CED 1 1st Handout
CED 1 1st Handout
Understanding the
Old Testament
LEARNING MODULE
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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
Table of Contents
Page Number
Title Page 1
Table of Contents 2
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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
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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.
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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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 icon will show you links that you need to watch or
needed to search or open the file for additional information.
ENTRY BEHAVIOR
Before going through this Module, the students are expected to :
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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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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.
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
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
Lesson 1: Introduction
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Welcome to our Lesson. Our lesson is about the Introduction of: 1) Who God Is;
2) The Bible and 3) The Old Testament.
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
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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 –
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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
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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
Genesis
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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.
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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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.
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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2. Man was entrusted all other creation to have dominion over them.
3. Eve was created as a “helpmeet/helpmate or companion of Adam.
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.
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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Answer the questions in Activity 1B.
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)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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)
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.”
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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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
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)
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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
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?
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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan
ACTIVITY: Answer the questions in Activity 1C.
Direction: Read the questions very well and answer them with three (3) sentences each.
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.
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CED 1 : Understanding the Old Testament /EVIPutulan