Bible Study
St. Mary UOC (Pokrova)
9 November 2016
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy)
Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all worldly desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all things pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the Light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give the glory, together with Your Father, without beginning, and Your All Holy, Good, and Life- Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. (2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 1:18; 2 Peter 2:11)
Review.
The purpose of Genesis is not to tell everything, but to provide an account of God’s purpose for creation and mankind. We moved from the Fall, through the Flood and the division of the nations, and now we are learning how God worked with the chosen seed and people to prepare them for the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Church.
Major Points
-
Genesis 12:1-8. Abram’s call (confirmed and expounded in Genesis 17).
-
Genesis 12:10-20. God protects Sarai from the Pharoah (see also Genesis 20).
-
Genesis 14:8-21. The rescue of Lot and the Blessing of Melchizedek.
-
Genesis 15:3-7. God promises Abram offspring.
-
Genesis 16:7-13. The interesting case of Hagar and Ishmael (see also Genesis 21).
-
Genesis 18:1-3. The hospitality of Abraham and Sarah (for the Lord and two angels)
-
Genesis 19:23-26. The rescue of Lot… and the destruction of the cities of the plain (!)
-
Genesis 21:1-3. The birth of Isaac.
-
Genesis 22:1-19. The sacrifice of Isaac. Why?
ST ATHANASIUS: The sacrifice was not for the sake of Isaac but for that of Abraham, who was tested by being called upon to make this offering. And of course, God accepted his intentions, but he prevented him from slaying Isaac. The death of Isaac would not buy freedom for the world. No, that could be accomplished only by the death of our Savior, by whose stripes we are all healed. FESTAL LETTERS.
-
Genesis 24:62-67. Abraham ensures that Isaac has a godly wife (not one of the locals).
-
Genesis 25:21. Miraculous conception of Esau and Jacob.
-
Genesis 25:31-33; 27:30-32. Jacob gets the birthright and blessing.
-
Genesis 28:10-15. The promise is confirmed to Jacob.
-
Genesis 32:22-31. Jacob wrestles with God.
AUGUSTINE: So what does it mean, Jacob’s wrestling and refusing to let go? The Lord says in the Gospel, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and those who act violently plunder it.” This is what we were saying earlier on: struggle, wrestle, to hold on to Christ, to love your enemy. You hold Christ here and now if you have loved your enemy.
Next week: Israel and Joseph (Genesis 34-50)
