“Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”

Luke 24:11 “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”

“When Israel is used of the individual, it seems to allude to his position as clan head, whereas Jacob seems to be used where his human weakness is most obvious. This fits with the etymology of the names (“Jacob” = “struggler, deceiver” and “Israel” = “prevailed with God”). So Jacob turns into Israel when his strength revives.” Gordon Wenham

Genesis 43:14 “And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Three Surprises for Israel 1.A Surprise Report which calls for faith.

Genesis 26:1-3a “Now there was a famine in the land…and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you…”

1 Samuel 3:10-11 “The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.”

““God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.” Henry Blackaby

Genesis 15:12-14 “As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.”

Three Surprises for Israel 1.A Surprise Report which calls for faith. 2.A Surprise Request which calls for spiritual discernment.

“Appeared to him…” “Elsewhere in the patriarchal stories this verb is always used of God appearing to man, and its use here draws attention to the overwhelming impression on Jacob of the power, grandeur, and graciousness of Joseph in his own chariot attended by numerous servants.” Gordon Wenham

Luke 2:29-32 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Three Surprises for Israel 1.A Surprise Report which calls for faith. 2.A Surprise Request which calls for spiritual discernment. 3.A Surprise Reunion which calls for humble worship.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”