Bible · Level 2 · Intermediate
The History of Israel
From Joshua to Esther: God guides the history of his people
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4). The historical books of the Old Testament tell a thousand years of history: the entry into the promised land, the chaos of the time of the judges, the birth of the monarchy, the splendor and fall of the kingdom, the exile and the return.
In the first module you will ask whether the Bible is really a history book, and you will read Joshua, Judges and Ruth. In the second module you will follow Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon, then the divided kingdom, the prophets Elijah and Elisha and the reforms of the faithful kings, down to the fall of Jerusalem, seen also through the particular lens of Chronicles. In the third module you will see the people return from Babylon with Ezra and Nehemiah, and in the story of Esther you will discover a God who works even when his name is not spoken.
With the BereaWay Method you will receive each story in its historical context, examine it carefully and connect it to God’s great plan, which culminates in Christ.
What you will learn
- Read the historical books with confidence in their reliability
- Follow the great stages of Israel's history, from Joshua to the return from exile
- Recognize God's faithfulness and the consequences of the people's unfaithfulness
- Draw lessons for faith and service from the people in these books