Teachers: the objective of this lesson is to establish a perspective on the servant's use of generosity. The lessons this quarter will focus on the servant giving his or her "whole self" to God. These lessons will build on the background produced in the first three quarters. The foundation of the lesson is Israel's dependent relationship on a faithful, loving, caring God.
In the Old and New Testaments, who was Israel? That question can be answered correctly in many ways. "They were the nation of descendants God promised Abraham" (Genesis 12:2). "They were the descendants of Jacob's twelve sons." "They were the people whom God rescued from Egyptian slavery." "They were the people through whom God worked [by His grace] to bring to all people Jesus the Messiah [the Christ].
Regardless of what correct answer the question receives, one truth must be the foundation of each answer. Through God's promise and grace, in the Bible Israelites are God's people. Israel's relationship with God is emphasized powerfully in many ways.
Consider one of those ways. Israel existed because of two acts of God. First, God promised Abraham that his descendants would become a nation. Israel existed to fulfill that promise (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). Second, God rescued Israel from Egyptian slavery to become that promised nation. God often stressed His unique relationship with Israel by declaring, "I am the God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Deuteronomy 6:12).
God frequently reminded Israel that they were totally dependent on Him. God did not want one generation to forget or ignore that dependence. They were to tithe. Ten percent of their agricultural produce was to be given to God [remember they were an agricultural society] (Leviticus 27:30-33). In addition, every first born male [animal and human] belonged to God (Exodus 13:2-16). In addition, the first gatherings of each new crop were to be given to God (Deuteronomy 26:1-3). In addition, a part of each harvest was to be left for the poor as a perpetual reminder of Israel's past slavery (Leviticus 19:9,10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22). In addition to these acts of generosity were the laws of the seventh year (consider Exodus 23:10-12 and Deuteronomy 15:1-3), the sacrificial system, and the major festival days that required all the men to attend.
Our reaction could be, "Wow! It was expensive to be a citizen among God's people! Surely, deliverance from slavery was wonderful. But, that is a high price to pay generation after generation!"
God delivered them from physical slavery to make them a physical nation who received physical blessings. God delivered us from Satan's spiritual slavery (Romans 6:17,18) to grant us citizenship in his spiritual nation (Ephesians 2:19-22) and receive eternal blessings (1 John 3:1,2).
Which required the greater effort and personal cost to God: God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery or our deliverance from the consequences of sin? Which required the greater effort and personal cost to God: God giving Israel a physical country with physical blessings, or God giving us spiritual life in His spiritual kingdom with eternal blessings?
What was the basic point?
Focus your thinking on God's unique relationship with Israel. Specifically concentrate on God's desire to make Israel aware of (1) Israel's dependence on God and (2) God's sufficiency for Israel. State what you think was the primary point of the following events in Israel's early history.
Caution: do not get detoured by a detailed study of the creation. Such studies are good and productive, but they do not advance the purposes and objectives of this lesson.
To Israel: what was the basic point that they were to grasp?
You should anticipate many answers and perspectives. Again, the objective is not to generate an in-depth examination of the creation or a debate. The basic point of the creation account to Israel was simple: God is the origin and source of all that materially exists. You may wish to make the simple point that it is His; He made it.
Caution: do not get engrossed in a lengthy discussion of the individual plagues. That is a good, worthwhile study, but it will not advance the objectives and purposes of this lesson.
To Israel: what was the basic point that they were to grasp?
You should anticipate many answers and perspectives. The basic point of the plagues was to establish God's identity. The Israelites were to understand that God was the powerful deliverer who would and could care for them. The Egyptians were to understand that God is the living God whom they could not defy.
Caution: do not let the class pursue a lengthy examination of the incident at the Red Sea. That is a good, worthwhile study, but it will not advance the objectives and purposes of this lesson.
To Israel: what was the basic point they were to grasp?
You should anticipate many answers and perspectives. The crossing of the Red Sea verified that God was their deliverer, their Savior who had the power to separate them from the horrible past and open the way to an incredible future. Note that with each deliverance God increased their reasons to trust and rely on Him.
Caution: do not allow the class to pursue a lengthy discussion of manna. That is a good, worthwhile study, but it will not lead this study to its objectives and purposes.
To Israel: what was the basic point that they were to grasp?
Receiving manna six days a week (they could collect enough to meet the day's needs, except on Friday when they gathered for Friday and the Sabbath) demonstrated that God could and would care for daily physical necessities. He provided food for that day. He would provide food for tomorrow. They could depend on God without anxiety.
Caution: do not permit the class to involve itself in a lengthy study of Rephidim or other occasions when God provided Israel water. That is a good, worthwhile study, but it will not advance the objectives and purposes of this lesson.
To Israel: what was the basic point that they were to grasp?
Receiving water for the people and their livestock again demonstrated that God could and would care for all their daily physical necessities. Israel would have water when they needed water. They could depend on God without anxiety.
Caution: do not allow the class to get involved in a detailed study of the giving of the law or the ten commandments. That is an excellent study, but it does not advance the objectives and purposes of this lesson.
To Israel: what was the basic point that they were to grasp?
The God who delivered Israel wanted a relationship with Israel. If that relationship was to exist, Israel must make an agreement with God. Not only must they accept His deliverance, but they also must commit themselves to His expectations.
Caution: do not allow your class to begin a lengthy examination of the spies trip and report. That is an excellent study, but it does not advance the objectives and purposes of this lesson.
To Israel: what was the basic point they should have grasped?
The successful experiences of the plagues, the Red Sea, the manna, the water, and receiving the ten commandments should have prepared them to trust God beyond their own abilities and efforts. God delivered them from slavery, from Pharaoh's army, from hunger, and from thirst. He brought them to the land He promised them. God certainly could make it possible for them to inhabit the land. They should have been controlled by confidence rather than ruled by fear.
What is the basic point to us?
We should see the depth of God's love and commitment. If God would permit His son to die for us, He will do everything necessary to make our salvation possible. (See Romans 8:31,32)
We should see the sufficiency of God's power. God can provide everything necessary for us to receive forgiveness and our eternal inheritance. In any contest between God and death, death loses. (See Romans 8:35-39)
Our daily surrender to God should be complete, unrestricted, and without hesitation. We trust Him to teach us what is good, acceptable, and perfect. Considering what God does for us, it is only reasonable that we surrender ourselves to be His living sacrifice. Our lives exist on a daily basis to honor the God who delivered us from the control of Satan and the consequences of our sins.
Questions and thoughts to pursue Christian perspective
Obviously God wanted Israel to be aware of two facts: (1) God could take care of them regardless of their need or circumstance; (2) their total dependence on God was good. As a Christian, does God want each of us to be aware of the same two things?
We must trust the awareness that God will care for us eternally. We must see dependence on God as a good thing in our true best interest. Every failure of Israel began with their failure to place confidence in God's ability to care for them and their fear of dependence on God.
Obviously, with Israel, God used the vehicle of generosity to develop their confidence in God's ability to care for them. Should we use generosity to express that same confidence in God?
Generosity expressed to God in serving His purposes destroys faith in ourselves [instead of God] and our love for the material. Generosity teaches us to depend on God instead of the material. As generosity to God grows, confidence in God grows.
Are we generous toward God because we think God is our dependent? Or, are we generous toward God because we understand that we are His dependent? How do Christians express their gratitude and appreciation for God's care?
We are dependents; God is not. Our generosity does not sustain God; it sustains us.
When a person returns something you loaned him or her, who should be grateful?
When we share with God what God has given us, we should be the grateful ones. He made it. He is the source.
Link to Student Guide Quarter 4, Lesson 1