Text: Exodus 5:1-2
There are several names, phrases, and descriptions used for God throughout the Bible. In this lesson, we are going to focus on one of these – He is the God of Israel. When Moses first came to Pharaoh to tell him to let the people go, he described God in this way. This description highlights the fact that God is different from the “gods” of the other nations. The God of Israel is the only true and living God. Therefore, He is superior to all other “gods.”
Background of the Ancient World
- Idolatry was common
- God called Abraham to leave his family (Genesis 12:1) – this included the “gods” they served (Joshua 24:2)
- Jacob’s father-in-law had “household idols,” which were stolen by Rachel (Genesis 31:19)
- The Egyptians served many “gods” (Exodus 12:12) – God executed judgment against them through the plagues
- Joshua challenged the people to put away all foreign “gods” (Joshua 24:14-15)
- These “gods” were thought to help with harvests, fertility, battles, etc. – all of these blessings could be found in God, but people settled for inferior imitations
The God of Israel Was Different
- The “gods” of the people were created by them (Isaiah 37:18-19) – people failed to see the absurdity of worshipping a “god” they created (Isaiah 44:12-19)
- The God of Israel was real (Exodus 15:11; 18:10-11; Jeremiah 10:10; cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:9)
- God proved this over and over
- By delivering His people from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 14:13-14; 15:1, 11)
- By destroying Jericho (Joshua 6:1-2) – the conquest of Canaan as well (Joshua 21:43-45)
- In the contest at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-24, 36-38)
- It was undeniable to all observers
- To the Egyptian people (Exodus 12:33)
- To Rahab (Joshua 2:9-11)
- To the undecided Israelites (1 Kings 18:39)
God Promised to Bless Israel
- He blessed them because of His covenant (Deuteronomy 7:6-9)
- Blessings were conditioned upon their obedience (Deuteronomy 7:9-11; 28:1-2, 14)
- They eventually went into captivity due to their sin (Leviticus 20:22; Deuteronomy 28:64) – Israel first (2 Kings 17:6-8, 18), then Judah (2 Kings 24:2-3; 25:10-11)
Why Did God Bless Israel?
- Despite their sin, He preserved a remnant (Jeremiah 23:3-6) – this was part of His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), especially the seed promise
- God’s plan was to bring Christ into the world (Acts 3:25-26) – this was done to bless the nations (Matthew 4:15-16; 28:19-20); ultimately, it was done to save us (Galatians 4:4-5; 3:26-29)
Conclusion
- God is the God of Israel – superior to every “god” of every other nation; the other “gods” were created by the people who worshipped them; the God of Israel created the people who serve Him
- This is the same God we serve today – He protected and preserved a remnant of Israel in order to carry out His scheme of redemption; because of this, we can be saved today
