But there is good news.
The Creator-King planned to reverse the world’s curse. He made a covenant with a man named Abraham, promising to bless the world through his offspring. From Abraham, God created a nation, Israel, to be a light to the nations. He showed his power and grace by rescuing them from slavery. He provided them with land, food, and a law.
God’s royal law was intended to reveal God’s nature and will. In this way, the law glorifies God by helping people to envision a society where justice reigns. It exposes human sin and teaches his people to live holy and righteous lives.
God wants to live among his people. Therefore, he commanded them to build a Temple to symbolize his presence with them. He established Israel to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation who worshiped the one true God (Exodus 19:6). God planned to use his relationship with Israel to bless the nations.
However, Israel failed to honor their covenant. Their religion became a mere tradition. They had hard hearts. They preferred the praise of people over the praise of God.
God’s people became shameful and so concealed the truth of God’s glory among the nations.
<––Losing Face & Seeking Face Setting the World Right––>
Questions
1. How did God reveal Himself to Abraham and his family?
2. What is God’s will for His people?
3. What was Israel’s problem?
Genesis 12; Exodus 12, 14, 19-20; Deuteronomy 30; 2 Samuel 7; 2 Chronicles 36:11–21; Ezekiel 36–37
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