God's Plan: The Patriarchal Age
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1)
In the first dispensation as you can see on the chart, we have the Patriarchal Age. The word patriarch means father or father rule when referred to as the age of the patriarchs. In this period of time, God spoke to men through the fathers in the family. This period began at the creation and continued until God gave the law to Moses at Mount Sinai Peninsula. When the law was given, the Mosaical age began, and it continued until Christ died on the cross. The death of Christ on the cross ended the Mosaical Age and began the Christian Age under which you and I live today. This, the Christian Age, will continue until the end of time. We will read about the Mosaical and Christian Ages in later chapters, but at this time we want to study the first age, the Patriarchal Age. Let us begin at the first verse in the Bible, Genesis 1:1:
In The Beginning
Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.”
Many people teach theories as to where the earth came from, but God has told us in his Word that He created it. Though, He did not see fit to give us the details of the creation, He did inspire the Apostles to tell us more about it.
Hebrews 11:3 - “Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen.”
Paul tells us that the visible things in this world were made from things that could not be seen. In other words, God made the world out of nothing. Doesn’t this answer the question as to where the earth came from? Let’s read more concerning the creation.
God created the earth and all that is in it in six days. Space now will not allow us to discuss all of these days in detail, but as an example of the creation, let us discuss the events of one of these days, the third day.
Genesis 1:11 - “Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation: plants bearing seeds, each according to its own type, and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds, each according to its own type.’ And so it was.”
After God had prepared the earth, he brought the plants into existence by a miracle and set them in the earth. The following is a sketch of what happened:
In The Beginning
Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.”
Many people teach theories as to where the earth came from, but God has told us in his Word that He created it. Though, He did not see fit to give us the details of the creation, He did inspire the Apostles to tell us more about it.
Hebrews 11:3 - “Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen.”
Paul tells us that the visible things in this world were made from things that could not be seen. In other words, God made the world out of nothing. Doesn’t this answer the question as to where the earth came from? Let’s read more concerning the creation.
God created the earth and all that is in it in six days. Space now will not allow us to discuss all of these days in detail, but as an example of the creation, let us discuss the events of one of these days, the third day.
Genesis 1:11 - “Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation: plants bearing seeds, each according to its own type, and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds, each according to its own type.’ And so it was.”
After God had prepared the earth, he brought the plants into existence by a miracle and set them in the earth. The following is a sketch of what happened:
By a miracle God created the plants and set them in the earth. Within each of these plants God placed a seed. Then, He gave a law regulating the reproduction of this plant.
So then, we see that God in the very beginning created the plants, placed them in the earth and gave a law concerning their reproduction. This law reads, “According to its own type.” We all know this law. We know that when the farmer plants rice that he will harvest rice only from those seeds. Many men have tried to show that living things came into being some other way, but they have never been able to do so. Isn’t this taught in this passage? If space would permit, we could see that in every living thing that God created, He gave it a seed (which is the ability to reproduce) and a law controlling that reproduction ( According to it’s own type). Because this is true, we can know that the plants that we see today have the same general characteristics as those that God created in the long ago. When God created this world, He set these laws in force and they continue until this day and will continue until the end of time.
So then, we see that God in the very beginning created the plants, placed them in the earth and gave a law concerning their reproduction. This law reads, “According to its own type.” We all know this law. We know that when the farmer plants rice that he will harvest rice only from those seeds. Many men have tried to show that living things came into being some other way, but they have never been able to do so. Isn’t this taught in this passage? If space would permit, we could see that in every living thing that God created, He gave it a seed (which is the ability to reproduce) and a law controlling that reproduction ( According to it’s own type). Because this is true, we can know that the plants that we see today have the same general characteristics as those that God created in the long ago. When God created this world, He set these laws in force and they continue until this day and will continue until the end of time.
Now let us study another creation day, the creation of mankind:
Let us note very quickly the creation of man.
Genesis 1:26-28 - “Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.’ So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, ‘Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.’”
Here we are told of the creation of man. He was created male and female. He was commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. He was told to have dominion over the earth. Therefore, we know that man, when he was created, was a full-grown, intelligent being.
Genesis 2:7 - “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.”
Here we see that God formed the body of man from the dust of the earth in the same way that He formed the body of the animals. However, He blew into the man the breath of life, and man became a living soul. We understand then, that man has a soul or spirit which the animals do not have (c.f. Ecclesiastes 12:7; James 2:26).
Genesis 1:26-28 - “Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.’ So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, ‘Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.’”
Here we are told of the creation of man. He was created male and female. He was commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. He was told to have dominion over the earth. Therefore, we know that man, when he was created, was a full-grown, intelligent being.
Genesis 2:7 - “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.”
Here we see that God formed the body of man from the dust of the earth in the same way that He formed the body of the animals. However, He blew into the man the breath of life, and man became a living soul. We understand then, that man has a soul or spirit which the animals do not have (c.f. Ecclesiastes 12:7; James 2:26).
The Garden of Eden
Let us move on in our reading to the Garden of Eden. Refer to the Illustration below as we read:
Let us move on in our reading to the Garden of Eden. Refer to the Illustration below as we read:
Garden of Eden
After God had created the earth as a dwelling place for man, He created man and placed him in the earth. God planted a garden, He called Eden (Genesis 2:8a), as a specific place for the man to live. Let us see by the Scriptures what happened.
Genesis 2:15-17 - “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it. The Lord God commanded the man. He said, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.’”
In order to fully understand this story, let us again make reference to an illustration on what happened. God planted this garden as a dwelling place for man. God placed the man in the garden. To regulate man’s actions, God gave man some laws of conduct. One of these laws said, “You must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
After God had created the earth as a dwelling place for man, He created man and placed him in the earth. God planted a garden, He called Eden (Genesis 2:8a), as a specific place for the man to live. Let us see by the Scriptures what happened.
Genesis 2:15-17 - “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it. The Lord God commanded the man. He said, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.’”
In order to fully understand this story, let us again make reference to an illustration on what happened. God planted this garden as a dwelling place for man. God placed the man in the garden. To regulate man’s actions, God gave man some laws of conduct. One of these laws said, “You must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 3:6 - “The woman saw that the tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
Man Violated this law.
1st John 3:4 ASV- “ Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Violation of God’s law is sin.
Isaiah 59:1-2 - “The Lord is not too weak to save or his ear to deaf to hear. But your wrongs have separated you from your God, and your sins have made him hide his face so that he doesn’t hear you.”
Sin separates from God. Because sin separates from God, men can not go to heaven where God is unless they get forgiveness of their sins before their death.
But what happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned?
Relationship Before Sinning
But what happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned? First let us note their relationship to God before their sin.
Genesis 3:8a, 9a - “In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking around in the garden. . . .The Lord God called to the man and asked. . ..”
Note here the communion and fellowship that the mankind had with God in the garden before he had sinned. He had walked and talked with God as you and I would if we were standing in each other’s presence. Now let us note what happened after their sin.
Relationship After Sin
Genesis3:23-24a - “So the Lord God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed. After he sent the man out, God placed angels and a flaming sword that turned in all directions east of the Garden of Eden.”
Here we see that because of his sin man was driven from the garden and could no longer enjoy the fellowship and communion with God. Because of disobedience he was sent out of the garden paradise from the presence of God.
Man Violated this law.
1st John 3:4 ASV- “ Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Violation of God’s law is sin.
Isaiah 59:1-2 - “The Lord is not too weak to save or his ear to deaf to hear. But your wrongs have separated you from your God, and your sins have made him hide his face so that he doesn’t hear you.”
Sin separates from God. Because sin separates from God, men can not go to heaven where God is unless they get forgiveness of their sins before their death.
But what happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned?
Relationship Before Sinning
But what happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned? First let us note their relationship to God before their sin.
Genesis 3:8a, 9a - “In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking around in the garden. . . .The Lord God called to the man and asked. . ..”
Note here the communion and fellowship that the mankind had with God in the garden before he had sinned. He had walked and talked with God as you and I would if we were standing in each other’s presence. Now let us note what happened after their sin.
Relationship After Sin
Genesis3:23-24a - “So the Lord God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed. After he sent the man out, God placed angels and a flaming sword that turned in all directions east of the Garden of Eden.”
Here we see that because of his sin man was driven from the garden and could no longer enjoy the fellowship and communion with God. Because of disobedience he was sent out of the garden paradise from the presence of God.
Let us summarize what we have learned in this story. God created man and placed man in the garden. He gave him a law that said, “must never eat from. . .”, but the man disobeyed this law, John the Apostle tells us that this is a sin. Isaiah says that our wrongs (sins) separate us from God and this story illustrates this fact to us. Because of their sin, this man was driven from the garden and separated from God. What is it that caused God to punish this man? Was it not disobedience? Will God punish us for our disobedience? God expects mankind to obey him, doesn't he?
Romans 3:23-24a - “Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin.”
Here the Apostle Paul tells us that all have sinned. We can now understand the importance of the story of Eden. Every person who ever lived has sinned, so then at one time in every person’s life he is separated from God because of sin. Because this is true, all men everywhere should be interested in studying God’s Word to know what to do about their sins. As sin is “breaking of God’s law” only God can tell man what to do to get forgiveness of our sin. Remember, sin is not something we inherit or some guilt that we have because of someone else’s sin, but sin is lawlessness, a “transgression of law” as the King James Version states it. It is something I have done, for which I am guilty.
Ezekiel 18:20 - “The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.”
Ezekiel tells us each is guilty of his own sin.
The Story of Cain and Abel
Romans 3:23-24a - “Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin.”
Here the Apostle Paul tells us that all have sinned. We can now understand the importance of the story of Eden. Every person who ever lived has sinned, so then at one time in every person’s life he is separated from God because of sin. Because this is true, all men everywhere should be interested in studying God’s Word to know what to do about their sins. As sin is “breaking of God’s law” only God can tell man what to do to get forgiveness of our sin. Remember, sin is not something we inherit or some guilt that we have because of someone else’s sin, but sin is lawlessness, a “transgression of law” as the King James Version states it. It is something I have done, for which I am guilty.
Ezekiel 18:20 - “The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.”
Ezekiel tells us each is guilty of his own sin.
The Story of Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:1-5a - “Adam made love to his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘ I have gotten the man that the Lord promised.’ Then she gave birth to another child, Abel, Cain’s brother. Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a farmer. Later Cain brought some crops from the land as an offering to the Lord. Abel also brought some choice parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The Lord approved of Abel and his offering. But he didn't approve of Cain and his offering.”
As you can see in verses 3-4, that God had commanded men to worship and how they were to do it. We see that these two men came to worship. The offering of one is accepted and the other is not. Why is this so?
Hebrews 11:4a - “Faith led Abel to offer God a better sacrifice than Cain’s sacrifice. Through his faith Abel received God’s approval, since God accepted his sacrifices.”
Abel’s offering was accepted because it was offered “by faith” and was pleasing to God.
Hebrews 11:6a - “No one can please God without faith.”
In that Cain did not have faith, it was impossible for him to please God. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 - “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.”
We see that faith is an “assurance“ or “conviction,” knowing that a thing is right because of the information or testimony that had been given. Abel pleased God because he knew what God had said that men must do to please him, and he did it, having a conviction that it was what God had told him to do and because he knew that it would please God. He made no effort to avoid it, or to substitute something else, but merely did as God had commanded.
Genesis 4:8 - “Cain talked to his brother Abel, later when they were in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”
This story illustrates two types of people that we have in the world today. Those that believe God’s Word and obey it without change or substitution of whom God is pleased, and the other, seeks to worship according to his own opinions and with whom God is not pleased. We see here in this study that Abel was rewarded because he obeyed and Cain was punished because he disobeyed.
Wickedness in the World
But let us note further on our chart,
As you can see in verses 3-4, that God had commanded men to worship and how they were to do it. We see that these two men came to worship. The offering of one is accepted and the other is not. Why is this so?
Hebrews 11:4a - “Faith led Abel to offer God a better sacrifice than Cain’s sacrifice. Through his faith Abel received God’s approval, since God accepted his sacrifices.”
Abel’s offering was accepted because it was offered “by faith” and was pleasing to God.
Hebrews 11:6a - “No one can please God without faith.”
In that Cain did not have faith, it was impossible for him to please God. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 - “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.”
We see that faith is an “assurance“ or “conviction,” knowing that a thing is right because of the information or testimony that had been given. Abel pleased God because he knew what God had said that men must do to please him, and he did it, having a conviction that it was what God had told him to do and because he knew that it would please God. He made no effort to avoid it, or to substitute something else, but merely did as God had commanded.
Genesis 4:8 - “Cain talked to his brother Abel, later when they were in the fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”
This story illustrates two types of people that we have in the world today. Those that believe God’s Word and obey it without change or substitution of whom God is pleased, and the other, seeks to worship according to his own opinions and with whom God is not pleased. We see here in this study that Abel was rewarded because he obeyed and Cain was punished because he disobeyed.
Wickedness in the World
But let us note further on our chart,
Genesis 6:5-7 - “The Lord saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil. The Lord was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and he was heartbroken. So he said, ‘I will wipe out not only humans, but also domestic animals, crawling animals, and birds. I’m sorry that I made them.’”
After mankind began to sin and reject God, the practice of sin continued to grow until we have a situation where “every imagination and thought of mankind’s heart was evil continually,” and the wickedness of mankind on the earth was great. God said He would destroy mankind whom He had created. Why was God going to destroy mankind from the earth? Because of their wickedness or sinfulness, wasn‘t it?
Noah
Genesis 6: 8-9 - “But the Lord was pleased with Noah. This is the account of Noah and his descendants. Noah had God’s approval and was a man of integrity among the people of his time. He walked with God.”
Next on our chart we find Noah. Why do you suppose that God was pleased or found favor in Noah? Read on.
After mankind began to sin and reject God, the practice of sin continued to grow until we have a situation where “every imagination and thought of mankind’s heart was evil continually,” and the wickedness of mankind on the earth was great. God said He would destroy mankind whom He had created. Why was God going to destroy mankind from the earth? Because of their wickedness or sinfulness, wasn‘t it?
Noah
Genesis 6: 8-9 - “But the Lord was pleased with Noah. This is the account of Noah and his descendants. Noah had God’s approval and was a man of integrity among the people of his time. He walked with God.”
Next on our chart we find Noah. Why do you suppose that God was pleased or found favor in Noah? Read on.
Genesis 6:13-14a - “God said to Noah, ‘ I have decided to put an end to all people because the earth is full of their violence. Now I’m going to destroy them along with the earth. Make yourself a ship of cypress wood.”
In these verses we see that the reason Noah found favor with God was because he was a man of integrity. He had the attitude of heart to do what God had said to him. Noah pleased God because he obeyed him, didn't he? God had directed Noah when he entered the Ark to take with him his wife, his three sons and their wives. He also was to take both the male and female of every kind of animal for the purpose of “keeping seed alive upon the earth” (Genesis 7:3). He was commanded to carry sufficient food for himself and his family and all of these animals (Genesis 6:21) into the Ark. They were in the Ark for approximately one year until all life died on the earth except what was in the Ark. Then God directed them to come out of the Ark.
Genesis 8:15-17 - “Then God spoke to Noah, ‘Come out of the ship with your wife, your sons, and your son’s wives. Bring out every animal that’s with you: birds, domestic animals, and every creature that crawls on the earth. Be fertile, increase in number, and spread over the earth.’”
Thus Noah, his family and every living creature came forth from the ark to breed abundantly and re-establish life upon the earth. Read God’s instructions to Noah and his family and note that they were the same as given to Adam and Eve in the beginning.
What saved Noah from destruction in the flood? Obedience to God’s word.
Genesis 9:1 - “God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fertile, increase in number, and fill the earth. All the wild animals and all the birds will fear you and be terrified of you. Every creature that crawls on the ground and all the fish in the sea have been put under your control.”
When Noah came out of the Ark, he came into a clean world. A world in which there was no sin, for God had cleansed it with the flood. He commanded them to multiply and populate the earth and the number of people in the earth increased. Genesis chapters 10 and 11, tell us of this increase, and because of their disobedience to him, God scattered man abroad upon the face of the earth and confounded their language so that they could not understand one another. This is the beginning of nations and languages.
In these verses we see that the reason Noah found favor with God was because he was a man of integrity. He had the attitude of heart to do what God had said to him. Noah pleased God because he obeyed him, didn't he? God had directed Noah when he entered the Ark to take with him his wife, his three sons and their wives. He also was to take both the male and female of every kind of animal for the purpose of “keeping seed alive upon the earth” (Genesis 7:3). He was commanded to carry sufficient food for himself and his family and all of these animals (Genesis 6:21) into the Ark. They were in the Ark for approximately one year until all life died on the earth except what was in the Ark. Then God directed them to come out of the Ark.
Genesis 8:15-17 - “Then God spoke to Noah, ‘Come out of the ship with your wife, your sons, and your son’s wives. Bring out every animal that’s with you: birds, domestic animals, and every creature that crawls on the earth. Be fertile, increase in number, and spread over the earth.’”
Thus Noah, his family and every living creature came forth from the ark to breed abundantly and re-establish life upon the earth. Read God’s instructions to Noah and his family and note that they were the same as given to Adam and Eve in the beginning.
What saved Noah from destruction in the flood? Obedience to God’s word.
Genesis 9:1 - “God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fertile, increase in number, and fill the earth. All the wild animals and all the birds will fear you and be terrified of you. Every creature that crawls on the ground and all the fish in the sea have been put under your control.”
When Noah came out of the Ark, he came into a clean world. A world in which there was no sin, for God had cleansed it with the flood. He commanded them to multiply and populate the earth and the number of people in the earth increased. Genesis chapters 10 and 11, tell us of this increase, and because of their disobedience to him, God scattered man abroad upon the face of the earth and confounded their language so that they could not understand one another. This is the beginning of nations and languages.
NEXT WE HAVE THE STORY OF ABRAHAM
From among these people, God determined to choose one man through whom to carry out his wonderful plan to redeem man from his sin. This man’s name was Abram and as we begin a study of his life, we see unfolded the wonderful plan of God to redeem mankind. With the background we have studied so far, this should be very interesting and easily understood.
Genesis 12:1-3 - “The Lord said to Abram, ‘leave your land, your relatives, and your father’s home. Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse. Through you every family on earth will be blessed.”
As God spoke to Abram here he said several things that we would like to note. First, he directed Abram to get away from his country, his father’s house and his relatives. Why did God tell Abram TO DO THIS? Joshua many years later tells us why this was necessary.
Joshua 24:2 - “Joshua said to all the people, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Long ago your ancestors, Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor, lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and served other gods.”
Thus, we see that because of the serving of other gods by Abram’s countrymen and family, God wanted him to separate himself from their evil influence. It was God’s plan to make of Abram’s descendants a great nation and through this nation bring the Son of God into the world to redeem man. In Genesis 12:2, we see where God promised Abram that He would make of him a great nation. We will see later in our reading, more about this nation.
Jesus Christ, The Seed or Descendant
Now let us note, the promise that God made Abram in verse three when he said, “Through you every family on earth will be blessed.” We who are not of the nation that God established through Abram, should desire to know how we can be blessed through the man who was the father of the Hebrew nation. The Apostle Paul will help us understand this promise by what he said later.
Galatians 3:16 - “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn’t say, ‘descendants,’ referring to many, but ‘your descendant,’ referring to one. That descendant is Christ.”
Paul tells us that these promises that God made to Abraham and his descendant were not spoken to the plurality in the sense of the word, but of one, and that was Christ. The word descendent is either singular or plural and Paul as he was directed by the Holy Spirit is helping us to see that it was used here in the singular. In other words, God was telling Abram that in ONE of his descendants would this promise to bless all families of the earth be fulfilled. Paul tells us that this one would be Christ. This word, Christ, is the English translation of the Greek word, and “Messiah” is the English translation of the Hebrew word, and they both mean the anointed one of God or the promised one. When this nation of people used either “Christ” or “Messiah,” they were speaking of the One God had promised to come.
Thus we can see in verse three of Genesis 12, that God told Abram 2000 years before Christ, that one of his descendants would be “The Promised One” (Christ), and through this One “all the families of the earth would be blessed.” In the following verses we are told that Abram departed and went into the land God showed him, and there God appeared to him again and said the following:
Genesis 12:7 - “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I’m going to give this land to your descendants.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
Here God promises Abram that the land to which he had moved, the land of Canaan, would be given to his descendant or off-spring who would become a great nation. At this time Abram not only had the promise of “The Promised One” but also the promise of the “Promised Land.” In these verses we have seen that God wanted to separate Abram from the evil influences of his countrymen and family, make in him a great nation that would occupy the land of Canaan which became to them the “Promised Land,” and through this nation bring his son, “The Promised One,” into the world to save the world from their sins. The remainder of the story in the Bible, is the story of God fulfilling the promise to bless all families of the earth through the nation of Abram’s descendants, the Hebrew nation.
Genesis 15:13-14 - “God said to Abram, ‘You can know for sure that your descendants will live in a land that is not their own, where they will be slaves, and they will be oppressed for 400 years. But I will punish the nation they serve, and after that they will come out with many possessions.”
Here God tells Abram more about what will happen to this nation of his descendants. They are to be slaves in another nation for 400 years, but they are then to come out with great substance. Later, we will see that this was fulfilled.
Abram Name Changed
Genesis 17:5 - “So your name will no longer be Abram [Exalted Father], but Abraham [Father of Many] because I have made you a father of many nations.”
Here God changed the name of Abram to Abraham, and throughout the Bible story from this time onward, he is called Abraham.
Genesis 12:1-3 - “The Lord said to Abram, ‘leave your land, your relatives, and your father’s home. Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse. Through you every family on earth will be blessed.”
As God spoke to Abram here he said several things that we would like to note. First, he directed Abram to get away from his country, his father’s house and his relatives. Why did God tell Abram TO DO THIS? Joshua many years later tells us why this was necessary.
Joshua 24:2 - “Joshua said to all the people, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Long ago your ancestors, Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor, lived on the other side of the Euphrates River and served other gods.”
Thus, we see that because of the serving of other gods by Abram’s countrymen and family, God wanted him to separate himself from their evil influence. It was God’s plan to make of Abram’s descendants a great nation and through this nation bring the Son of God into the world to redeem man. In Genesis 12:2, we see where God promised Abram that He would make of him a great nation. We will see later in our reading, more about this nation.
Jesus Christ, The Seed or Descendant
Now let us note, the promise that God made Abram in verse three when he said, “Through you every family on earth will be blessed.” We who are not of the nation that God established through Abram, should desire to know how we can be blessed through the man who was the father of the Hebrew nation. The Apostle Paul will help us understand this promise by what he said later.
Galatians 3:16 - “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture doesn’t say, ‘descendants,’ referring to many, but ‘your descendant,’ referring to one. That descendant is Christ.”
Paul tells us that these promises that God made to Abraham and his descendant were not spoken to the plurality in the sense of the word, but of one, and that was Christ. The word descendent is either singular or plural and Paul as he was directed by the Holy Spirit is helping us to see that it was used here in the singular. In other words, God was telling Abram that in ONE of his descendants would this promise to bless all families of the earth be fulfilled. Paul tells us that this one would be Christ. This word, Christ, is the English translation of the Greek word, and “Messiah” is the English translation of the Hebrew word, and they both mean the anointed one of God or the promised one. When this nation of people used either “Christ” or “Messiah,” they were speaking of the One God had promised to come.
Thus we can see in verse three of Genesis 12, that God told Abram 2000 years before Christ, that one of his descendants would be “The Promised One” (Christ), and through this One “all the families of the earth would be blessed.” In the following verses we are told that Abram departed and went into the land God showed him, and there God appeared to him again and said the following:
Genesis 12:7 - “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I’m going to give this land to your descendants.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
Here God promises Abram that the land to which he had moved, the land of Canaan, would be given to his descendant or off-spring who would become a great nation. At this time Abram not only had the promise of “The Promised One” but also the promise of the “Promised Land.” In these verses we have seen that God wanted to separate Abram from the evil influences of his countrymen and family, make in him a great nation that would occupy the land of Canaan which became to them the “Promised Land,” and through this nation bring his son, “The Promised One,” into the world to save the world from their sins. The remainder of the story in the Bible, is the story of God fulfilling the promise to bless all families of the earth through the nation of Abram’s descendants, the Hebrew nation.
Genesis 15:13-14 - “God said to Abram, ‘You can know for sure that your descendants will live in a land that is not their own, where they will be slaves, and they will be oppressed for 400 years. But I will punish the nation they serve, and after that they will come out with many possessions.”
Here God tells Abram more about what will happen to this nation of his descendants. They are to be slaves in another nation for 400 years, but they are then to come out with great substance. Later, we will see that this was fulfilled.
Abram Name Changed
Genesis 17:5 - “So your name will no longer be Abram [Exalted Father], but Abraham [Father of Many] because I have made you a father of many nations.”
Here God changed the name of Abram to Abraham, and throughout the Bible story from this time onward, he is called Abraham.
Isaac Born
Genesis 21:1-2, 5 - “The Lord came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised. So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. . .Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.”
Here God gives to Sarah, Abraham’s wife, the son he had previously promised to her. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old. But, let us note the attitude that Abraham had towards what God had said.
Genesis 22:1-2 - “Later God tested Abraham and called to him, ‘Abraham!’ . ‘Yes, here I am!’ he answered. God said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.”
Wow! This must have been a shocker to Abraham! But, because Abraham was obedient to God, (if you read on in verses 3-12) you see that he made preparations to do what God had said, setting out on this journey, he arrived at the place on the third day. There he built an altar, bound Isaac, and took a knife to slay him, but, the angel of the Lord stopped him.
Verses 16-18 - “and said, “I am taking an oath on my own name, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son, I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities. Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
We note that Abraham was tried or proved by God and asked to do a very difficult task. But because of his attitude towards what God had said, he intended to do it. God promised a great blessing to Abraham. Why? “Because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son.” Again, we see that man was blessed because he did that which God had commanded.
Promise Given To Isaac
Genesis 26:3-5 - “Live here in this land for a while, and I will be with you and bless you, I will give all these lands to you and your descendants. I will keep the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and give all these lands to your descendants. Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will bless you because Abraham obeyed me and completed the duties, commands, laws, and instructions I gave him.”
We see the promise that God had made to Abraham repeated to his son Isaac. Isaac had two sons and God chose the younger one, Jacob, through whom to carry out the promise. This is unusual because normally the older son receives the inheritance of the father. The account of why Jacob was picked over Esau is in Genesis 27:1-29.
Genesis 28:13-14 - “The Lord was standing above it, saying, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and through your descendant every family on earth will be blessed.’”
Genesis 21:1-2, 5 - “The Lord came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised. So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. . .Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.”
Here God gives to Sarah, Abraham’s wife, the son he had previously promised to her. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old. But, let us note the attitude that Abraham had towards what God had said.
Genesis 22:1-2 - “Later God tested Abraham and called to him, ‘Abraham!’ . ‘Yes, here I am!’ he answered. God said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.”
Wow! This must have been a shocker to Abraham! But, because Abraham was obedient to God, (if you read on in verses 3-12) you see that he made preparations to do what God had said, setting out on this journey, he arrived at the place on the third day. There he built an altar, bound Isaac, and took a knife to slay him, but, the angel of the Lord stopped him.
Verses 16-18 - “and said, “I am taking an oath on my own name, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son, I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities. Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
We note that Abraham was tried or proved by God and asked to do a very difficult task. But because of his attitude towards what God had said, he intended to do it. God promised a great blessing to Abraham. Why? “Because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son.” Again, we see that man was blessed because he did that which God had commanded.
Promise Given To Isaac
Genesis 26:3-5 - “Live here in this land for a while, and I will be with you and bless you, I will give all these lands to you and your descendants. I will keep the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and give all these lands to your descendants. Through your descendant all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will bless you because Abraham obeyed me and completed the duties, commands, laws, and instructions I gave him.”
We see the promise that God had made to Abraham repeated to his son Isaac. Isaac had two sons and God chose the younger one, Jacob, through whom to carry out the promise. This is unusual because normally the older son receives the inheritance of the father. The account of why Jacob was picked over Esau is in Genesis 27:1-29.
Genesis 28:13-14 - “The Lord was standing above it, saying, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and through your descendant every family on earth will be blessed.’”
Promise Repeated To Jacob and his Name Changed Again we see the promise repeated to Jacob that was given to his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. Genesis 35:9-10 - “Then God appeared once more to Jacob after he came back from Paddan Aram, and he blessed him. God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob. You will no longer be called Jacob, but your name will be Israel.’ So he named him Israel.” God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and in the verses that follow he repeats the promise that the descendants of Israel will be a great nation, and that they will have the land which God had promised to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob had twelve sons (verse 22f) and from this time onward, they are called the “children of Israel.” |
Joseph the Preferred Son Hated
Genesis 37:3-4 - “Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel’s old age. So he made Joseph a special robe with long sleeves. Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and couldn’t speak to him on friendly terms.”
Because of the partiality of Israel to Joseph, the other brethren hated him and finally they sold him as a slave into the land of Egypt. Though Joseph went into Egypt as a slave, he tried to do what was right and God blessed him so that all he did prospered. Through the providence of God, Joseph in a few years became the Governor of Egypt, second only to the King or Pharaoh. God had told Joseph that there would be seven years when the crops were to be plentiful, and then there would be seven years of famine.
During the seven years when the crops were plentiful, the grain was to be gathered and stored, so that there would be food during the years of famine. When the famine began there was no food to be found in the land of Canaan where Joseph’s brethren and father were. Therefore, they came down into Egypt to buy food. There Joseph made himself known to them, and introduced them to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh told them to return to Canaan to get their father and their families and he invited them to come and live in the land of Egypt.
Genesis 46:2-4 - “God spoke to Israel in a vision that night and said, Jacob, Jacob! ‘Here I am,’ he answered. ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt, because I will make you a great nation there. I will go with you to Egypt, and I will make sure you come back again.’”
Here God tells Israel (or Jacob) that it is his will that they go down into Egypt. It is there that He will become the great nation that God had promised he would become. The children of Israel arrived in the land, and are given a part of the country called the land of Goshen. After a few years, Israel died and in Genesis 49 the names of his sons are given. These twelve sons became the heads of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. Joseph died (Genesis 50) and the book of Genesis comes to an end with the children of Israel down in Egypt.
Genesis 37:3-4 - “Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel’s old age. So he made Joseph a special robe with long sleeves. Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and couldn’t speak to him on friendly terms.”
Because of the partiality of Israel to Joseph, the other brethren hated him and finally they sold him as a slave into the land of Egypt. Though Joseph went into Egypt as a slave, he tried to do what was right and God blessed him so that all he did prospered. Through the providence of God, Joseph in a few years became the Governor of Egypt, second only to the King or Pharaoh. God had told Joseph that there would be seven years when the crops were to be plentiful, and then there would be seven years of famine.
During the seven years when the crops were plentiful, the grain was to be gathered and stored, so that there would be food during the years of famine. When the famine began there was no food to be found in the land of Canaan where Joseph’s brethren and father were. Therefore, they came down into Egypt to buy food. There Joseph made himself known to them, and introduced them to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh told them to return to Canaan to get their father and their families and he invited them to come and live in the land of Egypt.
Genesis 46:2-4 - “God spoke to Israel in a vision that night and said, Jacob, Jacob! ‘Here I am,’ he answered. ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt, because I will make you a great nation there. I will go with you to Egypt, and I will make sure you come back again.’”
Here God tells Israel (or Jacob) that it is his will that they go down into Egypt. It is there that He will become the great nation that God had promised he would become. The children of Israel arrived in the land, and are given a part of the country called the land of Goshen. After a few years, Israel died and in Genesis 49 the names of his sons are given. These twelve sons became the heads of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. Joseph died (Genesis 50) and the book of Genesis comes to an end with the children of Israel down in Egypt.
Number That Came Into Egypt
Exodus 1:5 - “Joseph was already in Egypt, The total number of Jacob’s descendants was 70.”
Here we see the number of descendants that came down into Egypt.
The Increase
Exodus 1:7-8 - “But the descendants of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them. Then a new King, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt.”
Evidently, the children of Israel multiplied at an exceedingly rapid rate to the extent that the Egyptians were afraid of them. (Verse 9-10). Therefore, the new Pharaoh who new nothing of Joseph, appointed taskmasters over the Children of Israel, and they made slaves out of them.
Exodus 1:5 - “Joseph was already in Egypt, The total number of Jacob’s descendants was 70.”
Here we see the number of descendants that came down into Egypt.
The Increase
Exodus 1:7-8 - “But the descendants of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them. Then a new King, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt.”
Evidently, the children of Israel multiplied at an exceedingly rapid rate to the extent that the Egyptians were afraid of them. (Verse 9-10). Therefore, the new Pharaoh who new nothing of Joseph, appointed taskmasters over the Children of Israel, and they made slaves out of them.
God chose a man named Moses, of this nation, who had previously fled, to go back into Egypt and lead these people out of this bondage into the promised land as he had told Israel, “I will make sure you come back again.” Moses and his brother Aaron, returned to Egypt, and they petitioned the Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go free.
Petition to Pharaoh
Exodus 5:1-2 - “Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Let my people go into the desert to celebrate a festival in my honor.’ Pharaoh asked, “Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I won’t let Israel go.”
The Plagues
At the petition of Moses to let these people go, the Pharaoh refused and because of this, God brought a series of plagues upon the Egyptians to convince them that He is Jehovah, and that it is his will that the children of Israel leave Egypt.
Exodus 5:4-5 - “The king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to work!’ Then Pharaoh added, ‘Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?’”
God told Moses that the Pharaoh will not let the children of Israel go, but He will bring them out with great judgments and the “Egyptians will KNOW that I am Jehovah when I bring the children of Israel from among them.” Because the Pharaoh would not let them go, God brought a series of 9 plagues upon the Egyptians (read about it Exodus chapters 7-10). These plagues included such things as all the water in the land turning into blood. Yet, the Pharaoh did not release the children of Israel. Then the land swarmed with frogs, but this would not convince him to let them go. Then, the dust of the earth became lice to plague the Egyptians, but still the Pharaoh would not let them go. This continued through nine plagues, but the Pharaoh was a very stubborn man.
The Final Plague
Exodus 11:1 - “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he will let you go. When he does he will be certain to force all of you out of here.”
God said that there would be one more plague as grievous that the Egyptians would “be certain to force all of you out of here.”
Exodus 11:4-5 - “Moses said, ‘This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go out among the Egyptians. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who rules the land, to the firstborn children of female slaves who use their handmills, including every firstborn domestic animal.’”
Here we see that the final plague brought against the Egyptians would be very grievous indeed, and after this they would know that “God is indeed Jehovah.”
Exodus 12:29-30 - “At midnight the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the other Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died.”
Can you imagine the effect that this must have had upon the Egyptians? There was not a house where there was not one dead. How did this affect the attitude of the Egyptians?
Exodus 12:33 - “The Egyptians begged the people to leave the country quickly. They said, ‘Soon we’ll all be dead!.’”
Verse 25-36 - “The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes. The Lord made the Egyptians generous to the people, and they gave them what they asked for. So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth.”
We can understand some of the urgency the Egyptians felt about the children of Israel leaving now. They urged it upon them, for they thought they were all to be dead people if they stayed, and so when the children of Israel asked for their jewels of silver, gold and fine raiment, they gladly gave it to them to get them out of the land.
Verse 37b-38 - “There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children. Many other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle.”
These verses we are shown that these people had increased to a great nation in Egypt as God had promised Israel before his coming to Egypt. Isn’t it true this many people would have to be insane to begin a trip such as this, unless they were convinced this was indeed God’s will? Could this many folks be this insane at one time in Egypt?
The Exodus From Egypt
Verses 40-41 - “The Israelites had been living in Egypt for 430 years. After exactly 430 years all the Lord’s people left Egypt in organized family groups.”
Do you remember earlier in our reading that we read a passage in Genesis 15:13-14 in which God told Abraham that his descendants would live in a land that was not theirs 400 years, and they would be afflicted and servants, but that God would bring them out with great substance. We have seen how this was fulfilled. They were servants to the Egyptians for 430 years, and because of the fear that the Egyptians had for their lives, they gladly gave them their jewels and valuables. The children of Israel did come out with great substance.
Exodus 13:21-22 - “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night. The column of smoke was always in front of the people during the day. The column of fire was always there at night.”
Here we see that God was leading the children of Israel out of their bondage, towards the Promised Land. They were led north out of Egypt and across the Red Sea to Mount Sinai, where God gave the Law to Moses. When this law was given a new age or dispensation began. That age was known as The Mosaical Dispensation, which will be the discussion of our next chapter.
But by the way of summary of the things which we have talked about at this time, let us look at the following chart:
Petition to Pharaoh
Exodus 5:1-2 - “Later Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Let my people go into the desert to celebrate a festival in my honor.’ Pharaoh asked, “Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I won’t let Israel go.”
The Plagues
At the petition of Moses to let these people go, the Pharaoh refused and because of this, God brought a series of plagues upon the Egyptians to convince them that He is Jehovah, and that it is his will that the children of Israel leave Egypt.
Exodus 5:4-5 - “The king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their work? Get back to work!’ Then Pharaoh added, ‘Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?’”
God told Moses that the Pharaoh will not let the children of Israel go, but He will bring them out with great judgments and the “Egyptians will KNOW that I am Jehovah when I bring the children of Israel from among them.” Because the Pharaoh would not let them go, God brought a series of 9 plagues upon the Egyptians (read about it Exodus chapters 7-10). These plagues included such things as all the water in the land turning into blood. Yet, the Pharaoh did not release the children of Israel. Then the land swarmed with frogs, but this would not convince him to let them go. Then, the dust of the earth became lice to plague the Egyptians, but still the Pharaoh would not let them go. This continued through nine plagues, but the Pharaoh was a very stubborn man.
The Final Plague
Exodus 11:1 - “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that he will let you go. When he does he will be certain to force all of you out of here.”
God said that there would be one more plague as grievous that the Egyptians would “be certain to force all of you out of here.”
Exodus 11:4-5 - “Moses said, ‘This is what the Lord says: About midnight I will go out among the Egyptians. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who rules the land, to the firstborn children of female slaves who use their handmills, including every firstborn domestic animal.’”
Here we see that the final plague brought against the Egyptians would be very grievous indeed, and after this they would know that “God is indeed Jehovah.”
Exodus 12:29-30 - “At midnight the Lord killed every firstborn male in Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the other Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died.”
Can you imagine the effect that this must have had upon the Egyptians? There was not a house where there was not one dead. How did this affect the attitude of the Egyptians?
Exodus 12:33 - “The Egyptians begged the people to leave the country quickly. They said, ‘Soon we’ll all be dead!.’”
Verse 25-36 - “The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes. The Lord made the Egyptians generous to the people, and they gave them what they asked for. So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth.”
We can understand some of the urgency the Egyptians felt about the children of Israel leaving now. They urged it upon them, for they thought they were all to be dead people if they stayed, and so when the children of Israel asked for their jewels of silver, gold and fine raiment, they gladly gave it to them to get them out of the land.
Verse 37b-38 - “There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children. Many other people also went with them, along with large numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle.”
These verses we are shown that these people had increased to a great nation in Egypt as God had promised Israel before his coming to Egypt. Isn’t it true this many people would have to be insane to begin a trip such as this, unless they were convinced this was indeed God’s will? Could this many folks be this insane at one time in Egypt?
The Exodus From Egypt
Verses 40-41 - “The Israelites had been living in Egypt for 430 years. After exactly 430 years all the Lord’s people left Egypt in organized family groups.”
Do you remember earlier in our reading that we read a passage in Genesis 15:13-14 in which God told Abraham that his descendants would live in a land that was not theirs 400 years, and they would be afflicted and servants, but that God would bring them out with great substance. We have seen how this was fulfilled. They were servants to the Egyptians for 430 years, and because of the fear that the Egyptians had for their lives, they gladly gave them their jewels and valuables. The children of Israel did come out with great substance.
Exodus 13:21-22 - “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night. The column of smoke was always in front of the people during the day. The column of fire was always there at night.”
Here we see that God was leading the children of Israel out of their bondage, towards the Promised Land. They were led north out of Egypt and across the Red Sea to Mount Sinai, where God gave the Law to Moses. When this law was given a new age or dispensation began. That age was known as The Mosaical Dispensation, which will be the discussion of our next chapter.
But by the way of summary of the things which we have talked about at this time, let us look at the following chart:
The Patriarchal Dispensation or Age was the age when God spoke to men through the fathers in each family. The worship under this period was a family worship having an altar. Laws and ordinances were given by God to those to whom they pertained. One of these patriarchs that should set an example for us to follow perhaps is Abraham. Let us note what God said about him.
Genesis 18:19 - “I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his family after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. In this way I, the Lord, will do what I have promised Abraham.” Thus Jehovah knew the attitude that Abraham had toward what God said. Jesus said later to the Jews of his day the following: John 8:39 - “The Jews replied to Jesus, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus told them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did.’” If you and I are like Abraham, we will imitate the obedience of this man. This is a very wonderful Bible story that helps us to see the kind of men who please the God of Heaven. Perhaps there are some questions at this point that has brought to mind. Write these questions down on a separate sheet of paper and we will deal with them in later chapters. Please don’t hesitate to write down anything, no matter how trivia it may seem. † |