Reactions to the Advance of the Kingdom of God

Aim: To comprehend the basic responses of the world to the work of God's church in its ever-increasing expansion.

Exegesis: Some people fear us, because they are in awe of what God has done (vv. 1-2a), and they are in despair concerning their human hope (v. 2b). Some people attack ''us'' by gathering an unholy horde against us (v. 3); by devising unholy plans against us (v. 4); and by waging an unholy war against us (v. 5). All people need us. Our commitment (v. 6a) and our compassion (v. 6b) compels us to help.

Key verse: vv. 1-2a ''Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, that they feared greatly...''