OT “Missions” Verses
Much of the greatest inspiration I find for trusting God for great things in ministry and missions is actually in the Old Testament. Our battle as Christians is a spiritual one, not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6), which is why, for example, the Crusades were a terrible and sinful mistake. But God demonstrated the spiritual realities to come in Christ through tangible physical entities in Israel, and so I believe that God’s work through the Hebrew army has much to teach Christ’s servants who seek to wage bold peace in advancing His kingdom today. Here are three categories of Old Testament “missions” verses that inspire me the most.
God is not pleased when Israel relies on horses and chariots for military victory. Translation for us today: God is not pleased when we rely on wordly tools such as strategies, techniques, methologies, and psychological tactics, rather than resting on His power, His Spirit, and His “foolish” ways (see 1 Cor 1).
Deut 17:16, 20:1
2 Chr 14:9 & 16:8
Ps 20:7, 33:16-19, 147:9-10
Pr 21:31
Isa 2:7-8, 22:5-14 (esp. 11), 31:1
Who will inherit/possess the land? And who will not? It is not the strong and the powerful, but the faithful and those sovereignly chosen according to God’s own purposes. My notes on the following versus summarize whom God says will inherit or possessing the land.
Gen 15:6-7 Abraham (because of God’s choice and by Abraham’s faith)
Gen 28:4 Jacob (blessed by God)
Ex 32:13 Descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by God’s promise
Lev 20:22-27 (esp. 24) The holy (unholy will be spit out)
Num 14:22-24 Caleb who followed God fully (Promised here in Numbers, fulfilled in Josh 14:9)
Deut 4:1 The obedient (Also Deut 8:1, 11:8, Joshua 23:5-6, 1 Chr 28:8)
Deut 4:25-26 Idolators will NOT remain in the land
Deut 4:37-39 Those chosen & beloved, from a weaker and smaller nation
Deut 5:32-34 Those who walk in the way the Lord has commanded
Deut 6:18 Those who do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord
Deut 9:4-5 Wicked will NOT; God does it for His purpose despite us!
Deut 16:20 The just
[Josh 11:23 Joshua (Not Moses and former generation who disobeyed)]
Ps 25:12-13 The man who fears the Lord
Ps 37:9 Those who wait for the Lord
Ps 37:11 The humble
Ps 37:22 Those blessed by God
Ps 37:29 The righteous (Also Isa 60:21)
Ps 37:34 Those who wait for the Lord and keep His way
Ps 44:1-7 (esp. 3) Not by sword or strength but by God’s arm
Isa 57:13 He who takes refuge in the Lord
Ezek 33:25-26 Not the immoral, nor those who RELY on the sword
The Lord is not constrained to save by many or by few. Jesus and His twelve apostles “turned the world upside down”. Paul established churches across more territory than dozens of mission teams would ever dream of covering today. It is not about recruiting masses and conquering by numbers. It is about God glorifying Himself by using small and the weak instruments that obey Him fully to accomplish His great purposes.
Exodus 23:20-33
Leviticus 26:7-8
Numbers 13:25-14:45
Deuteronomy 28:7
Joshua 6
Judges 7:2
1 Samuel 14:6
1 Samuel 17:45-47
2 Chronicles 20:14-25