Patriarchs

• Abraham—Isaac– Jacob—Sons– God’s chosen people

Abraham

• Name was Abram• Semitic nomad from near east• Wife-Sarai• God asks Abram to leave home and move• Promises to make a great nation of him• Abram moves with Lot (nephew) to Canaan

Abraham• Abram and Sarai had no children – Children were seen as a blessing

• God reassured they would but Sarai is “old”• Hagar (servant of Sarai) bears a child with

AbramIsmael• Concubine—maid servant of wife• God speaks to Abram and Sarai– Changes names to Abraham and Sarah– Promises Abraham he will be the Father of Nations– Promises Sarah a son

Abraham (con’t)• Covenant

• Three monotheistic religions begin with Abraham

Christian Jewish MuslimFollowed Isaac Followed IshmaelSeparated after Jesus

Patriarch and Matriarchs

• Abraham• Isaac• Jacob• Joseph

• Sarah• Rebekah• Leah and Rachel

Isaac

• Wife is Rebekah • Have 2 sons: Esau and Jacob• Jacob steals the blessing of Isaac thus

becoming the next patriarch

Jacob

• Marries Leah and Rachel• Has 12 sons• God speaks in dreams– Renew the covenant– Changes his name to Israel• Israelites

Jacob’s sons• Favorite son is Joseph• Joseph can interpret dreams• His brothers are jealous• Sell him as a slave• He rises in power to become the 2nd in command

to Pharaoh• Brothers go to Egypt for food• Joseph tests and forgives them• Jacob moves to Egypt• Israelites are now in Egypt where Pharaoh

eventually enslaves them

Patriarchs continued

• Old testament patriarchs

• Apostles and Church Fathers

• Mistakes can be transformed• Embodiment of beauty and darkness of

humanity

EXODUS

The Story of Moses

Exodus beginnings

• Epic journey• Recalls the enslavement of Israelites

• Pharaoh sees the number of Israelites increasing as a threat

• Orders enslavement—harsh and inhumane• Orders death of male Israelite babies

Moses –Early Adult

• Moses sees an Egyptian strike a slave• Moses strikes and kills the slave and hides

the body• Flees for Midian• Marries Zipporah (daughter of Revel)

Call of Moses• God calls from a burning bush—he has

heard the cries of Israelites• Identifies self as “I am who am”• Aaron assists Moses• Moses and Aaron go to pharaoh• “Let my people go”• Pharaoh is angry and orders harsher

treatment

Plagues• Moses confronts Pharaoh again• Turns his staff to a snake• Pharaoh will not give in• Plague begin– 10– 1st water to blood– Last death of first born

Passover• 1 year old lamb (passover/Pascal lamb)• Blood on doorposts and lintel• Roasted lamb + unleavened bread + bitter herbs• Angel of death passed over Israelites• Commanded to celebrate Passover every year as a

reminder• Jesus was celebrating Passover at Last Supper

Israel is saved from death Jesus sacrifices and saves us from eternal death

“Old” Pascal lamb “New” Pascal lamb

10th Plague• Each house of Israel is marked• Pharaoh is grief-stricken• Relents and lets Israelites go• Changes his mind and pursues Israelites after he

lets them go• Moses stretches out his hand at the Red Sea for

Israelites to cross-water flows back on the Egyptians

• Story about God keeping promises even if all appears hopeless

In the Desert• Land of uncertainty• Food and water were scarce• Natives were unwelcomed• Israel forgot God’s liberation and promises• Question God and complain• Moses calls out• God sends manna and water• Israel still questions

10 commandments

• Mount Sinai--Decalogue• Pivotal scene in Exodus epic• Moses goes up the mountain• God decares he is their God—one of fidelity, justice and

love• God reminds Moses of the covenant of Abraham• God promises Israel will be God’s special possession—a

kingdom of priests, a holy nation• Israel must live according to the law• Inherit the promised land

10 commandments

• After 3 days Moses is given the 10 commandments• 10 norms to summarize the Law of the Torah• Commandments– Tell us how to live– Give a framework for a just society– Teach how to live with God– Heart of commandments is reverence (God, self and

neighbor)• Moses delivers 10 commandments/ Jesus gives a

new law with Sermon on the Mount