Welcome to Day 2 of our One Prayer 28 day journey. Download your calendar HERE if you don’t have one.
Today’s prayer? God is…Compassionate. Joel 2:13 says that God is “merciful and COMPASSIONATE, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Pray that God would show Himself as compassionate to people today who need Him.
You can read my thoughts about Matthew chapter 1 HERE. How does God reveal Himself through Jesus in chapter 2?
Remember the song by Tesla in 1990 called signs? (Random fact: It was originally sang by “Five Man Electrical Band” in the 70′s) The lyrics said “Signs, signs everywhere there’s signs” When I read chapter 2, that song goes through my head. In Matthew 2 I think we see God is a REVEALER. He gives us ALL the signs that we need to point us to Christ.
Daniel 2:47 says “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and the revealer of mysteries”. He is just that. A revealer.
Here in chapter 2 ALL the signs were given to point the Jewish leaders to THE MESSIAH, but they missed it and some “wise men” found Him instead.
In Matthew 2:3-6 King Herod asks the Jewish leaders where Jesus was to be born and they said “In Bethlehem of Judea”. Sign #1 MISSED.
Matthew 2:11 says that the Magi give Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. A direct prophecy from Psalm 72:10 Sign #2 MISSED.
Matthew 2:18 after Herod ordered all boys 2 years old and younger in Bethlehem to be killed another prophecy is fulfilled. Sign #3 MISSED.
One chapter, 3 signs, ALL missed by those God was trying to reach. The Jewish people. Now you might say “Well, we have the gift of hindsight and Scripture.” I truly believe, God had given them EVERYTHING they needed to KNOW that this was the Messiah. Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs!
God is a REVEALER. He won’t let us go on in the dark. He is faithful to give us the signs we need to point us in the right direction. It is up to us to be diligent in seeking out the TRUTH in those signs. What signs is God giving you that you’re failing to see? What signs do you KNOW He is using to point you in the right direction and you refuse to take them?
Watching for signs,
Jeff
