Beginnings
After the Fall of Man, the human race split into two main family lines. The descendants of:
Seth and Cain
What did God call upon Abraham to do?
Gather humanity and spread his word
What did God ask Abraham to do as a test of faith?
Sacrifice Isaac, his son
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob because
He was hungry and wanted stew
Why did Joseph’s brothers become jealous of him?
He was Jacob’s favorite and had special dreams
The two different family lines represent:
Seth: Faithful to God.
Cain: Wicked, the "sin of humanity."
What does Abrahams name mean and how is it ironic?
Father of Many; his wife was barren
What did Abraham sacrifice instead?
A ram
Who tricked Jacob into marrying the wrong daughter first?
Laban
What did his brother do acting on this jealousy?
They threw him in a cistern (well), then sold him to be a servant in Egypt.
The people who stayed with God (Seth/Shem) were His...
"Chosen People," - tasked to communicate His love and salvation plan.
Abraham and his family originally came from:
Ur
What does Isaacs wife demonstrate?
The Power of Prayer
Why did Jacob go to Laban?
Esau was very angered over the stolen blessing
Joseph rose to power in Egypt because he:
Interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams
How did the original family lines explain the different nationalities and races of the world?
Noah's three sons established the next lineages:
Shem: The Jewish people
Ham: Canaanites, Babylonians, and Assyrians.
Japeth: A mix, European descendants.
Why was Abraham surprised when God promised he would be the “father of many nations”?
His wife was barren - but God provided
Explain how Abraham showed faith during the test with Isaac.
He trusted in God to provide and put him above all, even the things he loved most
Explain how Jacob and his interactions with Laban show his perseverance and the power of love.
He worked for years putting in labor all because he loved Rachel and had faith she would be his wife
What were Joseph’s prophetic dreams about, and how were they fulfilled later in his life?
Being in a position of authority - people bowing down to him
He became 2nd in command of Egypt and his brother bowed to him
How did Cains descendants use the Tower of Babel?
Others tried to make their own name (be God), leading to God punishing them by confusing languages and scattering people.
-God gives your name, not anyone else.
What did God promise to give Abraham?
How did the story of Isaacs (potential) sacrifice foreshadow Jesus?
Both gave up their only beloved son to prove their faith
Describe the difference in personalities between Jacob and Esau.
Esau:
Fought with Jacob in the womb, "Hairy", A skillful hunter (a man of the field), Isaac favored him
Jacob:
Fought with Esau in the womb, "Supplanter" (one who replaces/replaces Esau as supplanting heir), A simple man who stayed among the tents (quiet, domestic), Rebekah favored him.
What is one major lesson we can learn from Joseph’s life story? (Hint: there are at least 3 we discussed).
1. God is present even in rough times -> Stay faithful
2. Mercy/Forgiveness triumphs, redemption is possible
3. God is always working/planning