Character Studies

Who Were the Patriarchs?

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

What did God tell Moses in Ex. 3:15?

Our focus only on these three…and touching on the 12 sons

Could also include Ishmael and Esau

Or even the 12 sons of Israel Acts 7:8-9.

Even David A. 2:29

We’ll be tickling at their relationships with God

Abraham

Saga begins in chap. 12.

Backing up to 11, we see that he is of the line of Shem 11:10

God took him from Ur, sent to the “Promised Land”

Took faith…but how strong was that faith

When measured against our current cultural standards, how does he measure up?

Lied about his wife---twice: Pharoah, 12:10 ff. and with Abimelech, 20: 2 ff.

Yet, God himself identifies him as a prophet 20:7

Honorable enough to give Lot 1st choice of the land, chap. 13

…to recover Lot and his family…along with the wealth of Sodom

318 men against the armies of 3 kings coming off a major winning streak, ch. 14

Still he doubted

…for a few awhile

but then: He believed the LORD; 15:5

The saga with Hagar and Ishmael

The covenant of circumcision

Isaac’s birth promised, delivered

Then the test with the command to sacrifice his son

Intercedes with God regarding Lot

Sarah dies, he remarries and has more sons…though not accounted for as patriarchs

Isaac

Married to Rebecca; fathered twins; Jacob and Esau

Like father like son…lies about his wife in 26: 6 ff.

Gets hoodwinked by his wife and younger son to give Jacob his blessing

Usually overlooked is that Esau also got a blessing 27:39-40

Jacob

The deceiver

Bargains for the birthright of the 1st-born 25:29 ff

The deception in 27

Ran for his life

A name change in 25:9

He has a spoiled son, sold into slavery 37

All’s well that ends well Joseph saves the day

Homework

28:20 ff

What is significant about this event?

How do we see something grand about to happen