God had a plan. His holiness called for judgment, but His love called for salvation by His grace and mercy.
From The Beginning
God’s plan from the beginning was to bring salvation. To show us His redeeming love. God created Adam and Eve knowing the choice they would make. God allowed them to make that choice. God creates each of us knowing we could reject Him. God allows us to make our choice. While we were still sinners rebelling against Him, He came to us. He became a human like us, lived life, felt, struggled, loved, longed, grieved, hurt, laughed, rejoiced, hoped, rested, was tempted, overwhelmed, hungry, thirsty and everything else we each go though in life. He understands us. He can relate to us. He brought salvation. (Hebrews 14:15-16)
The Plan of God
Creation:
God created the earth and outer space. He made light, night and day, moon and stars, all the planets, sun and the solar system. God called it Good. God created everything in the world, including all of nature, animals, birds, insects, amphibians, trees, plants, flowers and more. When God was finished he called it Good. Then God created Man in His Image and called the man Good. Later God created woman as mans partner and called her Good too. When God looked over all He created He said it was good. (Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:4, Genesis 1:9, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:16-17, Genesis 1:18, Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 1:31)
Abundant Life:
All was good. The man and woman walked with God in perfect harmony. God gave them a garden and let them freely move about and eat and drink from its produce. The only rule was one – not to eat from the tree at the center of the garden. (Genesis 2:15, Genesis 2:16, Genesis 2:17)
The Fall:
One day the Devil tempted them to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. He used cunning words and lies to convince them. He made them doubt what God had said. He made them want what God had forbidden. He made them question and doubt God’s goodness. So they ate from the tree and at once were filled with shame. God banned them from the garden, but He didn’t stop loving them. He showed them how to live in the now sin filled world. (Genesis 3:1, Genesis 3:2-3, Genesis 3:4-5, Genesis 3:6, Genesis 3:7, Genesis 3:8, Genesis 3:9-10, Genesis 3:11, Genesis 3:12, Genesis 3:23)
The Promise:
As time went on God chose a man and made a promise to him that he would make a nation out of his descendants so numerous like the sand on the shore. Abraham and his wife Sarah were old at the time God made the promise to them. They were well past the age of childbearing. God worked a miracle and gave them a son, Isaac. (Genesis 17:1-2, Genesis 17:3-4, Genesis 17:5-6, Hebrews 6:13, Galatians 3:29)
God Tested Abraham:
After giving Abraham a son, God tested Abraham. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, but in the last minute stopped Abraham from doing it. God was testing Abraham’s faith and trust in Him. (Genesis 22:1, Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:10-11, Genesis 22:12, Hebrews 11:17-18)
The Family:
Then Issac had a son named Jacob. God grew a people for himself out of his children. Jacob’s sons became the founders of the tribes of the nation being built, Israel. These were the chosen people of God. (Psalm 105:9-11)
Jealously between Brothers:
There was jealousy among the brothers. One brother, Joseph, had dreams given to him by God predicting his future rule and authority over all including his family. Because of this his brothers despised him and conspired against Joseph. They eventually sold Joseph to travelers going to Egypt and tricked his father, Jacob into thinking Joseph was killed by a wild animal. (Genesis 37:27-28)
Joseph in Egypt:
Once in Egypt Joseph was sold into slavery. God was with him though and helped him succeed in all he did and eventually he became the head slave in the household he served in. (Genesis 37:36, Genesis 39:2-3, Genesis 39:4, Psalm 105:17-18)
Joseph Falsely Accused:
The wife of his master tried to seduce him, but Joseph held fast to God. She falsely accused him and he was sent to prison for many years. God was with Joseph the whole time. He helped him gain favor with the prison warden and Joseph was put in charge of all the prisoners. (Genesis 39:6, Genesis 39:7-8, Genesis 39:9, Genesis 39:10, Genesis 39:11, Genesis 39:12, Genesis 39:13-15, Genesis 39:16-17, Genesis 39:18-19, Genesis 39:20-21, Genesis 39:22, Genesis 39:23)
Joseph Set Free:
God was still working and had great plans. God brought Joseph out of prison and made him a wise leader in Egypt. He did this by giving the Pharaoh two dreams predicting the future that only Joseph could interpret. (Genesis 41:14-15, Genesis 41:16, Genesis 41:17-18, Genesis 41:19-20, Genesis 41:21-22, Genesis 41:23-24, Genesis 41:25, Genesis 41:26-27, Genesis 41:28-29, Genesis 41:30-31, Genesis 41:32, Genesis 41:33, Genesis 41:34-36, Genesis 41:37-38, Genesis 41:39-40, Psalm 105:19-20, Psalm 105:21-22)
The Family Moves to Egypt:
Then the whole family migrated to Egypt during a great famine, which God had predicted through Pharaoh’s dream. This was God’s plan, not a setback. The family grew in Egypt to a great number. Their growth made the Egyptians scared and so they made them their slaves. This went on for 400 years. Again it was all God’s plan and His timing. God hadn’t forgotten about them or His promise. (Genesis 46:26-27, Genesis 47:27, Exodus 1:8-9, Exodus 1:10, Exodus 1:11-13, Psalm 105:16, Psalm 105:23, Psalm 105:24-25)
God’s Chosen Leader:
God rose up a leader to demand the release of His people, the Israelites. This leader, Moses, was an Israelite and was born at a time when Pharaoh ordered all the children of the Israelites to be killed to prevent further growth of the population of the Israelites. God worked a miracle and Moses was raised by Pharaohs daughter. When Moses grew up he wanted to know more about who he was and saw first hand the mistreatment of his people, the Israelites, by the Egyptians in their slavery. (Acts 7:17-18, Acts 7:19-20, Acts 7:21, Acts 7:22-23)
God’s Calling:
God called Moses after he had been away from Egypt and the Israelites for decades living in the desert. Moses was hesitant and doubted. He asked for God to sent someone else. Instead God gave Moses a helper and partner, his brother Aaron. (Acts 7:30-31, Acts 7:34, Psalm 105:26)
God’s Power:
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and demanded the release of God’s people. Pharaoh refused and God displayed His power through plagues and eventually the death of every first born Egyptians. At that Pharaoh relented and freed the Israelites. The Egyptians wanted them gone and willingly gave them whatever they asked for. Then Pharaoh changed his mind and gave chase, but God opened the Red Sea for them to cross. He then swallowed up the Egyptians in the sea after they had given chase into the dry seabed and the Israelites had safely crossed. They were drowned by the waters returning. God fought for His people. (Exodus 4:13, Exodus 4:14, Joshua 24:5, Joshua 24:6, Joshua 24:7, Psalm 105:27-28, Psalm 105:29-30, Psalm 105:31-33, Psalm 105:34-35, Psalm 105:36, Psalm 105:37-38)
The Journey:
On their way to the Promised Land God had sworn He would give them one day, the journey got hard. They started to complain. They wanted food, water, missed eating fish and the food of Egypt. They wanted to go back. (Exodus 15:24, Exodus 16:2, Exodus 16:3, Psalm 105:40-41, Psalm 105:42-43)
The Golden Idol:
When Moses was gone for 40 days receiving the Ten Commandments, they figured he wasn’t coming back and made an idol as their leader. (Exodus 32:23)
Fear & Doubt:
Later when they arrived at the Promised Land they hesitated. They sent spies go check it out and when they came back and gave their report the spies made all the Israelites fearful and doubt God. (Numbers 13:32, Numbers 13:33, Numbers 14:1, Numbers 14:2, Numbers 14:3)
Wondering in the Desert:
They forgot all God had done for them and was capable of doing for them. Only 2 of the spies believed God would help them conquer the inhabitants and nations currently living there. Because of their doubt, God made them turn around back into the wilderness and wonder in the desert for 40 years. In that time God tested and taught them, raising up the next generation to enter the Promised Land instead. (Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 8:4, Deuteronomy 8:5-6, Deuteronomy 8:7-10)
God Conquers:
When they arrived again at the Promised Land they crossed over and took possession of it piece by piece, town by town. God was with them and he caused them to overcome and conquer the land. Then God left some inhabitants, some people groups in the land yet for each Israelite tribe to rid out the territory given to them. God was testing them, not leaving them on their own, but seeing if they would trust Him. Many Israelite tribes did not rid their land of the people groups left. Because of this they reaped the consequences. (2 Chronicles 20:7, Judges 1:19, Joshua 16:10, Joshua 15:63, 1 Kings 9:20, Psalm 105:44)
The Covenant:
God made a covenant with the Israelites. He gave commandments and regulations for them to follow. If they obeyed God would bless them and they would prosper in the land. If they disobeyed God would allow specific things to happen. Blessings and curses were listed. They had a choice to make between blessings and curses. Between life and death spiritually for God knew what the outcomes of each choice would be and in His love let them choose. (Deuteronomy 29:9, Deuteronomy 29:13, Deuteronomy 30:15, Deuteronomy 30:16, Deuteronomy 30:17-18, Deuteronomy 30:19, Deuteronomy 30:20)
Broken Covenant:
They obeyed somewhat. They were wholehearted and then halfhearted. They went back and forth eventually fully disobeying, sinning and falling into evil practices. They demanded a king to be like the nations around them instead of God being their leader and guide. Eventually the Kings became evil and brought down the whole nation. All the curses listed came true. (Deuteronomy 31:20, Judges 8:33-34, Judges 13:1, Psalm 78:10, Jeremiah 11:8, 1 Samuel 8:4-5, 1 Samuel 8:6, 1 Samuel 8:7, 1 Samuel 8:8, 1 Samuel 8:9)
God’s Son:
God came to us. He sent His son to us. He became like us. He lived life like us. He was fully human like us but also fully God. He was born of a virgin and fulfilled all the prophecies about Him. He preached about the Kingdom of God and repentance and forgiveness and for all who believe in Him. He performed miracles and changed peoples lives. (Acts 7:37, Philippians 2:6-7, Philippians 2:8-9, Philippians 2:10-11)
God’s Sacrifice:
God came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for us, even while we still sinned against Him. His love compelled Him. He took our sin on Himself. The sacrifices and regulations God gave the Israelites were a simulation looking forward to this. Jesus’s death and resurrection were always the plan. He became the last and final sacrifice. (Romans 5:8-9, Romans 5:10-11, Hebrews 9:25, Hebrews 9:26)
The New Covenant:
Through Christ we have a new covenant with God. Believe in Christ. Believe He is God’s son who came and died and took your sin and rose again to give you life. All we have to do to receive salvation is believe and we will become one of His children. (Matthew 26:28, John 1:12-13, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:15)
God’s Goodness in His Plan of Salvation
God created the earth and everything in it because He is good. He created it for us, for our enjoyment. He called it good.
God allowed Adam and Eve to be deceived and sin against Him. God allowed the fall of mankind to show His goodness and love for us. God allowed sin to enter the world so He could show us His mercy and grace. So He could display it for all to see and bring salvation to all who believe in Him. (Romans 5:20, Romans 5:21)
God chose a man and made a promise to Him. Even though sin had entered the world and broken the original design, God was still good. God was doing as He planned all along. (Romans 4:13)
Then God tested the man. God tests us too at times. When things may seem like they are going in the wrong direction or nothing seems right, hold on to God. God’s good plan has not been thwarted, but God in His goodness wants to help us grow in Him.
God kept His promise. It took generations and hardships to see it through, but God did it in His timing. God in His goodness knows the best way. He took one man, gave him a son in old age, gave him a grandson who bore the sons who became the tribes of Israel.
Joseph went through many years of struggle. He spent many years in prison falsely accused and was forgotten about until God pulled Joseph out and exalted him. Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. A previous fellow inmate remembered Joseph could correctly interpret dreams because he had interpreted the fellow inmate’s dream which proved true. When Joseph correctly interpreted Pharaoh’s dream he was given the second highest position in Egypt. Joseph lead during the time of the great famine which was predicted by God through Pharaoh’s dream.
God is always working in our lives, no matter the circumstances. He sees the big picture and knows exactly how it all fits together. If we let God, He can work good out of anything. He is always working for our good. (Romans 8:28)
The Israelites were then enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years. Many generations came and went. Had God forgotten about them? No, he allowed this time, even though it was hard and trying for them. God saw the mistreatment of the His people and was moved with compassion. In His timing He raised up a leader to free them and stop the oppression of His people. (1 Samuel 12:16)
Through our journey with God in life there will be tough times and rough areas. Know that God is always with you, beside you through everything. He sees and understands. He feels our hurt and in His good timing He rescues us and pulls us through.
God called Moses, but Moses hesitated. He didn’t think He was the right person for what God was calling him to do. He didn’t feel qualified for the task.
We aren’t qualified for any calling. God qualifies us. He strengthens us, gives us the words, thoughts, ideas, dreams, resources, experience, knowledge, wisdom and more. We can do nothing for Him in our own ability. It is only through Christ. God wants us to lean on Him so He can work through us to witness to the world. So He can show His mercy, grace, compassion, love, goodness and power in our lives to the watching world. That way they can see God’s goodness and be drawn to Him for salvation. (Matthew 5:16, Philippians 4:13)
God demonstrated His power to Pharaoh and the Egyptians in freeing His people. He sent plagues, but distinguished between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The plagues affected the Egyptians and kept getting worse the more Pharaoh resisted freeing the Israelites. Eventually the Egyptians and Pharaoh wanted the Israelites to leave badly. God had just killed the firstborn of every Egyptian including Pharaoh’s son. (Exodus 12:30, Exodus 12:31, Exodus 12:33)
Through God’s power a testimony was shown to the world. Nations everywhere feared the Israelites. As the Israelites journeyed on some people of those nations came to know God and were accepted by Him. (Joshua 2:8-9, Joshua 2:10, Joshua 2:11, Joshua 2:12-13, Joshua 2:14, Joshua 6:24, Joshua 6:25)
God can and will deliver us in His time. He will show His power and use our life and circumstances as a testimony for Him. (Hebrews 11:31)
Even though the Israelites complained a lot throughout their journey, God still provided for them. God still took care of them. He disciplined them like a parent out of love for them. He tested their faith and taught them valuable lessons along the way. (Deuteronomy 8:14, Deuteronomy 8:15, Deuteronomy 8:16)
When they finally arrived at the Promised Land, God was with them and helped them conquer the land. God displayed His power and taught them trust in Him. He guided them and brought them safely into the land.
God made a covenant with the people. He gave them a choice to obey Him or disobey Him. He gives us the choice too. He does not force us to follow Him. In His goodness and love for us, He lets us choose. He also shows us the consequences of not following Him. He warns us many times in His Word. He disciplines those He loves, His children, so that we may return to Him. On the other hand God promises everlasting punishment and separation from Him for those who don’t choose Him. He does not want us to perish and be separated from Him, but He lets the choice up to us. What will you choose today? Salvation through Him or separation from Him? (2 Peter 3:9)
The Israelites chose to turn away. They worshipped other Gods made of stone and wood. They did what they wanted. Even so God sent messengers, Judges and Prophets to lead them back to Him. God showed His mercy. This went on for many generations and centuries. But their disobedience and sin grew more and more until God fulfilled all the curses written in Deuteronomy and exiled them to a foreign land.
God’s mercy and love extends far and bears tons, but a time will come for judgment. We don’t know when that will be. That is why we must choose now when His mercy is still available to us. God doesn’t want anyone to perish. He loves us beyond what we can know or understand and longs so much for us to choose Him. To choose the salvation He offers. Choose Him while He can still be chosen. Choose His love, mercy, and grace that He offers you now. Believe in Him and receive His salvation.
God sent His son to live among us. He came to show His love, grace and mercy to us. He came not to judge but to save. (John 3:17, John 3:18)
God gave His son for us to offer salvation to all. He sacrificed Himself for our sin, for our wrongs. He willingly gave up His life to offer us life and salvation in Him. (John 10:17-18)
He came and gave His life so all people from any nation or tribe could believe in Him and receive salvation. He made a way back to Him even though we were steeped in sin and rebellion. He offers redemption through His sacrifice. That is how much He loves us. That is how good He is. (Romans 5:6)
His Salvation Plan & Sovereignty
This was God’s plan of salvation from the beginning. The system God gave the Israelites with His commandments and regulations was a shadow and preface of His final sacrifice once for all. (Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:10)
He worked out His good plan of salvation through all the ups and downs. Nothing was ever out of His control and sovereignty. Even though many times from a humans perspective it would seem to be lost, He was working His salvation plan.
God is always working in our lives, no matter what is going on or the situation or circumstance we are in. God is always good even when evil happens. God works it all together, making beauty out of ashes. If we hold tight to Him, through eyes of faith we can see His goodness. (Psalm 145:9, Isaiah 55:8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 2:13)
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