Father Abraham and Brother Jesus
Scripture Reading — Zechariah 8:1-8
“They will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”
Zechariah 8:8
“They will be my people, and I will be … their God.” This is covenantal language found throughout the Bible. God spoke words like these to Abraham when he was old and childless, saying that he and his wife, Sarah, would soon have a son. To Abraham God promised, “I will … be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Genesis 17:7).
More often than not, the descendants of Abraham were not faithful in keeping the covenant God had made with them. God sent prophet after prophet to his people, calling them back to obedience, but they didn’t listen. Finally God sent his Son, Jesus, to the world. He was rejected more than any prophet before him. But in the death of Jesus we see the restoration of the covenant that had been broken by rebellious people.
“It is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants,” we read in Hebrews 2:16. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed,” says Galatians
3:29. This means “Jesus is not ashamed to call [us] brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). In Jesus, the promise of a city where people old and young can rest and play is fulfilled. In the New Jerusalem, each of us will hear the loud voice that John heard: “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness that is greater than all our unfaithfulness. Help us to obey you more fully. Thank you for assuring us that we will live with you forever. Amen.
About the author — Peter Hoytema
Peter Hoytema has been a pastor for nearly 30 years and has served congregations in Ontario and New Jersey. He is currently the pastor of a congregation in Strathroy, Ontario. He is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Grace, are the parents of four adult children.
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