15 Days Through the Bible: Day Six

We are half way through our Bible on our 15 day journey. We have spent a lot of time in Genesis. This book holds the foundation for the rest of our story. From this point on the books will fly by.

As we finish the stories of the Biblical Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jacob's name is changed to Israel. 

This family name change leads us into the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

The story of the nation of Israel will lead us on to the Messiah. There are some amazing and important stories we will not go into for the sake of time. Each of the Israelite adventures had a two fold purpose; to bring glory to God and to teach Israel to trust God.  

In the nation of Israel we will find the answer to Genesis 3:15.
Who is the One that the Bible points to as the crusher of the head of the serpent? 
Who will fulfill God's promise and make things right between God and man again?

We left our story with Jacob and his children in who have traveled to Egypt to escape the famine.
Jacob, Abraham's grandson, has had his name changed to Israel.  From that time on his children become "The Israelites". During a famine they all travel to Egypt for food. It just so happens that their brother Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery 30 years earlier, has become the royal vizier of Egypt (a little of God's handiwork). On Joseph's insistence, they up move the whole family to Egypt. They settle in nearby Goshen, a suburb of Egypt,  and over the next 400 years a family of 70 becomes a nation of hundreds of thousands of Israelites.
A new Pharaoh comes into power, and fears that the Israelites might side with his enemies in a war, so he order all the baby boys thrown into the Nile and enslaves the rest of them, in a effort to control the population.

Jacob passes away, and is buried in the family plot.

His sons and two of his grandson's move into their roles as the tribal leaders of the Israelites. 

There are 12 tribes that make up the nation of Israel. We will follow the tribe of Judah through whom "a ruler" will be arriving, the One we are looking for?. 

For now we leave the Israelites slaves in Egypt, and hoping for the promise given to Abraham... they want to go back to a land of their own. 

Here are some stories we skipped: 

You can't help but see hints of the Messiah dropped by God. God seems to be saying "You never have to worry that things are not in my control" "If I promise, I will do". 

Abraham and Sarah have baby Isaac 25: 19-26; 35

God test's Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son (Abraham passes the test and God provides another sacrifice) Hebrew 11: 8-19
the birth of his twin sons, Jacob and Esau  25 : 19-34

The Story of Jacob and Esau  27:1-37:1

• Jacob leaves home, after receiving his father's blessing through trickery 27:1-28:9 .
• Jacob flees for his life after angering Esau and has a vision of the ladder to heaven at Bethel (28:10-15).
• Jacob's wife and kids and his return from Haran to Canaan 29-33 .
• Jacob's marriages, the birth of most of his children, the intense dealings between Laban and Jacob. After leaving Haran and wrestling with the angel, Jacob re-unites with Esau.
• Jacob's life comes to an end 34-36.

The Story of Joseph  37-50 is a beautiful for-shadow of the coming Messiah.

Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers where

Through God's intervention he becomes a ruler of Egypt, ranking just under Pharaoh  37-41.
Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food because of a great famine.
They do not recognize Joseph after 30 years, and he plans a theatrical way to reveal his identity to them
Joseph sends for Jacob and his family to have them settle in Egypt  46- 47.
Jacob's blessing of Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and his prophecy concerning the twelve tribes (mainly Judah) 48-49.
Jacob and Joseph pass away 50
42-45.