In Francis DuBose’s book “God Who Sends: A Fresh Quest for Biblical Mission” the author highlights his contention that “mission means sending” by surveying the theological sending passages within 7 Scriptural categories. Last week I shared a brief portion from the book concerning sending and the Pentateuch. Today I want to consider the sending theme found in both the Historical and Poetical books.

DuBose examines the continuation of the sending theme in the books of Joshua and Judges with language reminiscent of how God sent Moses to the people to bring them out of bondage (Joshua 24:5-6; Judges 6:8).  Judges continues with the language of sending in describing the work of Gideon: “And the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel . . . do not I send you?’” In 1 Samuel, God sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephtah, and Samuel to deliver his people (12:11). He sent Samuel to anoint Saul as King (15:1). He sent Saul on a military conquest (15:18, 20). He sent Samuel to Jesse to anoint his son David as king (16:1). In 2 Samuel God sent the prophet Nathan to condemn King David for his sin (12:1).

In 2 Kings 2 Elijah, in testing his protege Elisha, referred several times to the Lord sending him to various places. (We will see with the next post how this is just a glimpse of the strong sense of sending found in the Prophetic books.)

In 1 Chronicles God threatens to send his angel to destroy Jerusalem (21:15). 2 Chronicles 32:21 speaks of God’s mighty act in sending his angel to defeat the powerful Sennacherib, King of Assyria.

Psalm 135, which celebrates the Exodus event, emphasizes the sending in relationship to the judgment of God which accomplished his deliverance of his people. God “sent signs and wonders” in the midst of Egypt (v. 9). Psalm 78 emphasizes this judgmental aspect of the Exodus: “He sent among them swarms of flies” (v. 45).

The Psalms also celebrate the salvation of God in a general way: “the Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter” (110:2); “He sent redemption to his people” (111:9). The Psalms are replete with references to God sending an abundance of providential blessings. He sends help from his sanctuary (20:2). He sends forth his steadfast love and faithfulness from heaven and saves his people from reproach (57:3). He sends food in abundance (78:25). He sends springs in the valleys (104:10). He sends forth his spirit and renews the face of the earth (104:30). He sends forth his commandments, and sends out his word to cause nature to bless mankind (147:15-18).

All of the above is just a sample of the sending theme found in the Old Testament. Many of the most significant, found in the Prophetic books, have yet to be considered. (Not to mention the most noteworthy sending passages are found in the New Testament writings.) With this in mind I find it difficult to deny the importance of reflecting on the sending nature of God. He is constantly sending in very significant ways.

How can this not affect our understanding of what God is calling us to be and do? And why do we not reflect on and discuss the implications of this sending on the Christian life and the life of the church?