Themes of the Old Testament

Topic 1- Names

The world is full of names, each and everyone for a different face. Everyone has a name for a purpose. God also has many names. For example, God’s many names explain the many different sides of God. The most popular two are Elohim: Creator God, All-mighty, Powerfull. and then there’s Yahweh: Wants a relationship with you, He wants you to turn to Him, He’s loving, Caring, Understanding. God gives names and changes them sometimes. Names show our character (Most of the time) and what our heart is like. Sometimes your name doesn’t fit you at all. Your parents probably just liked the sound of it. My parents named me Sofia. They gave me that name because they wanted it to work and sound good in Spanish and English. My name means wisdom but sometimes I don’t feel like I’m wise all the time. But that’s just my opinion.

My visual is a name tag. Some people give you names that don’t fit you, Scared, alone, not enough and those names stick. Don’t let those describe you. God gave you your name and that’s the only name you need. Names don’t always describe us, but if you have a good one, live up to it. Don’t let people give you name tags.

Topic 2- Conflict/Doubt

The Israelites always struggled with God. ALWAYS. What they wanted, what they needed, pleading, whining, crying out for help is what they’d do. And after God gave them what they wanted, they turned away, they doubted. One example of that would be the story of Jacob. Jacob didn’t doubt but he wrestled with God. Literally. He wrestled with a man that would not let him cross the ford of Jabbok. They wrestled the whole night and didn’t stop until Jacob said

“I will not stop fighting you until you bless me”

Finally, God blessed him through that man. But the man was an angel. So he was blessed. My visual was a person in a dark room. That’s what I think of when I think of doubt or anxiety. Dark is sad and lonely and that’s what I feel when I’m doubting. But God knows that this will happen and He’s ready for it. He knows what people we need to help us through those tough times. But doubting doesn’t make you a bad Christian you just need to try to stay true to God. Asking God questions really just shows you trust Him, for God stays faithful even if we don’t.

Topic 3- Covenant

A covenant is a deal or a promise. There are two types of covenants Conditional and Unconditional. A conditional covenant has two sides to it, an agreement of two groups. “You hold up your end, I’ll hold up mine.” An unconditional covenant has one side. “I’ll take care of everything, relax, I got this.” An example of a Conditional Covenant is the Cultural Mandate: God gave us the world and all that’s in it so we have to take care of it. If we obey we get a blessing and if we don’t obey we get a curse. My visual is a scroll. When I think of covenant I think of a scroll. A covenant is usually written down and signed. Lots of the old covenants that I think of where written on scrolls. My favorite covenant though is God’s, unconditional love. He loves me through the good and the bed and never gives up on me. The people I see Him through the most are my parents. They love me no matter what. His love is like pi, it never ends.

Topic 4- Slavery /Salvation

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, yet when they come to Egypt asking for food, Joseph helps them out. God used the slavery days of Joseph for good. Moses was born into a Hebrew slave family, but then grew up to take the Hebrews out of Egypt. Sometimes people intended to harm those that became slaves and God changed it for good. God is the “I AM” A faithful, unchanging and present today just like He was for Moses and Joseph.  I like that sentence. It reminds me that God will always be there for me especially in the tough times. My visual of Slavery and Salvation would be John Henry. John Henry was a slave and wouldn’t give up on anything just like God won’t give up on you. 

Topic 5- Sinai Law

 The Sinai Law was really the Ten Commandments. The 10 Commandments are really a covenant with God. “I will be you God but part of being my people is to obey my commands” These commandments are meant to keep us safe and not to smother us. The law covers every area of everyone’s life. One of the things the law says not to do is to worship idols. There are many idols in today’s world, for example: Electronics, Money, People, Sports, and Social Media. Some of these things I don’t even have to worry about but some are true idols for many people, including me. I try not to get too caught up in those things but it’s hard. My visual is Mount Sinai because the Ten Commandments were from Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai is where God created the Sinai Law.

Topic 6- Sent to the Promised Land

When God took the Israelites out of Egypt he sent them to the Promised Land. There were 5 main landmarks that they passed before they reached the promised land. 1# When they were in the desert God sent them Manna and Quail to keep them from getting hungry. Then if they would get sick all they had to do was look at a Bronze Snake and they would be healed. 2# At the edge of the Jordan river God told them that if they obeyed they would get a blessing and if they disobeyed they would get a curse. 3# They crossed the Jordan and had to trust God would hold the waters. 4# The spies went to Jericho and found Rahab, Rahab helped them out. Then they helped Rahab out. They spared her life when the walls came tumbling down. 5# They made it to the Promised Land and made a standing stone to remind them of God’s grace. In each instance, the people had to trust God and if they didn’t they had to choose who they wanted to serve. When we went on our excursion in Bible it helped me better understand their journey. My visual for this topic would be the desert because the Israelites had to wander in the desert for so long, and most of them still trusted God.

Topic 7- Symbol of a Lamp

The Israelites were scared of the dark. They didn’t know what was in their house’s darkest corner. So they used oil lamps. They’d put the lamps in the darkest places. The light of their world was the lamp. The light of our world today is Jesus. God promises that through David the “Lamp” (Jesus)  will never go out. David was a man after God’s own heart even though he made many mistakes. The good thing about David was that his line eventually leads to Jesus, the ultimate light of the world. I used to be fine with the dark. When I went to sleep I wanted to be in the dark, but for some reason now I’m scared of the dark. I don’t know why. Maybe because dark is lonely and I don’t like being alone. My visual for this topic is a crown. I chose a crown because David’s line was a line of kings. Jesus is also the king of the world. And He is my light.

Topic 8- A Savior

The people couldn’t keep the Sinai law so God gave them a New Covenant. This new covenant would be written on their hearts so they didn’t have to make sacrifices anymore. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. The Sinai Law is different than the Davidic law in two ways. One: Ones  Unconditional the other isn’t. Two: The Sinai Law was commandments, the Davidic law was God keeping David’s line alive. Jerimiah gave the new covenant that was based on God’s grace and forgiveness, and Isaiah gave many pictures of the new Savior. Every Christmas when  I was little I usually always was thinking of the presents or the decorating, but this Christmas I really don’t want any presents and just want to hang out with family. I have to remind myself, especially when I want things this Christmas, that it’s not about the presents or the tree. It’s the coming of the Savior. My visual is a Cross. God sent Jesus to save us. To die on the cross for us. To be our Savior.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *