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Reading Assignment , , and Jacob: and the Abrahamic ______

Instructions: Complete a write-up as you have been doing noting those things that you will need to write about in the course review paper. To help you, it is suggested that you include the question and answers to the readings and questions found throughout this reading assignment. I. Introduction Abraham stopped at “the plain of Moreh” (Gen. 12:6), a mistranslation of the Hebrew words meaning “the tree In the last reading assignment we learned of the general promises of the teacher.” Exactly what this was we do not know. made by to Abraham. The Lord promised Abraham “I will We are told that at this tree, God appeared to Abraham and make of thee a great nation” through whom God would have the said “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” Abraham then built an of the and through the authority of the priesthood to the Lord (Gen. 12:7). This incident established they would be the means of “all the families of the earth” being Shechem as the sacred center of the land of promise for future blessed “with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings generations as is shown in many biblical stories. of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abr. 2:9, 11). In other words, through Abraham’s seed God would be able to bring both For Latter-day , this story is of great interest. When Lehi salvation and eternal life to all his children. was told to leave , he and his family traveled three days into the wilderness then set up camp (see 1 Ne. 2). The So, the ultimate aim of the Abrahamic Covenant is to bring about Lord was going to lead Lehi to a new (see 1 Ne. a celestial people dwelling in a a celestial kingdom or Zion and 5:1-5). Like Abraham, Lehi did not know where the land was eternally existing in a celestial globe. This what is meant in located. One night while camping at that site, Lehi saw in a Abraham 2:11 when the Abraham is promised that his literal seed dream the promised land. In that land was a tree, a tree of life “shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the (1 Ne. 8:2-10). The tree of life became an important symbol blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, throughout the of the Lord’s promised even life eternal.” blessings that would be given the seed of . This is the goal of the gospel plan of our Heavenly Parents. This B. The Lord “cuts a covenant” with Abraham. is what our testimony of the gospel is all about. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972) declared: From Shechem, Abraham moved to other locations to live. This testimony comes from God; it convinces all to whom it is given Sometime later, the Lord said to Abraham, “I am the Lord that in spite of themselves, and it is worth more to men than any sign or brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land gift, because it gives peace, happiness, and contentment to the soul. [the land of ] to inherit it.” In response, Abraham asked It assures me that God lives; and if I am faithful, I shall obtain the the Lord, “whereby shall I know that I shall inherit?” (Gen. 15:7- blessings of the celestial kingdom. The earth will become purified and 8). In response, the Lord told Abraham to bring him a certain made a fit abode for heavenly beings and for the Lord our God to number of animals. Abraham secured the animals and then come and dwell upon, which he will do during the millennium. The cut them in half, laying the severed halves together. Why? gospel is salvation, and without it there is nothing worth having. This Abraham understood that the Lord intended to formalize the is what we are after. The reason that we are here is that we may promises He had made with Abraham through a covenant overcome every foil and prepare ourselves for eternal life in the ritual. future. (Conference Report, Oct. 1966, p. 125) Covenant rituals in the ancient world generally involved cutting But it does seem odd, that since the goal of the Abrahamic and blood. In some cases animals were cut in half. Then after Covenant has been the goal of God from the beginning, why is the reciting the terms of the covenant, the parties making the Lord making such a big deal about what has become known as covenant would pass between the severed parts of the animal thee Abrahamic Covenant? Perhaps the Lord is doing some (thus identifying themselves with the animal) suggesting that if things differently with Abraham, and his son Isaac, and his they did not keep their part of the covenant then what was grandson Jacob. done to the animal would be done to them: i.e., they would be Let’s explore a few of the stories of these three men and see what killed. In fact, the proper way to say in Hebrew, “he made a we can learn. covenant” is “he cut a covenant.” (For another example, see 34:18-19.) II. Abraham After the animals were cut in half, the Lord stated the terms of A. Abraham enters the promised land. the covenant. Abraham’s posterity would become enslaved in another land for four generations (a generation was one *Read Genesis 12:1-7. hundred years). At the end of that period the Lord would bring The incident of Abraham 2:6-11 occurred while Abraham was them out of bondage and give them the land of Canaan. Then living in . Being directed by the Lord, Abraham and his the Lord, represented by a smoking furnace and a burning family left Haran for the promised land–but not knowing where lamp, passed between the severed animals (Gen. 15:13-18). that was (Heb. 11:8). They reached the main thoroughfare that Abraham now knew the land would be his. Of course, that led from to via the land of Canaan–the would mean that Abraham would need to “cut a covenant” with southern part of the strategic corridor linking the Asian and the Lord. African continents. C. Abraham “cuts a covenant” with the Lord The road led Abraham to Canaan where he stopped at an Genesis 17 records the occasion relative to Abraham’s important city named Shechem (Sichem in Gen. 12:6), the entering into the covenant. The ritual which initiated the crossroads between the northern and southern parts of the land covenant on Abraham’s part also involved cutting and blood. of Canaan. The King James tells us that coming into

1 But instead of cutting animals in half and walking between the Abraham followed a pattern: he was asked to give up pieces, the sign of Abraham’s covenant was the ordinance of something earthly for a higher or Godly cause. In the end, . Circumcision became the token of the covenant Abraham never really gave up anything for he was always throughout Old Testament history. The one entering into the blessed with something better. Joseph Smith was told that covenant cut off his foreskin symbolizing that if he did not keep because Abraham (as well as Isaac and Jacob) did none his part of the covenant that he and his posterity would be cut other things than that which were commanded they have off from the presence of the Lord even as he had cut off the entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and foreskin. sit upon thrones, and are not but are ” (D&C 132:37). Genesis 17:1, states what Abraham must promise to do: “walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Gen. 17:1). To walk before the E. The Abrahamic Covenant is “Made Sure.” Lord is to walk in His paths, to do things in the Lord’s way, to live after the manner of the Lord and not the voice of the world. The ultimate test of Abraham’s obedience came when God The Hebrew word translated “perfect” means to be whole, asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to Him complete, intact, blameless, or without blemish. It did not mean * Read Gen. 22:1-2. sinless. The two promises Abraham was to make--to walk before the Lord and be perfect–meant that he was to promise This struck against everything God had taught Abraham the Lord that he would obey wholly and completely the about the wickedness of human sacrifice. Moreover, by commands of the Lord. offering Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham would lose his heir, the child through whom the promises of the Abrahamic In Genesis 17, the Lord promises Abraham that if he keeps is covenant would come (Heb. 11:18-19). agreement God will make Abraham “a father of many nations” that his seed would “be known among all nations.” Further, “I President John Taylor (1808-87), with other members of the will make nations of thee, and kings shall come of thee and of Twelve while in Nauvoo, recalled the thy seed” (JST Gen. 17: 8, 10). Please consider what this is Joseph Smith (1805-44) saying, “It was not everybody that saying about modern –members of the in our day. could stand what Abraham stood. And Joseph said that if Wow! God had known any other way whereby he could have touched Abraham's feelings more acutely and more keenly His obedience was immediately shown. We are told that he would have done so.” (Journal of Discourses 26 Vols. “selfsame day,” Abraham entered into the covenant with the [1855-86], 24:264) Lord through the ordinance of circumcision (Gen. 17:23). Ouch! I might have thought of reasons I could put that obedience off *Read Gen. 22:3-5; 11:17-19 for awhile. But not with Abraham. President Spencer W. Kimball The of Gen. 22:5 is not quite accurate spoke of Abraham’s obedience in these words: to what Abraham said. It misses the complete faith Abraham There are many examples of Abraham’s obedience to the Lord’s had in the Lord that though he would offer up his son, his will. In Genesis we learn that God commanded Abraham to son would some how be brought back to life again and return circumcise every male in his household. Upon receiving that with his father. It should be rendered, “And Abraham said commandment, Abraham did not say, “Yes, I will obey the Lord, unto his young me, Abide ye here with the ass: and indeed but first I must move my to another pasture, and mend my I and the lad will go yonder, and indeed we will worship, and tents. I should be able to obey by the end of the week, or by the indeed WE will return to you.” first of next week, at the latest.” But instead of so procrastinating his obedience, Abraham went out and complied “in the selfsame This is amazing particularly recalling recalling that in day.” (Gen. 17:26.) Leviticus chapter one we are told that a burnt offering is not A similar, but even more impressive, example is Abraham’s only killed, then entirely dismembered, and entirely obedience to God’s command that he sacrifice his only son, Isaac. consumed in flames leaving only smoke and ash. Abraham could have put this abhorrent task aside or even chosen to ignore the commandment entirely, but instead he arose early *Read Gen. 22:6-18 the next morning and began the journey to the appointed place. This test of Abraham’s obedience proved that Abraham was How often do Church members arise early in the morning to do the determined to do whatever God asked him to do. Therefore will of the Lord? How often do we say, “Yes, I will have home the Lord assured Abraham that the covenant was now in full evening with my family, but the children are so young now; I will force. The promises were a done deal. (Gen. 22:15-18). start when they are older”? How often do we say, “Yes, I will obey Meaning that Abraham would have a posterity that would the commandment to store food and to help others, but just now become a great nation, eventually a righteous people saved I have neither the time nor the money to spare; I will obey later”? from their fallen condition. They would be heirs of the Oh, foolish people! While we procrastinate, the harvest will be over and we will not be saved. Now is the time to follow Abraham’s promised land. Through them all the families of the earth example; now is the time to repent; now is the time for prompt would be blessed with the blessings of the gospel. Zion obedience to God’s will. (“The Example of Abraham,” Ensign, would envelope the world. Eventually the whole earth would June 1975, pp. 3-7) become their promised land, the celestial kingdom. D. The Testing of Abraham’s Obedience III. Isaac – Two important points The testing of Abraham forms the basis of the Abraham story A. The Chosen Seed continue through the seed of Isaac and found in Genesis 12-22. In these chapters Abraham passes Rebekah. through a series of tests where he must prove his love and Abraham had several children through his three wives, , loyalty to God by being obedient to God’s directions and , and Keturah. Through Hagar, he had his , commands, though he did not always (or rarely) understand (Gen. 16). Through Sarah he had Isaac (Gen. 21). And why God directed him in the way He did. The testing of

2 through Keturah he had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, , G. Romney (1897-1988) of the First Presidency taught what Ishbak, and Shuah (Gen. 25). All of these children could receive happened on this occassion. the fulness of the gospel and apparently some did as evidenced Pondering upon the subject of temples and the means therein by the fact that several hundred years later received the provided to enable us to ascend into heaven brings to mind the priesthood through a descendant of Midian, one of the lesson of Jacob’s dream. You will recall that in the children of Keturah. However, it was the Lord’s design that the twenty-eighth chapter of Genesis there is an account of his “chosen seed” through which He would fulfill the promises made return to the land of his father to seek a wife from among his to Abraham would continue through Isaac. As the Lord told own people. When Jacob traveled from toward Abraham: “in Isaac shall thy seed by called” (Gen. 21:1-12; see Haran, he had a dream in which he saw himself on the earth at also 15:1-6; 18:1-15). the foot of a ladder that reached to heaven where the Lord stood above it. He beheld angels ascending and descending Since the covenant was part of the covenant, it thereon, and Jacob realized that the covenants he made with required that Isaac marry within the covenant. We are told in the Lord there were the rungs on the ladder that he himself Genesis 24 that Isaac married a most remarkable woman: would have to climb in order to obtain the promised Rebekah. blessings—blessings that would entitle him to enter heaven and associate with the Lord. For several years, Isaac and Rebekah struggle to have children. Because he had met the Lord and entered into covenants with *Read Gen. 25:21-23 Who are the two children? him there, Jacob considered the site so sacred that he named the place , a contraction of Beth-, which means In these verses we learn that it was revealed to Rebekah that literally “the House of the Lord.” He said of it: “… this is none Jacob would receive the birthright over , meaning “the other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” chosen seed” would continue through his posterity. (Gen. 28:17.) B. The promises the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled Jacob not only passed through the gate of heaven, but by living because of Abraham’s obedience. up to every covenant he also went all the way in. Of him and his forebears Abraham and Isaac, the Lord has said: “… During Isaac’s life famine was a constant harrasment. Knowing because they did none other things than that which they were the his father, Abraham, we and lived in Egypt a period of time commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to escape the famine, Isaac thought he would do the same. to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.” (D&C 132:37.) *Read Gen. 26:1-5 What do these verses say about the Temples are to us all what Bethel was to Jacob. Even more, importance of Abraham’s obedience? they are also the gates to heaven for all of our unendowed The Lord appeared to Isaac and said: “Go not down into Egypt” kindred dead. We should all do our duty in bringing our loved but “dwell in the land” which was promised to Abraham. Then ones through them. (“Temples—The Gates to Heaven,” Ensign, March 1971, p. 16) Isaac was clearly told: “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed . . because that Abraham obeyed my voice” On this sacred occasion, the Lord himself confirmed the (Gen. 26:2-4; emphasis added). This is a second witness to birthright including the promises made to Abraham what we learned in Genesis 22. with an important addition: the Lord would be with him during his life away from the promised land assuring him that He IV. Jacob would “bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave A. Jacob receives the birthright but must marry within the thee” (Gen. 28:10-17). covenant. C. Jacob’s name changed to Israel Recall the Rebekah learned from the Jacob was to Twenty years later, having acquired four wives and 12 receive the birthright. children (11 boys and one daughter), Jacob did return to the *Read Gen. 26:34-35. According to these verses what did promised land as promised by (Gen. 32-33). It was on this Esau do wrong? return trip, Jacob sought diligently for divine aid in completing the return to the promised land. In a rather cryptic For a reason not stated, Isaac decided to give the birthright story, Jacob received that help. to Esau. Fortunately, Rebekah through trickery guided Jacob in receiving the birthright (see Gen. 27). *Read Gen. 32:24-30. What was the new name given to Jacob? *Read Gen. 27:41-46. What did Rebekah urged Jacob to do? As I said, the story is cryptic. But Jacob’s name was changed by the Lord to Israel, which the Lord defined as Upon Rebekah’s urging, Isaac called Jacob to him: “with God and man he [Jacob] has prevailed” (Gen. 32:24- *Read Gen. 28:1-5. What did Isaac tell Jacob? 32). Jacob and his family moved to Shechem, the first place Abraham came to when he entered the promised land. We see that Isaac blessed Jacob–perhaps confirming the Eventually, Jacob needed to take his family to the temple, so birthright upon him–and then urged him to marry to say. He was asked of God to gather his family and go to appropriately by going to the land where his mother Rebekah Bethel, the place where Jacob had the dream of the ladder. came from and find a wife in the covenant. D. Jacob and the family go to the temple (Bethel) and the B. Jacob promised the blessings of Abraham at Bethel promises of the Abrahamic Covenant are confirmed on *Read Gen. 28:10-22. What did the Lord promise Jacob? him. This is the well known story of Jacob and the ladder. Marion Genesis 34 records a terrible story of revenge. Jacob’s daughter, , was raped by one of the men living in

3 Shechem. and , two of the sons of Jacob, in an act of revenge slaughter many of the Shechemites in a very devious manner. Then the “spoiled the city” (35:27), meaning that they looted the city, taking all their livestock, and bringing into slavery al the wives and children of the men they slaughtered (Gen. 34:27-29). What a terrible event from a people who are to be a blessing to all the families of the world. To Simeon and Levi Jacob said, “Ye have troubled me to make me stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the ” (Gen. 34:30). Afraid that the other Canaanites make gather together and attack Jacob and his family “and I shall be destroyed, I and my house,” bringing an end to “the chosen seed.” Certainly, the chosen seed did not seem to be very “chosen”! Two things needed to happen. The family needed cleaning and they would have to move to an area with little Canaanite influence. The Lord would need to intervene to save the house of Israel. *Read Gen. 35:1-5. What did the Lord ask the children of Jacob to do? There are a few things in this story that elude the modern reader. But what is clear is that before going to Bethel (lit., “the house of God”), the family needed to some spiritual cleaning up! The family complied. The worldly idols and earrings (possibly amulets for protection) were buried under the oak tree, probably the same tree Abraham came to at Shechem. *Read Gen. 35:6-15. At Bethel, God appeared to Jacob and renewed the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant. He reminded Jacob that He is “God Almighty” and Israel would not be destroyed despite that hideous actions of his children. Indeed, “a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.” Perhaps Jacob was comforted by these words though the actions of his children must have weighed heavy on him.

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