Wyatt Graham

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Old Testament

Is Jeremiah 29:11 a Promise for Us Today?

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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jer 29:11). 

The words Jeremiah 29:11 often encourages believers who experience difficulty, and they in turn share the verse with others to give hope when much in this world seems hopeless. While almost everyone recognizes the good desire here to share a promise from God’s word, some criticize Christians for doing so. 

The argument goes something like this. Jeremiah 29 is a letter from Jerusalem to exiles, and the promise relates to God’s plan to return the exiles back to Judea after 70 years (Jer 29:10). So, as the argument goes, Christians should not share this as a promise for them. It is for Israel, not us. We may learn some principal lesson here about God fulfilling his promises, but we should not claim for ourselves. 

I disagree. 

Not because I think it wise to ignore the historical context of Jeremiah 29 nor because I am unaware of the land promise to Israel. Rather, I am persuaded that the whole Scripture addresses Christians, including Jeremiah 29:11. 

Let me explain why. [Read more…] about Is Jeremiah 29:11 a Promise for Us Today?

Is Jesus the Angel of the Lord?

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The Angel of the Lord has fascinated and confused many readers of Scripture. At times, he seems like nothing else than an angelic being sent by the LORD. At other times, his identity becomes mixed with the LORD and speaks with the voice of God.

While some confusion of the details is inevitable, Scripture is much clearer on this matter than we sometimes think. I want to argue that the Angel of the Lord is unambiguously Jesus. [Read more…] about Is Jesus the Angel of the Lord?

How the 10th Commandment Makes Sense of the Prior 9 Commandments

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As my pastor recently emphasized, the Ten Commandments come from the mouth of God. He speaks them into existence. They are the Word of God. So they represent his character. And yet interestingly, when Jesus gives the New Law in Matthew 5–7, he internalizes the commandments. 

Instead of murder alone, Jesus cites anger as equally a sin (Matt 5:22). Rather than adultery alone, the Lord calls lust itself adultery in our heart (Matt 5:28). Jesus as the original divine Law Giver can of course modify his requirements. But I do not think that is the case.

I think Jesus deepens the logic already implicit in God’s Ten Commandments. He certainly gets to the heart of the matter. But what he gets at was already present in Exodus 20, albeit without the same level of specificity.  [Read more…] about How the 10th Commandment Makes Sense of the Prior 9 Commandments

The Entire Old Testament Is for Christians Today

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The Old Testament chronicles God’s dealing with the patriarchs and with his chosen nation Israel. So much so that entire law codes for Israel appear in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Here’s an example of instruction in the book of Deuteronomy: “When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof” (Deut 22:8).

Based on this text, here’s a question. Where’s your parapet? Or does the Old Testament’s historical context mean that it does not apply directly to you?

Far from it! On the contrary, the whole Old Testament wholly and completely applies to you and me. [Read more…] about The Entire Old Testament Is for Christians Today