Act III of VII
Promise: Genesis 12–50; Job
God calls Abraham: a seed, a land, and blessing for all nations.
Where Act III sits
- Covers
- Genesis 12–50; Job
- Before it
- Act II, Fall: Genesis 3–11
- After it
- Act IV, Israel: Exodus–Malachi
What happens in Act III
- The call of Abraham
- Seed, land and blessing for the nations
- Faith counted as righteousness
- The promise kept through a flawed family
- God’s good purpose in suffering
The chapters of Act III
Act III is told in Genesis 12–50, with Job set in the same age.
- 12Genesis 12: The call of Abram
The LORD calls Abram to a new land and promises blessing for all families of the earth through him.
- 13Genesis 13: Abram and Lot part
Lot chooses the plain toward wicked Sodom; the LORD gives Abram all the land he sees and countless offspring.
- 14Genesis 14: Abram and Melchizedek
Abram rescues Lot; Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, blesses him, and Abram refuses Sodom's reward.
- 15Genesis 15: Credited as righteousness
Abram believes the LORD and it is credited to him as righteousness, and God binds Himself by covenant to give the land.
- 16Genesis 16: The God who sees Hagar
Sarai's plan brings strife, but the angel of the LORD finds the fleeing Hagar and promises her a son.
- 17Genesis 17: The covenant of circumcision
God renames Abram father of many nations, gives circumcision as the covenant sign, and names Isaac the heir.
- 18Genesis 18: Is anything too difficult?
The LORD promises Sarah a son within a year, reveals Sodom's judgment, and hears Abraham plead for the righteous.
- 19Genesis 19: Fire on Sodom
God destroys Sodom with fire but, remembering Abraham, brings Lot out, though Lot's household ends in shame.
- 20Genesis 20: Abraham in Gerar
Abraham again passes Sarah off as his sister, but God protects her and Abraham prays for Abimelech's house.
- 21Genesis 21: Isaac born, Ishmael sent away
Isaac is born as promised, and Ishmael is sent away, for through Isaac Abraham's offspring will be reckoned.
- 22Genesis 22: The LORD Will Provide
God tests Abraham with Isaac, provides a ram instead, and swears to bless all nations through Abraham's offspring.
- 23Genesis 23: A grave in the land
Abraham buys a grave for Sarah at Machpelah, his first owned piece of the promised land.
- 24Genesis 24: A bride for Isaac
The LORD guides Abraham's servant to Rebekah, who goes willingly to become Isaac's wife.
- 25Genesis 25: Abraham dies; twins born
Abraham dies with Isaac his heir, and before birth God chooses Jacob: the older will serve the younger.
- 26Genesis 26: Isaac, heir of the oath
The LORD confirms Abraham's oath to Isaac and blesses him despite his lie, until even Abimelech seeks peace.
- 27Genesis 27: The stolen blessing
Jacob deceives blind Isaac for Esau's blessing, yet God's word that the older will serve the younger stands.
- 28Genesis 28: Jacob's ladder
At Bethel Jacob sees a ladder to heaven, and the LORD renews Abraham's promises and pledges His presence.
- 29Genesis 29: Leah and Rachel
Laban deceives the deceiver Jacob with Leah, and the LORD gives unloved Leah sons, among them Judah.
- 30Genesis 30: Sons and flocks
God remembers Rachel and gives Joseph after the sisters' rivalry, then makes Jacob's flocks increase despite Laban.
- 31Genesis 31: Flight from Laban
The LORD calls Jacob home; Laban pursues but is warned by God, and they part under a covenant.
- 32Genesis 32: Wrestling at Peniel
Fearing Esau, Jacob prays on God's promise, then wrestles at the Jabbok until blessed and renamed Israel.
- 33Genesis 33: Esau's embrace
Esau embraces Jacob instead of attacking him, and Jacob returns safely to Canaan and worships at Shechem.
- 34Genesis 34: Dinah and Shechem
After Shechem defiles Dinah, Jacob's sons misuse circumcision to deceive the city, and Simeon and Levi slaughter it.
- 35Genesis 35: Back to Bethel
At Bethel God confirms Jacob's name Israel and promises nations, kings and land; Rachel and Isaac die.
- 36Genesis 36: Esau, that is, Edom
Esau settles in Seir, and his line becomes Edom's chiefs and kings before any king reigns over Israel.
- 37Genesis 37: Joseph sold
Joseph's brothers hate the favored dreamer and, at Judah's suggestion, sell him as a slave into Egypt.
- 38Genesis 38: Judah and Tamar
Exposed by Tamar, Judah confesses her more righteous than he, and God preserves his line through Perez.
- 39Genesis 39: The LORD was with Joseph
The LORD is with Joseph in Potiphar's house and in prison, though he suffers for refusing sin.
- 40Genesis 40: The prisoners' dreams
In prison Joseph interprets two officials' dreams, crediting God, but the restored cupbearer forgets him.
- 41Genesis 41: From prison to palace
God reveals the famine through Joseph, whom Pharaoh sets over Egypt, and all the earth comes for grain.
- 42Genesis 42: The brothers bow
The brothers bow to Joseph unknowingly; tested as spies, they confess their guilt, and Jacob clings to Benjamin.
- 43Genesis 43: Judah's pledge
Judah pledges himself as the guarantee of Benjamin's safety, and Joseph welcomes his brothers with unexpected kindness.
- 44Genesis 44: The silver cup
When Joseph's cup is found in Benjamin's sack, Judah offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place.
- 45Genesis 45: I am Joseph
Joseph reveals himself and tells his brothers God sent him ahead to preserve life; Jacob's spirit revives.
- 46Genesis 46: Down to Egypt
God sends Jacob down to Egypt with a promise: a great nation there, and a sure return.
- 47Genesis 47: Settled in Goshen
Jacob blesses Pharaoh, Joseph's policy keeps Egypt alive, and Israel multiplies in Goshen while Jacob looks to Canaan.
- 48Genesis 48: Ephraim before Manasseh
Jacob adopts Joseph's sons and, crossing his hands, sets the younger Ephraim before Manasseh.
- 49Genesis 49: Jacob's last words
Jacob foretells his sons' futures, giving Judah the scepter until Shiloh comes and the nations' allegiance is his.
- 50Genesis 50: God intended it for good
Joseph forgives, for God intended his brothers' evil for good, and dies trusting God to bring Israel home.
- Job Faith tested before the wise Creator42 chapters
The suffering of God's upright servant exposes false answers, calls for humble trust in the Creator and ends in repentance, vindication and mercy.