Step By Step: Old TestamentLesson 6: God and The Patriarchs

Rev. Christopher J. RespassAntioch Bible Institute

Fall 2012

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

I. Jacob’s Ladder (Gen. 28:10-22)A. The Dream (v.12)

1. Angels ascending and descending a ladder that is on the earth, but reaches

up to heaven. 2. The Lord stood at the top of the

ladder and began to speak to Jacob.

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

B. God’s Promise to Jacob (v.13-15). 1. I will give the land you’re on to you and your offspring. 2. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth and shall spread abroad. 3. In your offspring, families of the earth will be blessed. 4. I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to the land. I will not leave you until I fulfill my vow.

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

C. Jacob’s Response (v.16-22). 1. Fearfully acknowledged that he was in a special place. 2. Set a stone of remembrance and named the placed “Bethel” (house of God). 3. Made a vow saying: IFa) God will be with me & keep meb) God gives me food & clothing

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

c) God allows me to come to my father’s house in peace.

THEN,

d) the Lord shall be my Gode) this stone shall be God’s housef) I will give you a tithe of all you give me.

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

Anyone have a problem with the conditional vow?

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

II. Wrestling with God (Gen. 32:22-32).A. Context

1. Jacob decided it was time to leave and go home. He sent servants with numerous gifts to Esau (e.g., oxen, donkeys, male and female servants).

2. The servants told Jacob that Esau was coming with 400 men.

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

3. Jacob splits his household into two (2) groups and develops a scheme to overwhelm Esau with Gifts to obtain favor and mercy.

4. Key: Jacob prays relying on the promises given to him in Gen. 28:13-15 (see, v.9-12).

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

B. Wrestling with God (v.24-29). 1. Jacob wrestles with a man all night

long. Turns out it was God. 2. Jacob held on so intently, that he

was touched in his hip socket to cripple him, but he would not let God.

3. God changes Jacob’s name (“deceiver”) to Israel (“Prince of God”), because he wrestled with God and prevailed.

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

4. Note: Jacob has wrestled for every blessing he’s received.

a) Birth—holding Esau’s foot.b) Birthright & Blessing:

wrestled it away from Esau.c) Rachel & Property—wrestle

them from Laband) God’s blessing.

God and the Patriarchs: Jacob

In spite of Jacob’s sin, immaturity and shortcomings, God still used him to continue his covenant.

That should give great hope to all of us!

God and the Patriarchs: JosephI. Jacob’s Favorite (Gen. 37:1-4)

A. Jacob loved Joseph more than the other sons because Joseph was born to him in his old age (v. 3).

B. Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors. Jacob’s older sons hated Joseph because of the favoritism.

C. Jacob was a dreamer and dreamt and prophesied of a time when is family (including his parents) would bow down to him (v.5-11).

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

II. Joseph Sold into Slavery (Gen. 37:12-36).A. Jacob sent Joseph to Shechem to check up on their wellbeing (v.12-14).B. The older brothers saw Joseph and plotted to kill him, but Reuben suggested they not kill him, but throw him into an empty pit (v.18-24).

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

C. Judah suggested that they sell Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelites, which they did.

D. They concocted a plan to inform Jacob that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. (v.31-32).

E. Joseph was ultimately transported to Egypt.

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

III. Joseph’s Integrity as Potiphar’s Servant (Gen. 39)A. Joseph sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian and captain of the guard and officer of Pharaoh.B. Joseph found favor and Potiphar placed him charge of everything and the Lord blessed Potiphar for Joseph’s sake (v.5)

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

C. Mrs. Potiphar’s Drama! (1. Joseph was handsome and well-built

(v. 6, NIV).

2. Potiphar’s wife propositioned Joseph numerous times and he refused indicating his unwillingness to sin against God and disrespect Potiphar (v.7-10).

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

3. One day, She grabbed his garment and he fled the house. (v.11-13).

4. Mrs. Potiphar accused Joseph of sexual assault and Potiphar threw Joseph into in prison (v.19-20).

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

But… the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor with the prison guard (v.21).

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

IV. Joseph’s Dreaming Pays Off! (Gen. 40 & 41).A. While in prison Joseph gets a reputation for interpreting dreams (Gen. 40).

1. Intrepreted dreams for the Chief Cupbearer and the Chief Baker.

2. Joseph asked the Chief cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh, but he failed to do so.

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

B. Two years later, Pharaoh has two dreams and Joseph gets the opportunity to interpret them (Gen. 41:14).1. With God’s help, Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and warns him about the coming famine (v.25-36).

2. At the age of 30, Pharaoh began to serve in Pharaoh’s court. Only Pharaoh himself was of greater than Joseph (v.40).

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

V. Family Reunion (Gen. 45:1-8).A. The famine caused Jacob to seek food for his household. Jacob sent all of his sons, except Benjamin, to Egypt to purchase food.

B. Joseph recognized his brothers and worked an elaborate scheme to bless them and check-up on Benjamin and his father.

God and the Patriarchs: Joseph

C. When Joseph could no longer contain himself, he revealed himself to his brothers and made plans to move Jacob to Egypt—particularly the Land of Goshen.