Name: Charles Appiah Module: Missiology Year: Two
What is Mission
The understanding of Mission in the Bible and for that matter the Pentateuch calls for the meaning of the word mission. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English defines Mission as the act of sending forth someone body of persons on a service based on the command, direction and the authority of the sender. Genesis, the first book among the Pentateuch is said to be the seed plot of the Bible. The meaning of this book which is a Greek word ‘‘Origin’’ seeks to explain both the scope and the limits of God’s mission in the book. (Genesis1:1) It tells us how God through His infinite power created the Heaven and the Earth and everything in it including humanity. From Adam through to Noah to Abraham, Jacob, Joseph’s time running through to the exodus of the Israelite’s seems to point out a very important character of God, His love and the edge to save humanity.
The creation of the first man Adam seeks to explain the mission work of God. (Genesis 2:15) He commissioned Adam to take care of the garden. God gave man the authority even to name the creatures. After the fall of Adam, God chose Noah to continue with the spread of His message. Noah started announcing God’s redemptive plan for humanity, the judgement to come and how to reconcile with Him (God). It will interest one to know that, after failing to build the tower of Babel, God confused the people and they couldn’t speak one language again. As a result they were scattered abroad which led to the division of the human race according to nations. God called Abram and asked him to leave his country, relatives and his father’s house to the land where He (God) will show him. Genesis 12:1. The decision by Joseph’s brothers to get ride of him by selling him to the Midianite merchants was a good plan of God sending Joseph to the land of Egypt to preserve life. God used Joseph to save his family and many nations from hunger. The book of Exodus dilate on the intervention of God through Moses in delivering Israel from captivity throughout the journey on the wilderness seeks to clarify God’s idea of keeping His promise. As a matter of fact God also used Moses to show the Egyptians His greatness. The beginning of the plagues to the drowning of the Egyptian army at the red sea.
The third Book Leviticus known as the book of atonement (Leviticus 16:30-34) seeks to explain how God commissioned the Levites and the Priests for the service of the Tabernacle. The provision of guidance for holy living was given in the context of God’s love for His people because He did not want them to live in ignorance and also sin against Him. Also the numbering of the people of Israel by Moses as commissioned by God unveils His thought of accurately choosing and assigning duties to the priest and the Levites. Finally, Deuteronomy as the name denotes, ‘‘the second law’’ is a collection of the orations and songs of Moses he gave as his farewell message to the children of Israel. God commanded Moses to remind His people of the first law. In the address, Moses summarized the essence of Israel’s religion (Covenant) as the basis of God’s relationship initiated with their fore fathers. This was the only way they could enjoy God’s favour and blessing.
Mission in the Pentateuch emphasizes a common human condition and God’s original and continuing concern for all humanity. In Genesis we see the ruined of humanity. Exodus makes provision for human redemption with Leviticus creating the avenue for worship whiles Numbers portrays accuracy in serving. Deuteronomy completes the study with God spelling out the blessings of Obedience and the curse of disobedience. It is quite clear that Israel’s mission was always to actively spread to Gentiles the Good News of the promised Messiah.
