Wow! We are finally ready to start our adventure on God’s Route 66. Last week we spent time preparing our hearts and minds for this journey. Now it’s time to actually begin. The first segment of our journey will cover Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The name given to this segment of our journey is the Pentateuch. This is a compound word: the first part is pente which means five and the second part is teuchos which means book. This group of five books is also known to the Jew as the Torah which is Hebrew for law. Authorship for the first five books of the Bible has been traditionally attributed to Moses. Now we are ready to survey the part of God’s story that traces the creation of the world to the creation of a nation.
I. Genesis the book of beginnings.
A. Genesis appropriately begins “in the beginning” since it speaks of the beginning of the world, life, worship, sin, and death.
1. The title “Genesis,” is from the Greek word geneseōs meaning “beginning,” or “generations,” finds its root in the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint.
2. Genesis gives accounts of the creation, the first sin, the flood, and the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. These stories serve as introductions, not only to the Pentateuch, but to the rest of the Bible as well.
3. The book of Genesis has two main divisions, the Primeval History (1:1–11:32) and the History of the Patriarchs (12:1–50:26).
4. The Primeval History moves from the grand sweep of creation, sin, the flood, and the tower of Babel to Abraham as the ancestor of Israel out of which grew the nation.
5. The History of the Patriarchs focuses on Abraham’s family (his son, his grandson, and 12 great-grandsons) and sets the stage for the dwelling/enslavement/exodus in Egypt as recorded in the book of Exodus.
B. Over the course of fifty chapters Moses provides us a panoramic view of some of the most dramatic scenes in human history.
1. Chapters 1-2 provide us with the account of creation.
2. Chapter 3 details man’s fall into sin.
3. Chapters 6-9 provide us with an account of the flood in the days of Noah.
4. Chapters 10-11 detail the birth of the nations of the world.
5. Chapters 12-25 provide us with an overview of the life of Abraham.
6. Chapters 25-26 introduce us to Abraham’s promised son, Isaac.
7. Chapters 27-36 follow the life of Jacob whose name would later be changed to Israel.
8. Chapters 37-50 provide us with the account of the life of Joseph.
C. Once Abraham arrives on the scene, God promises to bring through him a distinctive race of people who would become known as the Hebrews or Jews.
1. The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3—NIV)
2. From this point on God’s focus will be on His people whom He promised to bless and protect.
3. How would Abraham be a blessing to all the nations of the earth, it would be through His line that Jesus Christ the Savior of the world would be born.
4. By the end of Genesis the Hebrew people are now known as Israel and are settled in Egypt and prospering thanks to God working through Joseph.
II. Exodus the book of deliverance.
A. The Exodus of Israel from Egypt is the central event of the Hebrew Bible.
1. This act of redemption by God became the foundation for Israelite faith and practice reflected in the many Old Testament allusions to the Exodus as the basis for obedience to the covenant, proper ethical treatment of others, the establishment of the sovereignty of God, a national dateline marking the nation’s history, and a standard for the measurement of all subsequent events.
2. The people did grow into a great nation, were given a covenant at Sinai, and began their journey to the Promised Land, in accordance with the fulfillment of the promises of God to the patriarchs.
3. So Exodus, as the sequel to Genesis, describes the deliverance of the children of Israel by God and the establishment of a new covenant between God and Israel.
4. The rest of the Old Testament looks back on the Exodus as the primary redemptive event in Israel’s history.
B. The Book of Exodus can be divided into three main sections.
1. Chapters 1-12 provide the account of the Israelites being in slavery in Egypt.
2. Chapters 13-18 provide us with the details of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Sinai.
3. Chapters 19-40 provide us with the account of the events that happened while Israel was camping at Sinai.
4. There are two very significant events that take place while at Sinai.
a. The moral law or Ten Commandments were given. (20:1-17)
b. They were given very detailed plans for the construction of the Tabernacle which was a portable place of worship.
III. Leviticus the book of worship.
A. Leviticus records the prerequisites necessary for that nation to enter into the presence of God.
1. Leviticus is the natural sequel to Genesis and Exodus. Several items in the book connect with the preceding material.
2. The people had been redeemed from Egypt, entered into a covenant with God, and erected the place of worship (the tabernacle). Leviticus provides the necessary rituals and regulations for that relationship.
3. Two key concepts highlight the book: holiness, or separation, shows how Israel was set apart from other nations in order that it might properly worship the Holy God; worship, meaning the process by which the approach to this God is made.
B. The Law God gave to Israel through Moses is made up of three essential elements.
1. The moral code: The Decalogue or Ten Commandments.
2. The spiritual code: Instructions for knowing God and maintaining fellowship with Him through blood sacrifices. (17:11)
3. The social code: The practical side of life covering personal hygiene, soil conservation and family life.
4. All these were given to help the Israelites be a distinctive people.
IV. Numbers the book of wanderings.
A. Numbers transitions from the generation that departed Egypt, only to die in the wilderness, to the new generation, born in the wilderness, who entered the promised land.
1. The book of Numbers is so named because of the census-taking activities it records.
2. Numbers is the logical sequel to Exodus–Leviticus and introduces several events in Deuteronomy.
3. Numbers “explains why Israel did not immediately enter the land of Canaan upon leaving Egypt,” and records “the unfaithfulness, rebellion and frustration of Israel, set against the background of God’s faithfulness, presence, provision, and forbearance.
4. The Israelites because of their lack of faith and grumbling are forced to wander aimlessly through the desert for 40 years until all of the previous generation dies off.
B. The history of Israel as recorded in Numbers can be remembered using a simple outline.
1. Chapters 1-14 provide us with the account of the disobedient old generation.
2. Chapters 15-20 record the wanderings in the wilderness.
3. Chapters 21-36 provide us with an account of the new generation that will enter the Promised Land.
4. Numbers ends with people standing on the border of the Promised Land prepared to take possession of it.
V. Deuteronomy the book of transition.
A. The title of the book in Hebrew means “a copy of this law,” as Moses reviews God’s Law with this new generation and warns the people in regard to disobedience.
1. The Hebrew title accurately reflects the fact that Deuteronomy is both the words of Moses (1:1) and the words of God that he told Moses to speak. It is not merely a copy of the law of Exodus but a restatement and expansion of the original covenant and covenant law.
2. The setting of this book was the plains of Moab just east of the Jordan River nearly forty years after receiving the law at Sinai, at the end of the wilderness period, just prior to Moses’ death.
3. The new time and setting, forty years after the original reception of the law at Sinai, required both updating of the law and a renewal of the covenant.
4. The generation that had exited Egypt with Moses was dead. The new generation needed to renew their covenant relationship with God and hear the law once again. This generation also needed to be prepared for the transition to a new leader, Joshua.
B. Moses in three separate messages calls the people to remain faithful to God and not forget the consequences of disobedience.
1. Chapters 1-11 detail Moses reviewing with the Israelites their history from Sinai to the present.
2. Chapters 12-34 show Moses reviewing God’s law, reminding the people of the promise of God’s blessing if they remain obedient.
3. The people of Israel renew their covenant with God and pledge their faithfulness to Him.
4. Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses, the great deliver, law giver and guide.
The political convention was in chaos. Each delegation wanted something different. Some favored states rights, others wanted a stronger central government. Larger states wanted greater representation, and small states wanted an equal voice. Debate dragged on and on. Finally the committee chairman admitted the situation was hopeless. After weeks of fruitless effort, the oldest delegate rose. Addressing the chairman, he said "The small progress we have made after four or five weeks is melancholy proof of the imperfections of human understanding. I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs the affairs of men". Citing the Bible he added, "And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured sir in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in political building no better than the builders of Babel. The speaker? Benjamin Franklin. It is ironic that Ben Franklin, who for most of his life was not considered devout, turned to the scriptures in a time of crises. At 81 years of age, using the Bible for his examples, Benjamin Franklin brought a clear vision to the convention, that eventually brought the delegates together, and a great document was produced, the constitution of the united states of America. I have found that in times of crisis God’s word has been there for me faithfully holding forth hope, and encouragement. I have found that in times when I lacked wisdom God’s word answered my questions, and gave me direction and I have found that in times when I am not sure what is right God’s word helps me discern the truth Benjamin Franklin turned to God’s word in a time of Americas crisis, and in so doing he found help, and direction Where do you turn in time of trouble.
