psa. 97:9His exaltation predictedActs 1:11; Ephesians 1:20
145. Psa. 100:5His character-GoodnessMatthew 19:16, 17
146. Psa. 102:1-11The Suffering and Reproach of CalvaryJohn 19:16-30
147. Psa. 102:25-27Messiah is the Preexistent SonHebrews 1:10-12
148. Psa. 109:25RidiculedMatthew 27:39
149. Psa. 110:1Son of DavidMatthew 22:42-43
150. Psa. 110:1To ascend to the right-hand of the FatherMark 16:19
151. Psa. 110:1David’s son called LordMatthew 22:44, 45
152. Psa. 110:4A priest after Melchizedek’s orderHebrews 6:20
153. Psa. 112:4His character-Compassionate, Gracious, et alMatthew 9:36
154. Psa. 118:17, 18Messiah’s Resurrection assuredLuke 24:5-7; 1Cor. 15:20
155. Psa. 118:22, 23The rejected stone is Head of the cornerMatthew 21:42, 43
156. Psa. 118:26aThe Blessed One presented to IsraelMatthew 21:9
157. Psa. 118:26bTo come while Temple standingMatthew 21:12-15
158. Psa. 132:11The Seed of David (the fruit of His Body)Luke 1:32, Act 2:30
159. Psa. 129:3He was scourgedMatthew 27:26
160. Psa. 138:1-6The supremacy of David’s Seed amazes kingsMatthew 2:2-6
161. Psa. 147:3, 6The earthly ministry of Christ describedLuke 4:18
162. Prov. 1:23He will send the Spirit of GodJohn 16:7
163. Prov. 8:23Foreordained from everlastingRev. 13:8, 1Peter 1:19-20
164. Song. 5:16The altogether lovely OneJohn 1:17
165. Isa. 2:3He shall teach all nationsJohn 4:25
166. Isa. 2:4He shall judge among the nationsJohn 5:22
167. Isa. 6:1When Isaiah saw His gloryJohn 12:40-41
168. Isa. 6:8The One Sent by GodJohn 12:38-45
169. Isa. 6:9-10Parables fall on deaf earsMatthew 13:13-15
170. Isa. 6:9-12Blinded to Christ and deaf to His wordsActs 28:23-29
171. Isa. 7:14To be born of a virginLuke 1:35
172. Isa. 7:14To be Emmanuel-God with usMatthew 1:18-23, 1Tim. 3:16
173. Isa. 8:8Called EmmanuelMatthew 28:20
174. Isa. 8:14A stone of stumbling, a Rock of offense1Peter 2:8
175. Isa. 9:1, 2His ministry to begin in GalileeMatthew 4:12-17
176. Isa. 9:6A child born-HumanityLuke 1:31
177. Isa. 9:6A Son given-DeityLuke 1:32, John 1:14, 1Tim. 3:16
178. Isa. 9:6Declared to be the Son of God with powerRomans 1:3, 4
179. Isa. 9:6The Wonderful One, PelehLuke 4:22
180. Isa. 9:6The Counsellor, YaatzMatthew 13:54
181. Isa. 9:6The Mighty God, El Gibor1Cor. 1:24, Titus 2:3
182. Isa. 9:6The Everlasting Father, Avi AdthJohn 8:58, 10:30
183. Isa. 9:6The Prince of Peace, Sar ShalomJohn 16:33
184. Isa. 9:7To establish an everlasting kingdomLuke 1:32-33
185. Isa. 9:7His Character-JustJohn 5:30
186. Isa. 9:7No end to his Government, Throne, and PeaceLuke 1:32-33
187. Isa. 11:1Called a Nazarene-the Branch, NetzerMatthew 2:23
188. Isa. 11:1A rod out of Jesse-Son of JesseLuke 3:23, 32
189. Isa. 11:2Anointed One by the SpiritMatthew 3:16, 17, Acts 10:38
190. Isa. 11:2His Character-Wisdom, Knowledge, et alColossians 2:3
191. Isa. 11:3He would know their thoughtsLuke 6:8, John 2:25
192. Isa. 11:4Judge in righteousnessActs 17:31
193. Isa. 11:4Judges with the sword of His mouthRev. 2:16, 19:11, 15
194. Isa. 11:5Character: Righteous & FaithfulRev. 19:11
195. Isa. 11:10The Gentiles seek HimJohn 12:18-21
196. Isa. 12:2Called Jesus-YeshuaMatthew 1:21
197. Isa. 22:22The One given all authority to governRevelation 3:7
198. Isa. 25:8The Resurrection predicted1Corinthians 15:54
199. Isa. 26:19His power of Resurrection predictedMatthew 27:50-54
200. Isa. 28:16The Messiah is the precious corner stoneActs 4:11, 12
201. Isa. 28:16The Sure Foundation1Corinthians 3:11, Mt. 16:18
202. Isa. 29:13He indicated hypocritical obedience to His WordMatthew 15:7-9
203. Isa. 29:14The wise are confounded by the Word1Corinthians 1:18-31
204. Isa. 32:2A Refuge-A man shall be a hiding placeMatthew 23:37
205. Isa. 35:4He will come and save youMatthew 1:21
206. Isa. 35:5-6To have a ministry of miraclesMatthew 11:2-6
207. Isa. 40:3, 4Preceded by forerunnerJohn 1:23
208. Isa. 40:9“Behold your God.”John 1:36; 19:14
209. Isa. 40:10.He will come to rewardRevelation 22:12
210. Isa. 40:11A shepherd-compassionate life-giverJohn 10:10-18
2101. Isa. 42:1-4The Servant-as a faithful, patient redeemerMatthew 12:18-21
212. Isa. 42:2Meek and lowlyMatthew 11:28-30
213. Isa. 42:3He brings hope for the hopelessJohn 4
214. Isa. 42:4The nations shall wait on His teachingsJohn 12:20-26
215. Isa. 42:6The Light (salvation) of the GentilesLuke 2:32
216. Isa. 42:1, 6His is a worldwide compassionMatthew 28:19, 20
217. Isa. 42:7Blind eyes opened.John 9:25-38
218. Isa. 43:11He is the only Saviour.Acts 4:12
219. Isa. 44:3He will send the Spirit of GodJohn 16:7, 13
220. Isa. 45:21-25He is Lord and SaviourPhilippians 3:20, Titus 2:13
221. Isa. 45:23He will be the JudgeJohn 5:22; Romans 14:11
222. Isa. 46:9, 10Declares things not yet doneJohn 13:19
223. Isa. 48:12The First and the LastJohn 1:30, Revelation 1:8, 17
224. Isa. 48:16, 17He came as a TeacherJohn 3:2
225. Isa. 49:1Called from the womb-His humanityMatthew 1:18
226. Isa. 49:5A Servant from the womb.Luke 1:31, Philippians 2:7
227. Isa. 49:6He will restore IsraelActs 3:19-21, 15:16-17
228. Isa. 49:6He is Salvation for IsraelLuke 2:29-32
229. Isa. 49:6He is the Light of the GentilesJohn 8:12, Acts 13:47
230. Isa. 49:6He is Salvation unto the ends of the earthActs 15:7-18
231. Isa. 49:7He is despised of the NationJohn 1:11, 8:48-49, 19:14-15
232. Isa. 50:3Heaven is clothed in black at His humiliationLuke 23:44, 45
233. Isa. 50:4He is a learned counselor for the wearyMatthew 7:29, 11:28, 29
234. Isa. 50:5The Servant bound willingly to obedienceMatthew 26:39
235. Isa. 50:6a“I gave my back to the smiters.”Matthew 27:26
236. Isa. 50:6bHe was smitten on the cheeksMatthew 26:67
237. Isa. 50:6cHe was spat uponMatthew 27:30
238. Isa. 52:7Published good tidings upon mountainsMatthew 5:12,15:29,28:16
239. Isa. 52:13The Servant exaltedActs 1:8-11; Eph. 1:19-22, Php. 2:5-9
240. Isa. 52:14The Servant shockingly abusedLuke 18:31-34; Mt. 26:67, 68
241. Isa. 52:15Nations startled by message of the ServantLuke 18:31-34; Mt. 26:67, 68
242. Isa. 52:15His blood shed sprinkles nationsHebrews 9:13-14, Rev. 1:5
243. Isa. 53:1His people would not believe HimJohn 12:37-38
244. Isa. 53:2Appearance of an ordinary manPhilippians 2:6-8
245. Isa. 53:3aDespisedLuke 4:28-29
246. Isa. 53:3bRejectedMatthew 27:21-23
247. Isa. 53:3cGreat sorrow and griefMatthew 26:37-38, Luke 19:41, Heb. 4:15
248. Isa. 53:3dMen hide from being associated with HimMark 14:50-52
249. Isa. 53:4aHe would have a healing ministryMatthew 8:16-17
250. Isa. 53:4bThought to be cursed by GodMatthew 26:66, 27:41-43
251. Isa. 53:5aBears penalty for mankind’s iniquities2Cor. 5:21, Heb. 2:9
252. Isa. 53:5bHis sacrifice provides peace between man and GodColossians 1:20
253. Isa. 53:5cHis sacrifice would heal man of sin1Peter 2:24
254. Isa. 53:6aHe would be the sin-bearer for all mankind1John 2:2, 4:10
255. Isa. 53:6bGod’s will that He bear sin for all mankindGalatians 1:4
256. Isa. 53:7aOppressed and afflictedMatthew 27:27-31
257. Isa. 53:7bSilent before his accusersMatthew 27:12-14
258. Isa. 53:7cSacrificial lambJohn 1:29, 1Peter 1:18-19
259. Isa. 53:8aConfined and persecutedMatthew 26:47-27:31
260. Isa. 53:8bHe would be judgedJohn 18:13-22
261. Isa. 53:8cKilledMatthew 27:35
262. Isa. 53:8dDies for the sins of the world1John 2:2
263. Isa. 53:9aBuried in a rich man’s graveMatthew 27:57
264. Isa. 53:9bInnocent and had done no violenceLuke 23:41, John 18:38
265. Isa. 53:9cNo deceit in his mouth1Peter 2:22
266. Isa. 53:10aGod’s will that He die for mankindJohn 18:11
267. Isa. 53:10bAn offering for sinMatthew 20:28, Galatians 3:13
268. Isa. 53:10cResurrected and live foreverRomans 6:9
269. Isa. 53:10dHe would prosperJohn 17:1-5
270. Isa. 53:11aGod fully satisfied with His sufferingJohn 12:27
271. Isa. 53:11bGod’s servant would justify manRomans 5:8-9, 18-19
272. Isa. 53:11cThe sin-bearer for all mankindHebrews 9:28
273. Isa. 53:12aExalted by God because of his sacrificeMatthew 28:18
274. Isa. 53:12bHe would give up his life to save mankindLuke 23:46
275. Isa. 53:12cNumbered with the transgressorsMark 15:27-28
276. Isa. 53:12dSin-bearer for all mankind1Peter 2:24
277. Isa. 53:12eIntercede to God in behalf of mankindLuke 23:34, Rom. 8:34
278. Isa. 55:3Resurrected by GodActs 13:34
279. Isa. 55:4aA witnessJohn 18:37
280. Isa. 55:4bHe is a leader and commanderHebrews 2:10
281. Isa. 55:5God would glorify HimActs 3:13
282. Isa. 59:16aIntercessor between man and GodMatthew 10:32
283. Isa. 59:16bHe would come to provide salvationJohn 6:40
284. Isa. 59:20He would come to Zion as their RedeemerLuke 2:38
285. Isa. 60:1-3He would shew light to the GentilesActs 26:23
286. Isa. 61:1aThe Spirit of God upon himMatthew 3:16-17
287. Isa. 61:1bThe Messiah would preach the good newsLuke 4:16-21
288. Isa. 61:1cProvide freedom from the bondage of sinJohn 8:31-36
289. Isa. 61:1-2aProclaim a period of graceGalatians 4:4-5
290. Jer. 23:5-6Descendant of DavidLuke 3:23-31
291. Jer. 23:5-6The Messiah would be both God and ManJohn 13:13, 1Ti 3:16
292. Jer. 31:22Born of a virginMatthew 1:18-20
293. Jer. 31:31The Messiah would be the new covenantMatthew 26:28
294. Jer. 33:14-15Descendant of DavidLuke 3:23-31
295. Eze.34:23-24Descendant of DavidMatthew 1:1
296. Eze.37:24-25Descendant of DavidLuke 1:31-33
297. Dan. 2:44-45The Stone that shall break the kingdomsMatthew 21:44
298. Dan. 7:13-14aHe would ascend into heavenActs 1:9-11
299. Dan. 7:13-14bHighly exaltedEphesians 1:20-22
300. Dan. 7:13-14cHis dominion would be everlastingLuke 1:31-33
301. Dan. 9:24aTo make an end to sinsGalatians 1:3-5
302. Dan. 9:24aTo make reconciliation for iniquityRomans 5:10, 2Cor. 5:18-21
303. Dan. 9:24bHe would be holyLuke 1:35
304. Dan. 9:25His announcementJohn 12:12-13
305. Dan. 9:26aCut offMatthew 16:21, 21:38-39
306. Dan. 9:26bDie for the sins of the worldHebrews 2:9
307. Dan. 9:26cKilled before the destruction of the templeMatthew 27:50-51
308. Dan. 10:5-6Messiah in a glorified stateRevelation 1:13-16
309. Hos. 11:1He would be called out of EgyptMatthew 2:15
310. Hos. 13:14He would defeat death1Corinthians 15:55-57
311. Joel 2:32Offer salvation to all mankindRomans 10:9-13
312. Jonah 1:17Death and resurrection of ChristMatthew 12:40, 16:4
313. Mic. 5:2aBorn in BethlehemMatthew 2:1-6
314. Mic. 5:2bRuler in IsraelLuke 1:33
315. Mic. 5:2cFrom everlastingJohn 8:58
316. Hag. 2:6-9He would visit the second TempleLuke 2:27-32
317. Hag. 2:23Descendant of ZerubbabelLuke 2:27-32
318. Zech. 3:8God’s servantJohn 17:4
319. Zech. 6:12-13Priest and KingHebrews 8:1
320. Zech. 9:9aGreeted with rejoicing in JerusalemMatthew 21:8-10
321. Zech. 9:9bBeheld as KingJohn 12:12-13
322. Zech. 9:9cThe Messiah would be justJohn 5:30
323. Zech. 9:9dThe Messiah would bring salvationLuke 19:10
324. Zech. 9:9eThe Messiah would be humbleMatthew 11:29
325. Zech. 9:9fPresented to Jerusalem riding on a donkeyMatthew 21:6-9
326. Zech. 10:4The cornerstoneEphesians 2:20
327. Zech. 11:4-6aAt His coming, Israel to have unfit leadersMatthew 23:1-4
328. Zech. 11:4-6bRejection causes God to remove His protectionLuke 19:41-44
329. Zech. 11:4-6cRejected in favor of another kingJohn 19:13-15
330. Zech. 11:7Ministry to “poor,” the believing remnantMatthew 9:35-36
331. Zech. 11:8aUnbelief forces Messiah to reject themMatthew 23:33
332. Zech. 11:8bDespisedMatthew 27:20
333. Zech. 11:9Stops ministering to those who rejected HimMatthew 13:10-11
334. Zech. 11:10-11aRejection causes God to remove protectionLuke 19:41-44
335. Zech. 11:10-11bThe Messiah would be GodJohn 14:7
336. Zech. 11:12-13aBetrayed for thirty pieces of silverMatthew 26:14-15
337. Zech. 11:12-13bRejectedMatthew 26:14-15
338. Zech. 11:12-13cThirty pieces of silver cast in the house of the LordMatthew 27:3-5
339. Zech. 11:12-13dThe Messiah would be GodJohn 12:45
340. Zech. 12:10aThe Messiah’s body would be piercedJohn 19:34-37
341. Zech. 12:10bThe Messiah would be both God and manJohn 10:30
342. Zech. 12:10cThe Messiah would be rejectedJohn 1:11
343. Zech. 13:7aGod’s will He die for mankindJohn 18:11
344. Zech. 13:7bA violent deathMark 14:27
345. Zech. 13:7cBoth God and manJohn 14:9
346. Zech. 13:7dIsrael scattered as a result of rejecting HimMatthew 26:31-56
347. Zech. 14:4He would return to the Mt. of OlivesActs 1:11-12
348. Mal. 3:1aMessenger to prepare the way for MessiahMark 1:1-8
349. Mal. 3:1bSudden appearance at the templeMark 11:15-16
350. Mal. 3:1cMessenger of the new covenantLuke 4:43
351. Mal. 3:6The God who changes notHebrews 13:8
352. Mal. 4:5Forerunner in spirit of ElijahMt. 3:1-3, 11:10-14, 17:11-13
353. Mal. 4:6Forerunner would turn many to righteousnessLuke 1:16-17
What to Do With Doubt

Empathy for the Unbeliever-Part 1

1 Comment

For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

Romans 3: 3

Unbelief, doubt, mistrust are described throughout holy scripture.  It appears in Genesis and is the story of Abraham, Moses, Kings, Prophets, Disciples, and followers.

Doubt and unbelief starts early in scripture.  It takes only 3 chapters before they appear in very clear language.  Adam and Eve succumbed quickly and apparently easily when they believed Satan and disobeyed a clear command of God.

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 2: 15-17

Notice that this message was heard only by Adam.  Eve was non-existent when God gave this command. The verses immediately after Genesis 2: 17 describe the creation of Eve.

It wasn’t long (at least in the order of the passages in scripture) that Satan had the woman alone.  He charmed her, contradicted the words of God, and planted the first seeds of doubt.

“Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

Genesis 3:1

Eve knew the restriction.  She either heard it from her husband Adam or God told her directly.  It makes sense that Adam told her, but regardless of the source of the communication, she knew what God had said.

“We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”

The snake replied, “That’s not true; you will not die. God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.”

Genesis 3:2-4

The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it.

Genesis 3:6

So Eve heard the first contradiction of God’s word and responded through disobedience.  She thought it would make her wise and that God was withholding from her something to make her even more happy.   Sadly, it  had the opposite effect as demonstrated in the characters of the Bible who were also infected with similar doubt, unbelief, and disobedience.

 If Adam had been with her, the story might have ended differently.  But, Adam loved Eve and did not want to lose her.  While she was deceived, he walked quickly into disobedience without doubt and unbelief as the motivator.  Adam, in effect, chose death rather than life because of his love for Eve.  Sound familiar?  Jesus died because of his love for us.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 

1 Timothy 2: 13-14

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

So doubt about God and the truthfulness of His word is in the genes of mankind from the beginning just as sin has been.  In fact, sin is unbelief, doubt, and mistrust:

“…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Romans 14 : 3

“Indeed, I was born guilty.
    I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.”

Psalm 51: 5

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Doubt, unbelief, mistrust, and disobedience go together.  You might could say, “Doubt begets unbelief and unbelief begets mistrust, and mistrust begets disobedience.

There are basically two types of people that have doubt regarding  God.  First there is a follower of Jesus who has a weak experience and demonstrates doubt in his walk with God.  Then there is the one who has the basic doubt about the existence of God, Jesus, and his word.

With this basic framework, lets explore further the concept of doubt.

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If you doubt the existence of God, Ask yourself this question,  “What would it take for me to believe that God exists?”

Adam and Eve did not have this type of doubt.  They knew God, but doubted Him and what was truth about Him.

On the other hand, If you doubt God’s word and promises for the follower, your question would be “What would it take for me to believe God’s promises and His word?”

Before proceeding, answer these questions in your mind.  Think about it for at least 30 seconds.

Were your answers a one time event?  Maybe a Paul like experience where God appears and talks to you directly would make you a believer.  But, would one event be enough to convince you that there is a God ?  Would one event be enough to give you complete trust to believe His promises are sure and He is not a liar?

Anyone familiar with the journey of the children of Israel, would know that God gave them many such events and yet they still failed to believe.  Miracles were demonstrated daily around them.  But, their unbelief kept that generation from entering the Promised Land.

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:19

I propose to you that even if Christ appeared in your bedroom one night or at your door one morning, doubt would still raise its head after the experience wore off.  If God appeared at the Super Bowl and made the announcement, “I am God, there is none like me.  I am going to turn everyone purple for the duration of the game as a sign, Many, if not all, would still return to doubt after a period if not right away.

Jesus said of the Pharisees that even if someone were raised from the dead, they would not believe:

“If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

Luke 16:31

On a more practical level, I have found that most people want something almost as spectacular before they will believe and put their trust in God.  They want God to stop all wars, stop disease, death, and destruction before they  believe.”  “Give me wealth and security so that I don’t have to worry about food and insecurity of loosing my job, then I will believe”  “Explain to me how you could speak the universe into existence.”  Satisfy every need in my life and others and I will believe.”

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Actually God promises to do these very things, but it is not to turn everyone into believers, but rather is the reward for those who do believe:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

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You might ask how do I become a believer?  How does my weak experience with God become strong and real?

Once there was a man who had a  young son that would often have convulsions.  The son from his childhood would loose control and would put himself in dangerous situations.

The man brought his son to Jesus because his disciples could not help him.  Jesus told him this:

“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Mark 9:23

The man did not understand how to overcome unbelief so in his heart He asked Jesus to help him:

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

This is the cry of many people,  Lord help me to believe!

Sadly, many people do not ask to believe.  They are content with the life they have made for themselves.  Their vision is only for 70, 80, or 90 good years on the earth.

Jesus offers much more, but many do not believe Him.

I came to a point in my own life where I began to search for truth.  When I came to Jesus and begin to study the Scripture about Him and listen to his words, it left me with only two conclusions.  Jesus was either all He claimed to be or He was the biggest liar and deceiver that ever lived.

My unbelief did not go away easily.  It was a journey that continues to this day.

Unbelief is normal, but it is not what God asks of us.  He wants us to believe and trust in Him.  He will give us reasons to believe if we are willing to search.  It will not be a one time event, but rather a continuous journey. After all, it was mistrust of God that got us into trouble in the first place.  We have much to learn.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

Searching and seeking is a continuous journey, but Jesus is at the end of the search.

 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10: 17

If you want more faith, hear or read more of God’s word.  If you want little faith then don’t ever read God’s word.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

The reasons to believe have substance and evidence.  Faith is not based on assumption or blindness.  Faith and trust and God can be real if:

1.) You are willing to dedicate some time to seeking God.

2.)  Seeking in His word is the best place to start

3.) Asking God to help you believe.

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Next week, we will talk in detail about the reasons why people have doubt and unbelief.

May the Lord bless you by bringing conviction to your heart and drawing you to himself.  Yield to the pull of God and your life will be better now and forever. Amen.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

What to Do With Doubt

What To Do With Doubt-Part 4 (The Dirty Dozen)

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It is OK to doubt.

Sometimes the Bible equates doubt with the concept of confusion (both willingly or unwillingly).  Let’s explore doubt through this idea and see if it makes sense.  If it does, we will also discover what to do with doubt.

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There was a time after Jesus left the earth and early days of the church when God’s spirit came upon the disciples (As Jesus said it would) and they began to preach in the language of the many different people who were in Jerusalem

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

Acts 2:5-6

This remarkable event had a purpose.  It was to ignite and spread the truth, the good news about Jesus.  The early church went from a hand full who had been with Jesus to thousands in one day!  It was just the beginning.  The new converts (or simply those who had been there) would hear the message about Christ and take it back to their homeland.  This migration of the message would lay the ground work for the travels and preaching of the disciples by preparing the hearts of those who would hear the story of Jesus confirmed by those who had been with Jesus.  They did a similar work of John the Baptist by preparing their friends and loved ones for the reception of the gospel.

 ‘“Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth”

Isaiah 40:3 (The Message)

But, for now, there was a bit of confusion by those who heard the disciples speaking in their own language.  Despite this miracle, there were some who doubted.

 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Acts 2:12

Since they could not explain what was going on, they were confused and it led to doubt.

Not much has changed over the thousands of years.  When man cannot understand or explain something, they doubt.  It is OK to doubt, but to refuse to seek answers and truth is a mistake.

If you are having doubts about Jesus, it might be that you have not sought the answers.  For this study, let’s try to understand why there is so much confusion regarding the truth about God, Jesus, and our purpose on earth.

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If you think about it, your religious preference, world-view, denomination, and thoughts about truth are often “preset” for you based where you were born and your parents.  If you are born in North America, you are likely a Christian, either Protestant or Catholic.  If you were born in the Mid-East, you are likely Islāmic in your beliefs.  Are your parents Chinese? Then likely you would subscribe to some sort of Buddhism.

As a child, you were trained up in the preference of your parents.  If your parents never attended church or sought truth, then you too likely have done the same.

With all of us, from different backgrounds, confusion reigns.  A simple answer is to say that all are just different paths to the same place.  Some might say, there is no “path”; there is no “place.”

But Jesus makes a claim that cuts across this:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

Now if Jesus made this claim, He better be able to support it.  Either this is an absolute truth or it is an absolute lie.  It (and He) cannot be both.

It is tempting to go down the path of talking about the reality of absolute truth at this point, but I will save it for another time.  Instead let’s think about the things that would cloud our thinking and bring confusion and doubt about truth.

Here is a list of 12 items that can bring confusion and doubt in a person’s experience.  Before you read this list and think about it, know that there is a loving God who does not want us to be “ignorant” about truth regardless of how we got to a state of confusion.

“…I do not want you to be ignorant…”

1 Corinthians 12:1

  1.  Family religious ancestry (If Grandma’s beliefs were good enough for her, it must be right!)
  2. Popularity (If the masses believe this way, it must be right!)
  3. Tradition (It has always been believed this way)
  4. Dogma (Blindly following a set of creeds and rules for points with God.)
  5. Shallow study (Not only a cursory approach, but studying to prove a point rather than discovery of truth)
  6. No study (Gathering around us speakers we like and who support our un-researched beliefs.)
  7. Education (Especially denominational education) and Science explained with a humanistic agenda.  Remember, God is the author of all science!
  8. Closed-mindedness (Don’t want to know the truth.  Might interfere with my lifestyle)
  9. Feelings (My heart tells me what is truth)
  10. Good looking, articulate, entertaining ministers (Someone that is good looking and charismatic can’t be wrong!)
  11. Entertainment and Entertainers (These famous people are smarter than most. Aren’t they?)
  12. Actual deception from Satan himself (Don’t forget, he can appear as an angel of light. II Corinthians 11:14)

Let’s call these the “Dirty Dozen” for future reference.  Notice what is missing in all of these:  A personal knowledge and experience with God and his word! What do you think would happen if we earnestly asked Jesus, directly, for truth from His word through the work of the Holy Spirit?  What would happen if we honestly wanted to know truth, regardless of the presence of the Dirty Dozen?  How many Christians do this?  How many search like their lives depended on it?  Has church attendance become a routine and social event rather than worship and search for truth.

It should not be a surprise that the enemy of mankind can (and does) use the “Dirty Dozen” to keep truth from doing its work of introducing the lost to Jesus; building up the body of Christ; and enriching our experience with God.  Is that a fair statement?  He is the father of all lies

He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

John 8:44

Actually, the Dirty Dozen is on automatic pilot in a world of sin.  Our sinful nature and those 12 items listed above can do their work on their own without Satan being just over your shoulder. He is not omnipresent, like God, is he?

So much to overcome in the pursuit of truth!  But, take heart!  God is working to draw every person on planet earth towards the one and only true God; towards truth about Him and His life saving teachings!  He does not want anyone to perish.  That is why the gospel must go to the whole world for a witness.  Yes, to the Chinese, the Japanese, the Asians, the Latino, the African, the English, Americans….everyone! Christianity is not an just for King James English speaking people. God and his written word is greater than the dirty dozen and greater than the boundaries of language, space, and culture!  He draws every person born onto the planet towards him…inviting us to search for truth.  If we search, we will find it!

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John 1:9

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

John 12:32

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

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Most Important Truth

At the very core of every doctrine is the character of God.  It is often overlooked that the reason Jesus came to this earth was not only to live a sinless life; pay for our sins by his death on the cross; and to reveal the power of God through his resurrection, but to reveal the true character of God and therefore draw people into salvation.  By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, the truth about the character of God had been turned into a lie.  Would you agree with that?  How had it turned into a lie?  Well meaning followers were influenced by the “professional” religious leaders (Scribes and Pharisees) in the interpretation of God’s word and character.  There were so many rules and misunderstandings that the creator God, they professed to know, was in their presence and he was not even recognized.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 1:10 

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 8:19

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 14:8-9

It is so important that we “know” the true character of God the Father and Jesus our Creator, that Jesus equates it with salvation and having eternal life:

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:3 (New King James Version)

He goes on further in explaining this important concept of knowing God as the basis of salvation.  In the following text, he discloses that there are many who think they know God and even have the works to prove it (or do they), but they are lost, because of this lack of knowledge!

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 7:21-23

Interesting that these people look like Christians and even have some of the spiritual gifts and works, but they practice lawlessness.  In other words, they have the form of godliness but deny its power. 2 Timothy 3:5.

If we “know” him, we know not only about him, but we know his character, his motives, and his feelings.  We find out about him through: His word, the life of Jesus, other born-again Christians, His work though other people, nature, even through working with him and doing his will.  Very important that we are willing to do his biding, because if we are not willing to follow, not only will we fail to get to  know him better, but we will become confused about his teaching:

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

John 7:17

The power of the dirty dozen is not to be underestimated.  Any one of them can, at the least, can prove to hinder a relationship with Jesus and at the worse lead to making “Christ of no effect” Galatians 5:4 (King James Version).  In the end, a true knowledge of God is not just facts or an understanding of his historical actions, but a present personal relationship with him.  When you do know him, you will know that he is forgiving, slow to anger, has your best interest in mind, etc.

The only way to overcome confusion is through a personal study and application of the powerful word of God created by a desire to find out the truth about God.  In the end, however, it is not how much you know that saves you, but how well you know Jesus.  Today, He invites you to:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:29

How about it?  Are you ready to start your Jesus Journey?