(Names of Jesus series)
Romans 9:33. “As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
How is it possible that the Lord of all Creation could cause people to stumble?
What are they stumbling over?
When I study the Word of God and understand the love of God for me, I see a picture of a Savior who has my best in mind. He doesn’t want me to stumble and fall, to the contrary, He leads me and guides me in paths of righteousness for His names sake. If I were to stumble because of sin, He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:1-3. “The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
The Lord becomes like a Shepherd to those who love Him and place their trust in Him.
- He guides His people.
- He brings them to safe pastures.
- He leads them to refreshing waters.
- He restores the wayward soul.
- He leads His people in righteousness.
Not only does the Lord keep His people secure, but He guides their footsteps so that they will not stumble and fall.
Proverbs 3:24-26. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.”
If the Lord is so mindful of those who seek Him, what is it that causes others to stumble?
The Path’s of the Wicked
Jeremiah 6:21. “Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.’”
When the Lord raised up Jeremiah before Israel, He did so because of their rebellion against Him. The people had given themselves over to idolatry and every form of wickedness, and the Lord was warning them of judgement to come.
Israel had wearied the Lord of all the sin they had been committing. His plan was to give them over to their sin. The things Israel had placed their trust in became the very stumbling blocks by which they fell.
Ezekiel 7:19. “‘They will throw their silver into the streets,
And their gold will be like refuse;
Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them
In the day of the wrath of the Lord;
They will not satisfy their souls,
Nor fill their stomachs,
Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.”
If the idols of man become the stumbling blocks by which they fall, then the righteousness of God serves as an impediment in the path of wickedness.
When the Lord causes sinners to stumble, it is not meant for their demise but rather to impede their progress toward destruction.
At the end of 1 Peter 2:8 comes a conclusion as to the offense of God.
“They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.”
The message of the Cross is narrow and difficult to receive for those who are bent on following their own paths.
Romans 3:30. “There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.”
That God is Jesus Christ.
The Path of the Redeemed
Jesus came to redeem the lost. For those who have been ravaged by sin, they also walk in darkness. When the light of Christ shines within the darkness, the blind can either receive their sight or cower in fear and regret. When a believer proclaims the good news to those who are on the path of destruction, they can either heed the warning or try to avoid it.
The message of the Cross is offensive to those who desire their own agenda and for those who try to avoid it, they stumble over the message. The gospel brings conviction of sin through the moral law and the Messiah is the only resolution for sin and death.
If a sinner dies in their sin, they are lost forever. The message is vital for life and yet many cannot receive it.
John 1:10-12. “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name”
The path of the redeemed is straight and it is difficult. There are still many obstacles along the way that must be avoided, the difference is that the Lord is leading His people. When God’s people keep their eyes on Jesus, He directs their paths, He guides them through trials that are meant to strengthen their faith and He warns them of trouble while He directs them toward righteousness.
The path of the righteous leads to eternal life.
When the Messiah came, Israel stumbled over Him because they were looking for someone else. The failure of the few has lead to the salvation of the many.
Romans 11:11. “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!”
Are you looking at Christ and allowing Him to lead, or are you looking at your circumstances and forgetting your Shepherd?
You will soon know if your path is straight because the Lord will not allow you to go into trouble freely. If you stumble over the Messiah, you are not His. Hear His call for redemption, allow Him to guide you and you will be led forth in peace.
One day Israel will be restored and Jesus will reign over that land. The eyes of those in darkness will be made to see and they will rejoice over Him whom they had pierced.
Israel’s rejection has became our Salvation….for those who believe.
U.T. 