OLD TESTAMENT LECTURES/OUTLINES

LECTURE 8 EXODUS

EXODUS BEGINS BY SHOWING A DRASTIC CHANGE BETWEEN THE END OF Genesis and the Egyptian attitude

I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION:

A. Name – the exodus out of Egypt is the most important
B. The Author is Moses
C. Themes:

1. Emancipation (setting free)
2. Law for Israel

D. Three Major sections

1. Israel & Egypt (Chap 1-11) tells of Israel’s experience in Egypt; of their affliction
2. Divine deliverance (chap 12-18) response to Israel’s cry to God
3. Covenant confirmed (Chap 19-40) encampment at Mt. Sinai

II. CONTENT:

A. Israel in Egypt (chaps 1-11)

1. Preparation of Moses (Chaps 1-4)

a. Moses was born at time of change when time of Joseph was not known.
b. Pharaoh didn’t repect Joseph and Israelites were put to slave labor
c. The male population was controlled so they would have no fear of future rebellion.
d. In chapter 2 Moses was spared and raised in Egyptian royal court.
e. He was not called to deliver Israel until he was 80 years old


B. Moses’ life

1. His first 40 years spent growing up in royal court
2. At 40, his Hebrew background caused him to kill an Egyptian officer as a result of the Hebrews’ rough treatment.
3. He was forced to flee to the Sinai wilderness
4. 40-80 years lived in the wilderness, married and had a family – and there he shepherded his father-in-law’s sheep.
5. At age 80 – he had a divine call of God (the burning bush)
6. His final 40 years (80-120) are the most important

a. he deals with Exodus (Ex chap 3-Deut 34) and his servitude to God
b. Moses’ purpose was two-fold

1) deliverance from slavery
2) travel to Canaan (Promised Land)

7. In chapter 3:14 he meets the “I AM” or the God of existence; of what is
8. Chapter God speaks of hardening Pharaoh’s heart
9. God provided the occasion for Pharaoh’s true feelings to be exposed.

C. Contest with Pharaoh (5:11)

1. Moses and Pharaoh are merely spokesmen for A higher Being
2. God sent plagues:

a. FIRST: the Nile River turned to blood (the Nile was considered sacred – giving life)

1) This was a direct attack by God on the Egyptian gods.

b. THE NINTH: plague of darkness, attached the Egyptian sun god RE;
c. THE TENTH: plague demonstrates God’s power over life and death (the slaying of the first-born)




D. Diving Deliverance (12-18)

1. Exodus (12) RED SEA JOURNEY TO MT. SINAI

a. Sacrifice lamb and smeared blood on door posts to escape the death angel.
b. Pharaoh commands the Hebrews to leave.
c. The blood of Lamb saved Israelites and was today re-enactment of this night: Passover Feast of annual festival

2. Red Sea (13-15)

a. God opened the Red Sea

3. Journey to Mt. Sinai (16-18)

a. They camped here for a year.

E. COVENANT CONFIRMED (19-40)

Old Testament Lecture/Outlines

LECTURE 7 GENESIS

ISAAC is a transition figure from Abraham to Jacob
Jacob and Joseph are opposites
Jacob known as being deceitful – Joseph known as being righteous

CHAPTERS 27-35

1. Jacob is the main figure
2. He is the youngest of a set of twins
3. Esau is the older
4. Jacob’s name describes his character (one who trips up – who uses others in deceit)
5. Esau was the first born and was envied for his inheritance by Jacob
6. Esau was “MACHO, HAIRY, NATUREMAN, HUNTER
7. Jacob was domestic, herding/farming
8. They were paternal twins

SOCIAL CUSTOMS:

1. The first-born received a double portion of the inheritance
2. All others receive equal portions
3. Death-bed blessings compared to modern day wills.

CHAPTER 25 PROPHESIED THAT THE OLDER BROTHER WOULD SERVE THE YOUNGER.

4. JACOB: Rebekkah did not trust God for Jacob’s blessing

CHAPTER 28

1. Jacob was forced to flee to Hebron to his uncle Laban.
2. Here, Jacob met his match
3. Jacob worked to marry Rachel

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

4. Jacob himself was deceived and was married to Leah after 7 years of work
5. He worked another 7 years after marrying rachel
6. He worked another 6 years for wages
7. Jacob was also deceived by his children (of Joseph’s death)
8. Jacob reconciles with Esau

THROUGHOUT ALL OF HISTORY GOD’S WILL IS DONE. HIS WILL WILL COME TO PASS DESPITE HUMAN CONNIVING.

THE NARRATIVE MOVES TO JACOB’S SONS. PARTICULARLY TO JOSEPH.

1. Joseph becomes an object of jealousy because Jacob favors him more than the other sons (he was Rachel’s son)
2. Joseph was sold in slavery – but soon rose to power in Potiphar’s court
3. Another setback: He becomes object of Potiphar’s wife’s lust and is thrown in prison.
4. Joseph becomes Chief Trustee in prison
5. Joseph interprets dream of Pharoah
6. He is put in charge of all of Egypt- second in charge under Pharoah
7. Famine came to the land (according to Pharoah’s dream)
8. Canaanites were forced to move to Egypt

Old Testament Lecture/Outlines

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
SAMUEL J. SCHULTZ
CLASS NOTES/LECTURES
BY: LLOYD AUSTIN

LECTURE 6 GENESIS


Chapter 17
NAMES:
EL SHADDAI—GOD ALMIGHTY
ABRAM – ABRAHAM
SARAI – SARAH

Anytime God reveals Himself by His name He revelas Himself
God calls Himself because He is going to perform a miracle
He changes Abraham to show faith at him becoming father of many nations.

Abraham (100 yrs old) and Sarah (90) have a son named Isaac

Chapters 18, 19
SODOM and GOMMORAH
Why is this story important?

(Chap 19)

Lot bears 2 sons: Moab and Ammon

They became the head of 2 nations
This is the “BEGINNING” of the 2 nations of the Moabites and the Ammonites
God did not allow the people of Israel to occupy the lands of the Moabites and Ammonites because they are kin.

Chapter 21
Circumcision becomes a sign of the covenant
Isaac is born

Chapter 22
The consecration of Isaac. When Abraham was called to offer Isaac as a sacrifice
1. It was common that people comonly sacrificed first child
2. There was no law, so he took God seriously. In his culture it was taken as a common demand of gods.

Old Testament Lecture/Assignment

LECTURES 4 and 5 GENESIS

GENERAL INTRODUCTION:

1. GENESIS means Beginning. Genesis records the beginning of the world (time) as we know it.
2. It records also the beginning of mankind, sin, salvation, and Israel.
3. The author spends more time recording the beginning of Israel.
4. Chapter 1-11 deals with everything else until the introduction of Abraham in chapter 12.
5. The origin of Israel is to bring the world back into communion with God.

AUTHORSHIP:

1. There is no authorship statement in the book. Jewish tradition reveals Moses as author.
2. Everything in Genesis is outside of Moses= lifetime. He was born after all had happened.

THERE ARE TWO MAJOR SECTIONS:

2. Period of beginnings: (chapters 1-11)
3. Period of Patriarchs (chapters 12-50) [forefathers]

PERIOD OF BEGINNINGS Read Genesis chapter 1 and record of creation

1. FIRST DAY of creation: light and darkness ordained to provide periods of day and night.
2. SECOND DAY of creation: the earth=s atmosphere
3. THIRD DAY: separated land and sea and created vegetation
4. FOURTH DAY: created sun, moon and other luminaries to determine the length of seasons, years and days of the earth.
5. FIFTH DAY: living creatures of the sky and sea
6. SIXTH DAY: land creatures and humans created
7. SEVENTH DAY: Day of rest

Old Testament Lecture/Assignment

LECTURE 3 SECTIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

THERE ARE FOUR MAJOR SECTIONS:

1. PENTATEUCH - 5 books (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
2. HISTORY - 12 books (Joshua through Esther)
3. POETRY AND WISDOM - 5 books (Job through Solomon)
4. PROPHETS - 17 books (Isaiah through Malachi)

THE OLD TESTAMENT IS NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
NOTHING CAN BE ACCURATELY DATED BEFORE ABRAHAM

THEMATIC OVERVIEW:

The PENTATEUCH covers from Creation to 1410 B.C.

1. Genesis: The Origin of the Earth and all that is in the Earth including MAN.

A The origin of Israel
b. Introduction of 5 important people: Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

2. Exodus: First half we see Israel=s emancipation (being set free)
Second half Israel receives the LAW

3. Leviticus: Holiness is discussed in ceremonial or ritualistic terms. Sacrifices by the Priests. Marriage Laws.

4. Numbers: Wilderness wanderings. 40 years are described

5. Deuteronomy: Renewed Relationship with God. Most of Israelites died in the wilderness. Their children received the promise. Challenges for them to renew their faith.

Moses and his exploits are recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE PENTATEUCH:

1. Divided into historical and legal divisions
2. At end of Genesis - Israel numbers from 70-75 people.
3. At the beginning of Exodus, the Egyptians begin to treat the Israelites cruelly. This is where Moses comes on the scene.


4. Numbers 1-10 we see the legal material was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai in a period of one year. He received more than just the Ten Commandments. Here they also constructed the Tabernacle.
5. They move on to the Promised Land. They rebel and Numbers 10-21 records these times
6. Numbers 22... Israelites have reached the Plans of Moab and here Moses spends his last days and tells them of God=s legal revelations.

KNOW THESE EVENTS IN ORDER, NOT NECESSARILY THE DATES. REALIZE THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL DIVISIONS.

Lecture 2--LOCATION OF ISRAEL

LECTURE 2 Geography

LOCATION OF ISRAEL:

1. Israel was located in a “land bridge” between Egypt and Babylonia (Mesopotamia)
2. Israel was also in the middle of all conflicts - and also today.....

AREAS OF INTEREST:

1. Mediterranean Sea or GREAT SEA
2. Israel was located in Palestine (Land of the Philistines)
3. Palestine was also called CANAAN
4. Israel is one of other nations in Palestine

THERE ARE FOUR MAJOR AREAS OF PALESTINE:

1. Maritime Plain - Coastal Area
2. Hill Country - along the Jordan River
3. Jordan Valley - Jordan Rift
4. TransJordan

The MARITIME PLAIN: (Coastal Plain) hardly any Jewish population in Biblical Times. It was very fertile, but dangerous. The Egyptians and Northern Empires most often fought on the Maritime Plain. Mostly because it was a flat land area, perfect for fighting. Great for Military use.

It was bad for shipping because of no natural harbors - therefore, reason for no population increase.

HILL COUNTRY: Most Jews lived here - along with Israel’s population. They built homes and cities in the hills for defense. Elevation: 2,000 - 4,000 ft above sea level. Jerusalem located in the highest part. North/South had no significance. All travel “UP” to Jerusalem - just as they go down to Jericho. Up and Down relates to elevation not direction. Their farming was done by terracing.

JORDAN VALLEY: This is the most distinctive aspect of Palestine

A. Sea of Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee)
B. Euphrates - “Great River in Mesopotamia”
C. Jordan River
D. Dead Sea (Salt Sea) with a high mineral content
E. Arabah barren wasteland

TRANSJORDAN:

A. Bashan - good pasture land - cattle breeding
B. Gilead
C. Moab, Edom, Ammon

The Climate in Israel has 2 seasons:

1. Wet season- begins November through April = vegetation flourishes
2. Dry season- May through October = No rain, the Arabian Desert pulls all moisture from soil

The Latitude of Israel is about the same as Georgia

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR WORLDVIEW IS?

aka "BA"
...


DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR WORLDVIEW IS?

The term “worldview” may sound a bit abstract, but simply put, your worldview is the set of assumptions that make up your personal outlook on the nature of the world and how to live in that world day by day. It is your “set of beliefs about the most important issues in life.”

It is important to realize that everyone has a worldview whether or not he or she can recognize or state it. You may not think about your worldview when you make decisions or express opinions, but it influences your thoughts, feelings and actions. Your worldview is based on how you see answers to some rather important questions about life, which include:
(1) Who or what is God?
(2) Who am I and how do I operate in my world?
(3) How can I tell right from wrong?
(4) When it’s all over, where do I go?
(5) How can I know the truth; for that matter, how can I be sure that I know anything?
(6) What does my life mean, and how do I fit into history, if at all? Pp. 8, 9

[taken from Fritz Ridenour’s, So What’s The Difference. Ventura, California. Regal Books, 2001.]

EVRYDAY MORALITY

EVERYDAY MORALITY

WHY STUDY MORALITY?

I. EVERDAY MORALITY concerns the kinds of persons we aspire to be in our daily relationships with others.
II. Are we grateful and generous?
III. Are we envious and filled with spite?
IV. Are we trying to become more sensitive to the suffering of other people and animals?
V. Are we weak of will and readily self-deceived about the good we can do?
VI. Do we strive to be honest and open.
VII. Do we try to avoid hurting other’s feelings.
VIII. Do we genuinely respect ourselves and other people?

WHAT IS MORALITY?

Socrates states, “We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live.”

LIVING WITH WRONG DECISIONS

Living with Wrong Decisions

What wrong decision are you now living with? We’ve all made some bad choices and wrong decisions in our lives. How can we live with wrong decisions? The Bible gives us examples of people who made very wrong decisions.

Eve made a wrong decision.

Her wrong decision is infamous. Eve was ushered into a perfect world. No pain, no relationship problems, no hard work, no stress, no bad hair days–nothing bad, everything good.

Eve belies the philosophy that if we give people the right environment, they will be good people and do the right thing. In the midst of Eden, she made a very wrong, very bad decision–to eat the forbidden fruit.

Why did she do this? Because she wasn't content with what she had. You see, we often think that if our circumstances were just more favorable, we’d be content. But I want to tell you this: If you’re not content with where you are now, you’re not likely to be content even if your circumstances improve.

If you’re not content as a single woman or a single man, you won’t be content as a married woman or married man. If you’re not content in the house you’re in now, you won’t be content in a bigger, better house. If you’re not content with your mate the way he or she is, you won’t be content with another one. If you’re not content in the job where you are now, you probably won’t be content with a better job.
Contentment is a choice we make, not a set of circumstances. And when you and I live in discontent, we almost always make bad decisions.

Eve made a wrong decision because she chose to believe the serpent instead of God. He appealed to her ″self-esteem″ and she bit. She made a quick decision in the midst of an emotional onslaught, and it was a wrong decision.

Any area of your life where you are not now contented is a potential danger area–ripe for bad decisions. With what or whom are you discontent? Your job? Your looks? Your financial situation? Your mate? Your lack of a mate? Your children? If we don’t learn to be content, we walk right into a danger zone and we are most likely to make bad decisions.

The Value of the Old Testament

THE VALUE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT


Matthew 5:17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law,or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

FULFILL: live in perfect harmony with the LAW - not do away with it

Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Christ is the END (GOAL) of the LAW

1. The goal of the LAW is righteousness. God revealed it to men to show them how to be righteous.
2. The end was never achieved
3. Jesus made us righteous -achieved what the LAW never accomplished

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Paul's estimate of the Old Testament was that it was written for our instruction.

THE LAW:

1. ETHICAL (Ten Commandments) attitudes
2. CEREMONIAL (Sacrifices and ceremonies)

JESUS= sermon on the Mount built upon the ETHICS of the LAW