Rediscovering the Old Testament - Park Street Church

Rediscovering the Old Testament

Lesson 2: Covenant (Abraham to Captivity in Egypt)

OPENING DISCUSSION:

There are many objections and misconceptions that people have about the Old Testament and the almighty God at its center (as we noticed last week in Dawkins' assertion). One subject that has been the object of much ridicule is the calling of God's chosen people, the Israelites. The Jewish people have been at the center of ridicule, hate, misunderstanding and judgement since their beginning. To this day people still have strong opinions about this group of people and their influence in the world.

So why should God have his favorites, that he should pick out one small tribe among all the families of humankind to be the special objects of his attention? Why start with Abraham? Why choose, call, and send out a particular group of people?

ABRAHAM: In Genesis 12, we have one of the most important passages in the OT. Here we see God coming and making a promise to Abraham, known as the Abrahamic Covenant. This covenant included 4 key components. Land Having a homeland is one of the themes of the Bible and is basic to being part of God's people. For Abraham and the Israelites, it was Canaan. For believers in Christ, our home is heaven Blessing His descendents will be a great nation. Corporate identity of God's chosen people Blessing He will have a great name, reputation, and lasting recognition. Chosen people descended from this key person of faith, Abraham. Blessing "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you" This is a key sign of God's great plan of redemption and the show the worldwide spreading of the gospel. God's promise to Abraham of offspring and recognition of his name is the promise of God calling and forming a nation to be his people. This is clearly God's covenant with man and is initiated by God himself. Abraham's response must come in the way of faith and obedience. Eventually Abraham and Sarah have a son, the promised heir, named Isaac.

JACOB: Isaac later has two sons, Jacob and Esau. Esau becomes the father of a great nation known as the Edomites, who become the most implacable enemies of the Israelites.

 Isaac's other son, Jacob, has a very close encounter with God in a cryptic passage in which he "wrestles" with God. In this moment, Jacob demands a blessing and receives a new name, Israel.

Jacob has 12 sons (the original 12 tribes of Israel). The one most dear to him is his son Joseph, to whom he gives a "longsleeved coat." Such coats were given by father to child in a ceremony indicating inheritance.

Jacob is rather brash and foolish and is sold into slavery in Egypt at the hands of his brothers. They tell his father that he has died.

"But God was with Joseph" is a phrase that is often repeated and it indicates that God was guiding Joseph and his life.

God's guidance in Joseph's life had secured enough food to survive the great famine that hit the land with an abundance to sell to others, including Joseph's family.

Joseph and his brothers exhibit real faith. Joseph makes his brothers promise to take his bones out of Egypt (50:25). Evidence of belief in the resurrection In Exodus, Israelites take great care to bring Joseph's remains with them. Believed that from their bones God would reconstruct their bodies and resurrect them Understood their corporate nature and wanted to await the resurrection with other righteous people"gathered to their fathers." Anticipates doctrine of the resurrection that more clearly emerges in the NT No immortality of the soul in Scripture Possibility of physical resurrection, coming back as the person you are

EGYPT: Jacob's family (Israel) has increased greatly. Exodus 1:7 tells us that "they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them." A new king in Egypt who did not know Joseph, takes notice of the people of Israel and comments that they are "too many and too mighty" for the Egyptians. He orders them into captivity and forces them to work in the brick kilns. They became slaves and they people suffered greatly. The oppression continued and the cruelty was severe and leads to the birth of Moses.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND APPLICATION: Discuss the significance of God's covenant with Abraham. What do we learn about faith through the story of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph? How might these narratives inspire similar faith for us?

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