10.20 Survey on Gen

Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

0 ratings

· 6 views

Notes

Transcript

Obs 1:

Haran was son of Terah, but a land was named after Haran, and it was the land that his father settled and died in. How did Haran become a nation and not Terah?

“the Negeb” - a river?

“the garden of the LORD (v10) - referring to Eden with its 4 streams?

Abram shows Lot kindness and blesses him

“Great sinners against the LORD” - what did this mean then? Second time “sin” is used.

Hebron > root of Hebrew?

Melchizedek uses name “God Most High”

What is the iniquity of the Amorites? Was this a promise to keep Abram’s descendants away from the wickedness of the Amorites?

With Hagar, first time “angel of the LORD” is written

Obs 2:

Abram invoked the name of the Lord. This verb was first used in the time of Lamech.

Is Sarai with Pharaoh and the plague a foreshadow of Exodus? Otherwise this section seems random and insignificant to the story of Abram.

“This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.” (13:10) Evidence of when this account was written, after destruction of S&G

Mamre was Amorite, Abram was his ally and lived in his land. How does this relate to the iniquity of the Amorites?

Bread and wine, blessing from priest of God, would later be used by Jesus for the last supper (first communion)

What is significance of animal offering instructions and Abram chasing birds of prey away? Seems not to have a conclusion.

Part of Abram’s blessing/promise is to be buried in peace with his ancestors

Interesting that the writer uses YHWH in 16:13...”So she named YHWH who spoke to her, ‘You are El-roi’”

Hagar’s reason for name is a question: rhetorical or doubt?

Obs 3:

oaks of Mamre, at Hebron. Mamre is Amorite, so what is Hebron?

Abram says, “YWHW, God Most High,” signifying that his God is Melchizedek’s God

Is deep and terrifying darkness a dream or presence of God?

Smoking fire pot and flaming torch passed between these pieces - these pieces referring to sacrifices?

RR on Sarah (Scott Williams)

High Points:

Sarah is chosen by God, just as Abram was.

She is an decision maker in the story, even in a patriarchal society

Sarah is flawed character that God uses even-so, much like many patriarchs in OT

Various interpretations of Sarai/Hagar dichotomy, shows Sarah’s authority, and her flaws as well, God’s response to both women

Dichotomy also between Ishmael and Isaac, different interpretations of Sarah sending Ishmael and Isaac away

Thesis: Sarah is Biblical example of women in church leadership and egalitarianism in marriage

New Things:

Sarah’s authority and choice to send Hagar away would later effect her progeny (by God’s blessing of Hagar/Ishmael?)

“Saray believed that perhaps God had given Hagar to her for such a purpose”

The interpretations of Sarah sending Hagar/Ishmael away: Ishmael molesting Isaac vs. threat of Hagar/Ishmael overshadowing Sarah in the promise for Isaac

Reflections/Questions:

I agreed with most of this paper (and definitely the heart of it!), although some things seem to be inferred and not in the text. E.g. there is no mention of Sarai’s emotional response or willingness/unwillingness in the Pharaoh story, and the birth story of Isaac is about God’s faithfulness and power, not about Sarah’s leadership.

Sarah’s motherhood and queenship in Judaism comparable to Mary’s in Roman Catholicism?

I really appreciated the point of God honoring Sarai with a meaningful, royal name of Sarah. And the point about Sarah and Abraham modeling somewhat of an egalitarian marriage (or at least relative to the patriarchal culture of the time).

RWB 1:

Sarai is objectified by Abraham and Pharaoh

God intervenes and saves Sarai

One theory that Sarai was daughter of Terah with different mother than Abram (but the text states daughter-in-law, so this seems wrong)

Patriarchy causes wives to become shield for husbands and often have to contend with concubine-wives

RWB 2:

Hagar was princess in Pharaoh’s household, slave in Sarai’s

No consent mentioned of Hagar for sex with Abram or childbearing

In cultural laws, Hagar’s status is promoted, Sarai’s is diminished

Son never becomes Sarai’s

“The pattern of Hagar and Abram and later Israel shows that the way God’s reward is through the margins of society and the depths of degradation.”