Lately, in my Bible study, I have learned a lot about God. I’m reading this awesome book called Jesus Is by Judah Smith. He focuses most of the book on the stories or parables that Jesus told. Since I grew up in church my whole life I’ve heard all of these stories. But the way he writes about them and the questions that go along with each lesson have made me see these stories in a whole different way. I guess instead of seeing them as just stories I am really understanding how they are meant to show us how God loves us. All the different faces of God.
In church on Sunday our sermon was about how the Bible is truth. (I know some of you may not be believers, but please don’t run away from me now! I am just telling my story.) It was really incredible as the pastor told us about scientists and professors have questioned and found proof that the Bible is true. (listen to this sermon and more here) The pastor talked about External Evidence, historical or scientific evidence. Then he talked about the Internal Evidence. The prophecies from the Old Testament, hundreds of years before Jesus was even born. The pastor mentioned a Ph.D. professor in Math & Science who wanted to know what the odds were that a single human being could fulfill 48 prophecies that were all spoken about 300 years before his life. He took one of his classes and had them crunch the numbers. The conclusion was 1 in 10 to the 157th power.
That is thirteen trillions. Not 13 trillion. Thirteen trillions. Or…
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
That is more than all of the people that have EVER been on the Earth! In the history of the world! EVER!
*Note: I split the number up so it would fit on the page!*
One chance in that many, that one human could fulfill 48 prophesies. And Jesus did! That alone blows my mind. But then you add in the fact that Jesus did everything He did because He loves me! Wow.
How do you compare to that?
Near the end of the sermon, the pastor goes through the list of all the books of the Bible and lists the names and “faces” of God. It was powerful. There is even a song like that. It is one of my favorite songs, so I wanted you to hear it. This is a video I found with some choreography added to it.
I just got chills from watching this. My God is so involved in my life. Whether I realize it or not. Whether I want Him to be or not. Even when I don’t feel like He is there. He is.
Here is the list from the sermon. It is a little bit different, but still so true. From our teaching pastor Philip Nation.
Genesis – Creator & promised Redeemer
Exodus – the Passover Lamb
Leviticus – High Priest
Numbers – water in the desert
Deuteronomy – He becomes the curse for us
Joshua – Commander of the army of the Lord
Judges – delivers us from injustice
Ruth – our Kinsman-Redeemer
1 Samuel – all in one, He is the Prophet/Priest/King
2 Samuel – King of grace & love
1 Kings – a Ruler greater than Solomon
2 Kings – the powerful prophet
1 Chronicles – Son of David that is coming to rule
2 Chronicles – the King who reigns eternally
Ezra – Priest proclaiming freedom
Nehemiah – the One who restores what is broken down
Esther – Protector of his people
Job – Mediator between God and man
Psalms – our song in the morning and in the night
Proverbs – our wisdom
Ecclesiastes – our meaning for life
Song of Solomon – Author of faithful love
Isaiah – Suffering Servant
Jeremiah – the weeping Messiah
Lamentations – He assumes God’s wrath for us
Ezekiel – Son of Man
Daniel – the stranger in the fire with us
Hosea – faithful husband even when we run away
Joel – He is sending His Spirit to His people
Amos – delivers justice to the oppressed
Obadiah – Judge of those who do evil
Jonah – the greatest missionary
Micah – He casts our sin into the sea of forgetfulness
Nahum – proclaims future world peace we cannot even imagine
Habakkuk – crushes injustice
Zephaniah – the Warrior who saves
Haggai – restores our worship
Zechariah – prophesies a Messiah pierced for us
Malachi – sun of righteousness who brings healing
Matthew – the Messiah who is King
Mark – the Messiah who is a Servant
Luke – the Messiah who is a Deliverer
John – the Messiah who is a God in the flesh
Acts – the Spirit who dwells in His people
Romans – the righteousness of God
1 Corinthians – power and love of God
2 Corinthians – He is the down payment of what’s to come
Galatians – He is our very life
Ephesians – the unity of our church
Philippians – the joy of our life
Colossians – holds the supreme position in all things
1 Thessalonians – our comfort in the last days
2 Thessalonians – our returning King
1 Timothy – Savior of the worst sinners
2 Timothy – leader of the leaders
Titus – foundation of truth
Philemon – our Mediator
Hebrews – our High Priest
James – He matures our faith
1 Peter – our hope in times of suffering
2 Peter – the One who guards us from false teaching
1 John – source of all fellowship
2 John – God in the flesh
3 John – source of all truth
Jude – protects us from stumbling
Revelation – King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
The Alpha and the Omega,
The Beginning and the End, and
He is coming again and the One who makes all things new.