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Tag: On the road to Emmaus

Smoking furnace and burning lamp

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On August 26, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 15:17 reads “And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.”, where pieces refers to the elements of the sacrifice that Abram had brought before God.

So while it was dark, we see a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passing between the sacrifice. What could this mean?
Some commentaries exposit and state that the smoking furnace refers to the afflictions of the Israelites (the seed of Abram) would face and they get their basis from other scriptural texts which portray
– the Egyptians who enslaved the Israelites as a furnace of iron (1 Kings 8:51),
– the Assyrian (Sennacherib), who besieged the Israelites whose reign was symbolic of a furnace in Jerusalem (Isaiah 31:9)
They also exposit and state the the burning lamp symbolizes the salvation of the Israelites (the seed of Abram), which they exposit from the Scripture recorded in 1 Kings 11:36 and 15:4 and Isaiah 62:1. 1 Kings 11:26 and 15:4 both express the words of God, who for David’s sake, said that there will be a lamp who will be set forth establish Jerusalem. Isaiah 62:1 refers this lamp that burns as one of salvation.

While these are certainly plausible, I am convinced that the two symbols here, of the smoking furnace, and the burning lamp are symbolic of the persons of the Triune Godhead and I deduce these, not by mere opinion, but by substantiating text in the Bible.
First, the smoking furnace and burning lamp were animate and passed through the pieces of the sacrifice, accepting the sacrifice that was offered and so it is less likely that these symbols directly meant the afflictions and salvation of Israel, as the commentators state. Furthermore, Exodus 19:18 states that when the LORD God descended upon mount Sinai in fire, the mount was altogether in smoke, which ascended as the smoke of a furnace. So this makes me believe that the smoking furnace is symbolic of God, the Father, the first person of the Trinity.
I must admit that the identity of the burning lamp is a little more ambiguous. On one hand, it could be symbolic of Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, who is the light of the world, who shined out in the darkness as a burning lamp. When Jesus walked with the men on the road to Emmaus, they felt their hearts burn within them (Luke 24:32), which further accentuates this proposition that Jesus is the burning lamp. On the other hand, it is also possible that the burning lamp could be symbolic of the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity, who though being one (Ephesians 4:4) is expressed as seven lamps of fire before the throne of God (Revelation 4:5), in whose midst stands Jesus Christ, the lamb of God (Revelation 5:6). Herein, we get a glimpse of the Triune God in One (God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit God) all at work in the acceptance of the sacrifice offered by Abram.

Points to ponder:
If you/I were to offer your life as a living sacrifice today, would you/I have the Triune God in one passing through your/my life and accepting the sacrifice of our life, while we live in a dark sinful world? Would you/I see a smoking furnace and a burning lamp pass through your/my life? Think about it.

Genesis 15:17 (KJV)
17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

Exodus 19:17-19 (KJV)
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

Luke 24:32 (KJV)
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Isaiah 62:1 (KJV)

1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

Jesus Gave Thanks :: to Show us He is The Lord and The Master

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On November 22, 2012

In Christian, Thanksgiving

It is thanksgiving season and there are many reasons for us to be thankful to God for, but have you ever wondered what Jesus was thankful for. Luke 24 records the account of Jesus appearing to the two men, who were walking on the road to Emmaus. When the two sad men encounter Jesus, not recognizing who he is, they tell him, how they trusted that Jesus to be their redeemer but it is three days since he was murdered and yet there was no sign of any salvation (Luke 24:21). Jesus then expounds to them, from all the scriptures, things concerning himself, and as evening fell, they urged him to stay with them (as their guest). Jesus agreed to stay but does not take the position of a guest (Luke 24:13-21). Instead the Bible records, that he took bread and blessed (gave thanks for) it, broke it and gave it to them (Luke 24:30). It was customary for the Master or Head of the household to be the one taking the food and serving it. As soon as the two saw the Master Jesus at the table, their eyes (spiritual) were opened and they recognized (knew) him as Lord (Luke 24:31), for the witness that they immediately take back to the eleven disciples in Jerusalem is “The LORD is risen.” (Luke 24:34)

Jesus gave thanks to God as The Master and not as the guest, and was recognized as The Lord. In the washing of the feet of his disciples, the disciples addressed Jesus as Master and Lord and Jesus recognizes this, but purposefully reverses what he is to be known (recognized) as. The disciples called him Master and Lord (and yes he is) but Jesus refers to himself first as Lord and then as Master (John 13:13-14). Jesus thanked God and was recognized as Lord.

Points to ponder:
Even today, Jesus expounds from all of the scriptures all the things concerning himself to you and me. As darkness surrounds us, do we urge him to stay in our lives, not just as the guest but as our Master and as he communes with us, do we recognize him as Lord? If you have not trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Master, tarry no further, but instead place your trust in him, today. Let today, be your day of real thanksgiving (2 Corinthians 6:2) and for those who have trusted in Jesus, we can give thanks this thanksgiving season, for Jesus is not only Master (of our lives), but the Lord (of our lives) as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Luke 24:13-36 (KJV)
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Fire – releasing, refining and renewing Spirit

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On August 17, 2009

In Christian, The Elements

The next element in our series is Fire.

When the Hebrew men, known more commonly by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnance, the fire had no effect on them but the bonds that tied them were loosed and Nebuchadnezzar the king exclaims that he sees four men walking in midst of the fire and the form of the fourth was like the Son of God (Daniel 3:25).  When Samson came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arm became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands (Judges 15:14). Again, a demonstration of the presence of God releasing bondage and interestingly in both instances, God presence has to do with fire.

On the day of Pentecost, the outward expression of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was tongues like as of fire (Acts 2:3-4). When Jesus opened the scriptures to the two on the road to Emmaus, they said to one another, did not our hearts burn within us? (Luke 24:32).

And as a fire is not effective, when quenched, Paul warns us to Quench not the Spirit, the Fire of God (1 Thessalonians  5:19). The Spirit of God refines and purifies us to righteousness (Malachi 3:2-3).  The Spirit of God is THE ELEMENT, the FIRE that not only burns away the chains/ropes that hold us in bondage, but also warms the hearts of those who listen to the Son of God to have a renewed relationship with him.

The Name is Emmanuel

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On July 11, 2009

In Christian, The Name

One of the songs I like to listen to is the song ‘From a distance’  by Bette Midler. This 1991 Grammy award Song of the Year talks about God watching us from a distance. The only change to the lyrics, I would suggest is that God is watching us, but not necessarily from a distance, because His name is Emmanuel and that means, God with us.

In the beginning God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) created man, so that God could be with man. Man chose to disobey God and a chasm between God and man arouse. Two pieces of wood and three nails were given to God the Son (Jesus) to build a bridge (shaped as a Cross) so that God could be with man again. When Jesus arrived on the scene, born of a virgin, he was to be called Emmanuel, which when interpreted means “God WITH us (man)”. Jesus was crucified and killed, but He rose from death, defeating death and the devil who held the power of death. He then ascended to God the Father in heaven. But when he ascended into glory, he counseled his followers to wait for God the Holy Spirit to come so that God could be with man once again, so that God could be Emmanuel, God with us.

My human intellect wonders if the time period from the ascension of Jesus to heaven to the arrival of the Holy Spirit on man is the only time period in history, when God was not with man, God was not Emmanuel. Now is that even possible? I don’t know and may never know.

Many times we simply fail to recognize God presence with us. Remember, the two who walked on the road to Emmaus, who did not recognize that God was with them, even though Jesus was with them in his resurrected body (Luke 24). Many times we are like the two not cognizant of God’s omnipresence. God is always with us. There are no SECRETS with God. We cannot hide from God (Psalm 139).

On the other hand, Even though God is with us today, there are many in this world who are not with God. What a pity! The world is asking those of us who know that God is with us, if He really is? They are seeking and expressing that God is NO WHERE to be found. Our response should be to make them realize that God is NOW HERE to be found and all they need to do is accept the lordship of Jesus, by believing in Him.

From the beginning, God has been with man, is with man and will always be with man, until the very end. He cannot be untrue to the Name. The Name is Emmanuel.

Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

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