The Italian Memorandum

(Genesis 24)

When Abraham became old, he expressed to his oldest servant his wishes regarding a wife for his son Isaac, (Gen. 24:1-4). It is naturally presumed that this servant was Eliezer of Damascus (Gen. 15:2,3). However, since Genesis 24 does not identify this servant by name, perhaps this unnamed servant, whom we presume to be Eliezer, was meant to imply by prophetic typology–the Holy Spirit (Heb. 1:1; 10:1). This we know for sure: (1) Abraham, as a father, sought a bride for his son (24:4). (2) He sent his servant with a message (24:33). And, (3) the LORD “led” him (24:48; 24:7,40).

When we open the pages of the New Testament, we are immediately confronted with terms like: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible speaks in terms of a mission to take a spiritual bride for his son. The apostle Paul explains this mystery in terms of the church of Christ (Eph. 5:31,32). Recall, in the story of Eliezer and Rebekah, that Abraham gave all that he had to his son Isaac (24:34-36). John 3:35 states that God the Father has given all things into the hand of the son. There is unmistakable similarity between the story of Eliezer and Rebekah in Genesis 24 and the gospel. But, then, isn’t that one of the purposes of the Old Testament (1 Cor. 2:7; 15:46-48).

As Abraham sent his servant to seek a bride for Isaac, God seeks a bride for his son. The Bible says that Rebekah was a maiden, “very attractive in appearance” (Gen. 24:16). God would comfort Isaac after his mother’s death through the love of Rebekah (Gen. 24:67). God will comfort you today through the love of Christ and his church.

-Robert M. Housby

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me
together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

(Psalm 139:13,14)

The Bible emphasizes “you” (both in the singular and plural forms). You are important to God; for you were created by God (Ps. 139:13-16). The English poet, Alexander Pope wrote, “Know then thyself, presume not God to scan / The proper study of mankind is man…” (An Essay on Man, Ep. ii). But, this is precisely where all the humanists of our own day bow at the altar of atheism—by forgetting their Creator (Eccl. 12:1)! This raises a profound question—Who defines what man is, or what he should do? Consider these options:

a. Man is defined by what contemporary psychologists say he is.

b. Man is defined by what the American Supreme Court says he is.

c. Man is defined by what human church creeds say he is.

Will you let Washington D.C. determine who you are? What about a university chemist; or, a medical journal? If the universe has a Lord at all, he is Lord of all. And, if he is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. “You”—what an amazing three letter word! The Bible says, “Peace to all of you who are in Christ” (1 Peter 5:14). Yes, “you” are important to God—by virtue of creation, and now by redemption. The fact that he made you is tremendous. But, the fact that he loves you is stupendous! “You” can never be the same again—for “you” were meant for God!

-Robert M. Housby

“And the priest said to them, Go in peace.
The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD”

(Judges 18:6)

The New Testament contains a phrase which expresses a profound sentiment from God to man—“Go in peace”(Luke 7:50; 8:48). This concept is elsewhere expressed in such terms as: “Now the God of peace be with you” (Romans 15:33) and, “the Lord of peace himself give you peace” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Where does this rich religious thought originate? We understand that the New Testament term “peace” came from the Hebrew concept shalom.

1. Shalom was a greeting of well-wishing (see Gen. 29:6).

2. Shalom meant security; contentment; and, sometimes absence of war (Ps. 4:8; Isa. 26:3; 1 Sam. 7:14).

3. Shalom carried the theological idea—to journey under the eye of the Lord (Judg. 18:6).

Those “in Christ” may go in peace. “Peace be with you all that are in Christ.” (1 Pet. 5:14). Is it well with you today?

-Robert M. Housby

“…though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”

(Isaiah 1:18)

The color red is the color of sin (Isaiah 1:18). It has the longest light rays, and is usually associated with warning, even in the modern world of our own 21st century. Stop signs are red. Bio-hazardous materials are coded red, as well as other human threats.

1. The word red in Hebrew is derived from the root, dam, signifying blood
(Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, 708).

2. The Old Testament tabernacle was covered with dyed animal skins
(Exodus 25:5).

3. The Bible speaks of the redness of one’s eyes as compared to wine: “his eyes are darker than wine” (Genesis 49:12).

4. Certain astronomical phenomena are depicted in terms of blood red
(Joel 2:31; Revelation 6:12).

5. Water is described in 2 Kings 3:22,23 as being red as blood.

6. The red-heifer of Numbers 19 has tremendous theological symbolism
(Hebrews 9:13,14).

7. Messiah himself (Christ Jesus, Jn. 1:41) is ultimately clad in red
(Revelation 5:6,9; John 19:34).

The greatest threat of all is sin; bloody-red, deadly sin. But, the greatest redemptive feat of the universe is God’s substitutionary atonement through Christ Jesus, the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:21; Jn. 3:16; Isaiah 1:18)!

-Robert M. Housby

“Blow a trumpet in Zion: sound an alarm on my holy mountain!”

(Joel 2:1)

NEW 2005 SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES!

EXPOSING MAJOR FALSE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES:

BY EXALTING THE WORD OF GOD OVER HUMAN CREEDS

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“WHY IS THIS SERIES NEEDED TODAY?”

1. False teachers and false doctrines are in the world today
(Matt. 7:15; 24:11; 2 Cor. 11:12-15, 26; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 Jn. 4:1).

2. God’s people are to hate “every false way” that so-called religious leaders are advocating (Ps. 119:104, 128; Jer. 23:16, 28, 33-36).

3. The church is “the pillar and ground of the truth”
(1 Tim. 3:15).

To assume that, “One religion is as good as any other,” or that, “One church is as good as any other,” is to buy into religious pluralism (see Col. 1:23). Neither the gospel, nor the church, is doctrinally pluralistic (Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:4-6).

– Robert M. Housby

banal – commonplace; trivial; trite; hackneyed.

(Webster’s New Universal Dictionary, Unabridged, p. 145)

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High / Possessor of heaven and earth; and bless God Most High…”

(Genesis 14:19,20)

On the subject of blessings, David wrote: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, Bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…Bless the Lord, all his work, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:1,2,22). Blessings are meant to be acknowledged:

1. Theologically – “Bless the LORD” (Ps. 103:1)

2. Personally – “my soul” (Ps. 103:1,2)

3. Emotionally – “O my soul” (Ps. 103:1,2,22)

4. Completely – “and all that is within me” (Ps. 103:1)

5. Invitational – “in all places of his dominion” (Ps. 103:22)

In Genesis 12:1-3, we find The Seven Blessings of Abram. Notice the phrase: “I will…” throughout this passage. This is the God of Abram; and these “I will” statements are the avowed course of action of this God. And, the greatest of these is the gospel interjection: “In you shall all the nations be blessed” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:8,9,26).

There is no banality in the gospel. Dismiss your slang blahs today!

-Robert M. Housby

“…dip… the living bird in the blood…

and let the living bird loose in the open field”

(Leviticus 14:6,7, NKJV)

“[Jesus] who was delivered up for our trespasses

and was raised for our justification”

(Romans 4:25, ASV)

The Bible explains human sin by associating it with the terrible skin disease of leprosy; including, possibly, Hansen’s disease, caused by the microorganism, Mycobacterium leprae. In Leviticus 13, the Bible outlines diagnostics for identification and procedural guidelines for the treatment of leprosy. These hygienic measures are in agreement with modern concepts of communicable disease control: especially running water and isolation of the patient. Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city (Lev. 13:46). They were also required to warn passers-by by crying out: “Unclean, Unclean!” (Lev. 13:45).

“The Law of the Leper” (Lev. 14:1; Lk. 5:14; 24:44) involved the Jewish priest; two birds; and, a plan. One bird would be killed in fresh water (Lev. 13:5). The other bird would be dipped in the blood of the dead bird (Lev. 13:6). The leper would be sprinkled seven times with this blood, cedar-wood, scarlet and hyssop (Lev. 13:7). Then, the bird would be set free in the open country (Lev. 13:7b).

“In Christ,” the red-bird is set free! And, “in Christ,” Christians are cleansed and loosed (Rom. 4:25; 6:3-11; 8:2; Rev. 1:5; Gen. 1:20)!

– Robert M. Housby

How Samson Prefigures Christ

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

(Philippians 4:13)

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice …”

(Hebrews 11:32,33)

The Hebrew scholar, Dr. John Willis, entitles Judges 13-16, “The True Source of Strength” (The Message of Old Testament History, Vol. 2, p. 81). This is the story of Samson. While Samson does not prefigure Christ in all ways, there are some remarkable Messianic similarities:

1. Both were men of faith (Hebrews 3:2,5; 11:32,33).
2. Both received angelic birth announcements (Judg. 13:3,6,7; Lk. 1:30,31).
3. Both men were empowered by “the Spirit of the Lord” (13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14; Matt. 3:16).
4. Both men were deliverers (Judg. 13:5; Matt. 1:21).
5. Both men were mocked in their last hours (Judg. 16:23,25,27; Lk. 18:32; 23:35-38).
6. Both men died between two verticals, left and right (Judg. 16:25; Lk. 23:32, 33).
7. Both men died in victory (Judg. 16:28-30; Col. 2:15).

The story of Samson, as the story of Christ, mingles tragedy with triumph.

-Robert M. Housby

THE LAST WEEK IN THE LIFE OF JESUS OF NAZARETH

with Special Emphasis on the Gospel of John

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[Brother Robert Housby is preparing a Study-Guide to be used in the Sunday Morning Bible
Class. This class will take a look at the last week in the life of Christ. It is entitled, The Last
Call, and will begin in September, 2005]

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away.”

(Hosea 11:1,2)

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Out of Egypt I called my son.”

(Matthew 2:13-15)

Jesus was called by God (Matt. 2:15). That call had purpose (Isaiah 42:6). By John 13:1, Jesus’ call is in its final stages. It is associated theologically with the Passover; and with an appointed Hour; and, with the investment of agape Love. The Last Call will take us to the threshold of Calvary and beyond. You, too, are now called to participate (Romans 1:1,6,7; 8:28,30; 9:24; Phil. 3:14).

-Robert M. Housby

“Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

(Numbers 11:4-6)

God was not pleased with most of the children of Israel in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:5). Moses observed, “And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled” (Numbers 11:1). We are told in Scripture that, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Ps. 103:8). So, what was Israel’s real problem, after all, God had blessed this people with unimaginable blessings? Numbers 11 and Psalm 106 contain information about what really happened in the wilderness:

1. They complained despite the provisions of God (Numb. 11:1).
2. They preferred the delicacies of Egypt (Numb. 11:6).
3. They forgot what God had done for them (Ps. 106:7,13, 21).

The melons and cucumbers of Egypt are but symbols of what was most important to the Israelites. Their legacy is an example of rebellion (Hebrews 3:8). Their rebellion was religious rebellion: for they rejected Moses, the chosen (Ps. 106:16,23); they rejected true worship (Ps. 106:19); and, ultimately, they rejected their God (Ex. 16:8; 1 Sam. 8:7,8; 10:18,19).

Christians, too, must take care not to complain, prefer the world, or forget.

-Robert M. Housby