Hi friends! Beginning today, our 2025 ON MISSION with God tour group begins a 3-week study together in preparation of our mission trip to Israel in mid-February. You are invited to join us! Posts each morning (Monday-Friday) will be that day’s study and I hope you are blessed as you study along with us. If there are other events or reasons to post, those will be posted later in the day.
Let’s jump into the intro and our first lesson…
Welcome to the 2025 ON MISSION Trip to Israel! Whether you are travelling with us to physically carry out the mission, or are supporting us through prayer, encouragement and/or financial support of our projects, we are ON MISSION together! (Click that link to find out how to support, encourage or give.)
In 1990, Henry Blackaby wrote what may be one of the very best Bible studies of all time: Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God. Out of that study came a very simple yet deeply profound admonition to every Christian: “Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work.”
From the beginning of time until it’s conclusion, God was, is and will always be working in the hearts and minds of all people to be drawn to Him. However, the Jewish people are uniquely called and God’s Word expressly states that salvation is not only “of the Jews” (John 4:22), but it was for them first (Romans 1:16)
In a few short weeks, we will step foot in the land of Israel, ready to be ON MISSION with God. But before we go, we will intently seek where God is working and commit to join Him there! Our focus for the next three weeks will be upon God’s glorious work among the Jewish people in the past and the future, and His plan for us (Gentiles) in bridging the gap between past and future. Without a doubt, God is at work and is inviting us to join Him! Welcome to the 2025 ON MISSION with God tour!
The ON MISSION with God study is a 3-week journey to prepare those of us traveling to Israel for the mission God has called us to. It is also for those following along! Participate in real time with us or at your own pace. Each week of the study contains 4 or 5 study/devotional lessons.
Week 1: God’s Mission for Israel Revealed in the Past
Week 2: The Fulfillment of God’s Mission for Israel in the Future
Week 3: Our Part in God’s Mission in the Present
We are ON MISSION with God, and every successful mission requires preparation. So, here we go!
Week 1: God’s Mission for Israel Revealed in the Past
Lesson 1: Laying the Foundation
“In the beginning…”
- God spoke the entire universe into existence in 6 days. (Genesis 1)
- His prized creation, man and woman, were formed from dust on day 6, and given a home in the Garden of Eden.
- Life in the garden was good. They had luscious plants, an abundance of clear fresh water, and Adam and Eve were married. (Genesis 2)
- Adam and Eve were given dominion over everything, but there was one single rule in the entire kingdom: don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! (Verse 17)
Imagine! Adam and Eve didn’t even have to worry about what was good and evil! God made it all good! Yet only 3 chapters into the Bible, we find the fall of man. It wasn’t God’s desire for them to sin. Yet, because He knew their nature from before He created them, He also devised a plan of redemption.
Study tip: Using BibleGateway.com (or any other electronic Bible), search “foundation world” for a glimpse of all God did prior to creating the world! Throw in Jeremiah 1:5 just for good measure! He knew us then and He knows us now!
God has been ON MISSION to fulfill His plan of redemption since before the foundation of the world! That plan of redemption is for everyone, yet God desired a vehicle of world redemption to bring it about. We will learn about that vehicle, but we must finish our foundation first!
Following Adam and Eve’s sin, they were expelled from the garden and had sinful children who had sinful children. It came naturally after the fall. Even today, no one has to teach kids to lie or steal or mistreat others. Did your mother and father say, “Ok kids, line up! Today we’re going to talk about taking advantage of others.” No! Sinfulness is ingrained. It is righteousness that must be taught!
So, sinful people went on to rebel against God, to the point that wickedness and evil of heart grieved God so badly He had to destroy all but one righteous man (Noah) and his family. (Genesis 6:5-8)
Devotional moments:
- Do you find it difficult to reconcile God’s great love for us with His righteous judgment of evil? Why or why not?
- Do you think it is possible for God to love us without hating evil?
- The Bible teaches that we all have a sin problem (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, among others). God is 100% just and 100% holy and righteous. What does that mean to you?
- Given that God is 100% just, holy and righteous, how should He (our Creator and Sustainer) deal with the sin problem in our lives, and in the world?
- God is ON MISSION to save us all from the curse of sin. Spend a moment or two expressing your thoughts to Him. (God is not looking for “perfect” thoughts! Express whatever your thoughts are. He can handle both thankfulness and hurting hearts expressing something different. Be honest with Him!)
Sinfulness and rebellion separate us from God, and the Bible shows us a stark picture of the consequences of sin and rebellion towards God. Simply look at the ancient Hebrew people and their vicious cycle of turning from God, walking in rebellion, facing stiff judgment from God, and returning back to the Lord. (The book of Judges is full of examples!)
Following God’s righteous judgment in the flood of Noah’s day and the subsequent scattering of people from the Tower of Babel, it was time for God to implement a grand plan of redemption! He needed a vehicle and God chose Abraham for that assignment. Whether Jew or Gentile, we owe a debt of eternal gratitude to him and the Jewish people, through whom redemption has come!
We’ll get to that tomorrow, but let’s close today’s lesson in prayer.
Prayer tip: Give thanks to God today for His plan of redemption and for the grace of God that makes it possible for us to come to Him in our sinful condition and receive eternal salvation!
Looking for the Blessed Hope 