God’s Continuing Encounter with Men

MEMORY VERSE: “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” —Romans 15:4

DEUTERONOMY 5:1-6; 30:15-20

GOD’S direct encounter with men throughout the ages has been very limited. When our first parents transgressed divine law the condemnation of death came upon them, and they were driven out of the perfect garden home which the Creator provided for them—driven out into the unfinished earth to die. However, this does not mean that God no longer loved his human creatures, for the Scriptures reveal that his plan entailed their recovery from sin and death in his own due time.

However, while God’s plan has been developing he has allowed the world of mankind to go much in its own way, interfering only when the selfish course of humans would hinder the outworking of his plan. About four thousand years ago God made a wonderful promise to Abraham that through his seed he would bless all the families of the earth. (Gen. 12:3) As God continued to unfold his plan it was revealed that the principal seed of blessing would be spiritual. The Apostle Paul identifies that Seed as being Christ, and associated with him his faithful footstep followers.—Gal. 3:8,16,27-29

However, the natural descendants of Abraham who qualified through faithfulness to the Lord are to be, when raised from the dead, the human representatives of the spiritual seed. These will come forth from death in what the Scriptures describe as a “better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35,40) The psalmist wrote that they will be made “princes in all the earth.” (Ps. 45:16) Jesus said that in the kingdom the people would come from east, west, north, and south and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets—sit down, that is, to observe and learn.—Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:28,29

Throughout the Patriarchal Age God dealt with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a special manner, reassuring them of his intention to bless all the families of the earth. With the death of Jacob, God’s hand was over his twelve sons and their offspring, who formed the nucleus of the nation of Israel. When they became slaves in Egypt, God miraculously delivered them from bondage, and entered into a covenant with them based upon the Law which he gave to them through Moses at Mt. Sinai.

Here we have an instance where God’s encounter with the unbelieving world was for the purpose of preventing their continuing to hold his own people in bondage. God foiled the plans of Egypt in order that his own purpose through Israel might be carried out. Through Moses God continued to deal with the Hebrew people during the wilderness journey. Through Moses God promised to continue to bless his people in proportion to their faithfulness to him.

According to promise the Israelites, under Joshua, possessed the land of Canaan, but again the continuance of God’s blessing depended upon their obedience to him and to his Law. On the whole, the nation failed to obey, although there were a faithful few in each generation who received the testimony that they pleased God. Examples of some of these are given in Hebrews, chapter 11.

David had been a great king in Israel, beloved by God, and when the angel Gabriel announced the coming of our Lord he said to Mary that Jesus would sit upon the throne of his father David. (Luke 1:30-33; Isa. 9:6,7) David’s throne is used in this prophecy as a symbol of divine authority and rulership in the earth, and Jesus is the One who, throughout his messianic kingdom, will exercise this rulership for the blessing of all mankind.

Our memory verse informs us that the Old Testament Scriptures are designed for our learning. Without the explanations given us in the New Testament, the Old Testament promises and prophecies would be obscure in meaning, and would not reveal the plan of God for human salvation. But with the explanations given in the New Testament, the Old Testament becomes vital, and we rejoice in the assurances it gives. For example, Isaiah wrote of one who would be led as a Iamb to the slaughter. Through the New Testament, we now know that this was a prophecy of the death of Jesus as the Redeemer and Savior of the world.

QUESTIONS

How much encounter has God had with humanity in general throughout the ages?

Toward whom did God show his favor during the Patriarchal and Jewish Ages?

With whom has God been dealing during the present age?

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