Object Lessons From God (#14)

August 16, 2018 #14 in series

God was constantly teaching his people. He wanted them—and he wants us—to know him. That is why, besides the promises and foreshadows and types of Christ, he gives pictures and object lessons.

Object Lessons which foreshadowed the coming Messiah

During the Israelites’ forty years in the wilderness, God gave them several object lessons which also foreshadowed the coming Messiah. For instance, here are some of them:

1. The rock in the wilderness gave out fresh water for the people to drink, (Ex.17:6 and Nu.20:8). Later, in the New Testament, Jesus Christ is called the Rock, (see Deut. 32:3–4, Romans 9:33, and I Cor.10:4): Jesus is also the living water, (John 4:10, 7:38).

2. The bronze snake was lifted up with the promise that whoever looked at it in faith would be healed of poisonous snake bites, (Num. 21:9). Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life,” (John 3:14-15, NIV).

3. Leviticus tells that life is in the blood—without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins, (Lev.17:11). Jesus shed his blood so we can be forgiven. (Matt.26:28, Eph.1:7, 1 Peter1:18–19, and 1John 1:7).

4. Balaam had predicted a star would come out of Jacob and conquer Israel’s enemies, (Num. 24:17), The wise men of the Christmas story probably knew of this prophecy as they followed the Bethlehem star to find the baby Jesus.

5. Boaz, kinsman redeemer to Ruth, also foreshadowed Christ, our kinsman-redeemer. (Ruth 4:13–22). Boaz’ great-grandson became King David.

6. God called King David “a man after his own heart.” Even though he sinned, he sincerely repented and the usual attitude of his heart was loving obedience to God. God promised him one of his descendants would reign over God’s kingdom forever, (I Chron.17:14).

   After David’s reign, many prophecies refer to the promised Messiah, who would come from the line of David and one day reign on David’s throne. He would be a king of peace, justice, and righteousness, and the Spirit of the Lord would rest on him, (Isa. 9:7, and 11:2).

   All these object lessons and foreshadowings and promises seem like a massive puzzle to give us a  picture of God’s grand plan of salvation. With the outline now completed, numerous other prophecies fill in the center to what this Messiah would be like:

   1. Messiah would be a descendant of David in his humanity, (Ps. 132:11).

   2. Messiah, born of a virgin, would be descended of God in his divinity, (Isa.7:14).

   3. He would fill the area of Naphtali and Zebulun (later called Galilee) with glory, (Isa 9:2). (We see later that Jesus grew up there and ministered there.)

   4. He would be a suffering servant, (Isa. 42, 49, 53).

   5. He’d be rejected, but then would become the capstone (most important), Ps.118:22.

   6. Messiah, the anointed one, would not remain in the grave, (Ps.16:10–11).

   7. He’d eventually rule over all nations, (Ps.2:8-9), in a reign of peace, (Isa. 2:4). He would be excellent and gracious; his throne would last forever (Ps.45:2 and 6).

   8. He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, (Isa. 9:6). He’d come physically from the line of David, Jesse’s son, bringing in a righteous kingdom. The Holy Spirit would rest on him.

   The promises continue throughout Scripture. The Israelite nation would fall away from worshiping God; they would be punished by being captured and sent into exile, but God would use that to purify them. Then he would send them back to their own land and eventually the Messiah would be born and live in their midst, suffer, die and then rise victorious.

   Messiah would be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” (John.1:29-31). The day is coming when the world system “would make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb would overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” 

   The reason Jesus rescued us is so he could adopt us as his very own children, (Gal.4:3–7).
   That is mercy! We can trust a God like that!

   This promise is in Revelation and completes the Red Thread of Redemption. The world system will fall and Jesus will reign forever. Then we who belong to him will be with him in Heaven forever!

   Hallelujah!

Listen to this song and sing along:”Come, Lord Jesus, Come” (into my life.)