Skip to main content

Not All His Children


 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” (Romans 9:6-9) 

          Did you know that Abraham had 8 children? You might be able to name two: Ishmael and Isaac. He also had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. Ishmael was the son of Hagar. Isaac was the son of Sarah. The other six were the sons of Keturah. (Genesis 25:1-4) Abraham cared for his other children, but Isaac was the heir even though he wasn’t the eldest. God promised to bless both Isaac and Ishmael, but God would work out His plan through Isaac’s family. 
          In the next generation, God singled out the younger brother, Jacob, as His man. Esau was rejected. After that, it was Judah even though Reuben was older. There were ten brothers besides. There were lots of Israelite women who went with Moses when he led them out of Egypt, but it was a Canaanite woman and a Moabite woman who were David’s great grandmother and great, great grandmother. David had lots of kids, but Solomon was the one chosen to be next in the line of the ancestors of Christ. Were all of God’s chosen people good people? Stop laughing, most of the folks I picked weren’t as bad as some that I didn’t mention. Have you read about King Manasseh and his son, King Amon? 
          There are also the “guest stars” whom God used, people like Pharaoh, Darius, Xerxes, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Alexander. I like listening to the Old Testament, because I notice some of these things. Sometimes it seems as though the Israelites were determined to destroy God’s Word, but their best attempts to do God’s plan damage failed. More of Israel deserted God than followed Him. 
          The same is true today. There are lots of supposedly good people who claimed to lead people to God: Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy. There are some things about each religion out there that is similar to Christianity, there is some good to almost every religion, but they aren’t the religion that God has chosen. There are times when it seems like one or another of the other religions might be better in some way, but those religions aren’t the one God chose and He will see to it that His Word does not come back void. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more