Skip to content

William Stewart

Optimism (A Biblical Perspective on Hope & Endurance, wjs)

Optimism
via Alexa | Pixabay.com

OPTIMISM (by guest writer, Josh Welch)

It has been one of my greatest challenges to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty, to see the upside of a situation rather than the downside, to see the potentiality for success rather than the predicting failure, to be positive rather than negative, to be encouraging rather than complaining, to be optimistic rather than pessimistic, to look for the good rather than the flaw, to hope in the future rather than dread it, to pick people up rather than nitpick, to patiently endure rather than hastily quit.

Other Old Testament References to the Angel of the LORD

Finding Jesus

Series: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #8
Jesus is God – the Angel of the LORD

2 Samuel 24:16-17

David had sinned against the LORD by numbering the people. The prophet Gad came to David, giving him a choice of three things which would come as a result. Therefore, that day, the LORD brought a plague upon the land and seventy thousand men of Israel died (1 Chronicles 21:14). After this great number had died, the LORD restrained the Angel of the LORD, for it was enough. Therefore, in 1 Chronicles 21:16, we read:

Jesus, The Angel of the LORD Before Balaam & Joshua

Finding Jesus

Series: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #6
Jesus is God – the Angel of the LORD

Standing Before Balaam

In Numbers 22, Balak (king of Moab) sent messengers to Balaam (prophet of God) asking him to curse the people of Israel, for they had settled near him and were too mighty for him (v 5-6). Balaam inquired of the LORD and was told that he should not go with Balak’s men, nor should he curse the people, for they were blessed (Numbers 22:12; cf. Genesis 12:3).

Jesus Revealed in the Burning Bush and Pillar of Fire

Finding Jesus

Series: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #4
Jesus is God – the Angel of the LORD

The Burning Bush

As we have noted already in the course of our study, “…no one has seen God at any time…” (John 1:18; cf. 6:46; 1 John 4:12). Yet there are times in the Old Testament where we read about God appearing to man. This is not the Father, but the Son, who has come to declare the Father to us (John 1:18; 14:9-10).

Isaac And Jacob See The LORD (Jesus)

Finding Jesus

Series: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #3
Jesus is God – the Angel of the LORD

The Hebrew word har (ra’ah), rendered “appeared,” means to gaze upon, show or behold. As we noted last week, the LORD appeared to Abraham—that is, he had seen the LORD. And yet, since “…no one has seen God (the Father) at any time…” (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12; cf. John 6:46), we must conclude that it was not the Father, but the Son who spoke to and appeared to him. So it was with Isaac.

Jesus Is The God Who Sees And Provides

Finding Jesus

Series: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament #2
Jesus is God – the Angel of the LORD

At the beginning of Genesis 12, God calls Abram to depart from his father’s house and to go to a land which God would show to him. In verse 1, it simply says, “…the LORD had said…” However, when we get to verse 7, it is no longer just a matter of hearing a voice from heaven, but “…the LORD appeared to Abram…”

Revelation: The Promise of Victory in Christ

Revelation

Revelation – Bible Overview

The book of Revelation, a book filled with figures and imagery, was written by the apostle John to the seven churches of Asia (1:4). These early Christians saw the things in the book play out in their time, as evidenced by the fulfillment timestamps found in the book itself (1:1, 3; 22:6, 10). By no means was everything in the book fulfilled in the first and second centuries AD (ie. final judgment, casting of Satan & his hosts into hell; glorification of God’s people in heaven), but in our approach to the book we cannot ignore the original recipients or the timestamps provided.

Verified by MonsterInsights