A NEW AND GREATER THING
“The days will come, says the Lord, when they will no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives, Who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt’; but rather, ‘As the Lord lives, Who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north.’ ” —Jeremiah 23:7-8
The Exodus was looked upon by the people of Israel as the greatest miracle. God split the Red Sea, with a wall of water to the right and to the left, so the Israelites could safely cross through the sea on dry land and thus escape from the Egyptian army (Ex 14:21-31). God protected His people with wonder-working power.
Then the worst disaster occurred. God’s people abandoned Him, and He allowed their enemies to defeat them, destroy the Temple, and exile them to Babylon (2 Chr 36:17ff). Would God no longer protect His people? Decades later, in yet another unimaginable event, King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon, liberated the Israelites, and encouraged the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezr 1:1ff). Jeremiah had prophesied that God would bring His people out of exile, and it would be such a great miracle that future Israelites would speak of the return from exile rather than the Exodus (Jer 23:7-8).
Yet God was not finished working wonders for His people. The Father sent Jesus to liberate His people and make all things new (Is 43:19). No longer would we speak of the Exodus or the return from exile as God’s greatest miracle. God sent His only begotten Son to become flesh and dwell among us (Jn 1:14).
Is your life in ruins? Do you believe God will no longer act on your behalf? God is not finished working wonders for His people. Receive the Christ of Christmas, and believe God is at work.
Prayer: Father, I believe nothing is impossible with You (Lk 1:37).
Promise: Jesus “will save His people from their sins.” —Mt 1:21
Praise: “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, Who showed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush, Who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out Your mighty hand to set us free.”
