"These
things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings
for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)
The first five books of the
Scripture are called Moses’ Pentateuch or Torah. It teaches the pattern of
God’s work in individual and a nation. Going through Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, we could see the infallible redemption
plan of God which is so graphically illustrated for us to understand.
Genesis tells that man in need,
a desperate need which is the restoration and salvation from the fall. Abraham
was in need of the supply of God, Isaac in need of the prod of God, Jacob in
need of protection, and Joseph in need of deliverance. This book ends with the
coffin of Joseph which tells a truth that man lives within the premise of
death.
Exodus is the book of God’s
response to the man’s need by offering the redeeming grace through the blood of
Jesus Christ. The Passover and the crossing the Red Sea are the picture of God’s
unfailing redeeming grace and mercy by relying on the work of another, Christ
Jesus. God gave the Ten Commandments to His people as the standard of living.
Leviticus is the book of the way
to God who offers love, joy, and peace to those who come forward to Him through
the sacrificial animals. Moses built the Tabernacle, a tent of meeting where
the people brought sacrifice offerings to God. The Tabernacle was the picture of
our Lord Jesus Christ through whom they could access to the holy God.
Numbers is the book of
barrenness and desolateness and of murmuring and complaining in the wilderness
forty years due to their unbelieving choice of not entering into the promised
land of Canaan. Although it isn’t necessary to take, almost all Christians inevitably
experience the barrenness of wilderness like emptiness, meaninglessness,
despair, shame, guilt, and unfruitfulness. That’s what the book of Numbers is
telling about.
Deuteronomy is the book of the
obedience. All people except Joshua and Caleb had perished in the wilderness.
Moses preached the sermons to the completely new generation who obeyed to enter
the land of promise. God allowed the new generation to enter into the Promised
Land led by Joshua because they obeyed the promise of God.
The book of Joshua
tells the victorious and triumphal entry into the land of Canaan after walking through the
Jordan River on foot.
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