The Pentateuch

The Pentateuch
➢ The First Five books of the Bible
➢ Author: Moses
➢ Sources
 Tablet Theory
 Oral Tradition
➢ Gilgamesh/Steele of Hammurabi
➢ Covers the time period from Creation to around 1405 BC
➢ This book shows us that People first believed in one God (monotheism) and believing in many gods (polytheism) later. Not the other way around.

I. Genesis
A. Key Idea: Beginnings
i. beginning of creation
ii. beginnings of mankind
iii. beginnings of Sin
B. The Nation: Abraham Chosen
C. The People: The People of God Prepared
D. God's Character: Clearly Showing God's Power and Sovereignty 
i. God planned Salvation from the beginning
ii. God is in control of every situation. 
iii. God is trustworthy
E. God's Role: God as Creator
i. We find that God is eternal and matter is timporal

GOD SAYS: “LET THERE BE!”

I. Exodus
A. Key Idea: Redemption
B. The Nation: Deliverance of Israel
i. The people are physically delivered after years of slavery
C. The People: People are redeemed
i. God is the actor by which the people are redeemed
ii. Redemption is not merited, but given because of God's plan
D. God's Character: God is Merciful
E. God's Role: God is the Deliverer

GOD SAYS: “LET MY PEOPLE GO!”

I. Leviticus
A. Key Idea: Worship
i. The people were to worship God by maintaining holiness in every part of life.
B. The Nation: Set Apart from the other nations by God's decree
i. The laws set them apart from their neighbors
ii. Dietary Restrictions
iii. Purification restrictions
iv. Sacrifice requirements
v. Feasts and Holy Days
C. The People: Taught
i. The people were taught about the Holy God
ii. The people were taught God's standards
iii. The people were taught that God requires perfection
D. God's Character: God is Holy!
E. God's Role: God is Sanctifier
i. It is God who set Israel apart
ii. It is God who chose Israel, not because of their greatness, but because of his mercy

GOD SAYS: “BE HOLY” 

I. Numbers
A. Key Idea: Wandering in the Desert
i. Because of disobedience and lack of faith, the people wandered
B. The Nation: Directed by God
i. God shows Himself as the source of the redemption
ii. God is the maker and the only one who can continue His plans
iii. God does not just show people the plan and say “OK, go do it!”
C. The People: Tested
i. The people were tested to see if they really believed yet
ii. Did they really have faith that God could do it?
D. God's Character: Just
E. God's Role: Sustainer
i. God shows himself to be the one who upholds and completes his plans
ii. God sustains his people even when he is disciplining them

GOD SAYS: “GO IN!”

I. Deuteronomy
A. Key Idea: Renewed Covenant
i. Literally: Second Law, or the second reading of the Law
B. The Nation: Made Ready
i. After failing and wandering about the desert they were being prepared to enter into their inheritance
ii. God prepared them to take the land and reject all of the evil practices that had overtaken the land that God had given them
C. The People: Retaught
D. God's Character: Loving Lord
E. God's Role: Rewarder

GOD SAYS: “OBEY!”
Take Home
We do not live under the Law as members of the Church, however even though we cannot directly apply the Mosaic Law to our lives it teaches us about God's character. God's character is eternal and unchanging and the study of this text is the way that we get to know God through His Word. As Jesus prayed:

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3