Exam Friday, 19 SeptemberExam Friday, 19 SeptemberExam Policies – also posted on BlackboardExam Policies – also posted on Blackboard

**You may start the exam as early as 8:45 if you wish. **You may start the exam as early as 8:45 if you wish. **The exams will be on the chairs in the classroom. **The exams will be on the chairs in the classroom. Once you have chosen a place to sit, you must stay Once you have chosen a place to sit, you must stay there. there. **If you need to use a left-handed desk, be sure to **If you need to use a left-handed desk, be sure to arrive in sufficient time to claim one. arrive in sufficient time to claim one. ****If you wish to take the exam in the Academic Support If you wish to take the exam in the Academic Support Center, you must make arrangements with the Center, you must make arrangements with the personnel there and then notify me by Wednesday. personnel there and then notify me by Wednesday. **If you miss an exam for any reason whatsoever, the **If you miss an exam for any reason whatsoever, the make-up exam will be essay format and it will be make-up exam will be essay format and it will be administered on reading day at the end of the administered on reading day at the end of the semester. semester. **If there should be a fire drill during an exam, simply **If there should be a fire drill during an exam, simply turn over your exam, exit as quickly as possible, and do turn over your exam, exit as quickly as possible, and do not talk together at all while out of the room. not talk together at all while out of the room.

Psalm 100:5Psalm 100:5

KIKI TOVTOV ADONAIADONAIBecauseBecause good (is) good (is) the the

LORDLORDLE’OLAMLE’OLAM HASDO (2X)HASDO (2X)To eternity (is)To eternity (is) His His hesed hesed VE’ADVE’AD DORDOR VE-DOR (2X)VE-DOR (2X)And unto generation and generationAnd unto generation and generationEMUNATOEMUNATO His faithfulnessHis faithfulness

An Introductory QuestionAn Introductory Question

At what point did Abram “believe God and At what point did Abram “believe God and it was credited to him as righteousness”?it was credited to him as righteousness”? When Sarah finally had a childWhen Sarah finally had a child After he proposed that Eliezer would inherit his After he proposed that Eliezer would inherit his

estate instead of an actual son and God estate instead of an actual son and God responded by telling him to look to the responded by telling him to look to the heavens, count the stars, and believe that heavens, count the stars, and believe that indeed he would have a sonindeed he would have a son

After he circumcised all the male members of After he circumcised all the male members of his household and changed his name his household and changed his name

When he returned from the battle to rescue LotWhen he returned from the battle to rescue Lot

And the answer is…And the answer is…

After he proposed that Eliezer would After he proposed that Eliezer would inherit his estate instead of an actual inherit his estate instead of an actual son and God responded by telling son and God responded by telling him to look to the heavens, count the him to look to the heavens, count the stars, and believe that indeed he stars, and believe that indeed he would have a sonwould have a son

Your questions?Your questions?

Moving from Ur to Canaan Moving from Ur to Canaan (Josh 24:2)(Josh 24:2)

Journeys of Abraham-Ur to EgyptJourneys of Abraham-Ur to Egypt

The land of the patriarchs: The land of the patriarchs: ShechemShechem

East of BethelEast of Bethel

The NegevThe Negev

DefinitionsDefinitions

Patriarchs and matriarchsPatriarchs and matriarchsCovenant – Covenant – an agreement between an agreement between

two parties that establishes a two parties that establishes a relationship, entails obligations on relationship, entails obligations on both sides and is accompanied by both sides and is accompanied by sanctions.sanctions.

Literary and Theological Literary and Theological ObservationsObservations

Narratives are about individuals, Narratives are about individuals, have implications for God’s chosen have implications for God’s chosen people and their relationship with people and their relationship with Him, and teach us about the Him, and teach us about the sovereign universal plan of God as it sovereign universal plan of God as it is worked out through human history is worked out through human history from creation to the final victoryfrom creation to the final victory

The pattern of Abraham’s life: The pattern of Abraham’s life: Romans 4:11 – Abraham is the father Romans 4:11 – Abraham is the father of all who believeof all who believe

Genesis 12:1-7 – initial call and Genesis 12:1-7 – initial call and covenant promisescovenant promises

Blessings – first three for Abram; last three Blessings – first three for Abram; last three through through AbramAbram Great nation (offspring)Great nation (offspring) Blessing – which will include the land (12:7)Blessing – which will include the land (12:7) Name will be greatName will be great Be Be a blessing – an imperativea blessing – an imperative Those who bless will be blessedThose who bless will be blessed Those who curse will be cursedThose who curse will be cursed All nations will be blessed through AbramAll nations will be blessed through Abram

Galatians 3:6-8 – “announced the Gospel Galatians 3:6-8 – “announced the Gospel ahead of time”ahead of time”

Reaffirmations of the Reaffirmations of the CovenantCovenant

Genesis 13:14-17 – after Lot departed Genesis 13:14-17 – after Lot departed to the plain of the Jordan Valleyto the plain of the Jordan Valley

Genesis 15 – the promise of the son Genesis 15 – the promise of the son and cutting the covenantand cutting the covenant

Genesis 17 – Genesis 17 – Requirements of a covenant peopleRequirements of a covenant peopleAbram becomes AbrahamAbram becomes AbrahamThe sign of the covenant – The sign of the covenant – circumcisioncircumcisionIsaac promised by nameIsaac promised by name

Fulfillment of the PromiseFulfillment of the Promise

Genesis 21:1-7 – the birth of IsaacGenesis 21:1-7 – the birth of IsaacRomans 4:21-24 – Romans 4:21-24 – Abraham’s faith = Abraham’s faith =

our faithour faith

The trials and tribulations of The trials and tribulations of Abraham’s lifeAbraham’s life

The strategy to spare his life (Gen12:8-20 The strategy to spare his life (Gen12:8-20 and ch 20) – a puzzling patternand ch 20) – a puzzling pattern

Abram’s “adoption” of Sarai as sister (Gen 12 and Abram’s “adoption” of Sarai as sister (Gen 12 and 20) – “everywhere we go” (20:13)20) – “everywhere we go” (20:13)

The traditional view – this is a serious moral lapse The traditional view – this is a serious moral lapse on the part of Abramon the part of Abram

A different explanation – with this plan, Abram A different explanation – with this plan, Abram intended to intended to protect protect his marriage his marriage (Gordon Hugenberger, (Gordon Hugenberger, 2002)2002)

Problems with the Traditional Problems with the Traditional ViewView

God punished both Pharaoh and Abimelekh; the God punished both Pharaoh and Abimelekh; the implication is that implication is that they they did something did something reprehensiblereprehensible

The Bible declares that Abraham was morally The Bible declares that Abraham was morally upright (Gen 26:3-5)upright (Gen 26:3-5)

In a culture based on honor and shame (ANE), In a culture based on honor and shame (ANE), no man would give his wife to another manno man would give his wife to another man

Women are enjoined to be like Sarah (I Pet:1-6)Women are enjoined to be like Sarah (I Pet:1-6) Abraham never “repents” of this choiceAbraham never “repents” of this choice Pharaoh sent Abraham away very wealthyPharaoh sent Abraham away very wealthy

A Suggestion: Based on Hurrian A Suggestion: Based on Hurrian CustomCustom

Kings in the ANE entered into marriages to increase Kings in the ANE entered into marriages to increase their wealth and powertheir wealth and power

Sarai represented a wealthy family and would be a Sarai represented a wealthy family and would be a temptationtemptation

In the sister-adoption realm, however, there would In the sister-adoption realm, however, there would not have been a dowry (because the brother was not not have been a dowry (because the brother was not a husband)a husband)

If the brother were killed, the wealth would not go to If the brother were killed, the wealth would not go to the sisterthe sister

Thus, rulers should not have been tempted by Sarai.Thus, rulers should not have been tempted by Sarai. Note translation of 12:13 – “my life will be spared Note translation of 12:13 – “my life will be spared for for

you”you” Abraham did not imagine that Pharaoh and Abraham did not imagine that Pharaoh and

Abimelekh would abduct his sister without asking Abimelekh would abduct his sister without asking permission (which he would never give)permission (which he would never give)

Egypt and the Exodus Egypt and the Exodus ParallelsParallels

God punished Pharaoh – an God punished Pharaoh – an adumbration of the plaguesadumbration of the plagues

Abraham left Egypt wealthy; as Israel Abraham left Egypt wealthy; as Israel would do some four centuries laterwould do some four centuries later

Additional TrialsAdditional Trials

Problems related to LotProblems related to Lot Settling in Sodom (Gen 13:1-13)Settling in Sodom (Gen 13:1-13) War with the kings and encounter with War with the kings and encounter with

Melchizedek (Gen 14) – “King of Melchizedek (Gen 14) – “King of Righteousness, King of Salem, priest of God Righteousness, King of Salem, priest of God Most High” – Abraham gave the tithe to Most High” – Abraham gave the tithe to MelchizedekMelchizedek

Diplomacy to save Sodom (Gen 18,19) – Diplomacy to save Sodom (Gen 18,19) – the the sins of Sodom (sins of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49-50; Jude 7)Ezekiel 16:49-50; Jude 7)

Lot’s descendants (Moab and Ammon)Lot’s descendants (Moab and Ammon) Attempts to “force God’s hand” and the results Attempts to “force God’s hand” and the results

(Gen 16 and 21)(Gen 16 and 21)

Promise and Test Come Promise and Test Come Together: The Command to Together: The Command to

Sacrifice IsaacSacrifice IsaacWhat was the test?What was the test?What is faith? (Hebrews 11:17-19)What is faith? (Hebrews 11:17-19) Isaac’s obedienceIsaac’s obedienceThe intervention of the Lord – the The intervention of the Lord – the

symbolism of the ram in the thicket symbolism of the ram in the thicket (Deut 21:23)(Deut 21:23)

Possible parallels with JesusPossible parallels with Jesus