The Revelation of God

Lesson 8

Lesson Text—Genesis 14:19

Genesis 14:19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 1:31-33

Deuteronomy 1:31-3331 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe

the LORD your God,

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 1:31-33

33 Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 1:31-33

Deuteronomy 2:24-2524 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 1:31-33

25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 3:22

Deuteronomy 3:22Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

Focus Verse—Deuteronomy 1:30

Deuteronomy 1:30 The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you,

according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.

Focus Thought

God, unwilling to be known only

as the God of the Hebrews,

expanded His kingdom to include

all people.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerCulture Connection

The Eternal Conqueror

Having a love for history, several names immediately come to my mind when I think of conqueror: Genghis Khan and his Mongol Empire, Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire, and Julius Caesar and his Roman Empire, to name just a few. These men forged mighty empires by conquering weaker nations and

tribes.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHowever, history shows that the Babylonians were conquered by the Medes and Persians, the Medes and Persians were defeated by Alexander, and his vast empire was divided among four generals upon his death. In each case the conqueror became the conquered. That is the story of history.

One lesson from history is yet to be written. Genghis Khan, Alexander, Nebuchadnezzar, and Caesar all died and faded into the tomes of history.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerJesus Christ also died, but His resurrection proves He is the mighty Conqueror. From the birth of His kingdom on the Day of Pentecost, His realm has continued to expand. The day is coming when He will establish His literal kingdom that shall have no end. At that time, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. He is the eternal conqueror of death, Hell, and the grave.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerContemplating the Topic

As we have seen in previous lessons, God revealed Himself to His people by various designations: the Holy One, the Deliverer, the Good One, the Jealous One. In today’s lesson we will discuss God as the Conqueror and how we as believers can become conquerors through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerIn Roman times when a victorious

general returned home, he was honored with a great parade called a “triumph.” First, wagonloads of captured plunder rumbled by as the crowds cheered. Then the conqueror rode past in a purple and gold toga (royal colors) and laurel crown, and trailing behind was a long line of captives chained to his golden chariot. After a ceremonial rite, he received the name “man of triumph.”

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerPerhaps the apostle Paul pictured a

conqueror’s triumph as he wrote, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). (See also Colossians 2:15, NIV.) If Jesus had not triumphed by the cross, there would be no triumph for us. We would fall prey to tribulation, distress, persecution, peril, and the enemy’s fiery darts. But Paul said, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved

us” (Romans 8:37).

Transparency 1

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerBecause God is the Conqueror, He enables us to conquer anything that comes against us. Nothing can separate us from His love: not principalities or powers or anything in this life or even in death, because God has conquered them all. (See Romans 8:35-39.)

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerGod Assigned Israel

to Conquer

At the dawn of creation God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, blessed them, and gave them dominion over every living thing on earth. (See Genesis 1:26-28.)

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerWhile they were in right relationship with God, it was natural for them to exercise their God-given place of dominion over creation; however, when they stepped away from that relationship with God, their ability to exercise dominion slipped quickly from their grasp. For the next two millennia, mankind existed under a curse and in a cursed world. Not only had he lost dominion over every living thing, but he had lost control over his evil imaginations and impulses.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerOut of this context God chose

Abraham to give birth to a nation that would be called Israel, whom God planned to bring back into relationship with Himself. God’s promises to Abraham mirror the blessings He had given to Adam: “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies” (Genesis 22:17).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe Lord promised Abraham his family would bless the entire world and rise to a position of prominence and authority. However, with it would come seasons of testing and failure, which would cause the nation to go into slavery.

After 430 years in Egyptian bondage, God broke Pharaoh’s dominion over the Hebrew slaves. As the sun set on the evening of the first Passover, they were slaves and sojourners toiling under the cruel lash

of their taskmasters.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerWhen the morning broke the next day these same people were liberated and marching on their way to the land God had promised to Abraham. They left Egypt’s mighty military forces buried in the sands at the bottom of the Red Sea. It was the dawning of a new era of hope and promise.

God brought them to the border of the Promised Land, where they sent twelve spies into the new territory to check it out.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe twelve spies marveled over the abundant springs, green pastures, and fruitful fields; but they also recognized the challenges that lay before them. Ten of the spies concluded the challenge was too great. They feared the giants and the powerful pagan nations that had polluted the land with wickedness and idol worship. However, Joshua and Caleb urged them to go in and take the land—that God would give them victory over the inhabitants.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerA few months earlier Israel had

witnessed God bringing Egypt to her knees, but now they came to a standstill: on one hand, they could not take possession of the land until they conquered the inhabitants; on the other hand, the ten unbelieving spies could not envision themselves triumphing over such formidable foes. Moses promised, “Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for

you in Egypt before your eyes” (Deuteronomy 1:29-30).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerMoses said, “God did it once; He will do it again!”

How could anyone reject such a positive word from the Lord? The Israelites could and did. Joshua and Caleb, the two spies with the good report, worked to persuade the people to begin the invasion immediately. “Let us go up at once, and possess [the land]; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). But fear and intimidation distorted Israel’s perspective.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThey insisted the land would devour them and the giants would crush them. (See Numbers 13:28-33.) The people wept and wished they had died in Egypt or in the wilderness. They threatened to choose another leader and turn back to slavery.

Their lack of faith and trust was like a slap in the face of God. In effect, the people God had favored and delivered rejected His covenant promises, and their unbelief ignited His anger.

I. God Assigned Israel to Conquer“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it” (Numbers 14:22-23).

How sad to think they sacrificed God’s words of encouragement and His willingness to fight in their behalf on the altar of doubt and mistrust.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe writer of Hebrews, after relating the incident of Israel’s provocation in the wilderness, admonished us as believers to “take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). Further, while relating examples of what exploits faith could produce, the writer also penned, “Without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6).

II. God Advanced His Territory God Advanced

His Territory

After forty years of wilderness wandering, Joshua and Caleb were the only two surviving members of their generation. The first time they had approached the border of Canaan, Caleb had taken the initiative by attempting to persuade the people to invade the land immediately. But Israel balked and turned back.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe second time they approached the border Moses, their great leader, died, leaving them camped on the Plains of Moab (east of the Jordan River and across from Gilgal and Jericho). God chose Joshua to fulfill His command to conquer the Promised Land, and Joshua led the grown children of the unbelieving generation across the Jordan River and into the land of their inheritance.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe Battle of Jericho was looming

when Joshua looked up and saw a man standing near him with a drawn sword. Joshua asked, “What saith my lord unto his servant?” (Joshua 5:14). Instead of answering Joshua’s question, the man identified himself as the captain of the Lord’s host. His next words echoed those spoken to Moses as he stood on the holy ground of Mount Sinai: “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy” (Joshua 5:15).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerGod told Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

Jericho was one of the most formidable cities in Canaan. Conquering it would serve as the key to the invasion of the central hill country. The city was tightly shut up behind massive gates and a double wall: the inner wall was twelve feet thick; the outer wall was six feet thick.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerAll the Canaanite kings, including Jericho’s king, had heard of the exploits of Israel’s God and their hearts “melted, neither was there spirit in them any more” (Joshua 5:1).

Joshua was eager to strike at this opportune time; he did not have months to construct a dirt ramp to gain access into the city or years to conduct a siege. The desert had toughened his men and they were ready to follow him anywhere, but he knew they could not scale the mighty

walls and take the city without divine intervention.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerGod intervened by giving Joshua a

strategy that probably intimidated the inhabitants of Jericho even further. They probably watched Israel marching around the perimeter of the walls for seven days, hearing only the tramping of thousands of feet that seemed to shake the ground. They must have thought, What are they planning? Why aren’t they attacking?

Transparency 2

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerOn the seventh day the priests blew

the trumpets, all the people shouted, and the walls fell flat. Israel advanced straight into the city and took it.

Establishing their base camp at Gilgal and taking the centrally located cities of Jericho and Ai effectively cut Canaan in half. From there Joshua invaded city states to the south and then to the north. He conquered and destroyed the Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, Girgashites, and

Jebusites.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerWhat Joshua did not conquer, the individual tribes took over after the initial campaigns.

We do not have a detailed account of every battle, but God went before Israel as He had promised. One time He pummeled the enemy with great hailstones—more enemy warriors died from being struck by hailstones than fell by the sword. At Joshua’s command the Lord caused the sun to stand still to give Israel enough daylight hours to win the battle.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerIn the end, the territory extended from Simeon’s inheritance southwest of the Dead Sea all the way north to Asher, Napthali, and Dan’s inheritance north and west of the Sea of Chinnereth (above the Sea of Galilee).

Besides vast amounts of plunder, Israel enjoyed land they had not developed, towns they had not built, and vineyards and olive groves they had not planted. Since they invaded the land at harvest time, they reaped and ate of crops they had not planted.

(See Joshua 24:13; 3:15.)

A. In ChristGod Advances

His KingdomA. In Christ

Paul explained in Philippians 2:5-11 that the limitless God took upon Himself the limitations of mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. The King “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus paid the ultimate price: the scourge, the blood, the spikes, the cross.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe suffered agony, mocking, shame, and rejection. He endured because He focused on the “joy that was set before him” when he would sit down on the right hand of the throne of God. (See Hebrews 12:2.)

Jesus Christ had come as the conquering King. After His baptism, He triumphed over Satan’s strongest temptations while hungry, weak, and alone in the wilderness. He displayed His power over the elements by turning water into wine and rebuking

the raging wind and sea.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe manifested His authority over the animal kingdom when He rode an untamed colt into the city of Jerusalem, and over diseases of body and soul when He healed the lepers and the trembling paralytic. He took command over demonic spirits when He cast a devilish legion out of the Gadarene and when He healed the demon-possessed boy at the foot of the Mount of Transfiguration.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerJesus Christ proved His

sovereignty over the world’s strongest power when He said to Pilate, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). Peter wrote “that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (I Peter 4:11). Jesus and His disciples had just shared their last supper in an intimate setting.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerAfter they had eaten, Jesus gently warned the disciples they soon would be scattered and alone, but He offered words of love and the promise of a Comforter. Except for His prayer for them in John 17 and the hymn they sang together before departing for the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:26), the following words were some of the last they heard Jesus speak: “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerBy “good cheer” Jesus did not

mean they should witness His agony on the cross with a light heart or react to their own scattering, disillusionment, and grief with a smile. Rather, by saying “be of good cheer” He was preparing His closest friends for one of the greatest battles they had faced heretofore. The Greek word translated “cheer” means to have confidence or courage.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe was telling the disciples they could overcome their greatest battle during the next few days because He Himself would win His greatest battle—the battle for their salvation. They could take courage because their King would conquer every foe and give them the victory.

The greatest display of the power of God occurred when He rose again. He had told the disciples, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down

of myself.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerI have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17-18). His life was not taken from Him; He gave it in order that believers in Him could be conquerors, just as He conquered.

B. Within UsB. Within Us

Israel faced a formidable task in conquering Canaan, but their greatest battle was within themselves. When they followed after their own lusts, their feet ran to evil. (See Isaiah 59.) But when they were in right relationship with God, they conquered peoples who were stronger and more numerous than they. Likewise, our greatest battles lie within ourselves.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerBut through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can conquer not only our own carnal nature but the world, the devil, principalities, powers, and disease.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

I. God Assigned Israel to Conquer1. The Flesh. The biggest challenge is to subdue our flesh. We wrestle daily with it: sometimes we achieve the upper hand; sometimes the carnal nature gains the upper hand. Only God through Jesus Christ can give us power over the carnal nature. (See Romans 7:14-25.) Paul said, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe also said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

2. The World. The next biggest challenge is the pull of the world system. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. . . . For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John

4:4; 5:4).

I. God Assigned Israel to Conquer3. Demons. We do not have to cringe at a display of demonic power. Jesus gave born-again believers power over the demonic world. “In my name shall they cast out devils” (Mark 16:17). The apostle John wrote to the young believers: “The word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (I John 2:13-14). Our power to conquer comes through the Spirit and the Word of God.

I. God Assigned Israel to Conquer4. Principalities, powers. The walls of enemy strongholds should not seem insurmountable to us. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:12-13).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerGod has provided armor to protect us against evil onslaughts, and the weapons to overcome the enemy: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

5. Disease. We should confidently seek both the will of God and the healing promised in the Scriptures. Jesus said believers would “lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerJames added, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:14-15). Innumerable anecdotal evidence demonstrates that God still heals today!

Disease does not have the power to overcome us, for “with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerIsaiah’s prophecy gave hope for more than only physical healing; it also gave us hope for the healing of our sin-sickened souls. Not all will be healed physically, but we all have the opportunity to receive spiritual healing from sin. We can rest in the certainty both of God’s healing power and His will for our lives.

Because humans examine situations through the prism of carnality, we often sense defeat when a person dies from disease.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHowever, death for the believer always brings about the ultimate healing work of Christ: transitioning one from death to eternal, incorruptible life. Further, we know we can trust God and the working of His blessed will in our lives.

I. God Assigned Israel to Conquer6. Death. We do not have to fear the enemy of death. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). When the Lord comes again, the dead in Christ shall rise first, thus conquering our last enemy: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (I Corinthians 15:26). Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in His name!

C. Beyond UsC. Beyond Us

At the conclusion of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, He met with His disciples to impress upon them the importance of advancing His kingdom. Simply stated, His Great Commission was to go, preach, baptize, teach, and make disciples. (See Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:8.)

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerJesus gave the disciples this

commission shortly before He ascended into Heaven. The disciples at first misunderstood Jesus’ heavenly kingdom concept; they expected an earthly kingdom over which the Jews would rule. Instead, Jesus established a heavenly kingdom with no ethnic boundaries or geographical lines. God inaugurated this kingdom on the Day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThree thousand people responded to Peter’s call to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

The early church was an active church, reaching their world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This church lived and walked so powerfully in the Holy Spirit that everywhere they went people were healed and lives were changed.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThey understood they labored together with God and that the Lord added daily to that church. (See Acts 2:47.) They sought to advance the kingdom to encompass as many people as possible, sending missionaries to faraway places, even unto the uttermost part of the then-known world.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe task of advancing the kingdom

of God to the uttermost part of the twenty-first-century world seems daunting, just as the task of invading and conquering Canaan seemed daunting to Israel. World population has mushroomed to seven billion. Population migrations have made a “melting pot” of many of the nearly two hundred countries in the world. Thus, the task to evangelize the world is “beyond us” in two ways.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerFirst, the task to evangelize the world is beyond us realistically. Sometimes our commission seems as impossible to us as Israel’s commission did to them. They had two choices: “fight or flight,” and the first time they approached the border of the Promised Land they chose to flee. The people of God did not have the might, the military acumen, or the precision to conquer the territory and take dominion.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerBut with the captain of the Lord of hosts equipping them, planning the battle strategy, and giving them strength, the second time they arrived at the border they went in and conquered. Likewise, God equips us to conquer “giant” principalities and powers by giving us spiritual armor, planning the battle strategy, providing the strength, and going before us to win the victory.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerSecond, the task is beyond us

geographically. Compared to the vast land masses, heavily populated metro areas, a bewildering array of languages and cultures, and spiritual strongholds, the hundreds of missionaries we have sent out seems like a small army of “grasshoppers.” However, Jesus likened the kingdom of Heaven to a grain of mustard seed: when planted, the minute seed grows into a thick-stemmed plant, often higher than a man can reach.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe also likened the kingdom of God to leaven (yeast): the tiny particles work throughout the entire ball of dough until it rises into a loaf. The mustard plant would not grow and the bread would not rise unless every cell and every particle was alive, moving, working, fulfilling its purpose.  

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerThe Great Commission will be

accomplished when every born-again believer labors together with God. (See I Corinthians 3:9.) Then, as Jesus said, the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14).

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerInternalizing the Message

The story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the command given by God to take dominion and expand their territory is a wonderful picture of what God desires for believers today, both individually and collectively. Israel found that turning away from the task and going back to Egypt was not an option; those who tried it died in the wilderness.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerSimilarly, once a person has entered the kingdom of God, going back into the bondage of sin should not be an option. We have the same two choices: fight or flight. The only way to survive is to go forward and to conquer.

On April 21, 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed into the harbor of Vera Cruz, Mexico.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe brought with him only six hundred men, and yet over the next two years his vastly outnumbered army defeated Montezuma and all the warriors of the Aztec empire, making Cortez the conqueror of all Mexico. How did he accomplish this incredible feat, considering two prior expeditions had failed to establish even a single colony on Mexican soil? Cortez knew from the very beginning that he and his men faced incredible odds.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerHe knew the road before them would be dangerous and difficult. He knew his men would be tempted to abandon their mission, jump on the boats, and return to Spain. So as soon as Cortez and his men came ashore and unloaded their provisions, he ordered their entire fleet of eleven ships destroyed. His men stood on the shore and watched as their only possibility of retreat burned and sank. From that point on, they knew beyond any doubt there was no turning back.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerNothing lay behind them but a vast and hungry sea. They had only two options, to move forward and conquer or to die.

On the cross Jesus regained for us the victory, power, and authority lost by Adam and Eve because of sin. Through the power of the Spirit and the Word of God we can take up the challenge of Christ’s commission to spread the gospel throughout the world.

I. God Assigned Israel to ConquerWe can conquer every enemy that would resist our spiritual advances: the flesh, the devil, principalities, powers, and disease. Because Jesus Christ is the Conqueror, we too can be conquerors through Him.