Today's lesson continues the 10 plagues. We studied the first five plagues last week and will review Moses and add the 6-9 plagues. We will finish the plagues next week! You can find the 10 Plagues part 1 lesson here. Review: We are studying Moses and these lessons are found in the book of Exodus, which Moses wrote. We talked about the first 5 of the 10 plagues last week. God told Moses and his brother Aaron to talk to Pharaoh in Egypt. Remember that Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83 years old. They were to tell Pharaoh that God wanted him to let the people go. But Pharaoh didn't want to do that, since the people were his slaves. God told Moses that Pharaoh would let the people go, but God would have to show His power first. Each time, Moses told Pharaoh to let the people go, Pharaoh said no, and there was another plague. Here is a quick review of the plagues we studied last week: 1. Exodus 7:17 The water everywhere turned into blood: all the fish died and there isn't any water to drink. It stank! After 7 days: 2. Exodus 8:6 There were frogs…everywhere. Pharaoh said, I will let the people go, if you ask God to remove the frogs. The frogs all died, and the people piled them up by the river. They really smelled! Pharaoh changed his mind and would not let the people go. 3. Exodus 8:17 There was lice on all people and animals. Pharaoh's magicians tried to make the lice, but they couldn't and told Pharaoh that God's fingers made the lice. Pharaoh wouldn't let the people go. 4. Exodus 8:24 There were swarms of flies everywhere! Pharaoh said he would let the people go if the flies disappeared, but once the flies were gone, Pharaoh changed his mind and would not let the people go! 5. Exodus 9:6 All the Egyptian livestock animals (oxen, sheep, horses, donkeys, camels) died, but all the Hebrew animals lived. Moses had told Pharaoh that the Hebrew animals would not die. Pharaoh went to check on the Hebrew animals, and none of them were sick! But Pharaoh still refused to let the people go! Lesson in Exodus 9-11: Today we will continue with the plagues. (The handout list is at the end of this lesson) 6. Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and took ashes from a furnace and spread the ashes toward the sky. The people and the animals had boils that made sores! Exodus 9:10 The magicians couldn't stay with Pharaoh because the boils were so painful! Pharaoh said "No, the people can't leave." 7. Exodus 9:23 God told Moses to go see Pharaoh early the next morning and tell him that God is sending a heavy hail to rain down like Egypt has never seen before. If any animals or people are left outside, they will die. Moses held his rod up toward heaven and God sent thunder and hail with fire running to the ground! It was so intense that the Egyptians had not ever seen anything like it! Exodus 9:23-24 Pharaoh told Moses that he would let the people go if the hail stopped. Moses left and God made the hail stop, but Pharaoh changed his mind and wouldn't let the people go. 8. Exodus 10:14 Moses told Pharaoh that if he refused to let the people go that God would send locusts into Egypt. The locusts would cover the land and they would eat everything! What was left from the hail on the trees and the crops would be eaten by the locusts! Exodus 10:5 Pharaoh refused, and God told Moses to hold his rod over Egypt and He sent a wind from the east all day and night and in the morning, the wind brought the locusts! Exodus 10:13 Egypt had not ever seen locusts so severe before! The land was dark with them, and they ate everything that was green! Pharaoh called Moses back and asked him to remove the locusts. God sent a very strong west wind and blew the locust into the Red Sea, and then, Pharaoh changed his mind and wouldn't let the people go! 9. Exodus 10:22 Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven again, and there was darkness over the land of Egypt. It was so dark; the Egyptians couldn't see their hand in front of them! Darkness for three days and they didn't leave their houses. God's people had light in their homes! (I think for a visual, it would be better to use a black piece of cardstock/construction paper.) Pharaoh is getting more upset. He will not let the people go, and he told Moses that "If I see your face again, you will die!" Moses replied that Pharaoh would not ever see him again. 10. Exodus 12:29 God told Moses that there would be one more plague. And, then Pharaoh would let the people go. We will continue this next week and finish the 10 plagues! Pharaoh will finally allow the Israelites to leave Egypt! For today's handouts, I used some of the ideas from Nicole 6. Boils I purchased the dot stickers found in the school department at Target. I used the yellow ones, used a sharpie to make big red dots, then added a white dot on top for the puss. 7. Hail I bought plastic golf balls at Wal Mart. Nicole used ping pong balls, which I had in my hand, but the golf balls were a little cheaper and did not have the writing on them. 8. Locusts I made locusts for this one, using Nicole's idea. I wondered why they were brown, but after researching, they appear to be brown. I used the mini clothespins, instead of the regular size. To make the locust with the mini clothespins, you need: 1 pkg. brown Chenille Stems 1 pkg. Mini Spring Clothespins 1 pkg. 6 mm Wiggle Eyes Brown Paint Aleene's Tacky Glue Scissors Paint the clothespins first and let dry. I cut the Chenille stems 1 1/2" for the antennae. I folded the stem in half and opened the clothespin. I glued the antennae to the inside of the clothespin and pointed the ends forward. I glued the eyes to the Chenille stem on each side of the 'face'. The legs are 2 1/2". I added these next. I folded the stem in half, then bent each end in half again. I glued the middle to the bottom of the clothespin, with the ends "legs/feet" facing down. The back legs are bent in half and glued to the back end of the clothespin on each side. 9. Darkness. This is the last plague today, and, again, using Nicole's idea, I found a 12 pack of sunglasses at Party City. Each week for the 3 weeks we are studying the 10 Plagues, there will be a different take-home project. Last week was the artist palette (which we are using for the 3 weeks) or you could make the paper plate project. This week is a printable for education cubes. Print, cut and insert into the sections, and then you have a memory game for the 10 Plagues! You could use them as cards to put them in order also. You can have the kids number them and put them on rings to review. Print it here. If you do not have the education cubes, but really want to play the game, you can print this one. This is a set of dice for you to print and put together. I think I would find a square to put inside so it holds it's shape though. You can print that one here. This is today's cut & glue picture to color. I print the backgrounds on different color cardstock, and the pictures for the students to cut are on regular paper. You can print it here. Here is the same picture, but is a picture to color (no cutting). You can see all the Moses cut & glue pictures to color here. Click here to download the updated visuals for Exodus 7-12. All of the 45 visuals are not shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Click here to print. You can find all the Moses worksheets here. We marked our Moses map for his travels. You can find more information here. Bible Verse: Exodus 9:1 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. Here is a 10 Plagues song that can be printed, laminated and used as a flipchart, book, visual or bulletin board decoration. You can print it here. Click here to download the black & white version. Here is a mini book for the 10 plagues. You can print it here. For directions on how to fold and cut the above mini book, please click here. For more on the 10 plagues, please look here.
For centuries, the entire purpose for women has been perceived as bearing children. Even today, not having children is difficult for some women. This is an area in which I’ve personally struggled greatly. However, imagine living during Biblical times when you don’t have a child. The taunts and jeers from those in your community. Then God tells your husband that […]
Olá, amigos do Blog. Hoje apresentamos a lição Aula Bíblica Principiantes #53. Este currículo é voltado para crianças com 3 a 4 anos de idade. Tema da Aula: Esdras.Principiantes - Unidade 1 - Conhecendo DeusAula 53 - EsdrasTexto: Esdras 7-8-9Versícul
A arca de Noé, o azeite da unção, o Jardim do Getsêmani, a Segunda Vinda e a reconciliação de Israel e a Igreja… O que todos esses têm em comum? Todos eles são representados por uma OLIVEIRA. Depois do dilúvio, Noé enviou uma pomba para buscar um lugar para viver. Quando a pomba voltou com um ramo de oliveira, Noé e sua família entenderam que tudo ficaria bem (Gênesis 8.11). Desde aquele momento, a imagem da pomba e do ramo de oliveira passou a representar o símbolo de esperança e paz. Há uma esperança ao longo de todas as Escrituras de um reino messiânico futuro com paz na terra entre as nações (Isaías 2.4). Nós nos apegamos a essa visão profética da mesma forma que a pomba segurou o ramo de oliveira. Há dois tipos de azeite no tabernáculo, um para luz e outro para unção (Êxodo 25.6). Esse azeite representa a presença do Espírito Santo para revelação e sabedoria (luz) e para cura e poder (unção). O tipo de azeite na Bíblia usado para luz e unção era o azeite da oliveira: era usado para iluminar a Menorá no tabernáculo, para ungir reis para governar, curar os doentes e santificar o sacerdócio. Uma das orações mais importantes de todos os tempos é a intercessão de Yeshua no Getsêmani. Essa palavra no hebraico vem de gat – גת que significa prensar, e shemen – שמן que significa azeite. Getsêmani é o lugar onde as azeitonas são esmagadas para se transformarem em azeite. E onde fica o Getsêmani? No Monte das Oliveiras. Yeshua orou no jardim das oliveiras: “Todavia, não seja como eu quero, e sim como tu queres…” (Mateus 26.39). Essa é uma oração de absoluta dedicação e obediência. A verdadeira unção do Espírito Santo vem desse tipo de dedicação e obediência. É para esse mesmo Monte das Oliveiras, ao leste de Jerusalém, que Yeshua voltará. Seus pés estarão sobre esse Monte, enquanto ele lidera um exército de anjos para lutar contra os exércitos do mundo que vieram para atacar Jerusalém (Zacarias 14.2-4). É por isso que Yeshua ensinou sobre o fim dos tempos e eventos proféticos, enquanto estava sentado sobre o Monte das Oliveiras (Mateus 24.3). Yeshua voltará para estabelecer o reino de paz pelo qual Noé e sua família esperavam. No capítulo 11 de Romanos, Paulo descreve a plenitude de Israel e da Igreja, a importância de um remanescente messiânico restaurado no fim dos tempos e a unidade de judeus e gentios pela fé. Todos nós somos descritos como ramos enxertados juntos na Oliveira da aliança de fé em Deus (Romanos 11.17-26). Você e eu temos o privilégio e a oportunidade de fazer parte do cumprimento deste cenário profético. A Oliveira e seus ramos estão entrando na posição e alinhamento corretos nos nossos dias. A plenitude da comunhão dessa Oliveira é o que produzirá a vinda do reino messiânico em poder e paz.
In the Hall of Faith are mentioned the women received their dead by a resurrection. Last week we took a look at the widow of Zarephath. The prophet Elijah was used by God to provide food in the time of famine and raise her son from the dead. In 2 Kings 4, we find a second account of a child […]
In "God looks at the heart - the sacred chase," Heath Adamson reminds us that God looks at the heart and for wholehearted commitment to the sacred chase.
Jacob is the third generation of the great patriarch’s of the Old Testament and Israelite’s. He is the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Jacob means “holder of the heel” or “supplanter”. When he was born he reached out holding onto his twin brother’s, Esau, heel. Even when they were both in the womb we are told “the children […]
Jacob & Esau is lesson 8 in the first quarter of a year of Preschool Bible Study that I assist with on Wednesday evening. Last week we learned about Abraham’s servant traveling to another country to find a wife for Isaac. He found her by a well. Rebekah had gone there to get water and when she offered him water and enough for his camels, he knew that she was the woman God had chosen for Isaac. Rebekah left her home and married Isaac. Our lesson continues in the book of Genesis (25-27). There are two parts of the Bible. The Old and New Testament. Genesis is the first book of the Old Testament. After waiting a long time (20 years) to have a baby, Isaac and Rebekah had twins! They didn’t look alike. The first baby was all hairy and red and they called him Esau. They named the second baby Jacob. The boys grew up and Esau was a very good hunter. He liked to be outside. Esau was a big strong man with hair all over him. But Jacob liked to stay inside in the tent. Isaac loved Esau the best, and Rebekah love Jacob the best because he was a gentle man and stayed in the tents. One day Jacob cooked a stew and when Esau came in from the field, he was so hungry and tired, so he asked Jacob for some of it. Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright and you can have some.” Well, Esau said “Well, I’m so hungry I’m about to die anyway, so why not?” Jacob gave him bread and stew, and then Esau was sorry that he had made the trade. Esau had given up a very special and valuable item to Jacob. Years later, Isaac was sick and couldn’t see well. He called Esau in to see him. Isaac told Esau to go hunt a deer, cook it and bring it to him. Rebekah cooked goats and put fur on Jacob’s hands and neck to make him hairy like Esau. She wanted Jacob to fool Isaac! And, that is what he did! Jacob told Isaac that he was his brother, Esau. Isaac said, “Come over here and let me feel you to see if you are Esau.” He said “You sound like Jacob, but feel like Esau.” Isaac ate the meat and gave the blessing to Jacob that should have gone to Esau. Esau went to see Isaac. Isaac told him that he had been tricked by Jacob and already given the blessing to him. Esau was so angry with Jacob! Rebekah sent Jacob to live with her brother to keep him safe. This is the visuals I set up for hands on fun. Depending on your students, you can make a stew and/or meat for a small treat for the lesson. I went to Pinterest to find a project for this lesson because I was in the middle of so many things and just couldn't think of something I liked for preschool. So, this is a twist from the original idea found at Sunday School Crafts. (Please click here to see the original.) They didn't have the graphics to print for the soup, so they are included here. I also added Jacob & Esau finger puppets. This is in color and black & white. These are glued on a paper plate, but if you don't have them, cut a circle to glue them on. Click here to download. Click here to download the lesson. Click here to download the updated visuals. This file contains visuals for Genesis 25-27. All are not shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Click here to see the Jacob & Esau lesson & printables for early elementary. Click here to see the Magnetic Board Visuals for this lesson. there is a set of puzzles also.
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The story of Noah’s ark is possibly the best-known Bible story ever. Seriously. You can find books, toys, and even find nursery decor depicting the ark and the animals going “two-by-t…
Last year in our mother’s series, we took a look at Naomi and her heartache, which eventually turned to joy because of her daughter-in-law, Ruth. When we read the book of Ruth, we often focus on the story of Ruth and Boaz, which is a beautiful love story. However, today we’re going to explore a different relationship, that of Naomi […]
When reading the Hall of Faith, one of those listed as those that “were stoned”. Stephen perfectly fits this bill. But, who was Stephen? Acts 6, sets the scene by stating the disciples decided to call seven men “of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” {Acts 6:3} “And the […]
We are learning about Samson today and next week. The booklet is a Fill-in-the-Blank black & white printable that we will use for both les...
Even if the daughter-in-law enters the relationship with defiance, a wise mother-in-law can bring love into a friendly, supportive relationship in which love becomes mutual—because both need it.
Today's lesson is Esther and is divided into two parts. She is made queen this week, and we will have a feast next week! We act this lesson out, so there is not a craft. But there is a worksheet and Bible verse. When King Ahasuerus (AKA Xerxes) had been king for three years, he had a feast for his officials and servants. He showed them how great his kingdom was. It lasted 180 days! When that feast was over, he had another feast that lasted seven days. His queen, Queen Vashti, had a feast for the women in the royal palace. On the seventh day, the king was feeling happy and told some men to bring in Queen Vashti to him, wearing her crown, so he could show his friends how beautiful she was. The queen refused to go to the king, and he was angry! Nobody refuses the king! King Ahasuerus asked his wise men what he should do for this insult. They told him that she not only wronged the king, but the princes and the people. Her refusal would be known to all the women in the province, and they will look down on their husbands. They told the king to make a new decree. If the queen would not come to the king, then the king would give her royal position to another that deserves it more. So, King Ahasuerus sent out letters to the provinces in their own languages. The king’s servants gathered all the beautiful young women for the king to choose a new queen. Mordecai was raising his cousin (his uncle’s daughter [2:7]), Esther, because her parents had been killed. She was beautiful. She was taken with the other women for the king to see, and he liked her. King Ahasuerus moved her to the best place for the women in the palace. But she did not tell the king about her people. Mordecai had told her not to mention that her family was Jewish. Every day Mordecai walked in front of where the women were so he could learn how Esther was. It took the women a whole year to get ready to go before King Ahasuerus! Once a woman went before the king, she couldn’t go before him again, unless HE called for her by name. Now, in the seventh year (4 years later) of his reign, Esther gets to go before the king again. The king loved her more than all the other women. (Esther 2:16) King Ahasuerus put the crown on her head and made her the queen, instead of Vashti. He made a great feast and called it “Feast of Esther”. After a time, when Mordecai was sitting out by the gate, he overheard two of the king’s doorkeepers talking. They were angry at the king and wanted to kill him. Mordecai told Queen Esther about this, and she told King Ahasuerus what Mordecai had told her. When an investigation was done, they were both hanged! After that, Haman was made second in command to the king. When Haman walked in the king’s gate, everyone bowed to him…except for Mordecai. This made Haman so angry, and when he found out that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman decided to kill all the Jews! Haman talked King Ahasuerus into making a new decree to kill the Jews for not keeping the king’s laws. Haman told King Ahasuerus their laws were different, and it wasn’t right to have their own laws. King Ahasuerus gave his signet ring to Haman so he could write a new decree which they sent out into the provinces. I set up one wall to look like a palace. This build-a-scene is Disney princess, but there are others to choose from. When I started doing this lesson years ago, I just threw blankets on chairs and a table to make the throne. The kids love it, and it doesn't have to be extravagant. As the kids come in, I let them pick who they want to be. Everyone gets crown when they come in (purchased at the local teacher's supply store). The scepters for next week! Click here to see how I made them. We filled these in during this part of the lesson. It can be anything, fun or serious. You can print these in color or black & white to put on color paper. I usually use paper that already looks like a scroll. (The font is Old English Text.) Click here to print in color. Click here to print in B/W. This table is between the king & queen chairs. We talked about it taking a year to go before the king. The kids took necklaces and rings to 'prepare' themselves to see the king. The boys even like doing this! Things to know for next week! The king will remember that Mordecai saved his life, and Haman will be even more angry at Mordecai. We talked about not being permitted to see the king, unless he asks to see you, and that is an important part of Queen Esther's work for next week. We will finish Queen Esther next week. Click here to download the worksheet. Click here to download the updated visuals. All are not shown. There are over 50 visuals in the file and includes visuals for the whole book of Esther. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Bible verse: Esther 2:17 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. Click here to see Part 2 of Esther.
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Today's lesson is continuing with Jacob and his family. We will discuss his leaving Laban with Leah and Rachel and his children. He wrestl...
Have you ever longed for something the ache was unbearable? Hannah did. She longed to be a mother. Matters were only made worse when her husband’s other wife kept having children and taunting her for it. {1 Samuel 1:1-8} When they went to the temple for House of the Lord, Hannah had been provoked so much she wept. {! Samuel […]
As opiniões são divergentes sobre a data que durou os 70 anos do cativeiro na Babilônia. Este estudo bíblico explica as datas da queda de Judá com exatidão.
Lesson 1 The Divided Kingdom: Rehoboam First King of Judah 1 Kings 11:243-12:19-1 Kings 14:31 & 2 Chronicles 9:31-12:14 The first three kings were Saul, David and his son Solomon. They were each a king for 40 years. The divided kingdoms begin in 1 Kings 11. Rehoboam was Solomon’s son and he became the next king when Solomon died. All the people gathered at Shechem to make Rehoboam the king. The people sent word to Jeroboam who was still in Egypt, and when he heard the news, he went to Shechem also. The people complained to Rehoboam that Solomon had made their lives hard and they wanted him to make changes to lighten their burdens. Rehoboam told the people to come back in three days. King Rehoboam asked the elders “What should we do about the people’s request?” They told him if he would serve them and say the right things, then the people would continue being his servants. But, Rehoboam didn’t take their advice and asked his young friends that he grew up with the same question. They suggested that he tell them that he would make it even harder on the people. (His friend's opinions were worth more than the elders'.) Everyone gathered together on the third day and Rehoboam repeated what his friends suggested. The people were not happy and went to their tents. Rehoboam went to Jerusalem and found men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who were fighting men. He picked 180, 000 men to restore his kingdom. God told Shemaiah not to fight and to return home. This was God’s plan and they obeyed Him. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built defense cities in the lands of Judah and Benjamin. He built up the strongholds, supplied food and weapons, and put captains in charge. The priests and Levites moved to Jerusalem and they were faithful to God for three years. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines. They had 28 sons and 60 daughters. He sent his sons throughout the land to every fortified city. He provided plenty of supplies and found wives for them. Once Rehoboam had established his kingdom, he didn’t follow God’s laws anymore. They were worse than his ancestors had been. They built idols on every ‘high hill and under every green tree.’ The people were corrupt. During his fifth year, Shishak king of Egypt attacked and took over the cities of Judah. Shemaiah the prophet told Rehoboam that he had forsaken God. Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves and said “The Lord is righteous.” So, God let the Egyptians take the treasures in Jerusalem. They took the gold shields that Solomon had made and Rehoboam made bronze ones to replace them. Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem. He was 41 years old when he became king and reigned for 17 years. He did evil and didn’t seek the Lord. His son Abijah became the next king of Judah. This is one of the few kings lessons in this series to have this type of worksheet. Christina Barkley sent me the questions and answers and I created the worksheet. The answers are: 1. friends 2. better 3. three 4. young men 5. scourges 6. ten 7. scared Click here to download. The application packs contain any extra posters, worksheets, maps, etc. specific for the king(s) listed. Each set is different and may contain printables that will be used for more than one king. This pack includes the fill-in-the-blank worksheet, word search, maze and assorted posters (without the logos) for the lesson. Click here for the application pack. Click here for the lesson. Click here for the visuals. Click here for the pictures to color. Click here to see all the kings lessons in this series.
This article looks at Priscilla and Aquila and explores Luke's use of the Greek verb ektithēmi ("explain") in Acts. Did Priscilla teach?
Assim como outros juízes mencionados na Bíblia, Jefté teve de vencer inimigos do povo de Deus. Mas ele fez um voto a Jeová Deus que também envolveria sua filha.
Texto: Atos 9:36-43 "Havia em Jope uma discípula por nome Tabita, que traduzido quer dizer Dorcas, a qual estava cheia de boas obras e...
In the Hall of Faith are mentioned the women received their dead by a resurrection. Last week we took a look at the widow of Zarephath. The prophet Elijah was used by God to provide food in the time of famine and raise her son from the dead. In 2 Kings 4, we find a second account of a child […]
This file folder game (FFG) will be as review and the students can take home. Stephen if found in Acts 5-6
Last week, we discussed Samuel. He is the last individual mentioned by name in the Hall of Faith, found in Hebrews 11. However, there are many others described in the Hall of Faith that allows us to know who they are. We will be covering these individuals in the following weeks. In Hebrews 11:33, we are told “who through faith subdued […]
In "A slow and steady injury of the spirit," Jeff Manion asserts that a slow and steady injury of the spirit brings our world crashing down around us.
Mais uma vez Jesus usa uma história sobre os acontecimentos do dia a dia para ilustrar verdades espirituais, e mais uma vez o contexto é a vida agrária comum àqueles que O estão ouvindo. Nesta parábola, há fatos e situações semelhantes à anterior, porém, com sentidos diferentes. A ilustração retrata a coexistência, neste presente mundo, dos filhos de Deus, comparados à boa semente, e os filhos do maligno, retratados pelo joio. Da mesma forma que na parábola do semeador, Jesus não fornece a interpretação para a multidão, mas, depois que Ele se retira (v. 36), e diante do pedido de seus discípulos, a explicação é dada. Bem fizeram os discípulos em não “arriscarem” uma interpretação baseada no próprio conhecimento ou na experiência anterior – do Senhor é a Palavra e o verdadeiro sentido também vem dEle (Gn 41.16; Dn 2.28). Jesus compara o reino dos céus a um homem que semeia boa semente no seu campo. Na interpretação, o semeador é o Filho do Homem, o próprio Jesus, e a boa semente são os filhos do reino, os crentes de todas as épocas, gerados pela Sua semeadura. Podemos entender a existência do reino de Deus e a operação de Cristo desde o princípio de tudo – Ele é o dono do campo (Jo 1.1). Ao comparar os filhos do reino ao trigo, Jesus enobrece seus filhos. O trigo era a principal fonte de alimento da época, responsável pelo sustento e manutenção da vida. Aqui vemos a grande tarefa e responsabilidade da Igreja: alimentar o mundo. A parábola diz que, dormindo os homens, veio o inimigo e semeou o joio no meio do trigo. Em razão do joio, nos seus primeiros estágios, ser muito parecido com o trigo, ele só é notado depois de crescer. Jesus explica que o joio são os filhos do maligno e o inimigo que o semeou é o Diabo, o adversário. As expressões “dormindo os homens” e “retirou-se” falam que a operação do inimigo normalmente não é notada. Embora para muitos seja desejável uma situação de completa separação entre o bem e o mal, não é este o propósito de Deus para esta época. Diante da surpresa dos servos – “não semeaste tu no teu campo boa semente? Por que tem então joio?” – a resposta do dono do campo, que tudo sabe, é simples: um inimigo é que fez isso. Para Ele não é surpresa alguma que tenha joio no meio do trigo. Diante da proposta dos servos de arrancar o joio (v. 28), a decisão é de mantê-lo até a época da colheita, para não danificar o trigo. Para o Senhor da seara, não cabe aos servos fazer separação entre o trigo e o joio; esta decisão é do dono do campo, e ele o fará na ocasião oportuna. Mesmo se fosse dado a nós a perfeita distinção dos que são filhos do reino e dos que são filhos do maligno, não nos seria dado permissão para “arrancá-los”; afinal, o dono do campo tem poder para transformar joio em trigo, e estaríamos eliminando qualquer oportunidade que eles teriam para a salvação. Isto deixa totalmente sem sentido as tais “cruzadas da fé” e a inquisição empreendidas no passado. Na verdade, a convivência com os maus cria dificuldade e tribulações, mas Deus tem um propósito – nessa coexistência são manifestos os que são verdadeiros filhos do reino (1 Co 11.19), e é também a oportunidade de exercitarmos a longanimidade que o Senhor tanto usou e usa para conosco (Rm 2.4; 2 Pe 3.15). Lembremos também que, ao sair do Egito, Israel carregou junto uma “mistura de gente” (Ex 12.38). A separação que o Senhor exige do Seu povo não é física ou geográfica; é, antes de tudo, de atitude, de interesses e de comportamento. Vivemos num tempo em que os filhos do reino e os filhos do maligno convivem no mesmo “campo” e, muitas das vezes, pela simulação dos maus, eles se tornam até semelhantes; não significa que sejam iguais, sempre haverá distinção entre justos e injustos (Ml 3.18). A longanimidade de Deus suporta os injustos, aguardando o arrependimento, mas, no final, toda transgressão recebe a justa repreensão (Hb 2.2). Jesus compara a colheita ao fim do mundo, quando dará ordem aos Seus anjos para fazerem a ceifa; haverá então completa distinção entre o joio, que será queimado, e o trigo, que será recolhido ao celeiro (vv. 39-43). Ele destaca que será a consumação do mundo, revelando que na Sua vinda será o juízo final e a consumação de todas as coisas, conforme Mateus, capítulos 24 e 25. Ao justo cabe exercitar a fé e suportar os maus e suas injustiças, descansando na promessa: ele resplandecerá como o sol, no reino do seu Pai (v. 43, cf. Hb 11.32-38). Na parábola do trigo e do joio, Jesus nos ensina a tolerância com os que não comungam a mesma fé; eles estão coabitando o mesmo mundo físico que nós, e devem ser suportados com paciência, longanimidade e fé. A distinção e separação entre justos e injusto somente pode ser realizada pelo Senhor, e Ele o fará, permanentemente, no fim dos tempos, quando dará destinos diferentes ao joio e ao trigo. * Texto cedido por: EBD – 2º. Trimestre de 2017 ASSEMBLÉIA DE DEUS MINISTÉRIO GUARATINGUETÁ-SP “PARÁBOLAS”
Jewish elders come and ask Jesus to heal an army officer’s servant. He uses the occasion to confirm that faithful Gentiles will be blessed too.