A couple of weeks ago we discussed God’s plan through Abraham Today we will discuss the “People of the Promise”, the descendants of Abraham: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, and how God leads the Hebrew people in Egypt out of slavery.

People of the Promise The covenant promise given by God to Abraham was: “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you (Abraham) have done this and have not withheld your son (Isaac), your only son, I will surely . . . . . you and make your descendants as . . . . . . . as the . . . . . . in the . . . . and as the . . . . . on the . . . . . . . . . “ (Gen. 22:15-17) bless numerous stars sky sand seashore This promise of God passes through Abraham’s descendants: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, etc. Who was Joseph? Let’s first have a look at Abraham’s family tree.

Kohath Amram Moses king David virgin Mary Jesus, the Son of God

Watch the movie “The Hope” Chapter 6: People of the Promise online in English or in Chinese or in (with English subtitles) on DVD.

How did Joseph end up in Egypt? Genesis 37 Jacob, also named Israel, loved his son Joseph. Therefore and because Joseph had dreams, his brothers were jealous and threw him in a pit, sold him to traders to Egypt, dipped his clothes in blood and told father Jacob that Joseph was eaten by a wild beast. Genesis 39 and Genesis 41 Joseph entered Egypt as a slave, and was trapped in a false accusation, but God placed Joseph in a powerful position, because Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret a dream of Pharaoh and Joseph interpreted the dream (a famine would come) correctly and Pharaoh placed Joseph in authority over Egypt.

Joseph and Jesus: ‘all authority is given to Me’ Jesus said, after his resurrection (Matthew 28:18): “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Joseph is a perfect picture of Jesus in this respect. Joseph comes in Potiphar’s house. Read: Gen 39:1-6 Joseph is thrown into prison. Read: Gen 39:21-23 Joseph explains the dreams of Pharao about the 7 years with abundant cereal crop and 7 years of famine. And he gives the advice to select “a discerning and wise man” to govern Egypt and make sure that cereals are to be stored in the abundant years as a reserve for the years of famine. Read: Gen 41: 37-41

Genesis 42, Genesis 43 and Genesis 44 The famine came over the earth and Joseph’s family suffered back home in the land of Canaan. But in Egypt Joseph had built the storehouses full of food. The 10 brothers who sold Joseph now come to Egypt. Although Joseph was betrayed by his brothers he still loved his family, but he tests them by asking them to bring Benjamin, their younger brother, and when he comes, threatening to put him into prison. He sees that his brothers have changed, as they are prepared to give their life for Benjamin. Then Joseph reveals himself to them... Genesis 45 Read Genesis 45:1-8. Discuss in small groups - what feelings went through Joseph and his brothers? - how Joseph’s words also apply to the relationship between Jesus and us (humanity)?

Genesis 45 and Genesis 46 God used Joseph and his circumstances to show His grace and preserve the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob and all his descendants (his sons with their families) come to Egypt and can live in the best place of Egypt. Genesis 47 – 50 When Jacob / Israel is about to die, he blesses his sons, all with a specific blessing. Judah is mentioned as the ruler, although he is not the eldest. Among his descendants are king David and Jesus! When Jacob had died, the brothers became afraid again. Why? Read Genesis 50:15-21 How, you think, did the brothers feel after Joseph’s answer? Can you remember you had to forgive someone, or someone had to forgive you? What was the difference before and after? Do you need forgiveness from God? Does Joseph’s answer mean anything for us?

The descendants of Abraham stayed in Egypt for 350 years The descendants of Abraham stayed in Egypt for 350 years. They had increased in number and were now called the Hebrew people. How did the Hebrew people become enslaved? God prophesied this. Read Gen. 15:13-14. Exodus 1 The new Pharaoh was afraid that the Hebrew people would become so great that he enslaved them. The number of Hebrew people still increased. Read Exodus 1:22 Pharaoh (inspired by Satan) ordered the death of every . . . in every Hebrew family. boy

But God had a higher plan. Read Exodus 2:1-10 A Hebrew mother laid her baby in a basket and let it float on the river, where a daughter of . . . . . . . . found the baby. The daughter adopted the baby and named him Moses. Moses grew up as a prince. Pharaoh Exodus 2:11-25 When Moses had grown up he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and he killed the Egyptian. Afraid for Pharaoh’s repercussions Moses fled to the desert and lived there as a shepherd for 40 years.

God prepares Moses to lead the Hebrew people Notice how God gave Moses 40 years in Egypt to acquaint him with wealth, and 40 years in the wilderness as a shepherd so he would be familiar with hard conditions as well. Exodus 3 One day God appeared to Moses in a fire in the midst of a bush and yet the bush was not consumed. And God spoke to Moses. God told him to return to Pharaoh and lead his people out of Egypt. Sing “Go down Moses”. Exodus 4, 5, 6, and 7 Moses was afraid, but he obeyed God. Moses and his brother Aaron learnt that Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrew people go.

Exodus 7-11 God sent a series of terrible plagues on Egypt, but non of the plagues touched the Hebrew people. After each plague the Pharaoh still refused to let the Hebrew people go. Again we see God’s judgment on sin through the plagues He brings on Egypt, which ultimately brings the judgment of death. God brings the Hebrew people out of Slavery Exodus 12 Then God commanded each Hebrew family to slay a lamb and place blood of the lamb over the door of the houses. And God sent death over every firstborn in the land, except those with blood on the doorposts.

The people of Israel were saved from the angel of death by the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. Read Exodus 12:12-13 This is a picture of the death of Christ and how the shedding of blood (a substitute sacrifice) is shown to be necessary for God’s salvation. This (the blood of a lamb) is another example of a substitute sacrifice to deliver people from Satan, sin and death.

Exodus 12:31 through 14 Finally Pharaoh released the Hebrew nation and the Hebrew people left Egypt, but Pharaoh had a change of heart. With his army he pursued the people to the edge of the sea. God put the Hebrew people in a position at the Red Sea which left them wholly dependent on God (once again) for deliverance. Read Exodus 14:13-14. Then God divided the sea for the Hebrew people to cross on dry land. And when the Egyptians pursued to follow them, God returned the water, drowning the whole Egyptian army. The Hebrews were rescued by God from slavery. What does God’s victory over Pharaoh and the deliverance of Israel tell us about God?

Central theme in God’s Word is: ‘how to be saved, substitute sacrifice’ Do you remember three events? 1. After the first sin committed by Adam and Eve, God provided an animal skin to cover their nakedness. In order to provide that skin God must have slaughtered an animal. Gen. 3:21. 2. The first Jew Abraham was called to sacrifice his own son. After he had shown that he was willing to put his son to death, God inter-vened and provided an animal as substitute sacrifice. Gen. 22:2,13. 3. God commanded each Hebrew family living as slaves in Egypt to slay a lamb and place blood of the lamb on the doorpost. This act of obedience was followed by saving them from death, delivering them, and bring them out of slavery. Exodus 12:13. All these events point to the turning point in history, when God sent His only Son as a substitute sacrifice for the sins of all people at all times. Jesus is the promised deliverer, our Savior and Lord. In Him is ‘The Hope’!