RELB 110: Biblical Backgrounds

[Tom Samson]

Patriarchal period as per the Bible back ground is a time when a clan was led by a patriarch like Abraham. Patriarchs were the representatives of the family set up. It saws the plan of God in regard to saving and having a close relationship to all other nations. Patriarchal period also express Gods love to the lost generation.
Abraham, formerly known as Abram, was the first Hebrew Patriarch who came from Ur of the Chaldeans. Abraham had a suzerain/vassal covenant with God.
When we first meet Abram, he was a pagan like everyone else. However, he was different from the rest of his family, so God called him to separate himself to enter int a covenant with him and go to the land which God would show him.
Now the LORD said to Patriarch Abram, Genesis 12: “Go forth11 from your land, and from your relatives,12 and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; And13 I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And I will make great your name; And so you shall be a blessing; 14 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who slights you I will curse; And all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you.”15
God’s word of blessing expresses His favor and desired good that leads to the fertility, prosperity, protection, and preservation of the one(s) blessed. God’s blessing called for the multiplication of mankind who would subdue and rule over the earth the same blessing is mentioned to Abraham during the covenant time. It was conditional as Bible portrays it.
“I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” At this, Abram fell face down, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:3-5)
The covenant with Abraham is a covenant of grace, in that it brings about the redemptive purpose. It does so by making a separate nation out of Abraham and his descendants, the Jewish people, through Isaac and the twelve tribes of Israel. And one of those tribes led to the promised Messiah Jesus.
God has chosen descendants of Abraham to demonstrate His own kind and promise-keeping character to the world. And, to bless all the families of the earth!
The Abrahamic Covenant is a promise of hope for the Church. God distinguished Abraham from his family and his kinsmen and made a distinct people out of his descendants. This only happened because Abraham believed God, and had faith in His promises. Today Abraham id father of faith due to the fact that He obeyed God without questioning him, All those who have the same faith are descendant of Abraham.

[John Jackson]

PATRIARCHAL PERIOD
Patiarchal period refers to the era in the Hebrew Bible characterized by the stories of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as detailed in Genesis 12-50. The period, between 2000 and 1500 B.C, which marked a time of God’s covenant with these male figures and their families. The period is often characterized by family religion, where the head of the family acted as the priest.

THE LORD’S COVENANT TO ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
The lord promised Abraham that he would have numerous descendants. He promised that all of them would be entitled to receive the gospel, the blessings of the priesthood and all of the ordinances of exaltation. These descendants through the power of the priesthood, would carry the gospel to all nations. Through them, all the families of the earth would be blessed(Genesis 12:1-3). God further promised that if they were righteous He would establish His covenant with all generations of Abraham’s children (Genesis 17:4-8).
We are the covenant people according to the above response. “As many as received this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be counted thy seed(lineage) and shall rise up and bless thee as their father.” When we are baptized into the church, we enter into the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Galatians 3:26-29).
The fullness of the gospel is called the new and everlasting covenant, which includes the covenant made at baptism, during Holy Communion,and at any other time (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37-26).

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