Sabbath School Summary
By Dr Elder MASIMBA MAVAZA
Longing for More
Lesson 11.
Memory Text: 1 Corinthians 10:6
“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did”
INTRODUCTION
The Queens Museum of Art in New York, United States, houses the world’s largest architectural model of a city, depicting all of the buildings of New York. On a scale of 1:1,200 (where 2.5 centimeters or 1 inch corresponds to 33 meters or 100 feet) it covers nearly 870 square meters (9,335 square feet). It was originally completed in 1964 by 100 craftsmen who had worked for more than three years to complete the project. It has been updated to the 1990s and does not reflect the 2021 cityscape. It is an amazingly intricate and detailed copy of the original.
In the end, though, it is still just that: a copy, a model, a representation of something grander, bigger, deeper, and much more intricate than the model itself.
That’s how all models are, actually. They are not the original but function only as symbols of the originals. A model helps us grasp the essence of the original, but it can never replace it. Rather, it is there to help people better understand what the original is all about.
SABBATH: Model designs are still large element of architecture. They are used to mirror what a real city looks like & give a comprehensive depiction of the city. The New York Queens Museum of Art harbors one of the most largest models of a city. Made by 100 craftsmen in 1964, it mirrors the city of New York in the 1990s. Yet, it’s just but a copy. In the Bible, there are mini-models for us to grasp a bigger thing (Heb. 4).
SUNDAY: The Bible is full of “types” & “antitypes”. The word “type” is a Greek noun (“typos”) which means “example”. A type always points to an antitype. Types are models of larger things (1 Cor. 10:1-11 & Heb. 8:5). E.g; the earthly sanctuary (a “type”) & the heavenly sanctuary (an “antitype”); rock, bread of life, living water (types) means Christ (antitype); (Exod. 25:9, 16:31-35, 1 Cor. 10:4, John 6:48 & 4:10).
MONDAY: Not a dot is without value in the Bible. Even a jot/single word convey essential spiritual truths such as the rituals in the OT (Lev. 4:32-35, John 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:18-21). Details were given by God on what to do & which animal to sacrifice. Explanations are not always given. Israel might have understood its meaning (Lev. 17:11). Blood was key for atonement. The blood of Christ was shed for us (Lev. 4:32-35).
TUESDAY: The greatest sin of Israel was their faithlessness & rebellion. They received the gospel but with the spirit of unbelief. Many failed to trust God & disobeyed Him (Heb. 4:1-11 & 3:7-19). As a result, God’s true rest eluded them. Faith & rest in God are inseparable. God made rest; to enter it, you need to trust God. The early church believed the OT, Jesus as the Lamb & had faith in His saving sacrifice (Heb. 4:2, 3).
WEDNESDAY: Those who possess a soft & contrite heart find rest in God. Israel hardened her heart & failed to taste God’s rest. God’s grace took the new generation to the Promised Land, but their lack of faith hindered many from tasting the reality of salvation in Christ (Heb. 4:4-7, Ps. 95:8-11). Canaan was just part of the rest in Christ. God bids us not to harden our hearts. Now is the time (Ps. 95:7).
THURSDAY: Hebrews 4:8-11 points to God’s special end-time rest that has been present since Creation. Anytime we celebrate the Sabbath rest, we have a taste of the world to come (the end-time rest). This rest was & is not only for the Jews, for Joshua did not give Israel rest. It’s for all who accept Christ as their personal Savior (Gal. 3:26-29). The Creation account assures us that we can cease from our own works & trust God’s promise of salvation.
FRIDAY: Humans can cry with us but only God can dry our tears. Humans can offer us sympathy but only God can solve our problems. Oftentimes, we’re inclined to pour our trials & woes to human ears. We are not always willing to come to Jesus for aid. God’s promises are precious & sure. We must study His word, know His will, & confide in Him. Christ is waiting to hear our pleas & never forsakes. Have hope!
—Ellen G. White, The Signs of the Times, March 17, 1887, p. 161 & Our High Calling, p. 368.
Keyword
Model- an example
Type- a figure/symbol/shadow of an original thing (something larger)
Antitype- the original (something larger) which a type points to.
OT- Old Testament
Captions
SUNDAY- Baptized Into Moses
MONDAY- Ritual And Sacrifices
TUESDAY- The “example” Of Rest
WEDNESDAY- “harden Not Your Hearts”
THURSDAY- Conquering A Heavenly City
Discussion Questions
? What’s so special about the seventh-day Sabbath that it prefigures God’s heavenly rest for His people? That is, how does the Sabbath rest give us a foretaste of eternity?
? Atonement means reconciliation and indicates the way back to God. Think about this important statement found in Romans 5:11: “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (NKJV). If someone were to ask you, “What does it mean to be reconciled to God, and what difference has this reconciliation made in your life,” what would you answer?
? How can we avoid majoring in minors in our Christian life? What keeps us focused on the big picture offered in God’s Word?
? Think again about all the mistakes made and the lack of faith the children of Israel manifested in the wilderness. Though the details of their challenges are different from ours (we’re not wandering through a vast desert), what common principles are there? That is, how in our own Christian walk might we be confronted with the same challenges they were, and how can we learn from their mistakes?