Yom Rishon, Tishri 15, 6004 – September 15, 2019
Begin Again
We have had a great deal of assistance in coming to the conclusions we have come to related to what the bible has to say about God, about life, and about living. Sadly, much of that has not been true. I hesitate to call it lies because with the word lie comes the implication of intent to deceive. While I am sure it is possible that some have meant to deceive, I do not believe that is the overall intent of all that have given us bad information. One example is the concept of grace.
Many of us have been taught that the God of the Old Testament was a Judge out to smash us, and the God of the New Testament was a good guy that only loved us. We were taught that judgement was the way of the Old Testament and grace was the way of the New Testament. Today I tell you, none of this is true. Grace was first mentioned in the Old Testament. And not just mentioned in passing, the word Hebrew word “chen” which is the word translated grace, it appears 69 times in the Old Testament. The first time is for Noah.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
When the world turned evil and God had to fix it, Noah found grace – unmerited favor – in God’s sight. God taught Noah to build an ark that saved the animals and Noah’s family.
At the very end of the Old Testament there is a mention of grace prophetically. It refers to the Messiah who will return and show His wounds that they gave Him, and the people will receive grace.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Today, let us commit ourselves to begin again in the comfort of knowing our Father gives us grace to be made anew.
Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are King. Praise the name YAH! Let Your kingdom come here and Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Send us now Your provisions. Forgive us our trespasses and transgressions, and help us all to forgive those that have trespassed or transgressed against us. Deliver us from the evil here, and from the evil men do. Keep us from temptations. Thank You for hearing our cries for the substance and prosperity that have been taken or held back in any way from Your people, and the more besides, yes one thousandfold besides. Hear us and do these things we ask You now our Father King, in the name YAH Yeshuah HaMashiach. Amen. Amen.