The Old Testament Genesis Genesis Creation Light Firmament

The Old Testament: Genesis

Genesis: Creation § Light § Firmament § Earth § Day & Night—time periods; § Living creatures § Man § Sabbath

Genesis: Eden § Geography: the Fertile Crescent § God’s rule on the two trees: --knowledge & life § Man’s taxonomy of creatures § God’s creation of Eve

Genesis 3: the Serpent § The serpent’s temptation § Eve and Adam’s fall § Man’s knowledge of being nakedness § Adam’s answer to God § God’s punishment on man and the serpent

Genesis 4: the first murder § Cain and Abel § Cain as tiller of the ground § Abel as a keeper of sheep § God in favor of Abel § Cain’s murder of Abel and his subsequent exile

Genesis 6 -9: The Flood § Man’s wickedness § God’s punishment: the destruction of world § God’s graces for Noah: the ark § the covenant: the bow § multiplication of man again

Genesis: The Origin of Languages § One unified language § Man’s power desire § Babel tower: (babble) § Language diversities --(communication barrier)

Genesis: Abraham & Sarah § Originally named Abram & Sarai § Origin in Mesopotamia § Father relocated at Haran though bound for Canaan at first. § God appeared to Abram and promised him the land of Canaan. § Abram moved to Canaan with Lot.

Genesis: Abraham & Sarah § Abram built an alter to worship God. § Abram moved to Egypt due to famine. § Abram’s trick for security § Pharaoh’s punishment by God § Abram went back to Canaan with wealth § Abram separated with Lot. § Abram rescued Lot.

Genesis: Abraham & Sarah § The king of Sodom’s offer & Abram’s rejection § God’s appeared to Abram & Abram’s request: the covenant § Hagar & Ishmael § God’s covenant of circumcision: renamed Abraham & Sarah § Abraham & Sarah’s disbelief in God’s power

Genesis: Abraham & Sarah § The three visitors to Abraham in the Terebinths of Mamre § Abraham’s hospitality & piety § God’s promise again and His interrogation of Sarah § God told Abraham His plan for Sodom & Gomorrah

Genesis: Abraham & Sarah § Abraham’s pleads with God: 50 45 40 30 20 10 § Lot’s hospitality & piety § Sodom people’s viciousness § Lot’s willingness of self-sacrifice for the visitors’ sake § God’s attempt to save Lot & his family § The disbelief of Lot’s sons-in-law

Genesis: Abraham & Sarah § The disbelief of Lot’s sons-in-laws § The flee of Lot and his wife and two daughters § The fragility of faith in Lot’s wife

Genesis: Abraham & Isaac § God’s test of Abraham § Abraham’s total obedience & faith § Isaac’s question & Abraham’s reply § The angel appeared to Abraham. § The replacement of ram as sacrifice § God’s confirmation of his covenant again

Jacob & Esau § Rebekah’s barrenness & Isaac’s request of God § the twin brothers’ distinction in both appearance & vocation § A hunter vs. a tent dweller § Jacob’s slyness & Esau’s weak will § Isaac’s final request & Rebekah’s partiality § Isaac’s doubt of Jacob

Jacob & Esau § Jacob’s stealth of Esau’s birth right

Jacob & Esau § Question: Can you see any reason of the parent’s respective partiality? § Question: Do you think Jacob was an admirable person? § Question: Why God chose Jacob as the one to pass down God’s blessings for the Israelites?

The Story of Jacob § Rebekah’s excuse & Jacob’s flee to Laban § Issac’s restraint and Esau’s rebellion § Jacob met Rachel. § Rachel’s father’s trick § Leah’s pregnancy vs. Rachel’s barrenness § The two sisters’ competition in acquiring the husband’s favor—the two maidservants and the mandrake plants

The Story of Joseph § Joseph as his father’s favorite son § Joseph’s dream of binding sheaves § Joseph’s dream of sun, moon and stars bowing to him § His brothers’ plot against him: Reuben’s mercy at the last minute, “Shed no blood. ” § Joseph sold to the caravan bound for Egypt

The Story of Joseph § Joseph brought down to Potiphar, courtier of Pharaoh § his prosperity thereon § the courtier’s wife’s desire for Joseph and the latter’s rejection of the temptation § Joseph put into jail § Joseph’s popularity in the jail

The Story of Joseph § A Question: why God did not rid Joseph of these troubles?

The Story of Joseph § The cupbearer’s and the baker’s dream § Joseph’s interpretations of them § The cupbearer’s oblivion of Joseph § The pharaoh’s dreams two years later § The cupbearer’s belated recollection of Joseph

The Story of Joseph § Joseph’s interpretation of the Pharaoh’s dream § Joseph was assigned the highest official in Pharaoh’s court at age 30. § Joseph’s brothers’ arrival at Egypt in quest for food due to famine § Joseph’s feigned ignorance and his request of meeting Benjamin

The Story of Joseph § Joseph put back his brothers’ silver into their sacks. § The brothers’ report of Joseph’s demand § Jacob’s refusal of sending Benjamin off § Jacob’s change of mind due to shortage of food § Joseph’s trick on his brothers § The family recognition

The Story of Joseph § Joseph’s interpretation of his encounters

Job § Job--Innocent, upright, God-fearing with tremendous wealth § The Accuser’s bet with God § The disasters befallen on Job § Job’s persistence in piety § The second deal between the Accuser and God § Job’s wife’s curse

Job § The three friends’ visit § Job’s regret of his birth § The friends’ distrust of Job & Job’s answer § Job’s challenge of God § God’s answer

Job § Question: How does the story of Job differ from that of Joseph in the idea of God’s relation to man?