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LESSON 2

GOD'S MEDIATED MEANS

Devotional Reading: Heb. 1:1-4
Topic For Adults: God’s Word Is Not Myth
Topic For Youths: You Can Become God’s Mouthpiece
Topic For Intermediates: Get Ready To Speak For God
Lesson Scriptures: Lev. 19:1-15; Num. 23: 1-10, 23-26; Isa. 50:1-7

Memory Verse

“God who at various time and various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets has in these last days spoken to us by His Son whom He has appointed heirs of all things” (Hebrews 1:1-2) NKJV.

BACKGROUND

In Bible days, God never failed to appoint a spokesman whom He gave His word. The spoke-person received the word and declared the message under the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In all ages, these men of God played significant roles in offering critique and advice to God’s people. The vitality and essentiality of those who mediated between God and man cannot be discarded or trivialized. Their desire was that people should know God and not deviate from Him way.

This week’s lesson is intended to educate us on how God has used human vessels to proclaim His word.

NOTES ON THE LESSON

PART 1: GOD OUTLINES HIS EXPECTATION - LEV. 19:1-15

God intimated His people with who He is. In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the Scripture declares that Jehovah, our God, is one. It is our duty to love the LORD with all our heart. To make this possible, God rolled out His expectation from His people.

Foremost, they must be holy because He is a holy God (Lev. 11:44-45). By extension, the present-day Christians are spiritual Israelites. We are called to a life of holiness (1 Pet. 1:25-16).

Other expectations of God as spelt out in our text are: (1) Obedience to parents – verse 3 (2) Worship only God. No homage to any image (verse 4) (3) Sacrifice should be offered properly (verse 5) (4) Law of harvest must be followed (verse 9-10) (5) No stealing (verse 11) (6) No cheating (verse 11), (7) No lying (verse 11), (8) God’s name should not to be used in vain. False swearing is forbidden (verse 12), (9) Do not rob anyone (verse 13), (10) Pay hired workers promptly, (11) Treat the deaf respectfully. Don’t take advantage of the blind (this is to show the fear of the Lord verse 14), (12) Judge your neighbors fairly. Do not disfavor the poor nor honor the rich unjustly (verse 15).

The expectation of God from His people – the Israelite – is still valid till date. The reason Christians should adopt these precepts is based on the fact of the reliability of God’s word.

The word of God is perfect – free from corruption. It is fully complete – nothing is to be added or subtracted. It is a sure way of discovering the divine truth. It is capable of making us wise unto salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). It gives insight to divine truth. It proves to us that all God’s precepts concerning all things are right (Ps. 119:128). The word of Christ rejoices the heart when it is written in our hearts. Foundation of everlasting joy is guaranteed.

In view of the quality of God’s word, it is expedient for believers to embrace it for our own good.

PART 2: GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY - NUM. 23:1-10, 23-26

Balaak made great preparation to curse the people of Israel. He hired Balaam and incited him to curse the Israelites. He thought he could bribe God with unacceptable sacrifice. He failed to retain God in His knowledge, became vain in his imagination, hoping that he could obtain God’s favor over God’s people. He did not aim to honor God with his sacrifice, rather, he wanted to use the avenue to harm God’s people.

The God of Israel seized the opportunity to turn the mouth of Balaam to bless His people. God who made man’s mouth knows how to use it for His own good. Balaam was instructed by God to bless the Israelites to the amazement of Balaak, demonstrating that God has the final say. He blesses them in three ways:

(1) in their peculiarity and distinction from other nations (2) in their number – an innumerable company that made them honorable and formidable (3) he pronounced them truly blessed not only when they were living but even when they died. We can therefore deduce that when we are in good relationship with God, He will make our enemy to be at peace with us. God indeed has the final say.

PART 3: GOD GIVES HOPEFUL MESSAGE - ISA. 50:1-7

The Israelites caused their own problem. They forgot God. Instead of relying on Him for help, they put their trust in other countries. God did not reject them; they were the ones that rejected God, though they pretended as if God was responsible for their predicament.

God responded to them through the Prophet. He challenged them to produce evidence that He was responsible for their woes. God had been a husband to them but they had been without God. They couldn’t prove that God had issued them a certificate of divorce. Their separation made them to be under the servitude of the Babylonians and later the Romans. God had been a father to them but they sold themselves to their debtors. God was not responsible.

It was their iniquities that sold them out. They were sent to Babylon because of the sin of idolatry. God proving His willingness to save, sent them a message of hope. Isaiah was fit for the work he was called to do. He was a type of Christ who was anointed with the spirit of God He had the tongue of the learned to know how to give instruction and speak the word of comfort to those that were under the bondage of sin. The antidote needed to enjoy God’s intervention is repentance and complete dependence on Him. Isaiah heard the word of God diligently and delivered same. He depended on God absolutely affirming that the Lord God would help them. To this end, he would not be confounded nor put to shame (verse 7). He gave the message of hope of God’s deliverance to the people.

CONCLUSION

God has interest in relating with His people. He uses various means and mediums to communicate His will and expectations to them. God knows the importance of communication. He has from the beginning continued to send messages which are able to make us do His goodwill through the people whom He has chosen under the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He ensures that His message is perfect, not subject to any ambiguity.

SENTENCE SERMON

God is still speaking through His chosen vessels. Strive to be among them by being holy and sanctified for the Masters’ use.

MORAL LESSON

FOR ADULTS: You are a tool purposely created to disseminate the word of God to the people. You don’t need to go through any secret rites and initiation to attain this.

FOR YOUTHS: As a youth, you can serve as God’s mouthpiece to inform and guide people in the way of God.

FOR INTERMEDIATES: If your soul thirsts and yearns for the living God, and you desire to serve Him, then the time is coming when He will inspire you to speak for Him.

QUESTIONS

  1. What are the significant roles played by those whom God sent His message through?

  2. Mention some of God’s expectations from His people as outlined in Leviticus 19:1-15. Are these expectations still relevant today?

  3. Balaam’s final resolution to bless Israel instead of cursing them shows what?

  4. Mention what Balaam pronounced on Israel.

  5. Who was responsible for the predicament of Israel in Isaiah 50 and why?