1. Genesis 12-50

2. The Patriarchs (Gen 12-50) The Patriarchs (Latin. Great father) were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are seen as the founding fathers of the nation Israel. The period of the Patriarchs covers about 200 years from around 2000 - 1800BC. During this period God reveals Himself in fresh ways and we are introduced to the land of Canaan.

3. Abraham (God’s friend – Isaiah 41:8) The focus of Israel’s pre-history narrows down to one man and a new act in the history of salvation is about to begin. “Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.” [Gen 11:31]

5. Ur Ur and Harran were centres of worship for the Sumerian moon god. Ur was the centre of Sumerian culture, one of the oldest of which we have knowledge. Archaeology has revealed that it was an advanced civilisation and exercised influence even after it was conquered by Hammurabi in the 18 th century BC.

6. Abraham (continued) In Genesis 12:1-3, we see God revealing himself to Abraham (here called Abram). God is taking the initiative in the salvation of humankind. There is no reason given for the choice of Abraham. He is all to human (lying, compromising, doubting, fearful). What does God promise to Abram?

7. Abraham (continued) Abraham travels to Canaan (later known as Palestine), an area very roughly equivalent to modern Israel God promises Abraham his own land and that one day he will become the father of a great nation. Eventually, the whole world will be blessed through him. The promises are repeated several times (13:14-17; 17:1-8; 22:15-18 cf 18:18).

8. Abraham (continued) Genesis 15:6 states, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness” – a point taken up in the New Testament (Rom 4:3). Abraham is cited as one of the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:8-12). Can you think of other New Testament References to Abraham?

9. The Story of Abraham 11:27-12:9The call of Abram 12:10-20Abram in Egypt 13:1-18Abram and Lot separate 14:1-24Abram rescues Lot 15:1-21The covenant promise 16:1-16The birth of Ishmael 17:1-27The covenant of circumcision 18:1-19:38The overthrow of Sodom

10. The Story of Abraham (cont) 20:1-18Sarah and Abimelech 21:1-21Isaac and Ishmael part 21:22-34Treaty with Abimelech 22:1-24The sacrifice of Isaac 23:1-20The burial of Sarah 24:1-67Rebekah’s call to marriage 25:1-11The last days of Abraham

11. Covenant (A contract between two partners) Noah – Gen 6:18 & Gen 9:8-17 Abraham – Gen 15 and Gen 17 “On that day God made a covenant with Abraham” – Gen 15:18 What do we learn from the two passages in Genesis about God’s covenant with Abraham?

12. The Land (What is the role of Israel today?) Genesis 15:18-20 reads, On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” Should Christians support Israel on the basis of such texts and Genesis 12:3?

13. The account of Isaac 25:19-35Birth of Jacob and Esau 26:1-33Isaac and the Philistines 26:34-28:9Jacob cheats Esau of his blessing 28:10-22Jacob meets God at Bethel 29:1-30Jacob marries Rachel and Leah 29:31-30:24The birth of Jacob’s sons

14. Isaac (cont) 30:25-31:1Jacob outwits Laban 31:2-32:2Jacob leaves Laban 32:3-33:20Jacob and Esau are reconciled 34:1-31Dinah avenged by her brothers 35:1-29Journey’s end for Jacob and Isaac

15. The account of Jacob 37:2-36Joseph’s brothers sell him into Egypt 38:1-30Tamar humbles Judah 39:1-47:31Joseph in Egypt 48:1-50:26The last days of Jacob and Joseph

16. Jacob Although many aspects of Jacob’s character might appear unattractive, he was chosen by God to play a key part in His purposes. This is brought out in Romans 9:10-13. Highlights in his life are encounters with God. Read Genesis 28:10-22 and 32:22-32 What can this tell us about encountering God?

17. Joseph God uses Joseph to preserve his people and thereby prepare the way for God’s Messiah. See Genesis 50:20 Joseph’s character develops from an unattractive young man to a gifted and mature adult. See Gen 39:2, 23. Joseph’s slavery prepared the way for his family to seek refuge in Egypt later.

18. The Theology of Genesis - God From the outset Genesis confronts us with the Living God, unmistakably personal. From the outset Genesis confronts us with the Living God, unmistakably personal. He is the only God, the Creator and Sovereign of all that is. The issue of other deities does not arise, except in the single episode of Jacob’s flight from Laban. He is the only God, the Creator and Sovereign of all that is. The issue of other deities does not arise, except in the single episode of Jacob’s flight from Laban. He works through hidden providence and obvious miracles. He works through hidden providence and obvious miracles. Throughout Genesis, there are people who have faith in Him. Throughout Genesis, there are people who have faith in Him.

19. The Theology of Genesis - God God’s ways are perfect. There is no truce with sin – the Flood, Babel … God’s ways are perfect. There is no truce with sin – the Flood, Babel … God’s judgements, however, are mixed with mercy. God’s judgements, however, are mixed with mercy. He reveals Himself – commands, converses, and enters into Covenant. He reveals Himself – commands, converses, and enters into Covenant. He reveals Himself through names. He reveals Himself through names.

20. The Divine Name El Shaddai - God Almighty (17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:4) El Elyon - God Most High (14:18-22) El Bethel (31:13) El Roi - God of Seeing (16:13) El Olam -God of Eternity (21:33) El Elohe Israel- God, the God of Israel (33:20) Also the shield of Abraham (15:1), The fear of Isaac (31:42, 53), The champion of Jacob (49:24)

21. Melchizedek (King of Righteousness) (Genesis 14:18-20) He was King of Salem = Peace. Abraham was not the only person on earth who retained a knowledge of the living God. He was a priest of God most high. This priest-king is referred to in Psalm 110. He also prefigures the ultimate priest-king. Is it an accident that he is introduced to us in the first book of the Bible?

22. The Theology of Genesis - Man Man is a Created Being Man is a Created Being Man’s Calling Man’s Calling The Fall and Man’s Plight The Fall and Man’s Plight Work, possessions Work, possessions Relationships – marriage, polygamy Relationships – marriage, polygamy Man in Society Man in Society

23. The Theology of Genesis - Salvation Restraining of Sin’s Effects Restraining of Sin’s Effects Sacrifice Sacrifice Covenant Covenant Election Election Grace and Rescue Grace and Rescue Encountering God Encountering God

24. Worship of the Patriarchs The worship of the patriarchs is portrayed as extremely simple. Following the examples of their forefathers Abel (4:3-4) and Noah (8:20- 21) they offered ‘burnt offerings’ (cf. 22:2-14) at the places where God appeared to them, on altars that they built (Hebron 12:7; 13:18; Bethel-Ai 12:8; Moriah 22:9; Beersheba 26:25; Shechem 33:20 and Bethel 35:7). The patriarchs had direct access to God without the need of a priesthood, and was not limited to a particular place where God graciously appeared to them.