Genesis 12 to Malachi summarizes two thousand years of history of the Nation of Israel.
The Patriarchs
God sovereignly chooses Abraham and his descendants through whom to redeem humanity (Gen. 12:3). God also promises to protect and provide for Abrahams’s descendants on the way (Gen. 12:1–3, 17:1–8, 22:17). God chooses Jacob (Abraham’s grand- son) through whom to keep His promise. God appears to Jacob several times and changes his name to Israel (Gen. 35:10–13).
Egypt and Wilderness
The family of Israel providentially moves from Canaan to Egypt but become slaves to the Egyptians for four hundred years (Gen. 15:13, 45:1–11; Exod. 1:8–14). God raises up Moses to lead the nation out of slavery and help set up the legal, economic, and religious system in the wilderness (Exod. 3:4–14, 19:1–8, 20:1–34:35), includ- ing the Tabernacle (Exod. 25–30) and the Law (Exod. 20).
New Land and Kings
The nation of Israel goes back to Canaan to possess their land (read Josh. 1–8). God raises a series of leaders to help keep the country free from conquest (book of Judges). The people want a king, and God raises up three great Kings: Saul, David, and Solo- mon.
Division, Dispersion, Captivity, and Return
After Solomon’s death, the kingdom divides into the Northern (ten tribes at Bethel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah/Benjamin at Jerusalem). The Northern Kingdom is dismantled and dispersed under Assyria. The Southern Kingdom goes through a period of captivity and exile in Babylon and Persia (1 Sam. 1–3, 8–10, 15–17; 2 Sam. 5, 7; 1 Kings 6–12; 2 Kings 17, 24). Through the leadership of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, they ultimately return to Israel and rebuild the city and the temple.
Throughout the Old Testament, God sends prophets to help bring correction and hope to His people. He continues to con- firm His promise to Abraham about redeeming humanity through prophets like Samuel (2 Sam. 14:14), David (2 Sam. 7:1–16, Ps. 22), Isaiah (Isa. 9:6–7, 53), Jeremiah (Jer. 23:5, 33:15), Mic. (Micah 5:2), and Zech. (Zechariah 9:9).
Silence
A period of four hundred years separates Malachi and the arrival of Jesus.
DISCUSSION
- How do you feel about the idea that the entire Old Testament centres on the story of the nation of Israel?