the drama of scripture. scriptural drama – an overview act one: establishes his kingdom: creation...

The Drama of Scripture

Scriptural Drama – an overview

Act One: Establishes His Kingdom: Creation Act Two: Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall Act Three: The King chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated

Scene 1: A People for the KingScene 2: A Land for His People

Act Four: The Coming of the King: Redemption Accomplished

Act Five: Spreading the News of the King: The Church’s MissionScene 1: The Church Begins Its Mission to the Nations Scene 2: Our Place in the Story: The Church Continues Its

Mission to the Nations Act Six: The Return of the King: Redemption Completed

Introductory Remarks…

Genesis 1-2 introduces us to foundational elements of the biblical story

Genesis 1-2 is about: (1) God; (2) Humanity; (3) Creation

A straightforward reading of Genesis 1-2 presents creation in six 24 hour days

A straightforward reading of Genesis 1-2 presents creation in six 24 hour days

Not every seriously dedicated Christian agrees with that…

But, I venture to say that all who believe in the Bible as truth would agree with “intelligent design”

Still, it’s the most uncomplicated way to understand the repeated “evening and morning” theme

It’s also the most straightforward way to explain Exodus 20:8-11 and Romans 5:12

Scene 1: God Creates an Ordered World

A. Creation Ex Nihilo

B. Creation Pattern1. God Speaks

2. It happens

3. God pronounces it good


Forming Commands Forming Commands Filling CommandsFilling Commands # Day Creation # Day# Day Creation # Day CreationCreation

1 (v3) 1 Light1 (v3) 1 Light

2 (v6) 2 Sky2 (v6) 2 Sky

3 (v9) 3 Land & 3 (v9) 3 Land & seasseas

4 (v11) 3 4 (v11) 3 VegetationVegetation 5 (v14) 4 5 (v14) 4 Sun, moon, Sun, moon,

starsstars 6 (v20) 5 Birds, 6 (v20) 5 Birds, fishfish7 (v24) 6 Animals7 (v24) 6 Animals

8 (v26) 8 (v26) HumankindHumankind

7 God’s 7 God’s restrest


“This is truly one of the points through which logic can barely wade, whereas faith can swim.”


Creation Mandate (Gen 1:26-31)

What does it mean created in God’s image?

Reflect -- emphasizes that our nature `is to mirror that of God

Represent -- emphasizes our task to represent Him and His truth

Rule -- emphasizes stewardship and authority

What do you know about the common beliefs in the ancient world about origins?

The most complete Mesopotamian account of creation was known as the Enuma Elish

Enuma Elish

Enuma Elish

Describes a cosmic conflict between the leading deities of that region…

The young and daring Marduk kills the monstrous Tiamat, mother goddess personifying the primeval ocean.

MardukTiamat

Enuma Elish

The young and daring Marduk kills the monstrous Tiamat, mother goddess personifying the primeval ocean.

Using Tiamat’s divided carcass, Marduk creates heaven and earth.

From the blood of her co-conspirator, Marduk and his father create humankind to do the hard labor of the universe.

How does the account of the Enuma Elish compare to the Genesis account for beauty and grandeur?

Moses’ concerns were exclusively religious. His intent was to proclaim knowledge of the true God as he manifested himself in his creative works, to proclaim a right understanding of humankind, the world, and history that knowledge of the true God entails—and to proclaim the truth concerning these matters in the face of the false religious notions dominant throughout the world of his day.

-John Stek

In the Beginningby David Goodrich

In the beginning God…In the beginning God…

Who is this God?Who is this God?

Yahweh Elohim (Gen. 2:4) Significance of names Yahweh: Israel’s Redeemer Elohim: World’s Creator

Genesis 1’s Teaching About… God Humankind World

Genesis One’s Teaching: God Eternal Distinct from creation Sovereign King over creation Powerful Personal

Genesis One’s Teaching: Humankind

Creature Relationship with God Image

Similar to GodDifferent from God

Male and female Rule over creation Reproduce and fill the earth

Genesis One’s Teaching: Humankind

Male and Female – 2:15-23 Adam

created from dust of the ground God breathed into him the breathe of life

Eve – made from one of Adam’s ribs Why did God create her?

Not good for man to be alone No suitable helper among the animals God’s established process for reproduction

Just as powerful earthly kings, to indicate their claim to dominion, erect an image of themselves in the provinces of their empire where they do not personally appear, so man is placed upon earth in God's image as God's sovereign emblem. He is really only God's representative, summoned to maintain and enforce God's claim to dominion over the earth.

-G. Von Rad

A Biblical Understanding of Humanity

The Lord GodThe Lord God

The WorldThe World- work- work- politics- politics- care of the environment, and so on- care of the environment, and so on

SelfSelfFellow humansFellow humans

A catastrophe has occurred.We are no longer in continuity withour good beginning. We have been separated from it by a disaster.We are also, of course, separated from our good end. We are, in other words, in the middle of a mess.

-Eugene Peterson-Eugene Peterson

Introductory RemarksWhy is the world so messed up?

• Our environment...

• Our values and morality...

Why am I so messed up?

• My health problems...

• My relational problems...

• My continuing depravity...

attitudes, thoughts, words, actions, etc.,etc.

Scene 1: Encounter with the Enemy -- (Gen. 3:1-7)

The Serpent

Serpent = ?

“the great dragon was thrown

down, that ancient serpent, who

is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9; cf. 20:2)

Scene 2: Consequences of the Rebellion Their eyes were opened

They realized they were naked

They made coverings for themselves

They hid from the Lord in the trees

They felt the need to blame shift

Descriptions of Sin Idolatry: placing anyone/anything before

God

Autonomy: making oneself source of right/wrong, good/bad, true/false

Covenant rebellion: refusing allegiance to rightful King

Relational selfishness: making yourself more important than others

Scene 2: Consequences of the Rebellion

Judgment: SerpentCurses him to crawl along the

groundDeclares hostility

between serpent & woman


Judgment: Eve Childbirth pain way up Desire to usurp Adam Subject to domineering, sinful

leadership of the husband


Judgment: AdamGround is cursedWork becomes difficultSubject to challenges to his leadership in the marriage

Scene 3: Eviction of the Rebels

Judgment: Adam & Eve Expelled from garden Separation from God Loss of innocence Death


Promise The Serpent Crusher Genesis 3:15 “protoevangelium” Central conflict Foreshadows the solution to the

central problem in the Bible Rom 16:20


Provision No immediate death Sacrifice for a covering

All spheres of life—marriage and family, work All spheres of life—marriage and family, work and worship, school and state,and worship, school and state,our play and art—bear the wounds of our our play and art—bear the wounds of our rebellion. Sin is present everywhere—rebellion. Sin is present everywhere—in pride of race, in arrogance of nations,in pride of race, in arrogance of nations,in abuse of the weak and helpless,in abuse of the weak and helpless,in disregard for water, air, and soil,in disregard for water, air, and soil,in destruction of living creatures, in slavery, in destruction of living creatures, in slavery, deceit, terror, and war, in worship of false gods, deceit, terror, and war, in worship of false gods, and frantic escape from reality.and frantic escape from reality.We have become victims of our own sin.We have become victims of our own sin.

-Contemporary Testimony-Contemporary Testimony, 17, 17

Summary of Act 2

Humanity rebels against God, Humanity rebels against God,

plunging creation into chaos.plunging creation into chaos.

Scene 1: Before Israel

Genesis 4-50: Prologue to Israel’s Story

Universal period (4-11) The beginning of civilization

Three very important events

Patriarchal period (12-50)


Genesis 4–11: Universal PeriodGenesis 4–11: Universal Period Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)

The first vivid evidence of the mess we’re inThe first vivid evidence of the mess we’re in

Unbelief, rebelliousness, jealousy, rage are Unbelief, rebelliousness, jealousy, rage are

expressed relationallyexpressed relationally

4:7 – “sin is crouching at the door; and it’s 4:7 – “sin is crouching at the door; and it’s

desire is for you, but you must master it.”desire is for you, but you must master it.”


Genesis 4–11: Universal Period Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)

“And he died …” (Gen 5 8 times)

repeated confirmation of God’s

promised judgment


Genesis 4–11: Universal Period Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) A worldwide flood


Genesis 4–11: Universal Period Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) A worldwide flood A forced diaspora

Scene 2: Formation of a People

A. Abrahamic Covenant1. The Promise (Genesis 12:1-3)

Genesis 12:1-3

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your your country and your kindred and your

father's house to the land that I will show father's house to the land that I will show you. you. 22 And I will make of you a great And I will make of you a great

nation, and I will bless you and make your nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. name great, so that you will be a blessing. 33 I will bless those who bless you, and him I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you who dishonors you I will curse, and in you

all the families of the earth shall be all the families of the earth shall be blessed."blessed."


A. Abrahamic Covenant

3 main elements in God’s covenant with

Abraham:

1. A personal relationship

2. Growth of a family into a nation

3. Land of their own



b. Land/Dominion/Geography

To your offspring I give this land, To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the from the river of Egypt to the

great river, the river Euphrates, great river, the river Euphrates, 1919 the land of the Kenites, the the land of the Kenites, the

Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 2020 the the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the

Rephaim, Rephaim, 2121 the Amorites, the the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and Canaanites, the Girgashites and

the Jebusites -- the Jebusites -- Gen 15:18-Gen 15:18-2121



b. Line/Dynasty/Genealogy

Abraham’s Family Tree


A. Abrahamic Covenant2. The Provision

a. Isaac Promised Seed

Sarah your wife shall bear you a Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name son, and you shall call his name

Isaac. I will establish my covenant Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting with him as an everlasting

covenant for his offspring after covenant for his offspring after him. -- Genesis 17:19him. -- Genesis 17:19

The Patriarchs

Tracing the Promise Jacob (Gen 28:3-4)

God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a

company of peoples. 4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your

offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings

that God gave to Abraham!


The Patriarchs

Tracing the Promise Jacob’s 12 Sons

Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you

what shall happen to you in days to come …

Genesis 49:1-27


Jacob and his Descendants

The Patriarchs

God’s Providential Care

Human Unfaithfulness

Divine Faithfulness

“As for you, you meant evil

against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20)


Introductory Remarks

The exodus event is the defining

act of salvation in the OT

The exodus remains the defining

event for the Jewish people to

this day

Exodus: Formation of a People

God Remembers His Covenant (Exod 1:1 –

4:17)

Israel’s suffering (Exod 1:8–2:25)



4:17)Israel’s deliverer (Exod 2:1–4:31)

Moses was from the tribe of Levi... Was saved by his mother hiding him, and being found, then

raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter... Needed to flee due to murder... Was a shepherd for 40 years in Midian... Then called by God to lead his people out of Egypt... Was at first a reluctant leader... Then grew to be a great leader.



4:17)

Israel’s God (Exod 2:24–4:31)

;ה ֶא;ה=ֶי “I AM”

Yahweh = “HE IS”


God Delivers His People (Exod 4:18–15:21)

First Nine Plagues (Exod 7:1–10:29)

These plagues can be seen as repeated evidences that Israel’s God is superior to the Egyptian gods…

And, therefore, the Pharaoh would be wise to let His people go!!


By blood of a lamb...

Passover & Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:1-28, 43-50

Exodus: Formation of a Nation

By mighty acts of judgment

Victory Accomplished

Exodus 14:23-28


The first worship song recorded in the Bible Exodus 15


Miraculous Provisions – Bitter water made sweet

Exodus 15:22-26


Miraculous Provisions -- Manna

Exodus 16:4-5


Miraculous Provisions -- Quail

Exodus 16:11-15


Miraculous Provisions – Water from the rock

Exodus 17:5-7


Miraculous Provisions – Trouncing the Amelakites

Exodus 17:8-13


Israel is Bound to God in Covenant

Mount Sinai

Remembrances

You saw what I did to Egypt

I carried you on eagle’s wings

I brought you to myself

(Implied – Ex. 3:12 – “I will be with You”)

Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:4)

Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:5-6)

Expectations

My treasured possession

Deut 7:7-8

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Expectations

My treasured possession

A kingdom of priests

A holy nation

“if you will obey me fully and keep my covenant”

Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:5-6)

Sinai Covenant

• Ex. 20: Ten Commandments

– General stipulations

– Israel’s relation to God (1-4)

– Israel’s relation to each other (6-10)

Sinai Covenant

Ex. 20-23:19 -- Detailed stipulations

The interest of God in the details of His people’s experience is shown clearly

in the instructions God gives to regulate and shape every aspect of

their lives under His rule.”

Sinai Covenant

God consecrates his people (24:3-11)

• The Book of the Covenant is sealed with blood – vv4b-7

• The people were marked by God -- vs. 8

• The LORD shared a fellowship meal with the leaders of the Israelites -- 11

Sinai Covenant

God consecrates his people (24:15-18)

• Following this, Moses went up the on the mountain and did not return until he had received instructions concerning the tabernacle and its furnishings.

• It took 40 days and nights... and the people grew impatient!

Sinai Covenant

Covenant Broken & Renewed (32:1–34:35)

Israel’s idolatry– Golden calf –

– “they sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play”

– God’s response – 32:7-10

Sinai Covenant

Covenant Broken & Renewed (32:1–34:35)

Moses’ Intercession– “You must go with us”

– “Show me your glory”

– Name of the Lord

– Moses’ shining face

God Prepares to Indwell Israel

Instructions for Tabernacle (25-31)

Israel unworthy of God’s presence (32-34)

God indwells Israel on basis of love (35-

40)

the drama of scripture. scriptural drama – an overview act one: establishes his kingdom: creation...

Documents