Holyland Tour Specialist

View Original

THE FAITHFUL GOD

Who is God of the Bible? What is He like? The first 20 chapters of the book of Exodus portray one of His main character, which is The God who is Faithful to His Promises. The book consist of three main events : Israel’s deliverance from Egypt; the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai and the giving of the Law and other events at Mount Sinai.

The message of Exodus cannot be understood apart from Genesis. The God who made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants remains faithful to His people. Thus, Exodus fulfills the patriarchal promises of offspring, land and blessing. Pharaoh, threatened by the growth of Israelites population, embarks on a program of infanticide. But God hears the cry of His people and remembers his covenant promise. He raises up Moses who was spared of his life.

The theme of promise or covenant is prominent throughout the Bible. In Exodus, the covenant of God comes into focus in two great events : the name of the Lord and the blood of the lamb. There are one name of God in the sense of his personal name, and this name, represented in Hebrew by four consonants YHWH, is translated as “Lord” in Ex 3:15. In appearing to Moses, Yahweh reveals His name, I AM WHO I AM, which indicates his dynamic and personal presence.

The name Yahweh resounds throughout the account of the Passover. It is the Lord who ordains the sacrifice. The Lord is the redeemer, deliverer, lawgiver and judge. And the people are the Lord’s people. The New Testament continues the story of the blood of the lamb, but explicitly points to Jesus Christ as the fulfilling Messiah of the nation of Israel.