Most of the changes of the Old Testament were initiated by God and were under God's control.

In Genesis 1 and 2, we learn that the creation of the world was a step by step process characterised by great changes. For example God created light where there was darkness, he created animal and plant life which did not exist before 'etc. These were great changes.

God created man in his own image and gave him power and intelligence, which is greater than that of other creatures. Man was commanded to use his intelligence and all the created resources to change the world into a better place to live in. Hence man is God's agent of change. We live in an unfinished world, a world in making and it is our duty to change it to perfection (Genesis 1: 28-30) 

Genesis 3: 1-7 and chapter 4 tell us that instead of bringing about good and developmental changes, men have sometimes caused bad changes. The stories of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3) and Cain killing Abel (Genesis 4) show us how men brought sufferings and misery in the world instead of working for good changes.' Such sins bi-ought a change from peace and happiness to sufferings.

The Old Testament teaches Us that God is ready to help humankind to overcome all the difficulties he meets in trying to bring about changes and make life better. Hence in Exodus 20:1-17, God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments - the decalogue, to guide them through the various changes they were to face. They were to face any new change with courage and determination.

God made a covenant with the Israelites which was something new (a change) in their lives. They became God's chosen special nation. This Sinai covenant (Exodus 19, and 24) was to always remind them about God's love for them.

Even after reaching the Promised Land of Canaan, their leader Joshua organized a covenant renewal ceremony at Shechem. The covenant was made afresh so that even the young who hadn't participated in the Sinaitic covenant would get a chance of personal attachment with their God- Yahweh. Since they had entered a new land with new people" new gods, new ideas etc. It was necessary for Joshua to remind them about their history, their beliefs and God's love and protection for them. Joshua was confident that this would enable them to resist the bad changes in Canaan. (Joshua 24: 1-28) .

Israelites as a people faced several political, social, economic and environmental changes. Examples:

They were at first slaves in Egypt 'but God liberated them and they became. free men- hence a change in their lives. Later they became enslaved again in Babylon due to their stubbornness.

At first they were nomads but when they reached Canaan they practiced mixed Farming.

A change fr6fu wandering from place to place to settled. life in Canaan.

At first they were under God's Kingship but when they reached Canaan, they rejected God's Kingship over them and got human leaders. These leaders let them down.

They also changed from their true God- Yahweh and started worshipping the canaanite gods e.g. Baal & Sakkuth.

They changed from the covenant behaviour and started sinning. For example they became thieves, prostitutes etc. Hence breaking the Ten Commandments.

Their God Yahweh sent them prophets to remind them about the Decalogue and the covenant. Examples of prophets he sent to them included Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Ezekiel- and Jeremiah. These prophets were God's agents of change. They were sent to cause desirable changes in the Israelite's society.

Prophet Amos 5:7-27 and 6: 1 - 7 called upon. the Israelites to stop abusing the covenant. He called upon them to change from the gods of Canaan back to their God- Yahweh.

He also called up on them to change from untrue religion to true religion.

Their untrue religion included the external acts of showing off e.g. fasting.

He told them to change from immorality back to the demands of the Ten Commandments. He condemned bribery and injustices in courts of law and called for justice.

He called upon the rich to stop oppressing the poor and instead advised them to start loving them.

He warned them about the coming future destruction if they refused to change from their evil ways.  

Prophet Ezekiel was also sent by God to speak to the Israelites in exile in Babylon. God had sent Israelites in Babylonian exile due to their great sins.

Prophet Ezekiel explained to the people that he was supposed to be a period of change back to God and his commandments. He consoled them that the exile would come to an end soon.   .

Prophets spoke about a future King (Messiah] who would bring good changes in God's Kingdom. (Read Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7: 14, Isaiah 52:7 etc.)

Examples of people who faced great changes in the Old Testament

Abraham (Genesis 12 on wards)

At first he was called Abram but later his name changed to Abraham, meaning the father of the multitude .

At first his wife was called Sarai but later she became Sarah, meaning "Princess".

At first he stayed in Haran but after receiving God's call, he went to Canaan.

At first he was childless but later God gave him a child called Isaac.

At first he was a worshipper of many gods, but he started worshipping only one God after his call. At first he even worshipped the moon.

He made a covenant with God that introduced a big change in his life.

He changed his culture by circumcising himself and all his male associates as commanded by God.  

He received God's endless blessings and protection unlike before when he had no God's protection.

Moses (Exodus 3 on wards)

He was called by God to liberate the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

He was born at a time when the Pharaoh of Egypt was persecuting all Hebrew boy babies. He was hidden in the Nile swamps but was discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter who adopted him. Hence a change from the swamp to the palace where he grew up.

He later came to know that he wasn't an Egyptian though he grew up in the palace. This made him to kill an Egyptian who was oppressing an Israelite. After killing an Egyptian, he ran to Median. Hence a change of location.

In Median, he became a shepherd of Jethro's sheep. Hence a change from being a prince to a shepherd.

One day as he was taking care of Jethro's sheep, God called him to become a prophet. He saw God in the sight of a burning bush. God told Moses to go to Egypt face the Pharaoh and liberate the Israelites. Hence he changed into a prophet.    

He started performing great miracles in Egypt, which was a change in his life.

He changed from being a leader of sheep and became a leader of people. He became the peoples' political liberator.  

He was a covenant mediator at Mountain Sinai (Ex. 19 - 24)

What did Abraham and Moses learn from the changes they faced.

They learnt that God can call man any time and change his life for the better.

They also learnt that God has love and mercy for mankind. He cannot leave man to suffer. He removes man's sufferings.

Both learnt that faith' and trust in God is important ill all circumstances and situations.

Both learnt that God gives man courage and determination to face new changes.

Both learnt that God is holy and all his commandments should be followed.

Both of them learnt that there is only one God to be worshipped at all times.

Both of them learnt that God's call cannot be, .resisted. It should be accepted because it is purposeful.

Other people of the Old Testament e.g. Joseph, David etc. faced changes.

The lesson which Abraham and Moses learnt from their call are the same lessons for Christians today.