Living With Consequences
Genesis 3:14-19 God’s punishment for sinning against him. The snake: Crawl on your belly - Enmity between you and people. The woman: Increase pain in childbirth -- you will desire your husban. The man: Work will be a frustration for him
If there were no other areas of confirmation that the Bible is true for me it would be the fulfillment of prophecy from God. J Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 in the New Testament for a total 1,817. Of course this can vary with who is doing the counting and how many times they were interrupted in the counting. Ha! One thing I do know is that God purposely give us prophecy so it will help us to believe. If we just look to the prophecy with Adam, Eve and snakes we see how true they all are to this very day.
Snakes: I saw in National Geographic in July 2015 an article about how the skeleton of a snake have small legs attached under the skin. They called it a Tetrapodophis. There are even some boas and constrictors that have them under their skin today.
Women: Needless to say that women still have pain in childbirth and yet they still desire a man.
Men: Throughout the world and down through time men have struggled with their work.
How about prophecy that Jesus fulfilled?
He was to be born of the family of David--- II Sam 7:12-16
Born of a virgin --- Isa 7:14
Born in Bethlehem --- Micah 5:2
Sojourn to Egypt --- Hosea 11:1
He would live in Galilee --- Isa 9:1,2
His coming would be announced by an Elijah like person --- Isa 40:3-5
At his coming there would be a massacre of Bethlehem’s children --- Jer 31:15
He would proclaim a Jubilee to the world --- Isa 58:6 & 61:1
His ministry would include Gentiles --- Isa 42:1-4
Ministry of healing --- Isa 53:4
He would teach in parables --- Psalm 78:2
He would be disbelieved and rejected by rulers --- Isa 53:1
He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem --- Zec 9:9
He would be like a smitten shepherd --- Zec 13:7
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver --- Zec 11:12,13
Die with malefactors --- Isa 53:9
They would cast lots for his clothing --- Psalm 22:18
His dying words were foretold --- Psalm 22:1 & 31:5
Not a bone broken --- Psalm 34:20
His side would be pierced --- Psalm 22:16
While there are many more fulfilled prophecy concerning Jesus and many yet to be fulfilled , we can be sure that they will be in due time. We can trust God’s word, but before we can we need to know it. I encourage you to read three chapters everyday. If you do this, you will read the Bible in a year. Faith requires a belief. Without faith it is impossible to please God. All that stands between you and reading your Bible is your want to.
Prayer: Holy Spirit please give us the wisdom, knowledge and insight into God’s word. We ask this in Jesus’ holy name.
Comments