From Jim McGuiggan... Genesis through Deuteronomy and Joshua (2)

Genesis through Deuteronomy and Joshua (2)

Genesis records the creation to tell Israel that there is but one God and the creation is his work. The elements of the natural world were not gods to be worshiped or enemies that God had to overcome. And Israel was to understand that she was just another part of the human race that had rebelled against God and brought his judgement down on the race and on the creation (see the end of chapter 3). But God’s judgement did not mean he wanted to wash his hands of us. His judgement on sin was part of his work of redemption and he chose Abraham to be the father of the people through whom he would bring to completion his redemption of the world (see John 4:23). Genesis 12:1-3 and several other texts like it show that Abraham and his seed were the elect of God but they also show that no one was elite.

In Abraham and his descendants all the families of the earth were to be blessed and we see this perfectly illustrated in Joseph (see Genesis 39--41 and note the word “blessed”). The book ends with Israel in Egypt under Joseph’s protection. Though Joseph was next to the Pharaoh in power before he died he made Israel swear to take his bones to Canaan because he knew God would fulfil his promise to Abraham about Canaan (see Genesis 12:1-3 and chapter 15).

The blessing continues

The opening verses of Exodus echo the words of Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 12:1-3. Those who curse Abraham’s seed were to be cursed because they were God’s instrument of blessing for the whole world and whoever opposed them opposed God’s purpose to bless the world. Exodus 1 shows God making them fruitful and Egypt cursing them with death and hard labour. God then cursed Egypt and exposed their gods as no gods at all by bringing plagues on Egypt (see chapters 7--12) and delivering his people. The close connection with Genesis is stressed in the book of Exodus in many ways. The use of the word blessed and the repeated mention of God’s promise to Abraham (see Exodus 2:24 and 3:6 and elsewhere) remind us that there is a single drama unfolding and not just a number of interesting but unconnected events.

From the Passover to mount Sinai

The final act of judgement within Egypt’s borders was the slaying of the firstborn of animals and humans (see Exodus 12) and to commemorate their deliverance God gave them the Passover that would be a permanent witness that God had redeemed them. They left Egypt and headed toward Canaan but the Red Sea stood in their way and Pharaoh’s army was coming after them. God showed he was Lord of the Red Sea and the winds and whatever else he used to open up the Sea in which he buried his enemies who kept trying to thwart his purpose to bless the world through Israel (see Exodus 14). He brought them through the wilderness to Mount Sinai where they encamped for about a year (see Exodus 19).

There he made a covenant with Israel and as a nation they formally became his elect. He gave them the torah (the word means “instruction” and “guidance” but it carries with it the notion of authoritative instruction--it wasn’t a book of “suggestions” (see Exodus 19-23). He initiated a sacrificial system, priesthood and tabernacle and brought the people under the blood of the covenant. In the terms of the covenant he promised to be their God and provide for them and Israel promised glad-hearted allegiance to him alone (see Exodus 24 and then chapters 25--31 and 35--40 on the building of the tabernacle and see Leviticus on the priesthood and sacrifices).

Sandwiched in between those two sections in Exodus there is the building of the golden calf and Israel treacherous response to God. Immediately the law is given (like Adam and Eve) Israel breaks it and turns from the God who gave them life and freedom (see chapter 32). Moses intercedes and God renews the covenant (see chapters 33-34). This covenant, like everything else God does with Israel, is to be used to fulfill God’s redeeming purpose for humanity as a whole. Israel was not top think of her self as an end in herself--she was not God’s “pet”.

From Sinai to the River Jordan

From Sinai they head to Canaan but Israel distrusts God and will not enter Canaan at his bidding. They had seen what he did to Egypt but they didn’t trust him to do the same to the Canaanites who had become so corrupt that God would move them out of Canaan. Because of their distrust God made them wander in the wilderness for nearly forty years where he proved that he could sustain them (see Numbers 13 & 14 and Deuteronomy 8:1-10). The God who could sustain them in the wilderness that long could easily have taken them on into Canaan but faithless Israel got in the way and was cursed for it. God purposed to bless the whole world and whoever worked to thwart that purpose made him or herself an enemy of God and the peoples of the world.

When the rebellious generation died off in the wilderness God brought Israel to the River Jordan which was the eastern border of the land of Canaan. The nations on the east of Jordan opposed Israel and in doing this they opposed God’s plan to use Israel to bless the world so God removed them from the land and gave it to Israel (see Deuteronomy 1--3). When they had taken the land east of the Jordan God sent Moses up mount Pisgah to see the promised land across Jordan before he died (see Numbers 20:2-13 and Deuteronomy 3:23-29). Before Moses died Joshua was appointed as his successor (Numbers 27:15-23, Deuteronomy 34:9 and Joshua 1:1-9).

Joshua and the Promised land

God’s promise to Abraham that he would father a great nation had been fulfilled (see Deuteronomy 1:8-10, which echoes Genesis 15:5). The land he had promised him (see Genesis 15:12-21) would be gained under Joshua (see Joshua 21:43-45 and 23:14-16). Throughout this history we’re told that it is God that gives them success. Canaan is constantly called the “promised” land and over and over again we hear God saying, “I will give you this land” or “I will bring you into this land.” Everyone must know that they cannot succeed independent of God (remember the tower of Babel and our wanting to be gods in the Garden of Eden).

As Moses brought Israel across water on dry ground at the Red Sea so Joshua brings Israel across the Jordan on dry ground (see Joshua 4). Finally, they are in the Promised Land, surrounded by fierce enemies and God commands that all the men be circumcised (Joshua 5). In this condition the nation is vulnerable but God preserved them. They move against fortified Jericho but God won’t let them take it in battle because he wants them to further learn that anything they gain they get it because God gives it to them (Joshua 6). The book closes with Israel in the land which is divided among the tribes and Joshua calls them to a covenant-renewal assembly in chapter 24. At the close of the book of Joshua the nation of Israel committed itself to glad-hearted allegiance to Yahweh, the one true God.

(You might be interested in going to materials on the book of Exodus in this site.)

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.