(no subject)

Okay, I now believe I know the two reasons Emerald Ballad is growing wearisome to me.

1. Everyone is conveniently a Christian or a heathen. No middle ground, really.

2. The dialogue feels so forced and ridiculous and everyone talks in the same awkwardly ornate fashion, including the men. Men do not talk ornately. Let's just face it. Women, maybe, if they are drama queens. But not men.

In my own writing, I try to make each character have his own voice and way of speaking. I don't know how well I succeed, but I do try. I'm probably guilty of making dialogue ornate sometimes myself. Still though.

And NOT EVERYONE IS A CHRISTIAN. Okay?

Okay.

(no subject)

In the Old Testament, a man named Joseph has dreams and goes into Egypt to preserve his family (Genesis 45:5). In the New Testament, another Joseph likewise had dreams and goes into Egypt to preserve his family (Matthew 2:13).

When the young nation of Israel comes out of Egypt, God calls it “my son” (Exodus 4:22). When Jesus comes out of Egypt, God says “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:15).

When Israel leaves Egypt, her people go through the Red Sea. The apostle Paul says they were “baptized unto Moses ... in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:2). Jesus is also baptized “to fulfill all righteousness,” and immediately afterward God proclaims Him, “my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:15-17)

After the Red Sea crossing, the Israelites spend 40 years in the wilderness—led by the pillar of fire, God’s Spirit. Immediately after baptism, Jesus is “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness” for 40 days (Matthew 4:1, 2).

At the end of the 40 years, Moses writes Deuteronomy. At the end of Jesus’ 40 days, He resists Satan’s temptations by quoting three Scriptures—all from Deuteronomy!

In Psalm 80:8, God calls Israel a “vine” that He brought “out of Egypt.” Jesus later declares, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).

In the Old Testament, the name “Israel” first applied to one man: Jacob—representing his spiritual victory over sin. Even so, in the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the Israel who came “out of Egypt.” He is the one victorious man who overcame all sin!

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