Prophecy

 Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 90: Today, I am grateful for prophecy. 

The word "prediction" tells us something might happen. Prophecy tells us that something will happen. People are quick to point to prophecies that "did not come true" in the Bible. The difference is the response of the people of God. 

"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." -Isaiah 53:5-6

What a powerful prediction from approximately 700 years before Jesus was crucified! Can it be a coincidence that it was as if a poet stood at the cross trying to take it all in 700 years before the actual suffering of Christ. 

God predicted judgment on Nineveh, but... much to Jonah's dismay, the people recognized God meant business and they repented. Jonah did not have to work that hard, and truth, he was disappointed in the outcome. He did not like the Ninevites, but God's mercy is real when hearts change. Perhaps the bigger footnote should be the power of God's word to change hearts and lives. For Nineveh, it meant hope, life, renewal, and making a change. 

About 5 years ago, while excavating the sight of Sodom and Gomorrah, curious archeological evidence was discovered. There are videos all over YouTube from the first discovery to when they began to dig deeper. The people did not heed God's warning and He did what he said he would do. 

The Bible describes burning sulfur and fire raining down from the sky which permanently destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). Predictions may or may not come true. Prophecy is so much more. There are false prophets too. 

Isaiah 53:5-6 gave us the "what to watch for" when determining if Jesus was the Messiah the people longed to see. They were so busy with their own political scene, building wealth and affluence, and grasping for power, they miss it! 

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are easy to read prophecy. Those passages powerfully point to the truth of God's Word.

I am grateful for prophecy and Biblical Archeology. Some people need "the science."  Jesus said, "The rocks will cry out" in Luke 19:40. The evidence is in the archeology... and the stone that rolled away.

I find it fascinating. The response of the people still is in play. 

Today, I am grateful for prophecy.