God's Prophecy of a Blessing Old Testament prophecy was not exclusively about the rise and fall of cities and states. No, not at all. In fact, a good portion of the prophecies were devoted to unraveling a mystery. It all began at least as far back as 2091 B.C. God told Abram (later called Abraham): "Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you." (Genesis 12:3 CEV) Around 2050 B.C., the prediction becomes a bit more clear. God tells Abraham: "... your descendants will be a blessing to all nations on earth." (Genesis 22:18 CEV) But which of Abraham's sons? God answers: "It is through Isaac's line that your name will be perpetuated." (Genesis 21:12 REB) The promise is inherited by Isaac's son, Jacob (later called Israel). "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring." (Genesis 28:14) God himself delivered this rather vague blessing first to Abraham, then to his son Isaac, and to his son Jacob. But it is Jacob who passes it on to the next generation. On his deathbed in 1859 B.C., Jacob says: "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet until he comes to who it belongs and the obedience of nations is his." (Genesis 49:10) With that Jacob provides us with the first solid clues which might help us solve the mystery. The blessing is an individual. That individual will become the king of Judah, and his rule will extend beyond the limits of Judah into foreign nations. And from previous prophecies, we know that all nations and all people on earth will be blessed by this mysterious future king. Isaiah's Prophecy of the Messiah Isaiah, prophesying around 701 B.C., tells us that this promised king will come from the family of Jesse. (Isaiah 11:1) The prophet adds: "The spirit of the Lord will rest on him." (Isaiah 11:2) And Isaiah goes on to say the king will be endowed with "wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear of the Lord." (Isaiah 11:2) Jeremiah's Prophecy of the Messiah Between 626 and 585 B.C., Jeremiah narrows the future king's ancestry down to David's descendents. The weeping prophet says: "The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a righteous branch spring from David's line, a king who will rule wisely, maintaining justice and right in the land." (Jeremiah 23:5 REB) Summing it up, we can say the prophets predicted a future Jewish king who is wise, just, full of God's spirit, with understanding, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. He will rule Judah and foreign nations. All will be blessed by his reign. Furthermore, this future king will be able to trace his ancestry back to King David and his father Jesse, and on to the patriarchs: Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. But all of this is merely the tip of the prophetic iceberg. Hints, clues, and some straightforward predictions are sprinkled throughout the Old Testament. The mystery figure keeps turning up in the scriptures. Ironically, we know more about him before his birth than we know about most Biblical characters long after they lived and died. Prophecies of the life and death and resurrection of the Messiah This is what the scriptures tell us: He will be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) He will be born before Romans destroy the temple in A.D. 70. (Malachi 3:1) And his messenger will prepare the way before him. (Malachi 3:1) We are also given several reasons for why he is coming. To preach the good news to the poor. (Isaiah 61:1) To bring light to the gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6) To teach using parables (Psalm 78:2) And to suffer and die bearing our sins. (Isaiah 53:5-12) How will we identify the promised king? He will work miracles healing the blind, lame, deaf, and the mute. (Isaiah 35:5-6) He will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) He will be rejected by men. (Isaiah 53:3) And hated by the Jews. (Psalm 69:4) and (Isaiah 49:7) What happens to him? He will be betrayed by a friend for thirty pieces of silver which will be thrown into the house of the Lord to the potter. (Psalm 41:9) and (Zechariah 11:12-13) What should he expect after his betrayal? His disciples will desert him. (Zechariah 13:7) He will be mocked and abused. (Isaiah 50:6), (Psalm 22:7), and (Micah 5:1) False witnesses will accuse him. (Psalm 27:12) He will not answer his accusers. (Isaiah 53:7) He will be numbered with criminals. (Isaiah 53:12) His garments will be divided up and lots will be cast for his tunic. (Psalm 22:18) And what of his death? The kings and rulers take their stand against the Lord and His Anointed One. (Psalm 2:2) His hands and feet will be pierced. (Psalm 22:16) The crowd around him will insult and mock him. (Psalm 22:6-8) Darkness will occur at noon. (Amos 8:9) He will intercede for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12) He will be offered gall and vinegar for his thirst. (Psalm 69:21) He will cry out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1) He will commit his spirit to God. (Psalm 31:5) They will pierce him, but they won't break any of his bones. (Zechariah 12:10) and (Psalm 34:20) And they will bury him with the rich. (Isaiah 53:9) That sounds like the end of the story, but the prophecies continue. We discover that this mysterious ruler will not decay in his grave. (Psalm 16:10) He will be raised from the dead. (Psalm 30:3) and (Isaiah 53:11) His kingdom will extend over the whole earth, and it will last forever. (Daniel 2:35 and 44) What an extraordinary bunch of prophecies! What ever became of them? Question to Consider: Do you think these prophecies are specific enough to identify the Messiah? Quote of the Day: "Now I define Faith as the power of continuing to believe what we once honestly thought to be true until cogent reasons for honestly changing our minds are brought before us." Christian Reflections (1941) C. S. [Clive Staples] Lewis (1898-1963) Note: All Scripture References are taken from the New International Version unless otherwise stated. CEV - Contemporary English Version REB - Revised English Bible
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