Firm FoundationsFirm FoundationsLesson 29:Lesson 29:

God sent prophets,God sent prophets,

Israel wouldn’t hear themIsrael wouldn’t hear them

God spoke to his creationGod spoke to his creation

►GodGod Is the creatorIs the creator Merciful, wants all to repentMerciful, wants all to repent

►He spoke throughout historyHe spoke throughout history Adam and EveAdam and Eve NoahNoah Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and JosephAbraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph Israel and JudahIsrael and Judah Other nationsOther nations

The message of the prophetsThe message of the prophets►God’s messengersGod’s messengers► Can you name some examples?Can you name some examples?►Message: repent, destroy idols, trust Message: repent, destroy idols, trust

in the Lordin the Lord►Many Israelites worshipped idolsMany Israelites worshipped idols

God won’t accept worship from themGod won’t accept worship from them► Reminded them of God’s lawsReminded them of God’s laws

Given by MosesGiven by Moses► Told of God’s punishmentTold of God’s punishment

Would be conquered and carried away Would be conquered and carried away as slavesas slaves

Assyria to invade Israel: Isaiah 10:5,6Assyria to invade Israel: Isaiah 10:5,6 Babylonians to destroy Judah: Jeremiah Babylonians to destroy Judah: Jeremiah

20:520:5

► Thousands of years Thousands of years passed, but God passed, but God remembered His remembered His promise.promise.

►God told many things God told many things about the Delivererabout the Deliverer Hundreds of years before Hundreds of years before

He cameHe came Through the prophetsThrough the prophets

► How could God tell How could God tell about something before about something before it happened?it happened?

►Most people weren’t Most people weren’t interestedinterested ……but God kept His plansbut God kept His plans

God’s promised DelivererGod’s promised Deliverer

Israel’s attitudeIsrael’s attitude

► Some believed, most refusedSome believed, most refused► Killed the prophetsKilled the prophets

Continued worshipping idolsContinued worshipping idols Continued worshipping in the Continued worshipping in the

templetemple Isaiah 29:13Isaiah 29:13

►We cannot fool GodWe cannot fool God►Many priests and leaders were Many priests and leaders were

evilevil► False prophets came tooFalse prophets came too

““Relax! Everything will be all right.”Relax! Everything will be all right.”► Jeremiah 6:13-14Jeremiah 6:13-14

God’s judgmentGod’s judgment►God is patientGod is patient

After warning, waited 120 After warning, waited 120 years before sending the years before sending the floodflood

Sent messengers to Israel Sent messengers to Israel for hundreds of yearsfor hundreds of years

► Israel didn’t think God Israel didn’t think God would send their would send their enemies to punish themenemies to punish them Assyrians conquered Assyrians conquered

IsraelIsrael II Kings 17:1-8II Kings 17:1-8

► Judah also refused to Judah also refused to repentrepent Babylon conquered JudahBabylon conquered Judah II Kings 25:1-12II Kings 25:1-12

Return to JerusalemReturn to Jerusalem

► Many years later…Many years later…► People of Judah repentedPeople of Judah repented► Lord brought them back Lord brought them back

to Jerusalemto Jerusalem Rebuilt Jerusalem’s wallsRebuilt Jerusalem’s walls Rebuilt templeRebuilt temple

► New name: JewsNew name: Jews► Some brought sacrifices, Some brought sacrifices,

but most didn’t worship but most didn’t worship from the heartfrom the heart Did not believe they were Did not believe they were

sinnerssinners

► Punished again!Punished again!► Greeks took over JerusalemGreeks took over Jerusalem

……but God used their ________ to but God used their ________ to spread His Word!spread His Word!

► Romans overcame the GreeksRomans overcame the Greeks Made the Jews pay _____Made the Jews pay _____ Strict punishment and _________Strict punishment and _________ Many worshipped C__s_rMany worshipped C__s_r Permitted ____ to worship the Permitted ____ to worship the

LordLord► Romans built many excellent Romans built many excellent

__________ God used these to spread His God used these to spread His

WordWord

SynagoguesSynagogues

► Persecution scattered Persecution scattered to many countriesto many countries

►No temples - Jews built No temples - Jews built meeting housesmeeting houses Cities/towns in IsraelCities/towns in Israel Many cities in Asia Many cities in Asia

Minor, Greece, Persia, Minor, Greece, Persia, North AfricaNorth Africa

► Teachers Teachers read/explained writings read/explained writings of Moses & prophetsof Moses & prophets

►Not necessarily devoutNot necessarily devout

Godly Jewish believersGodly Jewish believers

► Some Jews kept on Some Jews kept on believingbelieving

► Trusted the Lord, Trusted the Lord, tried to obeytried to obey

►Waited/watched for Waited/watched for the coming Saviorthe coming Savior

► Thousands of years Thousands of years passed, they knew it passed, they knew it would happen would happen exactly as God saidexactly as God said

Wrap-upWrap-up► Israel rejected God’s promisesIsrael rejected God’s promises► God never changed His plans or forgot His promisesGod never changed His plans or forgot His promises► Preparing to show His grace & mercy to Israel and the Preparing to show His grace & mercy to Israel and the

whole worldwhole world ……established a common language:__________established a common language:__________ ……established an excellent road system built by the established an excellent road system built by the

____________.____________. ……Jewish meeting houses called __________ in distant countries.Jewish meeting houses called __________ in distant countries.

► Making a way for everyone to hear about the long-Making a way for everyone to hear about the long-promised Saviourpromised Saviour