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rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, andwith great judgments: [7] And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be toyou a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you outfrom under the burdens of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you in unto the land,concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; andI will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord.Small problems need only small answers. But when we face great problems, Godhas an opportunity to exercise his great power. As the Hebrews’ troubles grewsteadily worse, God planned to intervene with his mighty power and perform greatmiracles to deliver them. How big are your problems? Big problems put you in aperfect position to watch God give big answers.God’s promises in these verses were fulfilled to the letter when the Hebrews leftEgypt. He freed them from slavery, became their God, and accepted them as hispeople. Then he led them toward the land he had promised. When the Hebrewswere rescued from slavery, they portrayed the drama of salvation for all of us.When God redeems us from sin he delivers us, accepts us, and becomes our God.Then he leads us to a new life as we follow him.Deut. 1:6-8The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough inthis mount: [7] Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of theAmorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in thevale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and untoLebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. [8] Behold, I have set the landbefore you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers,Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.Notice that Moses’ summary of Israel’s 40-year journey begins at Mount Horeb(Sinai), not in Egypt. Why did Moses leave out the first part of the exodus? Moseswas not giving an itinerary—he was summarizing the nation’s development. InMoses’ mind the nation of Israel began at the base of Mount Sinai, not in Egypt,for it was at Mount Sinai that God gave his covenant to the people (Exodus 19-20).Along with this covenant came knowledge and responsibility. After the peoplechose to follow God (and it was their choice), they had to know how to follow him.Therefore, God gave them a comprehensive set of laws and guidelines that stated9

how he wanted them to live (these are found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, andNumbers). The people could no longer say they didn’t know the differencebetween right and wrong. Now that the people had promised to follow God andknew how to follow him, they had a responsibility to do it. When God tells you tobreak camp and move out to face a challenge he gives you, will you be ready toobey?Acts 7:2-5And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appearedunto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt inCharran, [3] And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,and come into the land which I shall shew thee. [4] Then came he out of the land ofthe Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead,he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. [5] And he gave him noneinheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that hewould give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he hadno child.Acts 7:44-46Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed,speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he hadseen. [45] Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into thepossession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers,unto the days of David; [46] Who found favour before God, and desired to find atabernacle for the God of Jacob.Stephen had been accused of speaking against the temple (Acts 6:13). Although herecognized the importance of the temple, he knew that it was not more importantthan God. God is not limited; he doesn’t live only in a house of worship, butwherever hearts of faith are open to receive him (Isaiah 66:1-2). Solomon knewthis when he prayed at the dedication of the temple (2 Chron. 6:18). God wants tolive in us. Is he living in you?Joshua 23:15Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, whichthe Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things,10

until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hathgiven you.This chilling prediction about the consequences of intermarriage with theCanaanite nations eventually became a reality. Numerous stories in the book ofJudges show what Israel had to suffer because of failure to follow Godwholeheartedly. God was supremely loving and patient with Israel, just as he istoday. But we must not confuse his patience with us as approval or indifference toour sin. Beware of demanding your own way because eventually you may get it—along with all its painful consequences.Chapter 3Abraham will become a NationGenesis 46:3And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt;for I will there make of thee a great nation:The Israelites did become a great nation, and Jacob’s descendants eventuallyreturned to Canaan. The book of Exodus recounts the story of Israel’s slavery inEgypt for 400 years (fulfilling God’s words to Abraham in Genesis 15:13-16), andthe book of Joshua gives an exciting account of the Israelites entering andconquering Canaan, the Promised land.God told Jacob to leave his home and travel to a strange and faraway land. ButGod reassured him by promising to go with him and take care of him. When newsituations or surroundings frighten you, recognize that experiencing fear is normal.11

To be paralyzed by fear, however, is an indication that you question God’s abilityto take care of you.Jacob never returned to Canaan. This was a promise to his descendants that theywould return. “Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes” refers to Joseph attendingto Jacob as he faced death. It was God’s promise to Jacob that he would neverknow the bitterness of being lonely again.Exodus 1:7And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, andmultiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.Deut. 1:8-11Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which theLord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and totheir seed after them.[9] And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myselfalone: [10] The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day asthe stars of heaven for multitude. [11] (The Lord God of your fathers make you athousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)It was a tremendous burden for Moses to lead the nation by himself. He could notaccomplish the task single-handedly. Like nations, as organizations and churchesgrow, they become increasingly complex. Conflicting needs and quarrels arise. Nolonger can one leader make all the decisions. Like Moses, you may have a naturaltendency to try to do all the work alone. You may be afraid or embarrassed to askfor help. Moses made a wise decision to share the leadership with others. Ratherthan trying to handle larger responsibilities alone, look for ways of sharing the loadso that others may exercise their God-given gifts and abilities.Moses identified some of the inner qualities of good leaders: (1) wisdom, (2)understanding, and (3) respect. These characteristics differ markedly from the onesthat often help elect leaders today: good looks, wealth, popularity, willingness todo anything to get to the top. The qualities Moses identified should be evident in usas we lead, and we should look for them in those we elect to positions ofleadership.Leviticus 26:27-3812

And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; [28]Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise youseven times for your sins. [29] And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the fleshof your daughters shall ye eat. [30] And I will destroy your high places, and cutdown your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and mysoul shall abhor you. [31] And I will make your cities waste, and bring yoursanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.[32] And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwelltherein shall be astonished at it. [33] And I will scatter you among the heathen, andwill draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your citieswaste. [34] Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, andye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.[35] As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in yoursabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.In 2 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 25 the warning pronounced in these verses came true.The people persistently disobeyed, and eventually they were conquered and carriedoff to the lands of Assyria and Babylonia. The nation was held in captivity for 70years, making up for all of the years that the Israelites did not observe the law ofthe sabbath year (2 Chron. 36:21).[36] And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into theirhearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chasethem; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when nonepursueth. [37] And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword,when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.[38] And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the Moses challenged Israel tochoose life, to obey God, and therefore continue to experience his blessings. Goddoesn’t force his will on anyone. He lets us decide whether to follow him or rejecthim. This decision, however, is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this,for he would like us all to choose life. Daily, in each new situation, we must affirmand reinforce this commitment.land of your enemies shall eat you up.These verses show what God meant when he said he is slow to anger (Exodus34:6). Even if the Israelites chose to disobey and were scattered among theirenemies, God would still give them the opportunity to repent and return to him.His purpose was not to destroy them, but to help them grow. Our day-to-dayexperiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see thatGod’s purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair. The hopewe need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29:11-12: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for13

you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to giveyou hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and Iwill listen to you.’ ” To retain hope while we suffer shows we understand God’smerciful ways of relating to his people.Deut. 30:17-20But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away,and worship other gods, and serve them; [18] I denounce unto you this day, that yeshall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whitherthou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. [19] I call heaven and earth to recordthis day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: [20] That thou mayestlove the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayestcleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayestdwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, andto Jacob, to give them.Moses challenged Israel to choose life, to obey God, and therefore continue toexperience his blessings. God doesn’t force his will on anyone. He lets us decidewhether to follow him or reject him. This decision, however, is a life-or-deathmatter. God wants us to realize this, for he would like us all to choose life. Daily,in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment.14

Chapter 4Through Abraham’s seed,All the Families of the Earth will be blessed.Acts 3:24-26Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many ashave spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. [25] Ye are the children of theprophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying untoAbraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. [26] Untoyou first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turningaway every one of you from his iniquities.The prophet Samuel lived during the transition between the judges and the kings ofIsrael, and he was seen as the first in a succession of prophets. He anointed Davidking, founding David’s royal line, from which the Messiah eventually came. Allthe prophets pointed to a future Messiah. For more on Samuel, see his Profile.God promised Abraham that he would bless the world through Abraham’sdescendants, the Jewish race (Genesis 12:3), from which the Messiah would come.God intended the Jewish nation to be a separate and holy nation that would teachthe world about God, introduce the Messiah, and then carry on his work in theworld. After the days of Solomon, the nation gave up its mission to tell the worldabout God. Here too, in apostolic times as well as in the time Jesus spent on earth,Israel rejected its Messiah.15

Galatians 3:7-9Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children ofAbraham. [8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathenthrough faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall allnations be blessed. [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithfulAbraham.The main argument of the Judaizers was that Gentiles had to become Jews in orderto become Christians.Paul exposed the flaw in this argument by showing that real children of Abrahamare those who have faith, not those who keep the law. Abraham himself was savedby his faith (Genesis 15:6). All believers in every age and from every nation shareAbraham’s blessing. This is a comforting promise to us. It as a great heritage forus, and a solid foundation for living.Galatians 3:13-18Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: forit is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: [14] That the blessing ofAbraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receivethe promise of the Spirit through faith. [15] Brethren, I speak after the manner ofmen; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no mandisannulleth, or addeth thereto. [16] Now to Abraham and his seed were thepromises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thyseed, which is Christ. [17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmedbefore of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after,cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. [18] For if theinheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham bypromise.God kept his promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:7-8)—he has not revoked it, thoughthousands of years have passed. He saved Abraham through his faith, and heblessed the world through Abraham by sending the Messiah as one of Abraham’sdescendants. Circumstances may change, but God remains constant and does notbreak his promises. He has promised to forgive our sins through Jesus Christ, andwe can be sure that he will do so.16

The law has two functions. On the positive side, it reveals the nature and will ofGod and shows people how to live. On the negative side, it points out people’s sinsand shows them that it is impossible to please God by trying to obey all his lawscompletely. God’s promise to Abraham dealt with Abraham’s faith; the lawfocuses on actions. The covenant with Abraham shows that faith is the only way tobe saved; the law shows how to obey God in grateful response. Faith does notannul the law; but the more we know God, the more we see how sinful we are.Then we are driven to depend on our faith in Christ alone for our salvation.When God gave his promise to Abraham, he did it by himself alone, withoutangels or Moses as mediators.Although it is not mentioned in Exodus, Jews believed that the TenCommandments had been given to Moses by angels (Stephen referred to this in hisspeech, see Acts 7:38, 53). Paul was showing the superiority of salvation andgrowth by faith over trying to be saved by keeping the Jewish laws. Christ is thebest and only way given by God for us to come to him (1 Tim. 2:5).Matthew 1:1-2The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son ofAbraham. [2] Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judasand his brethren;Presenting this genealogy was one of the most interesting ways that Matthew couldbegin a book for a Jewish audience. Because a person’s family line proved his orher standing as one of God’s chosen people, Matthew began by showing that Jesuswas a descendant of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and a direct descendant ofDavid, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah’s line. The facts ofthis ancestry were carefully preserved. This is the first of many proofs recorded byMatthew to show that Jesus is the true Messiah.More than 400 years had passed since the last Old Testament prophecies, andfaithful Jews all over the world were still waiting for the Messiah (Luke 3:15).Matthew wrote this book to Jews to present Jesus as King and Messiah, thepromised descendant of David who would reign forever (Isaiah 11:1-5). TheGospel of Matthew links the Old and New Testaments and contains manyreferences that show how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.Jesus entered human history when the land of Palestine was controlled by Romeand considered an insignificant outpost of the vast and mighty Roman empire. The17

presence of Roman soldiers in Israel gave the Jews military peace, but at the priceof oppression, slavery, injustice, and immorality. Into this kind of world came thepromised Messiah.Matthew 1:17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; andfrom David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; andfrom the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.In the first 17 verses we meet 46 people whose lifetimes span 2,000 years. All wereancestors of Jesus, but they varied considerably in personality, spirituality, andexperience. Some were heroes of faith—like Abraham, Isaac, Ruth, and David.Some had shady reputations—like Rahab and Tamar. Many were very ordinary—like Hezron, Ram, Nahshon, and Akim. And others were evil—like Manasseh andAbijah. God’s work in history is not limited by human failures or sins, and heworks through ordinary people. Just as God used all kinds of people to bring hisSon into the world, he uses all kinds today to accomplish his will. And God wantsto use you.Luke 3:23-24And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed)the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Matthat, whichwas the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna,which was the son of Joseph,Imagine the Savior of the world working in a small-town carpenter’s shop until hewas 30 years old! It seems incredible that Jesus would have been content to remainin Nazareth all tha

Great Commission Bible College Great Commission 200 Compiled by Dr. Harold Bollinger . 2 Table of Contents: Forward 3 Chapter 1 Abraham's Blessings 4 Chapter 2 Abraham is promised a land 8 Chapter 3 Abraham will become a nation 12 Chapter 4 Blessings for all through Abraham 16 .