SATURDAY – Introduction

Lesson

God can sometimes move us out of our comfort zone and make us His witnesses. This happened when people were scattered at the Tower of Babel. You can find this story in the Bible in Genesis 11:1-9

KJV ¹ And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. ³ And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. ⁴ And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. ⁵ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. ⁶ And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. ⁷ Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. ⁹ Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. CEV ¹ At first everyone spoke the same language, ² but after some of them moved from the east and settled in Babylonia, ^3-4 they said: Let's build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world. ⁵ But when the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower, ⁶ he said: These people are working together because they all speak the same language. This is just the beginning. Soon they will be able to do anything they want. ⁷ Let's go down and confuse them! We'll make them speak different languages, and they won't be able to understand each other. ^8-9 So the people had to stop building the city, because the Lord confused their language and scattered them all over the earth. That's how the city of Babel got its name.
Interestingly, even though people tried to avoid God’s plan, it actually helped spread humanity all over the earth.

Abraham is another example. He left his home country as a way to share God’s message. You can read about this in Genesis 12

KJV ¹ Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: ² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: ³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ⁴ So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. ⁵ And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. ⁶ And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. ⁷ And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. ⁸ And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. ⁹ And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. ¹⁰ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. ¹¹ And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: ¹² Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. ¹³ Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. ¹⁴ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. ¹⁵ The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. ¹⁶ And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. ¹⁷ And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. ¹⁸ And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? ¹⁹ Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. ²⁰ And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. CEV ¹ The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. ² I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. ³ I will bless those who bless you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you. ^4-5 Abram was 75 years old when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had acquired while in Haran. When they came to the land of Canaan, ⁶ Abram went as far as the sacred tree of Moreh in a place called Shechem. The Canaanites were still living in the land at that time, ⁷ but the Lord appeared to Abram and promised, “I will give this land to your family forever.” Abram then built an altar there for the Lord. ⁸ Abram traveled to the hill country east of Bethel and camped between Bethel and Ai, where he built another altar and worshiped the Lord. ⁹ Later, Abram started out toward the Southern Desert. ^10-11 The crops failed, and there was no food anywhere in Canaan. So Abram and his wife Sarai went to live in Egypt for a while. But just before they got there, Abram said, “Sarai, you are really beautiful! ¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will murder me because I am your husband. But they won't kill you. ¹³ Please save my life by saying you are my sister.” ¹⁴ As soon as Abram and Sarai arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful she was. ¹⁵ The king's officials told him about her, and she was taken to his house. ¹⁶ The king was good to Abram because of Sarai, and Abram was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, slaves, and camels. ¹⁷ Because of Sarai, the Lord struck the king and everyone in his palace with terrible diseases. ¹⁸ Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, “What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you make me believe she was your sister? Now I've married her. Take her and go! She's your wife.” ²⁰ So the king told his men to let Abram and Sarai take their possessions and leave.

The disciples of Jesus also left their comfort zones. They started by sharing the message with their own people in Jerusalem Acts 3

KJV ¹ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. ² And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; ³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. ⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. ⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. ⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. ⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God: ¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. ¹¹ And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. ¹² And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. ²² For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. CEV ¹ The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. ² A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in. ³ The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. ⁴ But they looked straight at him and said, “Look up at us!” ⁵ The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. ⁶ But Peter said, “I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking.” ⁷ Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, ⁸ and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. ⁹ Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. ¹⁰ They knew he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man. ¹¹ While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. ¹² Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? ¹³ The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. ¹⁴ You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, ¹⁵ and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. ¹⁶ You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching. ¹⁷ My friends, I am sure you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing. ¹⁸ But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept this promise. ¹⁹ So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. ²⁰ Then the time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. He will send you Jesus, his chosen Messiah. ²¹ But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago. ²² Moses said, “The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. ²³ No one who disobeys this prophet will be one of God's people any longer.” ²⁴ Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening. ²⁵ You are really the ones God told his prophets to speak to. And you were given the promise God made to your ancestors. He said to Abraham, “All nations on earth will be blessed because of someone from your family.” ²⁶ God sent his chosen Son to you first, because God wanted to bless you and make each one of you turn away from your sins.
and then expanded their work to others Acts 8:1-4

KJV ¹ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. ³ As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. ⁴ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. CEV ¹ ^1-2 Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him. At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All of the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria. ³ Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail. ⁴ The Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news.
Jesus gave them a mission to start locally, then go to more places, even to the ends of the earth – Acts 1:8

KJV ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. CEV ⁸ But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”

Even if we don’t travel far from home, God still wants us to share His love with those around us. When the early church in Jerusalem got too comfortable, they faced difficulties, but this ended up spreading the good news to the world.

Ellen White Commentary

Ellen White encourages us to spread God’s message. She says that God is eager for His message of love and mercy to reach everyone. He wants us all, every member of the church, to take part in sharing this message. We should invite others to know about God’s love and truth.

Jesus is calling for people who are willing to be missionaries and serve God with all their hearts. We need to remember that there’s a whole world that needs to hear about God’s love. We should be ready to let God use us to help others.

God has given us the ability to speak so we can share our experiences with Him. We should tell others about how God has worked in our lives, His love, and His compassion. This can touch the hearts of others and lead them to praise God.

As followers of Jesus, we are His witnesses. This means we should learn how to share our faith clearly and joyfully. We should never act like we don’t want to share God’s love with others.

Seventh-day Adventists have a special role as watchmen and light bearers in the world. They have been entrusted with important messages from the Bible. These messages include warnings and guidance for a world that needs them. This is a big responsibility, and they must not let other things distract them from this important work.

It’s a privilege to understand God’s will through the Bible’s prophecies. With this privilege comes the responsibility to share this knowledge with others. God wants us to pass on the wisdom He has given us.

SUNDAY – Moving Beyond Our Comfort Zone

Lesson

God wants us to step out of our comfort zones to connect with people who are different from us. The story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9

KJV ¹ And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. ³ And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. ⁴ And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. ⁵ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. ⁶ And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. ⁷ Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. ⁹ Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. CEV ¹ At first everyone spoke the same language, ² but after some of them moved from the east and settled in Babylonia, ^3-4 they said: Let's build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world. ⁵ But when the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower, ⁶ he said: These people are working together because they all speak the same language. This is just the beginning. Soon they will be able to do anything they want. ⁷ Let's go down and confuse them! We'll make them speak different languages, and they won't be able to understand each other. ^8-9 So the people had to stop building the city, because the Lord confused their language and scattered them all over the earth. That's how the city of Babel got its name.
teaches us about the dangers of wanting to stay only with people who are just like us. In the Tower of Babel story, people had big plans to build a tower that would reach the heavens, and they wanted to make a name for themselves.

This same desire to be famous or powerful still exists today. People strive for fame in politics, art, business, and even in religion. But all these efforts can be empty and meaningless in the end – see Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

KJV ¹ I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. ² I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? ³ I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. ⁴ I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: ⁵ I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: ⁶ I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: ⁷ I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: ⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. ⁹ So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰ And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. ¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. CEV ¹ I said to myself, “Have fun and enjoy yourself!” But this didn't make sense. ² Laughing and having fun is crazy. What good does it do? ³ I wanted to find out what was best for us during the short time we have on this earth. So I decided to make myself happy with wine and find out what it means to be foolish, without really being foolish myself. ⁴ I did some great things. I built houses and planted vineyards. ⁵ I had flower gardens and orchards full of fruit trees. ⁶ And I had pools where I could get water for the trees. ⁷ I owned slaves, and their sons and daughters became my slaves. I had more sheep and goats than anyone who had ever lived in Jerusalem. ⁸ Foreign rulers brought me silver, gold, and precious treasures. Men and women sang for me, and I had many wives who gave me great pleasure. ⁹ I was the most famous person who had ever lived in Jerusalem, and I was very wise. ¹⁰ I got whatever I wanted and did whatever made me happy. But most of all, I enjoyed my work. ¹¹ Then I thought about everything I had done, including the hard work, and it was simply chasing the wind. Nothing on earth is worth the trouble.

In Genesis 11:4

KJV ⁴ And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. CEV ^3-4 they said: Let's build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world.
the people wanted to build the tower to avoid being scattered across the earth. They wanted to stick together, not for a good reason, but because they were being selfish. However, God had a different plan.

The Bible tells us that when people work together and speak the same language, nothing is impossible for them – Genesis 11:6

KJV ⁶ And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. CEV ⁶ he said: These people are working together because they all speak the same language. This is just the beginning. Soon they will be able to do anything they want.
But in this case, their ambitions were not aligned with God’s will. They didn’t trust God’s promise not to flood the earth again – Genesis 9:14-15

KJV ¹⁴ And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: ¹⁵ And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. CEV ¹⁴ When I send clouds over the earth, and a rainbow appears in the sky, ¹⁵ I will remember my promise to you and to all other living creatures. Never again will I let floodwaters destroy all life.
They chose to rely on their own plans instead of God’s word. God saw their selfish ambitions and stopped them from achieving their goals.

Are you part of a group that’s more comfortable with people who are similar to you, whether in race, ethnicity, or nationality? Think about ways you can connect with people who are different from you.

Ellen White Commentary

In the Tower of Babel story, the people aimed to exalt themselves, not God, which would have led to unrighteousness. God intervened, confusing their language and scattering them. Surprisingly, this dispersion served to fulfill His plan. Today, God calls us to spread the gospel worldwide. We are in a battle between good and evil. We can either be witnesses for or against Christ. Faithful ambassadors boldly proclaim the truth, even when it's unpopular. They show the power of God's grace as strong soldiers of Jesus.

MONDAY – Becoming a Blessing to the Whole World

Lesson

In Genesis 12:1-3

KJV ¹ Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: ² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: ³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. CEV ¹ The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. ² I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. ³ I will bless those who bless you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.
God called Abram (later known as Abraham) to leave his country and his people and go to a new land. This was a mission from God. God’s plan was to use Abraham to fulfill His divine purposes on Earth. Abraham obeyed and went, following the Word of the Lord. God’s call to leave behind his extended family and people was so that he could be a blessing to others in a new place.

The following texts reveal God’s covenant and promise to us:

Genesis 3:15

KJV ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. CEV ¹⁵ You and this woman will hate each other; your descendants and hers will always be enemies. One of hers will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel.”

Genesis 17:19

KJV ¹⁹ And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. CEV ¹⁹ But God answered: No! You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.

Numbers 24:17

KJV ¹⁷ I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. CEV ¹⁷ “What I saw in my vision hasn't happened yet. But someday, a king of Israel will appear like a star. He will wipe out you Moabites and destroy those tribes who live in the desert.

Isaiah 9:6

KJV ⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. CEV ⁶ A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.

Daniel 9:24-27

KJV ²⁴ Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ²⁵ Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. ²⁶ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷ And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. CEV ²⁴ God has decided that for 70 weeks, your people and your holy city must suffer as the price of their sins. Then evil will disappear, and justice will rule forever; the visions and words of the prophets will come true, and a most holy place will be dedicated. ²⁵ You need to realize that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Chosen Leader, it will be 7 weeks and another 62 weeks. Streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection, but these will be difficult times. ²⁶ At the end of the 62 weeks, the Chosen Leader will be killed and left with nothing. A foreign ruler and his army will sweep down like a mighty flood, leaving both the city and the temple in ruins, and war and destruction will continue until the end, just as God has decided. ²⁷ For one week this foreigner will make a firm agreement with many people, and halfway through this week, he will end all sacrifices and offerings. Then the “Horrible Thing” that causes destruction will be put there. And it will stay there until the time God has decided to destroy this one who destroys.

Matthew 1:21

KJV ²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. CEV ²¹ Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

These texts show that God had a plan to bring a solution to the problem of sin. This solution, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was to come from the line of Abraham and Isaac through Sarah. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were heirs to the promise of blessing that God made to Abraham.

Abraham’s faith led him to obey God’s call, even when he didn’t fully understand how the promised Seed would come through him. Hebrews 11:8

KJV ⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. CEV ⁸ Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen.
says that “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Abraham’s faith and willingness to go, even when he didn’t know where he was headed, serve as an example for us. If God calls us to go, even if we don’t fully understand the destination, we should respond in faith.

Ellen White Commentary

In Genesis 3:15

KJV ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. CEV ¹⁵ You and this woman will hate each other; your descendants and hers will always be enemies. One of hers will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel.”
the sentence pronounced on Satan was a promise of redemption through Christ. This promise was made to Adam and Eve.

The Messiah was to come from the royal line, as indicated in Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis 49:10

KJV ¹⁰ The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. CEV ¹⁰ You will have power and rule until nations obey you and come bringing gifts.

Isaiah 55:4-5

KJV ⁴ Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. ⁵ Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. CEV ⁴ I made him the leader and ruler of the nations; he was my witness to them. ⁵ You will call out to nations you have never known. And they have never known you, but they will come running because I am the Lord, the holy God of Israel, and I have honored you.
further prophesied about God’s everlasting covenant and the role of the Messiah as a leader and commander of the people.

Christ, in His mission to save humanity, left the glory and security of heaven to sow the seed of truth through His suffering and sacrifice. Those who follow Christ must also be willing to go forth and sow the seed of truth.

Just as Abraham was called to leave his country, kindred, and father’s house, those who are called to unite with Christ may need to leave behind their old associations and plans of life to follow Him.

Sometimes, being in comfortable positions and surrounded by relatives and friends may hinder personal character development. Changing one’s position and surroundings can help develop a character that glorifies God.

God’s providence may lead individuals to places where they must depend on Him daily, fostering spiritual growth and dependence on His strength.

TUESDAY – Abraham’s Call

Lesson

Abraham answered God’s call and journeyed to the land as commanded, but his journey didn’t go smoothly. The land where he arrived was inhabited by the Canaanites, known for their cruelty and violence. Shortly after his arrival, God appeared to him, reassuring him with the promise that the land would belong to his descendants.

However, things took a turn for the worse. Abraham faced a severe famine, and as a result, he had to leave the place God had directed him to and seek refuge elsewhere. In the course of his journey, he made a significant mistake.

Genesis 12:10-32

KJV ¹⁰ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. ¹¹ And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: ¹² Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. ¹³ Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. ¹⁴ And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. ¹⁵ The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. ¹⁶ And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. ¹⁷ And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. ¹⁸ And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? ¹⁹ Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. ²⁰ And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. CEV ^10-11 The crops failed, and there was no food anywhere in Canaan. So Abram and his wife Sarai went to live in Egypt for a while. But just before they got there, Abram said, “Sarai, you are really beautiful! ¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will murder me because I am your husband. But they won't kill you. ¹³ Please save my life by saying you are my sister.” ¹⁴ As soon as Abram and Sarai arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful she was. ¹⁵ The king's officials told him about her, and she was taken to his house. ¹⁶ The king was good to Abram because of Sarai, and Abram was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, slaves, and camels. ¹⁷ Because of Sarai, the Lord struck the king and everyone in his palace with terrible diseases. ¹⁸ Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, “What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you make me believe she was your sister? Now I've married her. Take her and go! She's your wife.” ²⁰ So the king told his men to let Abram and Sarai take their possessions and leave.
Genesis 13:1

KJV ¹ And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. CEV ¹ Abram and Sarai took everything they owned and went to the Southern Desert. Lot went with them.
narrates how, during the famine, Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt. To protect himself, Abraham asked Sarah to pretend she was his sister instead of his wife. This deceitful act put Sarah in danger as the king of Egypt intended to make her his wife. God, in His mercy, protected Sarah and sent judgments upon the king’s household.

This incident teaches us that mission work is not always easy, and even people like Abraham, who answered God’s call, can make mistakes, in this case, being deceitful. Yet, God is patient and forgiving. He did not abandon Abraham despite his error.

The lesson here is that, even when we err and make mistakes, if we hold fast to the Lord in faith and submission, He can forgive our faults and still use us for His mission.

Ellen White Commentary

Temptation is a means by which God’s children are tested and tried. God allows circumstances to test their faith and lead them to rely on Him for help. If they draw near to Him when tempted, He strengthens them to face the temptation. However, if they yield to the enemy and neglect to remain close to their Almighty Helper, they can be overcome and separated from God.

Abraham’s faith was tested when he faced a famine in the land. He couldn’t explain the leadings of Providence, and he longed for the plenty of his homeland in Chaldea. People watched closely to see how he would respond to these trials. As long as his faith remained unshaken, they believed that God was with him.

To escape the famine, Abraham went to Egypt, but he did not abandon Canaan or return to Chaldea. He sought a temporary refuge near the Land of Promise, with the intention of returning as soon as possible. This shows that he held fast to God’s promise and was committed to the place God had directed him to.

Abraham’s faith serves as an example for us, as he patiently endured tests and trials. We should also respond with faith and trust in God’s promises when faced with difficulties.

The faith of Abraham should be our example. We should humbly accept reproof for our sins and strive to profit from it. We owe everything to God and should willingly comply with all His requirements. Disregarding even one precept makes us transgressors of His law, but obeying His commandments means observing all His requirements faithfully.

WEDNESDAY – The Early Church and Comfort Zones

Lesson

In the early church, the scattering of believers beyond their comfort zones occurred due to persecution. The church had been primarily centered in Jerusalem, with its members mainly among the Jewish people. However, when persecution began, led by individuals like Saul, the believers were dispersed throughout Judea and Samaria. This dispersion fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy in Acts 1:8

KJV ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. CEV ⁸ But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
that the disciples would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Acts 8:4

KJV ⁴ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. CEV ⁴ The Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news.
confirms that those who had been scattered preached the word as they went.

Despite the dispersion, the early church still limited its mission mainly to the regions of the Jews or the neighborhoods of Jewish people in other cities. The disciples initially did not intend to reach the Gentiles but focused on bringing Jews to the Lord.

Peter, one of the leading figures of the early church, was initially hesitant to take the gospel to the Gentiles. He was known as an apostle to the circumcised, meaning the Jews, and had reservations about associating with Gentiles. However, God gradually moved Peter out of his comfort zone and helped him understand the broader scope of the gospel commission.

In Acts 10:9-15

KJV ⁹ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: ¹⁰ And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, ¹¹ And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: ¹² Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. ¹⁴ But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. ¹⁵ And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. CEV ⁹ The next day about noon these men were coming near Joppa. Peter went up on the roof of the house to pray ¹⁰ and became very hungry. While the food was being prepared, he fell sound asleep and had a vision. ¹¹ He saw heaven open, and something came down like a huge sheet held up by its four corners. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. ¹³ A voice said to him, “Peter, get up! Kill these and eat them.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Lord, I can't do that! I've never eaten anything that is unclean and not fit to eat.” ¹⁵ The voice spoke to him again, “When God says that something can be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat.”
Acts 10:28-29

KJV ²⁸ And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? CEV ²⁸ and Peter said to them, “You know that we Jews are not allowed to have anything to do with other people. But God has shown me that he doesn't think anyone is unclean or unfit. ²⁹ I agreed to come here, but I want to know why you sent for me.”
Peter received a message from the Lord that emphasized the need to extend the gospel to the Gentiles. Peter’s encounter with Cornelius showed him that God had no partiality and that the gospel was meant for all people, regardless of their background.

Ellen White Commentary

After being scattered from Jerusalem due to persecution, the early believers spread the gospel rapidly to regions beyond Palestine. They formed small groups of believers in important centers, with their labors mostly focused on Hebrew and Greek Jews living in various cities worldwide.

The name “Christian” was given to these early believers by God. It was a royal name given to those who joined themselves to Christ. James and Peter emphasized the significance of this name in their writings. This name symbolized a royal connection with Christ, and believers were encouraged to glorify God in bearing this name.

Peter’s initial hesitation to associate with Gentile converts is highlighted, as he was initially prejudiced against sharing meals with them. This situation threatened the unity of the church, but Paul openly rebuked Peter for his inconsistent behavior. Peter recognized his error and worked to rectify it. This experience taught Peter the importance of avoiding pride and prejudice.

Christ aimed to teach the disciples that God’s kingdom transcends territorial boundaries, caste, and aristocracy. The disciples eventually realized that God intended them to share the message of Christ’s love with people of all nations, transcending cultural and geographical barriers.

THURSDAY – Starting From Where You Are

Lesson

In Acts 1:8

KJV ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. CEV ⁸ But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
Jesus presented a crucial principle for sharing the gospel and being His witnesses to the world. This principle encourages believers to share the truth without focusing on convincing others of their wrongs but on presenting Jesus through the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12

KJV ⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. ⁸ And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ⁹ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. ¹² Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. CEV ⁶ I saw another angel. This one was flying across the sky and had the eternal good news to announce to the people of every race, tribe, language, and nation on earth. ⁷ The angel shouted, “Worship and honor God! The time has come for him to judge everyone. Kneel down before the one who created heaven and earth, the oceans, and every stream.” ⁸ A second angel followed and said, “The great city of Babylon has fallen! This is the city that made all nations drunk and immoral. Now God is angry, and Babylon has fallen.” ⁹ Finally, a third angel came and shouted: Here is what will happen if you worship the beast and the idol and have the mark of the beast on your hand or forehead. ¹⁰ You will have to drink the wine that God gives to everyone who makes him angry. You will feel his mighty anger, and you will be tortured with fire and burning sulfur, while the holy angels and the Lamb look on. ¹¹ If you worship the beast and the idol and accept the mark of its name, you will be tortured day and night. The smoke from your torture will go up forever and ever, and you will never be able to rest. ¹² God's people must learn to endure. They must also obey his commands and have faith in Jesus.

This principle emphasizes several key aspects:

Witnessing in Jerusalem: The first part of Acts 1:8

KJV ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. CEV ⁸ But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
emphasizes that believers should start their witness where they physically reside, including their homes, churches, neighborhoods, and communities. The primary focus should be on those closest to them, such as family, friends, church members, colleagues, and neighbors. It encourages sharing the gospel in the immediate area where they are placed.

Witnessing beyond: The latter part of Acts 1:8

KJV ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. CEV ⁸ But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
extends the principle to witnessing in “Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” It suggests that while starting where you are, believers may be led to reach out beyond their immediate comfort zones. This could involve crossing cultural, social, ethnic, and religious boundaries. The principle underlines the importance of sharing the gospel with diverse groups of people.

Ellen White Commentary

Ellen White emphasizes that Christ commissioned His disciples to start their work where He had suffered, been rejected, and condemned - in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was also His birthplace, and it was significant for the disciples to begin their work there.

While the disciples could have sought a more promising field for their work, they didn’t plead for it. They recognized the significance of the ground where Jesus had sown the seed of truth. They understood that even in the face of persecution by the Jews who had rejected Christ, they were to continue the work and make the first offers of mercy to those who had been involved in Christ’s crucifixion.

Ellen White encourages believers to be aware that we are nearing the close of this earth’s history. She emphasizes the importance of seeking opportunities to share the gospel with people, whether or not there is a formal introduction. Every true believer can work in cooperation with God to make opportunities for witnessing. Believers are called to work while it is still called today and not wait for circumstances to be ideal. Opportunities will open up when believers engage earnestly in sharing the message.

Ellen White stresses the urgency of the mission, particularly as we near the end of time, and encourages church members to devote themselves to the cause of God. When church members have a better understanding of Bible truth, they will be ready to dedicate their resources and efforts to reach out to the world.

The last message of mercy is to be shared with every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and believers should actively work to accomplish this mission. Every church member is called to engage in active service for the Master, even without waiting for a formal introduction or complete acquaintance. Believers are encouraged to work with God’s guidance, wisdom, strength, and skill, making opportunities to reach those who need to hear the gospel.

FRIDAY – Further Thought

Lesson

In “The Great Commission” section of The Acts of the Apostles, Ellen G. White underscores the significance of Christ’s commission to His disciples. She emphasizes that before ascending to heaven, Jesus entrusted them with the mission of sharing the treasures of eternal life with the world. Christ’s life of sacrifice for the world and His ministry to Israel, despite rejection, demonstrated the mercy He offers to those who confess their sins. The disciples were to extend this message of mercy to both Jews and Gentiles, making disciples of all nations.

White states that the gospel commission is the missionary charter of Christ’s kingdom, and the disciples were called to actively work for souls. They were not to wait for people to come to them but to go to the people with the message of mercy.

She also highlights the idea that there are individuals nearer to the kingdom of God than we might realize. The Lord has many precious jewels in this sin-darkened world, and He will guide His messengers to them. There are people who will stand for Christ, value God’s wisdom above worldly advantages, and become faithful light bearers. Prejudices and exclusiveness can be overcome, and the gospel can be proclaimed to diverse groups, as shown in the example of Peter’s ministry.

Discussion Questions

How do you define the word “mission” as it applies to your own life?

In what ways can you express mission daily through your attitude and behavior? How can you become more mission-minded in your daily tasks?

How important is it to examine our hearts and seek divine guidance to purge prejudice against those who are unlike us?

Supplemental EGW Notes

In This Day With God, “Let Your Light Shine,” p. 211.

In Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings, “Bring Us Not Into Temptation,” pp. 117-120.