WEEKEND RECHARGE!

FOLLOWING THE REFLECTION QUESTIONS, PLEASE SEE—"CAMDE-400”—AN ACRONYM YOU CAN USE AS “HANDHOLDS” THROUGH THE STORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. I HAVE A PICTURE FOR YOU AS WELL. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What “impossible” situation in your life right now is inviting you to trust God’s promise over your circumstances—and what would it look like to live fully convinced of God’s faithfulness?
   
   
2. Where in your life is God inviting you to trust his promise rather than rely on your own solution or timeline? Like Abram, who believed Eliezer would be his heir, where might you be tempted to “help” God fulfill his plan?
   
   
3. How does understanding God’s covenant as unconditional alter how you relate to him when you struggle, doubt, or fail? In what ways does this truth foster gratitude, humility, and deeper trust?
   
   
4. How have impatience or self-directed decisions affected your relationships—now or in the past? Who may have felt the ripple effects of choices made without faith?
   
   
5. How does knowing God as El-Roi, the God who sees, shape how you bring your pain, failure, or waiting to him? What next step might God be inviting you to take in obedience today?
   
   
6. Where in your life have you begun assuming that God’s silence means his promise has expired? What might it look like to trust God’s timing rather than your own conclusions? 

CAMDE-400

Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400.

A few years ago, on a trip to Israel, a group of us climbed down the face of Mt. Arbel. There were no harnesses, ropes, or a belayer. There were only strategically placed metal handholds and footholds. I was a little nervous about the adventure. But Lori made me do it. 

Our leader stressed two important things. First, always keep one hand on a handhold. Second, before you take a step, know where your next step will be. Here’s a photo so you can get the full picture.

Handholds are critical for climbing up and down a mountain. Likewise, “handholds” are important in our journey through Scripture because they allow us to grasp the flow of the Bible—where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. 

I have used the made-up phrase “CAMDE-400” as an acronym for the handholds we need as we journey through the Old Testament. The following explains the major movements.

“CAMDE-400”—HANDHOLDS THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT

CREATION (Genesis 1-11) 
We considered this part of God’s story in the first month of our study. It is foundational to understanding the whole story. We learned about Yahweh Elohim, the powerful and personal God who breathed the breath of life into man. Sin disrupted fellowship, so God graciously began the story of redemption by promising a Savior (Gen. 3:15). After the flood, the earth was populated by Noah’s descendants.  

ABRAHAM (Genesis 12-50) 
God had promised a Savior. He chose Abraham as the founder of a nation through which the Savior would come. This promise was passed down to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this section, which we begin tomorrow, common issues such as lying, jealousy, envy, betrayal, and mockery of God persist as God continues to reveal his plan for his people. Finally, through a series of events, Jacob’s small clan ends up in Egypt and, over time, becomes a feared nation.  

MOSES (Exodus—Joshua)
For 400 years in Egypt, the nation of Israel grew strong. The pharaoh forced Israel into slavery and ordered all male newborns killed. Moses was spared, raised in Egypt, and educated at its finest universities. But when he took matters into his own hands and killed an Egyptian who was mistreating an Israelite, he fled for his life. Forty years later, God called Moses to free Israel from slavery. Because of Israel’s blatant disobedience, the nation wandered in the desert for forty years. Moses died, and Joshua was appointed to lead Israel into the promised land. 

DAVID (Judges—Song of Solomon)
David represents the period of the judges (forerunners of the kings) and the kings of Israel, who ruled over the united and divided kingdoms. The Davidic Covenant promised that David’s throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16). This was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the King of kings (Rev. 22:16). This section includes Ruth, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah, significant leaders in God’s story. 

ELIJAH (Isaiah—Malachi)
In Matthew 17:1-5, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus while he was with Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses represented the law, and Elijah represented the prophets. Prophets appeared before, during, and after the exiles.[1] They warned Israel of the consequences of disobedience and looked forward to the promised Messiah. 

400 (Years between Old Testament and New Testament)
After the Old Testament closes with the book of Malachi, 400 years passed before God spoke again through the last prophet, John the Baptist. This period is called the Intertestamental Period or the Silent Period.