Session 02: Jacob, Joseph & Moses
Prayer
Blessed are you Lord our God,
for you come to us and seek to make your home in us.
As we study now, let our eyes and our ears be open to you
let our hearts find their rest and their joy in you
that we may grow in grace and live to your glory.
Blessed are you, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
Amen.
Jacob, Joseph & Moses
The book of Genesis concludes with the story of Joseph and the descent of the 12 tribes into Egypt, setting the stage for the Exodus in which God is seen as redeemer and liberator. Moses is the first in a line of apostolic (messenger) prophets and Yahwism is initiated. Mark Smith’s thesis describing the emergence of Israelite religion through a process of convergence and divergence is presented as an alternative to the evolutionary-revolutionary dichotomy.
Click here to watch Hayes Lecture 7
Exercise
Think times in your own life where you have had a 'burning bush' moment. Have there been many? Were they are significant points? If you feel you've never had one how do you feel God does speak to you/call you? Makes notes in your reflective journal.
Something Practical To Do
Think about the people you know who have had a clear call from God to something (and it may not necessarily be to Christian Ministry!) Talk to one or two and ask them how that felt for them.
Pray
Blessed are you, Lord our God, all things come from you:
from you come our life,
this world and all that we have and are.
Teach us to love and respect your creation
and give glory to you.
Blessed are you, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer
Amen
Reflect
Spend some time prayerfully thinking about what you have discovered in this session. What are the most significant things for you? How might you use what you have learned in your own faith journey? Write this down in your reflective learning journal.