From the first two books of the Bible (Genesis and Exodus), we see God forming a people for Himself, a people that would live and act differently from all of the other pagan peoples of the earth. By following God’s instructions, this group: 1. could live in safety from man’s unseen enemy, the devil, and 2. advance the plan of God in the earth. For Israel, the only way to avoid the devil’s rulership was by submitting to God and following His instructions given through the Law. They had no direct authority over the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4) at that time. That authority would not be restored to mankind until the Messiah Jesus came.
Backstory: See previous parts here, here, and here
The first five books of the Bible give the backstory of this beginning. God gives them His law and His expectations. The law was given to guard them and protect them from the devil who would always seek to destroy them and what God was building in the earth. This conflict was set up in the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned. When God cursed the devil, he said he would be sending Someone to crush his head. As with most people, the people of God had ebbs and flow of obedience disobedience. They did not understand His plans.
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