1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: As I understand current events in light of Biblical prophecy, help me, Lord, to live in light of Your soon return.

Ezra 8 vs35

Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.

For further study - Ezra 8:24-36
After the Temple was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and the almost fifty thousand Jews that he brought back from Babylon to raise up the Second Temple in Jerusalem, God called Ezra, the Scribe, to return from where he was living in Babylon back to Jerusalem, Ezra 7:6.
God had chosen Ezra to restart the Temple practices in this rebuilt Temple. By the way, it's interesting to note that Ezra was living in Babylon, the City, almost seventy-five years after the fall of the Babylonian Empire.
The Empire fell, but the City has never been destroyed which Bible prophecy calls for in the last days, Isaiah 13 & 14, Jeremiah 50 & 51 and Revelation 16:17-21.
Now back to our devotional reading for today. Ezra was commissioned to return the implements of the Temple to this new Temple, for the sacrificial and worship activities, verses 24-30.
This which Ezra, and the priest did for the services at the Temple was a very important task. Each of the implements of the Temple was used to comply with the Lord's instructions for the Temple worship and sacrificial system.
In addition to all of these implements being used in the activities of the operation of the Temple, each of these vessels had a "prophetic significance" as it related to the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ, of course was the fulfillment of all of these prophecies.
The "Table of Show Bread" was a prototype of Jesus, the "Bread of Life". The "Menorah", the seven branch candelabra, was the precursor of Jesus, the "Light of the World". The "Ark of the Covenant" was a "type" of Jesus, the Jewish "Messiah" to come.
This is why the act of Ezra and the priest bringing these vessels back to the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem was so important.
Our key verse for today, verse 35, reveals to us that "all twelve tribes" had returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity, during this time period as well. There are no "ten lost tribes." All twelve tribes are now, and have been in the land of Israel for over 2,500 years. This fact is essential for additional Bible prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled, in the future
Isaiah had prophesied that a man named Ezra would allow the Jews to return to the land and rebuild their Temple. Our devotional reading for today is the concluding chapter of these Jewish people returning to the land and rebuilding the Temple, which was facilitated by Cyrus, the King of theMedo-Persian Empire.
Indeed, Bible Prophecy that remains to be fulfilled will be fulfilled, as Isaiah's prophecy relating to Cyrus and the return of the Jews to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem was fulfilled some 2,500 years ago.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for prophecy that has been fulfilled, which is evidence that prophecy yet to be fulfilled, will be fulfilled.

Galatians 1 verse 4 - Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

For further study - Galatians 1:1-10

Paul, in his letter to the churches of Galatia, wrote on the authority of the “resurrected Jesus Christ”. Jesus was the one who made Paul the apostle, not man, and the author of this book lets the recipients of the letter know on whose authority he was speaking.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, the “cornerstone of our faith”, is in reality the only authority we have in order to serve Him. But what other authority do we need? With this authority, Paul moves ahead with the central message of this letter to the churches of Galatia. That central message is that a Gentile did not have to become a Jew before he would or could become a Christian.

Later in this book, Paul upbraids Peter for having one foot in Judaism and one foot in Christianity. In fact, Paul writes that any other gospel than the Gospel, the good news, of the "grace of Christ" is heresy and must not be preached.

Paul actually calls for the preacher of any other gospel to be accursed, verse 9. Paul also told the Christians in Galatia that he was not only made an “apostle” by Jesus Christ, not man, and that he was not the “servant” of man and thus would not seek to please them.

Paul made it clear that he was the “servant of Christ”, verse 10, and Him alone. Paul was a preacher, an apostle, made so by the Lord Jesus Christ appointed to preach the “grace of Christ” and serve Him only. This was all possible because Paul had been converted to Christ by what Christ did, dying on a cross to become sin for him and take away man’s sin, verse 4.

Notice what else Paul says about the “grace of Christ” in verse 4. Paul tells the believers in Galatia that they would be delivered from sin according to the “will of God”. Rejoice dear friend we will be delivered from sin and this evil world.

That deliverance is yet future when Jesus shouts to call us up to be with Him at the Rapture. We will then be delivered from the “presence of this evil world”. What a “blessed hope” that is for each of us as believers.

Sometimes people say, "you believe in the Rapture? You believe in an escapism religion." They are absolutely right. We will “escape” from this evil world and it will be the “will of God”. I am looking forward to escaping this evil world and doing it in the will of the Most High God - praise His name.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the "grace of Christ" that does indeed deliver us from this present evil world.


Galatians 4 verse 29 

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

For further study - Galatians 4:19-31

Paul's message in Galatians is that salvation comes by “grace through faith”. He also warns Peter in a public chastisement that a Gentile does not have to become a Jew to then become a Christian.
As Paul prays for the people of Galatia, he writes to them that he wants to be present with the people to work with them "until Christ be formed in them," verses 19-20.
Paul is eager to warn the Galatians that God's grace alone will give them salvation. The Apostle uses a method of presentation to illustrate grace over works. Paul discusses Abraham's sons, the two that are best known would be Ishmael and Isaac.
The first-born, Ishmael, was born to a "slave woman," and Isaac, the second born, was born of the "free woman." This illustration is speaking to the issue of the one under bondage to the "law", the Mosaic Law given at Mt. Sinai and the one free through “grace”.
Paul carries the theme through out this text to conclusion with the statement that “we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free woman”, verse 31. This is great doctrinal truth that is applicable for our daily walk with Christ; however, there is more for us to glean from this "field of truth", there is more that we must learn.
In verse 29, Paul uses the text to explain the children of the “flesh”, Ishmael, and the children of the “Spirit”, Isaac. Paul wrote that these two would be in conflict spiritually and physically. Paul also says that was the case in his day, verse 29. Notice the last five words of verse 29, "even so it is now."
These five words shout out the reality of today, Ishmael against Isaac. Ishmael went to live in Arabia and fathered the people who would become the “Islamic” people of today. Mohammad himself stated that he was a direct descendant of Ishmael. We know that Isaac was the father of Jacob, who became Israel, the Jewish people of today.
There is today a conflict between these two boys, Ishmael, the Islamist and Jacob, the Jews. It is interesting to note that the descendants of Hagar, the Ishmaelites are still slaves to sin.
Though the Jews are still in bondage to sin, one day in the future these sons of the "son of promise," Isaac, will be free in their Messiah, Jesus Christ. But until then the conflict between these two "brothers" will continue, as we see unfolding in our world today.
PRAYER THOT: Thank You Lord for the grace that You gave me for my salvation.


Galatians 4:4 

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

For further study - Galatians 4:1-7

That phrase, "the fullness of time be come in" is the lead-in to what God did, He sent forth His Son for us. Have you ever thought of what is meant by the phrase, "the fullness of time?"

Let me suggest several things to consider. At the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire ruled the known world. It is because of the Roman rule that there was a situation in the world for the coming of the Messiah.
For example, there was stability across the known world due to the strength of the Roman government. These days, some 2000 years ago, were days of constant conflict but the mighty Roman army helped to bring a world-wide stability.
The Romans also had an elaborate road system in place that would enhance travel to all parts of the known world. This would allow for the spread of the Gospel message to all parts of the world as the Lord had directed His disciples to do after He departed.
Travel over this road system put in place by the Romans would still need a common currency across the empire so that the travelers could pay their way from place to place as they would spread the message. That common currency was the dinarius.
By the way, in order to spread any message, there needed to be a common language for man to be able to communicate with his fellow man. At this time in history, in the fullness of time, there was the Empire-wide common language of Koine Greek.
The one other factor that would enhance the spread of the gospel would be a meeting place in each town to gather the citizens of that community together to reason with the facts of what Jesus Christ had come to earth to do, to become the Saviour of all of human kind. That meeting place would be the synagogues, which had been built during the time of the Babylonian Empire and were still in operation almost everywhere.
These Jewish worship centers would provide the comfortable venue to discuss the claims of the Gospel and study to see if indeed Jesus Christ was the Messiah He claimed to be and the Saviour promised to the world. In the “fullness of time”, God brought forth His Son to be that Saviour.

This great truth is applicable for today as well - as we look at current events in light of Biblical Prophecy, we can recognize that once again, in the “fullness of time” God will bring forth His Son.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to use my knowledge of Bible Prophecy to explain current events, which show me it is near to the “fullness of time” once again.


Genesis 2 vs8 - And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. For further study - Genesis 2:1-17

As we approach a study of the book of Genesis, and in particular the first twelve chapters of the book, we are made aware that all the truth found in all sixty-six books of the Bible have their "beginning", their foundation, in the "Book of Beginnings", the first book of the Torah that Moses wrote, the book of Genesis.

The first chapter is the record of "Creation" when Jesus in six, twenty-four hour days, created the heavens, the earth and all that is in them. Genesis 2 is a further explanation of some of the events and special effects of Creation. Verses 1-3 reveal to us that after Jesus Christ, the member of the "Godhead" who created all things, Colossians 1:16, after the six days of Creation He rested on the seventh day. By the way, it was a twenty-four hour day that He rested, the same as the "day" He told the Jews to spend in rest, Exodus 20:11.

The atmosphere at Creation was like the tropics where there was a "mist", verse 6, that watered the earth since it had never rained, verse 5, and it would not rain until the time of the flood.

There is a great depth of knowledge in Genesis 2, but I guess my favorite is the record of Jesus creating the Garden of Eden, verses 8-17. Actually the "Garden" was created on the third day of Creation when the Lord brought forth the grass, the herb yielding seed and trees, Genesis 1:9-13.

It was in the "Garden of Eden" that the Lord created man and woman. The Lord placed man in the "Garden" to dress it and to keep it, verse 15.In this chapter you will find several points of interest in relation to the "Garden". There were all types of trees in the "Garden", the “Tree of Life” and the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” were only two of the trees. The trees put forth fruit for Adam and Eve to eat, with the exception of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil."

Notice also there is one "river", not four rivers, coming out of the "Garden of Eden", verse 10. One river flowed out of the "Garden" and became four rivers somewhere outside of the "Garden of Eden".

The river flowing out of the "Garden of Eden" was the Gihon, which gave the water for King David to anoint his son Solomon to be king. By the way, the Gihon's head waters are located underneath the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

The original sight of the "Garden of Eden" is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The "foundation stone" underneath the Dome of the Rock is, according to Jewish tradition, the place the Lord created man. It was also the site of the Holy of Holies in the Temple.

This truth, revealing the location of the original sight of the "Garden of Eden", has been known by the Jews for 5,768 years. In Jewish years, on their calendar, it's 5768. Where Jesus started, as the Creator, He will rule and reign from forever, the "Garden of Eden".

Now maybe you can see why the Moslems want the Temple Mount as their land which Bible prophecy says will be the case in the last days, Isaiah 51:3, Ezekiel 36:35 and Joel 2:3. (See my audio CD series on "Return to Eden".)

Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, and possibly very soon.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for all truth found in Your Word.
Genesis 3:15 

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

For further study - Genesis 3:1-19

The extended reading for today’s devotional is the account of the “fall of Man”. Some time after the sixth day of Creation the Angel Lucifer exercised his freewill and rebelled against God. In our extended reading the he shows up as a “serpent”.

Known as the Devil, or Satan, there in the Garden of Eden, he is in the form of a “serpent”. He misquotes God, puts doubt in the mind of Eve and proceeds to manipulate both Eve and Adam for the purpose of causing them to go against the Lord and do what He had told them not to do, eat of the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”.
There are consequences for sin, verses 16-19, God told Adam and Eve, "For in the day that thou eatest thereof [the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil], thou shalt surely die," Genesis 2:17. However, at this time of the first “sin”, a “promise” was made in the form of a “prophecy”, a Saviour would be “provided”.
This is the very first prophecy of a coming “Messiah” - a Saviour for all mankind. This same prophecy also looks for Satan - the great Adversary - to come, but to meet his defeat by the power of the Messiah. Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophecy written of the coming of the Messiah. This fact then makes Him the fulfillment of this stated prophecy.
Jesus Christ, our Saviour, not only defeats Satan in the end, but strengthens us to stand against our Adversary on a daily basis, Ephesians 6:10-13.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the “prophecy” of a coming Saviour, the “promise” that He would take care of my sin problem and the “provision” of that Saviour.

Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

For further study - Genesis 5:1-32

I can imagine what you are thinking right now. "We are going to read a genealogy for our devotion today?" You are right - that is exactly what we are going to do. May I suggest to you that there are many things to learn from genealogies.
Our extended reading for today is the whole of chapter 5 of Genesis, which is the second genealogy already in this first book of the Bible - the first being in chapter 4. This genealogy is unique for a number of reasons. The fact that it starts with the first man, Adam, and goes through 1,500 years of history, all the way to Noah, is impressive but also very informative.
In addition to the man God created on the sixth day of Creation on the list, there is also mention of the man who lived the longest of anyone on earth before or since those ancient times. Methuselah lived for 969 years before he died which helps us to know that he was alive while Adam was also still alive.
It is also interesting to note that for each individual listed in the genealogy, it includes his life of fathering the next generation and the phrase, "and he died."
There are two exceptions to that description of the end of each father's life. The last verse of our extended reading, verse 32 is one. This is true of Noah who has three sons - Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The verse tells us that Noah was 500 years old.
In 100 years, the Flood would come upon the earth, Genesis 6:7-8. This would happen when Noah was 600 years old, Genesis 7:6. Noah would live 350 years more before that statement, “and he died”, could be applied to him, Genesis 9:29.
The other exception in the genealogy of not having "and he died," applied to him is Enoch, verse 24. There is no place in the Bible or in secular history for that matter to say that Enoch ever died.
Enoch is still alive, now, for more that 4,700 years. Enoch is one of two men that lived on earth and never died. The other is Elijah, II Kings 2:11. Enoch is a man that walked with God while here on earth. The book of Jude in the New Testament tells us he was a great preacher, Jude 14.
Since the Bible said it is appointed for a man once to die and then the judgment, Hebrews 9:27, I believe that Enoch will come back to earth as one of the two witnesses during the Tribulation Period, Revelation 11:3-12. He will be killed, be laid in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days, and then be resurrected and taken to heaven.
The other witness during that time will be the other prophet who has never died here on earth - that is Elijah, as foretold in Malachi 4:5. Enoch was a Gentile and Elijah was a Jew - there would be one each for the Gentiles and the Jews left on earth during the terrible time of judgment.
Bible prophecy reveals that these days could come soon. Keep looking up!
PRAYER THOT: Help me to walk with God as Enoch walked with God.

Genesis 6 vs22 - Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

For further study - Genesis 6:1-22

I realize that I do not every minute of every day do all that the Lord has directed me to do through His word. Now, as I come to our key verse for today, having read the extended portion as well, I am even more of frustrated with myself. This man Noah is known throughout the world as a man who did all that God had commanded him to do.

I am humbled by how Noah lived his life in a day that was much more ungodly than our day. I know that because Jesus said in Matthew

24:37 that He would come back to earth in a day when it was as Noah's day. Jesus has not come back so our days are not yet as bad as Noah's day.

Take a moment and think our key verse through again as we consider what the Lord told Noah was going to happen and what He told Noah He wanted him to do. Verse 13 tells us the conversation between Noah and God. Noah heard from God that the Lord was going to destroy all of humankind with the exception of his wife, their three sons, and their son's wives.

Now that would have blown me away, but Noah continued to listen to the instruction that God was giving him, in light of the coming judgment. God, in this same conversation, would tell Noah that the boat, the Ark, that he was to build would protect his family and two of each kind of animal on the earth. The boat was to protect them from the judgment that was coming - a worldwide flood, verse 17.

Can you imagine what Noah might have thought. What is a "flood?"

What is "rain" that will cause the flood? Until this time in history, there had never been rain - thus no flood had ever happened

- like what Noah was hearing about.

Noah was given exact instructions on how to build the Ark, verses 14-16. Noah was given 120 years to prepare the Ark and to warn all of humankind, verse 3. And the end result was that only 7 people believed him. Those seven, his wife, three sons, and their wives.

What a testimony that Noah had, those closest to him were those who believed him and were spared the judgment. Once again I am in awe of Noah, a man who in this situation did all that the Lord commanded him to do.

One final thought. Keep in mind what Jesus said in His Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24:37. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days that the Lord will return. If you read Genesis 4-10 you can determine how it was in those days. Genesis 11 is focused on Babylon, the location of a one world religion and one world government, which is how it was in Noah's day.

By the way, Biblical Babylon is modern-day Iraq. The world today is focused on the same part of the world that it was in Noah's day.

We could well be in the day of His return.

PRAYER THOT: Lord, help me to be a man like Noah and do all that You direct me to do.

Genesis 9 vs6

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

For further study - Genesis 9:1-29

Genesis 9:1 is the record of God's meeting with Noah after the worldwide flood, as recorded in Genesis 6, 7 and 8. In this meeting the Lord gave Noah instructions.

God told Noah that he and his family were to be fruitful and multiply and thus "re-people" the earth. At this time in history, right after the flood, there were only eight people on the earth.
There was Noah and his three sons; Shem, Ham and Japheth and their four wives. God wanted to start “humankind” all over with the survivors of the flood. Genesis 10 is the record of at least the beginning obedience to God's command to "re-people" the Earth.
Verse 6 of Genesis 9 is where God established the institution of "human government". God established the institution of "marriage", Genesis 2, and the institution of the "local church" in Acts 2.
Here in Genesis 9:6 the Lord sets in place what we call today "capital punishment". Within this command is the foundation for "human government". The highest function of "human government" is the judicial taking of life. All other governmental powers are implied in that.
God sets man on earth to govern the world for Him. "Human government" played a key role then, 4,500 years ago, and it will play a major role in the future, Revelation 17:17. However, "human government" plays a key role today as the Lord uses "human government" to set the world stage and place the “actors on that stage” to make ready for the "final drama" to be played out.
In verse 13 we see where the Lord places His "rainbow" in the clouds. Every time you see a "rainbow "in the sky it is a tangible promise from God that He will never judge the earth again with water. God once again used nature to communicate to man and the "rainbow" continues to speak to us, even today, a message from God.
Please notice one more thing with me. The Lord revealed to Moses, the author of the book of Genesis, that Noah lived 350 years after the flood. Remember, Noah was 600 years old when the waters covered the earth, all of the earth, Genesis 7:6.
Therefore, Noah lived a total of 950 years, all of them serving the Lord. Noah lived the last several hundred years with his great-grandson, Nimrod, who was the King of Babylon, Genesis 10:10 .
Noah's great-grandson was disobedient to the Lord's command. Instead of multiplying and "re-peopling" the earth, Nimrod went to Babel, on the Euphrates River, and built a great city, lest they be scattered upon the face of the earth, Genesis 11:4.
All of humankind lived in Babylon with Nimrod and his great-grandfather, Noah. The significance of this information comes from what Jesus said in His "Olivet Discourse", Matthew 24:37.
This verse tells us, "As it was in the days of Noah so shall it also be in the days of the coming of the Lord." In the "last days" of Noah, the world was focused on Babylon, which is modern-day Iraq, thus the significance of the Lord's statement in Matthew 24:37.
In Noah's day the focus of the world was on Babylon as is the case today, the focus of the world is on Iraq, Biblical Babylon. It is in these days that Jesus comes back to the Earth. That seems to be indicating that the Lord will come in our day.
Remember, before Christ comes back to the Earth, the Lord shouts to call all of us into the heavenlies at the Rapture of the Church, and that could happen today.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the prophecy that allows me to know the time of Your return. Help me to live in light of this information and Your soon coming.


Genesis 11 vs9 - Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. For further study - Genesis 11:1-9

The extended reading for our devotional today is as up-to-date, prophetically, as it could be. I will explain that in greater detail in a moment.

First let's look at how the stage was being set for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled some 4,500 years ago as recorded in Genesis 11.

Historically, this passage plays out after the world-wide flood as recorded in Geneses 6, 7 and 8. After the flood, God told Noah and his three sons, and their wives, to be fruitful, multiply and "re-people" the earth, Genesis 9:1.

Remember, after the flood there were only eight souls on the earth.

Genesis 10 is a record of these eight souls being obedient to God, at least in the beginning.

Genesis 10:6 reveals to us that a grandson of Noah, the son of Ham, was Cush. We can trace Cush and his son, verse 8, who was named Nimrod, a great-grandson of Noah. Notice that Nimrod established himself as a "king"

in his "kingdom" that he started in the "land of Shinar", verse 10.

In fact, Nimrod went to Babel in Shinar and built a great city, Genesis 11:4. This act was in total contradiction of what God had told Nimrod's great-grandfather to do, to "re-people" the earth.

In fact Nimrod also started a religion, as signified by the building of a "tower who's top may reach into heaven", verse 4. The trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the "let us" of verse 7, came down to inspect Nimrod's disobedience and "confounded their language that they may not understand one another's speech", verse 7. Through that act, God scattered all the people of Babylon abroad and across the world as He had commanded them to do years before, verse 8.

Notice that verse 9 says "the Lord scattered them abroad, upon the face of 'all' the earth."

Now back to the prophetic scenario laid out in this passage. Nimrod set up a "one world government" in Babylon, his kingdom, with one leader, himself, as king. He also established a "one world religion," by building the tower.

I say "one world" because at the time, Babylon had the entire population of the world. Both Nimrod's "one world government" and "one world religion" were a prototype for the "one world religion" of Revelation 17 and the "one world government" of Revelation 18. By the way, Biblical Babylon is modern-day Iraq. The literal city of Babylon will be the headquarters for the Antichrist in the last days when this false messiah sets up a "one world economic, political, governmental system" in Babylon, modern-day Iraq. With all that is happening today in Iraq, the stage is being set for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled, seemingly in the very near future.

PRAYER THOT: Lord, as I watch the fulfillment of Bible prophecy unfolding today, help me to tell others of the future and how to prepare for the future that will be played out in world history.

Genesis 12 vs.3 - And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

For further study - Genesis 12:1-9

The Lord's promise to Abraham, known as the "Abrahamic Covenant" was made to Abraham before he ever left his home in Ur of the Chaldees. God promised this Gentile man that He would make him a great "nation" with a piece of the land to go along with the nation.

This nation would be a blessing to all people of the world, if they blessed the nation that Abraham would Father. As you continue to read through the book of Genesis, you will see that the promise to Abraham was also confirmed to his son and his grandson; Isaac, Genesis 26:2-3 and Jacob, Genesis 35:12.

Remember, Abraham is not the father of the Arab world but the father of the Jewish nation. The Abrahamic Covenant is the first of four covenants that God has made with the Jewish people. The "Land Covenant," Deuteronomy 30, is an extension of the Abrahamic Covenant.

To be a "nation" of people, you must have a piece of real estate. God mentioned to Abraham in Genesis 12 that the land he passed through on his way South from the "Fertile Crescent", modern-day Syria, that the land would be given to him and his seed, the Jewish people, verses 5-7.

In Genesis 15, there is additional information about the Abrahamic Covenant and the land promised to Abraham in the covenant. We will look at Genesis 15 in another devotional but suffice to say that the Abrahamic Covenant was what is called a "blood covenant." This is a covenant that, if broken, results in the giving up of the life of the one who breaks the covenant or promise.

Genesis 15 says that Abraham actually slept and only the Lord made the covenant, thus this is an "unconditional covenant", only the Lord is responsible for the promises and their fulfillment. By the way, Genesis 15 explains that the land promised to the descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people, will be ten times what they have today, more on that when we come to our devotional reading in Genesis 15.

What is such a blessing to me is that the Lord makes commitments or covenants and obligates Himself to keep them. Some churches say that God has finished with Israel and turned His blessings on the Church. That is what is called "Replacement Theology" - God has replaced the Jews with the Church and has no future program for the Jews.

That is not the case according to our reading today. The Abrahamic Covenant is "forever," as given to the Jewish people. Therefore, we can rest assured that any promise the Lord makes to Christians about eternal life will be fulfilled also. Should the Lord break His covenant with the Jews, He could break His promises to us as Christians. He cannot break either of the promises, the Abrahamic Covenant or the promise of eternal life to the Christians.

The Lord does have a program for the Jews in the future and we can see the stage being set for that program to come to pass, seemingly in the near future.

Prayer THOT: Thank You Lord for being a covenant keeping God.

Genesis 15 vs.18 - In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

For further study - Genesis 15:1-21

This fifteenth chapter of Genesis is the record of the Lord making a "covenant" with Abraham which is known as the "Abrahamic Covenant".

In Genesis 12 the Lord made a promise to Abraham that He would make this Gentile from Ur of the Chaldeans, the "father of the Jewish people", and would make of all of His descendants "a nation of Jewish people".

In Genesis 12:7 the Lord mentions that the Jews will receive a piece of real estate along with becoming a nation. The fact of the matter is that you can not be a nation in this world unless you do have a piece of "land" for your nation.

That's the reason for the continuation of the Lord's promise, the covenant, to Abraham in Genesis 15. This covenant is what is called a "blood covenant", that's when the two participants, after having divided a heifer, a goat and a ram, the two making and receiving the "promise", walk between the parts of the slain animals, arm in arm and promising that if either one of them break the covenant the other will be able to divide asunder the person who broke the covenant.

Our passage tells us that the Lord, this appearance was of the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, that the Lord put Abraham to sleep and He walked among the parts of the animals saying that He is the one responsible for keeping the promise, not Abraham.

This covenant is the first of four covenants the Lord makes with Abraham and his descendants, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Land Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant.

Genesis 15 also begins to reveal the land that the Lord will give to the Jewish people. Notice verse 18 where we see that at least some portion of the land extends from the "River of Egypt", most likely the Nile River, all the way north to the Euphrates River at Lebanon's northern border.

This passage is only one of thirty-eight passages that describe the "Biblical borders" of Israel, the land that God will give the Jewish people. The thirty-eight passages describe a land, ten times what the Jews have today and will include half of Egypt, all of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait, plus three-quarters of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Maybe now you can see the reason for the problem in the Middle East. All of this land will only be given to the Jews in the Kingdom to come. By the way, when the Lord does give all the land to the Jews that He has promised them, it will be their land forever, even into eternity future.

This is God's promise to Abraham and the Jews. What I love about the Abrahamic Covenant is that the Lord made it to Abraham 4,000 years ago and we see the final fulfillment of the promise, seemingly very close at hand.

The Lord will keep His promise to the Jews and that's why I can believe He will keep His promises to me for eternal life and the future, as spoken of in Bible prophecy.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for keeping Your promises to Abraham, the Jews and to me also.

Genesis 32 vs.28 - And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

For further study - Genesis 32:22-32

In our devotional reading for today we will look at the account of Jacob's return to the land of his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham.

Jacob had been in Haran, which is today modern Turkey.

Jacob had spent a number of years living with his uncle, his mother's brother, as he hid himself from his brother, Esau. It was during this time that Jacob got married. In fact, he married two sisters, Leah and Rachel.

The Lord had given this family eleven sons and as we come to this portion of Genesis we see that they had traveled south, back into the land God had promised to both his father, Isaac, Genesis 26:2-3; and his grandfather, Abraham, Genesis 15:18.

In fact, the Lord would also make a promise to Jacob of the land, Genesis 35:12, and thus establish the covenant with the "line of promise" to these, the patriarchs of the Jewish people.

In our key verse, and also in our extended reading, we see that the Lord would name the people and the land, by changing Jacob's name to "Israel".

As the story goes, Jacob had been in Turkey to escape the wrath of his twin brother, Esau. As Jacob returns to make amends to Esau for his deception committed against his brother, Jacob had an "all night- long" wrestling match with Jesus Christ, a "pre-incarnate" appearance of Jesus.

I know that it was Jesus because the text tells us Jacob stood "face-to-face with God", verse 30, and he did not die. Jacob could not have seen God the Father face to face, and lived, John 1:18. The text tells us that the wrestling match lasted all night long, verse 24.

Jacob told Jesus he would not let the Lord go until He had blessed him, verse 26. So the Lord changed Jacob's name to "Israel", "I will fight for you", verse 28. This marks the time in history that the Lord choose to begin a "people" that He would use as a "witness" to the entire world.

Let me point out several things about this very interesting and informative passage. During the "wrestling match" Jesus touched the "thigh" of Jacob, and basically impaired Jacob's full use of his leg. The reason the Lord touched Jacob's "thigh" is that the "thigh" is the strongest muscle in your body, ten times stronger than any other muscle.

Also, Jacob would live for the rest of his life with a limp, verse 31, and it would be a daily reminder that his own strength was impaired, but the Lord would "fight for him", and thus his new name, "Israel".

It is also interesting to note that "eleven" of Jacob's twelve sons who would become the "twelve tribes of Israel", were born outside of the "Promised Land". God has His own way to accomplish His plan, a plan for Israel that will be fulfilled in the future.

It is key that we understand, God does have a plan for the Jewish people. It is a plan that extends into "eternity future" and the Lord's plan must be fulfilled because the Lord said He committed His integrity to the fact that His plan for the Jews would be fulfilled

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord to remember that You fight for me and not only for me but for all that know You as Lord and Saviour. And also, thank You Lord for keeping Your promises to the Jews, and to me, as well.

Habakkuk 1 verse 5 - Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

For further study - Habukkak 1:1-11

The ancient Jewish prophet Habakkuk is one of the Minor Prophets of which little is known. Most likely, he prophesied in the latter years of King Josiah making him a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah. This prophecy is a warning to the Jewish people about coming chastisement, as they would be taken into the Babylonian captivity as a result of their sins. As you read through this short warning message to the Jewish people you will notice that Habakkuk is more concerned that the holiness of God be vindicated than that Israel should escape judgment. In fact, Habakkuk sees the holiness of God as the reason he will have to judge those who he chose to represent him here on the earth.
Jeremiah reveals to the Jews of his day that because they did not follow God's command to give the land a Sabbath every seven years, the Jews would be punished. The Jews were to rest the land (Leviticus 25:8-23) - they would be judged for their neglect to obey the Lord. God then would raise up the Babylonians (the Chaldeans) to take the Jewish people out of the land to give the land the seventy years of rest required by God's law (II Chronicles 36).
Habakkuk has a message that will confirm the prophetic message of

Jeremiah about the Babylonians taking the Jews into captivity.

However, in his message of retribution, Habakkuk has a message of restoration. This prophecy reveals the love that God has for his people and his greatness, one who will do a great work among the Jews even as they are under his judgment (vs. 5).
Prophetic passages have a short-term fulfillment and/or a long-term fulfillment. Sometimes, a prophecy will be speaking of a short term and a long-term fulfillment. This is the case in Habakkuk 1:5.
As the book of Ezra records in chapters 1-6, the Lord raises up the leader of the Medo-Persian Empire - Cyrus (Ezra 1: 2-4) to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to build the temple. Thus you have the short-term fulfillment. The Jews today are beginning to witness the Lord doing a great work among them as he has brought them from

the four corners of the earth back to the land of their forefathers.

In a future tomorrow, his holiness will even do a greater work among the Jewish people. We are living in the days that Habakkuk was writing about.