Jesus in the Old Testament: The Angel of the Lord

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

God’s conversation with Abram’s servant Hagar may have been a Christophany, an Old Testament appearance of Jesus.

Genesis 16:7 (NIV)
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert.

The angel of the Lord, meaning messenger of the God of Israel, stopped Hagar as she was running away from home.

Genesis 16:13
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Ponder this: the first person to lay eyes on Jesus may have been a runaway Egyptian slave — long before Israel was a nation.

 


Good morning, Lord. You see me and care for me — all the time. Thank You. I see You in the beauty of creation, I see You in the words of Scripture, I see Your image in the people I know and love (and sometimes in those I don’t). And some future day, I will see You face-to-face!

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Christophanies

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Christophany — a big word defined with more big words: a temporary appearance of Christ before His incarnation. You won’t find the word in the Bible.

Jesus shows up a few brief times in the Old Testament. This shouldn’t come as a surprise.


John 1:1-2, 14 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Jesus’ existence didn’t start with the Christmas story. He was here before the beginning. This week, we’ll look for Jesus in the in-between time of the Old Testament.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are eternal, existing before time and beyond time. You spoke the world — and the sun, moon and stars — into existence; that is, You created time. Then, thousands of years later, You came to earth to live within time from birth to death and resurrection. And sometime in the future, You will come again.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

 

 

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Prince of Peace

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given …
And he will be called …
Prince of Peace.

 

The Hebrew word Isaiah uses here, shalom, means so much more than “peace.” It implies well-being, safety, prosperity, completeness. As the Prince of Shalom, Christ is the source of global and personal well-being, safety and prosperity. In Him, each of us, all of us, and the world as we know it will be completed.

Hard to imagine, right?

 

Good morning, Lord. There are wars and rumors of war. The battle between political parties seems to have no end. Relationships are broken. Yet I can be at peace. Thanks to You, I can have the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7). I pray for shalom — in the world, in my relationships, in my soul, in the name of the Prince of peace.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Everlasting Father

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born …
And he will be called …
Everlasting Father.

 

Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy is confirmed by the New Testament words of Jesus Himself:

John 10:20
“I and the Father are one.”

 


Good morning, Lord. The Trinity is a bit of a mystery — one God, three persons. I don’t fully understand, but I believe. I hear You in the whisper of the Spirit. I feel You in the touch of the Son. I see You in the Father’s glorious creation. Fill me with the knowledge of You, in Jesus’ everlasting name.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Mighty God

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born …
 And he will be called …
Mighty God.

 

It’s Christmas time and we tend to focus on sweet baby Jesus. Isaiah reminds us that He is also Mighty God — drop-to-your-knees-in-awe mighty.  The God who spoke the world into existence. God who rose from the grave. God who is coming in power to establish His kingdom and judge the living and dead.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are King of kings and helpless Babe. You are my best Friend and my Lord God Almighty. You are perfectly loving and perfectly holy. Teach me to love and fear You at the same time. Fill me with the wonder of Christmas, the joy of Easter and the hope of eternity, in Jesus’ mighty name.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Counselor

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


We’re looking for Jesus in the Old Testament. Let’s start with names.

 


Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given …
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor …

We know this son is Jesus. The name here is Counselor — a title we associate with the Holy Spirit. Isaiah is reminding us that we worship one God in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

One more thought: there is no better counselor than God. 

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for good counselors, for people who provide godly advice and help us understand our thoughts and actions. But You are the Wonderful Counselor, the One who knows all our thoughts and sees every action. Teach me to seek first Your divine wisdom and follow Your guidance in humility and trust — in Jesus’ wonderful name.

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Gifts from the Old Testament

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


More than a few Christians skip right over the Old Testament, thinking the New Testament is all they need. That’s like leaving half the presents under the Christmas tree unopened.

Jesus said,

Matthew 5:17 (EXB)
“Don’t think that I have come to destroy [abolish; do away with] the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets [the Law and the Prophets; referring to the OT]. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said [fulfill/complete them].”

Between now and Christmas, we’ll focus on Old Testament references to Christ. Prepare to open some old gifts.

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for Your Word — all of it! Forgive me for skipping over the parts I don’t like, sections that are hard to read or understand. Every jot and tittle is important, this I know. It’s all part of Your big, beautiful love story. Holy Spirit, reveal Scripture’s message for me today and every day. 

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Missed Gratitude for New Creations

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

A name and face kept interrupting my thoughts. It was my difficult, arrogant boss from a short-term job decades ago. Moving on, I’d put those unhappy months out of my mind. A quick internet search led me to my former boss’s obituary. It told of his deep love for God and his years of humble service to his church and community.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

Thanks be to God, he was a not the man I knew … he was a new creation. 

 

Good morning, Lord. There are people in my life for whom I give no thought or prayer. Thankfully, You are at work in their hearts, without my help. I focus on myself, on my friends and family, on people in my inner circle. You focus on everyone. Thank You for Your transforming power at work in me, in those I know and love, in folks I have long forgotten, in multitudes I do not know.

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Missed Gratitude for a “No” Answer

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


“Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!”
Thanks to God
August L. Storm, 1891
Trans. Carl L. Backstrom, 1931

 

Yes or No, God is right — He always is.

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for answering all my prayers. Your response isn’t always what I want when I want it, but every answer is the right answer. Even when I don’t understand the why, I can trust the Who. You bring me good blessings every day of my life, and for that I am grateful.

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Missed Gratitude for Long Legacies

Posted on November 26, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


I’m part of a church established more than a hundred years ago. Folks long dead had the faith to buy the property and build a house of worship. I’ve listened to sermons, vacuumed the sanctuary, taught Bible lessons and served on committees with nary a thankful thought of the people who came before me.

Perhaps, from their home in heaven, they see us and give thanks.

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
… we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses …

We’re witnesses to their legacy of faithful service. Let’s carry on their work with grateful hearts.

 


Good morning, Lord. I reap blessings from the efforts of believers who came before me — in my church, in my family, in my nation. Forgive me for overlooking their work. May I live in such a way that future generations will be blessed by the legacy of faith I leave behind.

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