The Angel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

December 1, 2013 Background Scripture: Luke 1:26 – 45 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:26 – 40 Good News from Heaven! There are many aspects that allow us to appreciate the significance of the birth of the Christ child. One such aspect is that God dispatched an angel to deliver the news to people on earth. So what’s so significant about that? For centuries, prophets of God had foretold the birth of the Messiah. It had even been written down and passed from generation to generation in Israel. But this announcement would be different. This time, the earthly mother of God’s son would get the news and it would not be delivered by the mouth of a prophet but rather by God’s personal messenger, Gabriel. This was the same messenger who had personally delivered God’s messages to Daniel in the land of Babylon. Gabriel spoke of himself as one who stands in the presence of God. What an honor to have such a one to personally deliver God’s message to his servant. Why God would send an angel and not a prophet I do not know. Suffice to say that Mary was truly looked upon favorably by God to receive such an honor. Gabriel even declared that Mary was “blessed and highly favored” among women because God was with her. Gabriel gave Mary the good news that she would give birth to a son who she must name Jesus. He went on to explain what would happen and how it would miraculously be brought about. In answering Mary’s question of how this could be, Gabriel explained that the baby she would give birth to would not be as other human babies. This baby would be God incarnate. That is “God in human flesh”. Furthermore, she would not need any help from a man since this child would be God’s begotten son. God was going to do a new thing. God promised Adam and Eve that the seed of Eve would bruise the devil’s head. Mary was chosen by God to receive this honor which would only be done once in the history of mankind. How does one react to such news? How do you wrap your mind around something so unprecedented that there are no examples to consider? Gabriel gave Mary directions concerning how to strengthen her faith in the promise of God for her life. He told her what God had already done for her cousin Elizabeth. Mary found further witness of God’s grace and power by visiting Elizabeth. Elizabeth was already six months pregnant although she was previously barren. God had already worked a miracle in Elizabeth’s life. Mary, still excited and perhaps a little dazed, went to visit her cousin. As Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, God gave witness through the mouth and confession of Elizabeth. Elizabeth repeated the salutation the angel Gabriel had used to greet Mary. She went on to acknowledge the fruit of Mary’s wound as being blessed as well. Then she spoke of Mary’s faith in the message God had sent her. Although the promise was yet to be fulfilled, Mary’s faith was the assurance that God would perform what He promised. Now Mary could remain faithful and know that God would watch over His word to perform it. This word that proclaimed the birth of Jesus was foretold by the angel. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2013

Beginning of the Tabernacle

November 24, 2013 Background Scripture: Exodus 35 – 40 Lesson Passage: Exodus 40:16 – 30, 34, 38 Moses’ last ministerial responsibility was to prepare Israel on the plains of Moab to enter and possess the land of Canaan. One of the many things that Israel was charged with obeying was to maintain a central place of worship. In Deuteronomy Chapter 12, Israel was told specifically not to offer burnt sacrifices on every altar (or in every place) they might see but rather to do it only in the place selected by the Lord. Of course, one practical reason for this is that many tribes in Canaan at that time had erected a number of pagan altars for their religious use throughout the land. God does not want a sacrifice offered to Him on an altar erected to worship a pagan idol. Furthermore, God does not leave it to His followers to determine what is an appropriate place or manner to worship Him. God gave very precise construction details and religious rituals for Israel to follow. The background scripture for today’s lesson details the construction of the first tabernacle (or tent of meeting) as well as its furnishings to be used by Israel. Our lesson passage gives the step by step details of the assembling of the tabernacle. All of it was done according to the pattern the Lord had shown Moses when Moses visited with Him on the mountain. After Moses finished his work according to the Lord’s instructions, then a cloud covered the grounds of the tent and God’s glory filled the tabernacle. God gave this visible manifestation of His presence in the sight of all of Israel. By day the people saw the cloud and by night they saw the fire resting on the tabernacle. No one dared to enter the tabernacle when God’s presence was upon it. Even Moses who reared the tent stayed clear of it as long as God’s visible presence could be seen there. When the presence of God rested, so did Israel. When God’s presence moved, Israel followed. The particulars of the tabernacle and its construction were very detailed. In spite of the extent of the details and perhaps complexities, the biblical witness is: So Moses finished the work. After Moses finished the work of assembling the tabernacle and placing the furnishings inside, Israel use of the tabernacle as their centralized place of worship and sacrifices was just beginning. Whether the nation encamped in the desert or moved progressively towards the land of promise was determined by looking towards the tabernacle. Disputes among the leaders of Israel would be settled at the door or entrance to the tabernacle. Only properly prepared priests were to serve within the tabernacle curtains. Once the nation arrived in Canaan, the tabernacle was pitched in Shiloh until it was moved to Jerusalem by King David. It remained as Israel’s only place for sacrifices until it was replaced by King Solomon with a temple that was constructed using a very similar pattern to that of the tabernacle. The last chapter of the book of Exodus gives details of Moses erecting the tabernacle. Since Exodus is the book that points towards Israel’s exit from Egypt, how fitting that the book would close in this manner. Israel could now turn towards God’s presence in the tabernacle for everything and therefore they no longer needed to look back towards Egypt for anything. The end of Israel’s need to look back towards Egypt was the beginning of the tabernacle. Robert C. Hudson November 13, 2013

Beginning of Freedom

November 17, 2013 Background Scripture: Exodus 13:17 – 22; 14 Lesson Passage: Exodus 14:13, 14, 21 – 30 Our lesson today marks the beginning of the birth of the nation of Israel from the oppressive womb of Egypt. When the family clan of Jacob (Israel) entered Egypt as honored guests, they were numbered as seventy souls. In other words, when the family entered Egypt and joined Joseph and his family, they were a family of average size. The events in today’s lesson took place about four hundred years later when the family of Israel numbered over six hundred thousand war-ready men. When the entire family is considered, the total is estimated at between two and four million strong. This is no longer a family but rather a nation of people. As we noted in previous lessons, through a series of ten plagues, God convinced Pharaoh that resisting Him was futile. Pharaoh relented and allowed the nation of Israel to leave their Egyptian bondage and follow Moses into the wilderness. Israel was now out of Egypt but they were not out of danger. Their past would still haunt them as they looked over their shoulders in anticipation of the pursuit of the well-armed and trained militia of the Egyptians. Perhaps every time they saw a cloud of dust over the horizon, they would again fear their captivity and return to Egypt as they imagined that this cloud was an Egyptian pursuit. They would not be truly free until the strong arm of oppression that once held them was broken and utterly destroyed. They could count on God to ensure that this would happen. God set the stage for this ultimate beginning of freedom for Israel. God led the nation with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This is significant because it shows that God was ordering their steps. They did not come into this situation on their own but as a result of following God. (This is worth noting for Christians today. If we find ourselves in a situation we don’t want to be in, it would serve us well to ask if we got there on our own or did we get there by following God. If God led us there, then He has a purpose for us even in the midst of situations and circumstances we would rather avoid.) God was doing more than delivering Israel. He was also clarifying His sovereignty and dominion for the Egyptians who did not worship Him. God could have sent the death angel through Egypt as He did before and destroyed the entire host of Egypt. Instead, He chose a method that would become a testimony for Israel throughout their generations. God used the nation of Israel as bait to lure Pharaoh and his army into the trap set for their destruction. Israel was afraid but God had it all under control. God used Moses to part the Red Sea that once stood as a formidable obstacle to them. Israel crossed through the midst of the Red Sea on dry ground while the waters were being held back by God. The water stood in heaps as a wall on each side of the pathway created through the sea. Pharaoh, with his chariots, horses, and men of war, pursued after Israel into the dry sea bed. When Israel was completely out of the sea and Pharaoh’s army in it, God caused the waters to return to their full strength thus drowning Pharaoh and his army. The children of Israel saw the dead bodies of the Egyptians washed upon the shore of the Red Sea the next morning. Their enemy was defeated and destroyed. Israel no longer had to worry about looking over their shoulder in fear. This was the beginning of their freedom. Robert C. Hudson November 8, 2013