Centuries ago before Israel had even entered Canaan as a nation they were near the end of their forty years in the desert, They were camped in the plains of Moab near Jericho and there were so many people in the camp that they appeared to cover the face of the earth. There were so many people in Israel that they could not all be seen from one of the hillsides that surrounded them. The king of Moab hired a seer named Balaam to place a curse on Israel for him. Instead, Balaam blessed Israel and prophesied over her. At one point he says:
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
Numbers 24:17
While this is not as specific as the prophecy about Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus was, this still points to a leader of great import rising out of Israel in the distant future. The star and the scepter both point to the light and the royalty Jesus would bring to earth.
Q: If the coming of Jesus was prophesied in the Garden of Eden and many other times during the centuries before Christ was born, was there ever a time when there was not a need or a plan for Jesus to be born on earth and die for our sins?
No, God knew our need from the beginning, and had a plan all along.
Merry Christmas Eve to all!!
Thank you, Robster!
Merry Christmas Eve to you as well!
God had us covered through His Sovereign plan and Jesus’ blood. God is good. Merry Christmas to you all.
It amazes me how much the Old Testament points to the coming of the messiah! Throughout history he has revealed parts of his plan and we have needed a savior since the fall.
I love looking at OT prophesy about Jesus, because it highlights that he is coming back again – the cross is behind us, but the eternal kingdom is before us!! Praise be our God!