1 Peter 1:19 "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" The griefs and sorrows of Christ were allotted to Him by the Father. He did not suffer because of anything inherent in Him, but in the place of His chosen ones. He carried the grief and sorrow of sin all the way to the cross where He paid the ultimate price for our sin, His precious blood shed unto death. You know, there are some that are trying to say that He had to become exactly what we are. They say that when the Scripture says that He became sin they actually believe and say that He became sinful. No, that is not the case! There is NO way that He could have been made a sinner and still be the PERFECT, SPOTLESS LAMB. God could NOT have accepted Him with sin in Him. His blood would have no longer been an acceptable Sacrifice. No, He bore our sin debt in our place as our Substitute. He paid what we owed with His precious blood shed unto death. Precious because He was spotless, without sin/blemish, perfect, righteous. He did not take on our depravity. He took on the wrath of His Father and died for His children. It was real pain, no man could bear the flogging that He did in His flesh. I don't believe it as men portray in some of these movies where you see Him crying out in agony. I believe what the Scriptures say, "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) When our LORD Jesus Christ did speak, it was always to the glory of His Father and the good of those drawn to Him. And yet that doesn't in any way diminish the pain He endured as the sin-Bearer. Our LORD was not exempt from suffering, quite the opposite. You read in Scripture that Christ groaned in His Spirit. To me that shows, again, His humanness and I am thankful because many times have I groaned in my spirit and He has turned my eyes to see Him and to know that anything I go through can't compare to what my LORD endured for my sin. And I deserve justly what comes to me, but He did not. He was wronged and abused and when it says that He was oppressed, that word literally means 'injuriously treated.' He endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself. Yet, in all that, He opened not His mouth. That should shut our mouths in awe and bring us to our knees at His feet! ALL glory and honor to the Lamb slain! "...Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." (Revelation 5:12)

Exodus 23:1 “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.” On January 2, 2006, in Sago, West Virginia, a blast and collapse trapped 13  miners  for nearly two days; only one survived. W ho among us was not moved by watching and hearing the cries of grief of the West Virginia coal miner families after learning that the report they had received three hours earlier that their loved ones were alive was a false report?  Their grief quickly turned to justified anger that someone had given them a false report.  Until the truth was known, they lived in a false sense of joy, excitement, and elation, all the while unaware that those for whom they rejoiced were dead.   Let this be a warning to any who, even in the name of Christ, falsely promise peace to sinners, or that all is well, by believing their report of a salvation conditioned on anything (man’s will, works, believing, or experience), and not on the blood and righteousness of the LORD Jesus alone. How many are there that face death and eternity in false assurance based on a lie? Someone has reported them alive, when death reigns, and they have never actually been delivered from the just wrath of God by the just satisfaction for their sin in the death of the LORD Jesus. God forbid that even those of us who profess to believe the Gospel of Grace, and salvation conditioned on Christ and His finished work alone, put our hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness, promising salvation or peace on any other basis than one’s sin having been charged to the LORD Jesus, and His righteous obedience imputed to their account. This is the salvation of the Bible, the only Truth! God purposed it in eternity for those He chose, and Christ accomplished it in time, satisfying God’s law and justice in His obedience unto death. Christ’s death demands the life of every one for whom He died, and therefore, in time, the Spirit will cause every redeemed and justified sinner to hear the TRUE REPORT of salvation by His righteousness imputed alone, and believe it, being delivered from every other false report or hope to that point. Sinner! Have you heard, believed and submitted to the TRUE REPORT?     Isaiah asked the question, “ Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” ( Isaiah 53:1 ).     By nature, we would all rather hope against hope, even to believe a lie, than to believe the Truth. In Isaiah’s day, it was much the same then as today.  In  the last three verses of the former chapter, Isaiah, God’s prophet, made a specific report concerning the great and wonderful humiliation and exaltation of the LORD Jesus Christ, as the coming Messiah. In Isaiah 53  he, by the Spirit of God, enlarged upon that revelation in a more particular manner.  “Who,”   not only of the Jews, but even of the Gentiles,  “hath believed”   the Truth?  Few or none, except those that the Father purposed from eternity to save, and did save, when the LORD Jesus Christ came and fulfilled their work of salvation, ( John 1:11-13) .    The majority of the world doesn't, nor will it ever, receive, nor believe in, such a Christ as God’s Spirit reveals in Scripture. Christ Himself,  John 12:38 , and Paul,  Romans 10:16 , both quoted Isaiah as a caution to the Jews that they should not stumble at this Stone, and a warning to the Gentiles that they should not be surprised nor seduced by the Jews' unbelief. Some today are tempted to follow the false report of modern day preachers, simply because their message looks more impressive to the natural mind, with so many believing it, and so few believing in THE CHRIST and His very narrow Message of salvation in, by, and through His finished work of redemption, justification, and propitiation at the cross alone. This is only revealed for the deliverance of those in whom the Spirit of Grace reveals HIM, and therefore, they believe the report. T he Gospel IS the Power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ,  ( Romans 1:16) .   Those who do believe on the Christ of the Bible are those that God purposed to believe (Acts 13:48).

Exodus 33:19 "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." There is no human love that can ever compare to the love of the LORD God for His people. As much as we may profess love for our spouses and children, we must honestly admit that our love is often conditional. We tend to say, “I will love you if you just do this or that for me.” The expression of our love is frequently erratic, unpredictable, and selfish, often governed by our mood at the moment. Thankfully, the love of God for poor sinners in Christ is not like this. God’s ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than ours and His love is unchanging from everlasting to everlasting toward His elect people. “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (Psalm 103:11). Sadly, many portray the love of God in the same way as their love.“ These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself” (Psalm 50:21 ). How does God’s love differ from what men naturally think? 1). Many say that God loves everyone equally and without exception. However, the Bible sets God’s love forth as a distinctive, distinguishing love. “Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13). His love is particular, as it says in Psalm 103:11:“...toward them that fear him...” 2). Many make God’s love conditional upon man believing first. However, the Scripture says, “We love him, because he first loved us...”(1 John 4:19). If there is any faith, goodness or obedience in any sinner, it is because God first set His love on them. Left to their own decision, none would ever love God, for “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:11). 3). Many would exalt God’s love over His justice. They presumptuously think that God is too loving to send sinners to hell. They assume that if they give their best effort, His love will overlook their ‘shortcomings’. How false this is! For God the Father to show His love toward sinners, He needed to deliver up His Son to redeem and justify them from the curse of the law. The LORD Jesus and His effectual death for the elect as their Substitute is the effect of His everlasting love for them and was not for everyone: “...when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). As the glory of God passed before Moses and we read the sovereign declaration of His grace: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” This is not a wavering love, nor a conditional mercy, but the everlasting, unchangeable, and eternal love of God in Christ. At the cross, where justice and mercy met in perfect harmony (Psalm 85:10) , God revealed the fullness of His grace. There, for all His elect, the LORD obtained eternal redemption in accord with His unbreakable covenant love. Because Christ has finished the work, God’s mercy toward His people is not a response to their worthiness, but a reflection of His unchanging purpose and eternal grace. May every redeemed soul rest in this: that God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, has loved us with an everlasting love, and obtained forever an eternal redemption in the blood shed unto death of the LORD Jesus, God's Sacrificial Lamb.

Exodus 12:11 "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover." This pointed and solemn verse marks the moment when God was about to deliver His chosen people from the bondage of Egypt—a moment not only of historical significance, but one rich in spiritual meaning and Gospel typology. The instructions were clear: the lamb must be eaten in haste, with full readiness to depart. Why? Because the LORD Himself was passing through the land in judgment, and only those sheltered beneath the blood of the lamb would be spared. Here we behold a vivid picture of God’s saving grace in Christ. Every detail—the girded loins, the blood-smeared doorposts, the eaten lamb—foreshadows the person and work of the LORD Jesus, the true and greater Passover Lamb. This was not man’s invention, nor Moses’ command, but “the LORD’s passover” (Exodus 12:11). He ordained it, He provided the Lamb, and He delivered the people. In every part, Christ is set forth as the One in Whom God’s wrath is satisfied and from Whom redemption flows. As we reflect on this passage, we do so not merely to recall a distant event, but to behold Christ in the Scriptures—our Substitute, our Redeemer, our Deliverer. His blood speaks peace. His death obtained eternal redemption. His voice still calls sinners to flee from the wrath to come. The command to eat in haste was not arbitrary. It signified the urgency of divine deliverance and the immediacy of God’s intervention. The people were to be ready— “your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand” (Exodus 12:11). The LORD would pass through the land in judgment, yet for His people, there was a covering: a lamb slain, its blood applied, and its flesh consumed. In this one verse, the Gospel of God’s saving grace is Christ encapsulated in type and promise. This was not Israel’s Passover, nor man’s religious rite—it was “the LORD’s Passover.” It was His provision, His initiative, and His means of deliverance for a people enslaved and powerless. Israel did not deliver itself. They were not spared by foresight, merit, or obedience, but by the blood of a substitute—the lamb appointed and provided by God. Historically, this moment inaugurated the exodus. Prophetically, it pointed to Christ: “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). As the lamb was without blemish (Exodus 12:5), so Christ was “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). As the lamb’s blood turned away wrath, so the blood of Christ redeems from sin and removes from judgment. “And when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). In Christ crucified, God has passed over the sins of His elect—not by ignoring them, but by judging them in the body of His Son. And what of the urgency? That, too, is fulfilled in the LORD Jesus. The believer is called to flee from the Egypt of this world, from the bondage of sin and self-righteousness, not trusting in personal reformation, but resting wholly in Christ’s redeeming work. We feed on Him in haste—not carelessly, but earnestly and by faith—for judgment draws near, and only Christ has satisfied divine justice. The blood was shed and applied to the doorposts of the heart, and the lamb was eaten. There is no neutrality. Salvation is not a negotiation, but a divine act of grace to be received with believing haste. This is salvation by God’s sovereign grace alone: He provided the Lamb, appointed the time, executed judgment, and passed over His people—all in perfect righteousness and mercy. At Calvary, this glorious type was fulfilled. The true Lamb was slain, the blood was shed, wrath was turned away, and God's people were delivered—not by their works or will, but by the effectual power of sovereign grace in Christ. Thus, we behold more than a memorial of Israel’s deliverance—we behold Christ, our Passover, sacrificed for us. The urgency, readiness, and posture of the Israelites reflect the heart of every believer who feeds upon Christ by faith. With loins girded in truth, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and the staff of God’s promises in hand, we press forward as pilgrims—not lingering in a condemned world, but hastening to that better country, a heavenly one, “whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10,16). The LORD’s Passover is not merely an escape from judgment, but a setting apart unto Himself—a people redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and brought out to worship and serve Him in the liberty of grace. In Christ, we see the fulfillment of it all. Let us then eat in haste—not with indifference, but with faith and urgency, trusting wholly in the finished work of our Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ. For we are strangers and pilgrims here, and our redemption draweth nigh (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Exodus 34:10 "And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee." In Exodus 34, Moses ascends Mount Sinai a second time to receive anew the words of the covenant, following Israel’s grievous idolatry with the golden calf. The LORD, in sovereign mercy, does not utterly forsake His stiff-necked people. Instead, He declares, “Behold, I make a covenant” (Exodus 34:10). Here, God graciously promises to work wonders that will astonish all nations, renewing His purpose to glorify Himself in and through His chosen people. Yet this declaration is not only historical; it is also profoundly prophetic, directing our eyes to the everlasting covenant of grace established in Christ Jesus our LORD. Israel had broken the covenant almost immediately after receiving it. Yet the LORD, rich in mercy, reveals His name to Moses, declaring, “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth”  (Exodus 34:6). He renews the covenant—not because Israel proved faithful, but because He is faithful. The foundation of His covenant is not man’s merit, but His own sovereign will and purpose. These promised “marvels”  prefigure the mighty acts of God in bringing His people into Canaan, subduing nations, and settling them in a land flowing with milk and honey. But the covenantal word in Exodus 34 reaches far beyond Canaan. The LORD declares that these wonders will be “such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation” (Exodus 34:10). Their ultimate fulfillment is found in Christ. What greater marvel has ever been wrought than the incarnation of the Son of God? “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In Christ, God fulfilled His covenant to do “terrible things” — not in cruelty, but in awe-inspiring, holy deeds that evoke both fear and wonder. The cross stands as the greatest of these: the most fearful and the most gracious act of all. There, God “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). There “mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10). In Christ, the covenant is not merely renewed—it is fulfilled and eternally established. The marvels of God’s grace in Christ far surpass the Red Sea crossing, the manna from heaven, and the conquest of Canaan. They are “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). The LORD Jesus is “the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). This is the covenant wherein God writes His law upon our hearts and remembers our sins no more (Hebrews 8:10–12). The LORD said, “All the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD”  (Exodus 34:10). So it is with Christ. His redemptive work was not done in a corner. The marvels of grace shine to the ends of the earth. Luke quoting the prophet Isaiah declared, “All flesh shall see the salvation of God”  (Luke 3:6). Christ crucified is the visible marvel of the invisible God. And in these last times, “every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him” (Revelation 1:7). Though the world despised Him, the elect behold His glory—the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6) . The work of the LORD in Christ is both terrible and beautiful: terrible in its judgment upon sin, beautiful in its salvation for sinners. His work is finished. His marvels endure forever. Thus, Exodus 34:10 finds its true and final fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of the LORD Jesus Christ, who came to establish the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6–13; Luke 22:20). Consider the key elements of this covenant fulfilled in Him: 1. “Behold, I make a covenant” This anticipates the New Covenant that God would establish—not merely a renewal of the Sinai covenant, but a new and living way. In Christ, God makes a better covenant—not written upon tablets of stone, but upon the hearts of His elect (Jeremiah 31:31–34; 2 Corinthians 3:6). “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). Christ fulfilled the law, satisfied divine justice, and obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12, 15). 2. “Before all thy people I will do marvels” These “marvels” typify the miracles and signs of Christ’s earthly ministry (John 5:36; Acts 2:22). Above all was His resurrection, a marvel that ushered in the new creation (Ephesians 1:19–23). They said of Christ, “ Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46); “We never saw it on this fashion” (Mark 2:12). 3 . “Such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation” This speaks of the unique, unparalleled nature of Christ’s redemptive work—doing what the law could not do (Romans 8:3). The Gospel of the Kingdom brought surpassing glory—exceeding even the glory of Sinai (2 Corinthians 3:7–11). This was the inauguration of Christ's Kingdom whereby the scriptures declare: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17), in Him by electing grace, redeeming blood, and the effectual calling of the Spirit uniting them to Christ. 4. “All the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD” This foreshadows the visible manifestation of God's power in Christ—His miracles, His passion, and the birth of the church through the Spirit (Acts 2). The cross and resurrection remain the central “work of the LORD” revealed to elected sinners (John 6:29; Acts 2:36) . Though many saw the works and believed not (John 12:37–40) , yet a remnant according to the election of grace, believed, and the Gospel began to go to the nations (Acts 1:8) by God's sovereign will and determination (Romans 1:16). 5. “It is a terrible thing that I will do with thee” “Terrible” here refers to that which inspires reverence and holy fear. This points us directly to the cross, where God judged the sin of His elect completely in the Person of His Son. Christ crucified is the awe-filled wonder of grace: “ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows... Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him” (Isaiah 53:4,10). There, judgment and mercy met—wrath satisfied, grace magnified (Psalm 85:10; Romans 3:25–26). May we, like Moses, behold the covenant, not one written on stone, but one of grace and truth in Jesus Christ. Let us stand in awe of the marvels God has done in Christ—marvels that eclipse every wonder of old. And let us remember: it is all of sovereign grace, not of works, “according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Exodus 7:11 "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments." In verse 10 of Exodus 7, we find Aaron casting down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Moses represents the law, Aaron represents the priesthood—both foreshadowing the work of Christ. The casting down of the rod, which became a serpent, typifies something of Christ's coming and His power even over Satan, whom the serpent represents. Doesn’t all religion offer some sort of remedy to sin and Satan? That’s what we see next in the verse: “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers.” The magicians of Egypt were the religious leaders and priests of that day. This was a convocation of the chief religious authorities, and it says, “they also did in like manner with their enchantments.” But notice the difference— with their enchantments . There is a passage in the New Testament that uses similar language and gives a strong warning. In Galatians 3:1, we read: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” The religious world gets upset when you use language like this, but it is precisely what the Scripture calls it. Anything that is not of Christ, by Christ, through Christ, and to Christ  is nothing but enchantment—no matter how it is dressed up. How were they bewitched? Is it someone performing literal incantations? It might be. But it could just as easily be someone who is an eloquent speaker, skilled in forming persuasive words, convincing the mind, and—like a magician—drawing your attention away from Christ and His finished work. The danger is that you’re left with the impression that by believing what you are told, you have some hope and some assurance. But unless the foundation is Christ and Him crucified alone , it is a false hope and a false assurance. That’s why Paul is warning the Galatians. What was the bewitching? That they should not obey the truth, that they were turning to other doctrines—doctrines other than Christ. They were being drawn aside from the message that declares righteousness solely upon the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, unmixed with any contribution of man or his works. “Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you.” Paul is speaking of when he preached to them, setting forth Christ crucified as the very heart of the message. The cross is the only message of the One True Gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). Yet men, not taught by the Spirit, cannot rest at the cross and the One crucified there. They may dabble in things pertaining to the cross, but eventually, they tire and move on. Sooner or later, what truly occupies their mind will show—and it is not Christ alone. In 2 Timothy 3:8 , we read of two men who opposed Moses: “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” This is the only indication we have in Scripture as to the names of the men mentioned in Exodus 7 . Notice how the apostle Paul draws a direct parallel. He describes them as men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith—that is, without sound judgment concerning the doctrine of Christ. “The Faith” refers to God’s revealed truth in connection with Christ—His Person, His death, and His finished work for the salvation and justification of His people. This was far more than a mere magic show. According to Scripture, it was a bold resistance to the truth. How so? Simply by attempting to imitate the glory and power that belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Opposition to the Truth takes many forms. Often, we think of Cain versus Abel, where it ended in murder. Certainly, throughout church history, opposition has led to persecution and death. But more often, the greatest form of opposition is found in how men attempt to pervert or imitate the truth, rather than bow to it. They come close to it. They use scriptural terms and may speak of grace, Christ, and salvation, but they give those words completely different meanings, springing from a completely different doctrines. All worship falls into one of two categories: it is either of grace—wholly conditioned on Christ alone—or it is of works in some form or fashion. It doesn’t have to be blatant rebellion. All error is in opposition to the Truth, though it may not appear hostile. Many of us have experienced being isolated from family, friends or acquaintances, not because of any personal animosity, but because of a difference over the Truth. Even though we may attend separate places of worship, it’s not due to bitterness. It’s over the Truth God has revealed in our hearts. And because of that, a line has been drawn—a line we cannot ignore—and it has led us to separate ourselves from them. Many do not understand the reason for this division. They are like the magicians confronting Moses, trying to prove there was no real difference between their religion and the God of Moses. Many will say, “Why can’t we just get along?” That’s exactly where Pharaoh’s arguments went. First, he told them to go and sacrifice, but to stay in the land. Then, he said, “Go, but don’t go far” (Exodus 8:28). Then, “Go, but leave your children and your flocks” (Exodus 10:24).   There was always some compromise to keep them tied to Egypt. That’s what the religious world always tries to keep you close, to keep you from being fully separated unto Christ. In the end, we can’t  just get along. The idea of cooperation and unity sounds appealing, but not when it means compromising the Truth. God sent Moses to bring Israel out of bondage—to separate them—and they could not remain. Nor can those who are taught by the Lord in Truth. As the Lord declares: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Exodus 3:2-4 "And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I." This is a key moment in Bible history of Redemption, when Moses encounters God through the miraculous sight of “the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”  This passage marks the beginning of God's direct call to Moses, setting the stage for the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Moses was a type of Christ the Mediator sent by God the Father to save His spiritual people yet in bondage of their sin and condemnation under the law. As Moses tended to his flock in the wilderness near Mount Horeb, he witnessed a bush that burned but was not consumed. Intrigued, he approaches, and God calls out to him by name from within the flames. This encounter signifies both the revelation of God to Moses and God's commissioning of him as the leader who would bring His chosen people out of Egypt to freedom. What lessons do we learn, then, from Moses’s encounter with God in the burning bush? “The Angel of the LORD appeared unto him...”  Was this a created angel, or was this the Messenger of the Covenant, the LORD Jesus Christ Himself appearing to Moses in a pre-incarnate appearance? Doubtless, this was the LORD Jesus Himself, as He would often appear in mercy to His people or His prophets even before He came in the flesh. This was an extraordinary revelation of God through the mediation of His Eternal Son. Notice that it says, “the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him,”   and then, “the LORD saw that he turned aside to see.”  The Angel (Messenger) of the LORD is the same LORD who saw Moses turn aside. The word " angel " means " messenger,"  and Christ is the Angel (Messenger) of God the Father for the salvation of His chosen ones (Judges 6:22, Zechariah 3:1-10). “A flame of fire out of a burning bush...”  The flaming fire represents the holiness and justice of God, Who is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). When Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was promised to Abraham, he saw a burning lamp, which signified the light of joy that the deliverance would bring (Genesis 15:7) . But now, it shines even brighter as a flame of fire, for in that deliverance, God brought terror and destruction to His enemies, light and warmth to His people, and displayed His glory before all (Isaiah 10:17). “The bush burned with fire but was not consumed.”  This fire was not in a tall and stately cedar, but in a bush—a thorny bush, as the word means. Here, we see a beautiful picture of the work of God in pouring out His wrath on His Son in the flesh. The LORD Jesus would bear the wrath and justice of God for His people, but He would not be consumed. As the God-Man,  He did not appear as a tall, stately tree to be admired. Rather, He was like this insignificant thorny bush in the middle of the desert, something that Moses and others would easily pass by unnoticed—until the LORD revealed Himself from the midst of the bush as the living God and a consuming fire. The bush represents the human nature of the LORD Jesus. The prophet Isaiah compared Him to “a tender plant and a root out of dry ground,”  in which, to the eye of the world, there was “no form, comeliness, or beauty”  (Isaiah 53:2). The flame of fire typifies His divine nature, which is evident when we consider how often fire, in Scripture, is an emblem of God. “Our God is a consuming fire”  (Hebrews 12:29, Deuteronomy 4:24). The union of the flame of fire with the bush denotes the union of the Godhead with human flesh in Christ. Moses was caused by the Spirit of God to see the God-Man  in the burning bush when, in his dying benediction, he declared “the God who dwelt in the bush” (Deuteronomy 33:16). Does this not show that the flame of fire in the bush, which continued to burn for a short time, was a type of the fullness of the Godhead dwelling forever in the Man Christ Jesus (Colossians 2:9) ? As the bush was in the fire, and the fire was in the bush—yet they remained distinct things, though joined in one—so it is with the Man Christ Jesus: He is in God, and God is in Him, though both natures, so mysteriously united, retain their distinct persons. Moses said, “I will turn aside and see this great sight.”  When God first reveals Himself to one of His chosen ones, there is a curiosity about who He is. Being drawn by His Spirit, we come to see that He is an inapproachable God because of His holiness. This is the central attribute of God. It is not His love that is foremost, but His holiness (Isaiah 6:1-4), and none can approach Him without a proper Mediator (1 Timothy 6:16). Moses could not draw near apart from God in Christ (the Angel) drawing him. Yet even then, he was not to approach rashly. It was God, in the Person of the Angel (Messenger), who called Moses to draw near—but with caution, because he was on holy ground (Exodus 3:5) . He had to draw near, yet with care, lest he come too close without reverence. God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer: “Here am I” (Exodus 3:4) . This is very similar to God's call to Isaiah through the revelation of His holiness, which caused him to cry out, “Woe is me, I am undone”  (Isaiah 6:5). Just as God sovereignly called Isaiah to declare His glory to the people, so too did He call Moses, and each responded, “Here am I.”  Before God ever commissions a servant to preach Christ to others, He must first reveal Himself in them (Galatians 1:15) . Anyone who has not had an encounter with God, a revelation of His holiness, and an utter emptying of self before Him—being cast entirely upon Christ the Mediator—has never been sent by God and is not His servant. “The LORD saw that he turned aside to see.”   The LORD God saw that Moses took notice of the burning bush and turned aside to see it—yet it was the LORD Himself who drew him aside. So it is for all whom the LORD has chosen. He directs their steps to Himself and then reveals Himself in them with all His glory, in the face of Jesus Christ. There is no other way for any sinner to draw near. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." What was it that was sinful about Adam and Eve eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? It became their god, their idol. It was not even when they ate of the fruit that they fell: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food," (Genesis 3:6) Eve thought it good, even though God had said it was not good, and Adam must have agreed that it was good because he didn't stop her and ate of it himself. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5) They wanted to be gods. You hear people saying, "Well, I think that God ought to leave the choice up to man." But look what happened when He did! The example of free will was when Adam and Eve, in that upright state, chose to go against God's Word, and I will tell you that the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil' today represents all of false religion, which is idolatry. People can change from one congregation to another, one denomination to another, but that is only jumping from one branch of that idolatrous tree to another. Men still run around in circles trying to figure out what is good and what is evil. Every congregation by their bylaws or by what is preached are telling people what is good and evil. But I will tell you this: if it is not the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus alone then it is evil! It does not matter what men say. What God says, His Word, is Good and believing anything else is evil. But you have people out there, right now that are looking at their own morality, looking at their own faith, looking at their own personal obedience, looking at their own progressive sanctification. The bottom line is that they are looking everywhere but Christ and His finished work. Someone had their Bible out this past week and said, "Well, I'm working on defeating temptation this week." Evil is looking to methods and ways of trying to figure out how to be righteous which makes God's Word a lie. That is how they read the Bible. "It's all about me!" If you say, "Well what about Christ?" They will say, "Yes, him too." But that is the idolatry. They do not believe God. The 'christ' they see is a failure. They do not believe Christ has finished the work. They think they must finish the work. They think they can finish the work and in blindness become their own idol. "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the Image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4) There is only One Image of the Invisible God that He has ever purposed and that is His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ: "the Image of the Invisible God," (Colossians 1:15) Only God can give eyes to see Christ and His finished work! ALL Glory to God in Christ alone! "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him." (Matthew 20:34)

Genesis 16: 7-13 "And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?" In the quiet wilderness, by a fountain on the way to Shur, a lonely, desperate woman was met by the Angel of the LORD. Hagar, the Egyptian servant, had fled from affliction and reproach, carrying with her only sorrow and fear. Yet there, in her lowest estate, the LORD sought her out. The passage before us is among the first in Scripture where the Angel of the LORD appears, and it records one of the most tender revelations of God’s heart. To the outcast, He shows Himself as the God Who sees. Genesis 16:7–13 directs us to consider both the condescension of God's grace and the nearness of God in the midst of affliction. It is not Hagar who finds Him, but He who finds Hagar. The fountain becomes a meeting place between misery and mercy, between human weakness and divine compassion. And the name that Hagar gives— El Roi , “Thou God seest me”—is a testimony for every believer who has felt forgotten, forsaken, or cast aside. Hagar fled into the wilderness, having been despised, mistreated, and cast off. Sarai’s cruelty collided with Hagar’s pride, and with nowhere to go she simply ran. Yet in running from her mistress, she could not run from the LORD. “The angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness”   (Genesis 16:7). This angel was no mere messenger. The Angel of the LORD is none other than the LORD Himself — a pre-incarnate appearance of the LORD Jesus Christ. We see Him later in Genesis 22 with Abram, in Exodus 3 with Moses, in Judges with Gideon, and even with Samson’s parents. Over and over, the Angel of the LORD  comes to meet His people. And here, He comes to Hagar — alone, weak, hopeless. This gracious manifestation of Christ Himself reveals Him as the One Who comes to the weary and heavy-laden, and speaks life to the soul. Here is a well of comfort in the desert of our need as outcast sinners, where we may drink deeply Christ the Water of Life and that our God both sees and knows us, and in Christ, remembers us with mercy. Isn’t that just how the LORD Jesus Christ comes to us? Not when we are strong, but when we are weak. Not when we have something to offer, but when we are at our lowest. As the LORD Jesus said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”  (Mark 2:17). The LORD asked her, “Whence comest thou? and whither wilt thou go?”   (Genesis 16:8) . He knew the answer already, but He drew it out of her, just as He drew confession from the woman at the well in John 4 . Hagar admits, “I flee from the face of my mistress.”   How often our own hearts do the same — fleeing instead of submitting, resisting instead of trusting. But the LORD’s Word to her is both hard and merciful: “Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands” (Genesis 16:9). Repentance means turning back. Her mind was going one way — away — but the LORD called her to turn around. That is grace, not punishment. To return, to submit, to quit taking matters into her own hands. And with the command came a promise: “I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude”  (v. 10). “Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction”  (v. 11). Ishmael — “God will hear.” Before this child was even born, God named him, showing His sovereignty. Just as He named Isaac before his birth, and just as He named His own Son Jesus — “for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Yet even in the promise, God foretold Ishmael’s nature: “He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him”  (v. 12). Nations would war, conflicts would last for centuries. And still, the LORD was directing every step. Nothing was out of place. And here is the wonder: Hagar, an Egyptian servant woman, far from home, despised and despairing, is the first in Scripture to give God a name. She called Him El Roi  — “Thou God seest me”   (v. 13) . She testifies, “Have I also here looked after Him that seeth me?”   She thought she was forgotten, but the LORD had His eye on her all along. The God Who sees. The God Who knows the end from the beginning. The God Whose foreknowledge is not passive sight but sovereign decree. Our steps and our stops are ordered of the Lord . Even in her flight, He purposed mercy. And so, we see how this passage draws us to Christ. He is the Angel of the LORD Who meets sinners in the wilderness. He is the God Who sees us in our weakness. He is the sovereign One Who directs every step — even the missteps — for His purpose. And He is the merciful Savior Who names us His own before we are born, Who calls us not to flee but to return, not to despair but to trust. Let us rest in Him today. For the LORD Who saw Hagar sees you. And the God Who met her by the spring meets us in Christ Jesus, with mercy, with direction, and with unfailing sovereignty.

Genesis 15:12-17   "And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces." In this portion of God's sacred, inspired Word, we are brought into a solemn and awe-inspiring scene where the LORD confirms His covenant with Abram—not by mutual agreement, but by sovereign declaration. As Abram falls into a deep sleep, God alone walks between the divided pieces, signifying that the fulfillment of His promise rests solely upon Himself. This passage is a glorious picture of the everlasting covenant of grace in Christ Jesus. The darkness and horror that fell upon Abram points us to the suffering and judgment Christ would endure on behalf of His elect. And the smoking furnace and burning lamp declare the presence of God, passing through the judgment in the place of His people. Here, we behold a shadow of the cross, where the LORD Jesus bore the curse, securing the salvation of those chosen in Him. This is not a covenant of works, but of grace—unconditional, unbreakable, and fulfilled by Christ alone. These Scriptures come from a passage where God has revealed to Abraham in a dream, a view of the covenant of redemption in type and picture. It says that a horror of great darkness fell upon Abram. In this dream there were five animals sacrificed including three livestock and two birds. A total number of eight pieces were laid out during this horror of great darkness. A burning lamp and a smoking furnace passed between the pieces which signified the ratification of the covenant, "And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof” (Jeremiah 34:18-19). The parties to the covenant passed between the parts. In Abraham's dream, the horror of great darkness symbolizes the suffering of Christ on the cross to pay for the sins of God’s elect ones and thereby justify them once and forever, ( Matthew 27:45-49). The smoking furnace symbolizes the judgment of God the Father and the burning lamp symbolizes His holy wrath poured out upon the sacrifices; types of Christ the Lamb of God. The animals sacrificed were a symbol of the redeeming work of Christ. Eight is associated with ‘new beginnings’ in the Scriptures. Through the blood of the LORD Jesus shed unto death, a new beginning was made since the cross for every elect child of God, (Romans 5:9-11). The law was satisfied and they were therefore justified when He died. Joel 2:31 reads, "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come." This is quoted in Acts 2:20 as fulfilled in what Christ endured on the cross. The sun represents ‘the Son of Righteousness’ Who is Christ. This would agree with 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The sun being turned into darkness would be equivalent to Christ enduring the judgment of the Father FOR His people on the cross. The moon being turned to blood represents Christ's sacrificial death in the place of His covenant people. Christ having made satisfaction by His obedience unto death, the hour of darkness is now passed for Him and His people. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). So complete was His work accomplished, that there remained no more sin to judge and nothing but righteousness (just satisfaction) to impute to the account of each of the elect there at the cross! " It is finished", (John 19:30). Christ our LORD God be praised!

Genesis 28:12-15 "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Jacob, fleeing from Esau, lies down in the wilderness with a stone for his pillow. As he journeys toward Haran, God intercepts him with a dream (v. 12). Though Jacob fled under fear, not faith, God graciously reveals Himself, not because Jacob sought Him, but because God had purposed it. In his sleep, he receives a vision from God—a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and the LORD Himself standing above it. The ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending is a glorious type of Christ, the only Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). God speaks, “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac” (v. 13) —not because Jacob had proven himself, but because of God’s covenant mercy. This vision finds its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Christ. In John 1:51, our LORD declares, “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”  Christ is the true and living Ladder—the Mediator between God and elect sinners that He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3,4). The earthly ladder Jacob saw was but a type and shadow, pointing forward to the real and abiding entrance to heaven found only in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ. Here, amid isolation and uncertainty, God confirms His covenant of sovereign grace, which was given to Abraham and Isaac, and is now bestowed upon Jacob. The LORD affirms that Jacob is heir to the promise, not by works, but by grace (Romans 4:16). He assures him of His Presence: “I am with thee, and will keep thee...for I will not leave thee” (v. 15). This unconditional language reflects the eternal security of all who are in Christ—kept by the Power of God through faith (1 Peter 1:5) . It is not Jacob’s strength or faithfulness, but God that assures the promise. This covenant promise is not merely of earthly land or national increase but the promise of a Seed—Christ Himself—through Whom “ all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Galatians 3:16).   This is the Gospel of God's sovereign grace: that in Christ, not just one nation but elect sinners out of every nation are gathered, justified, and made heirs of eternal glory by that righteousness imputed that the LORD Jesus earned and established in coming in the flesh, and laying down His life on the cross (Revelation 5:9). The LORD’s assurance to Jacob— “I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of” —echoes the steadfast faithfulness of God to perform all that He has purposed in Christ (Isaiah 14:27). The work of redemption was never dependent on the worthiness of the sinner, but entirely upon the grace, promise, and power of God in, by, and through the LORD Jesus Christ. The vision of the ladder declares that Salvation is from heaven, not from earth, and that Christ alone bridges that infinite gap. We who trust in the Christ of Scripture, by God's grace, have this same assurance. God's covenant of grace has been fulfilled. Christ has come. The blessing to all nations is not future—it is present in the preaching of the gospel and the salvation of His elect. The LORD has not left His people. He has finished the work in Christ and will bring us, through Him, safely into glory. In Christ, heaven is opened. In Christ, God is with us, and in Him all the promises of God are Yea and Amen. Though we are like Jacob—wandering, weak, and unworthy—God's grace in Christ remains sure and steadfast. He will not leave us until He has done all that He has spoken. Blessed be God, Who has joined heaven and earth in His Son and given us this vision of sovereign, saving grace in Christ Jesus our LORD.

Genesis 22:8 "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis 22 is one of the most significant and profound chapters in all of Scripture, in terms of its narrative, power, and place in redemptive history. It records God's command to Abraham to offer up his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. This account reveals the heart of the Gospel long before its full manifestation in Jesus Christ. It proclaims God's sovereign will, His gracious provision, and His redemptive purpose—even through trial and suffering. God commands Abraham to take Isaac, His only son, the son of promise, and offer him as a burnt offering. Isaac is not merely any child; he is Abraham’s "only son" ( Genesis 22:2) , the one whom he loves, and the one through whom the covenant promises were to be fulfilled (Genesis 21:12). The command is staggering. Yet, we must understand that God is never arbitrary in His dealings. In His sovereignty, He ordains even the most painful trials for His glory and the good of His people. Despite the severity of the command, Abraham rises early, prepares for the journey, and begins the long trek to the land of Moriah. The narrative records that he took “two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son” (Genesis 22:3), showing Abraham’s prompt and unwavering obedience to the word of the Lord. This reminds us that God never tests without purpose, and never without first preparing His servant. Abraham had walked with God for many years and had witnessed His faithfulness time and again. His trust in God's promise and character had been shaped through trial and God's particular revelation of Himself to Abraham. The journey to Moriah took three days—a detail that foreshadows the time between the death and resurrection of Christ. In Scripture, the number three often speaks of divine completeness and fulfillment. Moriah was also the mount on which Solomon would later build the temple (2 Chronicles 3:1) , the mount where the LORD Jesus would lay down His life on the cross, outside the camp (Hebrews 13:13). Abraham’s statement to his young servants is remarkable: “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5). Abraham fully believed that Isaac would return with him. Though commanded to offer his son, the LORD kept Abraham believing the promise that through Isaac his Seed would be called (Genesis 21:12). The inspired Word tells us: “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” (Hebrews 11:19 ) As they ascend the mountain, Isaac notices something missing. He says, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). This question is central to the narrative and deeply important in what is vital to God the Father . It echoes through redemptive history and finds its ultimate answer in the words of John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Abraham’s response is both immediate and prophetic: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). Abraham not only declares the sufficiency of God’s provision, but the sureness of Him providing for Himself what is satisfactory to His law and justice. This is not a vague hope, but a confident trust in Jehovah-Jireh , "the Lord who sees and provides." God's provision is not dependent upon our understanding or effort—it is rooted in His sovereign grace. In verses 9 and 10, we witness Abraham’s obedience come to full expression. He builds the altar, lays the wood in order, binds Isaac, and places him on the altar. This was a moment of unspeakable agony, yet Abraham proceeds in faith, trusting in God's promise and purpose. He believes that even if Isaac must die, God would raise him again (Hebrews 11:19). Isaac’s role here must not be overlooked either. He is not a helpless child. He is old enough to carry the wood and question the absence of a lamb. His submission points us to Christ, Who “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Isaac is a type of Christ—the willing Son, obedient unto death—though ultimately spared. Christ, the true Son, was not spared but delivered up for us all (Romans 8:32). At the critical moment, the Angel of the LORD calls out: “Lay not thine hand upon the lad” (Genesis 22:12). Abraham’s God-given faith is affirmed, and God provides a ram caught in a thicket—a substitute in Isaac’s place. This substitution is not incidental; it is central. It points to the heart of the Gospel: the Lord Jesus Christ taking the place of guilty sinners, bearing their judgment, satisfying divine justice, and reconciling them to God (Colossians 1:22). Abraham calls the name of the place Jehovah-jireh , meaning “The LORD will provide” (Genesis 22:14). The Lord’s provision was not only for Abraham, but for all His elect people throughout redemptive history. The Lamb was foreordained before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19–20), and in the fullness of the time, He came to give His life as a Ransom for many (Galatians 4:4-6). Finally, God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 22:15–18) . As Abraham believed God and acted in faith, the Lord confirms His promise: that Abraham’s seed would be multiplied, and that through his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), through Whom salvation has come to the ends of the earth. Genesis 22 is a glorious picture of sovereign grace. It teaches us that God is sovereign in His tests, faithful in His promises, and gracious in His provision. It foreshadows the cross of Christ, where the Father gave His only begotten Son as the sacrifice for sinners. In Christ, we behold the true fulfillment of Abraham’s words: “God will provide himself a lamb.”  Let us, like Abraham, trust in God's provision, knowing that He Who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will also freely give us all things (Romans 8:32).