In his book, The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard points out that modern presentations of the gospel have sadly reduced it to one idea -- the forgiveness of sins. Jesus came to die on the cross to bear your sins, we tell people, so that you can go to heaven when you die. Not much is expected between the moment of faith and the day you die except the daily reminder that your sins are forgiven. Now, the gospel is all of that but much more. Jesus announced his coming as the

Jacob had every reason to be terrified (Genesis 32). Twenty or so years earlier he had swindled his brother Esau of something very valuable. Esau’s rage was murderous and so Jacob ran for his life. Now, returning home with understandable anxiety and guilt, he hears that Esau and 400 men are on their way to meet him. Jacob was “in great fear and distress”. Have you ever been there? Life seems to regularly throw us distressing and frightening circumstances. Perhaps like J

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology defines providence as “the sovereign, divine superintendence of all things, guiding them toward their divinely predetermined end in a way that is consistent with their created nature, all to the glory and praise of God. This … benevolent control of all things by God is the underlying premise of everything that is taught in the Scriptures.” We get an interesting window into the providence of God in Genesis 27. Abraham was e