God's Sovereignty and Grace in the Life of Jacob: A Study of Genesis 27-36, Study notes of Law

Download God's Sovereignty and Grace in the Life of Jacob: A Study of Genesis 27-36 and more Study notes Law in PDF only on Docsity! Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 1 of 33 Class 1: The purpose of this class is to identify the author of the Genesis and the Pentateuch. Helpful Books on Genesis and the Pentateuch: • John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis. You can read this commentary online at www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom01.html. Calvin’s commentary on Genesis is one of the best treatments of Genesis that has been written. • Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch. • R.C. Sproul and Robert Wolgemuth, What’s in the Bible (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 200). This book is an easy-to-read survey of the whole Bible. • Catherine Vos, The Child’s Story Bible 3 volumes (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1977). Eerdmans republished this work in 1 volume, but I recommend the Banner of Truth version because it lacks the “pictures” of Jesus that Eerdmans added. You can find these 3 volumes on www.crownandcovenant.com. Don’t underestimate this children’s story Bible. Catherine Vos masterfully explains Genesis and the other books of the Bible. I. Who wrote Genesis and the Pentateuch? A. Why should we spend time discussing the author of Genesis and the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)? 1. The Liberal church decided against Mosaic authorship by the end of the 19th Century. 2. Many commentaries and books available deny the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. 3. If Moses did not write the Pentateuch, the Bible has errors and the authority of the Scriptures is compromised. 4. The Bible teaches that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, so we should care. 5. We should not be scared to answer the hard questions in the Scripture and the hard questions that critics of the Bible ask. 6. We have a sound argument for the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. B. Documentary Hypothesis: An evolutionary theory of the origin of the Pentateuch, which sees the Pentateuch consisting of various independent sources compiled by an unknown editor long after the time of Moses. 1. History of the Documentary Hypothesis a. 17th Century – Benedict Spinoza questioned the authorship of the Pentateuch because of Moses’ use of we instead of I. His theory also came from the existence of the narrative account of Moses’ death in Deuteronomy 34. b. 18th Century – Jean Astruc noticed that the two accounts of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 used different names for God; therefore, he proposed that the parallel creation accounts came from different sources. c. 19th Century (1) Wilhelm DeWette proposed an author called the deuteronomistic source. (2) Herman Hupfeld proposed a source written by priests. (3) In 1876 and 1879, Julius Wellhausen formulated the Documentary Hypothesis. He synthesized the previous work of Biblical scholars with Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 2 of 33 Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory. 2. The Hypothesis a. The Pentateuch evolved into what we now have in the span of time from 850 B.C. to 570 B.C. During this time, editors compiled and synthesized the Pentateuch from the four sources. The sequence of evolution is called JEDP hypothesis. (1) Jawhistic Source (J) – Completed about 850 B.C. in Judah. (2) Elohist Source (E) – Comleted about 750 B.C. in Judah. (3) J and E were combined about 650 B.C. (4) Deuteronomistic Source (D) – Completed under Josiah about 621 B.C. (5) Priestly Source (P) – Completed in various stages around the exile. (570 B.C.) b. Illustration: Imagine writing a Christmas letter with the help of your whole family over a period of twenty years. 3. Four of the many problems with the JEDP/Documentary Hypothesis a. JEDP hypothesis begins with an unbelieving approach to the Scritpures. b. Variation in the style, vocabulary, or subject matter of one author is denied. c. The theory changes from scholar to scholar. d. No other ancient document has been critiqued in this way. C. Argument that Moses authored Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch Genesis is part of the larger portion of Scripture called the Pentateuch. The following points make the case that Moses authored the Pentateuch. Since Genesis is a part of the Pentateuch, we deduce that Moses authored Genesis. 1. Arguments from Scripture: (Note that these arguments also support the argument for the inspiration of the Pentateuch) a. The Pentateuch claims that Moses wrote it under the inspiration of God (1) Exodus 17:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua...” (2) Exodus 34:27 And the LORD said to Moses, "Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." (3) Numbers 33:1-2 1 These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places. (4) Deuteronomy 1:1 These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. (5) Deuteronomy 31:9, 11 9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 5 of 33 Class 2: The first purpose of this class is to present an outline for the book of Genesis that will be easy to remember and use. The second purpose of this class is to become familiar with the material in the book of Genesis. A list of key references in the book of Genesis will be given for purpose of memorizing. Once a person understands the outline of Genesis and key references in the book, he or she will be able to study the book with more fluency and retain the fruit of this study for use in understanding doctrine and studying other books of the Bible. Review: • WCF 1.2 -- Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these: Of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy ... All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life. • What is the Bible’s answer to the question, “Who wrote Genesis?” Outline of Genesis • There are several features in Genesis that help us outline the book. The outline presented below considers the following features of Genesis. o Genesis contains two covenants. One is the Covenant of Works (CoW). The other is the Covenant of Grace (CoG). Genesis 1-3 teaches about the CoW. Genesis 3 through 50 focuses upon the CoG. o The main “human” characters of Genesis are the Patriarchs. These include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The other characters like Ishmael, Esau, Abimelech, and Pharaoh are secondary to the redemptive history presented in Genesis. o Moses returns to a refrain eleven times. The refrain is These are the generations of. These refrains list the key descendents from the main characters of the particular epoch of the redemptive history. Some of the generations serve the purpose of revealing the Seed of the Serpent, and the others show the progression of the Seed of the Woman. (The Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman will be described later.) Sometimes the generations give narrative details about the lives of the people in the generations. o Joseph might not be considered a patriarch of the CoG, but Moses spends 13 chapters on the narrative of Joseph’s life. • The outline that will be presented gives priority to patriarchs of the CoW and CoG. Sections of the outline are organized by the generations whenever appropriate. Joseph is given the last portion of the outline because it would be unwise to keep a human convention when the Holy Spirit inspired Moses to focus the last 13 chapters of the narrative on Joseph’s life. • Remember that an outline deduced by the creation always falls short of the structure established by the creator. Use you outlines with humility. Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 6 of 33 Brief outline: I. Creation (Ch 1-2) II. Adam (Ch 3-5) III. Noah (Ch 6-11) IV. Abraham (Ch 12-25) V. Isaac (Ch 25-26) VI. Jacob (Ch 26-36) VII. Joseph (Ch 37-50) Detailed outline: I. Creation (Ch 1-2) A. Creation 1: The narrative history of God’s work of creation with 6 days of work and 1 day of rest is given (Ch 1-2:3) B. Creation 2: One perspective on the second creation narrative is that is focuses upon the “generations” or the people of the creation. (Ch 2:4ff) II. Adam (Ch 3-5) A. The Fall of Man (Ch 3) B. Progression of Sin 1. Cain and Abel (Ch 4) 2. Lamech (Ch 4:18-24) C. Genealogy III. Noah (Ch 6-11) A. Flood (Ch 6-9) B. Noahic Covenant (Ch 9) C. Noah’s Geneology (Ch 10-11) D. Tower of Babel (Ch 11) IV. Abraham (Ch 12-25) A. Call of Abraham (Ch 12) B. Abraham, Sarai, and Pharaoh (Ch 12) C. Abram and Lot (Ch 13-14) D. Covenant Ceremony with Abram (Ch 15) E. Sara and Hagar: Sin leads to Strife (Ch 16) F. Sign of the Covenant with Abram: Institution of Circumcision and a new name (Ch 17) G. God’s promise meets laughter (Ch 17:15-18:15) H. Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, Intercession, Rescue and Pillar of Salt (Ch 18-19) I. Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech (Ch 20) J. Conception of the promised son and Casting out of the slave’s son (Ch 21) K. Sacrifice of Isaac: The Lord will provide. (Ch 22) L. Sara’s Death (Ch 23) M. Isaac and Rebekah: preservation of the promised seed and providential love (Ch 24) N. Abraham’s Death (Ch 25) V. Isaac (Ch 25-26) A. Jacob and Esau: Barren womb to wrestling Birth (Ch 25:19ff) Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 7 of 33 B. God renews the Covenant with Isaac (Ch 26:1-5) C. Isaac, Rebekah, and Abimelech (Ch 26:6ff) D. Isaac Blesses Jacob: Sovereignty of God despite the Deception of Man (Ch 27) VI. Jacob (Ch 26-36) A. Isaac sends Jacob to Laban to get a wife (Ch 27:46-28:1-5) B. Jacob’s Ladder: God renews the Covenant with Jacob (Ch 28:10-22) C. Marriage drama: Jacob marries Leah and Rachel (Ch 29) D. Covenant promised fulfilled: Jacob’s sons are born (Ch 29:31-30:1-24) E. God provides and Jacob has to flee from Laban (Ch 30:25-31) F. Out of the frying pan into the fire: Jacob fears Esau (Ch 32:1-2) G. A faith of his own: Jacob wrestles with God (Ch 32:22-32) H. Peaceful reunion: Jacob and Esau (Ch 33) I. Real-life Drama of Dinah: Defilement, Deception, and Destruction (Ch 34) J. Bethel to Bethel: God blesses Jacob and calls him Israel (Ch 35) K. Two Deaths and One Birth: Isaac, Rachel, Benjamin (Ch 35) L. Generations of Esau: Enemies of Israel (Ch 36) VII. Joseph (Ch 37-50) A. From dreams of exaltation to slavery (Ch 37) B. Judah and Tamar: An ancient soup-opera in Canaan (Ch 38) C. Joseph in Potiphar’s House: Joseph stands up under temptation (Ch 39) D. Joseph in Prison: Success and more Dreams (Ch 40) E. Joseph in Pharaoh’s service: Dreams and Power (Ch 41) F. Joseph’s dreams fulfilled (Ch 42) G. Reconciliation with brothers (Ch 45) H. Israel in Egypt (Ch 46-47) I. Israel blesses his sons (Ch 48-50:14) J. The Eleven brothers cover themselves (Ch 50:15-21) K. Death of Joseph (Ch 50:22ff) Index of Key References in Genesis • Covenant of Works – Gen 2 • Fall of Man – Gen 3 • Protoevangelium – Gen 3 • Cain and Able – Gen 4 • The Flood -- Gen 6-8 • Tower of Babel – Gen 11 • Call of Abraham – Gen 12 • Covenant ceremony with Abraham – Gen 15 • Abraham justified by faith – Gen 15 • Circumcision – Gen 17 • Sodom and Gomorrah – Gen 19 • Sacrifice of Isaac – Gen 22 • Birth of Jacob and Esau – Gen 25 • God renames Jacob – Gen 35 • Joseph sold to slavery – Gen 37 “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” – Gen 50:20 Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 10 of 33 Class 4: The goal of this study is to understand the Covenant of Works in Genesis 2. I. Covenant of Works A. Definition of a Covenant: B. Nature of the Covenant of Works: (Genesis 2:15-17) 1. Parties: God and Adam a. In Genesis 2:15, God, the creator, put Adam, His creation, in the Garden of Eden. Adam did not have a choice in the matter. God was in control. This covenant relationship that God established with Adam is what we call monopleuric. Monopleuric means a covenant between the creator and the creature. Thus, the two parties are God and Adam. Adam, not Adam and Eve, is the “covenant head” or “federal head” or “representatice” of all mankind in the covenant. We are familiar with dipleuric covenant agreements. A marriage and a mortgage is a dipleuric agreement. Dipleuric covenants are covenants between to equal beings, i.e. a man and a man or a man and a woman. Examples: ... b. The relationship between God and Adam was a legal relationship, but it was more complex. God loved Adam and cared for him. He realized that it is not good for man to be alone, so God set out to create a helper for Adam. Nevertheless, God was creator and Adam was his creature. They were not equals, and as a result, Adam owed God perfect obedience to His revealed will. c. In verses 19-20, God creates the beasts of the field and birds of the air. Then, He brings these animals to Adam. Notice the interesting relationship between the almighty God-creator and Adam in verse 19. God brought [each animal] to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. God had a special relationship with Adam. No other creature has the privilege of working with God to name the animals. God seems to be enjoying the relationship. The name Adam gave to each animal stuck. d. When the Lord God brings Eve, who He made from a rib of Adam, Adam named her. He called this perfect helper woman because she was made from man. 2. Condition: perfect obedience a. Positive Requirements of the Law: Creation Ordinances. Genesis 1-2 reveal three important commands or laws which we call creation ordinances. Adam was responsible for positively doing keeping these ordinances, and when Eve was created, she assisted Adam in keeping the creation ordinances. 1) Work: In Gen 1:28, God commands Adam to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of sea etc. In Gen 2:15, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. So, work is a creation ordinance. This statement means that “man” (to use Biblical language) was created to work. The creation mandate to work is very applicable to us even today. We must remember that we were made to work. Thus, by working, we glorify God. The mandate to work is not a Mosaic or New Covenant mandate. This ordinance was given in creation, so it transcends all other relationships that God has to man. Let’s break down the type of work: (i) Procreation: Adam and Eve along with their posterity (descendents) were to have lots of babies. They were to fill the earth with humans who Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 11 of 33 would glorify God by keeping these creation mandates. (ii) Ruling: Adam was to rule over all of the creatures of the earth. This concept is more precisely entitled dominion. (iii) Gardening: God put Adam in the Garden for the purpose of working and keeping it. It is safe to say that Adam was to expand the Garden of Eden to fill the entire earth. 2) Sabbath: Adam was to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Thus, the Sabbath is not an ordinance that was abrogated with the New Covenant. 3) Marriage: (Gen 2:18-25) God created Eve (a name that is not yet revealed in Gen 2) for the purpose of marrying and being a helper for Adam in the work that God called Adam to do. Woman was made from a bone of Adam. When a man and woman are married, they become one flesh. God even reveals that a man and a woman who are married are to leave their father and mother and cleave to one another. It was not good that the man should be alone, so God created woman and instituted marriage in creation. b. Negative Commands of the Law: You may surely eat of every tree of the Garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. God and Adam had an intimate relationship, but in verse 16, we see that Adam’s relationship to God and Adam’s life was dependent upon perfect and voluntary obedience to this command. 1) God required that Adam show perfect obedience in order to remain in the covenant relationship with God. The nature of this condition is very interesting. God gave every other tree as food for Adam. How hard is it to refrain from one tree when you have all the rest? 2) Adam was dependent upon God to reveal the condition for obedience. 3. Threat: You will surely die. The threat or curse of the covenant of works is death. Adam already had life, at least a conditional life. If he disobeyed God’s law, he would lose his life and die. The death includes both a physical and spiritual death. 4. Promise: Eternal Life, i.e. eat of the Tree of Life. The promise is life, and this life is more that the life that Adam already had. Adam already had life, but in Genesis 3:22-24, we read about the promise that Adam would only receive if he obeyed God. Now, Genesis 3 only gives a shadow of the meaning of the Tree of Life. Revelation 2:7 and 22:1-5 shows that the promise to Adam is the same as the promise to all who rest alone upon faith in Jesus Christ. C. Scriptural argument that Genesis 2 is a covenant 1. Berith does not have to be used at the time that the covenant was communicated. (2 Sam 7, Ps 89:19-37) 2. Genesis 2 contains all of the elements of a covenant: parties, stipulations, promises, and curses. 3. Hosea 6:7 implies that Adam transgressed a covenant. 4. The New Testament gives a parallel between Christ and Adam. Just as Jesus the Christ was the representative of the New Covenant (Luke 22:20, Heb 9:15), Adam was the representative of a covenant arrangement in Genesis 2. (Rom 5:12-19, 1 Cor 15:22, 46-47) D. Review: WCF 7.2, WLC Q/A 20, WSC Q/A 12 Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 12 of 33 Class 5: The purpose of the fifth study is to understand what the book of Genesis teaches us about the nature of our God. Remember that the rest of the Scriptures give the fullest teaching of God’s nature, but we are going to focus primarily upon those attributes of God presented first. I. Creation (Ch 1-2) A. Names of God 1. Elohim – The One True God or Mighty One – This name is used in Gen 1. 2. Yahweh Elohim – LORD God – This is the covenant name of God. It is the name used in the narrative that describes God’s relationship to man. (Gen 2ff) B. Nature of God 1. Existence of God: In Genesis 1:1 we see the Old Testament apologetic argument for the existence of God. What is the argument? The OT simply assumes the existence of God. 2. Singular and Plural Nature of God a. Elohim is a plural noun. b. God refers to himself as “us” when He decrees to make man in His image. (Gen 1:26). Then, in Gen 1:27, God creates man in His own image. The plural phrases, let us, and the use of the singular his and image shows the complexity of God’s nature. 3. Personal nature of God a. In Gen 1, God creates. b. In Gen 1:26-27, God has a relationship within himself. c. In Gen 2:15ff, God knows Adam. He interacts with Adam and lets Adam cooperate with Adam. God communicates the covenant relationship with Adam. C. God is sovereign 1. Gen 1 and 2 demonstrate God’s sovereign power to create. 2. In Gen 2:15, God is author of law and justice. God reveals the standard for obedience to Adam. God demands perfect obedience from his creatures. God reveals that He will judge and give just rewards for obedience and curses for disobedience. II. Adam (Ch 3-5) – Holiness, Justice, and Mercy A. Fear of the Lord: Before Adam fell, he could freely and peacefully interact with God. In Gen 3:8 and 10, fallen Adam hides from God and is afraid of God’s presence. B. Adam, Eve, and the Serpent: The Justice of God is demonstrated in Gen 3:14-19. C. God shows His mercy to Adam and Eve in Gen 3:20-21. D. Holiness of God: God violently banishes sinners from His presence. (Gen 3:22-24) III. Noah (Ch 6-11) – Wrath, Justice, Election, and Providence A. In Gen 6:5-7:24, God’s hatred of sin and justice is communicated. B. In Gen 6:9-9:29, God chooses people upon whom He will pour out His love and mercy. God personally preserves His chosen creatures in the Ark. (Gen 7:16) Notice how God’s providence was executed in a way that included Noah’s obedience to God’s commands. C. God’s relationship with His elect, i.e. Noah, is a covenant relationship. (Gen 8:20-9:17) D. The Tower of Babel incident shows God’s sovereignty over men and nations. (Gen 11) IV. Abraham (Ch 12-25) -- A. Names of God 1. El Elyon – God Most High (Gen 14:19) 2. Adonai Yahweh – My Lord, GOD (Gen 15:2) Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 15 of 33 6. God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their gross depravity (Gen 19). 7. Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, was defiled. (Gen 34) 8. Potiphar’s wife burns with lust for Joseph. (Gen 39) B. Man still maintains the image of God (Gen 6:6). The reason why it is wrong to kill a man is that man is made in God’s image. C. Man still has a soul 1. Man can have faith (Gen 15:6) 2. Man makes plans in His mind. Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob are involved in a dramatic plot. (Gen 27) Joseph’s eleven brothers plot to kill Joseph (Gen 37). 3. Man has dreams. Abraham (Gen 15), Jacob (Gen 28). 4. Man can meditate or think. (Gen 24:63) 5. Man can love. (Gen 24:67) D. Man exercises dominion. Abraham rescues lot (Gen 14). Pharaoh and Abimelech rule over nations. Joseph (Gen 41:37ff) E. The true covenant people of God are somehow able to sin and able not to sin. Joseph (Gen 39) Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 16 of 33 Class 7: The purpose of is to learn the Doctrine of Man after the Fall in the book of Genesis. I. Man before the Fall (Gen 1-3:7). A. Components of human choices (Gen 3:1-7): 1. The Inducement is something outside of man that is object and passive. In Eve’s case, the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the inducement. 2. The Motive is the personal and internal desire a person has for the inducement. In Gen 3:6, Eve noticed that he fruit was good for food and pretty. She recognized that it was desirable to make her wise. 3. The will is the part of man that acts upon the motive or the desire for the inducement. In Gen 3:6, Eve acted on her desire or her motive by taking and eating of the fruit. When she gave some of the fruit to Adam, he did the same. B. A man or woman sins in the motive or the will. This dissection of the components of human choices simply helps us to understand how and why we do what we do. A man may sin in the motive and it may never materialize externally. A may sin in the motive and also take the extra step to willfully carry out the sin. The process is the same for all other decisions. C. See 2 Samuel 11. II. Man after the Fall (Gen 3ff) -- A. Man is sinful and aware of his sin. (Gen 3:7ff) Fallen man is now able to sin and unable not to sin. The total corruption of Man’s nature is evident by a short survey of Genesis. 1. The sin of Adam is passed down to his children. The fruit of the sin that Adam passed down to Cain was manifested when he murdered Abel. (Gen 4) 2. Lamech, one of Cain’s descendents, murdered a man. (Gen 4:23) 3. The long lives of fallen men produced a great corruption and wickedness. God reveals the total depravity of man in Gen 6:5-7. 4. Even the covenant people of God contained the corruption of sin. (Gen 8:21) Noah gets drunk, and his son Ham does something sinful to his father and was cursed by Noah. (Gen 9) 5. Tower of Babel is a manifestation of sin after Noah. (Gen 11) 6. God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their gross depravity (Gen 19). 7. Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, was defiled. (Gen 34) 8. Potiphar’s wife burns with lust for Joseph. (Gen 39) B. Man still maintains the image of God (Gen 6:6). The reason why it is wrong to kill a man is that man is made in God’s image. C. Man still has a soul 1. Man can have faith (Gen 15:6) 2. Man makes plans in His mind. Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob are involved in a dramatic plot. (Gen 27) Joseph’s eleven brothers plot to kill Joseph (Gen 37). 3. Man has dreams. Abraham (Gen 15), Jacob (Gen 28). 4. Man can meditate or think. (Gen 24:63) 5. Man can love. (Gen 24:67) D. Man exercises dominion. Abraham rescues lot (Gen 14). Pharaoh and Abimelech rule over nations. Joseph (Gen 41:37ff) E. The true covenant people of God are somehow able to sin and able not to sin. Joseph (Gen 39) Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 17 of 33 Class 8: The purpose of is to learn the Doctrine of Man after the Fall in the book of Genesis. I. Man after the Fall (Gen 3ff) -- A. Man is sinful and aware of his sin. (Gen 3:7ff) Fallen man is now able to sin and unable not to sin. The total corruption of Man’s nature is evident by a short survey of Genesis. 1. The sin of Adam is passed down to his children. The fruit of the sin that Adam passed down to Cain was manifested when he murdered Abel. (Gen 4) 2. Lamech, one of Cain’s descendents, murdered a man. (Gen 4:23) 3. The long lives of fallen men produced a great corruption and wickedness. God reveals the total depravity of man in Gen 6:5-7. 4. Even the covenant people of God contained the corruption of sin. (Gen 8:21) Noah gets drunk, and his son Ham does something sinful to his father and was cursed by Noah. (Gen 9) 5. Tower of Babel is a manifestation of sin after Noah. (Gen 11) 6. God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their gross depravity (Gen 19). 7. Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, was defiled. (Gen 34) 8. Potiphar’s wife burns with lust for Joseph. (Gen 39) B. Man still maintains the image of God (Gen 6:6). The reason why it is wrong to kill a man is that man is made in God’s image. C. Man still has a soul 1. Man can have faith (Gen 15:6) 2. Man makes plans in His mind. Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob are involved in a dramatic plot. (Gen 27) Joseph’s eleven brothers plot to kill Joseph (Gen 37). 3. Man has dreams. Abraham (Gen 15), Jacob (Gen 28). 4. Man can meditate or think. (Gen 24:63) 5. Man can love. (Gen 24:67) D. Man exercises dominion. Abraham rescues lot (Gen 14). Pharaoh and Abimelech rule over nations. Joseph (Gen 41:37ff) E. The true covenant people of God are somehow able to sin and able not to sin. Joseph (Gen 39) Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 20 of 33 Class 10: The purpose of this study is to learn how Jesus Christ is anticipated in Genesis. I. Offspring of the Woman: Gen 3:15 II. Melchizedek: He is a mysterious character who shows up in Abraham’s life as a type of Christ. Gen 14:17-24 A. In Psalm 110, The Father swears an oath to the second person of the trinity. Jesus is promised to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. B. In Heb 7, the Apostle makes five comparisons of Melchizedek to Christ 1. The Name of Melchizedek 2. The seat of his kingdom 3. The Perpetuity of his life 4. His right to tithes 5. His benediction III. Isaac: Gen 22 A. Isaac falls in the line of the offspring of the woman. He was the promised son of Abraham. In Gen 22:2, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham’s only son, whom he loved. B. God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac at Mt. Moriah, which is in the mountains around Jerusalem. It is possible that this mountain was the location of the temple. (2 Chron 3:1). C. Abraham told Isaac that the Lord will Provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son. Yet, Abraham knew that God had called him to sacrifice Isaac. God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, and He provided a lamb for the sacrifice. D. God’s provision of a sacrifice in Gen 22 reveals that God would provide an only son who would be given up as a burnt offering for the sins of Abraham and his offspring (the Church). IV. Joseph: The story of Joseph in Gen 37-49 anticipates the saving work of Jesus Christ A. Joseph was beloved by his father Jacob. (Gen 37:3) B. Joseph had dreams of ruling over his parents and brothers (Gen 37:5-11) C. Humiliation: Joseph’s ministry to Israel began by his slavery and imprisonment. 1. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of Him and conspired to kill him. (Gen 37:11-20) 2. Joseph was sold into slavery. Jacob thinks that Joseph is dead. (Gen 37:21-28) 3. Joseph was unjustly tried for defiling Potiphar’s wife, and he was imprisoned. (Gen 39:19-20) D. Exaltation: Joseph ministers to Israel through his exalted position 1. Pharaoh makes Joseph the ruler over Pharaoh’s house. (Gen 41:37-45) E. Back in Canaan, Israel was starving under the great famine. (Gen 42:1-2) F. Joseph saves Israel through famine. (Gen 45:1-20) G. Joseph’s life is very similar to Jesus’ life. Both had to take on a state of humiliation to save the Church. Both saved the church from a state of exaltation. (Phil 2:5-11) V. Judah’s Scepter: In Gen 49:10, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, is promised to come from the tribe of Judah. He shall be king over Israel, king of the Church. (Matt 1:3, Eph 1:22, 1 Cor 15:25, Rev 5:5) Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 21 of 33 This table provides an interesting parallel between Joseph and Jesus Christ. You can find it on the internet at http://pages.sbcglobal.net/clocks/josephtp.html. Joseph Jesus Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph Matthew 3:17 "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Genesis 37:4 his brothers, they hated him John 15:25 They hated me without a cause. Genesis 37:8 His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us?... So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words. Luke 19:14 We do not want this man to rule over us. Genesis 37:11 So his brothers were jealous of him, Mark 15:10 it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. Genesis 37:18 They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. Matthew 27:1 the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. Genesis 37:23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe Matthew 27:28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him Genesis 37:28 sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15 They paid him thirty pieces of silver. Genesis 39:4 Joseph found favor in his sight ...he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Genesis 40:2-3 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers ... and he put them ... in the prison where Joseph was confined. Luke 23:32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. Genesis 40:13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office (to one, a message of life) Luke 23:43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Genesis 40:15 I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon." Hebrews 4:15 one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Genesis 41:46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh Luke 3:23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. Genesis 41:55 Pharaoh said ... "Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do." John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Genesis 45:1 Joseph made himself known to his brothers. Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him Genesis 45:7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 1 John 4:9 God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Genesis 45:12 And now your eyes ... see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Genesis 45:18 Take your father and your households and come to me Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you that are weary ... and I will give you rest. Genesis 45:26-28 26 And they told him, "Joseph is still alive! ... Israel said, "Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die." Luke 24:5 Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Genesis 46:30 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive." Luke 2:29 "Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy work; For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, Genesis 47:23 Then Joseph said to the people, ...I have this day bought you 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 you are not your own? For you were bought with a price Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 22 of 33 Class 11: The purpose of this study is to learn what God teaches us about faith in Genesis. I. Faith has a trustworthy object A. Abraham’s faith is grounded in the Word of God. (Gen 12, 15, 17) B. Abraham’s faith believes the promise of God. (Gen 15:6) C. Abraham’s faith relies upon the nature of God. (Gen 15) II. Faith grows or matures A. Gen 12 – Abraham obeyed God and left his father’s house for an unknown land. B. Gen 15 – Abraham’s belief and trust in God’s promises matured, and Abraham desired more faith. We share this same experience. Read Mark 9:24. C. Gen 17 – Abraham feared God. Abraham demonstrated submission to God’s command. D. Gen 22 – Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac is the climactic demonstration of his faith. At God’s command, he offered up both his beloved son and the son of the promise of salvation. He trusted and depended upon God’s promise to build a nation through Isaac despite his present circumstances. III. Faith implies a belief in supernaturalism: Abraham expected the promises of the Covenant of Grace to be fulfilled through God’s supernatural provision. A. Romans 4:17-23 – Abraham trusted in God’s power to call things that are not as they were. In other words, Abraham trusted that God could make Sarah’s body and his body fertile again. B. Heb 11:17-19 – Abraham trusted in the omnipotence of God to raise Isaac from the dead. C. Gen 14 – Abraham did not take the spoil of his conquest because his blessing was from God. Instead, he waited upon the Lord to fulfill the promises in His divine way. IV. Faith rests in the promising God alone A. God did not fulfill the promises in the lives of the patriarchs. (Gen 12:7, Heb 11:13) B. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were content with dwelling in tents. We do not see any regret that they did not posses the promised land. (Heb 11:9, 13) C. In Heb 11:10 & 11:14-16, the Apostle to the Hebrews reveals what we might miss in the concrete nature of the Genesis narrative. The patriarchs had a faith that rested upon God. They embraced the promising God and not the possession or not-yet-possession of the land. V. In Genesis, Faith (belief, trust, and devotion to God’s Word) is vindicated in life of a believer A. First, we must admit that the patriarchs do not always demonstrate faith in their actions. B. Abraham obeys God’s commands (Gen 22). Abraham finds a wife for Isaac from the Shemites (Gen 24). C. Rebekah conspires for Jacob to bless the son of promise, and Jacob gives the blessing of Abraham to Jacob (Gen 27) D. Joseph refuses to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife because he realized his relationship to God (Gen 39:8-9). Though he was a slave in Egypt, he knew that he was part of a higher, spiritual world. E. Joseph reminds his brothers of God’s promise to return them to the land of promise (Gen 15, 50) VI. Attempts to explain the nature of Faith in Genesis A. Geerhardus Vos: “[Faith] is, firstly, dependence on the supernatural power and grace of God; and secondly, the state or act of projection into a higher, spiritual world.” Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 25 of 33  WCF 5.2 states that God “orders [His decrees] to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.” Second causes would be God using the “laws of nature.”  WCF 5.3 states that, “God in His ordinary providence makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at His pleasure.” Here, our confession of faith recognizes that God does work out His decrees in supernatural ways.  Should our faith be in a God who can work against nature to provide? I would say yes. To believe in less would be at best a deistic view of God. o Miracles are those supernatural expressions of God’s power used at times of new revelation. The OT prophets performed miracles in order to show that they were from God. Christ’s miracles showed that He is the Son of God. The Apostles miracles showed that they were of Christ. Conclusion: • As Christians, our faith in God’s supernatural power and grace is accepting, receiving, and resting in Christ for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace. We have this in common with Abraham. • As Christians, we need to recognize that God’s providence (the way He works out His decrees) is complicated. Sometimes, God generally uses means. The confession of faith calls these things second causes. (example: my final test at LMCO). God also has the freedom to work without using means, and He sometimes does. • As Christians, we may pray for God to work outside of the laws of nature because our God is omnipotent. Yet, we must not assume that our prayers are a guarantee. God may know that our request would not be good for us. God may not will that our request be answered. God has not given us any promises in Scripture that He WILL open wombs, heal us from cancer, or deliver us from a collapsed coal mine. God did promise to deliver us from His wrath and curse for our sin through faith in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, I cannot discourage anyone from lifting our requests in prayer. Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 26 of 33 Class 12: The purpose of this study is to learn about the structure and worship of the Church in Genesis. I. A Couple Definitions of the Church A. WLC 62 What is the visible Church? The visible Church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, and of their children. B. WLC 64 What is the invisible Church? The invisible Church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head. C. In Genesis, the Church is revealed in its state of infancy, but the visible and invisible nature of the Church can be clearly seen. The Lord reveals the development of the structure of the Church in two stages. We also see the revelation of how the Church shall worship God. II. Adam and His Descendents A. Structure of the Church 1. Narrowing of the Church a. Mankind is divided between the covenant people and the world (Gen 3:15). b. Abel and Seth are true worshippers of God. Cain is not a man of faith (Gen 4) c. God chooses Noah and His family out of all people on earth (Gen 6:8). d. God chose to be the God of Shem. Ham/Canaan are separated from the chosen people. Japheth (the Gentiles) will dwell in the presence of God (Gen 9:26). 2. The Church has a family organization, but it lacks the clarity that arises with Abram. B. Worship of the Church 1. Eve acknowledged God as her Covenant God in the naming of Cain and Seth. (Gen 4:1, 25) 2. Cain and Abel voluntarily brought gift offerings to the Covenant God. (Gen 4:2-7). We can learn as early Cain and Abel that faith is required in acceptable worship. (Heb 11:4) 3. When Enosh was born to Seth, communal worship began (Gen 4:26). Thus, the Sethites were known as worshippers of the Covenant God. The phrase call on the name of the LORD does mean prayer (1 Kings 18:24), but it also refers to public worship (Ps 116:17-18). 4. Enoch, the father of Methusela, walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (Gen 5:21-24). We learn that worship and pleasing the LORD includes a fellowship with the LORD and the whole life of a believer. 5. Worship has a covenantal and dialogical nature (Gen 8:20-9:17). 6. Summary: Worship is covenantal act between God and His chosen people. It is corporate and private. It is includes prayer, sacrifice, and fellowship with the Lord. III. Abraham and His Descendents A. Structure of the Church Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 27 of 33 1. Narrowing of the Church: God chooses Abram out of Shem to be the chosen people (Gen 12). 2. Patriarchal: a family model of the Church is established a. God made a covenant with Abraham Gen 12, 15, & 17. Thus, Abraham’s family became the separate covenant people of God. b. Abraham (the Father of the house) is the prophet, priest, and king of the Church. Abraham receives revelation from God, leads in worship, and rules the Church. 1) Prophet: Gen 12, 15, 17, and 18:22-33 2) Priest: Gen 15, 17, & 22 3) King: Gen 14, Gen 18:19 (both prophet and king) c. Isaac enters into the patriarchal role/office (Gen 25:21, 26:1-5, 27:26ff) d. Jacob enters into the patriarchal role/office (Gen 33:18-20, 35, 48-49) 3. Visible and Invisible nature of the Church: Hagar/Ishmael and Esau (Gen 21:8ff, Gen 25:19ff). B. Worship of the Church: Worship is revealed to be a covenant ceremony and dialogue between God and the chosen people. 1. 4 Covenant Dialogues between the Covenant God and the Chosen People a. Gen 15: The LORD came to Abram. Abram prayed. God answered. Abram believed the LORD. The LORD renewed and communicated the covenant with Abram. The LORD commanded how Abram was to respond. Then, God spoke communicated the blessings. b. Gen 17: God came to Abram and spoke to him. Abram responded to God by falling on his face. God communicated the covenant with Abraham and commanded Abraham to give all of his family the covenant sign of circumcision. In verse 22, Abraham responded to God by leading His whole household in the act of worship, which was circumcising all of the males in His household. c. Gen 22: God called Abraham to worship, and God commanded the place and the means of worship. Abraham goes to Mt. Moriah. He offers the sacrifice that the Lord commands. Then, the Lord blesses Abraham. d. Gen 26: In Gen 26:24, the LORD appeared to Isaac. The LORD renewed the covenant with Isaac. Isaac responded by building an altar and worshipping the Lord. 2. Summary of worship in Genesis from Dr. Clark Copeland: “Worship is also becoming clearer that man’s approach to God in worship is in response to the call, presence and direction of God; and that man can come to Him only through sacrifice” Summary: • The Structure of the Church in Genesis is patriarchal. Note that the patriarchal nature of the church ends with Moses an the Tabernacle. • The Patriarch is the prophet, priest, and king. He is the pastor and ruling elder of the Church. See Job 1:1-5 also. • Worship is established as a covenant dialogue between the Lord and the chosen people. • True Worship is as God commands, by faith, through sacrifice. Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 30 of 33 Class 14: The purpose of this study is to under the concept of law and civil government in Genesis. I. The Law A. Law before the Fall—Creation Ordinances 1. Ethic: Man must be aware of God’s authority and do God’s will out of obedience and love. 2. Man shall rule or exercise dominion over all creatures of the earth (Gen 1:26) 3. Man shall labor (Gen 1:28) 4. Man shall procreate (Gen 1:28) 5. Man shall keep the Sabbath (Gen 2:1-3) 6. One man and one woman shall marry (Gen 2:24-25) B. Law after the Fall 1. Concept of Ethics after the Fall: Man must be aware of God’s authority and do God’s will out of obedience and love. Law now is given in light of a corrupted creature. Gen 17:1 gives the requirement for the people obey God, even under the covenant of grace. 2. Later in Ex 20 and Deut 6, the Ten Commandments are given as clear revelation of God’s law to the Church, but the essence of the moral law was alive before it was clearly revealed. 3. 1st Commandment: It is implied throughout Genesis and emphasized in Gen 17:8 & Gen 35:2. 4. 2nd Commandment: Gen 35:2-4 demonstrates the prohibition of idols. 5. 3rd Commandment: Esau maligned, scorned, and reviled God’s truth, grace, and ways when he married Ishmaelite women. (WLC 113, Gen 28:6-9). Esau received circumcision which was the sign of the covenant of grace and the sign that Esau belonged to God, but while bearing the name of God, he showed no regard for God’s grace in his rebellion. 6. 4th Commandment: The Sabbath is an abiding creation ordinance. 7. 5th Commandment: The Lord commanded Hagar to return and submit to her mistress Sarai. (Gen 16:9). The Scriptures teach that the 5th commandment includes submitting to superiors. (See WLC 124 for the Scriptural argument for this doctrine). 8. 6th Commandment: God forbids the murder of humans. (Gen 9) The commandment is one of the few formally revealed commandments in Genesis. 9. 7th Commandment: Joseph reveals that adultery was a sin against God. (Gen 39:8-9) 10. 8th Commandment: Laban pursued Jacob to seek justice because Jacob had stolen Laban’s gods/idols (Gen 31:30). Jacob preserved Laban’s wealth and was faithful to the contracts he made to Laban (Gen 31:36-42). In Gen 1:28-29 and 9:1-7, God commands men to procure, preserve and earn wealth justly and lawfully. (WLC 141) 11. 9th Commandment: Jacob appeals to honesty (Gen 30:33). Abraham lies to Pharaoh and Abimelech (Gen 12:10ff, Gen 20). 12. 10th Commandment: Joseph’s brothers covet his relationship to Jacob, and their jealousy produces further wickedness (Gen 37:4, 8ff). Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 31 of 33 II. Civil Government A. The motivation for asking about the existence of civil government in Genesis is that some branches of the Church reject that civil government is redeemable, and some forbid involvement in civil government. One group of Christians is the Swiss Anabaptists. The Schleitheim Confession of 1527: Finally it will be observed that it is not appropriate for a Christian to serve as a magistrate because of these points: The government magistracy is according to the flesh, but the Christian's is according to the Spirit; their houses and dwelling remain in this world, but the Christian's are in heaven; their citizenship is in this world, but the Christian's citizenship is in heaven; the weapons of their conflict and war are carnal and against the flesh only, but the Christian's weapons are spiritual, against the fortification of the devil. The worldlings are armed with steel and iron, but the Christians are armed with the armor of God, with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God. In brief, as in the mind of God toward us, so shall the mind of the members of the body of Christ be through Him in all things, that there may be no schism in the body through which it would be destroyed. For every kingdom divided against itself will be destroyed. Now since Christ is as it is written of Him, His members must also be the same, that His body may remain complete and united to its own advancement and upbuilding. B. Allusions to Civil Government 1. The protection of Cain and the confession of Lamech hint at a civil authority. (Gen 4) 2. The law against murder implies the institution a civil magistrate to punish murderers (Gen 9:6) 3. Abraham subdues a rogue civil magistrate and executes justice (Gen 14:1-16). Abraham’s war seems to be a just war. a. A just case: Therefore, recapturing things taken or punishing people who have done wrong. b. Comparative justice: Although there may be rights and wrongs of both sides of the argument, to override the presumption against the use of force, the injustice suffered by one party must sufficiently outweigh that suffered by the other. c. Legitimate Authority: Only duly constitute public authorities may use deadly force or wage war. d. Right Intention: Force may be used only in a truly just case and solely for that purpose, but it is not for the regaining of material wealth or economic superiority. e. Probability of Success: Reasonable chance of success. f. As a last resort: War is entered into as a last result. Forces may be used only after all peaceful and viable alternatives have been serious. 4. The civil magistrate can and has been used by God for good and the salvation of the Church. Members of the Church serve as a civil magistrate even under a pagan king. (Gen 41:37-57) 5. The obvious observation in Genesis is the evidence of several established civil governments. Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Adult C.E. Class: Survey of the OT: Pastor Shane Sapp -- 2009/2010 Page 32 of 33 Genesis Pre-Quiz – 12 questions for the 12 tribes of Israel 1. Who wrote the book of the Genesis and the Pentateuch? How do you know? _______________________ 2. In the space below, write down an outline for the book of Genesis 3. How long did it take God to complete creation? ______________________________________________ 4. What is a covenant? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________ 5. In Genesis, with whom did God enter into a covenant? _______________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________ 6. What is the nature of the Church in Genesis? Where does worship take place? Who leads worship? ___________________________________________________________________________ _________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________ 7. What attributes of God does Genesis reveal? Where? _________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________ 8. Does Genesis teach predestination and reprobation? How? Where? _____________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ __________