the old testament in perspective - Vale Road Church of Christ

THE OLD TESTAMENT IN PERSPECTIVE
(Genesis through Deuteronomy) The Patriarchal (Dispensation) Age
(Adam through Moses)
(Genesis 1:1-Exodus 20) Points of interest
The beginning 1. The creation. The creation answers the question, "Where did I come
from?" (Genesis 1:1-2:25; see Psalms 33:6-9; 148:1-5). New Testament
references--John 1:1-3; Acts 14:15-17; 17:24-29; Romans 1:20; Colossians
1:16-17; Hebrews 3:4. Created in the image of God means we have a soul
given by God that will continue throughout eternity (Genesis 1:26;
Jeremiah 1:5; Numbers 16:22; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 44:2; Zechariah
12:1; Hebrews 12:9; James 2:26). 2. The temptation and fall of man (Genesis 3:1-24). New Testament
references--II Corinthians 11:2-3; I Timothy 2:11-15. The sad
consequences of sin go beyond the fact that physical death is a reality
that all must face (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 5:12), sin brings about a
separation that will, if unaltered, effect our eternal destination
(Isaiah 59:1-2; Ephesians 2:1). Obviously, God does not want that to
happen (II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:4; Ezekiel 33:11), and in this chapter,
through the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23;
Galatians 4:4), we have the first indication that the Saviour of the
world was coming (John 3:16; I John 4:14). 3. Cain and Able (Genesis 4:1-17). Two brothers completely different in
attitude and service. Able served God and was righteous (Hebrews 11:4).
Cain was of the wicked one, his works were evil (I John 3:12).
a. God gave Cain the opportunity to make correction, but Cain
refused the offer (Genesis 4:6-7).
4. The first ten generations - spanning a period of some 1556 years
(Genesis 5:1-32).
a. "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him"
(Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 14). Enoch was one of the two
men who never suffered physical death, the other was Elijah (II
Kings 2:11).
b. Age does not always bring wisdom.
5. Righteous Noah and the flood (Genesis 6:1-9:29). New Testament
references--Matthew 24:36-39; Hebrews 11:7; I Peter 3:20-21; II Peter
2:5. Even God, who is long-suffering, can reach a point where enough is
enough (II Peter 3:9).
a. Noah, one of the three praised by Ezekiel in a single verse for
their righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14).
i. Please note that their righteousness could neither be
bought nor lent by their families (Ezekiel 14:20).
b. The rainbow is a sign that God will never again destroy the
earth by water (Genesis 9:12-15).
c. Fire is the element that will be used at the end of time (II
Peter 3:10-12; II Thessalonians 1:8-9).
6. The call of Abraham and the promise of both seed and land (Genesis 12:1-
7). New Testament references--Acts 7:2-5; Romans 4:17-21; Galatians 3:8;
16-19; Hebrews 11:8-19.
a. Abraham is called a friend of God. What a wonderful compliment
to his faith and devotion to God (II Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah
41:8; James 2:23).
7. Melchizedek enters the historic scene briefly as both King and priest.
The profound meaning will be revealed in the course of time, as
Melchizedek stands as a type of Christ (Genesis 14:17-24; Psalms 110:4;
Hebrews 5:6; 10; 6:20; 7:1-28).
a. Lot and his family (Genesis 13:1-13; 19:1-38). New Testament
references--Luke 17:32; II Peter 2:6-9.
i. Lot made a decision that negatively affected every member
of his family (Genesis 19:14; 26; 30-38)
ii. Fathers, where are you pitching your tent?
iii. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-28).
New Testament references--II Peter 2:6; Jude 7.
iv. The origin of the Moabites and Ammonites (Genesis 19:37-
38).
b. The covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17:9-13; Acts 7:8).
i. The New Testament emphasizes the circumcision of the heart,
not the flesh (Romans 2:28-29; Philippians 3:3; Colossians
2:11-12).
c. The birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-4). New Testament reference--
Galatians 4:22-31.
d. The willingness of Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice
(Genesis 22:1-19). New Testament reference--Hebrews 11:17-19;
James 2:21-23.
e. The birth of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:21-26).
i. Parental favoritism can last generations (Genesis 25:28).
f. The selling of the birth right (Genesis 25:29-34). New Testament
reference-- Hebrews 12:16-17.
g. The promise (seed and land) repeated in Isaac and Jacob (Genesis
26:1-4; 28:10-15). New Testament reference --Hebrews 11:9.
8. Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 29:21-45:28).
a. Parental favoritism can have a devastating effect in a family
(Genesis 37:3-4).
b. The sad story of Judah and Tamar plays a part in the lineage of
David (Genesis 38:1-30; Ruth 4:18-22).
c. Twenty years from the treachery of his brothers, the heart of
Joseph is still open to his family (Genesis 37:4; 20-36; 45:1-
15)
i. The seed promise protected by the providence of God
(Genesis 45:5).
9. The children of Israel enter Egypt (Genesis 46:1-47:9). New Testament
reference--Acts 7:9-15.
a. The souls that went into Egypt (Genesis 46:8-26)
i. Kohath is a key figure for those who enjoy calculating the
time from the promise (Genesis 12:3) to the giving of the
law (Exodus 20) - 430 years (Galatians 3:17). Add to that
Exodus 6:18-20; I Chronicles 6:1-3.
b. Jacob blesses his children. The tribe of Judah set apart as the
tribe through which Christ would come (Genesis 49:10; Numbers
24:17; II Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 11:1). New Testament references-
-Luke 1:30-33; Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5.
c. Joseph gave instructions concerning his bones; "And Joseph said
unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and
bring you out of the land unto the land which he sware to
Abraham, and to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took oath of the
children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye
shall carry up my bones from hence" (Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus
13:19). Points of interest from Exodus 1. From guest to slavery (Genesis 46:16-24; Exodus 1:1-22). New Testament
reference-- (Acts 7:17-18).
2. The birth of Moses and his part in God's plan (Exodus 2:1-Deuteronomy
34:7). New Testament references--Hebrews 11:23-29; Acts 7:20-44.
a. Moses at the age of forty (Exodus 2:11-15), confident that he
was chosen by God to be the deliverer (Acts 7:23-25).
b. Moses at eighty (Exodus 3:11-4:17), no longer confident; in
fact, far from it as he uses excuses to avoid returning to Egypt
to deliver Israel. New Testament reference to the call of Moses
in the wilderness of Mount Sinai (Acts 7:30-35).
i. "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?" (Exodus 3:11).
ii. "What shall I say?" (Exodus 3:13).
iii. "They will not believe me" (Exodus 4:1).
iv. "I am slow of speech, and slow of tongue" (Exodus 4:10).
c. One by one God removes Moses' excuses for being mediocre, and
Moses rose to greatness in the service of God!
3. Ten plagues bring about the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian
bondage (Exodus 5-12). New Testament reference (Romans 9:17).
a. Nile turned to blood (Exodus 7:14-25)
b. Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15)
c. Lice (Exodus 8:16-19)
d. Flies (Exodus 8:20-32)
e. Plague on the livestock of Egypt (Exodus 9:1-7)
f. Boils (Exodus 9:8-12)
g. Hail (Exodus 9:13-35)
h. Locust ((Exodus 10:1-20)
i. Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29)
j. Death of the firstborn (Exodus 11:1-12:36)
Note: Israel, in the land of Goshen, was spared from the plagues sent
by God upon Egypt (Exodus 8:22; 9:4; 11:7).
4. The Passover instituted (Exodus 12:3-28) New Testament reference--
Hebrews 11:28.
a. Christ is our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; I Peter
1:18-19).
5. The destruction of Pharaoh and the Egyptian army in the Red Sea
(Exodus 14).
6. Amalek (the grandson of Esau-Genesis 36:12) fought with Israel (Exodus
17:8-16).
a. God remembers those who trouble his people (I Samuel 15; II
Thessalonians 1:6; Romans 12:19-21). THE MOSAIC (DISPENSATION) AGE
Moses until the New Testament of Christ THE LAW GIVEN AND EMPHASIZED
(Exodus 20:1-Deuteronomy 34:12)
Points of interest 1. The Law given at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). New Testament reference-
-Romans 7:1-7.
2. Respect for parents (Exodus 21:17).
3. The price of a servant (Exodus 21:32; Matthew 26:14-15).
4. God always considers the weak and helpless (Exodus 22:22-24; James
1:27).
5. The tabernacle (Exodus 25:1-27:21). New Testament reference--Hebrews
9:1-7.
6. False worship is never by accident (Exodus 32:1-24) New Testament
reference--Acts 7:40.
a. The book of life (Exodus 32:32; Psalms 56:8; Daniel 12:1; Luke
10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 20:12; 15 et al ).
7. The original tables written by God were broken (Exodus 32:15-1