IX. GENESIS 12-50: ANCESTORS IN THE FAITH THE THE STORY OF THE PATRIARCHS

Transcription

1 IX. GENESIS 12-50: ANCESTORS IN THE FAITH THE THE STORY OF THE PATRIARCHS

2 A. PURPOSE: Show how God chose a people to start setting things right again. B. Setting: Middle Bronze Age B.C.

3 C. Question of Historicity? 1. Can not prove if all is factual- literally, and historically true. 2. Many of the practices and customs mentioned are well known in this period, examples: marriage, inheritance rights, surrogate child-bearers, semi-nomadic lifestyle. 3. Evidence of a westward migration of Semitic peoples, from Mesopotamia.

4 D. Literary Genres in Genesis Saga: brief story, few characters, little dialogue, repetition, little insight into characters feelings or motivations, short scene descriptions. 2. Covenant: between ancestors and God, or ancestors and neighbors. 3. Blessings or Promises of Blessings 4. Genealogy

5 E. The Story of Abraham, Gen His story is told as a journey major themes: promise and blessing

6 F. Gen. 12: How was Abraham feeling? Why did he leave his familiar home? 2. Why does he build an altar to YHWH in Canaan, v.7? -to show that YHWH is Lord of the land -thanksgiving

7 G. Gen. 12: Why do they travel to Egypt? 2. Why does A. say Sarah is his sister? 3. V. 12 She is his wife His refers to pharaoh. 4. How does God save Sarah s s honor? 5. Was A. too quick to take control of this situation? 6. Was it necessary that he survive this time in Egypt?

8 H. GENESIS 15:1-21 COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM 1. V. 1 Fear not Abram! God assures Abraham. 2. God will protect and reward him. 3. V. 2 Abraham complains that he has no heir. 4. V. 18 The covenant is cut/sealed with a sacrifice.

9 I. GENESIS 17:1-27 COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION 1. God initiates the covenant but it is reciprocal. 2. VV Circumcise the male offspring practiced widely in the Ancient Near East 3. But, for Israel, it reminded them of their holy covenant with God. 4. Name change signifies the new roles that Abraham and Sarah will take on as father and mother.

10 J. GENESIS 18:16-33 ABRAHAM INTERCEDES FOR LOT 1. V. 20: God plans to go down to Sodom and see if the people are as wicked as they are said to be. 2. V. 23: Abraham pleads for his nephew Lot and family. He asks, Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 3. Reveals that God is a just God.

11 K.. GENESIS 19:1-29 DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH 1. V. 1: The 2 angels are God s s messengers. 2. V. 2: Lot offers the men hospitality, an obligation in Biblical times. 3. V. 5: Sodomy- homosexual acts/rape 4. V. 8: Lot offers his two virgin daughters instead!!!!!!! 5. Obligation of hospitality was extremely important. 6. V : 11: God intervenes and Lot, his guests and his daughters are protected. 7. V. 12ff: Lot and his family are told to escape before God destroys the place because of the people s s wickedness. H 8. V. 17 Don t t look back.. Why are they given this instruction?

12 L. GENESIS 22 THE TESTING OF ABRAHAM 1. v. 1: Abraham is put to the test to prove the firmness of his faith in God s s promise that through Isaac all the nations of the earth would find blessing. 2. God tells him to offer your ESPECIALLY LOVED son to me as a holocaust, a burnt offering. 3. v. 6: Isaac carries the wood for his very own sacrifice. 1. What other figure do we know who carries the wood for his own sacrifice? 4. Typical of a saga: No emotions, thoughts, etc. 5. God stops Abraham and rewards him for his great faith (vv ). 18).

13 M. How do we deal with this passage? Would the God of the NT do this? 1. Perhaps Abraham thought this is what God wanted. 2. Human sacrifice was part of the times. It was often done during times of national crisis to secure divine help. 3. Once again we see Israel is a holy people. Their God forbids human sacrifice. 4. How do we respond to tests in our life?

14 Isaac and Jesus/Parallels Only Son of Abraham- Jesus is the ONLY SON of God. Also, Mt.1 Jesus, son of Abraham. Hills of Moriah- hills outside of Jerusalem- where Jesus was crucified. Abraham says, God himself will provide the sheep.. Jesus is the Lamb of God. Both carry the wood of their sacrifice.

15 Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, GENESIS 24-50

16 GENESIS 24 ISAAC AND REBEKAH A. ABRAHAM FULFILLS HIS DUTY, AS FATHER, TO ARRANGE HIS SON S S MARRIAGE. B. SENDS HIS SERVANT TO PROCURE A WIFE FROM HIS FAMILY IN MESOPOTAMIA. C. HIS SERVANT SWEARS THAT HE WILL NOT PROCURE A WIFE FROM THE CANAANITES. D. V. 9 HAND UNDER MY THIGH - IF THE SERVANT DOES NOT CARRY OUT HIS TASK THE PENALTY IS STERILITY. E. REBEKAH AT THE WELL: How is she portrayed? F. LABAN, REBEKAH S S BROTHER, MOTIVATED BY? G. REBEKAH RETURNS WITH THE SERVANT AND MARRIES ISAAC.

17 GENESIS 25:19-33 BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB A. BROTHERS AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER. B. REFLECTS THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE NATIONS OF ISRAEL AND EDOM C. EPONYM: THE PERSON FROM WHOM A NATION OR TRIBE GETS ITS NAME. 1. Jacob is the eponymous ancestor of Israel. 2. Esau is the eponymous ancestor of Edom. D. THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER CONTRARY TO TRADITION. E. JACOB STEALS ESAU S S BIRTHRIGHT. 1. The eldest son receives the most of his father s inheritance.

18 GENESIS 27: JACOB S DECEPTION A. ISAAC IS OLD; EYESIGHT HAS FAILED HIM. B. SPECIAL BLESSING: DEATHBED BLESSING TO GRANT THE SON GOOD LUCK IN BECOMING HEAD OF THE FAMILY. C. REBEKAH IS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS DECEPTION, VV D. ESAU IS THE FATHER OF THE EDOMITES 1. Edom-the red country/reddish sandstone. 2. Hebrew word for hairy is similar to Seir,, another name for Edom. E. BLESSING CAN NOT BE TAKEN BACK OR REPEATED. F. ESAU BORE A GRUDGE: I I WILL KILL MY BROTHER JACOB. G. REBEKAH TELLS JACOB TO FLEE TO HARAN, VV H. SHE TELLS ISAAC IT IS SO JACOB CAN FIND A WIFE FROM THEIR RELATIVES.

19 GENESIS 29:1-14 JACOB ARRIVES IN HARAN (MESOPOTAMIA) A. MEETS RACHEL AT THE WELL. B. GOES TO LABAN S S HOME (Rachel s father and Jacob s s uncle).

20 GENESIS 29:14b- 30 MARRIAGE TO LEAH AND RACHEL A. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND B. All of the deception and sinfulness shows us why God needed/chose to send His Son into the world.

21 THE STORY OF JOSEPH, GENESIS A. What good did God bring from the evil of Joseph s s brothers? 1. Joseph went to Egypt so he could save his family from death due to the famine. B. Why was it necessary that Joseph go to Egypt? 1. To predict the famine and save his people.