Characters from Old testament

1. Lesson 1

2. We will study the lives of some characters in the Old Testament.
1. The historical context.
2. The way God acted in that moment.
3. The people who were close to that character (friends, family...)
4. His/her character.
5. The customs in those times.
6. The specific situation where the main events took place.
7. The point of view of the narrator (remember that he was telling God’s
truth since he was inspired by the Holy Spirit)
We can know details of their lives reading his/her story, but sometimes we
must consult other Biblical or historical texts.
In order to find the more useful teachings in their lives, we should study:

3. We must know the age when the characters we are going
to study this quarter lived.
They lived in the age between Exodus and the destruction
of Jerusalem.
Let’s review chronologically the main events and
characters in that period.
Estimated dates have been used
before David’s reign. Every date is
Before Christ.

4. The exit from Egypt and crossing the Red Sea
The Law is given in Sinai
The spies travel all
over Canaan
40 years of pilgrimage
Crossing the desert
Moses’ death
1445
1404

5. When we study the conquest of Canaan we can realize
that it was possible thanks to the power of God: “And
Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is
among you, and that He will without fail drive out from
before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the
Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the
Amorites and the Jebusites” (Joshua 3:10)
Crossing the Jordan
Taking control of
Jericho
Conquering Canaan
Joshua’s death
1405
1380

6. Othniel
Deborah and Barak
Gideon
Samson
Eli
(The Philistines take the ark)
Samuel
Since the Israelites didn’t
expel all the Canaanites, their
faith waned and a dark age in
the Israelite history started.
“In those days there was no
king in Israel; everyone did
what was right in his own
eyes” (Judges, 17: 6)
1356
1258
1211
1101
1099
1079

7. Saul
David
Solomon
1050-1011
1011-971
971-931
Against God’s will, Israel asked
for a king to be like other
nations.
After the failure of the firs
king, God chose a man “after
His own heart”.
His son –Solomon– built the
Temple of Jerusalem.

8. Rehoboam Jeroboam
Ahab
Prophet: Elijah
Jehoshaphat
Joram
Prophet: Elisha
Joram
JehuAthaliah
Joash Jeroboam II
OsheaHezekiah
Josiah
Prophet: Jeremiah
Zedekiah
931-913
872-848
854-841
841-835
835-796
729-686
640-609
597-586
931-910
874-853
852-841
841-814
793-753
732-722
The kingdom was divided in
Roboam’s –Solomon’s son– time: 10
tribes at north with Jeroboam as
their king (the kingdom of Israel) and
2 tribes –Judah and Benjamin– at
south with Roboam as their king (the
kingdom of Judah)
Almost every king of Israel rejected
God and His prophets. David’s
descendants were more faithful to
God, they reigned over Judah.
Both kingdom were finally destroyed
and carried to captivity, because of
their rebellion against God.
JUDAH ISRAEL

9. “In reviewing our past history, having travelled over every step of
advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see
what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with
confidence in Christ as Leader. We have nothing to fear for the
future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and
His teaching in our past history.
E.G.W. (Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 162)
We are now a strong
people, if we will put our
trust in the Lord; for we
are handling the mighty
truths of the word of
God. We have everything
to be thankful for.”

10. ASSOCIATE truth – Why should I study this lesson?
DISCOVER truth – What does the Bible say about this truth?
APPLY truth – How can this truth affect my life today?
PLAN using the truth – How can I use this truth today?
TRANSFER truth to life – What changes do I need in my life?
ADAPT it!
Teaching Approach
Effective for
SMALL GROUPS
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Characters of the Old Testament