JACOB AND HIS TRIBES

BIRTHRIGHT AND BLESSINGS The twins – Esau, the first born, and Jacob (See Gen.25:19-26) The birthright – the right of the first born to a double portion of his father’s inheritance. Jacob convinced Esau to give up his right. With his mother’s help, Jacob fooled father Isaac into giving him the blessing due Esau as well. When the ruse was discovered, Jacob fled to the land of his Uncle Laban to escape Esau’s wrath. There he met Rachel and agreed to work seven years in order to marry her.

JACOB GOES TO HARAN Rebekah sent Jacob to Haran to get a wife from her brother Laban’s family. Has a vision in which the patriarchal promise was given to him. (Gen.28:10-15) Jacob met Rachel and agrees to work for her father Laban for 7 years After 7 years, Laban offered Rachael’s older sister Leah instead Jacob agrees to 7 more years for Rachel, his favored wife Twelve children born from four mothers – Leah, Bilhah, Zilpah, and finally Rachel (Gen.35:23-26) Jacob prospered in Laban’s service and finally returned home after 20 years

JACOB RETURNS HOME Having fulfilled his “contract”, Jacob left Laban to return home to Canaan. Fears about his reencounter with Esau were unfounded Wrestles with God and his name is changed (Gen.32:24-32) Settled in Shechem and later in Bethel God reappears to reconfirm the promises (Gen. 35:9-15) Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin Esau (also called Edom) settles the land know as Seir Continuing animosity between his and Jacob’s descendents

THE PROMISE I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me. (Gen.22:17,18) I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. (Gen.28:13,14)

TERAH’S DESCENDENTS

JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS The last toledoth – Jacob and his family Focus is on Joseph and his role in Israel’s history Key features: Familial favoritism Jealousy leading to hatred The “reversal of fortune” theme The role of faithfulness and integrity God’s providence and sovereignty

PRINCIPLE ELEMENTS OF THE STORY Joseph, a favored son, results in jealousy Jealousy leads to hatred Sold into slavery in Egypt Becomes trusted steward in Potipher’s house Victim of false accusations and imprisoned Becomes a “trusty” in prison “Redeemed” from prison to become viceroy A famine results in the reunion with family A series of “tests” bring reconciliation God’s purpose revealed through Joseph

JOSEPH’S PLIGRIMAGE : THE “REVERSAL OF FORTUNE” The “dreamer” The “outcast” The trusted servant The prisoner The “trusty” The viceroy

LESSONS FROM JOSEPH The purposes of the Joseph story: Historical – Explains how the Hebrews came to be in Egypt Moral and Ethical The dangers of family rivalries The consequences of jealousy The value of integrity and faithfulness The value of pardon and reconciliation Theological Teaches the sovereignty of God in spite of human dealings God is able to use any circumstance to His “benefit” God’s purposes are ultimately realized

GOD’S PROVIDENCE But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Genesis 45:7-8 (NIV) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

INTERLUDE: JOB

THE STRUCTURE OF JOB Prologue: Job’s integrity and suffering (Job 1-3) Cycles of Dialog (Job 4-37) 1st cycle: Job 4-14 2nd cycle: Job 15-21 3rd cycle: Job 22-31 Elihu’s discourse: Job 32-37 God’s Response: Job 38-41 Epilog: Job’s acquiescence and restoration (Job 42)

JOB: A BIBLICAL THEODICY Theodicy – a defense of God's goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil. The philosophical issue: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? The Key Issues in Job: The integrity of Job The suffering of Job and the role of Satan The insufficiency of traditional explanations The intervention of God Recognition of human insufficiency to fully explain evil

WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE? Our integrity and “goodness” is no guarantee that we will not suffer. There is a spiritual realm that can be seen as the agent of suffering. It is dangerous to assume that all suffering is due to personal sin. The ultimate answer to the question of suffering is in the sovereignty of God which cannot be fully comprehended.