Concluding the Basics

When I first started The Basics Course discussing the Old Testament, I didn’t realize how instrumental it would be in my own life and those who would go on this journey with me. For those who are new, this was a journey going over each book of the Old Testament briefly. Allowing the audience to see what the book was about without going too deep. As I illustrated when I first started, imagine being on the highway and the exit signs giving what is at each exit such as gas, food, lodging and other unique aspects. This series we stayed on the highway not taking any of the exits. We set out to give the basics of who you needed to know about each book. My passion is to always go deeper into God’s Word, study His character, and learn more about Jesus Christ. However, at times I understand the importance of seeing things from the 1,000 foot view as we have been with this series. I hope you have enjoyed the Old Testament Basics Course. If there is one thing you should remember about this study, it is just how much God’s Word is true and how seriously we should be with it. From Genesis to Malachi, God is reveals His love and passion for humankind in ways humanity cannot fathom. But let me leave you with a few verses that have touched my heart as we have read through this series.  

God does not change, so we can count on His promises to be kept, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O son of Jacob.” Malachi 3:6.

God cares to know your suffering, thoughts, and desires “trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:6.

God does the work in our life, when He calls you and I to something it is He who wins the day for us, “For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them” Psalm 44:3.

God cares for Abraham and the promises that will come to pass, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:3. 

The Promise of a Savior and a King, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his” Genesis 49:10.

Jesus’s reign will be forever, “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” 2 Samuel 7:12–13.

There is a war between good and evil, and yet we know God has won. We who are saved through Jesus Christ are secure in knowing the war is already won because of what Jesus did on the cross.  “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15.

Gentiles like myself have a promise we can hold to knowing that we can too be blessed by Jesus Christ. “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious” Isaiah 11:10.

And finally one of my favorite verses of the Old Testament, here I am reminded how no matter how bad it is, God is that much better. We have hope in Jesus Christ and His coming work. He cares for you and I enough to save us from ourselves and make for us a better place. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” Daniel 7:13–14. 

(Just to be clear, this in no way is a complete list of my favorite verses of the Old Testament.)

So as we come to this ending of the series, I want to take a brief moment and say thank you to you the reader. If anything in this series has stood out to you, I would love to hear about it. Remember the Old Testament has one purpose; and that is to point mankind and the individual to what they both need, which is Jesus Christ. You see many people think the New Testament is about Jesus, but in fact the Old Testament is equally pointing to the amazing news of who the man was, but also who He is as God. Jesus Christ being fully Man and fully God from before time, being part of the Trinity, came down and saved you and I. The Old Testament is only one part of the larger story being written. I hope your story is also written into Jesus’s, I pray that your story would have a chapter in it where you came to see just how important Jesus is and how He came to live in your life as your Lord and Savior. All you need to do is ask the Lord and He will reveal Himself to you. So as you read through the Old Testament, remember that Jesus can be found leaping off the page.

I can’t wait to see what series we do next with each other. Until then, I will see you next week.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL