A Child of Promise

There are many Old Testament prophecies and examples which revealed the Savior to come. This week focuses on only a few of them as we begin the Advent season. If you're beginning this series of devotionals on the 1st of December, consider dropping December 1 (Abraham's Sacrifice) and December 3 (A Banner to All Nations).

Nov 28 | Nov 29 | Nov 30 | Dec 1 | Dec 2 | Dec 3 | Dec 4

November 28 -  Emmanuel

Key Verses: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

These oft-quoted verses sum up why we celebrate Advent and Christmas: to remember and honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Isaiah speaks of what the child will become. We know Jesus is the one spoken of and one day all of what Isaiah wrote will be honored. 

But even before Jesus' second return (the second Advent), the Bible tells us in John that He is the light of the world. If we present Christ as He truly was and is, others who are stumbling in the darkness will find His light.  They will come to understand His great love for each of us. This great love led to the promise we find in the words He gave to His prophet Isaiah, the words we hold so dear. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and the Prince of Peace.

November 29 - A Promise from the Start

Key Verses: Genesis 3:15-16

Adam and Eve had eaten of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They had sinned and God had called them on it. Both attempted to deflect blame. Neither wanted to be accountable. Adam pointed out that it was the woman who God made who gave him the fruit. Adam is actually saying, "God, it's all your fault." God then turned to woman. And woman pointed to the serpent that God made. Again God heard, "God, it's all your fault." Neither was willing to stand up and say, "Lord, I made a mistake. I have sinned against you. Forgive me." It's much easier to blame someone else than take personal responsibility.

What does God do? He has confronted them about their sin and given them a chance to repent. They've chosen to play the blame game instead. God rightfully pronounces punishment but as He does so, He also provides us with hope. Here, in the midst of mankind's sin, God proclaims the woman's seed will contend against the serpent's. Not only that, but the seed of woman would strike at the serpent's head as the serpent struck at the heel. At the resurrection, Satan's plans were left crushed underneath the heel of our Savior. Our Savior, who was born of a woman, went willingly to the Cross in order to smite down Satan's designs once and for all. He died on that Cross and rose from the dead just as sure as He was born. For this we owe our Lord all the glory, honor, power, and praise.

November 30 - A Blessing to All People

Key Verses: Genesis 12:1-3

Abram, who we later know as Abraham, is called to leave everything behind. Abram is told to go out on faith, for God has a special purpose for him. Not only does God promise to bless those who bless Abram and punish those who curse God's servant, but God makes another, bigger promise: He promises to Abram that all the people of the world will be blessed through Him.

We know the rest of the story. We know that blessing is Jesus. But we can walk the steps all the way back to Abram and see God at work. Imagine if you or I were in Abram's shoes. Would we go on faith? Or would we hold on to what we knew? Is it even conceivable God would make the promise He made to Abram? Whether we can picture it or not, that's exactly what God did. He made His promise and then He kept it. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise made so many generations before. Jesus, in a manger, was God honoring His own word. Because of this, to His Son we bow down.

December 1 - Revealing the Future Sacrifice

Key Verses: Genesis 22:7-8, 12-13

Abraham is an old man and Isaac is strong enough to carry the wood for the sacrifice. Abraham's heart has to be heavy. God has called him to sacrifice his only son. Gone is Ishmael, chased away by Sarah. And God had told Abraham that Isaac was the child through whom the promise would continue through. As we ponder what Abraham was called to do, how could our God request such a thing?

But He did. And He did it to show what He would do later with His own Son. God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. But God wanted us to understand what He had planned all along. Jesus would go to the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins. God didn't call any ordinary man to pay it all. Rather he called His Son. And just as expected, God stops Abraham from completing the sacrifice of his son. In the place of Isaac God provides a ram. It foreshadowed a day much, much later in history when God provided His own son for all of us. 

December 2 - The Future King

Key Verses: 2 Samuel 7:12-16

David, described as the man after God's own heart, sits enthroned as king over Israel. He had settled into his palace and the nation was temporarily at peace. Nathan carries a message from God about David's legacy. Yes, David would grow old and pass away, but that's not the end of the story.

God made a promise to David of a future ruler from his line. We can attribute some of the passage to Solomon, especially about building a house for God and having to be disciplined. However the passage speaks further to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise: Jesus. Jesus in Revelation brings down the new Jerusalem with the throne of God. We know our Savior is the one destined to rule forever. His credentials? Solidly of David's line. Yet another promise towards the future coming of Christ. Even though David wouldn't live to see the birth of the Savior, God still made him the promise of the coming Messiah to inspire him and give him hope. Now, over 2000 years later, Christ still inspires us and allows us to hope when there is no other reason to because of his birth, his life, his death, and his resurrection. 

December 3 - A Banner to All Nations

Key Verses: Isaiah 49:22-23

Until recently, armies flew banners at the front of their formations not ony to identify themselves but also to give direction to the troops. Christ is our banner. It doesn't matter where we come from or who we are: Christ calls us all. These words from the prophet Isaiah serve to tell us Jesus came for everyone. He made no exceptions.

Perhaps then it is no surprise wise men came from the east to worship Him. Before them they saw the one who would truly be the Savior of the world. The Bible tells us any who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. This set of verses remind us that not only does Jesus' call echo out to all nations and all people, but also that if we put our trust and hope in Him, we will not be put to shame. He will redeem us. 

December 4 - From the City of David

Key Verses: Micah 5:2-4

These verses tell us more than where Jesus would be born. They reinforce His eternal, sovereign, and perfect rule. These words remind us of Jesus' strength and majesty. They point to His greatness in a world where there will be only peace. This is the work of our Savior. Our Savior, born in Bethlehem, in fulfillment of prophecy.