To understand the gospel record of Jesus Christ, we must go back before the beginning of time where the Son of God already dwells. This lesson deals with the very important truth that God’s Son did not begin at the time of His birth in a manger. He existed in eternity past and was the Creator of all things.
God had promised the Israelites that He had reserved a land of milk and honey for them (Exodus 3:8; Exodus 13:5; Leviticus 20:24). He had even “espied” the land Himself for them (Ezekiel 20:5-6), but they had to see for themselves (see Deuteronomy 1:22-23). They could not take God’s word that He would give them the land. They had to determine for themselves whether or not they could take it. As a result, God removed His blessings and allowed them to walk in their own counsels (Psalm 81:10-12). He let them wander for forty years in the wilderness (Ezekiel 20:13-17).<br />
<h4>Numbered List</h4>
<h4>Numbered List</h4>
Consider again the progression of the themes of the five books of Moses. Genesis deals with creation; Exodus with redemption; Leviticus with holiness; Numbers with wilderness wanderings; Deuteronomy with obedience to and the love of God. The order is important. Exodus pictures salvation and Leviticus pictures sanctification. What is the purpose of Numbers? It portrays the importance that various trials have in the growth of the believer. No Christian matures until he or she goes through serious trials and remains faithful to the Lord (Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Unfortunately, Numbers is mostly an illustration of what to avoid doing.<br />
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<h4>Numbered List</h4>
Jacob’s time is short. It will not be long before he departs this world. Before he passes, he calls for his sons to gather together that he might tell them the things that will befall them in the last days. Some of the sons receive good news, while others hear of loss and condemnation.<br />
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<h4>Numbered List</h4>
Joseph is 28 years of age at the time of this chapter. [He has 2 more years of prison (Genesis 41:1) and is 30 years old when he is exalted (Genesis 41:46).] It has been 11 years since his brothers sold him into slavery. God has always been with him (Genesis 39:3, 21) but deliverance always seems out of his grasp. This chapter gives the breakthrough for which he had been looking. But, as we will see, it is also part of a long drawn out plan.<br />
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<h4>Numbered List</h4>
This lesson gives several examples, both negative and positive, of waiting on God. Isaac waited on the right bride. He also waits on the promised offspring (as opposed to his father who went in to Hagar). He seeks God’s help through prayer. Rebekah prays for an answer to the dilemma of the struggle in her womb and God gives her special insight into His plan.
The tower of Babel is the sight of man’s first and (to date) only one world government. Man has dreamed of renewing a universal government since that time. All the empires of the past have been attempts to establish it. He believes that if man would just stop fighting himself and unite, he could accomplish anything and would no longer need God. God has therefore allowed divisions in language, geography, culture, etc., to keep man from uniting as one. Bible prophecy tells of a time when man will have his one world government and will use it to fight God and God’s people, the Jews. This is the time of the tribulation.<br />
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<h4>Numbered List</h4>
Even in the midst of destruction, God provides a way for the salvation of those who will trust in Him. The emphasis of this lesson is not one of judgment but of God’s mercy for His own. Notice also that God delivers His people out of the way of His wrath. He does not make them go through it. In like manner, God’s people in the age of grace will be raptured from the earth before the falling of God’s wrath upon it (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9).<br />
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<h4>Numbered List</h4>
The days of Noah are especially important to us because Christ told us that the day of His coming would be like them (Matthew 24:37-39). This story warns us against falling into the corruption of the world in which we live. Every student should make it their goal to be like Noah and live holy, separated lives before our God.<br />
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<h4>Numbered List</h4>
INTRODUCTION: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” is the basis of all we are and all we believe. Since we came from God, He is the only source for the truth about ourselves and about the purpose of life. We came from God. In order to have eternal life and a reason for living, we must return to God.<br />
<h4>Numbered List</h4>
<h4>Numbered List</h4>
