The Greatest Rescue Story

THE GREATEST RESCUE STORY

"Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them." Genesis 3:21.

Unbelievable! These guys had just rebelled against God. Instead of leaving them to bear the consequences of their rebellion, He clothed them. God looked down on Adam and Eve with compassion and covered their shame! "For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:11. Jesus Christ our Redeemer was publicly disgraced, despised, rejected, and crucified for our freedom from shame.

"18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 13:18.

In the days of Joseph, Egypt was a place of refuge and abundance for the children of Israel. But centuries after his death, the people are brutally enslaved and oppressed and by the Egyptians. They cried out to God and He heard them! God sent Moses to rescue them from Egypt. Moses went to Pharaoh to tell him to let Israel go. Pharaoh would not listen. So God sent terrible plagues upon the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh would not let them go. The last plague the Lord sent was by far the worst. He sent the angel of death to kill the firstborn child of every family and the firstborn of every animal in Egypt. God love the children of Israel so much that He was willing to remove any impediment to their rescue. During the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to leave Egypt with the children of Israel. Finally the Egyptians captivity was broken and Israel were on their way home. Through Jesus Christ, God also delivers us from bondage and sin into a new reality of life in abundance.

"Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." Genesis 7:1.

The inhabitants of the world in the days of Noah sinned greatly, and God warned them of an impending judgment. Those who would repent of their sins were invited to board the Noah's ark. But after many years of warning, the only people who stepped in were Noah and his family. Though there were rooms for many more people in the ark, but only eight were rescued. Redemption was offered to all. Sadly, few accepted the offer.

"22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry." Luke 15:22-24.

A rich man had two sons. One day the younger son went to his father, asked for his inheritance and left home. He went into a far country! After a time he ran out of money. The younger man had spent it all on self-indulgence. Because of a famine in that land he was in an even more desperate situation. Eventually he decided that it would be better to return to the house of his father. On approaching home, he was met by his father who had been watching and waiting for his return. A great feast was made for him. His father gave him a robe and a ring as well. Though he had gone astray, he was restored. God also wants to restore you; come to Him today. Isaiah 53:6. Despite all the pain we've inflicted on Him, He stands ready and willing to accept us as His children. "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." Luke 15:7. God's calling you to be a part of His family today. He's ready to accept and forgive you, no matter what you've done. Don’t wait till it’s too late.

"11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." Matthew 18:10-14.

A sheep apart from its shepherd is in grave danger. Jesus will seek far and wide to bring us back home to Him.