Prone to Wander

Living With Purpose

• “If the Devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”
• One of the ways Satan tries to disrupt God’s plans is by distracting us and filling our schedules. So we need to stay focused.

The Story of the Bible

God has a plan — not just a plan he is working on, but a plan that involves us.

• Creation, Sin, & Separation
• The Road to Destruction
• God’s Plan of Redemption
• The Chosen People

Last Week: God rescued Israel from their slavery in Egypt so that they could be free to embrace his purpose for their lives.

• God rescued them so that they would have the power, freedom, and resources they needed to fulfill their part of that plan.

Today’s Message: Prone to Wander

• Main Idea: Despite their call to be an example to the nations, the people of Israel were prone to wander from the God who rescued them and called them into service.
• Israel kept losing sight of who they were, why they were here, and the big-picture story that they were a part of.
• Main Passages: Joshua 24, Judges 2-3, Nehemiah 9.

God’s Purpose for Israel

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:5-8

• Enter the land and carefully follow the Law of the Lord. This will be an example to the rest of the world and will prove the greatness and wisdom of God’s holy nation.
• If they learn to live by a different standard and embody a different story, people will be drawn to the one true King (Matt. 5:13-16).

Joshua — Living with Purpose

• Knew his personal calling and identity and embraced it wholeheartedly. 
• Knew his nation’s calling and identity and challenged his people to embrace it.

Scripture: Joshua 24:1-18

• Joshua reminded them of their story. Then he called them to worship (or serve) God.
• Hebrew “Abad.” Serve = Worship. Not just an act of praise, but a declaration of allegiance. I am not my own, I was bought at a price, I am yours. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• Israel agreed to worship God alone.

Key Point: As long as Joshua was still alive to point the people to God, and remind them of their God-given identity and community and purpose, and as long as they were elders around who could keep telling the story of their salvation, the people stayed loyal to God.

• But what will God’s people do with their freedom, power, and affluence in the Promised Land after Joshua’s death?

Israel Makes Abad Choice

Scripture: Judges 2:10-12.

• Israel chooses to serve (Hebrew, abad) foreign idols. They abandon the Lord and pledge their allegiance to false gods. 

Key Principle: Israel’s sin was a direct result of a generation growing up who lost sight of their story. Without that story, they defaulted to the ways of the world and a self-centered life.

The Cycle Begins

• Sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance, peace, and then back to sin.

Example: Othniel in Judges 3:7-12

• Remember: The Bible isn’t just the story of people long ago, it’s our story too. It’s a window that helps us understand the past, but also a mirror that reflects our hearts and lives today.
• Their story is our story, too. 

Israel’s History

• Judges —Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Judges 21:15.
• Kings — Some were OK, none were perfect, but most were evil. 2 Chronicles 12:1.
• Prophets — Tried to warn the people to repent and turn to God, but Israel killed them off instead of taking them seriously. Nehemiah 9:26.
• The Result: Exile and Captivity. Why? God was punishing them for being willing to accept his blessings but refusing to fulfill their responsibilities as his chosen people. Nehemiah 9:34-35.

Where Israel Went Wrong:

1. They lost sight of their story.

2. They drifted from their God-given identity, community, and purpose.

3. They Abused Their Power and freedom.

The Savior is Coming.

Israel’s history shows us that people can’t solve the problem of sin on their own.

• But there is good news! The Savior is coming (Isaiah 62:11).

Application

• Be intentional about keeping God’s story front and center.
• Stay focused on God’s purpose for our lives (Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples).

Study & Reflection

Chronologically, Ezra and Nehemiah are the last historical books of the Bible. The people return after exile to rebuild the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. They reflect back on everything that went wrong and call the people to repentance. With that in mind, read Nehemiah 9:1-38.

1. Think about or discuss a basic recap of this passage. What is taking place?
2. What do we learn about the heart or attitude of God’s people during this scene? What actions have they taken to demonstrate these attitudes?
3. Why do you think God’s people felt the need to tell the story of their people at this time? How does storytelling help people of faith obey God more fully?
4. What are the main elements of the Old Testament story, according to this passage? How does Jesus fit into, transform, or fulfill that story?
5. What do we learn about God from this passage… his character, his plan, his response to humans?
6. If the Bible is a window into the past and a mirror that reflects our own lives, what are we supposed to learn about ourselves from this passage? 
7. Why do you think that cycle (starting in Judges 2) was repeated throughout so many generations in the Bible? Have you experienced anything similar in your own walk with God? How can we break out of that cycle?
8. How can we help each other live with purpose and focus on the things that matter most in life: glorifying God, loving others, and making disciples?
9. What are you doing to do differently this week because of this message and these passages?