"The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: 'He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.' The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?' Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus."

The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53:7-8, having just returned from Jerusalem to worship, he probably felt confused by the rituals -- yet still called. So he pulled over to the side of the road and began to read Scripture. The eunuch asked of Phillip, "who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?." I think Phillip's response to tell him "the good news about Jesus," is the key to understanding the Old Testament -- it's all about Jesus. Bible scholars call the interpretation of Scripture -- Hermeneutics.

An example of this might be from Exodus 15:22-25. A casual reading of these verses tells the story of the Israelites' search for water in the desert for three days following the leaving of Egypt. The Israelites finally found water only to discover it was bitter; they grumbled to Moses and Moses cried out to God; the Lord showed Moses a piece of wood which he threw into the water; and the water became sweet. It's a nice piece of history that becomes poignant, meaningful, and full of application when we apply hermeneutics and look for Jesus. Here are some of my thoughts on the symbolism and application of these verses from Exodus:

* The search represents our emptiness when we look for meaning in the wrong places;

* The grumbling is our sin nature;

* Moses represents our Savior and intermediary -- Jesus;

* The three days symbolizes the three days in the tomb before Jesus' resurrection;

* The wood is the cross of Calvary;

* The water and the turning of bitterness to sweetness represent what happens to us when we are baptized.

You can probably think of even more symbolism and application as well. My point is that the Old Testament comes alive and becomes so much more than a collection of stories and historical information when we apply Jesus.

Have you ever been puzzled when reading the Old Testament? Try applying "hermeneutics" and find Jesus. What is your favorite Old Testament story? Can you find an application, prophesy, etc relating to Jesus?

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