the glorious city of the New Jerusalem. This winding path guides its pioneers through wastelands and oases. God is experienced by His revelation in the history of humankind as well as in the lives of individual persons. God takes the initiative in human affairs. What is unique in history is that in each incident God’s initiative or election clearly keeps the course of history going. Abraham was a Gentile; David was merely a shepherd boy when he was anointed (1 Sam 16:11–13); Amos was a rancher without