What is the purpose of the people of God in the entire Old Testament?

1. Like Esther, serve others.

Esther 4:16b – “And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I

perish, I perish!

John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for

his friends.

2. Like Ruth, commit in faith.

Ruth 1:16-17 (NLT) – But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn

back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be

my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there

I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to

separate us!”

3. Like Mary, trust and obey.

Luke 1:38 – Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me

according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

“God’s best servants are often ordinary people who make themselves available

to Him.” – Life Application Bible

4. Like Hagar, believe God hears.

Genesis. 16:13 (NLT) – Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the

Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She

also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

Genesis. 21:19 (NLT) – Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full

of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.