Good morning,
Genesis 12:1-4 God made an unconditional covenant with Abram. So begins the story of the nation Israel and the Messianic line, which led to Jesus.
Week four of the “Bible Is” series focuses in on Israel. The Bible is about Israel. Beginning in Genesis 12 and going through the rest of the Old Testament, the central theme centers around Israel. Its beginnings, time in Egypt, the Exodus, wandering in the dessert forty years, entering into the promised land, their obedience, rebellion, their prophets, and kings. It tells us that when they obeyed, they were blessed and when they disobeyed, they were cursed, just as God had told them. We see how their walking away from God caused them to fall into the captivity of the Assyrians and Babylonians. And how repentance caused God to restore them and allow them to go back to Jerusalem rebuild the temple, walls of the city, and worship God.
It seems as we enter the New Testament, God is through with Israel and the church had taken their place. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! The Old Testament prophets prophesied about the coming Messiah. They prophesied of how the nation of Israel would come back to their land. That God had not forgotten His covenant with Abram. The gospels all tell of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, coming to earth, to pay the sin debt for all mankind. Then in the book of Revelation, God deals with Israel again. Twice Satan had Israel on the ropes and was ready to destroy them and twice God step in to thwart Satan’s plan. No, God is not done with Israel.
Come with me on a journey to explore what the Bible says. The Scriptures are always helpful, encouraging, and challenging. That’s how we grow in our relationship with God!
The Bible is about Israel
39 books
Pentateuch (First 5 books: Law-Redemptive-Historical)
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Last 12 books Historical
Joshua Judges Ruth 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings 1-2 Chronicles
Ezra Nehemiah Esther
5 Poetry (Experiential-personal, dealing with the human heart)
Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon
17 Prophetical (5 major 12 minor prophets)
Major Prophets: Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel
Minor prophets: Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
HISTORY OF ISRAEL
ABRAHAM
Abrahamic Covenant: Genesis 12:1-4, 15:18-21 (land), 13:14-18 Miracle Birth: Isaac Genesis 21:1-8 Offering Isaac Genesis 22:1-18
ISAAC
Isaac and Rebekah Genesis 24Birth of Jacob and Esau Genesis 25:19-24
JACOB (deceiver)
Buys Esau’s birthright Genesis 25:27-34 Deceives Isaac to receive Esau’s blessing Genesis 27:1-33 Esau’s anger and Jacob’s flight to Laban Genesis 27:34-46 Jacob deceived by Laban in marriage Genesis 29:1-35 Jacob leaves Laban after being deceived ten times Genesis 31 Wrestles with the angel of God and name changed to Israel Genesis 32:22-32
JOSEPH (dreamer)
First dreams Genesis 37:1-11 Brothers sell him to Midianite merchants Genesis 37:12-36 Prosper in Potiphar’s house Genesis 39:1-6 Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and cast into prison Genesis 39:7-23 Interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker Genesis 40 Interprets Pharaoh’s dream Genesis 41:1-32 Pharaoh makes him ruler over Egypt Genesis 41:33-46 Saves two countries, Egypt and Israel, during the famine Genesis 41:47-57
EXODUS
Moses birth, childhood, Hebrew recognition, murder, shepherd, burning bush, call of God, 10 plagues, the blood, Passover Exodus 1-12 Red sea Exodus 14
THE LAW and other instructions
God meets with Moses and the people at Mount Sinai Exodus 19 Ten Commandments Exodus 20 The Law Leviticus 18-27
DEATH OF MOSES
Moses dies Deuteronomy 34
JOSHUA
Preparation for entering the promised land Joshua 1:1-5:15 The conquest of the promised land Joshua 6:1-13:33 The dividing of the land Joshua 14:1-21:45 Joshua dies Joshua 24:29-33
JUDGES
Failure to follow the Lord Judges 1-21
RUTH
Lineage of David and Jesus Ruth 1-4
1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles
The Kingdom age, rebellion, destruction of Jerusalem, captivity by Babylon
EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND ESTHER
The return of the Jews to Jerusalem. The restoration of the temple, the city walls, and the worship of God at the temple.
BOOKS OF POETRY
JOB
Job’s suffering, God’s goodness
PSALMS
David appoints the Levites to make petition and to thank and praise the God of Israel
PROVERBS
The book of wisdom
ECCLESIASTES
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man
SONG OF SOLOMON
Picture of the bridegroom (Christ) and His bride (His gentile Church)
THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS
MAJOR PROPHETS
Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel
MINOR PROPHETS
Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Warned Israel of coming judgement, captivity, restoration, their Messiah, the millennial reign of Yeshua, and their eternal home in the new heaven
NEW TESTAMENT
GOSPELS
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Birth of the Jesus Messiah. Yeshua’s ministry. Falsely accused, beaten, crucified, risen from the dead, seen by many for 40 days, ascends to heaven.
ACTS
The church age ushered in Acts 2
The rest of the New Testament centers in on the church. However, Israel is not forgotten. Many references in each book speak of Israel.
REVELATION
God is again dealing with the nation of Israel. Beginning in chapter 4 to the end of the book, Israel is the center of attention.
(Spoiler alert)
God protects Israel and are not defeated by Satan!
CONCLUSION
The Bible is about Israel
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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