Volume 10: With All Your Heart
Ray Vander Laan takes us on a journey through Sinai and Israel, a region that is still largely desert but at times filled with lush, bountiful places. We will discover how Jesus called people to live in the Promised land. What can we learn during times of abundance and in times of desert. God led his people back to the desert often to relearn the lessons they had forgotten. John the Baptist and Jesus had powerful encounters in the desert. We will learn that the desert is where we are closest to God. It is where our relationship with God is at peace.
01. Build Me a Sanctuary
When the tabernacle was established among the Israelites, God came and lived among His people. Its design, construction, and function revealed much of His character, which proved to be completely unlike that of any gods the people had ever known. In this lesson, you will discover the purpose, awe, and comfort that the tabernacle, as a symbol of God's constant presence, provided for the Israelites.
Locations: Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt, Timna valley, Israel
02. Making Space for God
God desired a people who would partner with Him in "making space" to reveal Himself to a broken world. The detailed patterns and plans for the tabernacle not only illustrated the kind of care and devotion He wanted to display to His people, but also gave them an opportunity to participate in a tangible way. Walk through the details of the tabernacle as you consider how to make space for God in your life.
Scripture References: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Exodus 21:1, Exodus 25:8, Exodus 30:11, Exodus 30:17, Exodus 30:22, Exodus 30:23, Exodus 31:1, Exodus 31:12-13, Leviticus 9:23-24
Locations: Timna valley, Israel
03. He Led Them Like a Shepherd
Psalm 78 says that God led his people Israel "like sheep through the desert." Their wanderings through the Sinai provide a striking image of God's leading in our lives today. In this lesson, you will follow God's people through this barren desert, remembering the Good Shepherd who encourages us to lead as He leads.
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 18:15, Deuteronomy 18:18, Numbers 14:33, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 40:11, Psalm 77:20, Psalm 78:52, Psalm 95:7
Locations: Jebel Musa/Mt. Sinai, Timna valley, Israel
04. By Every Word: Striking the Rock
Interestingly, when God chose a person to lead His people out of Egypt by the power of His word, He chose Moses, a man with a speech impediment. In this lesson, consider the implications of allowing His strength to work in weakness as you discover what it means to be continually led by the living Word.
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Peter 2:4-5, Deuteronomy 17:14-18, Deuteronomy 34:10-12, Ephesians 6:17, Isaiah 32:2, Isaiah 55:10-11, Numbers 20:8, Zechariah 4:6, Zechariah 12:3
Locations: Timna valley, Israel
05. With All Your Might: The Final Test
The blessings of a good land can often obscure the hard-learned lessons of the desert. In a sense, the real test for the Israelites came after they had crossed into the Promised Land, when their need for God was less obvious throughout daily life. In this lesson, remember to be faithful to obey God's word in every season and circumstance.
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:10-13, Exodus 7:1, Exodus 19:6, Isaiah 5:1-2, Isaiah 5:2, Isaiah 5:3-4, Isaiah 5:7, Joel 3:18, Matthew 21:33-44, Micah 4:4
06. A Well-Watered Garden
A fruitful vineyard requires the cooperation of a community. In this lesson, you will explore the communal nature of producing a vineyard and discover the significant implications that this imagery still has for God's people today.
Scripture References: Isaiah 5:1, Isaiah 58:10-12