DIVINE UPRADE - PART 2

WEDNESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2023

As I share the expository knowledge of this topic, be confident and conscious of the truth that God will replace what you've been enjoying as a good heritage with something better that will surprise you and keep you more joyful this season. Shout a big Amen!

Reference : Isaiah 60:17 New International Version (NIV) "Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler."

The first segment in relation to my exposition based on the above versified statement is:

"Instead of bronze I will bring you GOLD."

Simply put, gold is better than bronze. It is classified as precious metal because of the colour and lustre which it retains, as well as, its durable resistance to oxidation or tarnishing condition, which makes it superbly valuable for jewelry and ornamentation. While bronze is classified as a common metal because humidity and bad heat can damage it.

In Genesis chapter 2, after creation of the heavens and the earth was completed in all their vast array, the Lord God planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Notably in verse 12, the Bible specifically mentioned that the gold of land of Havilah was good; aromatic resin and onyx were also there, all made and designed by God, the supreme Creator. This is an important significance because the land was characterised by a solid treasure of gold. Hence, the land was of paramount value. Indeed, gold is worth more per ounce than bronze, and it's far more rare. No wonder "Havilah" needed to be specifically mentioned in that chapter. Hallelujah!

All through the Bible, gold is affirmed as real wealth. Due to the rare nature, the monetary value in biblical times was quite huge, which in turn, made its functionality extremely beneficial in commercial transactions, as well as instrumental in measuring wealth and prominence. The Bible also noted that kings and queens made the payment of their transactions in gold and silver.

Not only does gold serve as an indicator of great wealth in the Old and New Testaments, acquiring it can also be compared to obtaining true and accurate knowledge, wisdom and understanding, which is far more valuable (see Proverbs 20:15 NIV). More so, in the description of New Jerusalem, it was stated the great street of the city was of pure gold, as pure as transparent glass (see Revelation 21:21 NIV). And this is what God has given us this season - gold and its inestimable values, instead of bronze.

In Numbers chapter 21, when the people of God got discouraged as a result of unbelief, and murmured against Moses for bringing them into the wilderness - God afflicted them. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "Pray that the Lord will take away the poisonous snakes." Moses prayed for them, and God instructed Him to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten by a poisonous snake could look at the bronze snake and live (see Numbers 21:9 NIV).

But in the new Testament, the bronze serpent was replaced by something even more than gold, namely Christ. In a nutshell, God has given every born again Christian, an eternal gift far better than bronze and more precious than gold. Unfortunately, the ancient Israelites did not have the powerful Christ living in them like we have today. "How?" You may ask!

In John 3:14-15 (NLT), the Bible made reference to the bronze snake and its replacement, which is Christ. According to the versified statement, it reads, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." So bronze serpent, a symbol of sin and judgment, was a foreshadowing of the real deal, namely Christ, full of grace, truth and mercy. Just the same way the bronze serpent was lifted on a tree, Christ, a greater mystery, was crucified and put on a tree, which was a symbol of a curse (see Galatians 3:13 NIV).

To that effect, apostle Paul expounded the truth to the Galatians, saying that Jesus was the replacement that became a curse for us, although as the Lamb of God, He was spotless and blameless, without sin, yet He became sin on our behalf. Beloved, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading- Genesis 13:2; 2 Chronicles 32:27; Isaiah 2:7; Psalm 45:9; Job 28:12-19; 2 Chronicles 1:15; Psalm 72:15.

Exuberant Declaration: The gold of the land is mine and is good for my sake. I'm luxuriously blessed without measure. I am rich and wealthy in precious metals, and my financial blessings and prosperity expand without restraint. Hallelujah!