14 Apr 2014; Mat 1

14 Apr 2014; Mat 1

I went to read about the debate about the contradictions between Mat 1 and Luke 3 about who Joseph's father was.

Not so much of an argument for the sake of argument, but an understanding that if the bible is true, there should be an explanation for the differences in record.

From the readings, it gives me an understanding of the Jewish culture - that a woman has links is with her father before marriage and her husband after marriage.

It points to Joseph. An angel appears before him. What is an angel? As young children, we see drawings of angels- and this is because some artist drawn them and give us an impression of what an angel should look like - bright, shinny, halo, wings....

But after a 400 years of silent from the book of Malachi with no prophets to speak to the people, of all the sudden an angel appear before Joseph - not a prophet, a seer or a priest.

Joseph response was a wonderful response:
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25 ESV)

Was it a dream? But he act in accordance to what the vision in the dream said he should do. What convicts Joseph?

The word from Isaiah.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

Joseph backed his conviction from the words of God. He recognized that Mary is that virgin.

In the same way, the words of the Lord has spoken, but what are the verse that we take hold of, the promises that we are sure of (believe in) that the God will fulfill?

Is there a word, a promise that you know it holds and it is true because it is when the rubber meets the road - we can hold on to.

One verse from Isa 54:1 - sing you barren woman - sing. To me first where is my singing and why am I not singing? The barren woman sing because she is going to have a child, or at least she knows that she can rejoice in the Lord because due to her lack, God can do others miracle.

I am also holding to the verse Isa 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah is a book that holds the promises of God - that I am convicted as well as the promises. I still place the hope of reviving "The Isaiah Initiative". A passion and a hope in God.