God's Team

Anyone who knows the bible knows that God has INVOLVED humanity with collaborations, promises, success, etc and so many other things to bring love and positivity to earth. To me that is Team God and God's team - Not that God needs them to help him with anything.

Let's use the Bible to support the theme of God's Team or the Team of God; not that God needs a team or was ever in need of a team. In fact, God never "NEEDED" creation to exist because God is already self sufficient, but God created existence and placed many things in it anyway. Some creatures of God's creation must involuntarily apply God's will while others were given the gift of FREE WILL.

Lets review 23 examples of this and if that's not enough, take a look at my previously written blog titled as, "THE SHARING TEAM."

Creation of the World

• Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
• The plural language here ("Let us make") has been interpreted in various ways, including as a reference to the Trinity or a divine council. It suggests a collaborative act in creation, though not out of necessity.

Delegation of Authority to Humans

• Genesis 2:19-20: God brings the animals to Adam to see what he would name them, and whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.
• God entrusting Adam with the task of naming the animals shows delegation, though it does not imply that God needed Adam to do this.

The Building of the Ark

• Genesis 6:13-22: God commands Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals from the coming flood. Noah follows God's detailed instructions, working on the ark with his family.
• This story shows God partnering with Noah in a monumental task, involving human effort in divine salvation.

Moses and the Exodus

• Exodus 3:10: "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
• God sends Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Although God performs miracles and provides guidance, He chooses Moses as His instrument of deliverance.

Building the Tabernacle

• Exodus 31:1-6: God chooses Bezalel and Oholiab and fills them with His Spirit to have the skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to build the Tabernacle.
• God provides the necessary skills and knowledge to the craftsmen to build the Tabernacle. This shows God working through human agents to accomplish His purposes.

The Role of Angels

• Daniel 10:13: "But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia."
• In this passage, an angel speaks of receiving help from the archangel Michael. This implies cooperation among heavenly beings but not that God requires help.

Prophets as Messengers

• Amos 3:7: "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets."
• God uses prophets to communicate His will to the people. This does not indicate a need for assistance but rather a chosen method of revelation and interaction.

The Battle of Jericho

• Joshua 6: God instructs Joshua and the Israelites on how to conquer the city of Jericho. The plan involves marching around the city, priests blowing trumpets, and the people shouting.
• The victory is achieved through a combination of divine guidance and human obedience, illustrating teamwork between God and His people.

Gideon's Victory over the Midianites

• Judges 6-7: God calls Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon assembles an army, but God reduces the number to 300 men to demonstrate that the victory is by His power. Gideon follows God's unusual strategy, and they achieve victory.
• This narrative highlights divine-human collaboration in achieving a seemingly impossible victory.

The Leadership 

of Deborah and Barak

• Judges 4-5: God raises Deborah as a prophetess and judge. She, in turn, enlists Barak to lead Israel's army against Sisera. They work together, following God's guidance, to deliver Israel.
• This story showcases God working through both a female prophetess and a military leader, emphasizing collaborative leadership.

The Establishment of Kingship 

in Israel

• 1 Samuel 9-10: God directs the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. Later, God sends Samuel to anoint David as Saul's successor (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
• God's involvement in establishing and guiding the monarchy involves prophets and kings, highlighting a collaborative governance structure.

Nehemiah's Rebuilding 

of Jerusalem's Walls

• Nehemiah 2-6: God moves Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah rallies the people, organizes the work, and overcomes opposition through prayer and perseverance.
• The rebuilding effort exemplifies teamwork, with divine inspiration guiding human action.

Esther's Intercession for Her People

• Esther 4-7: God places Esther in a position of influence as queen. At the urging of her cousin Mordecai, she risks her life to intercede with the king on behalf of her people, the Jews, leading to their deliverance.
• This story shows God working through Esther's courage and Mordecai's wisdom, demonstrating strategic collaboration.

The Multiplication 

of Loaves and Fishes

• Matthew 14:13-21: Jesus feeds 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes. He involves His disciples in distributing the food and gathering the leftovers.
• This miracle illustrates Jesus working with His disciples to meet a massive need, emphasizing collective participation.

The Great Commission

• Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus commissions His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded.
• Jesus involves His followers in spreading the Gospel. This commission shows a partnership in the mission of God rather than a dependence on human effort.

Paul's Missionary Journeys

• Acts 13:2-3: The Holy Spirit instructs the church in Antioch to set apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which He has called them.
• The Holy Spirit guides the early church in their missionary efforts, involving human agency in spreading the Gospel.

Paul's Apostolic Team

• Acts 13-28: Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul works with various companions like Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. They establish churches, spread the Gospel, and provide mutual support.
• The New Testament letters often mention Paul's co-workers, highlighting the team-based approach to ministry.

The Role of Deacons

• Acts 6:1-7: The early church appoints seven deacons to oversee the distribution of food to widows, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the word.
• This division of labor within the early church underscores the importance of teamwork and delegation.

The Divine Council

The Bible, especially in the Old Testament, mentions a divine council or assembly of heavenly beings that surround God. This imagery suggests that God operates within a celestial team or assembly. For instance:

• Psalm 82:1: "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment."
• Job 1:6-12: Here, Satan appears among the "sons of God" before the Lord, discussing Job's faithfulness, indicating a sort of heavenly council or assembly.

These passages show that God engages with a group of spiritual beings, consulting and deliberating within a heavenly court.

The Trinity

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—illustrates God as a unity of three distinct persons who work together in perfect harmony. The New Testament provides numerous references to this:

• Matthew 3:16-17: During Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven (the Father) declares Jesus as His Son.
• John 14:16-17: Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as another advocate who will be with the disciples, showing the distinct roles within the Godhead.

The Trinity exemplifies a divine team where each person of the Godhead fulfills distinct roles while being united in purpose and essence.

God's Partnership with Humanity

The Bible often depicts God partnering with humans to fulfill His purposes on earth. This can be seen in the covenants with key figures such as Abraham, Moses, and David, where God includes them in His plans:

• Genesis 12:1-3: God calls Abraham to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation through which all the earth will be blessed.
• Exodus 3:10: God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, working closely with him to accomplish this mission.

These examples show that God enlists humans as part of His team to carry out His divine plans.

The Role of Angels

Angels play a significant role in the Bible as messengers and servants of God, indicating a team-like structure in the heavenly realm. Key instances include:

• Luke 1:26-38: The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus, the Son of God.
• Hebrews 1:14: Describes angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.

Angels are depicted as active participants in God's work, delivering messages, protecting, and executing His will.

The Early Church as a Community

In the New Testament, the church is described as the body of Christ, with each member contributing to the whole. This imagery emphasizes teamwork and collaboration among believers:

• 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Paul describes the church as a body with many parts, each with its unique function, working together in unity.
• Ephesians 4:11-16: Highlights various roles within the church (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) working together to build up the body of Christ.

The early Christian community modeled a team-oriented approach to ministry and mission, reflecting the collaborative nature of God's work.