Lesson 1 for the 2nd of October, 2010 STORY AND HISTORY

We will study the lives of some characters in the Old Testament this quarter. In order to find the more useful teachings in their lives, we should study: The historical context. The way God acted in that moment. The people who were close to that character (friends, family...) His/her character. The customs in those times. The specific situation where the main events took place. The point of view of the narrator (remember that he was telling God’s truth since he was inspired by the Holy Spirit) We can know details of their lives reading his/her story, but sometimes we must consult other Biblical or historical texts.

We must know the age when the characters we are going to study this quarter lived. They lived in the age between Exodus and the destruction of Jerusalem. Let’s review chronologically the main events and characters in that period. Estimated dates have been used before David’s reign. Every date is Before Christ.

FROM EXODUS TO MOSES’ DEATH 1445 1404 The exit from Egypt and crossing the Red Sea The Law is given in Sinai Crossing the desert The spies travel all over Canaan 40 years of pilgrimage Moses’ death

CONQUERING CANAAN Crossing the Jordan Taking control of Jericho 1405 1380 Crossing the Jordan Taking control of Jericho When we study the conquest of Canaan we can realize that it was possible thanks to the power of God: “And Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites” (Joshua 3:10) Conquering Canaan Joshua’s death

JUDGES Othniel Deborah and Barak Gideon Samson Eli Since the Israelites didn’t expel all the Canaanites, their faith waned and a dark age in the Israelite history started. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges, 17: 6) 1356 1258 1211 1101 1099 1079 Othniel Deborah and Barak Gideon Samson Eli (The Philistines take the ark) Samuel

FIRST KINGS Against God’s will, Israel asked for a king to be like other nations. After the failure of the firs king, God chose a man “after His own heart”. His son –Solomon– built the Temple of Jerusalem. 1050-1011 1011-971 971-931 Saul David Solomon

THE KINGDOMS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL The kingdom was divided in Roboam’s –Solomon’s son– time: 10 tribes at north with Jeroboam as their king (the kingdom of Israel) and 2 tribes –Judah and Benjamin– at south with Roboam as their king (the kingdom of Judah) Almost every king of Israel rejected God and His prophets. David’s descendants were more faithful to God, they reigned over Judah. Both kingdom were finally destroyed and carried to captivity, because of their rebellion against God. 931-913 872-848 854-841 841-835 835-796 729-686 640-609 597-586 Rehoboam Jeroboam 931-910 874-853 852-841 841-814 793-753 732-722 Jehoshaphat Ahab Prophet: Elijah Joram Joram Prophet: Elisha Athaliah Jehu Joash Jeroboam II Hezekiah Oshea Josiah Prophet: Jeremiah Zedekiah

“In reviewing our past history, having travelled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as Leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history. We are now a strong people, if we will put our trust in the Lord; for we are handling the mighty truths of the word of God. We have everything to be thankful for.” E.G.W. (Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 162)