1. Genesis 12
1. 12: God tells Abraham to go where he is told to
1. paradigm of divine vocation [also Noah]--here leaving to settle in new land along with promise of founding a dynasty--colonization and westward spread of america; new start
2. the chosen one--special prerogatives
3. Canaanite land given to Abrahams descendants
4. Famine drives Ab. to Egypt and he leaves rich [forshadow of Exodus]--Egypt as the great Empire; political subtexts
1. beautiful wife; trick on Pharaoh
2. prediction and enactment
3. prosperity because of Sarah's favor
4. then he's allowed to leave
2. 17:9 ff -19
1. God promises again at age 99 of Abe; name change; covenant of circumcision; Abraham laughs
2. 18: God appears as three men under the terbinths of Mamre; Abe falls to ground; offers hospitality; God promises Sarah a child, she laughs and then denies it
3. Abraham bargains over the survival of Sodom and gomorrah showing justice, compassion, faith, personal integrity and tact...but the city is not saved.
4. 19: Lot and Sodom
1. all the men of Sodom--without exception [picking up the last thread]--come to rape the angels
2. Lot offers his daughters instead
3. vivid narrative; angels strike men outside with blindess
4. angels say get out; city will be destroyed; another Noah story--and Exodus story
5. Lots wife looked back--forbidden [when its time to get out dont look back]--the Jews in the desert will look back and so will the disciples and others--she's turned to salt
6. Rescue story
7. Continuing the abuse--Lots daughters both sleep with him; their children are Moab and Ammon
3. 21: Isaac born when Abe's 100--laugh motif comes back and incorporated in to Isaac's name; she jealously insists Hagar and Ishmael be exiled
1. digression on Ishmael--driven into wilderness by Sarah and then rescued by God with cold water
2. Abe makes land deal with Abimelech
4. 22: God puts Abe to the test
1. Abraham, Here I am
2. God asks for sacrifce--first fruits belong to God--human sacrifice
3. no response, just humble details
4. three days travel
5. dialogue with servants
6. burden on shoulder of Isaac
7. he carries fire and knife
8. Isaac's questioning
9. Abrahams ambiguous answer
10. building altar
11. cliffhanger suspense
12. testing turns out pro or con--yes or no--my side or yours
13. test is passed--trial and deliverance
14. willingness to sacrifice will be rewarded; obedience rewarded
15. What do you think of this kind of testing and unconditional obedience?
16. the blessing as offspring and prosperity