Moses himself warned the Israelites of the consequences of being unfaithful to God in the Promised Land. Even he foretold Israel’s failure and rebellion. (Deuteronomy 31:15-18, 20-21, 29; 32:15-38.)
God warned Solomon when he dedicated the Temple 1 Kings 9:1-9.
‘But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble.’ (1 Kings 9:6-8)
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was overrun by the Assyrians 722 BC.
Isaiah (740-700 BC) and Micah and later Jeremiah (621-580 BC) warned the Southern Kingdom of Judah but the Israelites did not listen.
The sins of King Manasseh brought God’s judgment 2 Kings 21:10-15
Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. So the LORD said, ‘I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, “My Name shall be there. (2 Kings 23:26-27)
Even the reforms of good King Josiah could not save the Southern Kingdom of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem taking King Jehoiachin and Daniel into captivity in 597 BC. The Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple and all the remaining Israelites were taken into Exile in 587 BC. (2 Kings 25)
Even in exile Daniel and his companions gave wonderful examples of how to be faithful to God. (e.g. Daniel chapters 3 and 6)
After 70 years in Exile, in 539 BC God moved the Persian King Cyrus to allow 42,360 Israelites to return to Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-4
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing. (Ezra 1:1)
The returning Exiles laid the foundations for a new Temple but opposition from the other local rulers meant work stalled for 15 years. Around 520 BC the prophets Haggai and Zechariah stirred up the people and the new Temple was completed and dedicated in 515 BC.
Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’ (Haggai 1:3-4)
Around 458 BC Ezra went to Jerusalem to teach the people. He interceded with God (Ezra 9:1-15) and led the nation to repentance.
13 years later Nehemiah heard about delays in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He prayed and then spoke boldly to the Persian King Artaxerxes. (Nehemiah 1:5-11; 2:1-5)
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man.’ I was cupbearer to the king. …
The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king. (Nehemiah 1:11, 2:4)
Despite local opposition the walls were completed. Ezra came back and read the Book of the Law to the people, who repented (Nehemiah 8:1-6, 18; 9:1-4). They dedicated the walls of Jerusalem and Nehemiah purified the people with further reforms.
So God brought his chosen people back to the Promised Land, the Holy City Jerusalem and to a new Temple, fulfilling all his promises to the remnant of Israel who had remained faithful (Isaiah 10:20-22; 11:11-12)

Saul the first King of Israel (ruled c.1045-1011 BC)
God rejects Saul 1 Samuel 15
Samuel anoints David to be King 1 Samuel 16
David and Goliath 1 Samuel 17
Saul kills the priests and consults a medium at Endor
1 Samuel 22 and 28

David the greatest King of Israel (ruled c.1011-971 BC)
David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem 2 Samuel 6
Uzzah is struck dead vv6-7. David danced and Michal despised him vv16-23
God’s Covenant with David and David’s Prayer 2 Samuel 7
David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11
Nathan the prophet rebukes David 2 Samuel 12

King Solomon (ruled c.971-931 BC)
Solomon asks God for Wisdom 1 Kings 3
Solomon builds the Temple 1 Kings 5:1-8:21
(see parallels in 2 Chronicles 3-4)
Solomon dedicates the Temple 1 Kings 8:22-66 (parallels 2 Chronicles 6)
The Division of the Kingdoms 1 Kings 12 (division in c.931 BC)

When the Temple was completed God warned Solomon, ‘If you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, “Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?” People will answer, “Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshipping and serving them—that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.” ’ (1 Kings 9:6-9)

The Northern Kingdom of Israel from 931 BC
Jeroboam leads the people into idol worship 1 Kings 12:25-33; 13:1-6, 33-34
An even worse King – Ahab and Jezebel
God’s Prophets Elijah and Elisha 1 Kings 17ff.
Contest on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18.
Jehu – a good and bad King 2 Kings 10:28-31
The Fall of Samaria in 722 BC in 2 Kings 17 marked the end of the Northern Kingdom and God’s judgment on their sins.

The Southern Kingdom of Judah from 931 BC
Asa was a Good King 1 Kings 15:9-15; so was Jehoshaphat 1 Kings 22:41f.
Joash repaired the Temple 2 Kings 12
Warnings from the Prophets Micah and Isaiah
Good King Hezekiah brings Judah back to God
2 Kings 18 and repents 2 Kings 19
Bad King Manasseh reinstates Baal worship, makes an Asherah pole and sacrifices his own son in the fire 2 Kings 21:1-9 bringing judgment on Judah 2 Kings 21:10-16.
Josiah discovers the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy) and renews the covenant 2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35
More warnings this time from Jeremiah
The Fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC in 2 Kings 25.
Solomon’s Temple is destroyed and the whole nation is taken into exile by
the Babylonians as God’s punishment on Israel for worshipping foreign gods.

In the midst of these good and bad kings some like the prophet Elijah called Israel to remain faithful to God = as we thought about in 1 Kings 18.

The contest on Mount Carmel was not just about proving that Yahweh, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses, actually exists. The contest was a demonstration of the greatness of God Almighty, the Living God, over all the other spiritual beings, principalities and powers which hide behind all false religions then and now. It is the story of how Almighty God demonstrated his superiority over the false god Baal which was seducing away God’s chosen people Israel. It began with Elijah’s concern for God’s glory and his example of faith in the God who answers by fire.
WE SEE ELIJAH’S CONCERN FOR GOD’S GLORY
1 Kings 18 18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

The first of the Ten Commandment was unambiguous. God demanded loyalty from His chosen people, the people He had redeemed.
Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3“You shall have no other gods before me.
But now in the time of Elijah the people of Israel were being led astray by a very bad King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and by his wife Jezebel, the daughter of the King of Tyre and Sidon. Jezebel murdered the prophets of the one true God. Instead of serving God, the Israelites were choosing to worship and follow the false gods the Baals and the goddess Asherah. The Israelites had to make their minds up – as people still need to do even today. If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” That choice had eternal significance. And God’s honour and God’s glory were at stake on Mount Carmel.

God had demonstrated His power in the Exodus and the parting of the Red Sea and God would demonstrate His power on Mount Carmel for His glory.

WE SEE ELIJAH’S FAITH

22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
Did you notice Elijah the prophet’s courage? Outnumbered 450 to 1. “I am the only one left.” Yet Elijah still steps out and speaks in God’s name. That is true faith. Going out on a limb for God. Elijah put his trust in the God of Israel. We put our trust in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in Jesus, Lord of all, Name above all Names! It was that kind of faith which had led Elijah to prophesy a period of drought as God’s judgment on the sins of the people. That example of amazing faith is commended in the New Testament.

James 5 16 … The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

God calls us to show that kind of faith. To go out on a limb for Him, proclaiming the gospel, even bringing healing and deliverance in Jesus’s all-powerful Name. Praying that even “lost causes” will be gloriously saved, all for the glory of God and the honour of His Name.

That is the kind of faith we see here on Mount Carmel. Faith believing God to do the impossible. Faith that was not afraid to mock the false gods in front of their passionate followers.

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Elijah even made things more difficult for himself!

33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

And the God who is God, God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth,

WE SEE THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

Here we see the awesome power of God Almighty. In contrast to the puny powers of the false gods, the demons behind Baal-worship. Compared to Almighty God even the devil is weak and feeble – although the devil tries to deceive people so that they believe otherwise. In the presence of Elijah the false god Baal had been powerless. But the fire of God fell on Elijah’s sacrifice. God brought his judgment on the prophets of Baal and their master, the false god called Baal.

“If the Lord is God then follow Him,” said Elijah. And God answered by fire. He demonstrated His power and his glory and the people did turn to follow the Living God once again. They repented of their idol-worship. And God showed his mercy on the drought-
The world today needs the rain of God’s blessing. The world needs God to show again that He is God – even the God who answers by fire! The world needs God to show His glory against the evil powers which are dragging men and women to their deaths. For God to show His power we need to become like Elijah. The man of faith who asked God for the impossible and was not disappointed!

This morning we continued our whistlestop tour of the Old Testament whizzing through the Books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua and Judges. Here were the headings, followed by the story we looked at in detail, Gideon’s Victory over the Midianites from Judges Chapter 7.

Wilderness Wanderings
1. The spies in Canaan Numbers 13 Deuteronomy 1
2. The people rebel against God and will be punished for 40 years Numbers 14
3. Water from the rock and God’s judgment on Moses Numbers 20
4. The bronze snake Numbers 21 (c.f. John 3:14)
5. Offerings, the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles Numbers 28-29

Joshua (around 1220 BC)
6. God commissions Joshua Joshua 1
7. Crossing the Jordan and the stones of remembrance Joshua 3-4
8. The fall of Jericho Joshua 5:13-6:27
9. The sun stands still in the sky Joshua 10
10. The Land is divided between the Twelve Tribes of Israel
11. Joshua renews the covenant Joshua 23-24

The Judges
12. Israel takes possession of the rest of the Land Judges 1
13. The Israelites forget God Judges 2-3
14. Ehud the deliverer Judges 3:12-30
15. Deborah the prophet Judges 4-5
16. Gideon the mighty warrior Judges 6-8

Like the Israelites we need to learn to trust in God to act in power in our lives and our church.

A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!’ Judges 7:1-25

How can we be sure that we are serving God in God’s strength and not just in our own human efforts? When it comes to loving other people, or witnessing, or all kinds of other things we do in daily life or in the church, how do we make sure God at work through us, and not just us?
Going in God’s strength
Judges 7:1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, “My own strength has saved me.” 3 Now announce to the army, “Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.” ’ So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4 But the LORD said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, “This one shall go with you,” he shall go; but if I say, “This one shall not go with you,” he shall not go.’
5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, ‘Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.’ 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7 The LORD said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.’ 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Learning to put our trust in God and not in our own strength – relying on God.
Giving the glory to God and not keeping any for ourselves.
God gives the victory
Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, ‘Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.’ So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. ‘I had a dream,’ he was saying. ‘A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.’
14 His friend responded, ‘This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.’
What won the victory was God’s supernatural intervention speaking into the dream even of a Midianite – as to Pharaoh in the time of Joseph, or to Nebuchadnezzar in the time of Daniel, or Pilate’s wife
We have to play our part
15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, ‘Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.’ 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17 ‘Watch me,’ he told them. ‘Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all round the camp blow yours and shout, “For the LORD and for Gideon.” ’
19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, ‘A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!’ 21 While each man held his position round the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah towards Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
God gave Gideon the victory over the Midianites But Gideon and his tiny army had to play their parts. God could have defeated the Midianites without Gideon or his army lifting a finger! God could have sent an army of angels and surrounded the Midianites with horses and chariots of fire, as he did when Elisha was trapped by the Arameans in the city of Dothan. But God chose to use Gideon and his 300 warriors. So it was swords “for the Lord AND for Gideon.”
Both us – and God! Learning to trust in God the Holy Spirit working within us.
In his Morning and Evening Devotional, CH Spurgeon wrote this about Judges 7:20.
“If we only cry, “The sword of the Lord!” we shall be guilty of an idle presumption; and if we shout, “The sword of Gideon!” alone, we shall manifest idolatrous reliance on an arm of flesh: we must blend the two in practical harmony, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” We can do nothing of ourselves, but we can do everything by the help of our God; let us, therefore, in His name determine to go out personally and serve with our flaming torch of holy example, and with our trumpet tones of earnest declaration and testimony, and God shall be with us, and Midian shall be put to confusion, and the Lord of hosts shall reign for ever and ever.”

6. God calls Moses
6.1. The baby Moses Exodus 1:1-2:10 (c.1350 BC)
6.2. God appears to Moses in the Burning Bush Exodus 2:11-3:10 (c.1270 BC)
6.3. God reveals His Name to Moses Exodus 3:11-17
6.4. God gives Moses signs, and Aaron to speak for Him. Exodus 4:1-17
6.5. God renews his Covenant with Abraham’s Descendants Exodus 6:1-8

7. The Ten Plagues on Egypt (c.1260 BC)
7.1. Pharaoh rejects God’s message Exodus 5:1-5; 7:8-13
7.2. Plagues of judgment on the Egyptians: Exodus 7:14-10:29
Blood; Frogs; Gnats; Flies; Livestock; Boils; Hail; Locusts; Darkness;
7.3. The Passover Exodus 12:1-30
7.4. The plague on the firstborn Exodus 12:1-30
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.” (Exodus 12:12)
8. God’s amazing salvation
8.1. The Great Escape Exodus 12:31-13:16
8.2. Crossing the Red Sea Exodus 13:17-15:21 esp. 14:13-14; 15:1-6

9. Miraculous provision
9.1. Manna and Quail Exodus 16
9.2. Water from the Rock Exodus 17:1-7
9.3. Victory over the Amalekites Exodus 17:8-16

10. God makes his Covenant with the Israelites
10.1. God’s promises Exodus 19:1-8
10.2. The Holy Mountain Exodus 19:9-12

11. The Law of Moses
11.1. The Ten Commandments Exodus 20:1-8
11.2. The Law Exodus 21:1-23:19
11.3. God’s angel will prepare the way Exodus 23:20-33
11.4. The Covenant is confirmed Exodus 24:1-18
11.5. The Tabernacle, the Ark, the Table and the Lampstand; Exodus 25:1-27:21 see also 35:4-38:31 and 39:32-40:33
11.6. The Priests and the Priestly Garments Exodus 28:1-29:45 see also 39:1-31
11.7. Instructions for worship Exodus 30:1-31:18
11.8. The Law expanded – the Book of Leviticus

12. The Israelites break the covenant
12.1. The Golden Calf Exodus 32:1-33:6
12.2. God renews the covenant with the Israelites Exodus 34:1-14
12.3. The Glory of the Lord over the Tabernacle Exodus 40:34-38.

These are the headings for the first week of our “Big Picture” trip through the whole of the Old Testament.

A The beginning of God’s promises – Creation to the Patriarchs

1. Where it all began
1.1. Creation Genesis 1-2
1.2. God created Adam and Eve in his image Genesis 1:27-30

2. Where it all went wrong
2.1. Adam and Eve disobey God Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-13
2.2. The seed of hope Genesis 3:15
2.3. (Cain and Abel Genesis 4:1-17)

3. Noah and the Flood Genesis 6:1-9:17
3.1. God’s judgment on wickedness Genesis 6:11-13, 18, 22
3.2. But God remembered Noah! Genesis 8:1
3.3. (The Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9)

4. Abraham – Friend of God (James 2:23, Isaiah 41:8) (c.2000-1825 BC)
4.1. God calls Abraham and Abraham obeys God Genesis 12:1-5
4.2. (Abraham meets Melchizedek Genesis 14:18-20)
4.3. God’s promises to Abraham many descendants and his own land Genesis 15:1, 5-7
4.4. God “cuts the covenant” and swears his oath to Abraham Genesis 15:8-19
4.5. God makes a covenant with Abraham Genesis 17:1-8
4.6. Circumcision as the sign of the covenant Genesis 17:9-14
4.7. (God promises a son to Sarah Genesis 17:15-22)
4.8. (Abraham shows hospitality and intercedes for Sodom Genesis 18)
4.9. (God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19)
4.10. Abraham and Sarah’s miracle baby Isaac is born Genesis 21:1-7
4.11. God test’s Abraham’s faith Genesis 22:1-14
4.12. God repeats his promises to Abraham Genesis 22:15-18
4.13. God blessed Abraham in every way Genesis 24:1; 25:5-7;
4.14. Abraham gives us an example of faith Hebrews 11:8-12
4.15. God kept all his promises to Noah and to Abraham and he will keep his promises to us

5. The Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the ancestors of the Israelites
5.1. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob Genesis 25:19-34
5.2. God repeats his promises to Isaac Genesis 26:2-5 (c.1900-1720 BC)
5.3. Jacob steals Esau’s blessing Genesis 27:1-41 (c.1800-1700 BC)
5.4. Stairway to heaven: God repeats his promises to Jacob Genesis 28:10-15
5.5. Jacob wrestles with God Genesis 32:22-32
5.6. The story of Joseph Genesis 37-50

God’s Covenants with His People
The word covenant appears 285 times in the Old Testament. A covenant is a solemn commitment, guaranteeing the promises or obligations of one or both of the parties in the covenant. God made wonderful promises to Abraham, to Moses and the Israelites and to David. These rest on God’s “steadfast love”, which is also translated as “covenant faithfulness”, “loving-kindness” or “loyalty”. God’s steadfast love is mentioned 248 times in the Old Testament with 100 times just in Psalms. God’s love never fails, even when the people are unfaithful to God. All those Old Testament promises are fulfilled in even more wonderful ways through Jesus who shares those amazing blessings with us, who put our trust in Him.