This issue shows how current God’s Word still is.SINCE YOU ASKED
I received an email last week that amazed and encouraged me. It was from Don Finto of the Caleb Company. Here’s what he wrote:
 
Many of you know that there are portions of the Torah assigned for each week of the year. You may also be aware that the Torah reading each week is accompanied by a Haftorah reading from the prophets or writings of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Scriptures). On this past Tuesday when we were gathered for our Caleb gathering, one of our brothers had been reading in the Haftorah section for the week and was surprised to find, among Isaiah’s visionary statements, a word that precisely fit Gilad Shalit’s release on that very day.
 
“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:4
 
In a fulfillment of Isaiah’s words, Gilad is “precious and honored” in the sight of the Lord. One thousand twenty-seven men were given “in exchange for [him], and people in exchange for [his] life.” The nation of Israel was conceived in the heart of the LORD, the Giver of life. While Israel’s enemies honor death, death of their own homicide bombers and of innocent civilians and children who are killed, Israel continues to esteem life, even the life of a single soldier.

AS I SEE IT
As I read the email, my thoughts went to the account in Luke 4 that tell of what

Hill where Jesus was likely taken in Luke 4:29

 happened to Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth. As He stood up to read, the pre-determined reading for that day was handed to Him. It was from Isaiah 61:1-2:
 
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).
 
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. Then He said:
 
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
 
Those in attendance were confused on two counts. First, they knew Jesus and His family. How could He possibly make such a claim? Then there was the issue of what He left out-the last part of verse 2 which read:
 
And the day of vengeance of our God…(Isaiah 61:2b).
 
He left this out because He would fulfill this at His Second Coming. He would fulfill everything before it at His first coming. The point, however, is that this account is another example of how current everything in Scripture is, no matter how long ago it was written. These are examples of Scripture being “living and active,” applicable to us today down to the last detail.
 
This should give us great hope and confidence in God’s Word, especially since what was written in earlier times was written for our instruction (Romans 15:4). God wants us to pour over His word to find all the other gems He has for us. He doesn’t want us to live in the darkness. We are children of light. Let’s use the light we’ve been given. 

RELATED ARTICLES

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Consider subscribing to my Newsletter.