How does the woman's experience connect with God's promises in Deuteronomy 30:3-5? Setting the promises beside the story “then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations… He will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will possess it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.” “Now a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years… came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak… ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’ ” Parallels between the promise and the experience • Compassion promised—compassion shown – Deuteronomy 30:3: “have compassion on you” – Luke 8:47: “she came trembling… He said, ‘Daughter…’” – Jesus personally embodies the tender mercy Moses foretold. • Restoration from affliction—restoration to wholeness – Israel: captivity, exile, loss. – The woman: twelve years of physical, social, and ceremonial exile (Leviticus 15:25-27). – Both are brought back—Israel to the land, the woman to health and community. • Gathering the scattered—welcoming the isolated – Deuteronomy 30:3-4: “gather you again… even if you have been banished to the ends of the earth.” – The woman’s isolation ends when Jesus publicly calls her “daughter,” gathering her into His family (cf. Ephesians 2:13). • Inheritance restored—identity secured – Deuteronomy 30:5: “bring you into the land your fathers possessed.” – Jesus restores the woman’s covenant identity: “daughter,” heir of Abrahamic blessing (Galatians 3:7). • Flourishing promised—peace granted – Deuteronomy 30:5: “more prosperous and numerous.” – Luke 8:48: “Go in peace.” Shalom points to total well-being (Isaiah 55:12), the seed of future flourishing. Themes for personal application • No exile is too long or too far for God’s gathering compassion (Jeremiah 29:14). • Faith’s touch lays hold of covenant promises (Malachi 4:2). • Jesus is the fulfillment and the pathway to every Deuteronomy 30 hope (2 Corinthians 1:20). |
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