Module 3: Covenant Family Established (Genesis 12-50) 1. Covenant with the Patriarchs (overview) In the Text Genesis 1-11 and “the rest of the story” Promises for the journey (Gen 12:1-7ff) Blessing, name, descendants, land, royalty “Election” “Promise” (oath) “Covenant” (Gen 15ff) Continuity Covenant New Creation Behind the Text Historical setting: Middle Bronze Age Land grants (Gen 15, 17) Covenant “cutting” (Gen 15, 17) In Front of the Text Divine choice “Mission” “Blessing” Divine promise “Progressive revelation” 2. Abraham, Part 1: Living by Faith (Genesis 12-25) In the Text Stories of Abraham/Sarah and Isaac – and Ishmael (Gen 12:1-25:11) 12. Covenant promises made 12. Travel to Egypt (famine); calls Sarah sister (gifts given) 13. Abraham and Lot divide land 14. Abraham rescues Lot; gift to Melchizedek 15. Covenant ceremony; emphasis on land 16. Ishmael born; Hagar flees 17. Covenant restated for Isaac/descendants with circumcision as sign 18. Angels visit and promise a son 18. Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah 19. Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Lot’s incest) 20. Abraham calls Sarah sister at Gerar (gifts given) 21. Isaac born; Hagar driven away 22. Abraham tested to offer Isaac; covenant reaffirmed 23. Sarah dies; Abraham buys a plot 24. Bride for Isaac from Aram 25. Abraham dies Themes: Covenant restatements/renewals and signs Son (promise of seed) Sojourning (promise of land) Faith and faithlessness Interpretation: Tracing a theme In Front of the Text Abraham’s faith (Rom 4; 9:8; Gal 3; Heb 11:8-19)… and faithlessness Trusting while waiting Serving while waiting 3. Abraham, Part 2: Living by Faith (Genesis 12-25) Behind the Text Patriarchal culture and religion Patrilineal Patrilocal Pastoral Polygamous Pagan Immorality (Amorites, Sodom/Gomorrah) Idolatry (Gen 31:19; Josh 24:2, 14) Child sacrifice (cf Gen 22) On leaving father, home and gods… Interpretation: Using imagination, personal experience and empathy In Front of the Text Living by faith Identity (Deut 26:5; Heb 11:8) Insurance Linking to God’s bigger plan Jerusalem: Melchizedek (Heb 7), God’s beloved son, Mt Moriah The Amorites (Gen 15:13-16) 4. Jacob: Deceived Deceiver (Genesis 25-36) In the Text Stories of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:11-36:42) 25. Jacob and Esau born (after 20 years) 26. Travel to Gerar (famine); Isaac calls Rebekah sister; fights over wells 27. Jacob steals 1st born blessing 28. Jacob sent to Laban (father-in-law) for wife; dream at Bethel 29. Jacob marries Leah and Rachel (after Laban’s trick) 30. Leah & Rachel (after waiting) bear children; Jacob multiplies flocks 31. Jacob flees Laban; confrontation and covenant 32. Jacob wrestles with angel and given name “Israel” (turning point) 32-33. Jacob reconciles with Esau 34. Rape of Dinah; revenge by Simeon and Levi 35. Return to Bethel; another altar; another theophany 35. Rachel dies in childbirth; Isaac dies 36. Esau’s genealogy Themes Covenant restatement/renewal with each generation Family resemblance Deceived deceiver “Israel” (Gen 32:28) Transformation 2 wives, 1 daughter and 12 sons The blood line and the story line Covenants with the non-elect Behind the Text “Holy land”: Shechem, Bethel, [Jerusalem], Hebron, Beer Sheva Penial In Front of the Text Unlikely (and unrighteous) divine choices The identity of “Israel” 5. Joseph: Faithful steward (Genesis 37-50) In the Text Stories of Joseph 37. Dreamer becomes slave [38. Judah and Tamar] 39. From Potiphar’s house to the prison 40. Dreams of cup-bearer and baker 41. Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams; promotion 42-44. Joseph’s brothers’ trips to Egypt; Joseph’s deception 45. Joseph reveals his identity 46-47. Israel/Jacob moves to Goshen 48. Israel blesses Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim over Manasseh) 49. Israel blesses his 12 sons 50. Joseph reassures brothers and dies. Themes Sojourning Benjamin Judah (Gen 49:10) The promises are alive God’s sovereignty (Gen 45:7; 50:20) Interpretation: Foreshadow Behind the Text Asiatics in Egypt Famines Joseph’s granaries In Front of the Text God’s sovereignty and human faithfulness Divine election and human responsibility 6. The Conclusion of Genesis In the Text The patriarchal stories Common themes Covenant/blessing, faith/faithlessness, elect/non-elect sons Joseph and the promises: Seed survives, blessing to nations, royalty announced, land anticipated (burial) Genesis: Global interest with family focus Saving lives (Gen 45:5: 50:20) 70 nations (Gen 10) >> 70 descendants (Gen 46:26-27) “These are the generations of…” Abraham and the meta-narrative of the Old Testament Interpretation: Narrative Onionskins Behind the Text The map The timeline In Front of the Text Linking to the Divine Drama: Our ancestors, our story