For today's bible study we will see how God kept Jesus' grandparents alive so Jesus could be born and die on the cross to free all saints from their sins. All of Jesus' grandparents are listed at Matthew 1:1-16: The devil from the beginning of time tried many times to kill Jesus' grandparents before they had children to prevent Jesus from being born. God would not allow any grandparent to be killed by the devil with no children because Jesus had to be born, die on the cross and free all saints from their sins. Take time to read below several close calls where the devil almost stopped Jesus from being born by killing Jesus' grandparents before they had children. But every time the devil failed to stop one of Jesus' grandparents from being born.
First, pictured above we see one of Jesus' grandmothers named Tamar who survived being burnt to death by Judah before having one of Jesus' grandfathers named Pharez. Study Genesis 38 to learn about Tamar and the following story. Judah had three sons named Er, Onan, and Shelah by the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shuah. Judah took Tamar to be the wife of Er. After Er died, Judah told Onan to go to Tamar and have children. After Onan refused and died, Judah promised Tamar that he would send the third son Shelah to her to have children.
But when Judah failed to send Shelah and jilted or rejected Tamar, Tamar dressed like a harlot and had Judah come to her to have children. Tamar said she would allow Judah into her home if Judah gave her a kid from the flock of his sheep. As a pledge that Judah promised to give Tamar a kid, Judah gave Tamar his signet ring, bracelets, and staff.
Now Judah did not realize that Tamar became pregnant with his children Pharez and Zarah. When Judah learned that Tamar was pregnant with children, he requested that the prostitute Tamar be burned to death. Pictured above we see that Tamar showed Judah his signet ring on a string, bracelets, and staff, proving that Judah was the father of her soon to be born sons named Pharez and Zarah. Therefore Judah did not burn Tamar to death before Pharez (Jesus' grandfather) was born so Jesus could be born years later.
The bible speaks about the above story at Genesis 38:24 and says And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet (ring), and bracelets, and staff. And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more (allowing Tamar to live and give birth to Pharez who was Jesus' grandfather).
Second, pictured above we see another grandparent of Jesus named Rahab the harlot who God kept alive along with her husband Salmon, after all the people of Jericho were killed by Joshua and his soldiers. God kept Rahab the harlot and her husband Salmon alive so that they could have a son named Boaz who would marry a Moabite woman named Ruth and become the grandparents of our Lord Jesus.
Take time to read Joshua 2 and Joshua 6 to learn about Rahab and the following story. Before Joshua went to destroy all the people of Jericho, he sent spies to view Jericho. Rahab the prostitute feared God and protected these spies by hiding them on her roof. Eventually, the spies left Rahab's home by climbing down a scarlet thread from her window pictured above. These spies told Rahab to leave the scarlet thread in her window so Joshua and his soldiers would know to not harm any person in Rahab's home when Jericho was conquered. When Joshua took over Jericho, every person of Jericho was killed except Rahab, Salmon, and everyone else in Rahab's home.
Now note that Rahab's home was attached to the wall of the city of Jericho. When Joshua and his soldiers circled the wall of Jericho seven times, the wall of the city did not crumble but fell straight down into the ground. Hebrews 11:30 says By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down (sunk into the ground below and did not crumble), after they were compassed about seven days. Every part of the wall of Jericho sunk into the ground except the portion of the wall that was attached to Rahab's house.
Note that in the 1950's, an archeologist named Kathleen Kenyon discovered the walls of Jericho that had sunk into the ground. What was so incredible is that Kathleen Kenyon also discovered Rahab's home attached to a wall above the ground that had not sunk into the ground. This is proof that God kept Rahab and Salmon alive so that Boaz could be born as Jesus' grandparent and Jesus could be born years later.
Note also that it was the faith of this blessed prostitute named Rahab that kept her husband Salmon alive because she feared God by hiding Joshua's spies. Also, note that everywhere in the bible where Rahab is mentioned, most of the time the bible calls Rahab a harlot, but she is just called Rachab (the grandmother of Jesus) at Matthew 1:5. Rahab is not called a harlot in the listing of Jesus' grandparents at Matthew 1:5 because when any person is mentioned with Jesus, the blood of Jesus removes all the sins of that person. Rahab is just called Rachab with Jesus and is no longer called a harlot. Revelation 1:5 says And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him (Jesus) that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
You might say Brother Bob why are there sinners and four crooked branches in the family tree of Jesus at Matthew 1 who are Tamar, a jilted Jew, Rahab, a pagan harlot, Bathsheba, a mistress Jew, and Ruth a widowed Moabite? The answer to this question can be found where Jesus said at Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thank you Lord Jesus for keeping only a pagan harlot named Rahab and her family alive at Jericho to have a son named Boaz who had a son named Obed who had a son named Jesse whose son was King David who were all the grandparents of our Lord Jesus.
Pictured above we see another example where God through Isaiah's prophecy allowed Hezekiah to recover from a sickness and live an extra 15 years so that Manasseh could be born and become a grandparent to our Lord Jesus. If Hezekiah did not live these extra 15 years, Manasseh would not have been born to become the grandparent of Jesus. This is because 2 Kings 21:1 says that Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign after Hezekiah's death. This proves that Manasseh was born during the 15 extra years that Hezekiah lived on this earth.
2 Kings 20:1 talks about the above picture and says In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he (Hezekiah) turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Because of Hezekiah's humility, Isaiah told Hezekiah at 2 Kings 20:6 that he would live an extra 15 years.
These extra 15 years allowed Manasseh to be born so Jesus could be born years later. Now the bible says at 2 Chronicles 33:6 that Manasseh caused his own children to pass through the fire (killing his own children) where he used enchantments, witchcraft, dealt with familiar spirits, and dealt with wizards while he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke Him to anger.
But later during Manasseh's life after the King of Assyria bound him with fetters and carried him to Babylon, Manasseh repented, and God forgave and blessed him. The other day a person asked Brother Bob if a child molester (which Brother Bob says is sin and will be punished without repentance) can be forgiven by Jesus. My answer was if Manessah was forgiven after burning his own children to death, any child molester will be forgiven if they repent and make Jesus Lord of their life, believing Jesus died for them on the cross, was buried, and rose again.
Friend reading this anywhere, if God can forgive Manasseh for his sins of witchcraft, killing his own children, and using enchantments, Jesus can forgive you right now if you repent and stop sinning. Anyone like Manasseh who repents and gets saved by confessing that Jesus is God and believing the gospel will become a new creature and be blessed on this earth where Jesus forgets their sins. 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
Take time to read below how Manasseh was forgiven of his sins and lived to be one of Jesus' blessed grandparents. 2 Chronicles 33:11 says Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captain of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And prayed unto Him: and he was intreated of Him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God.
One of Jesus' grandparents that survived was six year old Joash pictured above proclaimed by the priest Jehoiada to be king before the wicked queen Athaliah. 2 Kings 11 tells us that the daughter of the witch Jezebel named Athaliah became queen after she thought she killed all the male babies who could become king. But a woman named Jehosheba hid baby Joash for six years from Athaliah.
After six years, Jehosheba's husband named Jehoiada the priest proclaimed Joash to be king in front of Athaliah. Then Jehoiada had Athaliah killed in the horse gate. The old hag or nag named Athaliah was killed at the horse gate. Wow, it's a blessing that baby Joash survived to be pronounced a king at 6 years of age so he could become Jesus' grandfather and Jesus could be born years later.
Friend reading this anywhere, if God protected every grandparent related to our Lord Jesus, Jesus will protect every person that becomes a saved adopted child of God by confessing that Jesus is God and believing in their hearts the gospel that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again. I claim in Jesus name that when every saint reading this says John 15:11 they will receive joy and strength that remains, is full, and overflowing. Jesus said at John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
You see since the joy of the Lord is your strength according to Nehemiah 8:10, John 15:11 really says The joy and strength of Jesus will remain in you that your joy and strength will be full. Friends memorize John 15:11 and say it daily to receive strength to be blessed every day of your lives. Believe and say daily thank you Lord Jesus that your joy and strength remains in me that my joy and strength is full.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to contact Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
No comments:
Post a Comment