The joy of background knowledge

The opening line of Hebrews is really dramatic, at least in the ESV it is: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.

Wow! Beats George Lucas' opening line, "Long ago and in a galaxy far, far away..." or something like that. At least to my mind.

The thing is, I find that opening line all the more powerful knowing what the writer referred to as "spoke to our fathers by the prophets". I do not claim to have any expertise in Biblical Old Testament prophecy. The farthest thing from the truth. I have, perhaps, a slight acquaintance with it. But because of this acquaintance, hundreds of years of history weighs upon that statement for me. God spoke to His people by thousands of prophets, some of whose words we have passed on to us today. And they all say something close to the same thing: follow God. He's going to fulfill His promises, just which ones do you want fulfilled?

In Bible college I had an Old Testament (OT) professor that really opened up the OT for me. (Shout out to Mr. [Dr.] Holmes!!) His big thesis is that all of the OT hangs upon the blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 28 & 29. (Yes, Dr. Holmes, at least one of your students was definitely listening). And I totally agree: in that passage God promises that if Israel obeys, they will be blessed. If Israel doesn't, they will experience intense hardship until they come back. And you see, for the rest of Israel's history, it's pretty much the case. Judges: they obey, things go well; they don't obey, things go badly. The OT prophets all have the same message: repent, obey God, and escape the coming wrath. You don't do it, you can expect it.

Then skip four hundred years to Christ. Some of the OT prophets also pointed towards a Messiah. This Messiah shows up as Christ and He fulfills the Law and Prophets. (Ah, the Law and Prophets). And this is where Hebrews comes in: the writer of Hebrews is trying to show that Christ is not only the fulfillment of the prophets but the supreme and superior revelation from God. Cool stuff. And that one little statement means so much more to me, being aware (if not having a deep understanding) of what he [the author] meant when he said, "in many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son." It's so cool. Really, all of Hebrews is cool, and it is all the cooler if you understand its background in the Old Testament.

Again, I'm absolutely no expert on the Old Testament, whatever anyone else says. But even a slight familiarity with it really does inform my understanding of the New Testament. The two don't cancel each other out. Rather they are partners, revealing God's plan. Cool.

11:11

I remember sitting in my Honors Algebra II class sophomore year when one of my classmates sang out, "It's 11:11; make a wish!!" On this morning, especially since I had no interest in what we were studying that day (seeing as, I can't even remember), I learned that you are supposed to make a wish at 11:11 because it is the only time of day when the time is the same frontwards, backwards, sidesways, upside down, diagonal... you name it. It will always be 11:11.


Far from being impressed by the magical power of the clock to grant wishes at a certain time, I admit, I did form a habit. Instead of making wishes I started saying prayers, asking the Lord for things I hoped for. I didn't do this religiously, like every 11:11 would find me asking for something. Rather, if I happened to catch the time at that particular moment, I would just send up a little prayer. And over time, it became a constant refrain because there was one thing in particular that I really wanted: to get married. So, whenever I saw 11:11 on the clock, I would pray, "Lord, please grant me a husband;" "Lord, please, let me get married." "Lord, if you can find it within your will, I would really like to get married and have a family of my own." It just became a habit. Every time I saw 11:11, I asked God for a husband, without even thinking about it, though each request was certainly heartfelt.

Last night, I saw 11:11 on the clock. And I started out, "Lord, please grant..." And I stopped. I smiled. And for the first time I used 11:11 as I really should. I prayed, "Lord, thank you for answering my prayers." Because He has: I am engaged to a wonderful man whom I love and have so much respect for. Over the course of our relationship I have seen what a good, honorable, and loving man he is, and how God has changed his life. I really am very, very blessed that I have found such a man and that he actually wants to be with me. So, now, at 11:11 I intend to thank the Lord for my blessings. Because He has more than answered my wishes: He has provided far above and beyond what I could have hoped for.

Going to the Chapel....

That's right!! I'm getting married!

Totally excited. I don't think anyone who reads this blog will not have already found out through some other avenue. However, I did think it should be said here.

Nick, my fiance, proposed on the cruise. I have to admit, it was a very romantic week even before he proposed. Getting engaged only made it better. As for more details about the cruise I will write them when I can actually get some pictures up to go with it. But as I'm not sure I can do that on the computer I'm working from right now.... They'll have to wait.