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Old Testament Field Guide
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Lesson OneGetting Ready19 Activities|4 Assessments
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Getting Started
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In | The Sunday School Old Testament
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In | Workbook: Old Testament Favorites - Going Deeper
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In | Taking the Stories Seriously
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In | 360° View: Elah Valley
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In | Workbook: Noah's Ark
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In | Putting the Bible in 3D: Noah’s Ark
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In | Workbook: Psalms
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In | The Psalms: Ancient Poetry
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In | The Promises of the Old Testament
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In | Proverbs as Promises
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In | Workbook: Rethinking Your Favorite Passages
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Behind | God of the Laws
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Behind | God of War
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Behind | Workbook: Problem Passages
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In Front | Workbook: A Personal Bible Inventory
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In Front | The Law and the New Covenant
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In Front | Workbook: The Affect of the Bible - Psalm 119
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoGeography and Religion11 Activities|3 Assessments
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Getting Started
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In | The Land Is a Character in the Story
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In | Onsite: The Oldest Map of the Holy Land - Father Innocent
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In | Living in the Holy Land - Father Innocent
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In | 360 View: Madaba Church Map - Father Innocent
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Behind | Fertile Crescent
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Behind | Five Geographic Zones
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Behind | The Primary Natural Challenge: Water
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Behind | Fertility Gods
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In Front | Workbook: A Temptation that Promises Prosperity
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeGeopolitical History15 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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In | The Metanarrative
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Behind | The Rise of Civilization
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Behind | Imperial Domination and Local Politics
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Behind | Onsite: Wadi Zered - Boundary Between Moab and Edom
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Behind | 360 View: Wadi Zered
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Behind | Onsite: Lower Jordan - Canyons Rich with Biblical History
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Behind | The Land Between
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Behind | 360 View: Petra
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Behind | The Great Temptation of Peace
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Behind | The Timeline
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Behind | Workbook: Timeline
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In Front | The Modern Temptation of Peace
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In Front | Workbook: The Modern-day Temptations of Peace
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourAncient Near Eastern Sources11 Activities
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Getting Started
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In | Workbook: 2 Kings 18–19 and Taylor’s Prism
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Behind | Workbook: Colossians 2:8 and Ancient Near East Writings, Part 1
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Behind | Workbook: Colossians 2:8 and Ancient Near East Writings, Part 2
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Behind | Parallels: Myths and Tales
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Behind | Legal Collections
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Behind | Hymns
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Behind | Biblical Parallels: Historical Records
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Behind | Texts without Biblical Parallels: Magic and Rituals
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In Front | Workbook: Modern and Ancient Near East Sensibilities
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveImpact of the Old Testament11 Activities
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Getting Started
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In | Workbook: The Old Testament - Cultural Impact Through the Ages
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In Front | Workbook: Pondering the Uniqueness of Israel
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In Front | Impact: Monotheism
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In Front | Social and Political Impact of the Old Testament
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In Front | “You Are the Man!”
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In Front | The Impact of the Bible on Art
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In Front | Workbook: The Impact of the Bible on Art
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In Front | Workbook: The Bible’s Impact on Language
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In Front | Science
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Lesson 2, Activity 10
In Front | Workbook: A Temptation that Promises Prosperity
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Grab your Workbook Journal!
[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]
We’ve considered the Israelites’ temptation to worship fertility gods as being rooted in a longing for prosperity. The big question facing all of us is how we relate to this kind of temptation in the present.
- What factors apart from God are you tempted to rely on as the source of your prosperity? (e.g., education, training, work ethic, luck, relational network)
- Have you seen that relying on any of those sources of prosperity has estranged you from God and hindered your spiritual well-being? Explain.
The worship of fertility gods was motivated by a desire to please them and receive prosperity in return. In addition to seeking prosperity from things apart from God, we might also tend to relate to God as ancient people related to fertility gods.
- Take a moment to record the ways you have attempted to manipulate or please God so that he would provide you with the things you want.
- Jot down a list of the “gods” you think our society most often “worships” in pursuit of prosperity?