Let us study the activity of Moses, through Holy Scripture, the Exodus from Egypt and the consolidation of the people under an elaborate system of laws. As both lawgiver and prophet, Moses is considered God’s intermediary and speaks in the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Holy Scripture tells of the work of Moses, the Great Law Giver, and his many references to the covenant and the “promise made to Abraham”. With Abraham is where the true history of Israel, as a people, begins—according to Old Testament writers. From Abraham, the nation descends; although writers do give an account of ages preceding, carrying their story back to Adam and Eve, back to the origin of the world, the Creation. There must be a point of view to accurately estimate Israel’s history.
The life of Abraham—in the story of Israel, gives us a vantage point from which we can look back into the early beginning of Israel and ahead to the Prophets, and those who followed. No matter how many sources of which the Greek Pentateuch or Hebrew Torah were composed, all of these Books have the appearance of agreeing. Through the first eleven chapters of Genesis—in fact all fortunes of Israel through the end of II Kings—try to tell one story.
Simply that: the people of Israel, from the time of Abraham, stood in a peculiar relation to God; received from HIM special intimations of HIS Will and desires and were guided by HIM through their growth into a nation.
The Books show how Israelites were delivered from bondage in Egypt, led by Moses into the desert of Sinai, where the covenant made with Abraham was renewed with awful sanctions. Upon this covenant, was their law reared which ordained Holiness upon God’s people.
However, though the people surrounded their daily lives with ceremonial prescriptions that they might become a Holy nation, this ideal is never attained. Under the very shadow of Mount Sinai and their journey through the wilderness is marked by continual backsliding. Even after being brought by Divine guidance into the Promised Land, they sinned against the God who favored them. Many are the troubles that plagued the chosen people, as the fabric of the nation falls to pieces.
From Samuel’s time onward, a series of Prophets arose to testify against them and to appeal for a higher life. Ezra and Nehemiah are stimulated to return to their native land to set up the worship of God according to the concepts of Ancient Law. This is the outlined version of the story told in the first 16 Books of the Old Testament. A story with a plot and plan that unfolds just as does a modern novel.
Genesis 25:19
New International Version
Jacob and Esau
19 “This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.
Abraham became the father of Isaac,”
Genesis 25:19
King James Version
19 “And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:”
Genesis 25:19
Living Bible
19 “This is the story of Isaac’s children:”
Genesis 50:24
New International Version
24 “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” ”
Genesis 50:24
King James Version
24 “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Genesis 50:24
Living Bible
24 “ “Soon I will die,” Joseph told his brothers, “but God will surely come and get you, and bring you out of this land of Egypt and take you back to the land he promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” ”
Exodus 3:6
New International Version
6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:6
King James Version
6 “Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Exodus 3:6
Living Bible
6 “I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Moses covered his face with his hands, for he was afraid to look at God.)”
Exodus 3:15
New International Version
15 “God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”
Exodus 3:15
King James Version
15 “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”
Exodus 3:15
Living Bible
15 “Yes, tell them, ‘Jehovah, the God of your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has sent me to you.’ (This is my eternal name, to be used throughout all generations.)”
Exodus 33:1
New International Version
33 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ ”
Exodus 33:1
King James Version
33 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:”
Exodus 33:1
Living Bible
33 “The Lord said to Moses, “Lead these people you brought from Egypt to the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ ”
Numbers 32:11
New International Version
11 “ ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—”
Numbers 32:11
King James Version
11 “Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:”
Numbers 32:11
Living Bible
10-11 “And the Lord’s anger was hot against them, and he swore that of all those he had rescued from Egypt, no one over twenty years of age would ever see the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they had refused to do what he wanted them to.”
2 Kings 13:23
New International Version
23 “But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.”
2 Kings 13:23
King James Version
23 “And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.”
2 Kings 13:23
Living Bible
23 “But the Lord was gracious to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. For God pitied them, and also he was honoring his contract with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And this is still true.”
Matthew 1:2
New International Version
2 “Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,”
Matthew 1:2
King James Version
2 “Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;”
Matthew 1:2
Living Bible
2 “Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.”