Ruling under the Great King

God, the Great King, begins his story by creating the world and everything in it. Everything he creates is good, but God's best creation is people. Made in God's image, they are God's representatives on earth, and God places them in charge of everything in the world that he has made to take care of and rule it all.

How do you get a great name?

The effects of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God stretch far into the future as the people who come after them are determined not to submit to God. The people of Babel work hard to get a great name for themselves. Their attempts to overthrow the Great King are contrasted with Abram’s faithful response in believing God’s promises.

The Great King's promise

God, the Great King of heaven and earth, tells Abram to move his whole family to a new country. God also makes Abram some great promises. However, it does not look like God's promises will come true. Abram must be patient and wait for God to work in his time.

The Great King’s messenger

When Joseph brought his family to Egypt, he saved them from famine in the land of Canaan. But the Egyptians made the Israelites slaves. Will God, the Great King, keep his promises? God sends Moses to prepare and lead his people as God saves them from Egypt and slavery.

The mountain of the Great King

God brings the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea and then to Mt Sinai. At Mt Sinai, God joins himself to Israel by a covenant, which are special promises. God's presence can be clearly seen on the mountain and Moses receives God’s words about how Israel should live in response to the Great King’s mighty act.

Can a blessed people be cursed?

Balaam has a problem. He has been asked by the king of Moab to curse Israel. But God has blessed Israel. Will the curses work? Is God, the Great King of heaven and earth, really in charge of everything in our world? And will he continue to be faithful to his great promises?

The Great King of Israel: David, Israel’s faithful king

Goliath is the champion warrior of the Philistines in a battle against the Israelites. No one wants to fight Goliath, except David. David fights knowing the Great King is on his side. God is stronger than swords, spears, and giants. David is a faithful follower of the Great King and becomes Israel’s faithful king.

The Great King of Israel: The Great King above all gods

Israel is not faithfully following God, the Great King. They are worshipping Baal, a false god from the nations around them. They are being unfaithful because their king, Ahab, is unfaithful. Elijah the prophet invites the prophets of Baal for a showdown on Mt Carmel. Can God, the Great King of heaven and earth defeat the false god, Baal? Only the true king will win.

Will the Great King break his promises?

The northern kingdom of Israel has been sent away from their land. And now, Judah, the southern kingdom, is about to follow. Judah and Israel have been consistently unfaithful to the Great King. They have worshipped other gods and have not kept the covenant promises they made at Mt Sinai. The result of their unfaithfulness means that God is sending them away from the land he promised them. But even with judgement, there is hope for God’s people.

King of kings

When the most important man in the world gives an order, everyone obeys. Except when the order is to worship a man-made image, and you worship the one true God, the Great King of heaven and earth. Even though it means certain death, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not bow down to the image that King Nebuchadnezzar has made. They faithfully obey their Great King, whether he saves them or not.