Jesus was always God's plan A.

Footnotes

[1] 12:1 Or had said
[2] 12:1 Or land
[3] 12:3 Or by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves

Hugh Stephenson

Good morning, Rob! So awesome to see you leading us on The Journey today. Love this from your devo- “Jesus is Plan A for everyone, and there is no Plan B. You know something else? You are part of Plan A, too, if you have that relationship with Christ. You get to go tell others about Him! What a privilege! Enjoy!“ Q1 and Q2 - see below. Q3. I am taught that they are saved by believing the promises of God. John MacArthur offers a fuller answer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANtHdenE5js ——————————————————————— —What does it take to get to the point of full and unconditional surrender so that trust and obedience is the natural response? -Is it the strong call of God as to Abram? -The prophecy of Moses? -Or Paul’s teaching of the prophecy fulfilled? —————————————————————— Before I tackle those, I’ll offer this- I know a little bit about all three- in 2003 Amy and I were at the graveside service of my great aunt’s death. She was the last family member left in Atlanta. Our white ancestors came to Georgia in the mid 1800’s. Our Cherokee ancestors had been there for millennia. But...we were now “orphaned” there. She turned to me and said, “She’s the last one. Can we please talk about moving to Dallas?” I knew right away that was the call. But not out of obedience. Only out of desperation. The quality of life living in near downtown Atlanta had gone to nearly constant chaos. I was sick and tired. I was ready for something else. I knew just enough Bible to have the analogy click. In August 2004 we left for good.

Hugh Stephenson

Back to “what does it take”? -Is it the pain and anguish of the prodigal son in Luke 15? “14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! “ He had… Spent everything Lived in severe famine Realized his need Hired to do the worst work imaginable Longed to eat the trash and slop the pigs ate NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING Hint-The last phrase is the key. -or is it the focused and intense instruction of a teacher filled with the Holy Spirit who explains to you, again, the prophecy fulfilled? Who verbally slaps you into awareness? And points to the truth that life is found in Him and Him alone and nowhere else? -Or is it the call of God to a pagan who lives in a bustling metropolis with lots of affluence - and is directed to the middle of the desert 600 miles away AND to leave his family and everything he knows? Oh, and once you get to the middle of the desert you’ll be called to go even further; another 400 miles to Canaan!?!? One observer offers this- “Note a significant fact about following God: Abraham did not know where he was going. He did not know where following God would lead him. He just believed the promises of God; therefore, he acted upon his belief. He believed; therefore, he obeyed.” https://lmw.org/abrahams-faith-to-obey/#:~:text=Note%20a%20significant%20fact%20about,believed%3B%20therefore%2C%20he%20obeyed. Spurgeon offers an extended exposition - https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/abrahams-prompt-obedience-to-the-call-of-god/#flipbook/ Two short excerpts from him that resonated with me- “One is struck with the practical character of this verse. Abraham was called, and he obeyed. There is no hint of hesitation, parleying, or delay; when he was called to go out, he went out. Would to God that—such conduct were usual, yea, universal; for with many of our fellow-men, and I fear with some now present, the call alone is not enough to produce obedience.” “ The sad point about the refusals to obey the call of the gospel is that men are losing a golden opportunity, an opportunity for being numbered amongst the choice spirits of the world, amongst those who shall be blessed among men and women. Abraham had an opportunity, and he had grace to grasp it, and at this day there is not on the beadroll of our race a nobler name than that of "the father of the faithful." The full piece is absolutely worth a read. It is very edifying in its exposition and its reinforcement of God’s call. Make another pot of coffee and sit down with it. I am CERTAIN it will bless you.

Hugh Stephenson

Some short but helpful notes from the ESV SB. Gen. 12:1 God’s invitation to Abram challenges him to abandon the normal sources of personal identity and security: his family and country. To obey, Abram must trust God implicitly; all human support is largely removed. The promised outcomes are conditional on Abram’s obedience. said. In Acts 7:2–3, Stephen has God calling Abram before he lived in Haran; the ESV footnote, “had said,” shows that the grammar allows for this reading. Gen. 12:2 God’s purpose for Abram, that he become a great nation, stands in obvious tension with Sarai’s barrenness and the summons to leave his homeland. Abram is challenged by God to establish a new humanity. “make your name great”. This was the failed aspiration of the tower builders (11:4). Gen. 12:3 Although Abram is called to be a blessing to others, much rests on how they treat him. Those who are positive toward Abram will experience God’s favor; the one who despises Abram will know God’s displeasure. The text speaks of those who bless (plural) but of him who dishonors (singular), emphasizing that many more will be blessed than cursed. Indeed, such will be the influence of Abram that all the families of the earth shall be blessed in him. This promise is later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob (see 22:18; 26:4; 28:14). in you. This may simply indicate “by means of you,” but it is more likely that this expression is designating Abram as the covenantal representative for a people. To be “in” some person, then, is to be a member of that people for whom that person is the representative (cf. 2 Sam. 19:43; 20:1). This seems to be the way Paul takes it in Gal. 3:8–9, where “in you” becomes “along with Abraham”; it would also explain the origin of the NT expression “in Christ.” Gen. 12:4 The brief report of Abram’s response presents his obedience as immediate and unquestioning. Lot went with him. Abram may have been responsible for Lot following the death of Haran (11:27–28). Since by this stage Lot is a wealthy adult with considerable possessions (see 13:5–6), readers may assume that he desires to support Abram’s mission. Constable offers a somewhat deeper dive on the full passage- The divine promises 12:1-9 "These verses are of fundamental importance for the theology of Genesis, for they serve to bind together the primeval history and the later patriarchal history and look beyond it to the subsequent history of the nation."[705] "Whereas chapters 1—11 generally portray man's rebellion, chapters 12—50 detail God's bringing man into a place of blessing."[706] "... this is the central passage of the Book of Genesis."[707] God's revelation to Abram in these verses explains why his family left Ur (11:31). "... by placing the call of Abraham after the dispersion of the nations at Babylon (11:1-9), the author intends to picture Abraham's call as God's gift of salvation in the midst of judgment."[708] "The primeval history thus explains the significance of the patriarchal story: though apparently of little consequence in the world of their day, the patriarchs are in fact men through whom the world will be redeemed. The God who revealed himself to them was no mere tribal deity but the creator of the whole universe."[709] William Newell condensed God's revelations of Himself to Abram as follows: "The progressive revelation of God to Abraham (Revised Version best): (a) As the LORD (Jehovah, His name as in covenant with His people), 12:1, 8; 13:4, 18. (b) God Most High (El Elyon, Creator—God Over and Owning All), 14:18-22. (c) Shield and Exceeding Great Reward, 15:1. d) The Almighty God (El Shaddai), 17:1. (e) The Righteous Judge, 18:25. (f) The Everlasting God, 21:33. (g) The God of Providence (Jehovah Jireh), 22:14."[710] The fourth dispensation, the dispensation of Promise, extended from Abram's call to the giving of the Mosaic Law at Mt. Sinai (Exod. 19—24). Man's stewardship rested on God's promises to Abram, which appear first in 12:1-3, but receive confirmation and enlargement in: 13:14-17; 15:1-7; 17:1-8, 15-19; 22:16-18; 26:2-5, 24; 28:13-15; 31:13; and 35:9-12. Individual blessing depended on individual obedience (12:1; 22:18; 26:5). God unconditionally promised blessing through Abram's descendants to the nation of Israel (12:2; 15:18-21; 17:7-8), to the church through Christ (Gal. 3:16, 28-29), and to the Gentile nations (12:3). Individuals (e.g., Pharaoh, 12:17; Abimelech, 20:3, 17) and nations (e.g., Egypt, chs. 47—50; Exod. 1—15) that proved favorable toward Abram's seed would experience divine blessing, but those that proved hostile would experience divine cursing (12:3; cf. Matt. 25:31-46). Christians are called upon to trust God as Abram did, and so enter into the spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant—which covenant inaugurated the dispensation of Promise (Rom. 4:11, 16, 23-25; Gal. 3:6-9). God's promises to Abram and his descendants did not end with the giving of the Mosaic Law (Gal. 3:17; cf. Exod. 32:13; 33:1-3; Lev. 23:10; 25:2; 26:6; Deut. 6:1-23; 8:1-18; Josh. 1:2, 11; 24:13; Acts 7:17; Rom. 9:4). However, as a test of Israel's stewardship of divine truth, the dispensation of promise was superseded, not annulled, by the dispensation of Law (Exod. 19:3-8). As the Apostle Paul put it, the Mosaic Law "was added [to the promises given to Abram] on account of the violations [of God's holiness], having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator [Moses], until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made [i.e. Christ]" (Gal. 3:19).

Greg Jones

1. In the Acts 3 verses for today, what were the people Peter was speaking to "ignorant" of? They are ignorant of Jesus as the Messiah claim and ignorant of the resurrected Jesus that Peter and John are witnesses to verse 15. It is the resurrection teaching that is getting them into trouble with the Sadducees. If they had not been ignorant, what do you think would have happened? Don’t know. They would have listened to the prophet who Peter said Jesus was and been disciples possibly? Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.” 2. If Jesus is referenced in Genesis, what does that say about the rest of the Bible? For Jewish NT writers for Jesus to be fully understood Jesus needs to be connected to the past. How they do that or the reason they reference some things I don’t think we can always fully understand. Matthew 2:13-15 Mary and Joseph flee with Jesus to Egypt to hide from Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:15b When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. Hosea 11:1 Hosea 11:1 has to be taken completely out of the context of the nation of Israel being God’s son to apply to Jesus. There is also nothing predictive in the context of Hosea. But there is no reason for the original writer to explain to the original reader how this works out. That kind of thing is common when you go back and read NT properties closely. So to really understand who God’s people are BC and what they are saying about themselves and their God, and out of those people who these first followers of Jesus are, I need to better understand how they read and understood what we would call their Bible. 3. How were the people saved before Christ's death and resurrection? Some different theologies on that. My answer-yes they were, and I’m not sure about the details. 4. Is there someone in your life that you could share the gospel with this Christmas season? Yes

Michael Sisson

Well said, Mr. Heath. G-d only ever had “Plan A: Jesus.” It’s alarming how many people are unclear on this foundational truth. Re: Gen 12:3 Genesis 12:3 (NASB1995) And >>>I will bless those who bless you,<<< And >>>the one who curses you I will curse.<<< And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Here we see again what I have described as the “Mirror Effect” previously. It is foundational to how G-d and man relate to one another. https://www.jointhejourney.com/4903-honesty-can-evidence-our-trust-in-god) Re: Dt 18:18 Moses is a type of the Messiah. (See also Dt 18:15) Ironically, their similarity starts with rejection. In Ex 2:14, Moses’ own people initially reject him. Yet, G-d would go on to appoint Moses to deliver and rule over them. Similarly, the Jews would later reject Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus), though He will ultimately deliver and rule over them as well. (Mt 2:2) The Hebrew’s initial rejection of Moses is another link in a chain of examples throughout scripture of the far off, approaching Messiah (Num 24:17a), His progenitors, and types of Messiah like Joseph and Moses being unrecognized and rejected. Moses’ and Jesus’ shared rejection is echoed by Yeshua again at the end of Jn 5:39-47. Re: Acts 3:21 Acts 3:21 (NASB) whom heaven must receive >>>until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.<<< Clearly, the passage speaks of >>>prophecies yet to be fulfilled.<<< Anyone believing Christ abrogated the Law (in part or the whole) should reexamine Mt 5:17-19 in light of this verse. Re: Acts 3:26 Acts 3:26 (NASB) >>>“For you first,<<< God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” Peter is addressing a Jewish audience. In Rom 1:16, we find Paul likewise prioritizing the sharing of the Gospel with the Jewish people.

Connor Roberts

This morning I read this with my teenage son before school. The time was restorative and peaceful. I've struggled as a father in trying to determine what the 'best' or 'right' way is to create scriptural habit in my home; and subsequently, been paralyzed to just act imperfectly and try something. Doing JTJ today provided some stillness and unity, in an otherwise crazy and busy week. This felt good to do with my son. I'm sharing to encourage others who might see this - Dads and Moms, who may not have a habit yet, sit with your child at least once a week and do this before school. It sets the tone for your day and their day. You can then work your way up to the official JTJ Jr. Curriculum, and do more days or other times, but start small. God isn't asking us for perfection; He asking for our hearts and our intentionality, even in the imperfect form that takes. It makes a difference! God loves you and your children!

Sue Bohlin

SUPER devo, Rob! Bless you! I love this reminder that Jesus has always been Plan A. Revelation 13:8 tells us of "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." This just builds my trust in the Sovereign God who saw it all, knew it all, and made it all happen according to plan (Plan A!), before He said the first "Let there be."

Michael Scaman

I think it's interesting that in the flood God limited the lifetime of man. Now we have the first story of a childless couple going through old age suffering the effects of that. Even in the restraint of not living as long as prior to the flood, a general curse on man, a blessing given. A blessing for all men though a childless man. I see Psalms book 1 poetically like Genesis and a promise of the land through a son given as well. God says to His Son "ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance" Ps 2 and in the Son 'the meek shall inherit the earth" Ps 37

Amy Lowther

1. They were ignorant in the area of God’s foretelling that Christ would suffer. If they were less ignorant, Christ would have suffered less. 2. The reference of Jesus in Genesis shows He will be important in the rest of the Bible. Readers should pay attention and try to relate to what Jesus says and values in the Bible. 3. No one was saved from their sins like they were after the death and resurrection of Jesus. People believed in God and believed Jesus would eventually save them from their sins. 4. I would share the gospel with retail or restaurant workers this holiday season because a lot of them work hard and deserve to have a friend in Jesus.