The 42nd day – Plans to give you hope and a future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  — Jeremiah 29:11

The prophet Jeremiah, known as the ‘Major Prophets’, was active in Jerusalem during the tragic period of the city’s destruction by the Babylonians. Despite the fact that Jeremiah is referred to as “the weeping prophet”, his prophecy in today’s verse 29:11 is FULL OF HOPE.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a part of the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

“God knows the plans he has for his people and they are for a hope and a future. Whenever believers face hardship, there is always something for them to hope for.” — Mark Stibbe

We’re all encouraged by a leader who stirs us to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task he has given and who will be with us all the way. God is that kind of leader. He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope. As long as God, who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope. This does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion.

God bless you!

The 36th day – A message of hope

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. — Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

Isaiah Writes of Christ’s Birth

The nation of Israel has once again fallen deep into sin, they rebelled against God and chosen a wicked way of living. There arose a prophet of God named Isaiah, who came to proclaim God’s coming judgments on Israel and upon the whole earth. He told them that God would not allow their sins to be unpunished:

 ¹⁶Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; ¹⁷Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. ¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  — Isaiah 1:16-18

Isaiah was a one of the greatest prophets (a messenger of God) in the old testament, His prophecy is one of warnings as well as hope. In today’s verse, Isaiah prophesied the birth of Jesus 600 years before Christ. This message is regarded as such a wonderful HOPE.

Here Isaiah prophesies to the house of David saying that a virgin will conceive and have a son whose name will be ‘Immanuel’, which means ‘God with us’. The word ‘virgin’ is Almah in Hebrew, meaning ‘ a young unmarried woman’ Since in the culture of the time such a woman would certainly be a virgin, the KJV and NIV are right to translate it ‘ virgin’. Many centuries later this prophey will be applied to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus:

²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). — Matthew 1:23

May God give you hope and bless you!

The 33rd day – Elijah

And he said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away — 1 Kings 19:14 (KJV) 

Today, in this verse, ‘He’ is referred to ‘Elijah’. Elijah is a prophet raised up by God in the old testament time. Elijah’s name means “My God is Yahweh”.  He is one of the most intense and enigmatic people of The Bible. His story makes for a fascinating study. Let’s have a look at this video to find out more about him and the history after the division of israel.

Here is a little about the story background:

Ahab was a sinful king who had married Jezebel, a priestess of the pagan god Baal. Ahab allowed his wife to create a large entourage if pagan priests and prophets devoted to Baal – a god associated with sexual immorality. It is into this dire situation that Elijah is called to pronounce the Father’s warnings and judgments.

Today’s verse comes shortly after Elijah’s successful challenge to the 450 prophets of Baal on the Mount of Carmel (Story shown in the video above). Elijah is on the run from the wicked queen Jezebel and hiding in a cave for the night. There he tells the Lord How he has been standing along against the tide of darkness in the nation because he is jealous for the Lord’s name. 

It is upsetting to see Israel, a God blessed nation, has gone downcast as bad as this since the time of King Solomon’s heart has turned away from God. However, it is nothing worse than to see God’s people have established gods of their own. God, the father must be devastated.

Elijah stood up for God, and successfully challenged 450 prophets of Baal, he declared the words of God, also He raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky – He has testified the power of our one true God. In here, Elijah called to God, and the father heard him. As we known, he was so highly honoured by God that he was ascended into heaven with God.

So, Why should we be afraid to stand up for our God?