Abram called by God – The time of the Patriarchs is when God begins to establish His covenant with man through a nation of people. His covenant begins with Abram, to whom God told him to leave his father's house and land so that he could gain a new land and become a great nation in God's name. This covenant is the beginning of God choosing a people to live with and walk with.

 

God made a promise to Abram that he would become a great nation and that his seed (children) would be as the stars of heaven. Those stars would begin to multiply with God's promise to Abram about his son. The promise says that he would have one son, and that son would be born of a spiritual promise and not of the flesh. This promise is a prophecy and an example of the true Son of God, Jesus Christ, who must also be born of promise in the coming generations. Genesis 12

 

Genesis 12:5-9 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.  Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

 

Famine in the Land – Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. Genesis 12:10-20 (This was a type of Israel being saved from famine in Egypt. You will read about this later in Genesis )

 

Abraham and Lot separated – Abram and Lot had many possessions, so the land could not hold them without their people striving against each other. So Abram sent Lot off to dwell on his own, and Abram dwelled in Canaan.

 

Genesis 13:5-12 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thusthey separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

 

Abram rescues Lot – While separated from Abram, Lot was taken captive by enemies. When Abram heard the news, he assembled a small army and overtook his enemies. He pursued them and divided his forces against them by night. He and his servants defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions, his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. Genesis 14:1-16 

 

It was after this that Melchizedek visited Abram. Genesis 14:17-24 The same Melchizedek who is mentioned as the High Priest in Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5-7.

 

Birth of Ishmael – Before God fulfilled His promise, Sarai, Abram's wife, pleaded with Abram to give her a child through her bondmaid, who is her servant. She did so because she could not have a child herself. Abram did as she asked, and Ishmael was born. But Ishmael was a child of the flesh, because he was born after the desire of man and not after the promise of God. Genesis 16; Galatians 4:21-31 

 

God still blessed Ishmael, but said that he was not the son promised to be the true heir. God then told Abram that his seed would be as the stars of heaven and as the sands of the sea, representing both heavenly and earthly, Jews and Gentiles. God visited Abram again and reminded him that He would give him a Son, Isaac, to fulfill His promise.

 

Abram's name changed to Abraham – God told Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed in him. Genesis 12:2-3 Because Abraham is the father of many nations, God changed his name from Abram to Abraham. He also changed his wife's name from Sarai to Sarah. Genesis 17:5

 

The Lord visits Abraham and renews His promise – The Lord appears to Abraham in the form of three heavenly men and visits with him. While there, He confirms that Sarah will still bear a son. After this, He reveals His plan to judge Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. Abraham intercedes for the cities, appealing to God's justice and mercy. His intercession also saves Lot, who lives in Sodom. Genesis 18

 

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – Two of the men—identified as angels— are sent off to Sodom. When they arrive, Lot receives them into his home as the city's evil is fully exposed. The angels rescue Lot and his family, urging them to flee before God rains down fire and sulfur, destroying Sodom and Gomorrah completely. Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt, while Lot and his daughters escape to safety, highlighting God's judgment on sin and His mercy toward the righteous. Genesis 19

 

Birth of Isaac – When Abraham and Sarah were past the age of giving birth, God visited them and said that it was time to have a son. Sarah gave birth to a son and named him Isaac. Isaac, who is the promised seed born of Abraham and Sarah, would be the example of the promise that would come forth in Jesus Christ, Genesis 21 

 

If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

 

As Isaac grew, God tested Abraham's faithfulness by telling him to sacrifice his only son to the Lord. Abraham believed God and attempted to sacrifice Isaac, but the angel of the Lord stopped him before he could go through with it. The angel told him that he was trustworthy to be the true father of all the children of the promise because he was willing to do whatever God asked of him. Abraham was God's friend and a faithful father. God's promise with Abraham carried on in Isaac. Genesis 22

 

Death of Sara and Abraham – Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Genesis 23:1-2  

 

These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, 175 years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. Genesis 25:7-10

 

Issac's marriage to Rebekah – Before Abraham died, he sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. Genesis 24. 

 

In Genesis 24:42-46 (Abraham's servant made a prayer by a spring of water.) "I came today to the spring and said, O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also," let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.' "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.

 

(Rebekah arrived to see Isaac)  Genesis 24:63-67 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel and said to the servant, "Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

 

The birth of Esau and Jacob – These are the two sons born of Isaac and Rebekah. They are twin brothers, who God declares to be two nations. Esau was older than Jacob, but God loved Jacob and hated Esau (this serves as a continual reminder of the covenant of promise that God made with Abraham: Jacob will become the father of the nation of God's people). Esau despised his birthright, and in a time of great exhaustion, he sold it to Jacob for a portion of bread and lentil stew. This act would cost him his inheritance as the older son. Genesis 25:19-34

 

God makes a covenant with Isaac – After Abraham died, the Lord appeared to Isaac and promised to be with him and to bless him and his children, just as He had blessed his father, Abraham. Isaac was more than just a miracle baby. He was God's promise, manifested on the earth, so that we could all see God's intent for the people of the earth. Genesis 26:1-5

 

Isaac blessed Jacob – Before Jacob was born, his mother had a dream that there were two nations in her womb and that her older son, Esau, would serve your younger son, Jacob. When Jacob was of age, Isaac, his father, blessed him. This blessing is generally given to the older son, but Esau, who was unfaithful to God, sold his birthright to Jacob for food when he was hungry. For Esau, not receiving the blessing made him angry with his brother. When Jacob saw it, he ran from Esau and fled to Laban for fear of his life. Genesis 27-28:5

 

Jacob's vision of a ladder – While on his way from escaping Esau, Jacob dreamt of a ladder that reached from heaven to earth with angels ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood at the top of the ladder and spoke to him about the blessings of God that he had previously spoken to his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. Jacob would now carry on that same promise that they had, but it was he who would be chosen to be the father of this great nation of God's people that He wanted to establish. Genesis 28:10-22

 

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel – While serving Laban for seven years, Jacob desired to marry Laban's younger daughter, Rachel. Laban required him to marry his older daughter, Leah, first. So Jacob married his oldest daughter, Leah, and then, after agreeing to work another seven years for Laban, he could marry Rachel, her younger sister. Genesis 29:1-30

 

Jacob has twelve sons – Through Leah and Rachel, Jacob has twelve sons who are the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel (Israel is to become God's people of promise through these twelve sons). Jacob's eleventh son is named Joseph, and he is Jacob's favorite son. (Starts in Genesis 29:31-30:24)

 

Twelve Sons of Israel (Jacob)

Genesis 35:23-26

 

Born of Leah (Jacobs 1st wife)

• Reuben (1)

• Simeon (2)

• Levi (3)

• Judah (4)

 

Born of Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid) 

• Dan (5)

• Naphtale (6)

 

Born of Zilpah (Leah's handmaid) 

• Gad (7)

• Asher (8)

 

Born of Leah (Jacobs 1st wife)

• Issachar (9)

• Zebulun (10)

 

Born of Rachel (Jacob's 2nd wife) 

• Joseph (11)

• Benjamin (12)

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Jacob's name changed to Israel – The Lord blessed Jacob, Genesis 32:24. Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.

 

During this encounter with the Lord, Jacob is blessed and given the name Israel by God, indicating that God would continue the covenant He began with Abraham and Isaac. This new name explains why the new nation is called the twelve tribes of Israel: it began with Israel's twelve sons. Genesis 32:22-32; Genesis 35:10

 

God blesses Jacob again – God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. Genesis 35:9-15

 

The death of Rachel and Isaac – Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. Genesis 35:19-20 

 

Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. Genesis 35:27-29

 

Joseph is sold into Egypt – At this time, Israel had not yet become a great nation and only consisted of the 12 children of Jacob. Jacob's eleventh son was Joseph, whom his father greatly loved. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he made him a coat of colors. 

 

Joseph began to dream of events that would reveal to his family that they would all serve him according to the will and plan of God for the future of the people of Israel. After Joseph began to dream, his brothers became envious of him. They did not like that Jacob loved Joseph so much, so they devised a plan to kill him.

 

As the time came to carry out the plan, they decided to spare his life and sold him into Egyptian slavery instead. They returned to their father and told him that a beast had killed Joseph. Jacob was very sorrowful over the supposed death of his son. Genesis 37

 

Joseph goes to prison – In Egypt, Joseph served a man named Potiphar and was faithful to him. One day, Potipher's wife set up Joseph and wanted him to commit adultery with her. But when Joseph refused to do wrong with Potiphar's wife, as she requested, she immediately turned and falsely accused him, saying that it was Joseph who started it.

 

Potipher got angry and cast him into prison, but even being falsely accused, Joseph never left serving God and was faithful to Him even in prison. While there, he was told of dreams by fellow inmates and began interpreting them, being led by God to do so. There were two men from the king's house, the chief butler and the chief baker. When they had dreams, Joseph interpreted them. Genesis 39-40

 

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream – While Joseph is in prison, King Pharaoh has a dream that neither he nor his people could interpret. The king is told about a man in prison who interprets dreams. So, because Joseph had already interpreted other people's dreams while in jail, he is remembered and called upon by King Pharaoh. Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream for him and is rewarded by being made the second man in all of Egypt, only under the king. Genesis 41:1-36

 

Joseph is blessed in Egypt – After Joseph is promoted, it becomes evident that God is blessing him by granting him favor. The dream interpretation to Pharaoh said that there would come a famine in all the land. With this new knowledge, Joseph is put in charge of carrying out the dream's interpretation by stockpiling supplies in Egypt. This will ensure that reserves in Egypt increase for seven years and save them from desolation during seven years of famine. When famine struck all of the lands, the storehouses of Egypt were stocked full. Genesis 41:37-57

 

Joseph's two sons - Because of Joseph's favor with the king, he was given a wife of Egypt. In this marriage, they have two sons, Manassah and Ephraim. These sons, especially Ephraim, will be a major factor in why God remembers Israel in the future.

 

Genesis 41:51-52 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

 

 

 Note: In the next chapter, Joseph meets his brothers and eventually calls for his father, his brothers, and their families to move to Egypt to be spared from the famine (this is the beginning of a prophecy that Abraham saw about Israel, his seed, being in captivity for four hundred years). Genesis 42-45