CHARLIEPAT’S CENTRE

Book review – A. Glasser – Announcing the Kingdom

Mission in the Gospels

Mission In The Prophets

Mission In The Writings

Name: Charles Appiah     Module: Missiology     Year: 2 

Introduction:

God through His awesome power revealed Himself to His people in so many ways with the aim of making them aware of His rules and how they could leave by His standards. The Historical Books which consist of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther, seeks to explain how God chose these great men as his mouth piece to His nations.  

The opening of the Book of Joshua brings alive God’s mission in the second division of the Old Testament, the Historical books. Bible commentary reveals that, the name Joshua was originally Hoshea, meaning salvation or Jehoshua, meaning God’s salvation. A close look at Joshua’s background, his name and his appointment after Moses reveals God’s mission work through him (Joshua). The book of Joshua continues where Deuteronomy leaves off. It is the continuation of the history of God’s chosen people (Israel).  The final words of Deuteronomy tell about the death of Moses and the choice of Joshua as the next leader of Israel. The people of Israel were led out of bondage by Moses and they were taken to the promise land by Joshua. During this period, the all covenant keeping God Spoke through His servant Joshua to His people. In Joshua 1:1-7 God said to Joshua “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.  

Deuteronomy, ends with the tribes of Israel camped in Moab, east of the Jordan River. The Israelites are prepared to enter Canaan, the land God had promised to give to them (Deuteronomy 1:1-8; 34:1-8). Christians call the Old Testament books that follow the Pentateuch, beginning with Joshua and ending with Esther, the Historical Books. These books describe Israel’s history as a people in the land of Canaan. Although these books are called “historical,” they are very different from history books of today. The descriptions of events in these books are more often concerned with an important religious teaching about God and God’s relationship with Israel than they are about the historical facts of the events themselves. So the Historical Books read much more like exciting stories than like straightforward historical accounts.

Joshua and Judges describe how the people of Israel entered Canaan and settled in various regions and cities. Sometimes this settlement was peaceful, but at other times it was more difficult for the Israelites. These two books also describe how the Israelites lived throughout Canaan as separate tribes, each with its own leader (called a judge). From this tribal system of government to a monarchy ruled by a king. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel tell how Saul was chosen to be the first king of Israel and describe the events that led to David becoming the second king of Israel. David’s son Solomon became king after David. Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem and increased the influence and wealth of Israel.

The books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles describes the reigns of the kings who ruled the northern and the southern kingdom. God raised prophets Amos and Hosea to warn His people from the worship of idol. The northern kingdom (Israel) continued to worship idols and to disobey God’s Law. This led to their defeat by the Assyrians. The southern kingdom (Judah) was ruled by kings descended from David, but it, too, did not listen to the warnings of prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. When the people and some of their leaders were unfaithful to the Lord, He allowed the Babylonians to defeat them in 586 B.C. and forced many of Judah’s leading citizens to live as exiles in Babylonia.

Ezra and Nehemiah describes how the people were able to return to Judah.

Here we find the second exodus. The first exodus was out of Egypt whiles the second was from Babylon. Ezra and Nehemiah were great organisers, lawgivers and teachers raised up to fulfil God’s gracious purpose and bring captives Israel out of bondage. Both of these great men dealt with Israel in a strong and merciful way in accordance with God’s instructions. The book of Esther closes the historical books of the Bible by showing God hiding His name and using people to declare His plans and purpose. Esther, like Joseph and David stands out as God’s chosen one. She is a sweet and winsome person very determined to save the lives of her people (Esther 4:14). Nehemiah was able to rebuild Jerusalem because of Esther’s marriage to King Xerses (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

 Conclusion

It is noted that in the Historical Books, God’s mission work is revealed trough the leaders mentioned above seems to surround the issue of deliverance. God loved His people so much that at every point in time He set people apart to be a blessing to His people. For example, Joshua became the successor of Moses and led the people into Canaan and helped them settle into the land by tribes. Samuel was the last of Israel’s “judges.” The people begged Samuel to choose a king for them, but he warned them that their request for a king showed a lack of faith in God’s leadership. Ezra was a leader who helped the people of Israel who returned from exile to commit themselves to worshiping and obeying the Lord once again.

  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.