Paint Party Friday: New Every Morning!

 Looked through my clippings

to find a man who looks strong like Samson!

 "The woman bore a son and named him Samson." Judges 13:24

Samson is one of those bible characters larger than life. And he foreshadows Jesus in some ways. His birth was miraculous, announced by an angel, and he was used by God to deliver the people of Israel. But at the very beginning of his story, it was about his mother who was barren just like Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, and Abraham's wife Sarah, and Rachel, Jacob's favored second wife. Poor woman! She was not even named in the Bible! But the Midrash, an ancient commentary on the Hebrew scriptures gives her name as Hatzlelponi.

There is so much anguish related to infertility even today. Women are made to feel inferior, and a burden to their families. Women in the Bible lived without hope, suffered Indiscrimination and stigma. You can imagine the joy that Hatzlelponi felt rise up inside her when the angel brought her the good news, "Though you are barren and have no children, you will conceive and bear a son."

 We can relate this with the season of Advent. It is a time of waiting and hoping for a very real blessing. A blessing that changes the very meaning of our existence. We wait in anticipation and excitement for the coming of our Savior in a new way. God is never static, He is new every morning. His mercies, His love, His faithfulness are new every morning of our life! Let us prepare our hearts to give Him room! Let us set our sights on God's promises and hold fast to Him! Maranatha!

 "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about." Matthew 1:18

17 verses above this particular passage lists the genealogy of Jesus Christ. For Jews, genealogy was very important. It shows what tribe you are from, which land belonged to you. It was a significant part of your identity.

RC Sproul, the American theologian tells a fascinating story of a Wycliffe Bible translator, who worked on translating the book of Matthew for an obscure tribe for 10 years. To expedite the process, she skipped the genealogy and had the Book of Matthew printed. The tribe was not interested. She noted that they were even more interested in the truck that brought the book. She persevered and came out with a second edition that included the genealogy. As she was explaining the genealogy to the tribal chief, he exclaimed, "You mean to tell me this Jesus you have been telling us about is a real person?" She replied, "Of course!"

He said, "I thought he was some mythical character!" Soon after he realized Jesus was a historical person, that he had walked on the earth, he accepted Jesus, and the whole tribe followed him.

The genealogy of Jesus is also very important because it showed he was a descendant of David, and showed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. We believe in a real person, not some fictional character. And it is Jesus, the real man, who wants to have a real relationship with us.

Lord, during this season of Advent, may my heart be Your manger. 

May I really know You more and more each day. 

Open my eyes to the reality of Your love for me, and Your perfect plan!

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