Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Jesus Promised

Matthew 1v22 “All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet.”

Do you get those moments of questioning “What if I have got this wrong?”. I love to ponder over the prophecies in the Old Testament and be amazed. What other explanation could there be of such accurate long-range foretelling except that the Bible is truly God speaking to us? That applies to both the prophetic words and prophetic actions of the Old Testament.

Just consider amongst many others:

• Abraham was told by God around 2000BC “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen 12v3): look at the global spread of God’s blessing now.
• Abraham was prepared to offer up his-only-promised-son, Isaac, as a sacrifice and spoke the words, “God himself will provide the lamb” (Gen 22v8): look at Jesus, the provision of “The Lamb of God”.
• David wrote Psalm 22 around 1000BC and included many pertinent lines such as, “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing”: look at the direct correspondence with Christ’s crucifixion.
• Micah wrote about 700BC “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah … out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5v2): look at the birth of Jesus, the eternal Son, in Bethlehem.
• Isaiah also wrote about 700BC, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7v14): look at Jesus who was born to the virgin Mary.

God’s Word is faithful and true. His promises are always sure.

With love and blessing,

Roland