Fingertip Revelation

Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah… 1 Chronicles 1:1-4a

Genealogy Smeen-ealogy

Not to many Christians [I know] get excited over Bible genealogies. Aside from picking out the names we know and the subsequent Bible stories we can relate to, for the most part we tend to find ancestral accounts, well in a word, boring. We might liken the experience to looking through a friend’s family photo album for the umpteenth time. We smile; we’re polite, but the reality is that we want to see images of ourselves.

If that’s you, then you have probably loathed (in a ‘It’s-okay-God-knows-my-true-heart’ kinda way) much of Genesis and these first nine chapters of First Chronicles. I’m hearing ya—I feel your pain. However, if we prudently elect to pause and graze in this genealogical field, we might deliciously discover the remarkable. Consider the first ten men of the Bible recorded here in 1 Chronicles 1 and in Genesis 5: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and good ol’ Noah.

We know that Biblical names have meanings. Adam you might already know means, ‘man’, but are you aware of the meanings of these other names? Did you know that Seth’s name means ‘appointed’, Enosh means ‘subject to death’, Cainan means ‘sorrowful’, Mahalalel means ‘from the presence of God’, Jared means ‘one comes down’, Enoch means ‘dedicated’, Methuselah means ‘dying he shall send’, Lamech means ‘to the poor brought very low’, and that Noah means ‘comfort or rest’?

“So what,” you say.

An Intriguing Revelation, That’s What

If you haven’t done so already, put the meanings together in the order they appear. What do we discover? The entire Gospel message, that’s all!

Man, appointed; subject to death; sorrowful. From the presence of God, One comes down; dedicated. Dying He shall send to the poor brought low comfort and rest.

See your image? Suddenly genealogies aren’t so boring now, are they?

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These ramblings are typically (but not always) a byproduct inspired by God through my personal Bible study at SearchLight with Pastor Jon Courson

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Blessing Your Child

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me–me also, O my father!” Genesis 27:34God’s Will Be Done

When we examine the account of Isaac blessing his sons Jacob and Esau, we no doubt take notice of the devious and deceitful behavior being exercised by those concerned. It really boils down to the futility associated with trying to help God with things He really does not need our help with. While the world screams ‘efficiency’ God commands effectiveness and regardless of how disconcerting treachery is, God’s plan will ultimately be accomplished. Worldly efforts serve only to delay the inevitable and typically garner undesired consequences for the one who sins.

A Model Blessing

Despite all the deceit, Isaac does display for us a wonderful example of what it means to offer blessings. Sadly it is a lost art. For example, the practice of blessing our children has almost vanished through the ages and as a result our children often look to be blessed elsewhere. Oh that we should resume the role as children blessers, for this practice is indeed a blessing to our Heavenly Father.

A Blessing Defined

If we break a blessing down into its basic parts we learn that a superior blessing achieves two things: it proclaims who a person is and reveals a direction for that person to go. Isaac’s blessings for both his children accomplish these things. When we fail to bless those under our care the result is often horrific. Our children, in search of affirmation of any type, end up discovering surrogate donors who are quick to provide that which is perverse.

Pronouncing the Blessing

Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, ” Genesis 27:26

A blessing is obviously a personal thing, but it is also a tender and meaningful event. In Isaac’s illustration we see this personal touch employed. Studies demonstrate that for children who do not receive this demonstrative touch at home will seek to find it in inappropriate places later one. In addition, let us not deny our children the touch of Jesus or the touch of discipline. Again, what cannot be found in the home will be searched for elsewhere.

Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the Lord has blessed. Genesis 27:27

Proverbs 3:27 declares that we are not to, “withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.” In Isaac’s proclamation to his son he gives recognition, essentially giving worth to the person he believed his son to be. Lord, help us to identify the good and worthy things our children do and bless them accordingly.

Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!” Genesis 27:28-29

When it is within our power to do so we should be revelators, for God has blessed us with both a measure of discernment and a rear-view mirror. As we employ both we can effectively plot a course and determine a likely destination for our kids. Then as we perceive their direction, we can then either encourage them in their walk or redirect them to the superior (albeit narrow) path.

Do not buy-the-lie; it has never been wrong for us to telegraph our godly expectations for our children. I am reminded of Noah, who when building the ark incorporated separate rooms for his children, despite the fact he had not been blessed with any yet. By his actions Noah was essentially saying, “My children will be onboard with the program.”

“Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?” Genesis 27:37

In Isaac’s words (to Esau) we see a continued commitment by him to see the blessing through. The notion here is that blessings inspired and imposed by God are irrevocable. God has a plan for our children (and us) and as their earthly guardians we must do whatever we are able to see that plan through to fruition, not operating in our flesh, but by Divine guidance. When we stumble (and we will) we will trust God to lift us up.

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There Are No Contradictions In the Bible…

There Are No Contradictions In the Bible…Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. Genesis 8:20-21

Just Misunderstanding

Compare Genesis 9:21 to Genesis 6:5

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually

It seems as if the rationale given by God for not destroying man (in Genesis 8) is the very reason He gave for mans destruction in Genesis 9. Listen closely and we can almost hear the Bible conspirators chanting in slapdash harmonies, “Contradiction! Contradiction!” Let the suspicious and the disbelieving know that these two verses are not contrary to one another. God is not fickle, He cannot oppose Himself, nor does He ever change His mind.

A Protocol is Established

For our benefit, God communicates His knowledge of mans perpetual sinful nature, the likes of which could not be destroyed by flood waters alone–God had only obliterated that which was beyond restoration. Sin we recall, is the singular thing that separates us from God and He will go on to say of our blood in Genesis 9:5, “I will require.” We now appreciate that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for our sin and take notice of what blessed the Lord’s heart:

And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake…”

Noah sacrificed and God responded. The sacrifice was pleasing to God and for the first time perhaps we see that what took place in chapter 8 did not occur in chapter 6. Therefore, the difference between the two events is that total surrender in the form of sacrifice has been factored into the equation, setting the table for the ultimate in remission of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

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When God Stops Talking

So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in…Now the flood was on the earth forty days…And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. Genesis 7:16, 17, 24

Ark Appraisal:Noah’s Ark and the flood are real events; believers know this to be true because Jesus speaks of these events in His teachings. We also know that the ark is a symbolic illustration of salvation found in Christ Jesus alone. Compare the ark-imagery with that of these New Testament doctrines:

Jesus is the Door

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep…I am the door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:7 + 9

Shut In

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:28-29

Free Will

Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Acts 27:31

Flawed Perfection

Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

377 Days of Silence

I selected the Genesis passage today because I wanted to point our something very significant—there is no mention of God speaking to Noah once He shut him and his family in the boat. For one hundred and ninety days, God is silent. In fact God doesn’t speak to Noah again until Genesis 8:15, which is one year and twelve days after being sheltered away in the ark. That gives me pause—how would I hold up under such a trial?

What we can glean from the account is that God’s silence was not Noah’s ordeal. By faith Noah was at peace, after all, faith is not faith if we know all the particulars. Noah truly was anxious for nothing and there was an understanding that this earthly journey was merely preparatory for crossings yet revealed. Consider this passage from the book of Romans and what it reveals to us:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint (*maketh not ashamed, KJV), because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5

We Are Justified

I like the way my pastor puts it, “Justification means, ‘just-as-if’ we never sinned.” The suggestion of course being ‘positionaly’ we are safely in Christ, just as Noah was safely in the ark. When the Father looks upon us all He sees is the righteousness of His son.

Continual Access

Because of what Christ Jesus did on the cross and because of His gift of the Holy Spirit to each and every believer, we have access to God the Father on His throne. The fact that we may not hear from Him continually in no way suggests He does not hear us continually. Frankly, we have the ability to hear from God on a moment-by-moment basis as we delve into His love letters to us; His Holy Bible.

We Glory

In Christ we can celebrate the ‘hard stuff’. Furthermore, we know the Father’s will for each of our lives. If you are not certain what God’s will is for you, then memorize this verse:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

We Hope

What is Hope? It is the absolute expectation that something good is going to happen. I like the King James Version (of Romans 5) because it tells us that in our hope we are not ashamed. It serves to remind me of when I was not in Christ and in hopeless despair—needless to say there was much disgrace and discontent in those bitter days.

Then God Remembered Noah

Genesis 8:1 starts off wonderfully! But do not be mistaken, God had never forgotten Noah; He continually knew and thought of Noah, although God didn’t speak to him continually. Noah knew this and he continually remembered God, and so should we. Jesus willfully gave us His life so that we might live eternally, therefore we can trust Him in our faithful obedience.

And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19

Extra Credit Study

I finished what I wanted to write about today, but I found this little piece of additional information so interesting that I had to share it with you. Check out this verse in Genesis 8:4

Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

I have been sharing a lot about how Noah’s Ark is a picture of salvation in Jesus Christ and up until this point you may have thought it to be just some cleverly devised, biblical coincidence. Well how is this for a coincidence–did you know that the 17th day of the 7th month (the day the Ark rested) is the exact same day as when Jesus rose from the grave; Resurrection Sunday? As weird as that is, it is true!

 

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Noah’s Ark and Jesus Christ

Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch…You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Genesis 6:14 + 16Noah’s Ark: An Illustration of Salvation in Christ

The similarities between Noah’s Ark and Jesus Christ are astonishing; so much so that we may affirm the ark to be a symbolic representation of what Jesus would later do for us on the cross of Calvary. It is not an accident that comparable observations could be made between the Ark of the Covenant (of Moses day) and Jesus Christ, but for now we will focus solely on Noah’s achievement.

Pitch

Today we call ‘pitch’ tar. The Hebrew word for ‘pitch’ is ‘kaphar’ and it is used seventy times in the Bible to mean atonement as it relates to blood sacrifice. The one exception is here in Genesis where it refers to the substance which covers the ark inside-and-out. In order to better understand the definition, my pastor likes to break-down the word ‘atonement’ into its basic components: at-one-ment, as in ‘being one with God’. By Christ’s shed blood we are in such harmony with God.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:8-9

One Door

I have heard a lot of sermons about the door on Noah’s Ark. The singular thing I want to draw attention to is the fact that there is only one door; just one way to board this ship of deliverance. I am grateful the Father has maintained this simplicity having provided only One way to salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. God could have provided several ways, but He opted for one. In so doing satan is restricted in his ability to manufacture counterfeit openings reducing the likelihood we will select the wrong door. Jesus said…

“I am the door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” John 10:9; 14:6

Many Rooms

Jesus will later tell us of the rooms He has prepared for us in Heaven, but I found it interesting that the Hebrew word for ‘room’ actually means ‘nest’. For me it brings to mind the comfortability associated with being with one’s own family, culture, and as it relates here, Christian denomination. Sure, Noah could have housed the lion with the lamb, but why create an unnecessary headache—let them be separate in their contentment, but united in their deliverance.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling… Philippians 2:12

Three Levels

We do not know precisely how Noah organized the animals on the Ark, but common sense dictates that the heavier beasts would be kept low similar as ballast on a ship would be. In so doing, a foundation of sorts is established upon the rolling seas. I am intrigued that the Apostle John, concerning Christians, made a three-tier distinction regarding understanding and spiritual maturity.

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:12-14

Door and Window Control

Later on in the text we notice that Noah has no control over the door, just the window. That speaks two things to me. First, as it pertains to the door, once it has been shut by God, we are in the boat—nothing man can do will open it. That reminds me of these verses from John 10:28 and Romans 8:38-39…

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand…For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The window is on top of the Ark and faces the heavens. Noah has the capability to open it whenever and as often as he likes, allowing light to enter for illumination or seeking to purge the stench of life. We have the same control.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light…Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Romans 13:12 + Psalm 119:105

Noah Finished

We know from Bible history that Noah finished building the Ark. If he had not, as his descendants, not one of us would be here today. Similarly, if Jesus had not finished His work on the cross, we would have no place worth going to. Let us finish the task set before us with the same love and passion as Christ.

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God… Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” Acts 20:24 + John 4:34

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Last Days? Scoffer?

…Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”…For this they willfully forget: that…the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 2 Peter 3:3-6Authenticated by Jesus

In chapter twenty-four of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ confirms that we are in the last days and that the account of Noah and the Flood were actual events. Our Lord goes on to illustrate a parallel between the two events when He says, “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away.” We can best see those similarities when we refer back to the Genesis text and make the comparison ourselves.

Men began to multiply on the face of the earth

In Genesis 6:1 we see the first recorded population explosion. While we do not know how many people populated the earth during this time, we do know that as a result it became problematic. Today, we see identical symptomology. Mull over the .. it took the world from the time of Noah to 1867 to reach one billion people; then from 1867 to 1935 (68 years) to achieve two billion; and by 1995 (another 65 years) we hit six billion. Currently we are approximately seven billion in total, adding a quarter million souls every twenty-four hours.

They took wives for themselves of all whom they chose

Genesis 6:2 tells us that there were some pretty wild and bizarre things happening sexually in the days of Noah (that I won’t go into here), but suffice it to say, God was not pleased in the least. Today, the largest industry in the United States is the entertainment industry, which includes every form of media, music, arts, and sports. Did you know that the fastest growing segment within that industry is pornography? I recently read that seventy percent of American men age 18–34 view Internet pornography once a month.

The wickedness of man was great…every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually

Has the world today truly reached the point that Genesis 6:5 speaks of? I would venture to say ‘not yet’, but we are unquestionably very, very close. The verse is not necessarily implying that every deed of man was wicked, but rather that the imagination contained within his heart was. When we scrutinize the imagery we are subjected to on a daily basis, there is certain inevitability that the worst of what we see will be etched upon our hearts. It is this very images that are conjured up before, during, and after any sinful behavior.

The earth also was corrupt (and) filled with violence

Genesis 6:11 speaks of world corruption and violence. Who reading this blog can deny that we live in corrupt and violent times. In our country alone, only 2.4 percent of a thousand criminals see jail time. By the time our children finish elementary school they have witnessed an average of eight thousand murders on television. By age 18 they have seen almost a quarter-million violent acts on TV. A whooping 79 percent of Americans ‘do believe’ that violence on television helps to precipitate real-life hostility.

Why Am I Telling You This

For the active Christian much of this information is not news; with the Lord as our guide, we do what we are called to do and we carry-on with our earthly missions. Therefore I suppose today’s message is for the non-believer, the man or woman who judge that their behavior is not repulsive to God and scoffs at the idea Jesus Christ is coming again. It is my hope and prayer that this person would identify with being a partial realization of Christ’s prophecy and seek not to be chronicled as prophecy fulfilled. Christ has died, and Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.

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Gods Glory is Our Glory

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2Understanding God’s Word

“I read the Bible, but I don’t understand it.”

Have you ever said those words? I know I have—I would read passages like the one from Proverbs 25:2 (above); that ‘God glories to conceal matters, ’ and come away puzzled—why on earth would my Father do such a thing? Then it struck me: possessions that are easily gained are easily lost, but in contrast, things which are attained through diligence are treasured assets; the glory of a king! God’s glory, as it turns outs, is to etch His Word upon our hearts as we diligently seek Him.

Check This Out

And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth (and) Seth …begot Enosh (and) Enosh…begot Cainan (and) Cainan…begot Mahalalel (and) Mahalalel…begot Jared (and) Jared…begot Enoch (and) Enoch…begot Methuselah (and) Methuselah…begot Lamech (and) Lamech…had a son (and) he called his name Noah. Genesis 5 (various verses 3 – 28)

Come to God’s Word with consistency, hopeful and expectant hidden things will be exposed, praying as you read, and through a heart bent towards compliancy. In God’s perfect timing there will come the ‘Ah ha’ moment, and when it ‘clicks’ we then own it; it has been permanently stamped upon our hearts.

Consider the seemingly boring and tedious genealogy of Adam in Genesis 5. Although we don’t give it as much credence as we used to, it is still common knowledge that most names have precise meanings (the name ‘David’ for example means ‘beloved’). Reflect upon the meanings of these names for a moment:

Adam: man
Seth: appointed
Enosh: subject to death
Cainan: sorrowful
Mahalalel: from the presence of God
Jared: one comes down
Enoch: dedicated
Methuselah: dying He will send
Lamech: to the poor and lowly
Noah: rest and/or comfort

At first glance there is not a whole lot there, but connect the names and suddenly there emerges an Old Testament signpost pointing us to Jesus Christ. This sure sounds like the Gospel to me…

“Man, appointed, subject to death, sorrowful, from the presence of God, One comes down, dedicated, dying He shall send, to the poor and lowly, rest and comfort.”

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

Likely not the best source of biblical axioms, but regardless the lottery commission got it right when they coined, ‘You have to be in it to win it.’ While it is true we can hungrily go into our prayer closets and pray for food, the likelihood that God will slide a pizza under the door is quite slim—be an active participant in your personal faith journey.

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To Agape or Not Agape, That is the Question

Covering SinAnd above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Jesus Washes Feet

When I read the account of our Lord washing the feet of the disciples, I see an illustration of how on a daily basis (minimum) we are to bring our sin to Jesus so that we can be cleansed. A complete bath is not required, for essentially we are clean—you might say that we just need to freshen-up allowing the Lord to remove the filth that we contract as we walk in the world.

As we read the account in John 13, we might notice a couple of other occurrences. First we see that Jesus uncovered Himself in order to cover (and ultimately remove) the sin we have accumulated; a depiction of what He was about to do: allowing Himself to be exposed through false arrest, unlawful trial, and illegal crucifixion. The other thing we tend to overlook is that Jesus washed the feet of Judas also, knowing full well what he [Judas] was about to do. That’s love.

In Contrast

But he who repeats a matter separates friends. Proverbs 17:9b

God, through Solomon, gives us the probable outcome when we opt to reveal the sin of others rather than by love cover them. While the Proverb affords us the truth, this account of Noah in Genesis 8 gives us an illustration that further demonstrates that certainty. To summarize, the flood has come and gone, Noah plants a vineyard, gets drunk, and is ‘uncovered’ by his gossiping son Ham. We pick up the story in verse 22…

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.” Genesis 8:22-25

How Did Noah Know

…Take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

How did Noah know that Ham betrayed him? I submit to you that Solomon’s proverbial wisdom provides the only clue we need. Ham’s exploit created a separation between him and his brothers that was evident to Noah when he arose from his drunken stupor. I envision a scene like this: Noah opens his eyes takes a quick inventory of himself. Looking up he sees his boys, but they are not together. He observes and compares the body gestures and the glances between the two factions. Ham stares at the floor; gazes toward the ceiling, avoiding contacting his father’s eyes. Noah was merely able to do what any godly man can do—discern the truth.

Why the Curse

Why then did godly Noah curse Canaan, Ham’s son—it does not seem to line-up with what a loving father would do? I might have some detractors, but I sense that Noah was not imposing a curse, but rather identifying the inevitability of children becoming cursed as a result of being raised by ungodly parents. Today we might say to Ham, “Son, the apple does not fall far from the tree.” That’s less a curse and more a warning and a pronouncement of fact.

Fast-forward to the New Testament

Covered or not, ‘we know’ that Noah sinned–for whatever the reason, Noah got wrapped up in the world and got drunk. Amazingly, even though Jesus Christ had not come on the scene incarnately, godly Noah; faithful Noah is cleansed of all his sin. If you don’t believe me consider the New Testament accounts of Noah or any of the Old Testament patriarchs for that matter—their sins are not recorded. Go look—Abraham, King David, not even Sampson’s sins are mentioned. Do you know why? You know why.

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7

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This is Fascinating

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Revelation 4:2-3

When We All Get to Heaven

In this Revelation from Jesus, John makes mention of the ‘One’ who sits on the throne, but how can we be certain the One he is speaking of is in fact the One and only Jesus Christ? In an amazing way, the Old Testament confirms who the Seated One is and we see it in the jasper and sardius stones. Consider this passage from Exodus 28 which speaks of Aaron, the high priest’s breastplate…

“You shall make the breastplate of judgment…And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Exodus 28: 15, 17-20

Check This Out

The first stone on Aaron’s breastplate is the sardius and as we read the entire Exodus account we see that it represents the first son of the first tribe; it is the ‘alpha’ stone if you will. The first son of the first tribe is Ruben and his name literally means, ‘Behold a son.’

The last stone to be placed on Aaron’s plate is the jasper and it represents the last son of the last tribe, essentially making it the ‘omega’ stone. The last son and tribe is of course Benjamin and his name means, ‘Son of my right hand.’

When we assemble the whole picture, we are left with the One on the throne being the ‘Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, God’s only Son, the Son that sits at His right hand.’

Finally, we notice that Jesus is sitting on the throne; He is not standing, He is not walking back and forth. Jesus is sitting because His work is done, or as He put it, “It is finished.” Jesus, our Great Councilor, sits in much the same manner an attorney sits after he has wrapped up his summation and concluded his case before the judge.

The Promise of God’s Grace

Jesus will be surrounded by a rainbow—the same rainbow we first saw after the flood in the time of Noah. That rainbow of course speaks of His grace covenant that He maintains for us. His throne is a throne of grace, not works, and therefore we will not hesitate to approach our Lord and our Savior on that magnificent day!

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4 :16

 

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Christ Concealed, Christ Revealed

He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river… Psalm 105:41Desert PassagesLet’s face it, some portions of the Bible are dry and seemingly, most of those barren places generally appear in the Old Testament—particularly in those endless genealogies. What is God trying to say? Do these passages have any meaning or purpose? Is there something lying beneath the surface? Should I take the time to scrape a little deeper?

I am happy to tell you that the Lord is trying to tell us something, these verses do have meaning and purpose, that there is good stuff just beneath the surface, and yes, if we take some time to scratch and graze in dry places we will find life-giving water. To demonstrate the point I would ask you to consider the genealogy found in Genesis 5:1-32. Okay, thirty-two verses is too much aridness to start with, so here is the summary…

And Adam…begot Seth… (who)… begot Enosh…(who)…begot Cainan…(who)…begot Mahalalel…(who)…begot Jared… (who)…begot Enoch…(who)…begot Methuselah…(who)…begot Lamech… (who)…had a son. And he called his name Noah…

We certainly recognize some of those names: Adam the first man, Enoch who left the planet abruptly, Noah of ‘Noah’s Ark’ fame, and Jared the Subway guy. But what else is God trying to tell us? I will give you a hint…

What Does YOUR Name Mean?

While we do not rely so much on the meaning of our names, these guys relied on theirs. Not only do these names have meaning, their names were inspired by the Father for a specific purpose. First, here is what each name means (and in the order that they appear in the Bible):

1. Adam = man
2. Seth = appointed
3. Enosh = subject to death
4. Cainan = sorrowful
5. Mahalalel = from the presence of God
6. Jared = One comes down
7. Enoch = dedicated
8. Methuselah = dying He shall send
9. Lamech = to the poor brought very low
10. Noah = rest/comfort

So What is the Purpose

We are talking revelation ladies and gentlemen. When we put the meanings of all these names together in the exact order that they appear in the Scripture, we are left with an early Old Testament Gospel message. It reads like a poem from Heaven…

Man, appointed (and) subject to death (and) sorrowful. (From) the presence of God, One comes down, dedicated. Dying, He shall send to the poor brought very low, rest (and) comfort.

Did that give you a chill? It gave me one—and I knew it was coming! Scripture, every single word abounds in meaning and is recorded for a precise reason, for it was designed by our Creator. If in seeking Him we are diligent, He will be faithful to reveal Himself.

He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings. Psalms 107:35

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