God Wants to Bless

Acts 3:22-26 For Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.” 24 Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, “Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.” 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.
 
PETER’S last sentence in verse 26 is a wonderful summary of God’s plan for the Jews. Jesus, God’s servant, came first to the Jews to reveal his glory, so his people would turn from their wicked ways. This is the picture of a loving Father, who desires his children know the blessings he has prepared to pour over them. 
   Peter teaches the Jews that Jesus is the incarnation of the Word spoken to Abraham: Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” How wonderful to know God’s purpose for forming a particular people group was to bless them! As heirs to God’s will, they would freely receive all abundance and goodness the Father planned to give them. In response to heaven’s outpouring, the Jews had the means to bless all nations.
   God’s promise to bless his people then extended to Moses’ prophecy of the Messiah: Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.”  A prophet like Moses would be one who had personal interaction with God as Moses had experienced. He would judge Israel, and he would intercede for Israel. As Moses led Israel in the covenant of the law, the prophet like him would lead Israel into the New Covenant of salvation by faith. From the time of Samuel, the prophets  spoke of a prophet who could equal and exceed Moses’ authority.
   For example, with the Spirit’s insight the soon-to-be disciple Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45) The Spirit also confirms through Hebrews 3:5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
   Peter taught that God is the Father over a nation he created. He loves Israel and desires they receive the abundant blessings he is eager to give to them. Jesus fulfills God’s Word spoken throughout Israel’s history.