Transcript Origins of The People of God Genesis 12 – 50

Origins of The People of God
Genesis 12 – 50
By Chaplain Ron McCants
• The Literary World:
• Promise and Journey in the Ancestor
Legends
Promise
Genesis 12:1 – 3
• 1 The Lord had said to Abram,
“Leave your country, your people
and your father’s household and
go to the land I will show you.
• 2 “I will make you into a great
nation
• and I will bless you;
• I will make your name great,
• and you will be a blessing.
• 3I will bless those who bless you,
• and whoever curses you I will
curse;
• and all peoples on earth
• will be blessed through you.”
Themes?
• Predominant overarching theme is the
Abrahamic Covenant
• (Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 13:14-7; 15:1-21; 17:1-21; 18:1719; 22:15-18; 26:2-5, 23-25; 28:10-17; 25:9-12;
50:24).
• In ancient times people would often enter into
what Scripture calls a covenant. A covenant
(agreement, pact) is a legally binding obligation
on the part of two or more parties (people, nations
etc).
The Development of the Covenant
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The Need (Gen. 1:1-11:26)
The Foundation (12:1-3) (Heb. 1:1-22)
The Making (15:1-21) (cfv6 and Hab. 2:4; Rom 4; Gal 3:6-29)
The Sign (17:1-14)
The Purpose (18:17-19)
The Blessing (22:15-18)
The Reaffirmation (26:2-5, 23-25; 28:10-17; 35:9-12;
50:24)
Journey
• Abraham to Canaan
• Jacob to Paddan-aram and
back
• Joseph (and the rest of his
family) to Egypt
• Moses to Midian and back
• The Tribes of Israel out of
Egypt
• Through the Wilderness to
the border of Canaan
• Finally into the Promised
Land (Canaan)
Abraham and Sarah
• How can the LORD make of Abram (father
of many) a great nation when he is already
seventy-five years old and his wife is
unable to have children?
• Does Abraham trust the LORD to fulfill the
promise?
• Does Sarah trust the LORD?
Jacob and Esau (Twins):
Sons of Isaac and Rebeka
POLYGAMY
Joseph and his Brothers
Genesis 37-50
• The deity moves offstage with no indications of God’s
direct role.
• Joseph is favored by father and despised by brothers.
• Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers or by God’s
divine plan?
• Genesis 39:2 - 4
• 2 The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he
lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his
master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord
gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found
favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put
him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his
care everything he owned.
The Historical World
• Exodus from Egypt - 13th Century B.C.E.
Ancestors Religion
Monotheism (from Greek μόνος, monos,
"single", and θεός, theos, "god") is the
belief in the existence of one god or in the
oneness of God.
Monotheism is traditionally characteristic of
Judaism, Christianity, Islam; while also
being a recognizable component of
numerous other religions.
YHWH (Lord) and Elohim (God)
El means “Father of the gods”
• God Almighty
El Shaddai
• God Most High
El Elyon
• God of Seeing
El Roi
• These are some examples of the
characteristics of God.
CLASS ASSIGNMENT
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/vi
deo/flv/generic.html?s=moyj06p7d8
• (Bill Moyers interview with Karen
Armstrong on Religion)
• Watch and listen to the video (27 minutes),
then answer the questions on the handout.
• Turn in the handout to the teacher.