Acts Day 60 - The Book

3:20 "...and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you."

Prophets, prophecy, foretold, preached before, since the world began, etc...

Does the Bible really predict the future and if it does why don't more people pay attention to it?

The answer to the first question is yes. The answer to the next question seems to be one of two possibilities, maybe more. It is true that many people only know what the Bible says through hearsay. They don't know for themselves what an extraordinary Book it is.

They don't know that before Israel was even a fully organized nation God predicted the day would come when they would ask for a human king and even stated why they would. The request came hundreds of years after the prophecy.

They don't know that the Bible predicted the complete and utter fall of Babylon even before Babylon was at it's peak as one of the wonders of the world. Still today it's ruins are an uninhabited wasteland.

They don't know the Bible predicted the man who would invade and overthrow the city of Babylon by name and how it would happen nearly 200 years before the man was born.

They don't know the Bible predicted the rise and fall of world empires from Babylon through to the end of time.

Another possibility for why the Bible is largely ignored is because they disagree with some things it says or what they think it says. However ignorance, misconceptions, or dismissal of the Book does not change the fact it is no ordinary Book.

What Peter is saying is that the Book foretold the arrival and the mission of Jesus over and over. Revisionist history made Moses out to be a national hero but the truth is when he was their leader the people rose up in rebellion against him many times. The source of that rebellion was the human will. They didn't want to follow. They didn't appreciate not being in control. They disagreed with his choices and were jealous of His position even though it was obvious that Moses was not acting independently. It was the cloud by day and fire by night that was leading the way.

The truth is they wanted the Promised Land but on their terms.

When Jesus came it was the same scenario over again. They wanted a Messiah but only on their terms.

Sadly we haven't changed. We only want a God on our terms. We craft religions to suit our tastes and desires. We are as intolerant now as they were then of anything outside their preconceived ideas. Sadly it was all foretold in the Book.

The good news is that the Book also says many will choose Him. The Book says the children of Abraham, the children of faith will be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. The Book says anyone can choose to be in that number and best of all God wants all of us to be in that number by our own choice.

"Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts..."