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CED 1 1st Handout

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32 views32 pages

CED 1 1st Handout

Uploaded by

Master Majinbu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CED 1

Understanding the
Old Testament
LEARNING MODULE

1st Part of CED 1 Module


August 22 – September 5, 2022

REV. DEACON ED VINCENT I. PUTULAN


Instructor, School of Theology

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Table of Contents

Page Number

Title Page 1
Table of Contents 2

NCC’S Fair Use Disclaimer 4


Meet Your Teacher 5
Target Learners 6
Overview of the Course 6
Course Outcomes 6
Instruction to the Learners 7
Icons to Remember 7
Entry Behavior 7
Schedule of Submission of Output/Requirements 9
Pre-Test 10
Learning Outcomes 11
Learning Activities 11
Lesson 1: Introduction 11
A. Who God Is 11
B. The Bible 12
C. The Old Testament 13
Lesson 2: The Beginning of Everything 15
A. Genesis & Its Meaning 16
B. The Four Stages of Sin 20
C. God Calls His People 25
D. The Patriarchal Period – Isaac, Jacob
E. Joseph
Lesson 3: The Community of Faith Struggled for Liberation
A. Exodus & Its Meaning
B. The Birth, Calling and Leadership of Moses
C. The Exodus, The Covenant and Sin of the People
D. The Wilderness Wandering
E. At the Edge of Settlement

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Lesson 4: The Conquest and Settlement to the Promised Land
A. Joshua
B. Judges
Lesson 5: The United Kingdom
A. The Meeting, Anointing and Kingship of Saul
B. The Anointing of David
C. The Anointing of Solomon
Lesson 6. The Split of the Kingdom
A. The Sin of King Solomon
B. The Divided Kingdom
C. The Exile of the Jews
Lesson 7: The Return and Restoration of the Jews
A. The First Group of Returnees
B. The Second Group of Returnees
C. The Third Group of Returnees
Lesson 8: The Poetical Books/Wisdom books
Lesson 9: The Prophetical Books
A. Major Prophets
B. Minor Prophets
Appendices

A. Bibliography

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
NCC’S Fair Use Disclaimer

In the preparation of distance-learning modules and online-accessible lessons for


our students during the CoViD-19 pandemic, the faculty members of Northern Christian
College (NCC) included some copyrighted material, the use of which were not always
specifically authorized by their copyright owners. NCC used such material in good
faith, believing that they were made accessible online to help advance understanding of
topics and issues necessary for the education of readers worldwide. NCC believes that,
because such material is being used strictly for research, educational, and non-
commercial purposes, this constitutes fair use of any such material as provided for
in Section 185 of the Copyright Law of the Philippines and Section 107 of the US
Copyright Law. No work in its entirety (or substantial portions thereof) was copied;
only isolated articles and brief portions were copied/provided links to in the modules
and online lessons. Also, all our students are informed of proper attribution and citation
procedures when using words and ideas that are not their own.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Greetings!

It’s my joy to be with you for this First Semester of SY 2023 – 2024 as
your instructor with our Course Christian Education 1, Understanding
the Old Testament.
I am Rev. Deacon Ed Vincent I. Putulan, 25 years old, from #24
Sumader, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. I graduated from the courses,
Bachelor of Science in Cooperative Management at Mariano Marcos
State University and Bachelor of Arts in Theology here in our
institution, Northern Christian College Inc. I am a fresh graduate, and
graduated as one of those with flying colors. I graduated as one of those
with the honor of Magna Cum Laude. I have two siblings and I am the
second on the list.
As I am hired as an instructor of the School of Theology, I also work as
the officiating minister of our local church in Sumader, City of Batac
under the congregation of the Independent Church-Aglipayan
Association Inc. or popularly known as “Simbaan a Bassit” in Batac.
As we will be together for the First Semester, I hope that we will do our
best to continue to study the Word of God. And as students, try to live
with the expectations of your parents and study very hard and
diligently to be able to succeed with your chosen field of endeavor.
Thank you and God bless us all.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
TARGET LEARNER This Module is designed for all freshmen students enrolled in any
course offered here at the Northern Christian College,
undergraduate level during the First Semester SY, 2023-2024.

OVERVIEW Welcome to the study of the Word of God!


This module will allow you to have a disciplined study of the Bible particularly the
Old Testament in order to understand God’s Mighty Acts-searching for and saving
of person and sustaining the life in the community.
There are nine lessons that will be taken such as:
Lesson 1 – Introduction
Lesson 2 – The Beginning of Everything
Lesson 3 – The Community of Faith Struggled for Liberation
Lesson 4 – The Conquest and Settlement to the Promised Land
Lesson 5 – The Period of Monarchy Under the United Kingdom
Lesson 6 – The Split of the Kingdom
Lesson 7 – The Return and Restoration of the People of God
Lesson 8 – The Poetical Books
Lesson 9 – The Prophetical Books
Your success in this course will be shown in your ability to come up with the
performance standards for each lesson.
OBJECTIVES / LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, the student will be able to:

1. Discover the meaning of the Bible not so much as a record of people’s search for God but as
a story of God’s continuing liberating acts, making His redeeming presence triumph in and
through historical course.
2. Encounter the personal God who is living Ultimate Reality making His way into a person’s
heart and demanding an appropriate response within the community of faith.
3. Participate in and pass through the struggles of honest doubts and mature questionings so
that the heritage of faith from the Hebrews becomes his/her guiding faith in a complex and
ever-changing world.
4. Testifies to the relevance of Hebrew history and religion particularly in our attempt to
establish a Filipino Christian community based on faith, freedom, justice and love.
5. Harmonize or integrate his/her knowledge of biblical history and religion with other academic
studies so as to achieve a more humane and liberating education in our new political context.
6. Realize the reasons why God created man in His image and likeness.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LEARNER

This module is primarily prepared for freshmen college students to guide and lead them to
the basic Biblical text. It enables you to grapple with the meaning and message of the Bible,
through the Old Testament – God’s persistent search for man, and relate this meaning to your
own life and that of the community of faith you belong.

Through the class discussions, you do not only learn to overcome the basic weaknesses but
also cultivate the values of cooperation, belongingness, basic trust and patience – values which are
necessary in the building of a Christian community.
Through the Learning Activities it enables you to achieve the behavioral objectives of each
study lesson, thereby preparing you for the test after every study lesson is completed.
After each lesson, activities are set for you to accomplish. Learning feedback allows you
to express your personal understanding and insights regarding this module. From time to time,
you will submit outputs to your respective instructor.
Furthermore, you need to familiarize yourself on the different icons that were used in the
module and its meaning. These icons can be found in the next page.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Icons present in the module to represent the following:

ICON MEANING

This picture reveals the learning outcome for each lesson.


You need to read this before starting every lesson to give a
sense of awareness on what you are expected to learn.
This icon shows you the content of the lesson. You will
read these information because this serves as the “lecture.”
This icon serves as to tell about the background of the topic
being discussed.
This icon signals for a quiz for every topic. Write down
your answers on the space provided for.
This check mark represents an additional activity that need
to be detached and passed.

This icon will show you links that you need to watch or
needed to search or open the file for additional information.

Entry level and Summative (Pre-test and Post-test).

answers This icon reveals to you the answer to the self-assessment


questionnaires.

ENTRY BEHAVIOR
Before going through this Module, the students are expected to :

1. Have a desire to come to know more about God.


2. Have basic knowledge and skills about the Bible as the Word of God.
3. Have an open mind and heart to absorb the lessons learned in the Bible.
4. Be willing to be led by the Holy Spirit to follow the teachings of God.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Participation 1: For me to come to know you better and your
classmates as well, I want you to introduce yourself in front of the class. Start
introducing yourself through your personal lives and activities. You can also share your likes and
dislikes, what caused you to have your course, and your philosophy in life.
Guidelines in your self-introduction.
➢ This will be graded as your participation.
➢ This will be a total of 10 points.

Building on the next lesson: Lesson 1 talks about who God is, an introduction about
what the Bible is all about and the Old Testament.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Pre-Test. Multiple Choice

Direction: Read carefully the sentence and encircle the letter that corresponds with the correct
response for each of the following questions.

1. What is the nature of God?


a. Human b. Creature c. Angel d. Spirit

2. It is the sourcebook of our knowledge of God; the textbook of divine truth and the
guidebook to everlasting life.
a. Koran b. Torah c. Bible d. Library

3. How many books are there in the Bible?


a. 66 b. 80 c. 50 d. 51

4. The Bible is called _________________ because it has many books that contain the different
branches of knowledge.
a. Law b. Library c. Pocketbook d. Testimony

5. How many authors had written the Bible?


a. 36 – 40 b. 40 – 50 c. 27 – 40 d. 36 -- 42

6. What is the name of God that He had given to Moses?


a. Kabunian b. Bathala c. I Am That I Am d. Jesus

7. Who is the primary Author of the Bible?

a. Holy Spirit b. Moses c. Jesus d. Adam

8. What is the central message of the Bible?


a. Salvation thru Jesus b. Reconciliation c. Faith in Jesus d. Atonement

9. How many years was the Bible written?


a. 1,600 years b. 1,000 years c. 2,000 years d. 500 years

10. It is the story of the Chosen People of God.


a. New Testament b. Bible c. Pentateuch d. Old Testament

Lesson 1: Introduction
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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Welcome to our Lesson. Our lesson is about the Introduction of: 1) Who God Is;
2) The Bible and 3) The Old Testament.

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:


1. Discuss the nature of God, His natural and moral attributes.
2. Enumerate and classify correctly the different Old Testament books.
3. Participate in a discussion on the meaning of the Bible and the Old Testament.

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD poses two questions namely: Is there really


God? Does He exist? You will come to know here about God’s nature,
natural as well as moral attributes.
To begin our study in CED 1, we ought to begin with God. According to Douglas (1996), we are
constantly challenged by atheists, skeptics and hecklers to prove that there is God. It is difficult
for natural man to believe in something that he cannot see, touch or feel, 1 Corinthians 2:14. The
problem for natural man is solved in the first verse of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth,” Gen. 1:1.

1. WHO GOD IS
By Douglas Alban, 1996

According to Douglas Alban (1996), The Bible is not a textbook that attempts to prove the
existence of God – the Bible opens with a positive fact that God does exist. It did not occur to
any other writer of the Bible to prove this fact. The Bible plainly states that it is the fool who
denies the existence of God.
Psalm 14:1 – “The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Anyone with
intelligence would acknowledge the evident fact of a living God.
The greatest proof apart from Scripture of the existence of God is our daily fellowship with Him
in prayer. “I know that there is a God because I talked to Him today and He heard and answered
the prayer of my heart though it was only whispered silently.
A. The Nature of GOD
a. Creator – Genesis 1:1
b. Redeemer/Savior – Isaiah 49:7
c. Sustainer/Provider – Deuteronomy 8:18
d. His name – Exodus 3:14 – “And God saith unto Moses, ‘I AM THAT I AM
e. Spirit -- John 4:24

B. God’s Natural Attributes An attribute is a quality, property or unique characteristic of


something.
We reason that to be God, He must possess certain basic qualities. These include the
following:
1. He is eternal – To be the true God, He must have neither beginning nor ending. Self-existent

2. He is unchangeable/immutable – God is so constituted that He cannot change.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
3. Omnipotent -- He possess all power – To lack this He could not be God.
4. Omnipresent -- He is present everywhere at the same time – 1 Kings 8:27
5. Omniscient -- He has all knowledge – Nothing is hidden from the Lord.
6. He is infinite – God is immeasurably or exceedingly great; unlimited, unmeasurably endless.
7. He is infallible – God is perfect and does not commit any mistake
8. He is all seeing –

C. God’s Moral Attributes


God is a balanced Being. He is holy, loving, merciful, faithful, yet just and righteous. Many
people today have a lopsided view of God. Some overemphasize His love and forget that He
is just and holy at the same time. God’s love allows Him to forgive sin and show mercy to a
repentant sinner.
1. God is holy – We cannot imagine a God who could be anything but perfect holiness. To be holy
means to be free from all defilement, to be pure. God is absolutely pure.
2. God is love -- This is not only a verb saying that God loves but a noun for God is love. If God
lives in my heart by conversion then I must love, for I’m indwelt by love. God loves the world
(John 3:16), which caused Him to think of a plan of salvation to give men the opportunity to
escape wrath and damnation.
3. God is faithful -- 1 Corinthians 1:9. What does the word faithful mean? It means someone
who can be safely trusted, who is reliable and dependable. God is faithful for He is honest
and never changes.
4. God is merciful -- Psalm 103:8 Instead of inflicting pain and death as punishment for sin
the Lord is merciful and gives many blessings---health, comforts and earthly joys---to the saved
and lost.
5. God is just -- Psalm 19:9 Our God is just and righteous and will meet our just judgment to
each individual.
With these short introduction of God, I would like to ask you, do you believe in the existence of a living
God?
2 THE BIBLE (Douglas, 1996)
What is the Bible? Do you believe it as the Word of God? Why? Please read this material.
--- The Bible is the source book of our knowledge of God; the textbook of divine truth; and the
guide book to everlasting life.
--- It is derived from the Greek word “biblos” meaning “a book,” or “ta Biblia” meaning “books.”
--- It is God’s written revelation of His will to men.
--- Its central theme is salvation through Jesus Christ.
--- It is known by other Titles:
a. Old Testament - 2 Corinthians 3:14
b. Scriptures - Luke 4:17,21; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Mark 12:10; Matthew 22:29
c. Word of God -- Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17
It is called Word of God because there is unity of thought which indicates that One Mind inspired the
writing of the whole series of books; that it bears on its face the stamp of its Author.

--- It is a library of 66 books, divided into two (2) main sections:


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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
a. The Old Testament -- contains 39 books
b. The New Testament – contains 27 books
--- The Bible was written by 36–40 authors over a period of 1600 years and by different types of
people in different parts of the world.
--- The Bible is God’s holy, inspired Word. The unique design of the bible is one of the best proofs
of its divine inspiration.
For so many different men to write a book without contradictions is a miracle. And the miracle can
only be explained by the Master Author’s guiding hand. “By inspiration, we mean the
supernatural control by God over the production of the Old and New Testament” – Robert Lee
(Author of Doctrinal Outlines)
“Inspiration” is the strong conscious inbreathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance
to truth. It is God speaking through men. (William Evans) So, the Bible is “theopneustos”
(God-breathed), 2 Timothy 3:16. “All Scripture is given by inspiration… and is profitable….”
--- The Author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit; the pages of the Bible are an authoritative revelation in
written form of God’s nature and purposes.
--- The Bible is considered Book of books because:
1) it is the oldest book in existence.
2) It has thousands of translations, and
3) the best-selling book.
--- The Bible is the third greatest gift next to the gift of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, life itself and
Eternal life.
The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, with parts of Daniel and Ezra being written in
Aramaic.
Conclusion
We accept the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God, the canon of 66 as complete; we do not
recognize the Apocrypha or any other books to be inspired. The original Scriptures will be the
standard of judgment in the last day – John 12:48. God’s people must handle this book carefully
and reverently; it is God’s book to us. Let us read it daily and obey its message in our daily lives.
Let us rejoice that God hath spoken, and endeavor by the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in the
light of its revelation.

3 THE OLD TESTAMENT (Douglas, 1996)


1. It is the record of the primeval history, the dawn of civilization, the formation of a community
known as the Israelites: their oppression in Egypt, the deliverance of Moses, their settlement
into the Land of Promise which God has destined for them to live, and the Assyrian captivity
and the Babylonian exile with their return to their homeland as a fallen nation.
2. In short, this is the story of the chosen people of God.
3. It is about the Old Covenant made by God with Abraham and his descendants.
4. It is the record of God’s reaching out to men because of man’s disobedience and of sin.
5. It is the story of a of God which had been prophesied by the prophets in the Old Testament.
6. It is the first part or division of the Bible. It has four sub-divisions with 39 books:

a) The Books of Pentateuch / Law / Torah:


Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Penta – five ; teuch – books

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
The books of Law are the first five books of the Old Testament. These include the
stories of the beginning of the world and the creation of the nation from slavery,
brought them through a raging sea with dry feet, sent them food from the sky and
water from the rocks. All He asked was that they obey His laws. Over and over again
the people disobeyed. From the first time people disobeyed, God promised a way to
make things right again.
b) The Books of History:
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1
Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
God brought His nation to a new homeland called Canaan. He helped them to defeat
their enemies and picked out kings to rule them. Sometimes the people remembered
God and His laws. More often they did just what they wanted and got into trouble. The
nation divided itself in half. Both halves ended up being carried away by their enemies.
Then the people had only God’s promise to give them back their nation and to send the
greatest King of all time.
c) The Books of Poetry:
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
These books tell about the greatness of God and the beauty of His creations. They also
give us good advice on how to live the life that will please God. There are answers in
these books for questions such as, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Many
of these poems promise wonderful things when God will send a great new leader for His
people.
d) The Books of Prophecy:
1. Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
2. Minor Prophets – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
God sent His messages to His people through special messengers called prophets. Many times
the message was a warning to obey God’s laws or be punished. Most of these prophets were sent
during the time of great trouble when the nation was attacked by its enemies. Later, when the
people were slaves in a foreign land the prophets gave them God’s promise of a new king and
an exciting future for their nation

Let’s find out what you have learned in Lesson 1. Self-


Assessment Questions 1A (SAQ 1A)
Direction: Enumerate the answers.
1. The nature of God
2. The other titles of the Bible
3. The two divisions of the Bible
4. The five moral attributes of God
5. The four sub-divisions of the Bible
6. The seven natural attributes of God
7. The five greatest gifts of God unto us
8. The three reasons why we say the Bible is the Book of Books

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Lesson 2
THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING
This lesson deals with the beginning of the world, people, sin, promise of salvation, living as a
family, civilization, the nations and languages of the people and the Hebrew people, the nation of
Israel. You will come to know the unique affirmation that God has called them to testify to His
purpose in history—searching and saving man. Thus, the formation of the community of faith.
This lesson consists of the incidents happened in the book of Genesis: A) The Creation Story; B)
The Creation of Adam & Eve; C) The Four Stages of Sin; D) God Calls His People—the
Patriarchal Period; E) Joseph

At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Recognize God as the Creator and origin of everything.


2. Relate the creation story.
3. Explain why man is considered the crowning feat of God’s creation.
4. Express personal perspectives on the Creation Story according to Women view/Feminist
Theology.
5. Trace and discuss the origin and complexities of the four stages of sin with the different
insights.
6. Restate the story of the Chosen People of God which started with the call of Abram.
7. Construct a graphic presentation of the significant events in the life of Abraham from
Canaan all the way to Joseph in Egypt.

( After the creation story, there will be an activity that


needed to be answered.
Have you ever asked yourself where did you come from? A son once told
his mom, “Ma, did we come from animals? My teacher told us that we came
from the monkey.” I enjoin you to read the book of Genesis so you would
know how to answer the question asked.

Genesis
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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Henrietta Mears (1992)

According to Mears (1992), the book of Genesis (with the first chapters of Exodus)
describes the steps that led to the establishment of the theocracy.
It is a part of the writer’s plan to tell us what the divine preparation
of the world was, in order to show, first, the significance of the call
of Abraham, and next, the true nature of the Jewish theocracy.
He begins with the creation of the world, because the God who created the world and the God
who revealed Himself to the fathers is the same God.
Genesis reveals that God created the heavens and the earth as a dynamic, functioning entity.
Thus, even as Adam was created instantly as a grown man, so also the earth and its living creatures
were created fully “grown” within six days, with the oceans already containing the salts and
chemicals necessary for sustaining the life (1:2, 10, 20), the dry land equipped with a mantle of soil
for plants and trees (1:11), the light rays from distant stars already performing their God-intended
function of shining upon the earth (1:14-19) and the animals and plants created after their kinds
(1:11, 12, 20-25).
This book is a historical record of the beginning of all things; and of God’s dealings with a STAGE
1—DISOBEDIENCE OF ADAM AND EVE – THE FALL OF MANpeople, He chose for Himself.
It covers history from the time of Abraham until the time when Jacob’s son, Joseph, became
governor of Egypt and Jacob’s twelve sons settled in Egypt.
MOSES is known as the writer of this book as could be read from Luke 24:27; John 5:46
“Genesis” is derived from a Greek word meaning “origin” or “beginning.” It tells us about
the beginning of everything except God for He was always there.

A. GENESIS 1- 2 = CREATION STORY = How did God create?

God created all matter out of nothing. But He created


through the power of His Word.
So, this narrative relates how in six days God organized this
chaos into the well-ordered world we now see. That God took
His time in creating, though He could have done it in a wink or
blink of an eye. As God created, it is clear that in the first
three days He created three big realms, and in the second three
days He filled those realms with inhabitants.

1st THREE DAYS 2nd THREE DAYS


1st – darkness -- Light, v. 3 4th – Sun, Moon, Stars, v. 14-18
2nd – waters -- Firmament, v. 6-7 5th – Birds, Fishes, v. 20
3rd – Dry land, plants, v. 9, 11 6th – Land Animals, MAN, v. 24, 26

The works of the five preceding days seem to focus on creating a home for mankind. God’s
concern for humanity is made explicit in the provision of plants for food. The works of creation

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
moved to a climax on day six when mankind was created in two sexes and this is seen as the
crowning feat of God’s creation. Why?

(These are the insights and lessons to be learned on how God created.
Observe and learn from it so that you will know how to get insights and
lessons to be learned.)
INSIGHTS ==== LESSONS

1. God created out of nothing. He created through the power of His Word.
2. God made a PLAN so that the outcome of His creation was systematic/organized; it was done
in an orderly manner; all were good. (What is its implication unto us?) In everything we do,
we should make a plan so that everything will turn out right.
3. God took His time in creating everything so that He organized this chaos into a well – ordered
world.
4. In creating everything, God had a PURPOSE. -- We should have also a purpose in our life
for direction.
5. Before creating man, on the first five days God focused on creating a home and the things
needed by man. – For students before getting married it’s good to have savings and buy a
house.
6. In creating man last, it completed His work.

B. THE CREATION OF ADAM AND EVE -- Gen. 1:26; 2:6-9, 15-24

God said, “Let us make man in our image and likeness.” So God took dust from the ground and
formed him man. He inbreathed unto his nostrils the breath of life. Then He placed him in the
Garden of Eden as He planted it to till it. As God had seen that Adam had no helper, He formed
animals wherein Adam called them their names. As he had nobody to relate with, God had seen
the loneliness of Adam. So God caused Adam into a deep slumber or sleep and opened his chest
and took one rib and formed her a woman. God placed her beside Adam and called her
“Woman” because she was taken out of man.
INSIGHTS (Man’s creation was unique and considered God’s crowning feat)
1. Man was created in God’s image and likeness.
❖ God is a SPIRIT. And God inbreathed His breath to man thus man became a living
creature. And with this Spirit of God keeping us (human beings) alive serves as a
connecting link with God so that we could continue to communicate with Him and have
a (spiritual) relationship with Him.
❖ God is Holy/blameless/Perfect, etc. All the moral attributes of God is present with
us. So this is the original nature of man. Galatians 5:22-23; Phil. 4:8.
❖ God is omniscient/knowledgeable. And so man is endowed with intellectual
capability. Man is a RATIONAL being. He can reason out with anybody else. Man has
FREE WILL/WILL POWER – the will to decide and choose between good and evil.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
2. Man was entrusted all other creation to have dominion over them.
3. Eve was created as a “helpmeet/helpmate or companion of Adam.

Name _______________________________ Time________ Score________

Activity 1A

Direction: Essay. (Answer this question directly with five (5) sentences only)

1. As we had been created by God in His image after His likeness, as students what are the
things that you ought to do to become successful in your field of endeavor. (10 points)

Although God created us in His image after His likeness, man has opted to
disobey the command of God which led to the coming of sin in this world. So
keep on reading to understand how sin has continued to grow and engulfed
men in this world. Let us then study the four stages of sin.

C. THE FOUR STAGES OF SIN


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STAGE 1—DISOBEDIENCE OF ADAM AND EVE – THE FALL OF MAN (How sin
entered the earth) Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24

In the Garden of Eden, God had grown in the midst the Tree of Life and the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil. He commanded Adam to eat any of the fruit of the trees in
the garden except the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil for if he shall eat he
will surely die. Temptation was mediated by the serpent unto Eve (described as unclean
and a fitting symbol of evil) and the devil begins by overemphasizing the strictness of the
law of God. Lured by the prospect of instant pleasure and maturity, Eve succumbed and
persuaded Adam to eat. The innocent harmony of Eden was then ruined by the entry of
sin. The mistakes of Adam and Eve are typical of all sins, but as they were the parents of
the whole human race, their deeds had the gravest consequences.
SIN – is breaking the law or disobedience from the will of God.
--- separates us from the love of God.
--- it is missing the mark on the rule or standard set by God.
What were the punishments of Sin?
a) Spiritual death – their eyes had been opened so they lost their state of innocence and
immortality.
b) Individual punishment
1. Serpent – The serpent will crawl with its belly and eat dust.
2. Adam – The ground is cursed because of him so that he will toil hard with sweat and
will return to dust. -- God then decreed that man must suffer frustration in His work.
Hard work enables Him to live, but eventually he would die.
3. Eve -- pain in childbearing multiplied; she will have desire for her husband & he will
rule over her -- The sentence on Eve blighted her calling as mother. (Gen. 30:1; Psalms
113:9) To be a joyful mother of children was the hope of every Old Testament woman,
but the pain of childbirth was a constant reminder of the first mother’s sin.
c) Collective punishment -- Expulsion -- Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Adam
and Eve were expelled from the garden so that they cannot eat the fruit of the Tree of Life.
How did God solve the sinfulness of Adam and Eve?
a) Genesis 3:15 is often called the “Protevangelion” – from the Greek words PRO means
before and EVANGELION which means Good news; so this is the first announcement of
the Gospel or the prophecy of the coming Messiah.
b) God made them garments of skins of animals and clothed them. This is the whole plan of
redemption for man. The coats of skin could not have been obtained except through the
death of an innocent victim as its blood had been shed. So, for the remission of our sins,
it is through the shed of blood of our SUBSTITUTE, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:4 –
there is no covering for sin except by blood.

Let us continue to see how the sin started by Adam and Eve affected
the relationship of the siblings as children of the family

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1. STAGE 2-- THE MURDER OF ABEL BY CAIN = The First Human Family --
Genesis 4:1-26

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain was a tiller of the ground while Abel was
a keeper of sheep. Cain brought and offered the fruit of the ground unto the Lord as Abel
also brought and offered the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof. Abel’s offering was
accepted while Cain’s offering was not accepted by God and this made Cain angry so that
God told him that if he had done the right thing then he could not have sinned. So that as
Cain was talking with Abel in the field, he killed Abel later on. God asked Cain about his
brother and lied to God even saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” With this Cain was
punished as he was cursed by the ground that he can’t yield on it even though he tilled it.
That made him a wanderer/a vagabond/a fugitive on the earth that anyone who would find
him would slay him. A mark was set upon Cain as a sign, for anyone who kills him would
be avenged sevenfold.
Chapter 4 shows it destroying the bonds of brotherhood. The First crime
1) The sons of Adam and Eve
a. Cain -- The tiller of the ground or a farmer -- Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the
ground. He was not choosy/particular/selected of his offering. Cain’s offering had been
rejected. Cain was very angry. Cain killed his brother. – God told Cain that if he did
well or did what was right, then his offering could have been accepted. God confronted
him but he denied and even made a joke unto God when he said, “Am I my brother’s
keeper?” God punished Cain -- The ground will not yield unto him. He will be a fugitive
and a wanderer on the earth. Vengeance shall be taken him sevenfold (avenged sevenfold)
so that a mark was set upon him. Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and dwelt
in the land of NOD, east of Eden. (that is Wandering).
b. Abel – Keeper of sheep or shepherd. Abel brought the firstlings/born of his flock and of
their fat portions. He selected and gave the best offering. Abel’s offering had been
accepted.

ENOCH – the man who was taken to heaven without suffering physical death.
METHUSELAH – the oldest man on earth with 969 years.
The Account of Adam’s Line (Genesis 5:1-32)
Adam and Eve had a third son, Seth who was a righteous man. And Noah came from his line–
this was the beginning of the chosen line in Genesis through which salvation for mankind would
ultimately come. (Noah’s family was the only one to survive the flood.) Enoch did not die for he
was taken by God. Methuselah lived 969 years, the oldest man ever lived here on earth. Noah was
500 years old when he begat Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah lived 950 years.

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Answer the questions in Activity 1B.

Name _______________________________ Time________ Score________

Activity 1B

Direction: Read the questions very well and answer them directly with two (2) sentences each.

1. What are the reasons why God rejected the offering of Cain and accepted the offering of
Abel? (5 points)
2. What kind of offering does God require from us? (5 points)
3. If your brother or sister would get envious with you, what should you do? (5 points)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. STAGE 3 – MANKIND’S SIN DURING NOAH’S TIME = Human – Spirit Marriages


& Their Aftermath -- GENESIS 6:1-8

In the ancient world, stories were often told of sexual intercourse


between the gods and human beings; and the semi-divine offspring
of such unions were held to have abnormal energy and other
powers – giants.
In Mesopotamia and Canaan, divine – human marriage was celebrated in the sacred
marriage rites that took place in the temples. These rites were supposed to insure the
fertility of the soil. They involved fathers dedicating their unmarried daughters for service
in the temple – in practice, these girls served as sacred prostitutes (comfort women) giving
pleasure to priests and wealthy worshippers.
Worst Sins of the Pre-Flood Period -- Gen. 6:1-2,4
1) What caused the coming of the worst sin on earth?
--- the sons of God – refers to spirit beings, translated angels (Job 1:6; 2:1)
--- The daughters of men – refers to ordinary/human beautiful women
--- The angels married the beautiful women here on earth
--- God shortened the lifespan of men to 120 years because they are flesh.
--- as a result/outcome of this weird union, the offspring were the Anak/Nephilim. They
were giant men of renown. They became powerful.
2) How were men then?
– the wickedness of men was great in the earth
-- that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil.

3) What was the reaction and decision of God with the wickedness of man on
earth?

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–- The Lord repented for creating man on earth.
--- it grieved His heart
--- that He will destroy men and all living creatures.
4) Who found favor or grace in the eyes/sight of the Lord? Why?
– Noah
– a righteous/just man; perfect/blameless in his generations; he walked with God and so
was saved.
5) How do we walk with God nowadays?
--- To follow the will of God in our daily lives.
--- To have fear upon the Lord always. (Prov. 1:7)
The Nephilim/Anak – a race of giants, are the ancient supermen supposed to be offspring of
these spirit-human unions. Some Nephilim were in Canaan when Israel invaded it just like
Goliath (Numbers 13:33).
Looking at human beings, God concluded that they were incorrigibly wicked and that
every human thought was bent towards evil. Thus, human sinfulness provokes a fierce
reaction in God, a bitter indignation. God made a decision to destroy His creation but there
was a glimmer of hope through Noah.

THE STORY OF THE FLOOD -- Genesis 6:9 – 8:22

God had seen that His people did not obey Him and they were corrupt
so that He was going to destroy the earth with a great flood. He told
Noah to build an arc as he was the only man who was righteous in the
sight of God.

1) What was the condition of the people then?


– The earth was corrupt – filled with violence. For all flesh had corrupted their way. The
imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.
2) What was the decision of God?
– He determined to make an end of all flesh for the earth is filled with violence through them
men will be destroyed together with other living things.
Give the instructions of God to Noah.
– To make or build an ark because God is sending flood of waters upon the earth to destroy
all flesh. H should take one pair of every living thing of all flesh; every sort of food that
is eaten. Take with him seven (7) pairs of all clean animals, male and female; and a pair
of the animals that are not clean.
3) What was the covenant established by God to Noah?
– He shall go to the ark together with his sons and wives and wife and they will live. For
in seven days, God will send rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights so that every
living thing He created will be blotted out from the face of the ground. Noah was 600
years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.

4) How many days did the waters prevail upon the earth?
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– A hundred and fifty (150) days; thus everything or all living things died.
5) What did Noah do after 40 days?
– He opened the window of the ark and sent forth a raven to see if the waters had dried up.
A dove was sent. After one week, he sent the dove again. As the dove came in the evening,
in his mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf – an indication that the waters subsided
already. After seven days more, he sent again the dove and didn’t return anymore.
6) Another instruction of God to Noah and family
– That they will all go down from the ark and bring with them all the living things – that
they may breed abundantly on the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.
Noah built an altar for the Lord and took from every clean animal and bird and offered
them burnt offerings on the altar.
7) What was the reaction of God as He smelled the pleasing odor from the
offering of Noah?
– The Lord said in His heart that He will never again curse the ground because of man
nor will he destroy every living creature as He had done. That while the earth remains,
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not
cease.
8) What were God’s blessings unto Noah?
– To be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. All the living creatures had been delivered
or entrusted unto them so that they will have fear and dread upon them. The green
plants were given for food together with everything that lives. (animals)
But there was a Prohibition (9:4)
– Don’t eat flesh with its life or blood because of every lifeblood God requires a reckoning
(examination). The earth.
9) What was the promise of God unto all people and every living creature?
Water will never send flood again to destroy
– God never again shall all flesh be cut off by waters of a flood and that He will never send
flood again to destroy the earth.
10) What was the token/sign of the promise/covenant between God and all
living creatures for all future generations?
– God set a bow in the clouds symbolized by the rainbow for Him to always remember His
covenant.

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3. STAGE 4 – MANKIND’S SIN AS MANIFESTED IN THE TOWER OF BABEL
-- Genesis 11: 1-9

The whole earth has only one language or speech. As they journeyed
from the east they found a plain named Shinar and they dwelt there.
Now, these people became proud; they build a city and a tower whose
top may reach unto heaven; so that they may make a name and serve as a sign lest they be
scattered abroad.
As the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, He
had seen that the people could just do whatever they
wanted to do because of oneness – one language so that
nobody could restrain them thus God confused them and
had given many languages so that the people could not
understand each other and could not finish their tower.
This was how God scattered them all over the face of the
earth.

Let’s find out what you have learned in Lesson 2. Self-


Assessment Questions 1B (SAQ 1B)
Direction: Enumerate the answers.

1. These are the things created by God in their order


2. The three reasons why Eve was tempted the more
3. The three punishments unto Adam & Eve for their disobedience.
4. The reasons why God found favor to Noah
5. The three reasons of the people why they built a city and a tower

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
We are now about to start unlocking the story of the Chosen People of
God. What could be the reason why God had chosen them out of the
many nations and races all over the world. Please continue reading the
different stories of the important patriarch of these people so that you could understand fully the
connection why Jesus came here on earth.

D. GOD CALLS HIS PEOPLE – THE PATRIARCHAL


PERIOD

THE STORY OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GOD

Abraham --- was a wandering Aramean/nomad; a Hebrew


Hebrew ---Any member of a group of Semitic people tracing descent from Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob.
Nomad --- a member of a tribe, nation, race having no permanent home/residence thus moving
about constantly in search of food or pasturage.
Patriarchs --- the great forefathers of the Israelites.
Covenant --- is a mutual and solemn agreement between individuals or groups that involves
corresponding responsibilities or promises on both sides.
The Old Covenant --- was a solemn compact between man and God especially Him and
Israel, His chosen people.
The Ancient Near East --- it was called “the Cradle of Ancient Civilization.”

GOD REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGH THE COVENANT PEOPLE AND


HISTORICAL EVENTS

PATRIARCHAL PERIOD -- The first of the patriarch was Abraham who was at
first called Abram. He responded faithfully to the call and invitation of God
to go to a place wherein He is giving him to live and stay with his descendants.
IA. THE CALL OF ABRAM -- Genesis 11:27 – 12:9
The whole family of Terah moved from Ur, an important center of culture in southern Iraq,
to Haran in Eastern Syria. There Terah died and Abram left his father Terah in Haran
60 years before he died and went to Canaan.

1) The Family Tree of Abram


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2) The Sketch of the Lands Where Abram Dwelt

3) The Call -- Genesis 12:1-10


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1) God’s Call -- God called Abram to leave his country and kindred and father’s house
to go to a land where God would show him and live there. Abram responded and risked
everything he held most dear to obey God’s call. (Christ, similarly challenge people to
venture everything to follow Him (Mathew 10:37-39; Philippians 3:8).
2) God’s Promise -- Make him a great nation. Bless him and make his name great.
God will bless and curse those who bless and curse him so that he will become a blessing
to all people/families of the earth. ABRAM’S AGE when he went to live in Haran was
75. Abram took Sarai, his wife who was barren and Lot, his brother’s son and
everything they got and went to the land promised by God which is Canaan. And the
Lord God told Abram --- “Unto his seed will He give this land,” thus Abram build an
altar for God. There was famine in the land so that Abram went down to Egypt. Because
of fear of being killed he instructed Sarai to tell them that she was his sister, thus he was
entreated very well giving him animals and everything they needed. As the pharaoh
took Sarai, God plagued Pharaoh thus he commanded his men to send Abram and
companions away getting what they wanted so that they became rich in cattle, in silver
and in gold.
Despite the fact that Abram heard the call of God and responded, after they reached Canaan,
they were tested by God by encountering a lot of problems. How did Abram face all these
difficulties and trials? Let’s look into the different problems encountered by him and
companions.

3) The Problems Encountered by Abraham and solutions


a) There was famine in Canaan. Solution – Abram and family went down to Egypt.
b) The beauty of Sarai. If the Egyptians will see her beauty, they might have interest
with her and as they will come to know she is the wife of Abram, they would kill him.
Solution – She will tell the Egyptians that she is the sister of Abram. (Although in
Gen 20:12, it is true that they are half brother-sister because they have the same
father.)
Blessing – Abram was treated by the Pharaoh very well by giving him gifts of
animals and maidservants and manservants.
The Punishment – As the Pharaoh had taken Sarai because Abram deceived him,
God plagued him and his house so that they sent them away from the land of Egypt.
c) Strife or quarrel between the herdsmen of the cattle of Abram and Lot. After they
came from Egypt, both Abram and Lot became rich (cattle, silver and gold) (Lot’s
flock, herds and tents) so that the land was not able to bear them anymore because of
the many flocks and herds of both of them.
Solution – They had to separate ways so that Lot had chosen the plain of Jordan as
he journeyed east in Sodom.
4) God’s Assurance of Promise unto Abram
God showed the extent or boundaries of the land He will give to Abram and to his
descendants. That everything he sees, it will be his. God will make his
seed/descendants as the dust of the earth. So, God commanded Abram to walk in
the breadth and in the length of it for God really give it to him.

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5) God’s Answer with Abram’s Disappointment & Frustration of Having
No Heir
Abram reminded God that ten years had passed since then and yet, there’s no heir yet.
God had taken Abram abroad and told him to look toward heaven and if he can
count/number the stars, then his descendants will also be like them.
6) God’s Assurance that He will inherit the Land
Abram’s honesty led to a reaffirmation and deepening of the original promise -- that he
would father a son and his descendants would be as countless as the stars. As Abram
asked for reassurance in v. 8, he was given a far-reaching vision of his descendants’
future destiny in the land. -- The interpretation of the animal rite is confirmed, which
predict the period of slavery in Egypt and the subsequent exodus.
God asked for a heifer, she goat and a ram of three years old and a turtledove and a
young pigeon; divided them in the midst and laid each piece one against another
except for the birds, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram
where a great darkness fell upon him.

THE VISION -- “His seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, they shall be
slaves for four hundred years.” The nation they will serve will be judged/punished
by God so that they will come out in great substance. (15:13—16)

7) Sarai’s Solution for Her Hopeless Infertility


Sarai had given her maidservant Hagar unto Abram as wife after 10 years of stay in
Canaan without a son. As the maidservant conceived, she despised her mistress
through her eyes so that Sarai dealt with her hardly with the permission of Abram so
that Hagar fled away.
The Lord’s Promise Unto Hagar’s Son -- Hagar was advised by the angel of the Lord
to return to her mistress and submit herself unto her hands. The angel of the Lord
promised that her seed will be multiplied exceedingly and can’t be numbered for
multitude. “She shall bear a son and call his name ISHMAEL the Lord heard her
affliction.”
THE CURSE “He will be a wild man: his hand will be against every man and every
man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
8) Abram’s Age When Ishmael was Born -- 16:16 – 86 years old

The Birth of Ishmael -- Abram may have been willing to wait for God to fulfill His
promise of a child but Sarai was not. She was so hopelessly infertile, so she decided to resort to
surrogate marriage. So, a child was born to a slave girl called Hagar – Ishmael. As Hagar
despised her mistress she was sent away in the wilderness. As she cried to God, she was heard
so that she was assured by an angel of God that her descendants would be too numerous to
count, just as Abram had been told earlier. Her child’s name would be Ishmael (God has heard)
and he would adapt a Bedouin-like-life-style. (Genesis 16:1-16)

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How This Call Progressed to A Covenant

1. THE COVENANT (Abram was 99 years old then) “The Abrahamic Covenant”
(Abram’s & descendants’ Part --17:1) -- “I am the Almighty God, Walk before me and be
blameless.”
(God’s Part -- 17:2) – (a) And I will multiply thee exceedingly; (b) I will make nations of
thee; (c) Kings shall come out of thee; (d) You will be a blessing to other nations;
(e) The Promised Land will be given unto thee.”

2. THE BLESSING and THE SIGN


a. Change of Name of Abram –to Abraham ((17:15)
Abram – The father is exalted
Raham – Multitude
Abraham – Father of many nations
b. The Token or Sign of the Everlasting Covenant – (17:10-12)
CIRCUMCISION
--- All male child from eight days old and above must be circumcised the flesh of
foreskin.
c. Change of Name of Sarai – to Sarah (17:15-16)
Sarai – My Princess
Sarah – Princess; A mother of nations; Kings of people shall be from her.

God Started to Enlarge the Promises as a Covenant was made (Gen. 17:1-10
Covenant -- is an agreement between two parties with corresponding responsibilities to
fulfill.

THE VISIT OF THE LORD (Gen. 18:1—32) (Why did God burn Sodom and
Gomorrah)
Three men appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, the Lord and two angels. They ate
the foods prepared by Abraham. (The Lord in human form was the Pre-incarnate Jesus) The
Lord told Abraham that He will visit them in the spring and Sarah will have a son. (v. 12) As
Sarah and Abraham were old already, Sarah laughed so that God questioned her and she lied
but the Lord told her that she will have a son at the appointed time. God told Abraham that
He will go down to Sodom & Gomorrah to see whether the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great and their sin is very grave. Abraham bargained from fifty righteous men within the city
to forty-five up to ten. Will God spare the cities? The two angels went to Sodom in the evening
and Lot invited them in his house. V. 4 – The people of Sodom surrounded the house of Lot
and wanted the two angels to come out as they will come to know them. VV. 9-14 – As the men
became uncontrollable, the angels blinded them and instructed Lot to leave the place/city for
they are about to destroy it.

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Lot had been instructed by the angels to hasten and to take his wife and
two daughters (as their husbands didn’t believe them) lest they be
consumed in the iniquity of the city. The angels instructed them to escape
to the mountain; look not behind them lest they be consumed. The Lord
rained upon the two cities with burning sulphur/brimstone and fire out of
heaven. God overthrew those cities, all the plain and all the inhabitants
and that which grew upon the ground.

Lot’s Wife Disobedience and Punishment. Lot’s wife looked back from
behind so that she became a pillar of salt. When God destroyed the cities
and the plain, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out in the midst of
the overthrow.
The sin committed by Lot’s two daughters. Lot feared to live in Zoar so
that he went to the mountain in a cave and dwelt there together with the
two daughters. As the two daughters had no man to come in and lay down unto them, they
drunk Lot with wine after which they lay down with their father so that they may preserve
seed of their father. The firstborn bare a son and named MOAB – the father of the Moabites.
And the younger bare a son and also named Ben-amni – the same as the father of of the
AMMON unto this day. (Ammonites)

THE BIRTH OF ISAAC (Gen. 21:2—14)


After the Lord’s visit, Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age. Abraham called
his son ISAAC for “God has made laughter for Sarah; everyone who hears will laugh over her.”
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Abraham’s second son was born. He was
called Isaac, which means “he laughs” for Sarah’s laughter expressed her jubilation at Isaac’s
birth. He was the son God promised to Abraham.
The Sending Away of Hagar and Ishmael (21:9-10) Sarah asked her husband to cast
out her slave woman and son so that Ishmael will not take part with the heir of Isaac. This
idea displeased Abraham but the Lord consoled him by telling him to follow what his wife
tells him for its through Isaac that his descendants would be named. With the son of the slave
woman, because he is his offspring, then God will make him a nation.
What Happened with Ishmael in the Wilderness of Beersheba? (21:15-21)
As there was no more water left, Hagar sat down as she gazed at her son awaiting for his death.
But the child cried/lifted his voice and wept so that God helped them and reiterated His
promise unto Ishmael, that God will make him a great nation. Then Hagar’s eyes were opened
by the Lord and seen a well and let the lad drink. God accompanied and lived with Ishmael
in the wilderness of Paran and he became an expert with the bow. He married an Egyptian.

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Imagine for twenty-five years that Abraham awaited for the promised heir from
the wife Sarah, how come God asked him to offer his son as a burnt sacrificial
offering. What did Abraham do?

GOD TESTED ABRAHAM -- Genesis 22:1-14


1) How did God test Abraham? God commanded Abraham to take his only son whom
he love to Mt. Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering. He rose early in the morning, saddled
his ass and took two of his young men and Isaac, and cut wood for the burnt offering. So
Abraham just obeyed and took two of his servants and instructed them to stay on the foot of
the mountain and look for the ass. Abraham laid on Isaac the wood of the burnt offering while
he took in his hand the fire and the knife as they climbed up the mountain. As Isaac was
carrying the wood for the burnt offering and his father the fire/torch, he asked his father about
the lamb for the burnt offering. He answered and told the child that God will provide Himself
the lamb for the burnt offering. On top of the mountain, Abraham built an altar and laid the
wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the
altar upon the wood. Then he took the knife and raised his
hand to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to
Abraham from heaven (V. 12) and instructed him not to lay
his hand on his son for God had seen his fear for Him as he
didn’t withheld his son for the Lord. V. 13 – As Abraham
lifted his eyes and looked behind him, he saw a ram caught
in a thicket by his horns; he took it and offered it up unto
the Lord in exchange for his son.
Abraham called the name of the place, “The Lord will
provide,” as it is said up to this day, “On the mount of the
Lord it shall be provided.”
2) Abraham’s Reward from God with his Obedience -- 22:16-17 -- The Lord had
sworn to Abraham as he didn’t withheld his only son to bless him, multiply his descendants as
the stars of heaven and the sand of the seashore; and his descendants will possess the gate of their
enemies, and by his descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves (V. 18).
Abraham was called, “The Father of Faith.” As an outcome of his obedience, God reiterated
the blessings unto his descendants in vs. 16-18.
--- Testing is a way of measuring the length or level of our obedience unto the Lord.
--- It is a way of knowing oneself capacity in making wise or right decisions/judgments.
--- Once we fail, we may know our weaknesses thus we know where we can start ourselves to
get up and strengthen that which we have failed.
--- “God will never leave you empty handed. If He asked you something down, it’s because He
wants you to pick up something greater.
As Abraham passed the test, God intervened.
--- He had proven himself – his obedience, truthfulness, confidence and that He pleased God
so much.
--- great love \
---------- O B E D I E N C E == REWARD
--- great fear /

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
ACTIVITY: Answer the questions in Activity 1C.

Name _______________________________ Time________ Score______


Activity 1C

Direction: Read the questions very well and answer them with three (3) sentences each.

1. Why do we need to be tested? (5 points)


2. What good qualities you need to possess as you can learn from Abraham to become
successful as well? (5 points)

References:
The Bible.

Mears, Henrietta A. (1992). What the Bible is All About. Philippine Christian Publications,
Inc., Quezon City, Phil.:

Anderson, Bernard (1987). Understanding the Old Testament. Abingdon Press, Nashville,
Tenesse:

Aoanan, Melanio (1988). God’s Liberating Acts. Quezon City, Phil.: New Day Pub. Co.
Losier, Andrew J. (1975) Alpha and Omega. Toccoa, Georgia: CLBC Inc.

Willmington, H. L. (1998). Willmington’s Guide to the Bible. Christian Literature Crusade

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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan

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