Bible Study

Did God Ever Intend for Israel to have a King?

Yes, God ultimately intended for Israel to have a king, but not in the way or timing they demanded it.

1. God’s Original Plan Included Kingship

  • Genesis 17:6 (to Abraham): “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.”
  • Genesis 49:10 (to Judah): “The scepter shall not depart from Judah…”
  • Deuteronomy 17:14–20: God gave explicit laws for when Israel would ask for a king, indicating He anticipated it. But it was to be a king of His choosing, one who would revere God, write and read His law, and not exalt himself.

2. Israel’s Request in 1 Samuel 8 Was Rejected

  • The issue wasn’t kingship itself, but why they wanted one:

    “Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam 8:5).

  • God said, “They have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Sam 8:7).
  • Their desire was rooted in distrust of God’s leadership and a worldly definition of kingship.

3. God Gave Them a King—First in Judgment, Then in Grace

  • Saul was given as a concession and judgment (1 Sam 8–9; 12:17–19).
  • David was God’s chosen king (1 Sam 13:14), a man after His own heart, through whom God would establish an eternal kingdom (2 Sam 7:12–16).

Conclusion:
God intended for Israel to have a king, but one who would reflect His rule, not mimic the nations. Israel’s premature demand in 1 Samuel 8 was sinful because it was driven by rebellion, not trust. God used even this rebellion to advance His redemptive plan, ultimately pointing forward to King Jesus, the true and perfect King from David’s line.

What Are the Immediate vs Future Implications of 2 Samuel Chapter 12 and Verse 10?

The Lasting Consequences of David’s Sin in 2 Samuel 12:10

2 Samuel 12:10 carries significant implications regarding God’s punishment of David for his sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah. According to the passage, God declares that “the sword shall never depart from your house” as a consequence of David’s actions[1][2].

This punishment manifested in violence within David’s family, including the murders of three of his sons: Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah[1]. The verse also indicates that David’s sins had long-lasting effects, extending beyond his immediate family to impact the entire dynasty[1].

God’s judgment included raising up evil against David from within his own household and publicly shaming him by having his wives taken by another[1][2]. This divine retribution was seen as a response to David “despising” God through his actions[2][3][4].

Despite the severity of the punishment, the passage is also interpreted in the context of God’s mercy, as it demonstrates the availability of atonement and forgiveness even for grave sins[3][5].

References

  1. James B. Coffman and Thelma B. Coffman, Commentary on Second Samuel, The James Burton Coffman Commentaries (A. C. U. Press, 1992), 2 Sa 12:10.
  2. Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2010, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 121.
  3. Martin J. Selman, 1 Chronicles: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 10, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 210.
  4. James E. Smith, The Books of History, Old Testament Survey Series (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1995), 356.
  5. Gien Karssen, Learners: Lessons from Women of Striving and Grace (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2015).

Summary

The judgment in 2 Samuel 12:10–12 primarily refers to David and his immediate household, though its repercussions ripple through his lineage.

Immediate Context:

  • Verse 10: “The sword shall never depart from your house” — This refers to violence and division within David’s family. This includes:

    • Amnon’s rape of Tamar (2 Sam 13)
    • Absalom murdering Amnon (2 Sam 13:28–29)
    • Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam 15–18)
    • Adonijah’s later attempted coup (1 Kings 1)

  • Verse 11: “I will raise up evil against you out of your own house” — Fulfilled notably through Absalom, who:

    • Betrayed his father
    • Publicly took David’s concubines on the palace roof (2 Sam 16:21–22)

Broader Lineage:

  • The consequences did not cancel God’s covenant with David (2 Sam 7:12–16), but they did shape the trajectory of his dynasty:
    • Solomon’s kingdom was divided after his death because of sin (1 Kings 11)
    • Future kings from David’s line continued to wrestle with sin, judgment, and rebellion

Conclusion:

  • Primarily immediate: The prophecy targets David’s lifetime and household.
  • Secondarily ongoing: The effects, especially internal conflict and moral compromise, echo through his royal lineage, though God’s covenant mercy remains intact.

Lesson 2 Overview

General Lesson Themes

  • Faithfulness versus unfaithfulness: The lesson traces the cycles of obedience and rebellion in Israel’s history, demonstrating the dangers of spiritual compromise and the seriousness of sin.
  • Leadership and the heart: The importance of internal character in leaders, rather than outward appearance or power, is a key focus.
  • God’s covenants and promises: Despite ongoing human failures, God remains faithful to His promises, especially as seen in the Davidic covenant and its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
  • Personal and generational responsibility: We are encouraged to examine both personal and generational patterns of sin and the need for genuine repentance.
  • Redemption and judgment: While sin carries consequences, God continually invites His people back through repentance and provides a way for restoration.

Lesson Summary

The material covers Israel’s path from the judges to the Babylonian exile, emphasizing the repeating cycle of disobedience and God’s call to repentance. It highlights stories of Saul, David, and Solomon, pointing out the destructive impact of pride and disobedience and the blessing that comes from a heart surrendered to God. Although Israel frequently fails to keep the covenant, God remains steadfast, establishing the Davidic covenant and ultimately fulfilling His redemptive plan through Christ. Persistent idolatry and refusal to repent lead to exile, but God’s mercy endures, and He keeps His promises.

Key Takeaways for Reflection

  • God is most concerned with one’s heart and inner character.
  • Sin, whether personal or communal, always carries real consequences and must be addressed honestly.
  • Idolatry can take many forms, both external and internal, and must be confronted decisively.
  • True repentance means owning one’s sin, surrendering to God, and committing to transformation.
  • God’s promises are unbreakable, and even in failure or exile, He offers restoration for those who repent and trust Him.

What does it mean when God says He regrets making Saul king in 1 Samuel 15:11?

1 Samuel 15:11 — God Regrets Making Saul King

What Does It Mean?

When God says He regrets (Hebrew: nāḥam) making Saul king in 1 Samuel 15:11, it is an expression of divine grief. This does not mean that God made a mistake or lacked foreknowledge. Rather, it shows His sorrow over Saul’s rebellion and moral failure.

Key Points

  • Anthropopathic Language: “Regret” reflects God using human terms to express divine emotion. He is not admitting error, but communicating His grief over Saul’s disobedience in a way we can grasp.
  • Moral Displeasure: God regrets Saul’s kingship because Saul directly disobeyed Him (vv. 3, 9) and rejected His word (v. 23). The regret is over Saul’s actions—not over God’s sovereign choice.
  • God’s Grief is Real: God is not cold or detached. His heart is grieved by rebellion. This moment shows us that God mourns sin even when it occurs within His perfect plan.
  • Not a Contradiction: Verse 29 clarifies that God “does not regret like a man.” His regret is not rooted in ignorance or indecision. He remains faithful and consistent in His purposes.

Summary

God’s “regret” in 1 Samuel 15:11 reveals that He is not emotionally indifferent. He grieves over sin and rebellion, even when it unfolds within His sovereign will. His regret shows the depth of His righteousness and relational heart, not a flaw in His plan.

Lesson 2 Outline – Israel’s Covenant Failure

Brett Cushing – Teacher

Israel’s Covenant Failure – Outline

  1. Introduction and relevance
    1. Week two of “The Second Exodus” study
    2. Connection between ancient people and modern believers
      1. ancient people are “like our peeps” – our ancestors
      2. their situations mirror our own experiences
      3. times of crisis, confusion, and self-inflicted captivity
  2. Main thesis: God’s covenants comfort us in times of crisis
    1. Central theme: God’s covenants provide comfort during crisis
    2. Three key points covenants reveal
      1. God desires to dwell with us
      2. we desire not to dwell with God
      3. God still desires to give us grace
  3. Understanding covenants
    1. Definition: a binding promise between two people
    2. Historical context: often between king and subjects
    3. Two types of covenants
      1. conditional promises (require mutual agreement and fulfillment)
      2. unconditional promises (unilateral, God doing it for us)
    4. Purpose: disclose God’s overall salvation plan for the entire world
  4. Major biblical covenants demonstrating God’s desire to dwell with us
    1. Noahic covenant (Genesis 9:11)
      1. unconditional covenant
      2. God’s promise never to flood the world again
      3. comfort: God’s redemptive purpose for entire world
      4. shows God doesn’t desire to destroy but to dwell with us
    2. Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12, ratified in Genesis 15)
      1. two promises to Abraham
        1. make him into a great nation
        2. all peoples blessed through his seed
      2. unique ratification ceremony
        1. Abraham cut animals in half
        2. only God walked through (Abraham was in deep sleep)
        3. God took penalty upon Himself for covenant failure
      3. modern relevance
        1. we are under same covenant (those with faith in Christ are Abraham’s children)
        2. foreshadows new covenant in Jesus Christ
    3. Mosaic covenant (Exodus 19-24)
      1. established 430 years after Abrahamic covenant
      2. God’s promises to Israel
        1. special nation with special role
        2. kingdom of priests (intercessors)
        3. God’s treasured possession if they obey
      3. people’s response: “We got this! We’re all in!”
      4. comfort for us: Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law
        1. didn’t come to abolish but fulfill
        2. we get credit for everything Jesus did perfectly
        3. we become His righteousness
    4. Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-17)
      1. given after repeated disobedience by God’s people
      2. God’s promise of David’s descendant (Jesus Christ)
      3. God would build house for His name
      4. kingdom will endure forever
      5. fulfillment in Jesus
        1. angel’s announcement to Mary
        2. Jesus’ favorite teaching theme: kingdom of God
        3. gives us God’s presence, peace, and purpose
    5. New covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
      1. prophesied during captivity and exile
      2. God’s promises
        1. put law within them, write on hearts
        2. “I will be their God, they shall be my people”
        3. all will know the Lord
        4. forgive iniquity, remember sins no more
      3. addresses essential problem: wrong desires
      4. fulfillment through Jesus and Holy Spirit
        1. Spirit guides, counsels, convicts
        2. sanctifies and makes us more like Jesus
        3. three aspects: justification (God’s present), sanctification (God’s process), glorification (God’s promise)
  5. We don’t desire to dwell with God
    1. Illustration: Indonesian airliner pilots
      1. pilots didn’t trust instrument panel
      2. desired to trust themselves only
      3. landed at wrong location (military base)
      4. parallel: God’s people in exile asking “How did we get here?”
    2. Root of the problem: wrong desires leading to disobedience
      1. disobedience lurks behind loud declarations
      2. problem began with Mosaic covenant
        1. initiated by God’s grace
        2. people declared “We will do everything!”
        3. immediate disobedience followed
    3. Pattern of wrong desires throughout Scripture
      1. Adam and Eve: tree of knowledge vs. tree of life
      2. Eve desired the apple (looked good and pleasing)
      3. Cain: God warned “sin’s desire is for you”
      4. David’s desire for Bathsheba
      5. Israel’s desire for control
    4. Jesus’ teaching on desire vs. behavior
      1. sermon on the mount
      2. murder begins with anger
      3. adultery begins with lust
      4. disobedience is fundamentally about desire
  6. Israel’s progressive rejection of God
    1. Initial enthusiasm but quick failure
      1. started strong in Exodus 19
      2. immediately made golden calf (God they could control)
    2. Downward spiral through Old Testament
      1. book of Joshua: started great, ended failing
      2. early Judges: God as less desirable option
      3. later Judges: God became obsolete
      4. end of Judges: God seen as enemy, everyone did what was right in own eyes
    3. Desire for worldly ways
      1. craved created things rather than creator
      2. rejected Samuel’s sons
      3. demanded a king like other nations
      4. replaced God with created things
      5. connection to Romans: worshiped created rather than creator
  7. Personal application: our similar struggles
    1. Our desires fuel our disobedience
    2. Rooted in wrongful dependence
      1. “I will determine what’s right and wrong for me”
      2. tendency to decide first, then ask God to bless it
    3. God sees wrongful dependence as obstinance
    4. Disobedience results in experiencing God’s absence
  8. God’s response: grace despite obstinance
    1. Isaiah 30 example
      1. context: Israel surrounded by enemies
      2. their desire: alliance with Egypt for strength and autonomy
      3. God’s invitation: salvation through quietness, waiting, repentance, rest
      4. opposite of “Nike slogan” – don’t just do something, wait on God
    2. God’s heart revealed
      1. God craves to give grace
      2. “I am waiting, I am yearning, I can’t wait to give you grace”
      3. God’s obstinate children don’t stop His grace
      4. God is not mad at us – He loves us through Jesus Christ
  9. Conclusion: God’s covenants provide comfort
    1. All covenants based on God’s grace
    2. God does all the work in all covenants
    3. Even Mosaic covenant included sacrifices (God knew they would fail)
    4. Our part: simply depend upon and trust in God
  10. Final application questions
    1. What keeps me from having comfort in crisis and confusion?
    2. What do I need to do?
    3. What will my life look like when I turn back to God?
    4. How can I embrace that His grace is available and He’s craving to give it?

Lesson 1 Outline – God’s Covenant Promise to Israel

Tom Ibach – Lesson Teacher

  1. Introduction to the Study
    1. Greetings and context for study year
    2. Study focus: The Second Exodus – Trusting a Faithful God
    3. Transition from New Testament study to Old Testament study
    4. Importance of the Old Testament for Christians
  2. The Importance and Composition of the Old Testament
    1. Old Testament as foundational to the New Testament
    2. Diverse authorship over about a thousand years
    3. Consistent message: God’s plan to redeem through the Messiah
    4. Challenge of knowing the Old Testament thoroughly
    5. Introduction to the Second Exodus within Old Testament narrative
  3. The First and Second Exodus Compared
    1. The Great Exodus from Egypt led by Moses
    2. The Second Exodus from Babylonian captivity
    3. Differences between the first and second Exodus
    4. God’s providence as a key theme in the Second Exodus
    5. Timeframe and scope of the Second Exodus
    6. Resource availability for study and timeline
  4. Books Covered in the Study
    1. Final three historical books: Ezra, Esther, Nehemiah
    2. Last three prophetic books: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
    3. Key events: rebuilding the temple, city, and national revival
    4. Inspirational characters and their qualities
  5. Relating to the People of the Second Exodus
    1. Spiritual ancestry and connection through Abraham
    2. Shared human experiences and struggles
    3. Learning lessons from their faith and challenges
    4. Encouragement for those facing hard things today
  6. Understanding Covenant in the Bible
    1. Definition and significance of covenant
    2. Two types: conditional and unconditional covenants
    3. God’s covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus
    4. Focus on Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants in this lesson
  7. The Abrahamic Covenant
    1. Unconditional promises: land, descendants, blessing
    2. Significance of faith and righteousness (Genesis 15:6)
    3. Covenant-making ritual with blood sacrifice
    4. God’s oath symbolized by passing between animal pieces
    5. Covenant as a foundation of hope for Abraham’s descendants
  8. The Mosaic Covenant
    1. Conditional covenant based on God’s law given to Moses
    2. Purpose: address sin and establish holy living
    3. Role of the Ten Commandments and sacrificial system
    4. Israel’s initial acceptance and subsequent rebellion
    5. Consequences of disobedience: wandering and curse/blessing principle
    6. Reissuing of the law in Deuteronomy
  9. God’s Faithfulness and Covenant
    1. God always upholds his part of the covenant
    2. Israel’s failure contrasted with God’s unchanging faithfulness
    3. The fulfillment of the law and covenant in Jesus Christ
    4. New covenant through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection
    5. Reflection questions on personal trust in God’s faithfulness
  10. Closing and Prayer
    1. Thankfulness for God’s faithfulness
    2. Prayer for strengthened faith and confidence in God’s promises
    3. Encouragement for a faithful walk with God

The Second Exodus – Lesson 1

INTRODUCTION PART 1—GOD’S COVENANT PROMISES TO ISRAEL

The second exodus of Israel is best understood when you understand Israel’s preceding history. Before we look at Israel’s return to the promised land, let’s turn the pages of Scripture and trace Israel’s story from the beginning to learn how she ended up in captivity in the first place. In this introductory lesson, we will study God’s covenant promises, Israel’s record of failures, Israel’s kings, and God’s faithfulness to His judgment and promises.

God Makes a Covenant with Abram

God reveals Himself in Scripture to be a covenant-keeping God, promising to do all that He vows. Covenants are promises that God gives to His people to reveal His character and unchanging love for them. Throughout history, God made a series of covenants like the Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic; these were a progression of promises about God’s faithfulness, redemption, and provision for His creation, culminating in the new covenant. Because of the death of Jesus, the new covenant offers a new heart and forgiveness for all who believe.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

God made a very personal promise to Abraham that He would make him into a great nation, with specified land, innumerable descendants, and many spiritual blessings (Gen. 12:1–3 and 15:5). God would fulfill His promises and keep this everlasting covenant, no matter the choices of Abraham or his descendants. God’s covenant keeping is based on His own faithful character, not on man’s human actions. Though this covenant was a promise from God, man had to receive it through faith (Gen. 15:6), not by doing any works. The Abrahamic covenant and the new covenant (which Christ followers are under today) are one covenant of grace made to sinners who receive them through saving faith.

  1. Read Genesis 12:1–4. God began the nation of Israel with a man named Abram, who was later renamed Abraham. What do you learn in this interaction between God and Abram?

    God commands Abram to leave his country, his family, and his father’s house to a land God will show him. God promises to make Abram a great nation, to bless him, to make his name great, and to make him a blessing to others. God vows to bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse him. Abram responds in faith and obedience by leaving as the Lord instructed

  2. Read Genesis 15:1–6. Despite the promise of God, Abram and his wife Sarai remained childless. What words of assurance did God give Abram, and how did Abram respond?

    God reassures Abram: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Even when Abram shares his concerns about being childless, God promises Abram a son from his own body and that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. Abram believes the Lord, and his faith is credited to him as righteousness

  3. Read Genesis 15:7–21. In this strange scene, the Lord continues to disclose his commitment to His covenant as He reveals Himself as a “smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” passing between the bloodied halves of three sacrificial animals.
    • What are the Lord’s instructions and Abram’s response (vv. 9–12)?

      The Lord instructs Abram to bring a heifer, goat, ram, dove, and pigeon. Abram cuts the larger animals in two and arranges them as God commands. Abram obeys fully and waits, driving away birds of prey

    • What are the Lord’s terms and promises (vv. 13–21)?

      God reveals that Abram’s descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, enslaved and oppressed for 400 years, but will eventually leave with great possessions. Abram is promised a long, peaceful life. God covenants specific lands for Abram’s descendants, stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates and covering the territory of many ancient peoples

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

RIGHTEOUSNESS

God’s righteousness means that God always acts in accordance with what is right and that He Himself is the final standard of what is right.

For man to be right before God, his sins must be forgiven. When Abraham believed God, he had faith in God’s promises; thereby, God imputed righteousness to Abraham’s account. His sin was removed; and God granted him righteousness based on Jesus’ sacrificial death, which paid the debt man owed. Righteousness through faith precedes the Mosaic law, which underscores salvation through faith alone, not by doing the law. Salvation is and has always been by faith alone.

“Scripture is clear that because Adam’s sin has corrupted every man, ‘none is righteous, no, not one’ (Rom. 3:10; cf. Ps. 14:1–3). But it is also clear that Jesus Christ lived a perfectly righteous life and died for our sins in order to free us from our punishment and credit us with His own righteousness—the righteousness of God (see 1 Cor. 1:30 and 2 Cor. 5:21). This is the gospel.”

  1. According to the Bible, how are you able to live in a right relationship with God and others? What would you tell someone who thought they could be righteous by “doing righteous things”?

    a) According to the text, living in a right relationship with God is only possible through faith in God’s promises and trusting in what Jesus has done through His sacrificial death. Forgiveness and righteousness are granted by God based on faith, not on human effort or good deeds. This means that, according to the Bible, righteousness before God comes by faith alone, just as it did for Abraham.

    b) The text makes it clear that no one can be righteous by simply “doing righteous things” because Scripture says “none is righteous, no, not one.” True righteousness comes by faith, not by works. Human deeds cannot remove sin; only trust in Jesus’ perfectly righteous life and sacrificial death can result in forgiveness and a right standing before God.

God Makes a Covenant with Israel

Fulfilling God’s prophecy, Abraham’s offspring became the nation of Israel and were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. During that time, God multiplied His descendants, heard their cries, and delivered them from bondage through Moses (Ex. 1–12). That deliverance from Egypt, through the Red Sea, is called the great exodus.

God’s presence accompanied Israel on the way to the promised land as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21–22). And along the way, God gave Israel the law through Moses (Ex. 20–23), which is known as the Mosaic covenant.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

THE MOSAIC COVENANT

When God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage, He established Israel as a theocratic nation and made a temporary covenant with her called the Mosaic covenant. This covenant would not only teach God’s righteous standards but amplify sin and drive man to his need for a savior.

“The Mosaic covenant was an administration of detailed written laws given for a time to restrain the sins of the people and to be a custodian to point people to Christ. Paul says, ‘Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made’ (Gal. 3:19), and ‘The law was our guardian until Christ came’ (Gal. 3:24).”

  1. How did Israel respond to the Mosaic covenant in Exodus 19:8, 24:3, and 7–8?

    In Exodus 19:8, 24:3, and 7–8, Israel responded to God’s covenant by expressing willingness and obedience. They repeatedly said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do,” agreeing to the covenant and its stipulations.

  2. Moses went up on the mountain to receive the law from God, where he remained for 40 days and nights (Ex. 24:12, 18). Compare Exodus 20:2–4 with 32:1–14. How did the Israelites violate God’s law while Moses was on the mountain?

    While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites demanded Aaron make a golden calf, breaking the commandments against idolatry (Exodus 20:2–4 vs. Exodus 32:1–14). They worshipped the calf and attributed their deliverance from Egypt to it, which was a direct violation of God’s law.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

IDOLATRY

Idolatry is the worship or allegiance to anything other than God alone. If something holds a controlling force or position in your life, it is an idol. Idols can be materialism, pride, self-fulfillment, and power. We can even worship “our religion” instead of God. In the Old Testament, idol worship meant worshiping objects or images that represented various pagan deities. In the time between Joshua’s death and the Babylonian exile, Israel repeatedly fell into worship of the pagan gods of the peoples around them, especially Baal and Asherah. The first and second commandments instruct God’s people to worship only God and not make or serve any idol (Ex. 20:3–5). Israel’s idolatry led to their judgment, captivity, and exile at the hands of the Babylonians.

  1. Why is idolatry such an offense to God? In what way are you giving your time, money, allegiance, or effort to an idol that is holding you captive?

    Idolatry is an offense to God because it places anything or anyone above God, violating His command to worship Him alone. It constitutes spiritual unfaithfulness and breaks the unique relationship between God and His people.

  2. Exodus 34:5–7 reveals God’s covenantal commitment to Israel. “This ancient confession of faith is the basis for both the mercy and the justice of God.” Read this passage. What is the key to God’s mercy?

    The key to God’s mercy is His character—He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” God’s mercy is rooted in who He is, offering forgiveness while maintaining justice.

Israel’s Past Disobedience and God’s Promise of Present Blessings

In God’s covenant with Abraham, God promised that the land of the Canaanites would belong to Abraham and to his descendants. Several centuries later, when it was time to take possession of the promised land, the Israelites refused because they feared the people of the land more than they trusted God.

  1. Read Numbers 14:26–34. What were the consequences that Israel suffered because of their disobedience and unbelief?

    God condemned the entire unbelieving generation to die in the wilderness. Only Caleb and Joshua would enter the promised land. Their children would wander for 40 years before inheriting the land.

  2. About 40 years later, Moses prepared the next generation of Israelites to go up and take the land. Read Deuteronomy 28:1–2 and 13–14. What did God promise to His people if they faithfully obeyed Him and did not turn aside to go after and serve other gods?

    God promised that Israel would be set high above all nations and receive abundant blessings. They would be the head and not the tail, always at the top. These promises were conditional on wholehearted obedience to God’s commands.

  3. Despite Israel’s past disobedience, write down some of the specific blessings God promised to His people in Deuteronomy 28:3–12.

    God promised blessings in the city and field, fruitful offspring, abundant crops, victory over enemies, and a storehouse of provision. The land would be blessed with rain, and Israel would lend to many but borrow from none. God would establish them as His holy people and bless all the work of their hands.

  4. Recognizing that these blessings were particular to the nation of Israel, in what specific way have you experienced God’s undeserved blessing because of your obedience?

    I’ve seen God provide peace and clarity in difficult decisions when I chose to walk in obedience to Him. His favor has shown up in relationships, open doors, and spiritual growth that I could not have orchestrated myself.

God’s Promise of Curses for Israel’s Disobedience
  1. God warned Israel of the curses that would come upon them for disobedience. Read Deuteronomy 28:15–19 and notice how these curses are exactly opposite of God’s promised blessings in Deuteronomy 28:3–12. Summarize more curses listed in Deuteronomy 28:20–35.

    • Verses 20–24

    God would send confusion, frustration, disease, drought, and destruction. Their work would fail, and the skies would withhold rain. The land would become as hard and barren as bronze and iron.

    • Verses 25–26

    Israel would suffer military defeat and become an object of horror to other nations. Their dead bodies would be left unburied, eaten by birds and beasts with no one to drive them away.

    • Verses 27–28

    God would strike them with diseases like boils, tumors, and incurable skin conditions. He would also bring madness, blindness, and confusion of heart.

    • Verses 29–35

    They would grope in daylight like the blind and experience continual oppression and robbery. They would be robbed of their families, homes, livestock, and crops, with no one to help or restore them.

  2. What repeated phrase do you see in all the curses brought on Israel? (See Deut. 28:20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, and 35.) What do you learn about the Lord?

    The repeated phrase is “The Lord will strike you…” or similar variations. This shows that God is personally and actively involved in upholding His covenant justice. He is not passive toward sin and holds His people accountable when they rebel.

  3. What would be the ultimate curse brought on Israel if they didn’t obey the Lord and keep His commandments? (See Deut. 28:49–52 and 64–65.)

    God would bring a foreign nation against them, one that shows no pity, to besiege and destroy their cities. They would be scattered among the nations, serving other gods and finding no rest or peace. Their lives would be filled with anxiety, fear, and despair.

  4. God expects repentant hearts from His people. When people persistently refuse to repent of their sin against God, what does that reveal? When you persistently sin against God’s commands, what does that reveal?

    Persistent refusal to repent reveals a hard and rebellious heart that rejects God’s authority. It indicates pride, unbelief, and a lack of fear of the Lord. Ongoing sin without repentance shows a need for true transformation and humility before God.

God Renews the Covenant with His People
  1. As Israel prepared to enter the promised land, only two who left Egypt and agreed to the covenant at Mount Sinai would enter in, Caleb and Joshua. God would renew His covenant with the new generation of Israelites. Read Deuteronomy 29:10–15. What do you observe about the covenant?

    The covenant was made not only with those present but also with future generations. It established a relationship between God and His people, binding them to Him as their God. The covenant was inclusive and forward-looking, rooted in God’s faithfulness.

  2. Read Deuteronomy 29:22–28. How does Moses answer this question: “Why has the Lord done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?”

    The Lord’s anger burned because the people abandoned the covenant, served other gods, and provoked Him with idolatry. As a result, He brought curses, devastation, and exile upon the land. Their disobedience and unfaithfulness were the direct cause of God’s judgment.

  3. Read Deuteronomy 30:1–10. What important truths do you learn about the “Lord your God”? What important truths do you learn about man?

    God is merciful, willing to restore, forgive, and bless His people if they return to Him with all their heart and soul. He delights in compassion and will gather His people from exile. Man is called to wholehearted repentance and obedience, and restoration follows genuine return to the Lord.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

COVENANT

At its most basic level, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship between two or more parties. Thus, human covenants (for example, marriage) fall under this general definition. In divine covenants, God sovereignly establishes the relationship with His creatures. There are other nuances, but a divine covenant given after the fall is, fundamentally, one in which God binds Himself by His own oath to keep His promises. Still, there are conditions attached to that oath on the human side. If the human party involved in a covenant with God does not keep the covenant’s conditions, there will be consequences.

  1. How does understanding the concept of covenant change your understanding of being a Christian? Write a prayer that expresses your dependence upon or belief in God’s promises.

    a) Understanding covenant deepens the sense of God’s unbreakable commitment and the weight of our responsibility to trust and obey. Christianity becomes more than belief—it is a binding relationship grounded in grace and faithfulness. We live under God’s promise, but also under a call to loyal obedience.

    b) Lord, thank You for binding Yourself to me through Your promises. I trust in Your faithfulness, not my own strength. Help me walk in obedience, confident in Your mercy and committed to Your Word.

Lesson 1 – God’s Covenant Promise to Israel

Teaching Lesson – Tom Ibach

A. Introduction

  1. Welcome and introduction by Tom Ibach
  2. Overview of the new study: The Second Exodus – Trusting a Faithful God
  3. Importance of the Old Testament for Christians
    • Jesus affirmed the Old Testament points to Him (Luke 24)
    • Foreshadowing and prophecy of the Messiah
  4. Unified message of the Old Testament: God’s plan to redeem through the Messiah

B. Context for the Second Exodus

  1. Comparison with the First Exodus
    • First: Mass migration from Egypt, miraculous
    • Second: Smaller returns from Babylon over 90 years, marked by providence not miracles
  2. Timeframe: Final 120 years of Old Testament history
  3. Key resources mentioned: Timeline and study resources at grace.church/secondexodus

C. Books Covered in the Study

  1. Historical Books
    • Ezra
    • Esther
    • Nehemiah
  2. Prophetic Books
    • Haggai
    • Zechariah
    • Malachi

D. Inspirational Figures

  1. Ezra – Priest and scribe devoted to God’s Word
  2. Esther – Wise and courageous protector of her people
  3. Nehemiah – Visionary and resilient leader
  4. Prophets – Bold truth-tellers confronting spiritual complacency

E. Relevance to Modern Believers

  1. Galatians 3:29 – Believers are heirs of Abraham
  2. These people are our spiritual ancestors
    • Shared struggles, desires, and fallen nature
    • Lessons from their hardships apply today
  3. Reflective questions on personal hardship and faith

F. Theological Foundation: Covenants in Scripture

  1. Definition of Covenant
    • Solemn agreement between two parties
    • Conditional vs. Unconditional
  2. Biblical Examples
    • Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus

G. God’s Covenant with Abraham

  1. Genesis 12:1–3 – Unconditional promises of land, descendants, and blessing
  2. Genesis 15 – Covenant ceremony with cut animals and God’s assurance
    • Abraham believed, counted as righteousness (Gen 15:6)
    • God alone passed through the pieces – promise by His own life

H. God’s Covenant with Moses

  1. Conditional covenant at Sinai
  2. Purpose: Law was added because of sin (Galatians 3:19)
  3. Key Elements:
    • Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
    • Sacrificial system for atonement
  4. Israel’s initial obedience and subsequent rebellion
    • Golden calf (Exodus 32)
    • Refusal to enter Canaan (Numbers 13–14)

I. The Second Giving of the Law (Deuteronomy)

  1. Deuteronomy 28 – Blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience
  2. God’s faithfulness despite Israel’s failure
    • Provision in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 29:5)

J. Key Truths Emphasized

  1. The people of the Second Exodus are our spiritual ancestors
  2. God’s faithfulness is showcased in His covenants
    • He always keeps His promises
    • His people consistently fail, but God never does
  3. New Covenant through Christ fulfills the old
    • Jesus satisfies the Mosaic Law
    • We are declared righteous through faith in Him

K. Closing Reflections

  1. Prompt for self-examination:
    • Are you trusting in God’s covenant faithfulness?
    • Has your view of God’s faithfulness changed through this lesson?
  2. Closing prayer of gratitude and trust in God’s faithfulness

The Second Exodus – Lesson 1

Title: Lesson 1

Summary:

God establishes unbreakable covenants that reveal His unwavering commitment to redeem and restore His people. Beginning with Abraham, God promises land, descendants, and blessing, reaffirming His oath through covenantal rituals. Moses foretells a future return to God’s commands and blessings of restoration. Through Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God unveils the New Covenant—a divine work where He writes His law on hearts, forgives sins, gives a new spirit, and renews His people for His glory. These passages trace God’s faithful promises culminating in ultimate spiritual renewal and eternal fellowship with Him.

Scripture References:

Genesis 12:1-4 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
  2. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
  3. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
  4. So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Genesis 15:1-21 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
  2. But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
  3. And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
  4. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
  5. And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
  6. And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
  7. And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
  8. But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
  9. He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
  10. And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.
  11. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
  12. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.
  13. Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
  14. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
  15. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
  16. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
  17. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
  18. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
  19. the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
  20. the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
  21. the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Deuteronomy 30:1-10 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you,
  2. and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul,
  3. then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.
  4. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you.
  5. And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
  6. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
  7. And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you.
  8. And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today.
  9. The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,
  10. when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – ESV (audio 🔊)
31. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
32. not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
33. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Ezekiel 36:22-32 – ESV (audio 🔊)
22. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
23. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
24. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
25. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
26. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
28. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you.
30. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.
31. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.
32. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.

The Second Exodus – Lesson 26

Title: Lesson 26

Summary:

Jesus Christ, the promised light, fulfills the covenants and brings salvation by dwelling with His people. He is the ultimate covenant mediator who gives life, dispels darkness, and establishes God’s eternal kingdom through His sacrifice and victory.

Scripture References:

Genesis 3:15 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

Galatians 3:16 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

John 1:1-14 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  2. He was in the beginning with God.
  3. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
  4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
  5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
  6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
  7. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
  8. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
  9. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
  10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
  11. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
  12. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
  13. who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
  14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:12 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 John 1:5-7 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  2. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
  3. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Matthew 5:17 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Luke 22:20 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Hebrews 8:13 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

John 3:18 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:36 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 5:24 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
  2. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
  3. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
  4. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
  5. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
  6. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Ephesians 1:1-14 – ESV (audio 🔊)

  1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
  2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
  4. even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
  5. he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
  6. to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
  7. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
  8. which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
  9. making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
  10. as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
  11. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
  12. so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
  13. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
  14. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.