Jesus Christ in the Old Testament

 

Jesus Christ in the Old Testament

           God saw it all; He saw what we did not; He heard what we did not; and He did what no man would not.

Strong's Hebrew: 3442. יֵשׁ֫וּעַ (Yeshua) -- Yeshua, Joshua

Word Origin: Contracted form of יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yehoshua) Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous): Strong's Greek Number 2424, often used in the Septuagint as the Greek …[i] 

Strong's Greek: 2424. Ἰησοῦς (Iésous) -- Jesus - Bible Hub

Context: Ἰησοῦς is the Greek form of the name Joshua, which appears in the New Testament as the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of the New Testament, …[ii]

        The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies that points directly to Jesus as the Messiah. One of the earliest is the Protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel; Gen. 3:15.

        In this verse God declared that the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head, symbolizing Jesus’ ultimate victory over sin, death and Satan, even though He would suffer for humanity on the cross. This shows God’s deep love for humanity in the Garden of Eden itself.

      Starting from the book of Genesis, the seed of the woman; First sacrifice, Blessings of Abraham, Isaac’s substitute ‘the Ram in the Thicket’; Burning bush; Joseph as the foreshadow; from the Tribe of Judah the Messiah would come and all of it points to Jesus Christ.  

       Passover Lamb; Israel crossing of the Red sea; the cloud by day and pillar of fire; the Rock that gave water in the wilderness; manna that came from heaven; instructions for the Tabernacle, the furniture all the pieces and the prophecies are all about Jesus.

           Brazen Altar, Menorah; Ark of the Covenant; the way of the four faces of the living Creatures; Cherubim’s covering under the wings; Bull offering; Grain offering; Trespass offering;  and the Peace offering all of it points to Jesus Christ. I can keep on writing much more…..

          Exodus to Leviticus the blood that was shed ; the 613 laws points to fulfilling the perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God; the Lamb and the Lion; points to Jesus Christ.

          Joshua  bringing Israelites to Canaan; Ruth and Kinsman Redeemer; Hidden hand of God in the story of Esther; all of these  points to Jesus Christ.

         The Major and Minor prophets and their prophecies points to Jesus Christ as the One who comes out of Bethlehem. Torah, to the Major Prophets and the Minor Prophets; and in the Book of Job, Elihu’s speech all of it points to Jesus Christ (Job.32-37).

             Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth and this is fulfilled in Matthew 1: 23.  

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel,” Isa. 7:14.

Micah foretold His birth in Bethlehem:

“Out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” Mic. 5:2.

 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us; Matt: 1:23.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.  Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment; Job. 32: 8-9.

         Messianic Psalms are pointing to Christ; Book of Proverbs speak about the wisdom of Jesus; Book of Zachariah saying “He will Ride on donkey”; one sold for 30 pieces of silver; the grace that opens the windows of Heaven; all about Jesus Christ.

         If we look at the Books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation the Story is all about Jesus Christ. This Story is History (His- Story). It is a special privilege to become a part in His Story. His Redemption and Salvation story, and to become His heirs, as adopted children; can be our privileged story.  

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Rom. 8: 3. 

         The law of sin and death was strong and seemingly the absolute law for humanity in the Old Testament. God saw this, and through His Son Jesus, we have the law of the Spirit of life. This stands tall and strong and freed us from the law of sin and death.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper,  and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth; Jer. 23:5.

         The above verse speaks of a righteous Branch from David who will reign wisely, pointing to Jesus’ messianic kingship 

         Genuine, Invisible Church all around the globe do we see the hidden hand of God, Jesus Christ and His Spirit in us? Isaiah 9:6 describes Jesus Christ as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace, highlighting His divine and kingly nature. This is the Mighty King going to come and take His Bride, The Church soon. Are we ready?

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › hebrew

[ii]Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

Grief vs. Peace

Grief vs. Peace

{ On (April 12^th, 2026), I  lost my precious, godly mum aged 93  who loved me much, and  lived very far away from where I lived. I know she is in glory now, but I am grieving, the loss. It is not easy losing someone we love, even if we know eternity is there for all believers to join together and cherish. It is the right thing to grieve, but not without hope. I am writing this as it can be a comfort for many.}         

        Grief is one of the most universal expressions of emotions of humanity. All human experiences and this  crosses every culture, language, generations, and at different stages of life. We experience grief at the loss of a loved one, the end of a different relationships, at the loss of a cherished dream, or in profound life changes. Greif changes the capacity of a person to process  thinking, and it has the power to reshape the way one  thinks, feels, remembers, reminisce and experience the world around us.   

       We humans are built for connection with God and then to people around us. So, we have to understand that we are attached to people, because God has wired us in His image, Genesis 2-3; and Psalm 139. To understand grief, need to understand attachment as well. Human beings are social creatures and we are built for connection. From the moment we are born, our brains are wired to form close relationships. Relationships built are  not simply emotional preferences; but they are biological necessities in life itself.

      Grief is not a disease;  not a sign of weakness; and not something that can be “fixed.” But, grief does reflect the brain’s attempt to adapt to a reality that has suddenly changed.      

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living; Psa. 116: 3, 7-9.

Pains of death…pangs of Sheol:

“In Old Testament poetry death and Sheol are aggressive, clutching at the living to waste them with sickness or crush them with despondency; so the singer’s plight may equally have been a desperate illness or (as Psalm 116:3  suggests) a wounding and disillusioning experience. Like Job’s, it could well have been both together.” (Kidner)

      Grief is the natural emotional, psychological, physical, and social response to losing someone or something deeply meaningful. Examples: often associated with death,  follow divorce, miscarriage, infertility, the loss of a job, chronic illness, moving away from home, losing a beloved pet or something valuable, or even the loss of an imagined future.

          If human beings are only physical in nature, our total work focuses only on satisfying the physical needs. But our body has a soul and a spirit as well. The body hosts the soul and the spirit. We have to take care of the person as a whole: the spirit, the soul and the body. This is God’s good intention, for humanity ever since the Fall, and He gave us His word (Jesus Christ) and His Spirit for us to be renewed with strength.

“Understand, dear soul, that it is thy privilege to live inside the double doors of God’s loving care. He says to thee, ‘Peace, peace.’ If one assurance is not enough, He will follow it with a second and a third.” (Meyer)

       It is very fair to ask as children of God and as disciples of Christ, some heart searching questions, “what sustains our mind”? What do we think upon often? What are our real strong holds of the mind? What is our mind established upon? Where does our mind lean upon often? 

Grief is not just an emotional event; it is a profound neurological process. The brain rewires itself in grief, activating specific brain regions tied to pain, reward, and memory. The amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex all show heightened activity, leading to intense physical and emotional distress. Grief activates the same brain circuits as physical pain, producing measurable changes in brain structure and function that can persist for months or years. Understanding the neuroscience of grief helps in recognizing its biological impact and aids in moving through it.[i]      

 

         We are fearfully, marvellously and wonderfully made; (Ref. Psa. 139). One who has wired, and knitted us in our mother’s womb, also webbed and interwoven   marvellously the brain and the heart. The billions of neurotransmitters in our brain and the heart, definitely points to God’s word and His design of man, and Neuroscience affirms this. Heart and brain (mind) are interchangeably used throughout the Bible. Heart can think and so also our brain which we know.   

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee; Isa. 43: 2.

 

         This means that God will be with us, despite difficult circumstances. Trials are varied; sometimes we face waters, sometimes rivers, and sometimes even fire. Floods can overwhelm us, and fires can consume us.  Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were kept safe by God in the fire by the presence of God ( Ref. Dan. 3:19-25); we will be preserved by God, despite very difficult circumstances. Even if a child of God, walks on a luxurious padded carpet, He will be with us. We are called to have this life totally dependent on God our Creator.

 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste; Isa. 28:16.

 

“Walking is the pace at which you go when you are not in a hurry, when you are not concerned or alarmed. When you are not burdened or anxious, then you walk. ‘He that believeth shall not make haste’ (Isaiah 28:16).” (Redpath)

 

“You,” your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.[ii]

        Death separates all of us; and it is important to show our love, kindness, and goodness to one another when we are still breathing. Petty quarrels, and disagreements need not have to be a stumbling block for our growth and maturity in Christ. May God establish us in His word. The Law of the Lord is perfect! Forgiveness, even in difficult situation, show Christ’s fruitfulness in our character to others.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment; Heb. 9: 27.

 “A man dies once, and after that everything is fixed and settled, and he answers for his doings at the judgment. One life, one death – then everything is weighed, and the result declared: ‘after this the judgment.’ So Christ comes, and dies once; and after this, for him also the result of what he has done, namely, the salvation of those who look for him. He dies once, and then reaps the fixed result, according to the analogy of the human race, of which he became a member and representative.” (Spurgeon)

          I pray God will fill us with a deep hunger for us, so we grow in Him and are deeply satisfied. 

In Hebrew, the term perfect peace is actually shalom shalom. This shows how in Hebrew, repetition communicates intensity. It isn’t just shalom; it is shalom, perfect peace.[iii]

In Semitic languages when you want to emphasize a word you repeat it two times. For instance, if your mind stays on God, you will have calming peace, or maybe harmonious peace, or compensating peace, how about prosperous peace or maybe even healing peace.  All these adjectives are definitions of shalom.[iv] 

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee; Isa.26: 3.

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[i]neuroscience of grieve - Search

[ii] The Relationship of Neuroscience and the Soul • OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics

We will define life and human worth ultimately in virtue of the soul, thereby grounding biomedical ethics and “justice for all” objectively, irrespective of functional, ethnic, or other differences between various …

[iii] Isaiah 26 Commentary: Judah’s Kingdom of God Song

[iv]HEBREW WORD STUDY – PEACE PEACE – SHALOM SHALOM - Chaim Bentorah 

Trust and Renewal

 

Trust and Renewal 

 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint; Isa. 40: 31. 

There are a few words in Hebrew for wait.  In Isaiah 40:31 we learn that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.  This wait is qavah which is a twisting or binding.  It is the word used for making rope.  Ever take a close look at a rope.  The ancient method of making rope is still used today.  Hundreds of thin strands of fabric, each one alone could easily be broken, but when tightly bound together they form a rope that cannot be broken.  So in Isaiah 40:31 this waiting is just not sitting back, patiently twiddling your thumbs, but it is a process of binding yourself to God and the more you bind yourself to God, the stronger you become.[i] 

       We often think about eagles, reflect on their majestic flight. How they protect their eaglets, their incredible strength, and their long life. Throughout the Bible, eagles serve as a powerful metaphor for the strength of God that He offers to His children. What stood out for myself as I watch the eagles, is the height they fly, protecting its young, their sharp eyes to look for its prey, its strength, and how it renews it’s strength after a period of time!

Eagles don’t simply push their young from the nest; instead, they employ a multifaceted approach involving gradual encouragement, demonstration, and controlled risk, ultimately teaching their eaglets how do eagles teach their babies to fly effectively and safely. Eaglets begin flapping their wings early on. Branch hopping: As they grow, eaglets will start hopping between branches near the nest, further strengthening their legs and improving their balance. Preening: Maintaining feather health is essential for efficient flight. Eaglets spend considerable time preening, learning to keep their plumage clean and properly aligned. This stage is crucial in building the physical foundation necessary for successful flight.[ii]

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself; Exo. 19: 4. 

          I bore you on eagles’ wings: An eagles’ wings: This means that just like the eagles carry their young ones, attached to the back of the mother eagle!? They are protected as the eaglets are being carried from any hunters. Any arrow or harm should pass through the mother eagle, before it touches the eaglets. We all can reminisce in this beauty of tender loving care, with tremendous concern for its young ones, just like a mother would protect her infant! This is a beautiful picture of God’s love and His protection for us! God reminds us again and again of His loving care and protection for us.

“This metaphor is developed most extensively in Deuteronomy 32:11, where the loving compassion, protection, strength, and watchfulness of God is compared with the majestic bird’s attributes.” (Kaiser)

 

We are also told that we renew our strength. It is strength that was once received when we first came to the LORD in weakness and no might. Then, that strength is renewed as we wait on the LORD. Renew is “from a basic meaning ‘to change’…[it] comes to mean ‘to put on afresh’: here, ‘keep putting on fresh strength.’ (Motyer)

 

          Now the battle for renewal begins;

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him; Deut. 32: 11-12.

          This particular verse paints a living, dramatic portrait of our God’s dealing with the faithful children of His alone very often. First of all, God our Father in heaven does not like complacency. He Himself, disturbs our complacency, then stays close with us, rescues us in His ways, when our faith wobbles, and ultimately He carries our whole load, of carrying His young, the weight of our journey itself. Just like the mother eagle, challenges its eaglets to mature and fly, and become strong, God challenges His children. God lovingly presses us to grow, mature in Him and become stronger while guaranteeing that we will never fall beyond His outstretched, capable, broad wings.  (Ref. Psalm 91).

         God is more than capable of giving us the strength; but this does not happen as we sit passively! This strength from above to fulfill any task will be provided as we endure in Him, and in His strength. We wait for Him and rely totally on His strength, rather than ours!  

        I had personally experienced sand storms in the desert. This is not fun, and it comes unexpected as you travel. As it hits, the sand particles fly, all you can do is just close your eyes, in the storm, and think upon God only! We do not see anything at all! This is a powerful life imagery of God’s protection, His care for His children, as we pass through storms of life, desert experiences, winter storms, tornadoes, stumble on sand dunes and sand storms of life itself!

 

After stirring the nest, the eagle circles close, never abandoning her fledglings. If a young bird falters, the mother swoops under, wings outstretched, bearing its weight. Pinions are the strong, outer feathers that make flight possible. The fledgling ends up gliding on the mother’s lift, not its own.[iii]

 

        This is a call for all of us to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness, in our journey, and be constantly encouraged to trust in His promises, by the power of His Spirit. Getting the continuous guidance, pressing and marching toward the promised land is a challenge in itself.  How do we do this?

Fly, fly, so high against the sky
So high I almost touch the sky
Thank you, thank you
Thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

(Songwriters: Larry Henley, Jeff Alan Silbar).

 

       First step, we learn to mount up with wings like eagles. Second step we learn to run; and then we learn to walk.  This should be the right order; and this is because there is an order for every task we take.

       Most important thing is, first of all we recognize that, we are set up in heavenly places with Jesus Christ;

 

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephe, 2: 6.

 

      Now we are beginning to learn to run towards the course;

 

 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb. 12: 1.

 

       Then we begin to understand, that we  are in a good place, so we learn to walk, and walk with Jesus Christ in our earthly journey.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Col. 2: 6. 

Elisabeth Elliot narrates; “Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering. The love of God is of a different nature altogether. It does not hate tragedy. It never denies reality. It stands in the very teeth of suffering. The love of God did not protect His own Son. The cross was the proof of His love – that He gave that Son, that He let Him go to Calvary’s cross, though “legions of angels” might have rescued Him. He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process.”

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: Isa. 40: 29-30.

Weak in Isaiah 40:29 and faint in Isaiah 40:30 are the same Hebrew word, which means “failure through loss of inherent strength.” Weary in Isaiah 40:30 is a different word, which means “exhaustion because of the hardness of life” (Motyer).  

      If we are worn out of weariness and faint, exhausted because of the harshness of life itself, God is right there to give us strength; all that we need as we wait on Him to be renewed.

We are completely known and completely loved….how precious it is?! This is where our trust begins to work and renewal takes place!

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[i] HEBREW WORD STUDY – WAITING - Chaim Bentorah

[ii] How do eagles teach their babies to fly? - The Institute for Environmental Research and Education

[iii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com

What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 32:11? - Bible Hub

Deuteronomy 32:11 paints a living portrait of the LORD’s faithful dealings with His people: He disturbs complacency, stays close, …

What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 32:11?