A History of Israel

Israel’s History: A Glance into the Mind of Foreign Countries

General Genealogy:
1. Abraham and Sarah
2. Isaac
3. Jacob [also called Israel]

[This is the lineage of the Israelites and not a full genealogy of the family lines.] Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are referred to as the Patriarchs; the fathers of Israel. We know Abraham was given a promise by God, that he would be the father of a nation, and that through him nations would be blessed. Isaac was the quietest of the Patriarchs. And Jacob was the youngest, a twin. He convinced his brother Esau to sell to him his birthright as firstborn for a bowl of porridge; then deceived his father Isaac to receive it.

Jacob bore twelve sons, each representing the twelve tribes of Israel:
1. Reuben
2. Simeon
3. Levi
4. Judah
5. Issachar
6. Zebulun
7. Joseph
8. Benjamin
9. Dan
10. Naphtili
11. Gad
12. Asher

General history:
Abraham [before God changed his name he was Abram], was raised in Haran. Haran was a city steeped in pagan tradition, who worshiped the “God of the Moon”. Nothing is said in scripture of Abraham being a godly man BEFORE God sought him out. It’s most likely he also was a worshiper of the “moon god”. It is at the time God changed Abram and Sarai’s name to Abraham and Sarah, that we see true change of character as followers of God [a symbol of salvation]. After Abraham was Isaac, not much is to be said about his walk with God. It is noticeable that he followed God. Jacob followed God. However, we see that only one generation removed from Abraham, there’s idol worship being mixed into the scene. Rachel, Jacob’s wife, stole idols from her father’s house and hid them with her things as they were moving.
We know about Joseph, how he was sold into slavery, but became ruler over Egypt. During the famine, Jacob and his eleven other sons moved WILLINGLY into Egypt in order to survive. And there they lived for approximately the next 430 years. After Joseph’s death, it is said in Exodus 1:2 that a new king arose shortly after, who hadn’t heard of Joseph. He was forgotten. It’s easy to conclude thus, that Israel has also in majority, forgotten Joseph; or more importantly, “Joseph’s God”.

Parallel:
When we read in Exodus of the Israelites lack of faith, we often respond in confusion. How could a people who experienced God to such a degree, struggle being faithful so such an extent? Looking back through their history however, we see the lack of the knowledge of God through the generations. These were a people who didn’t know their God, but were familiar with pagan culture and ritual. Until Sinai, there was never a command to worship no other God but Christ. Their familiarity lied with idol worship and sacrifice to unloving, inanimate gods.
Do we not see the same today? Especially in the third world, and muslim nations? There are many people groups today who are familiar with the same lifeless traditions. Now, we can understand their mindset, and allow God to better show us how to teach and meet their needs for a real God; a God who is relational. Intimacy with God and repentance is a foreign concept. However, there is still a miraculous understanding of sin.