Engaging the Old Testament Family

Family
What is your relationship like with your
family?

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http://www.jesuswalk.com/abraham/images/abe_genealogy.gif

Genesis 25:1-6
How many sons then did Abe
have?

The Best Pickup Spot in the OT!
• Rebekah — Genesis 24
• Jacob — 39:2
• Moses — Exodus 2:15
• John 4???? . . . Not
quite!

The death of Abraham — and the story
of two good sons — Genesis 25

The Story of Isaac — Genesis 25-26
• Isaac’s twins — and the birthright —
25:19-34
• The sins of the father . . . 26 (see 26:1-5)

The Story of Jacob and Esau, Part 1 —
Genesis 27
• Scene 1 — A last supper — 27:1-4
• Scene 2 — Conspiracy to commit fraud —
27:5-17
• Scene 3 — Senior abuse — 27:16-29
• Scene 4 — Rage and running — 27:30-46

The Story of Jacob and Esau, Part 2 —
Jacob and His Wives — Genesis 28-30
• Scene 1 — Stairway
to Heaven — 28
• Scene 2 — Well,
Well, Well! — 29
• Scene 3 — Kids, kids,
& more kids! — 29-30
• Scene 4 — Rage and
running — 27:30-46
• Scene 5 — On the
run with your idols —
31
• Scene 6 — Reunion —
32-33

Reconciliation 
Genesis 32-33

Error of Assuming What Is, Is Right

Types of Marriages in the Bible
• Adam & Eve
• Cain & 2 wives
• Abe and Hagar
• Lot and his 2 daughters
• Judah and Tamar
• Jacob and Leah
• Reuben and Dad’s wife
• Dinah and Shechem
• Moses & Zipporah
• Ruth & Boaz
• David & Michal
• David & Bathsheba
• Solomon 700 plus 300
• Esther and “Jerkses”
• Hosea & Gomer
• Joseph & Mary
• Elizabeth and Zechariah
• Herod & Herodias
• Mr. & Mrs. Pilate
• I Cor. 5 Guy & his Stepmom
• Priscilla & Aquila
KEY: Marriages IN the Bible are
different than
BIBLICAL Marriage

The Story of Dina and Shechem —
Genesis 34
The XXX Xhapter of Genesis
• Scene 1— 38:1-5 — Er, Onan, and Shelah
• Scene 2 — 38:6-11 — Wife, Widow, Fiancee
— exiled
• Scene 3 — 38:12-23 — The John, down
payment
• Scene 4 — 38:24-26 — The Trial
• Epilogue — 38:27-30 —The Twins

The Story of Dina and Shechem —
Genesis 34
• What mom did Simeon and Levi and Dina
have in common?
• It’s a love story, right? . . .
• What can we takeaway from all these
dysfunctional families? . . .

The Story of Judah and Tamar —
Genesis 38
• Did Tamar dress as a prostitute?
• Did she “flash” poor old, helpless Judah?
• Did she lure him into this position?

Genesis 38
• Who is to blame?
• To this day, men through art and sermons
still think like Judah!
• see v. 14 — cp. 24:65!

Genesis 38
• Tamar — the
grandmother of Jesus
• The Genealogy of Jesus
• The choreography of
God
• Look what God can do!
• Even dirty old men can
come clean and change.

Genesis 38
• God is sovereign
• Humans screw up a lot!
• God is grace-filled, even with
fallen people.

The Story of Joseph — Genesis 37-50
• The GREAT PLAN
of God
• Can we say
“Dysfunctional?”
• The GREAT HOPE
of
RECONCILIATION

Can anything good come from such
dysfunction?
Great Grandfather Abe:
• Pimped his wife . . . twice! (Gen 12, 20)
• Took advantage of his migrant worker handmaid (Gen
16)
Grandfather Isaac:
• Pimped his wife (just like dad) (Gen 26)
Father Jacob:
• Committed major probate fraud
• Woke up married to the wrong woman
• Won zero father-of-the-year awards — showing
favoritism to wives and sons

Can anything good come from such
dysfunction?
• Brother Reuben: slept with dad’s wife (Gen 35:22)
• Sister Dinah: raped (Gen 34)
• Brothers Simeon and Levi: killed their new brother-in-
law & other men of the city while helpless (Gen 34)
• Brother Judah: slept with his daughter-in-law and
fathered two boys via incest (Gen 38)
QUESTION: With the two Masters of Determinism &
Genetics (nurture & nature/herdity & environment) as
preconditions of Joseph’s home, did he even have a
chance? . . .
ANSWER: Yes! . . . with a new Master.

The Story of Joseph — Part 1 — Sold as a Slave,
Incarcerated as a Criminal —Genesis 37-39
• 17 — When sold
• 30 — When brought out of
prison
• 37 — When finished
storing up grain
• 39 — When brothers meet
him for the first time
• 41 — When reconciled: 24
years after being given
up for dead

Enter-Active Exegesis 37:18-36
What does the text say?
• How will you tell the story?
• Feel it, taste it, touch it . . .
Due Monday February 8

The Story of Joseph — Part 2 —
Forgotten and Found —Genesis 40-41
• His new adoptive father — Pharaoh (who re-
named him “son” — 41:45, and gave him a
wife).
• His new wife is a PK — 41:45
• He has two sons:
• Manasseh — Forgetful
• Ephraim — Fruitful

The Story of Joseph — Part 3 — Family,
Feuding, and Reunion —Genesis 42-46

Those who rest in the sovereignty of God . . .
• Trust more
• Rest more
• Read & study more
• They listen better
• Hope more
• Stress less
• Practice more patience
• Are less judgmental
• Care more about community, and . . .
• Are willing to suffer as individuals for the greater cause.

The POINT of our FAITH is NOT just
FORGIVENESS, but RECONCILIATION!

God’s SOVEREIGN Plan
The Hebrew faith was founded in contrast to the Babylonian ideas
of creation:
• Babylonian Creation accounts: We are pre-destined to be evil
because we were made from the evil god Marduk as his blood
dripped to earth, mixed with dirt, and . . . well, that’s where we
came from!
• Hebrews view of Creation: We were made in the image of the
Divine Community — Gen 1:26 — God is good, creation was made
good, and we were made good.
• What changed is based on choice — we chose to disobey,
and . . . well, you know the rest of the story.
• “Everything is foreseen, yet Free Will is given.” (Mishnah).

Summary of Genesis — Great Themes
God is with us — even when . . .
• Gen 3:8; 5:22; 6:9; 18:16 (cp. Luke 24)
• Immanuel Principle — 39:2, 3, 21, 23
• Single-parent kids — 21:20
• Single-parent moms — 16, 21
• Other options: 1) Deism; or 2) Free to leave

God is with us — working in and through the “sins of the fathers” . . .
• 12 — Abe & Sarai in Egypt
• 16 — Abe & Hagar
• 19 — Same Sex Sins
• 19 — Heterosexual Sins
• 20 — Abe & Sarah and Abimelech
• 26 — Isaac & Abimelech (poor Abimelech! he gets “jobbed” twice!)
• 34 — Dinah and the murders
• 35:22 — Rape of a father’s wife
• 38 — Judah & Tamar
• 39 — Joseph and Mrs. Victoria who want to keep a Secret.
• What a broken mess! . . . And God is still there!!!

God is with us — healing fractured families
• 3:6 — She also gave some to the man . . .
• 3:12 — The WOMAN!
• 4 — Cain & Abel
• 9:18-29 — Noah and Ham/Canaan
• 16, 21 — Hagar & Ishmael
• 22 — Abe & Sarah (separate? divorce? . . .)
• 25 — Jacob & Rebekah and Esau . . .

God is with us — healing fractured families
• 29 — Jacob and Laban (Part 1)
• 30 — Competition for Love and Kids
• 31 — Fleeing Laban
• 31-33 — Jacob and Esau
• 37 — Selling your brother into slavery
• 42-45 — Reconciliation

Joseph and Jesus
Preparing hearts for the coming Messiah —
Beloved Sons
• 37:3 — Now Israel loved Joseph more than
any other of his sons, because he was the
son of his old age. And he made him a robe
of many colors.
• Matthew 3:17 — “This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.”

Joseph and Jesus
Shepherds of Father’s Sheep
• 37:2 — Joseph, being seventeen years old, was
pasturing the flock with his brothers.
• Matthew 2:5-6 —“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so
it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no
means least among the rulers of Judah; for from
you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my
people Israel.”

Joseph and Jesus
Misunderstood by brothers
• 37:4 — But when his brothers saw that their father
loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him
and could not speak peacefully to him.
• John 7:3-5 —So his brothers said to him, “Leave here
and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the
works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he
seeks to be known openly. If you do these things,
show yourself to the world.” For not even his
brothers believed in him.

Joseph and Jesus
Both are tempted
• 39:7 — And after a time his master's wife
cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with
me.”
• Matthew 4:1 —Then Jesus was led up by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil.

Joseph and Jesus
Both are taken on a journey
• 37:28 — Then Midianite traders passed by. And
they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the
pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty
shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
• Matthew 2:14 —And he rose and took the child
and his mother by night and departed to Egypt
and remained there until the death of Herod.

Joseph and Jesus
Both had their robes taken from them
• 37:23 — So when Joseph came to his
brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the
robe of many colors that he wore.
• John 19:23 —When the soldiers had
crucified Jesus, they took his garments and
divided them into four parts, one part for
each soldier; also his tunic.

Joseph and Jesus
Both were sold
• 37:28 — Then Midianite traders passed by. And
they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the
pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty
shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
• Matthew 26:15 —“What will you give me if I
deliver him over to you?” And they paid him
thirty pieces of silver.

Joseph and Jesus
Both were arrested
• 39:20 — And Joseph's master took him and
put him into the prison, the place where
the king's prisoners were confined, and he
was there in prison.
• Matthew 27:2 —And they bound him and led
him away and delivered him over to Pilate
the governor.

Joseph and Jesus
Both were put with two other key prisoners
• 40:2 — And Pharaoh was angry with his two
officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief
baker, and he put them in custody in the house
of the captain of the guard, in the prison where
Joseph was confined.
• Matthew 27:38 —Then two robbers were
crucified with him, one on the right and one on
the left.

Joseph and Jesus
Both were 30 years old
• 41:46 — Joseph was thirty years old when
he entered the service of Pharaoh king of
Egypt.
• Luke 3:23 —Jesus, when he began his
ministry, was about thirty years of age.

Joseph and Jesus
Both were exalted after suffering
• 41:39 — Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Since God has shown you all this, there is
none so discerning and wise as you are.”
• Philippians 2:9 —God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name that is
above every name.

Joseph and Jesus
Both forgave
• 45:4-5 — So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come
near to me, please.” And they came near. And
he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you
sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or
angry with yourselves because you sold me here,
for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
• Luke 23:34 —And Jesus said, “Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do.”

Joseph and Jesus
Both saved others
• 45:4-7 — “And God sent me before you to
preserve for you a remnant on earth, and
to keep alive for you many survivors.”
• Matt 1:21 —“She will bear a son, and you
shall call his name Jesus, for he will save
his people from their sins.”

Joseph and Jesus
The Old Testament is the New Testament
concealed.
The New Testament is the Old Testament
revealed.
Genesis reveals our awesome Christ.

Joseph and Jesus
Steps the Early Christians Took:
They were baptized, and became life-long
disciples/followers of Jesus. (Matthew
28:18-20).

Genesis and the Names of God
• Yahweh — the BEING One “I Am” — LORD
(capitalized) — specific to Hebrew faith
• Elohim — Generic — God
• Adonai — Generic — Lord
• Yahweh Yireh — The LORD Provides
• El Roi — God Sees
• El Shaddai — (28:3) God Almighty

Patriarchal Passages
• Abraham/Isaac Narrative — 12-25:10
• Jacob Narrative — 25:11— chp.36
• Joseph Narrative — 37-50

Theology of Genesis
Nothing will stop God’s plan to “Bless” all
nations.
• Not Satan
• Not Sin
• Not Man (with or without their “help” —
Abraham and Sarah)
• Not Selfish Scheming
• Not Separation from the Promised Land

Theology of Genesis
God’s Covenant to the Patriarchs is the
beginning of His effort to “Reveal” Himself to
us.
• In His Creation
• In History (His-Story)
• In His Word

Go Beyond The Crowds to Make Discoveries

Disciplining or Business Entrepreneur?

Nature Deficit Disorder in our cluttered, rushed, urban lives. Have we done
the same now suffering from SDD-Scripture Deficit Disorder?

1. We need INSATIABLE CURIOSITY

2) we must search with a dogged determinism
the journals holy land explorers have written

3-as we get older don’t outgrow risk-taking!

4-become regular pilgrims to holy sites, visit
more than once & always in expectation

Job 28 says,
There is a mine for silver & a place
where gold is refined….Man…
searches the farthest recesses for
ore in the blackest darkness. Far
from where people dwell he cuts a
shaft, in places forgotten by the foot
of man; far from men he dangles &
sways. The earth,…sapphires come
from its rocks, & its dust contains
nuggets of gold…He tunnels through
the rock; his eyes see all its
treasures. He searches the sources
of the rivers & brings hidden things
to light.

Oppression and a Basket Case
Exodus 1-2

Exodus
Opening Oppression — Exodus 1
• ‫ְמֹות‬‫ׁש‬ ,‫ֶה‬‫ּל‬ֵ‫א‬ְ‫ו‬ — And these are the names . . .
• Begin with 70-ish people and … Note
1:6-7,10, 12, 20 (Genesis 1:28)
• Exodus 38:26 = 603,550 MEN over 20!
Manna Nader, Gabana Studios Cairo

• 140 people after 27 years
• 1,120 people after 108
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
• 1,146,880 people after
378 years
• 2,293,760 people after
405 years

Exodus
Israel in Egypt 1:1–12:36
Israel in the Desert 12:37–18:27
Israel at Mount Sinai 19–40

Exodus
Opening Oppression — Exodus 1
• Plan A — Work ‘em to death
• Plan B — Infanticide by nurses
• Plan C — Murder of the masses — 1:22

Exodus
The Birth of Moses — Exodus 2:1-4
Family
• Tribe: Note Luke 1:5
• Dad: Amram — “Exalted People”
• Mom: Jochebed — “The Lord is Honored”
• Note: she married her nephew! (6:20).
• Older Brother: Aaron (born before the ban on boys)
• Older Sister: Miriam
• Third Child . . .

Exodus
The Discovery of Moses — Exodus 2:5-10
Note the _________ women:
• 2:1 _________
• 2:4 _________
• 2:5 _________
• 2:5 _________
Note Moses’ Nanny — ________
Note Moses’ name: Moshe — Sounds like “I drew
him out of the water” (A basket case?)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N0f7Q6g_NVU/
S0NRwPe-YjI/AAAAAAAAAW4/TvLWQUm6kcQ/
s400/moses-basket.jpg

Exodus
The Fight & Flight of Moses — Exodus 2:11-15a
The Family of Moses — 2:15b-25
• Father-in-Law — Names and functions:
• 2:18 Reuel — “The Friend of God” priest of
Midian
• 3:1 Jethro — “His Abundance”
• 7 daughters — The WELLS! (Gen 16, 21, 24, 29)
• Zipporah — and her son(s) — Gershom and
(later) Eliezer

Engaging the Old Testament Family

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