A coherent study of the events in both the Old and New Testaments helps us to grasp the unified message intended by the Holy Spirit, who inspired the biblical authors to write God’s Word. While the individual writers may not have fully comprehended the grand narrative unfolding through their writings, they faithfully conveyed God’s message to their generation, recognizing that their words carried deeper meaning for future generations as well.
In our world today, the brutal and often senseless events we witness can shake the very foundations of faith. Those who lack a deep understanding of Scripture may begin to question the authenticity of the Bible—or even the existence of God. Common and heartfelt questions arise: If God exists and is truly loving, why does He allow the innocent to suffer? Why doesn’t He step in to stop the evil around us?
These are not new questions. They echo the cries of generations past, voiced by prophets, psalmists, and even Jesus’ disciples. Yet the Bible gives us a framework through which we can engage with these difficult realities—through faith, hope, and the assurance of God’s justice and love.
The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to be prepared to respond to such questions—not with arrogance or defensiveness, but with humility and grace. He writes:
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV)
This is a call not just to intellectual readiness but to spiritual and relational sensitivity. As followers of Christ, we must be anchored in the hope we profess and ready to share it, especially with those who are wrestling with pain, doubt, or despair.
The message of Scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—points us to a sovereign God who is both just and merciful, whose ultimate plan is redemption through Christ. Understanding this bigger picture enables us to face the brokenness of the world with courage, compassion, and confident hope.
God: The Benevolent King Who Gathers
From the opening pages of Genesis, we see a glorious image of God as the One who gathers all things into order through His benevolent act of creation. He speaks light into existence, separates the sky from the waters, forms dry land and seas, brings forth vegetation, appoints the sun, moon, and stars, fills the skies with birds and the seas with fish, and places animals upon the land. Finally, He creates human beings—made in His image—as the crown of creation, called to reign under His kingship.
The psalmist echoes this wonder in Psalm 19:1:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
Indeed, the Bible consistently presents God as the sovereign King of the universe.
Adam and Eve: In and Beyond the Garden
God placed Adam and Eve in the beautiful Garden of Eden, not only to enjoy His presence but also to reflect His glory and participate in His ongoing work. Genesis 2:15 says:
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
However, God’s vision extended beyond the garden. His purpose for humanity was not limited to Eden but encompassed the entire earth. Genesis 1:28 reveals this grand calling:
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
Here we see God’s design for humanity to be co-regents, partnering with Him in stewarding creation.
This truth is beautifully affirmed in Psalm 8:4–8:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.”
God not only created human beings in His image but also shared His glory with them—ordaining them to be kings and priests on the earth. This theme runs like a thread throughout the entire narrative of Scripture: God gathering, calling, and sanctifying individuals and communities for His divine purposes.
Noah, Abraham, and the Patriarchs: Called Out for a Purpose
We see this pattern in the lives of Noah and Abraham. God called them out from their communities to fulfill His redemptive plan. Each was set apart—Noah to preserve creation through the flood, and Abraham to become the father of many nations and the bearer of God’s covenant promises. These callings were not isolated; they were part of God’s ongoing mission to gather and sanctify a people for Himself.
In every generation, God continues to gather, call, and commission people for His glory. His purpose has always been to fill the earth with His presence and to invite humanity to participate in His rule and redemptive work.
God’s Mission: Gathering, Scattering, and Redeeming
Throughout Scripture, we witness a profound and consistent narrative: God gathers a people to Himself, calls them to holiness, scatters them when they stray, and redeems them through His unwavering love. The story of Israel and the mission of Christ illustrate this divine rhythm that still shapes the Church today.
God Gathers a People for Himself: Israel
God raised up the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to build a community that would live in covenant relationship with Him. This community, Israel, was called to be a people who pleased God. When they faltered, God raised prophets to call them back to His will. Even foreign rulers like Cyrus, a Persian king who did not know God personally, were used to fulfill God’s purposes (Isaiah 45:1).
God led Israel into the promised land of Canaan, blessing them with a land flowing with milk and honey. However, when the people began to place their pride in the land, the temple, and their cultural identity—rather than in God Himself—they fell into rebellion and idolatry. The result was exile and desolation. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Nahum were raised to speak God’s truth even in the midst of judgment and scattering.
Nehemiah: Rebuilding and Regathering
Nehemiah is a powerful example of faithful obedience in a time of national despair. Though Israel had returned from exile, their walls were broken, and their identity as God’s people was fragile. Nehemiah saw the need to rebuild not just physical structures, but a faithful community centered around God.
To the Israelites, their identity was closely tied to the land, the temple, and their religious traditions. They believed that being in God’s will meant protecting these sacred institutions. Nehemiah gathered the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore worship in the temple. But their righteousness was not found in the land or the temple—it was in God alone.
The Glory Exchanged for Idols
Despite God’s faithfulness, Israel eventually exchanged the glory of the living God for lifeless idols. Paul speaks of this tragic exchange in Romans 1:22–23:
“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal human beings and birds and animals and reptiles.”
The Glory of the New Covenant: Christ
When Jesus entered history, the Jewish world was fractured by sectarianism—Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes—all divided by walls of doctrine and nationalism. Into this brokenness came Christ, the mediator of a new covenant, who came to unite the divided and redeem the fallen.
As Paul declares in Galatians 3:28:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
And in Ephesians 2:14:
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
The Gospel proclaims that through Christ’s death and resurrection, sin and death are defeated. Jesus offers new life, sanctification, and victory to all who believe. In Him, we are made new creations—called not just to receive this good news, but to live it and proclaim it to the world.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17–20)
The Church: Gathered and Scattered
The Church today gathers in Christ to worship, learn, and grow, and then scatters into the world as witnesses. Though called to be distinct from the world in devotion and holiness, the Church is not removed from it. We are called to be the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15), the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13–14).
Lament and Joy in God’s Mission
In Matthew 23:37–39, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
This lament captures God’s longing to gather His people, even when they resist. Yet it also points to the joy of salvation offered in Christ to all who will come.
God’s mission continues today. He gathers us in Christ, sanctifies us through His Spirit, and sends us into the world with a message of reconciliation and hope. In every season—whether we’re rebuilding broken walls or lamenting lostness—God invites us to live as His gathered people, proclaiming His glory and grace to the nations.
Rejoicing in Heaven and Witnessing on Earth
In Luke 15:7, Jesus declares:
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
What a powerful truth!
This verse reveals the very heart of God—full of grace, eager for reconciliation, and overflowing with joy when even one lost soul returns. Heaven itself erupts in celebration when redemption takes place. If that is what heaven values, how much more should we, as followers of Christ, align our lives with that mission?
If we gather, we gather for the Lord.
If we scatter, we scatter for the Lord.
Whether we are worshipping together in community or going out into the world, we carry the presence of Christ. We are His ambassadors—vessels of His peace, joy, and love in a world that is often marked by lament, loss, and brokenness.
So let us be strengthened by the glorious presence of Christ, and may we boldly and compassionately share His love with those around us. When we do, we participate in the joy of heaven. We become the reason for celebration in God’s kingdom.
Let us go forth—gathered, scattered, and sent—for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.
Amen.
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