Ancient of Days
Written by Andrew Jermeland
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."
- Daniel 7:13-14
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to stories that cover long periods of time; the anticipation of how everything is going to turn out is exhilarating. So naturally I've been drawn to the stories of the Old Testament and the story of Joseph is one I reflect on often.
Joseph's life was an interesting one; he was a chosen son, blessed with dreams from the Lord, and clothed with a beautiful robe. His own brothers beat him and attempted to murder him. He resisted temptation and rose to a place where he fed both the Israelites and Egyptians in a time of famine. Where there was death, the Lord used Joseph to bring life. But like the majority of human stories, Joseph eventually died; he needed the Bread of Life as much as you and I do.
The Old Testament builds the anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, clothed in beauty, who came into this world to feed us, the Jews and the Gentiles. He resisted temptation, was beaten and killed by the very people He had created. But unlike Joseph, Jesus' story didn't end in death, but in Him conquering death and rising again. Church, our hope springs eternal because our God is the Ancient of Days.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that You are the Ancient of Days. This advent season, help us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Bread of Life, who conquered death and gives us eternal hope.
