Thursday Apr 05, 2018

God’s Mission - The Greater Exodus

God's Mission - The Greater Exodus

In this Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, the speaker, possibly Matthew Vander Els, introduces the series "God's Mission," emphasizing how to read the scriptures with the right perspective. The core idea is that the Bible tells one continuous story, revealing God's mission to redeem humanity and restore creation from corruption.

The Old Testament: A Story of Unfulfilled Promises

The Old Testament, or Tanakh, presents God's grand promises of salvation and redemption, which seem unfulfilled at its end. God's mission involves redeeming His people, calling them back to Himself, reconciling them, and restoring goodness to creation. The story begins with creation, quickly deteriorating after Adam and Eve's disobedience, leading to violence and corruption. God's attempt to cleanse the world through the flood doesn't end violence.

The story of the Exodus is central, where God hears the cries of the oppressed Israelites in Egypt and responds by sending Moses to lead them out of slavery. This event demonstrates God's character as one who responds to the afflicted. The Exodus is more than just history; it's a story that resonates in our lives today.

Israel's Cycle of Redemption and Failure

After the Exodus, God wants Israel to be a kingdom of priests, image-bearers to the world, set apart from the corruption of other nations. God gives them the Torah, a guide to living out this kingdom through justice, righteousness, compassion, mercy, and love. However, Israel repeatedly fails, falling into patterns of greed, violence, and oppression, mirroring Egypt.

King Solomon, despite his wisdom and the blessings he receives, breaks God's commands by acquiring excessive wealth, horses, and wives, and by using forced labor to build the temple. Israel becomes like Egypt, oppressing the weak and profiting from war.

The prophets rise, calling Israel to remember their past and return to God. They condemn the people's empty religious practices and warn of impending exile. Eventually, Israel is exiled to Assyria and Babylon, repeating the cycle of oppression.

The Promise of a Greater Exodus

Despite the exile, the prophets speak of a future hope: a new exodus, a second chance for Israel. This new exodus will be greater than the first, addressing the deeper issue of the human heart's enslavement to sin. It will involve a new covenant, where God's law is written on people's hearts, transforming them from the inside out.

Isaiah envisions a time when all nations will join this exodus, worshiping God together in peace and love. Enemies will become friends, and creation will be restored, with deserts flourishing like the Garden of Eden. A new servant and king, a son of David, will come to execute justice and righteousness, leading this new exodus.

Yeshua: The Fulfillment of God's Promises

The Gospels claim that Yeshua (Jesus) is the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies. Mark asserts that Yeshua's purpose is to lead this greater exodus. People recognize Yeshua as the Son of David, the one promised to bring redemption and reconcile humanity to God. Yeshua embodies the roles of Prince of Peace, Emmanuel (God with us), servant, king, Son of God, and redeemer. He is the key to experiencing the new life and new creation promised by the prophets.

Application for Everyday Life

Recognize the continuous story of the Bible: Understand that the Bible is not just a collection of stories, but a unified narrative of God's redemptive mission.
Identify personal "Egypts": Recognize the forces of oppression and corruption in your own life and in the world around you.
Embrace the character of God: Respond to the cries of the afflicted and oppressed, reflecting God's character.
Avoid entitlement: Be grateful for blessings and aware of the suffering of others, avoiding a sense of entitlement.
Seek transformation: Allow God to transform your heart, writing His law on it and changing you from the inside out.
Live as image-bearers: Represent God's kingdom through justice, righteousness, compassion, mercy, and love.
Experience the Greater Exodus: Find redemption and new life in Yeshua, participating in the ongoing story of God's mission.