The Bible clearly teaches the concept of “predestination”; that is, that God predetermined or preordained something about us. What is it? And how long ago did this “pre-determination” occur?
The Bible also teaches the existence of the Book of Life, in which our names are written down. When does God list our names in that Book? And what, if anything, is the relationship between the existence of the Book of Life and predestination?
Who a person is goes beyond superficial descriptions or evaluations. Even our own view of who we are may be incomplete or wrong! God, alone, knows each one of us in ways that far surpass our own understanding. Who we are is ultimately determined by whether we obey and serve God or whether we are disobedient and rebellious to God. The final test of who we are is embodied in our practice of Christianity.
In the last installment of this sermon series, we will discover more undisputable proofs in the life of David, showing that human fighting and killing in war is wrong in God’s eyes. Some have tried to argue that David did not sin when he fought in war, as he only allegedly sinned in the “matter of Uriah.” This interpretation is blatantly wrong. David admitted on numerous occasions that he had sinned in many different ways. He was not permitted to build the temple, as he had been a man of war who had shed blood. He also sinned when he numbered the army, in preparation of war. David learned, at the end of his life, that human warfare is wrong. He will be teaching man, in the Millennium, the way to peace — and man will not learn, under his rule, to fight in war anymore. We must learn the same today.
This Part 5 of the series of sermons covering the Book of Genesis will complete our present review of this most important book of the Old Testament. In this sermon we observe Jacob’s shock and joy when he comes to the realization that his son, Joseph, whom he thought dead for so many years, was in fact alive and prospering as the ruler over the nation of Egypt, directly under Pharaoh.
What we can see and what we can touch seem the most real to us. Warnings and promises may seem less tangible, and only the few have believed God or His prophets in these matters. Setting an example for us, Jesus Christ looked forward in faith to the future Kingdom of God.
Due to God’s intervention, by sending Abigail, David had spared Nabal’s life and refused to avenge himself. Subsequently, David was tested to show whether he would spare King Saul, without God’s direct intervention, although circumstances seemed to be compelling, humanly speaking, to kill his enemy. When David acted peacefully, Saul ceased to pursue David any further. However, David had not learned yet that fighting in war is wrong. Through his deceitful conduct, while staying with Achish, king of Gath, he was almost forced to fight King Saul, and his own household was captured by the enemy. In addition, David engaged in polygamy, which was not according to God’s will and intent.
In this fourth part in the series of sermons covering the Book of Genesis, Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob becomes the central figure in the story of God’s blessings promised to Abraham which were determined by the Almighty. This story is filled with intrigue and with hope!
This life is a gift from God, and we are accountable to God for it. This life–this physical existence will end, but we have been given the promise of eternal life. Many servants of God struggled with discouragement in their own lifetimes. Their record and the unbreakable promises of God can help us to successfully face our own trials.
David grew up in a society, which was used to fighting in war. He never questioned whether war, in general, was right or wrong, until much later in his life. God showed him, through experience, why war is wrong. He showed him that the wars of men only produce suffering and pain, without bringing lasting solutions. Whenever David practiced the way of peace, God delivered him and even influenced his enemies to become friendly toward him. When David refused to kill Saul, God helped David. When David was about to kill Nabal, God prevented that by sending Nabal’s wife, Abigail, to him. David relented, and God took care of the situation. We, too, have to learn to become peacemakers and to live peaceably with all men, as much as depends on us. If we do, the God of peace will be with us.
In this sermon we continue to examine the lives of men and women God first began dealing with on an intimate basis. It picks up with God’s dealings with Isaac and continues as God chooses Jacob through whom He would pass the blessings of Abraham and as He reveals even more of Himself and His Way to Jacob.
