Introductory Lesson - Overview
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Lesson Description:
Over the next couple of lessons we are embarking on a fascinating journey through the Bible story. Before we begin, I think it would be helpful to see the overall plan.
In the very beginning, for a brief time, God's ultimate purpose was a reality. In uncluttered simplicity, the Creator governed the earth. The earth was subject to man, and man was subject to God. When man sinned, however, the harmony was broken. Earth resisted man and would not yield its food without sweat and labor in the midst of thorns. Man resisted man from the pain of birth through the conflicts of life. Man resisted God - fleeing from His presence, straying from His precepts, disregarding His love. Not until Christ returns will all this resistance come to an end. Then the harmony once lost will be restored.
In the very beginning, for a brief time, God's ultimate purpose was a reality. In uncluttered simplicity, the Creator governed the earth. The earth was subject to man, and man was subject to God. When man sinned, however, the harmony was broken. Earth resisted man and would not yield its food without sweat and labor in the midst of thorns. Man resisted man from the pain of birth through the conflicts of life. Man resisted God - fleeing from His presence, straying from His precepts, disregarding His love. Not until Christ returns will all this resistance come to an end. Then the harmony once lost will be restored.
God's intention to do so was clear from the beginning. For God promised that the evil one would be defeated (Gen. 3:15). When this occurred, mankind and earth, under Satan's rule, would return to God who made them. Precisely how this would happen became more and more clear as time went on. Like a city on a distant horizon, which comes slowly into focus, so God's plan crystallized to regain people and the earth.
The focus was first sharpened when God promised Abraham that from his descendants would come a nation that would ultimately bless the entire earth (Gen. 12:1-3). The nation of Israel and its blessing to the earth was intended to be foreshadowed through its example and rule. For it was commissioned not only to show God's righteousness, but also to extend His rule over the earth. Through Israel's prophets, priests and kings, it was designed to fulfill those responsibilities. The kings were intended to mediate God's rule to man, the priests to mediate for man to God, and the prophets to proclaim God's revelation and guard its practice.
At times, it appeared that blessing through these mediators would come. The rule of the king was just and wise, the worship of the priests was faithful and sincere, the message of the prophets was uncompromising and clear. Nevertheless, for the most part, these mediators and consequently, the nation fell far short of their responsibilities. The kings often depended on their own strength or that of other nations and served idols rather than God. The priests sometimes worshiped at best in heartless ritual, and worst in heathen temples. The prophets' message could be often purchased by the highest bidder, and so he spoke for men and not for God.
But God's purpose never changed. He still intended through the nation's Messiah to rule a people and the earth. And the true prophets of God continued to proclaim that message. The nation of Israel would be judged they said. But her Messiah would reign in a future kingdom not only over Israel but over every nation upon the planet.
He would do so because He was the great Prophet, the great Priest, and the great King all in one. As the great Prophet, He would not only bring a new revelation, but speak the message without compromise. As the great Priest, He would not only pray for His followers, but bring them to the Father through His sacrifice. As the great King, He would not only be entitled to rule the earth in the present but would in actuality rule the earth completely in the future.
So, from the very beginning, God intended to counter the work of Satan and regain a people and the earth. Ultimately, it was revealed that through the Messiah of Israel this would be done. He would die to gain the people and return to gain the earth!
With this overview lesson we will begin to get a grasp of the beautiful, unified story of one God and His one plan.
The focus was first sharpened when God promised Abraham that from his descendants would come a nation that would ultimately bless the entire earth (Gen. 12:1-3). The nation of Israel and its blessing to the earth was intended to be foreshadowed through its example and rule. For it was commissioned not only to show God's righteousness, but also to extend His rule over the earth. Through Israel's prophets, priests and kings, it was designed to fulfill those responsibilities. The kings were intended to mediate God's rule to man, the priests to mediate for man to God, and the prophets to proclaim God's revelation and guard its practice.
At times, it appeared that blessing through these mediators would come. The rule of the king was just and wise, the worship of the priests was faithful and sincere, the message of the prophets was uncompromising and clear. Nevertheless, for the most part, these mediators and consequently, the nation fell far short of their responsibilities. The kings often depended on their own strength or that of other nations and served idols rather than God. The priests sometimes worshiped at best in heartless ritual, and worst in heathen temples. The prophets' message could be often purchased by the highest bidder, and so he spoke for men and not for God.
But God's purpose never changed. He still intended through the nation's Messiah to rule a people and the earth. And the true prophets of God continued to proclaim that message. The nation of Israel would be judged they said. But her Messiah would reign in a future kingdom not only over Israel but over every nation upon the planet.
He would do so because He was the great Prophet, the great Priest, and the great King all in one. As the great Prophet, He would not only bring a new revelation, but speak the message without compromise. As the great Priest, He would not only pray for His followers, but bring them to the Father through His sacrifice. As the great King, He would not only be entitled to rule the earth in the present but would in actuality rule the earth completely in the future.
So, from the very beginning, God intended to counter the work of Satan and regain a people and the earth. Ultimately, it was revealed that through the Messiah of Israel this would be done. He would die to gain the people and return to gain the earth!
With this overview lesson we will begin to get a grasp of the beautiful, unified story of one God and His one plan.
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