Old Testament 301 Day 4

Thought: Elder Melvin J. Ballard wrote: “You remember the story of how Abraham’s son came after long years of waiting and was looked upon by his worthy sire, Abraham, as more precious than all his other possessions, yet, in the midst of his rejoicing, Abraham was told to take this only son and offer him as a sacrifice to the Lord. He responded. Can you feel what was in the heart of Abraham on that occasion? You love your son just as Abraham did, perhaps not quite so much, because of the peculiar circumstances, but what do you think was in his heart when he started away from Mother Sarah, and they bade her goodbye? What do you think was in his heart when he saw Isaac bidding farewell to his mother to take that three days’ journey to the appointed place where the sacrifice was to be made? I imagine it was about all Father Abraham could do to keep from showing his great grief and sorrow at that parting, but he and his son trudged along three days toward the appointed place, Isaac carrying the fagots that were to consume the sacrifice. The two travelers rested, finally, at the mountainside, and the men who had accompanied them were told to remain while Abraham and his son started up the hill.

“The boy then said to his father: ‘Why, Father, we have the fagots; we have the fire to burn the sacrifice; but where is the sacrifice?’

“It must have pierced the heart of Father Abraham to hear the trusting and confiding son say: ‘You have forgotten the sacrifice.’ Looking at the youth, his son of promise, the poor father could only say: ‘The Lord will provide.’

“They ascended the mountain, gathered the stones together, and placed the fagots upon them. Then Isaac was bound, hand and foot, kneeling upon the altar. I presume Abraham, like a true father, must have given his son his farewell kiss, his blessing, his love, and his soul must have been drawn out in that hour of agony toward his son who was to die by the hand of his own father. Every step proceeded until the cold steel was drawn, and the hand raised that was to strike the blow to let out the life’s blood.” (“The Sacramental Covenant,” New Era, Jan. 1976, pp. 9–10.)

Bear in mind that Abraham was saved from a similar fate instigated in wickedness by his own father. As with most people, Abraham must have abhorred human sacrifice. Why would the Lord require such a trial of his faith? What can be learned from the life of Abraham, who was faithful to the end? (OTSM p.

 

Books of the Week: Studies in Scripture Volume Three - The Old Testament Genesis to 2 Samuel. Edited by Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet

a)      "Eve and the Choice Made in Eden" Beverly Campbell - "When a woman thinks of how something is going to affect all those around her, those effects oftentimes require her to adjust her initial thinking... as opposed to a man, well it's a matter of principle, right is right and wrong is wrong and hang the consequences. According to sociologists, the male-oriented highest stage (perhaps First Priority) of moral development is the morality of right. That can be quite different from the morality of responsibility which is the highest moral order (first priority for women) The male model concerns itself with separation; the female, with connectedness." p. 173

 

Isaac was born about 1900 B.C. He was 40 when he married Rebekah. Esau & Jacob were born 20 years later, about 1840 B.C. Jacob’s flight to Haran, about 1800 B.C., which means the 12 sons would have been born between 1800 B.C. and 1780 B.C. In the line of Adam’s generations Abraham was the 20th, Isaac the 21st, and Jacob the 22nd.

450 Miles from Canaan to Haran

Genesis 24- How to find a wife for your 40 year old son and how to be a good pick.  Go to the well!- "And the damsel being a virgin, very fair to look upon, such as the servant of Abraham had not seen, neither had any man known the like unto her …” (JST, Genesis 24:16). Vs. 19- Good worker- 10 camels.

Gen. 25:2 - Keturah - Midian- Moses connection

Gen. 25:20-26- The birth of dueling twins.

Gen. 25:27-28 - The Hebrew word translated "plain" means whole, complete, perfect.

Gen. 25:30 - Esau whose name meant hairy was also called Edom which means red. (Ridges p. 314)

Gen. 25:34 - Despised means "did not care about."

Gen. 26: 1 - The same Abimelech that Abraham had dealt with and a similar story.

Gen. 26:2-6; 24-25- Abrahamic covenant renewed

Gen. 26:23- Beer=well; sheba=oath

Gen. 26:34-35 - Esau again shows that he "despised" the covenant.

Gen. 27 - Read chapter heading and Institute manual p. 85.

Gen. 28: “The Prophet Joseph Smith said, speaking of Paul’s comment about one who was caught up to the third kingdom (see 2 Corinthians 12:2), “Paul ascended into the third heavens, and he could understand the three principal rounds of Jacob’s ladder—the telestial, the terrestrial, and the celestial glories or kingdoms” (TPJS, p. 304–5).

"Temples are to us all what Bethel was to Jacob. Even more, they are also the gates to heaven for all of our unendowed kindred dead. We should all do our duty in bringing our loved ones through them.” (“Temples—The Gates to Heaven,” MGRomney, Ensign, Mar. 1971, p. 16.)

Gen. 28:13-14 - Abrahamic covenant renewed through Jacob.

Gen. 28:19- Beth from Bayit=House. El=God

Gen. 28:22 - Jacob promised to pay his tithing.

Gen. 29:30 - The Hebrew "sahnay" is better translated loved less, rather than hated.

Mother  Name         Meaning                            Reason for name

Leah	Reuben	See a son	Joy for having a son (see Genesis 29:32).
Leah	Simeon	Hearing	Because the Lord heard that she was hated (see Genesis 29:33).
Leah	Levi	Joined	“This time will my husband be joined unto me” (Genesis 29:34).
Leah	Judah	Praise	“Now I will praise the Lord” (Genesis 29:35).
Bilhah	Dan	Judging	“God hath judged me” (Genesis 30:6).
Bilhah	Naphtali	Wrestling	“With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister” (Genesis 30:8).
Zilpah	Gad	Troop	“Leah said, A troop cometh” (Genesis 30:11).
Zilpah	Asher	My happiness	“Leah said, Happy am I” (Genesis 30:13).
Leah	Issachar	A reward	God hath given me my reward (Genesis 30:18).
Leah	Zebulun	Dwelling	“Now will my husband dwell with me” (Genesis 30:20).
Rachel	Joseph	Adding	“The Lord shall add to me another son” (Genesis 30:24).
Rachel	Benjamin	Son of my right hand	“You are the son of my right hand” (see Genesis 35:18).

Genesis 35:20-22 The inclusion of the brief account of Reuben’s immorality in the historical account may seem unusual, but it explains why Reuben, the firstborn of Leah, forfeited the birthright. Since Rachel was the second wife, her firstborn would then by right inherit the forfeited blessing. Joseph thus was the next legal heir in line, even though he was the eleventh son born. (1 Chronicles 5:1–3 specifically ties Reuben’s loss of the birthright to his transgression and shows how it went to Joseph.)

Cool Things about Joseph of Egypt

1. He was born in Haran-the 1stborn child of Jacob's beloved wife Rachel and the 11th son of Jacob.

2. He spent most of his youth in Hebron (20 miles south of Jerusalem) He lived in Egypt for 93 years.

3. He inherited the birthright after Rueben was immortal w/ his father's wife. (Gen. 35:20-22;I Chron. 5)

4. His coat & dreams were unpopular reminders to his older brothers that Joseph was favorite.

5. Joseph Fielding Smith said, "he must have had the priesthood before he was sold for he exercised it in the land of Egypt."

6. Joseph's strict moral code led him from a position of authority to prison to a position of authority.

7. His interpretation of the Baker's and the Butler's dreams led to a death and two deliverances.

8. Pharaoh gave Joseph the opportunity to back up his interpretation of his dreams. 7 was his lucky #.

9. Joseph went from the bottom to the top not in spite of his high standards but because of them.

10. It appears that God showed his timing by sending Joseph to Egypt during the reign of the Hyksos.

11. Joseph got a new job, a new house, a new name (Zaphnath-paaneah=God speaks and he who bears the name Lives) & the responsibility of saving an empire.

12. It took the four trips to get the food needed, the family united and the father buried.

13. Joseph received a double birth right through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh.

14. A full 1/4 of the Book of Genesis is about Joseph, but it misses on Joseph's prophecies about later days. 2 Nephi 3 and the JST help correct that problem. The scroll of Joseph translated in part by Joseph Smith may help it further.

15. The Israelites carried Joseph's embalmed bones for 40 years before they were laid to rest in Shechem.

16.The chances are probably more than nine out of ten that you and I are the lineal blood descendants of Joseph, the son of Jacob. (Theodore M. Burton)In fact.  Nearly every member of the Church is undoubtedly a literal blood descendant of Jacob. More specifically, President Joseph Fielding Smith explained, At the present time most of those who are receiving the Gospel are of the tribe of Ephraim.  (George A. Horton in St. in Script. Vol. 2 p. 63)

17. The life and mission of Joseph typifies the life and mission of Jesus. Consider the following;

              1.  Joseph was the favored son of his father; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17).

              2. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see Genesis 37:4; John 1:11; Isaiah 53:3; 1 Nephi 19:13–14).

              3. Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see Gen. 37:25–27; Matthew 20:19).

              4. Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus. (See Gen. 37:26; Matt 27:3.)

              5. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age. (See Gen. 37:28; Matt. 27:3; Ex. 21:32; Lev. 27:5.)

              6. In their very attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation—that is, Joseph, by virtue of being sold, would become their deliverer. Jesus, by His being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and completed the atoning sacrifice, becoming the Deliverer for all mankind.

              7. Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23).

              8. When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus. (See Genesis 41:43; D&C 88:104.)

              9. Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men. (See Genesis 42:35; John 6:48–57; 2 Nephi 9:50.)

Church History by the Decade

1880's

1880	Church Membership	133,628
1880-Oct. 10	Pearl of Great Price	Accepted as Standard Work
1880-Oct. 10	John Taylor sustained	Pres. of Church-Counselors-George Q. Cannon-Joseph F. Smith
1882-Jan. 8	Assembly Hall dedicated	Built with stones left over from the building of the temple.
1882	Original BoM manuscript	Removed from cornerstone of Nauvoo house by Lewis Bidamon. Church is in possession of 144 pages.
1882-Aug. 18	The 5 member  Utah Commission, authorized in the Edmunds law	arrived in the territory. Had responsibility of supervising election procedures. Result was to disenfranchise  much of the Mormon population.
1883-Apr. 24	William E. McLellin died	In obscurity age 77
1883-May 20	SLC  police arrest 17	seventeen boys for "breaking the Sabbath" by playing baseball on Sunday.
1883-Aug. 29	Steamship Nevada left Liverpool, England w/,	682 Saints, 29 returning missionaries, in charge of Peter F. Goss. Arrived  New York Sept. 7th, Salt Lake City Sept. 17th.
1883-Oct. 24	Hugh B. Brown born-5th of 14 children	Married Zina Young Card, a granddaughter of Brigham Young, in 1908.
1883-Nov. 17	Charles C. Rich died (75)	father of 51=grandfather of 85
1884-May 17	Logan Temple dedicated	John Taylor
1885-Feb. 1	John Taylor spoke in	Tabernacle and then went into hiding until his death.
1885	Colonies in Mexico	Established.
1887-Feb. 17	The Edmunds-Tucker Act became law	Disincorporated  Church, dissolved Perpetual Emigrating Fund, abolished female suffrage, and provided for the confiscation of practically all the property of the Church.
1887	Cardston, Canada	Became site for LDS settling.
1887-July 25	John Taylor died
1888-Jan. 25	David Whitmer died	In Richmond, Mo bearing testimony of BoM on death bed.
1888-May 21	Manti Temple dedicated	By Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow
1888-June 8	Stakes instructed to establish an academy	From 1888 to 1909, 35 academies were established in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Mexico and Canada.
1889-Apr. 7	Wilford Woodruff	Sustained as President of Church. Retained Cannon & Smith.