Receiving an encouraging word

This week's lesson on “How live in a threatening world” is summarized by the idea of Israel getting a word of encouragement from God through the prophet Ezekiel. Brad Shockley’s lesson commentary puts it this way,

“This week’s lesson is a message of encouragement for the rebellious people of Israel that extends into and intertwines with the last days. It’s also a word of encouragement to us.”

This caused me to search for an illustration of good news being delivered. I came across the Mass Moments project and selected an entry that could be used to illustrate a great moment in history when good news was delivered. Angelina Grimke addressed the legislature in February, 1838:

“in 1838 a woman addressed a legislative body for the first time in American history. An overflow crowd gathered at the State House in Boston as Angelina Grimke, daughter of a South Carolina slave owner, presented anti-slavery petitions signed by 20,000 Massachusetts women.”

Imagine the hope and encouragement this news was to slaves at the time. It foreshadowed the eventual abolition of slavery. The Israelites were captives in ancient Babylon at the time of Ezekiel’s message and surely it brought hope to them as it does to us today.

Note: you can play the radio moment from your PC, or read it to the class. Make a slide with Angelina’s likeness on it to use as a visual at the same time.