General Articles

Jesus Is the Whole Story of the Bible, Part 12 :: By Sean Gooding

Published on: by RR10

Judges 2:1-6, 6:11-27

“Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: ‘I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 2 And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’

4 So it was, when the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.5 Then they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the Lord. 6 And when Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land.”

We continue our journey, looking at Jesus in the Old Testament. I pray that as you read your personal devotions or recap the accounts that you have known before, maybe you are seeing the Lord more and more. We often hear from many people, and especially from conservative Jews, that Jesus is a New Testament character. Nothing could be further from the truth as we are seeing and learning. I hope that this is helping you to see the continuity between the OT and the NT, and that the central theme and central character is Jesus.

Last week, we looked at Jesus as the Commander of the Lord’s Armies. Today, we will explore the Angel of the Lord, and we will see Him here in two situations. First, we will meet Him as He pronounces a curse on Israel for their disobedience. Then we will take a look as He calls Gideon to be a ‘mighty warrior.’

In chapter 2:1, the Angel of the Lord comes to pronounce a judgment on the people. They have crossed over into the Promised Land, and for 5 years, they fought the inhabitants as they took the land and got their inheritance. However, they did not drive ALL of the people out of the land; they made covenants and agreements with the people, and as such, they were shoulder to shoulder with pagan people who worshipped false gods.

God never intended for this to be the case; He had intended for them to drive out the people and establish the land as a safe place for them to live, raise their children, and worship their God. But we find in verse 2 that the people had not obeyed God. So the Lord did not drive the inhabitants out; instead, they would be ‘thorns in the side’ of the Israelite people. For the better part of 400 years, the inhabitants of the land would enslave and impoverish the Jewish people.

Obedience is the highest form of worship. These folks knew that God had spoken to them; they had seen Him, heard Him, and had victories because of Him. They had seen Him kill giants on the other side of the Jordan, they had seen Him provide food, water, clothes that never wore out, and yet still, they refused to obey Him. The consequence of that was that they would have perpetual enemies.

The enemies of Israel still live on their land, killing them, persecuting them, stealing their freedoms, and taking their peace. They are still suffering more than 3,500 years later from this disobedience. For some reason, we, as God’s people, always think that obedience puts this burden on us; we think God does not know what He is doing, so we do things our way. Then we get a few years or a few generations down the road, and we begin to reap what we have sown, and we get mad at God. We disobeyed, and we have to deal with the consequences. Lord, please forgive us for being just as ‘stiff-necked’ as the Jews were back in the days of the Exodus and the Judges.

In our next account’ Judges 6: 11-27, we will meet the ‘valiant’ Gideon. He is threshing wheat in the winepress, hiding the profit of the crops from the Midianites. They had come up and stripped Israel of her food and crops. So, the Angel of the Lord comes to call Gideon to lead the fight against them and to deliver Israel for a time. In verse 17, Gideon doubts that he is speaking to God because of all that had befallen Israel. They were sorely pained by their neighbors, and nothing good seemed to ever happen to them.

Disobedience to God brings pain and lots of it. I am not talking about a one-time sin, or even sin that one repents of often, even though it is done often; we all have these kinds of sin in our lives. But this is the rebellious sin, the one that we never repent of and pursue; this is what Israel did with idolatry, especially. These kind so arrogant failings come with egregious repercussions. All that Gideon saw were the repercussions and pain, and so he doubted the goodness and even the presence of God.

In verse 21, Gideon is about to have his eyes opened all the way when this Angel of the Lord accepts a sacrifice. This is very important; normal angels like Gabriel or Michael will NEVER allow you to worship them (Revelation 22:9). But here, the Angel of the Lord allowed Gideon to worship him, and Gideon realizes what has happened. In verse 22, he cries out, “Alas, O Lord God!” He was afraid that he would die. He knew Exodus 33:20, where God tells Moses, “No man shall see Me and live.” This is an acknowledgement from Gideon that the Angel of the Lord is God.

The Lord comforts him in Judges 6:23; you will not die. In verse 24, the place is called The Lord is Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Most of us know the story and what goes on after this. Gideon goes on to judge Israel and deliver them from the Midianites.

We can be comforted that even when we are disobedient and rebellious, God does not completely abandon us. Yes, we have to suffer the consequences of disobedience, BUT we are not forsaken or abandoned. What an awesome, loving, gracious, and faithful God we serve!

Is there unconfessed and arrogantly pursued sin that you need to confess? Are there gods in your life that you need to forsake? And yes, I know that the vast majority of the people reading RR are saved, but we can still have idols in our lives. Even in your sinful rebellion, Jesus has not left you. And yes, there may be harsh consequences for our sins, but we are still loved, and God will help us through the pain that we have brought on ourselves if we will cry out to Him.

Like Gideon, it is okay to have doubts, but don’t let that stop you from obeying.

Isaiah 30:1, Woe to the Obstinate “Peacemakers” :: By Dave Hubley

Published on: by RR10

I have included a special message at the end of this article for those who have reached the point where the burden of evidence that the world is spinning out of control is overwhelming. I hope you will read and take to heart what God requires in order to give His free gift of eternal life, as He has declared is His will for all who trust in Him.

Jesus made the following statement in His Olivet Discourse:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

As with any verbalization made by the Lord, Righteousness, Truth and Integrity are at its core.

In this case, these characteristics must be presumed to be imparted to those He is describing in His use of the term “peacemakers,” as no unrepentant person will ever be called a “son of God” or see the Kingdom of God.

We are currently witness to a frenzied effort on the part of the world’s “leaders” to forge (force?) a “solution” in Gaza to the aftermath of the destruction resulting from Israel’s justified response to the murderous assault by Hamas (and associates) on 7 October 2023. As of this writing, Hamas and their comrades continue to attack and terrorize. As would any nation under similar circumstances, Israel strikes back!

The cycle of violence continues unabated.

Under the leadership of U.S. President Trump, a multi-nation “Board of Peace” is attempting to be established, which is to be tasked with bringing “peace and safety” to the Gaza Strip and, as has been implied, to the rest of the world.

I believe it is indicative of either a massive display of ignorance of the declared Word of God or a wanton defiance of God’s Sovereign Will. It is uncanny how the world uses the terminology found in God’s Word to describe their rebellion and arrogance.

Before world governments can claim that they have attained “peace and safety” apart from God, they will have to declare allegiance to the Man of Perdition / the Antichrist. The Lord has indicated that this will indeed happen, and, at that time, He will act.

“For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Emphasis added.

And His reminder of Who is Sovereign still applies:

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose                                                                                        will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

I believe there is an unspoken (publicly) goal by some of the members of this organization that this “Board of Peace” will ultimately provide them with the means to impose their will on Israel in order to bring about their true desire: The destruction of Israel and annihilation of the Jews. (see Psalm 83:2-4.) Although the names of these nations have been changed, their unreasoning hatred toward Israel has not.

The final make-up of this board will belie any possibility of achieving its implied goal, but instead may be a significant part of the catalyst that will result in fulfillment of the below prophecy found in (Isaiah 28:14-15), resulting in the fulfillment of (Isaiah 28:18).

Gaza may be the implied purpose, but Israel and Jerusalem are the ultimate objectives of many of its members, as the Lord has foretold.

We can rest assured that God knows the motives of each one.

“Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him: ‘Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured’” (Zechariah 12:1-3).

I believe it is fair to say that President Trump’s motives may be earnest, at least in his own mind, but they display either a profound ignorance of God’s clear warning in Joel Chapter 3:1-2 (which is no surprise given his poor choice of a “spiritual advisor”), or perhaps he is afraid to do anything that could, in human terms, reflect negatively on his legacy or his desire to bring about the impossible goal of world peace by human agency. We can’t truly know these things but God does know them (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Either way, this Board of Peace is in opposition to God, and there will be a reckoning.

As to the leaders of Israel, they will eventually be worn down by never-ending pressure and threats, and perhaps by a shift to weak and more secular leadership. Despite the proof of history and their own Scriptures, they will eventually place their trust in the world (and Antichrist), thus condemning themselves to the Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

“Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves’” (Isaiah 28:14-15).

God further goes on to explain that, as ever, it is His Will that will prevail:

“Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it” (Isaiah 28:18). Emphasis added.

God further declares His decree for all nations that defy His Will.

“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land” (Joel 3:1-2). Emphasis added.

Either way, it is God’s Will that will prevail against nations or individuals, and even among his own people, who attempt to defy His promise to Abraham. They will all be held accountable. It is never good to ignore His use of the term “Woe.”

“’Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the LORD, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin’” (Isaiah 30:1). Emphasis added.

He further points out the intentional disregard for His people by this political chicanery.

“They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14), (Jeremiah 8:11 same context).

Any effort, whether out of ignorance or willful defiance of God, will result in the execution of the judgments prophesied in Revelation 4:1-19:21.

As Jesus clearly pointed out, “(the Scripture cannot be broken)” (John 10:35b).

The special message I promised you:

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no real hope or peace in your life.

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.

It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

  • Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
  • Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
  • That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
  • To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
  • Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
  • To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

  • No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
  • No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
  • Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans                      

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com