Promise Provider
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
It's somewhat strange, but when you pull back and take a panoramic view of the Old Testament, it's really a sad story. The true and living God singled out a group of people, the Israelites, and gave them a series of promises that could have resulted in them being blessed beyond their most imaginative expectations. All they had to do was trust and obey what He had told them.
Tragically, this is precisely what they didn't do. Instead, the children of Israel decided to doubt God, and before long they had indulged in every iniquity under the sun. Time and again the Lord punished His people, hoping they would confess and be cleansed from their sin. But in the end, they chose the way of disobedience, and God's promises of blessing remained unrealized.
If you take the same panoramic view of the New Testament, you'll see the same scenario, only in reverse. The people of the New Testament (not just Israel) were in a state of disobedience and disarray, like scattered sheep without a shepherd. But then Jesus entered the picture. Through His sacrificial work as the Good Shepherd, He made it possible for all who believe in Him to receive the promises that Israel never experienced.
Apart from Him, we would be weary wanderers in this world, on an endless search for something we could never find. No joy, no rest, no peace, no love, no hope, and no future. Praise God we have Jesus, who gave His life so we could receive the heavenly promises we don't deserve on our own.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us . . . . (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV)
Discuss how the Old and New Testaments differ in terms of the stories they tell.
Dig into 2 Corinthians 1:18–22. How will your personal story end? Why?
Decide to share the hope you have in Jesus Christ with someone in your life. Whether they already have trusted Jesus as Savior or not, encourage them with your testimony.
