Volume 13: Isreal's Mission
As they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, the Israelites not only agreed to partner with God by worshipping Him as king, they also took on a mission: become a kingdom of priests in a prodigal world. This had been God's plan for His people from the time He called Abraham out of Ur, a mission that would forever characterize Abraham's descendants and one which Jesus would renew with His own ministry. Follow the rabbi through Israel and Jordan, scaling mountains in the Sinai and exploring the ancient cities of the Decapolis as you unpack what it means to be a kingdom of priests today.
01. Abraham and Sarah and Three Strangers
When the Israelites left Egypt and began their journey with God to the Promised Land, how much did they know of their past history? Some, like Moses' parents, seemed to have retained a knowledge and faith in the God of their fathers, but the Bible says that many were worshipping idols. Not everyone remembered the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but He had big plans to reintroduce Himself and to continue His covenant with Abraham's descendants. In this lesson, join the Israelites as they discover the mission that God has for them and for His people today.
Locations: Negev Desert, Tel Arad, Arad, Israel, Timna valley, Israel
02. Israel at Sinai: The First Great Commission
In the beginning, God created magnificent beauty and order out of absolute chaos, "tohu vebohu," in Hebrew. When humanity rebelled, the world began a long progression of slipping back into that chaos. Yet God wasn't finished; He decided to choose partners, human partners, to initiate His plan to restore shalom to the broken world. In this lesson, join the Israelites as they flee the chaos of Egypt and stand before Mount Sinai, partnering with the God of the universe as He unfolds His plan of redemption.
Scripture References: 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 2:12, Deuteronomy 32:10, Exodus 6:1-99, Exodus 9:1-99, Exodus 19:3-6, Exodus 19:5-6, Exodus 25:1-99, Exodus 28:1-99, Galatians 1:17-18, Genesis 1:1-99, Isaiah 52:1-99, Isaiah 52:7, Luke 11:1-99, Numbers 15:37-41
Locations: Jordan River, Negev Desert, Timna valley, Israel, Wilderness of Paran, Israel
03. Jesus Renews His Mission: Seeking the Lost
Sheep and shepherds were so much a part of the Biblical world, it's no wonder Jesus uses the imagery as a metaphor in several of His teachings. The shepherds of His day knew every one of the animals in their flock by sight and spent their lives protecting and leading them to food and water. Many in Jesus' audience for the three-part parable of the prodigal son would have been surprised to hear that a shepherd lost his sheep. In this lesson, join Jesus' hearers in a village near Capernaum and learn from the Good Shepherd, the one who lays down His life for His sheep.
Scripture References: Exodus 19:6, Ezekiel 34:1-99, Isaiah 52:11, Isaiah 53:6, John 10:11, Luke 15:1-99, Matthew 18:12-13, Psalm 23:1
Locations: Qatzrin, Israel
04. The Lost Son: In a Far Country
Of all the parables Jesus told, the one we call "The Prodigal Son" is possibly the most famous. In the story, a younger son demands his inheritance from his father and leaves the family behind, taking his riches to a far country. The implication is not only that he left his family behind, but that he also discarded his Jewish heritage for a Gentile lifestyle. What would it have been like for the prodigal son, arriving in a world where the God of his fathers was no longer the only one to serve? Join the prodigal in the far country and discover for yourself exactly what it means to leave the father's house.
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:10-12, Deuteronomy 22:12, Exodus 10:16, Exodus 19:6, Galatians 3:28, Luke 15:1-99, Luke 15:13-20, Numbers 15:1-99
Locations: Gerasa (Jerash), Jordan, Qatzrin, Israel
05. The Seeking Father: The Lost Son Returns
Throughout His ministry, Jesus' compassion for sinners and those considered unclean raised the eyebrows of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. God's word warned His people not to touch any unclean thing, and they could not understand why Jesus chose to keep such company. In classic Jesus-fashion, He addressed their concerns with a story, a three-part parable about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In this lesson, join Jesus' audience and hear for yourself what He has to say about seeking the lost.
Scripture References: Exodus 10:16, Exodus 19:1-99, Isaiah 55:6, Luke 15:1-99, Luke 15:17-24, Luke 15:27, Numbers 15:37-41, Psalm 23:5
Locations: Gerasa (Jerash), Jordan, Qatzrin, Israel