Vaughan Roberts DB “God’s Big Picture”
- What are the four main elements to the promise of the kingdom of God? Which books focus on each of these elements?
- Describe in a few sentences the major events of each of these phases. (As an example from another part of the Bible, if I were to ask you the summarize the events of the gospels, you might say something like this: The gospels tell the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They describe how he preached the kingdom of God, called the disciples, healed the sick, and served the hurting. They are especially focused on his death at the hands of the Romans and his resurrection three days later).
- Did any of these stories stand out to you? What has been the most interesting biblical story you have learned about so far in the class?
1. The four main elements to the promise of the kingdom of God are the promised land, the descendants becoming a whole nation, that they are all blessed and that a king will reveal and raise. This is mainly addressed in Genesis 12 to Exodus 18.
2. In Genisis 12:1 God wants Abraham to leave Ur and find the promised land Canaan. In Gensis 12:2 God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, the father of the nations. He promises a whole nation of descendants which are blessed in Genisis 12:1-3.
3. Of course every single story and every book teaches a lesson so they are interesting in their own way but I actually feel like the story of Abraham stands out to me the most because at this point God has been disappointed by the humans so often. Adam and Eve broke his trust and when God wanted to give them a new chance he chose Noah. However Noah also ended up in disappointing God but God is still not tired of giving chances to the humans. Abraham even does mistakes but God still does not loose hope.
Response #2: What are the four main elements to the promise of the kingdom of God? Which books focus on each of these elements?
The four main elements to the promise of the kingdom God are people, land, rule and blessing and the promise of a King. God’s people can be found in the book of Genesis and Exodus. God promise of land in book of Numbers and Joshua. God’s blessing in the book of Exodus 19 and Leviticus. Gods king in the book Judges and Chronicles.
Describe in a few sentences the major events of each of these phases.
The promise of God’s people is revolved around the story of Abraham and Sara. God tells Abraham to leave his home, his family in promise to make of him a father of a great nation, bless him, make his name great, bless those who blessed him, and curse "him" that curses him." God mentions to Abraham the listed the territories that Abraham’s offspring would inhabit and the promise of a son that Sara will give him even at her advanced age. Abraham’s descendants the Israelites would then be seen as God’s people and children of God. Through Moses God instructs Moses to lead the Israelites from slavery to the promised land. The rules come into place by the form of the Ten Commandments given to Moses in Mount Sanai and construct the Tabernacle. When the Israelites were free Moses reassures the people of the promised land and that God will fight for them just as he did in Egypt, they do not trust God to fulfill his promises and disobey God. Because of this disobeying their punishment was being barred from the promised land. In the book of Chronicles, the telling of a King coming to rule the Israelites.
Did any of these stories stand out to you? What has been the most interesting biblical story you have learned about so far in the class?
The story of Joseph stood out to me the most. Joseph knew through his manifestations that God destined him for greatness, and he was the favored of the sons to their father Jacob. His brother is jealousy and envy sold his brother and told their father Joseph had died. Although this betrayal from his brother Joseph knew he had a greater purpose and when he saw his brother again after being made a Prime Minister Joseph could’ve turned away from them or paid them back for their betrayal he didn’t. He came to their aid. God choses the least likely people the broken the hurt and tested to serve his purpose. Even if we think we are his true followers none of us our deserving of him.