348.Christmas in Toronto.

 

347.Do Not Be Afraid!

 

" Do not be afraid, Abram,

I am your shield,

Your very great reward."

Genesis 15:1

Why would Abram be afraid? Perhaps he feared revenge from the kings he had just defeated. Genesis 14:15

He has faced a powerful foe, who had taken his relative Lot as captive.Abram and his trained men went in pursuit of the enemies, attacked them and recovered all the goods and brought back Lot and his possessions.It was in this situation the Lord came to Abram in a vision and gave this promise.

He promised to defend Abram." I am your shield"

He promised to be Abram's "very great reward."

When you fear, what lies ahead, remember that God will stay with you through difficult times and that he has promised you great blessings.

346. Prophesies About the Birth of JESUS.

 Prophesies about Jesus' birth.

 Isaih 7:14

The virgin birth.

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us)".

Isaih 9:6

His title as "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God".

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". 

Micah 5:2

His birthplace in Bethlehem.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small... out of you will come for me one who will rule over Israel".

Isaiah 11:1, Mentions the Messiah coming from the "stump of Jesse," Jesus' father.

 "a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit".

His lineage from  Jesse.

Jeremiah 23:5-6,

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

    “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,

a King who will reign wisely

    and do what is just and right in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved

    and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

 a "righteous Branch" from David."

His lineage from David. 

Psalm 72:10-11

 The visit of wise men with gifts.

 "May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts... May all kings bow down to him," fulfilled by the Magi.

 "Out of Egypt I called my son," fulfilled when Jesus' family fled to Egypt."

Hosea 11:1

This verse is a metaphor for God's relationship with Israel, describing His love and guidance for them from their exodus out of Egypt. The verse is also interpreted in the New Testament, particularly in Matthew, as a prophecy fulfilled by Jesus' return from Egypt after his birth. 

Jeremiah 31:15

Foretells the weeping in Ramah, fulfilled by Herod's slaughter of infants in Bethlehem. "

"Thus says the LORD: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted, because they are no more'". 

These prophecies, recorded centuries before Jesus, are seen by Christians as direct foreshadowings of His miraculous birth and life, as detailed in the Gospels.