THE PATRIARCHS (11:27–50:26)
ABRAHAM (11:27–25:10)
Read carefully the covenant God made with Abraham in chapter 15. Abraham is the foundation of all the dealings of God with man.
ISAAC (25:11–28:9)
Type of Christ (Review “Infinite Supply”)
JACOB (28:10–36:43)
Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel, is of great importance. He is the beginning of the people of the nation of Israel.
JACOB’S SONS, ESPECIALLY JOSEPH (37:1–50:26)
- Note that the book began with man in the Edenic paradise and ends with a coffin in Egypt. It begins with life and ends with death, pointing to the need of a Redeemer.
Joseph is the biography that illuminates the providential dealings of God better than any.
JACOB’S TWELVE SONS — GEN. 29 AND 30
| Son | Meaning | Mother’s Words |
|---|---|---|
| Reuben | BEHOLD | “The LORD has seen my misery” |
| Simeon | HEARING | “The LORD has heard I am not loved” |
| Levi | JOINED / ATTACHED | “He will be attached to me” |
| Judah | PRAISE | “I will praise the Lord” |
| Dan | VINDICATED | “God has heard my plea” |
| Naphtali | STRUGGLE AND OVERCOME | |
| Gad | GOOD FORTUNE | “God has blessed with a great company” |
| Asher | HAPPY / JOYFUL | “How happy I am” |
| Issachar | REWARDED / PRICE PAID | “God has rewarded me” |
| Zebulun | DWELLING PLACE | “He will honor me by dwelling with me” |
| Joseph | ADD / FRUITFUL | “He has taken away my disgrace” |
| Benjamin | Son of my Right Hand | Benoni (Son of my trouble) by Rachel; renamed Benjamin by Jacob |
Dinah, a daughter, was also born following Zebulun. Interesting story in Gen. 34.
THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL
- Levites were not considered a tribe in terms of inheritance or privileges
- Joseph was replaced by his sons:
- Ephraim — often used as shorthand for the entire nation of Israel
- Manasseh — the firstborn, but did not receive the first blessing
THE BLESSINGS OF THE FIRSTBORN: GEN. 27 / GEN. 48
- Reversed for Jacob and Esau
- Reversed for Ephraim and Manasseh
- The power of the blessing and impartation of laying on of hands. They could not revoke their word.
LIFE OF JOSEPH
- One of the most classic cases of God turning adversity into blessing
- Brothers sold him into Egypt
- The result of that injustice became the salvation of the entire nation of Israel
- Joseph died in Egypt, and his “inheritance” was divided between his sons Ephraim and Manasseh.