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 here is a story about a
new army commander who was sent to a fort on the American
western frontier. No sooner had he arrived than he
was involved in a meeting with an important Indian
chief. Working through a translator, he nervously
asked the chief a number of questions and was surprised
the chief did not answer. After the meeting, he asked
his translator why he did not get an answer. The translator
replied, “That is what we call Indian time. He
has enough respect for your questions to go away and
think about them before he will answer.” The
Indian had heard the words, but he needed to think
about the words in order to really listen. This is
the point of the first part of chapter one of Hebrews.
We need to listen!
Prophets Spoke.
The book of Hebrews is a warning to anyone who will
read it and listen - to listen to Jesus. The book
is written to Jewish Christians who apparently were
wondering if they had made a mistake in coming to
Jesus. Things were not going their way, and their
lives were a mess. This book is a reminder about the
truth of Jesus. The Holy Spirit starts the book with
something these Jewish Christians believed:
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God,
after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets
in many portions and in many ways . . . (NASB) Heb.
1:1 |
The prophets of old had spoken directly with God
and were told what to write. They were men such as Elijah,
Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Moses. But Moses
was the one they valued the most. Why? Listen to these words.
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Since
then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom
the LORD knew face to face . . . (NASB) Deut. 34:10
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As a prophet, Moses had an unusual relationship
with God. So it is not surprising the Pharisees and Sadducees
said,
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We
know that God has spoken to Moses . . .” (NASB)
John 9:29 |
Moses was also their authority. Listen to these
words.
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Then
Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated
themselves in the chair of Moses . . . (NASB) Matt.
23:1-2 |
The Jews believed that God had spoken to their
fathers in ages past in many different ways and in many portions.
They believed that God had given Moses the Ten Commandments
on tablets of stone. They knew Moses, Elijah, Elisha and others
had spoken directly with God. They knew that Daniel was told
what to write. God had spoken to these men in many different
ways. The phrase “many portions” refers to the parchment
scrolls on which the Old Testament books were written. The
Holy Spirit’s point is clear. God had spoken through
the prophets.
Jesus Spoke.
The Jews had been waiting 400 years for God to speak. Finally,
God . . .
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.
. . in these last days has spoken to us in His Son,
whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom
also He made the world. (NASB) Heb. 1:1-2 |
Yes, God had finally spoken - through Jesus. He
was more than just a prophet. He was the creator and the ruler
of all things. He was not just another prophet.
When
I struggle in my Christian walk, I usually discover that my
problem is one of three things: I have not confessed my sin
to Him; I am not being thankful for what He has done in my
life in the past, or I have forgotten who He really is. This
last one was their area of struggle.
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