Introduction to the Pentateuch
What is Numbers about?
The Book of Numbers continues the story of Israel's journey to the promised land. The book opens with elaborate preparations for leaving Mt. Sinai where the covenant has been established (including a census of the people, hence the name "Numbers"). But the book then describes a series of events in which the people chose to disobey God. Israel's disobedience cost dearly, as God did not permit the nation to enter the promised land immediately. Numbers relates how God's people tragically wandered in the desert for forty years, unable to accomplish what he had in store for them.
What is the "Torah"?
Translates "law' Comes from the word for "teach" and "instruction." God's instruction for life. Contains the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Writings.
What historical period does the Pentatuch cover?
From the beginning of time down to the Davidic kingdom; including Israel's conquest of the Promised Land.
What does Genesis 12-50 present?
Genesis 12-50 is the story of Abraham, his family, and their journey of faith. The point of Genesis 12-50 is that these people believed God and he used their faith as the solution to the sin problem int he world. At the conclusion of Genesis, God has miraculously delivered his people from a famine and they are living peacefully in Egypt.
What does Genesis 1-11 present?
Describe the beginning of the universe, humanity, sin and punishment. They reveal God's nature, the role of his created universe and the position humanity holds in that universe. Genesis 1-11 presents a problem. God created a universe that he evaluated as "good" at every phase of its creation. But humanity ruined what he accomplished. After Adam and Eve brought sin into the world (Gen. 3), its consequences were immediately obvious. The effects of sin were evident in every aspect of God's creation, and became progressively worse. After humankind resisted other attempts to stem the tide of evil, God chose a single man and his family as the solution to this awful problem.
What is Deuteronomy about?
Deuteronomy is the final book of the Pentateuch. It is a series of farewell speeches from Moses. On the plains of Moab, across from the Jordan River and the promised land, Moses addresses God's people and prepares them for the future. He restates the law of the covenant ("Deuteronomy" means "second law") and warns them against turning from God to worship other gods. The book aims to re-establish the covenant between God and his people.
What is Levitcus about?
Leviticus, the third book of the Pentateuch, seems strange to modern readers, but Leviticus is indispensible to the total message of the Pentateuch. It calls God's people to ritual and moral purity. In Exodus, God liberated a captive Israel and established a unique relationship with the nation. Leviticus focuses on how the people can maintain that relationship. It instructs the priests in how to offer appropriate sacrifices to God. This book is thus devoted to preserving Israel's holy moral character as an aid to worship and enjoyment of the Lord and his blessings.
What is "ex nihilo"?
Means "out of nothing." God created the earth and all that exists "out of nothing" by his simple word. He cannot be likened to a skillful artist creating with his pallette and brushes on the canvas because God there were no brushes, no pallette, no canvas--NOTHING. God created everything "ex nihilo" (out of nothing). His Sovereignty was established at the beginning of creation.
What does SHALOM mean?
Shalom means "peace." It harkens back to the picture of paradise when Adam and Eve were perfect and had ready access to God's presence and favor. Shalom means more than the absence of conflict. It refers to a life where wholeness and well-being are present.Shalom-peace is present when God is not hindered by human sin and is free to add significance and meaning to an otherwise meaningless existence.
What are the Overarching Themes of the Pentateuch?
The Pentateuch emphasizes God's SOVEREIGNTY (see next flash card), HISTORY, the FALLEN CONDITION OF HUMANITY, SALVATION, and HOLINESS.
What is the "Sovereignty of God"?
The absolute authority, rule, and government of God in the world and His creation. He is in the driver's seat and we are but passengers in the back seat. In Genesis, the God of the Israelites creates the whole universe with no assistance from anyone (a unique concept in ancient literature). He has no needs, including no need for human love and worship. He created it without using preexistent matter and did so effortlessly through the power of his spoken word. The Pentateuch demonstrates God's supreme dominion by rehearsing his dealings with individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. God demonstrated his sovereign lordship over Egypt. The plagues were spectacular demonstrations that God was lord of Egypt and indeed of all the earth.
What is HOLINESS?
The fifth major theme of the Pentateuch emphasizes the concept of holiness. The primary meaning of holy is 'separate.' It comes from an ancient word that meant, 'to cut,' or 'to separate.' Perhaps even more accurate would be the phrase 'a cut above something.' "When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be 'other,' to be different in a special way. In the Pentateuch, as elsewhere in the Bible, God's grace is always followed by the law (His instruction). God is never content to be in relationship with his people if they are making no effort to imitate his character. So His instruction (Torah) is not intended to restrict life, but to instruct God's people in the "paths of righteousness." God's law (instruction) protects them from their own self-destructive actions, and as a means of grace, makes them more like Him.
What does SALVATION mean?
The fourth principle theme of the Pentateuch is "salvation." The Pentateuch relates the savlation of God in story form. God's love and grace moved him to take specific steps to remedy the human dilemma. God's was not forced by any third party or external circumstances to reach down to fallen humanity. The only motivating factor for his actions can be found in his nature as a loving and compassionate God. This fact, combined with an awareness of the hopelessness of the human condition, helps us to understand how great is His salvation. (Hebrews 2:1-4).
What is book of Exodus about?
The preparation and call of Moses, and his role in leading the Israelites out of Egypt ("Exodus" means "deliverance"). The miraculous deliverance of God's people is the formative event in Israelite history and the best example of God's power and grace. As such, the exodus in the Old Testament is the equivalent to the cross in the New Testament. The crossing of the Red Sea and separation from Egypt is the OT picture of New Testament baptism, burying the old nature and being delivered from our enslavement to sin to newness of life in Christ. Finally, Exodus also describes God's new binding relationship (Covenant) with his people (chapters 19-40).
What is the Pentateuch about?
The story of God's people, the nation of Israel. Explains where the nation came from, how God saved it from extinction, and Israel's struggles in its relationship with God. Was originally meant to encourage ancient Israelites to believe and trust in God because of his faithful relationship with their ancestors.
What is the Pentateuch?
The term "Pentateuch" refers to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy.
What is unique about the theme of "Fallen Condition of Humanity" in the Pentateuch?
The third important theme of the Pentateuch is that humankind is fallen. Sin entered the Garden of Eden and humanity's parents (Adam & Eve) experienced separation from their gracious Creator for the first time. The loss of a peaceful relationship with God also affected the way they related to creation and to each other. The fallenness of humanity leaves every individual with specific needs that only God can address.
Why is the History in the Pentateuch different from other ancient religions?
Unlike the writings of Confusianism, Buddhism, etc., they expressed their theology in terms of myths, in which important events took place beyond time and space. But in the Old Testament, God created history and worked in and through events. This is most apparent in Israel's distinctive creation story. God's people came to know God better by studying his acts in history. Events such as the plagues of Egypt and the giving of the Sinai covenant are theological truths that the Israelites recognized as unique, divine revelation.
