Is It a Coincidence?

Season 1 Episode 32 -- As we become more familiar with the Bible, we begin to see more and more things that were predicted, alluded to, or hinted at in the Old Testament that become evident in the New Testament.  Are these merely coincidences?

"Reflect on This" is the podcast version of short email devotionals I send to my family and friends, where I am sharing the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, through applying my study of the Scriptures to the world around me.

If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, subscribe, and leave a favorable rating and review, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily (by raising the podcast in search results).

Books that inspired some episodes:

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured resources and ministries:

“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  They also feature expert guests that share their knowledge and experience of applying biblical principles to marriage.  

"Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope" (podcast)
This is a 4 minute weekday podcast, where Joni shares stories of her life and biblical applications.  One of the world's longest living quadriplegics, God has used her courage, determination, faithfulness, and love to inspire and minister in amazing ways to people around the world.   Every time I hear her, I am challenged and inspired.  

"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool is available for download to both computers and mobile devices.  The download includes many free public domain resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, devotionals, and maps.  It also has a multi-windowed display, so that you can simultaneously view a Bible translation, a dictionary, and a commentary.  You can also easily compare Bible translations in parallel windows.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net (free)
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” (a modest purchase price)

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers 6-month paid apprenticeships to unemployed young men.  These apprentices learn important life skills and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  The program also provides mentoring in the process of discovering and following Christ.  The sale of the high-quality furniture they produce supports the ministry.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/

Transcript

The more I study the Scriptures, the more I see the numerous foreshadowings, analogies, and subtle connections that God has embedded throughout the Bible.  This is why many have referred to the Bible as containing a scarlet thread of redemption, that runs from beginning to end.  Unbelievers might argue that they are mere coincidences.  Here are just a few examples of these “coincidental” statements:

• Isaiah 7:14 foretells that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son. This prophecy finds fulfillment in Jesus' miraculous birth through Mary.  Is that a coincidence?
• Micah 5:2 specifies that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfills this prophecy. Is that a coincidence?
• Zechariah 9 predicts that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem triumphantly. Jesus fulfilled this when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey before His crucifixion.  Is that a coincidence?
• Psalm 22:16-18 poetically describes the Messiah's crucifixion, even mentioning the piercing of hands and feet. Jesus' death on the cross fulfills this prophecy.  Is that a coincidence?
• Psalm 16:10 speaks of the Messiah's resurrection. Jesus' victory over death fulfills this prophecy.  Is that a coincidence?
• Psalm 110 speaks of the Messiah being exalted and seated at God's right hand. Jesus' resurrection and ascension fulfill this prophecy.  Is that a coincidence?
• At the inaugural Feast of Passover, God told the Israelites to apply the blood of the sacrificed lamb to their doorframes – the lintel (horizontal part of the frame) and the side posts (the vertical part of the frame).  Because of the covering of the blood, the house was spared from God’s plagues.  Christ shed His blood on the cross (which had both horizontal and vertical parts) to rescue His people.  We need to be covered or justified by the blood of the Lamb to be rescued from condemnation.  Christ is the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.  Is that a coincidence?
• Jesus was crucified at a place called Golgotha, a Hebrew word which means “the place of a skull.  Jesus is crucified at a place called the Skull, because He is the head of the church.  Is that a coincidence?
• Jesus appears to His disciples following His resurrection.  The Scriptures say that “the doors were shut where the disciples were, and Jesus came and stood in their midst.” (John 20:19)  Jesus entered the room with closed doors.  He doesn’t need a door, because He is the door (John 10:9).  Is that a coincidence?

Are these prophecies and foreshadowings mere coincidences?  Absolutely not!  Because we know that “all scripture is inspired by God” [literally, God-breathed in the original language], we can have confidence that God took great care to embed MANY, MANY multi-dimensional meanings, foreshadowings and connections, to help us see that the Bible is a coherent, connected story of the unfolding of the great redemption of mankind.  After all, history is really His story!  

Another reason for these many embedded foreshadowings is to keep us engaged in the never-ending pursuit of discovering the hidden treasures of biblical wisdom in the pages of the Bible.

Proverbs 2:4-6 NASB  If you seek [wisdom] as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;  (5)  Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.  (6)  For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

By using analogies, there are many applications to our lives that we can draw from these treasures of wisdom found in the Bible.  Here is an example:

• Jesus showed the disciples (including doubting Thomas) the scars on His hands and His side (John 20:27).  Notice that Jesus’ scars remained, even in His resurrected body.  You might say that He was scarred for life.  His scars were how the disciples recognized Him and confirmed His identity.  In a similar manner, people will often recognize us by our scars of life.  Jesus will often heal or deliver us from painful situations, but often there will be resulting scars.  We might want to try to hide these scars from the view of others, or ask God to remove the scars.  But in reality, our scars give us credibility with others and allow them to connect better with us, because they have their own scars of life.  We therefore seem more approachable to them.  So, just as Jesus was scarred for life, so are we.

These treasures of wisdom within the Bible are inexhaustible.  They are often hidden and subtle, but never coincidental.  Will you join me today in digging deep into the Scriptures, searching for the hidden treasures of wisdom?

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”