What happens when you eyewitness something dramatic? It kind of gets etched into your mind, perhaps even your soul, right? This is what the God Story is all about. It is one eyewitness after another, with descriptions of men and women encountering Yahweh. And it wasn’t just the main characters looking on. Sometimes hundreds and even thousands of people are present when God’s hand moves (Acts 2).
In addition to being a book of woven threads of truth, God’s Word is filled with woven stories of encounter. When we read the Bible it is so important to put ourselves in the sandals of those experiencing God’s hand upon them. Let’s note a few of these situations and see if we can draw any correlations to our own lives. These are words of life!
Jesus Was In The Ark/He IS our ark!
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.” (Matthew 24:37) “The patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3:20)
Jesus Was In The Burning Bush/He is God come near!
Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” – Exodus 3:5-6 God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am”; and He said, “This you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” – Exodus 3:14 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” – John 8:58
Jesus is in the Fire, the Cloud, and the Rock/His eyes are fire and He is coming with the clouds (Revelation 1:14) and sustains us with living water (John 4)!
“And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day, and with a pillar of fire by night to light for them the way in which they were to go.” – Nehemiah 9:12 “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
Jesus Was With Elijah/He did more works than both Elijah and Elisha for sure!
The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king.” – 2 Kings 1:15 “And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:29-31
Jesus Was With King David/He IS the giant killer and promise keeper!
Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future.” – 2 Samuel 7:18 “…and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” – Revelation 5:5
Fishermen in a Storm/He IS the Word made flesh!
The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” – Matthew 8:27 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” – And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” – Matthew 14:26,27,33
With Jesus On Our Mountain/He covers our sin!
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” – Hebrews 12:22-24
Jesus On the Road/He alone makes our hearts burn within us!
“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:31,32 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” – Luke 24:31,32
Jesus and The Day of Pentecost/He IS the wind!
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” – Acts 2:1-4
This is why Peter and John said what they did – they had seen it all first-hand!
“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” – 2 Peter 1:16
The King’s words are connectively important for us!
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life.” – 1 John 1:1
Our priorities are challenged, changed, and focused. Kingdom time in God’s Word, praying for others, and doing good and sharing fuels our vision and our actions. This helps us to place Jesus’ voice above our own, as well as the voices of others. “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – John 8:31, 32
And so it goes…we are blessed by His Kingdom Words!
Dave and Burnadette
One Woven Story
Learning the Books (Fourthstream Music Player/songs for kids)