GOD WITH US Part 1: The Great Blessing Genesis – Deuteronomy 1. God invited Abraham to Engage with His Promises. Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3). A GREAT NATION. A GREAT LAND. A GREAT NAME. A GREAT BLESSING to ALL the families of the earth. 2. God invited Moses and all Israel to Engage with His Plan. “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:4-6). Israel was to become A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS to represent God to the world. 3. Israel (1st generation) failed to stay Engaged with God, and lost the privilege of going into the land. “Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it” (Numbers 14:20-24). An 11-day journey to the Promised Land turned into a 40-year walk in the desert. 9/13/15 168 GOD WITH US Part 2: Conquest and Chaos Joshua – Judges - Ruth 1. GAME ON for Joshua and a new generation; but they had to Engage with God’s rules to win. “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses” (Joshua 1:2,3). The only way to experience the blessings of your relationship with God is through OBEDIENCE to His game plan. 2. Entanglement (with people-groups, beliefs and customs) killed engagement with God and His plan. “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth” (Judges 2:11-13). Engaging with the world (as God’s representative) and becoming entangled with the world are two very different things. 3. All along the way, God was looking for individuals who were willing to Engage with His plan. “She went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech (Ruth 2:3). God is always looking for a remnant of faithful people that He can engage with, to fulfill His plan to bring hope to the world. 9/13/15 169 GOD WITH US GOD WITH US Part 2: Conquest and Chaos Part 2: Conquest and Chaos Joshua – Judges – Ruth Joshua – Judges – Ruth Message 1 – Entering the Promised Land Message 1 – Entering the Promised Land Joshua 1-4 Joshua 1-4 Introduction Introduction The book of Joshua is the story of how Israel, under Joshua’s The book of Joshua is the story of how Israel, under Joshua’s leadership, entered the Promised Land and took possession of it by leadership, entered the Promised Land and took possession of it by conquering 31 Canaanite kings. Much of the book is devoted to conquering 31 Canaanite kings. Much of the book is devoted to stories of particular conflicts and the apportioning of the land stories of particular conflicts and the apportioning of the land among the 12 tribes after victory. There are deeper messages, among the 12 tribes after victory. There are deeper messages, however, in the book of Joshua. however, in the book of Joshua. Theologically , this book teaches us about walking in obedience Theologically , this book teaches us about walking in obedience and faith with Yahweh. The extent of Israel’s conquest and and faith with Yahweh. The extent of Israel’s conquest and appropriation of the land promised to Abraham (Gen.12:1-3) appropriation of the land promised to Abraham (Gen.12:1-3) depended on their faithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh, made depended on their faithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh, made at Mt. Sinai. To the extent that Israel was faithful to the terms of at Mt. Sinai. To the extent that Israel was faithful to the terms of the covenant, Yahweh would drive out the inhabitants of the land the covenant, Yahweh would drive out the inhabitants of the land and allow Israel to take possession of it. On the other hand, if and allow Israel to take possession of it. On the other hand, if Israel was unfaithful to the covenant, then their possession of the Israel was unfaithful to the covenant, then their possession of the land would be more limited. The book of Joshua, then, is a land would be more limited. The book of Joshua, then, is a theological treatise on the importance of walking in step with God theological treatise on the importance of walking in step with God and, thereby, enjoying the benefits of His favor in our lifetime. and, thereby, enjoying the benefits of His favor in our lifetime. Nationally , it is clear in the book of Joshua that God was sending a Nationally , it is clear in the book of Joshua that God was sending a powerful witness to the Canaanite nations and calling people to powerful witness to the Canaanite nations and calling people to turn to Him in faith. At the same time, God was judging these turn to Him in faith. At the same time, God was judging these nations for their sinful behavior over many centuries (see Genesis nations for their sinful behavior over many centuries (see Genesis 15:16) and expelling them from their land. Yet, even in judgment, 15:16) and expelling them from their land. Yet, even in judgment, God was offering to individuals in every nation the opportunity to God was offering to individuals in every nation the opportunity to turn to Him in faith and be saved from destruction (eg. Rahab). turn to Him in faith and be saved from destruction (eg. Rahab). Personally , this book chronicles the faith-journey of people like Personally , this book chronicles the faith-journey of people like Joshua, Caleb, Rahab and many others. We are given an up-close Joshua, Caleb, Rahab and many others. We are given an up-close look how real people struggled to trust God and walk in His ways. look how real people struggled to trust God and walk in His ways. There are many leadership lessons (and mistakes) in the book, There are many leadership lessons (and mistakes) in the book, which will be of special interest to all of us who are called to which will be of special interest to all of us who are called to exercise leadership of any fashion. exercise leadership of any fashion. 9/20/2015 170 9/20/2015 170 God’s charge to Joshua: 1:1-9 God’s charge to Joshua: 1:1-9 In the opening charge, God declared that He had already given the In the opening charge, God declared that He had already given the land to Joshua and the Israelites. No one will be able to stand land to Joshua and the Israelites. No one will be able to stand before the God at work in Joshua. before the God at work in Joshua. “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (1:5). you or forsake you” (1:5). Yet, there is a condition that must be met in order to receive this Yet, there is a condition that must be met in order to receive this divine protection. They must walk in obedience to the Covenant divine protection. They must walk in obedience to the Covenant made with Yahweh at Mt. Sinai, and He would, in turn, drive out made with Yahweh at Mt. Sinai, and He would, in turn, drive out their enemies and allow them to inherit the land.