Israel - the name given to Jacob after his great struggle with God at Peniel near the brook Jabbok. - Gen. 32:26-33 - The name Israel has been interpreted as 'prince with God' because 'Jacob strives with God', 'God strives' or 'let God rule.' The name "Israel" was later applied to the descendants of Jacob, or the 'Hebrew' people. The twelve tribes were called "Israelites" "children of Israel" and "house of Israel" identifying them clearly as the descendants of Israel through his sons and grandsons.

Once more God appeared to Jacob in his return from Paddan-aram and blessed him. God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but from now on you shall be named not Jacob but Israel.' Accordingly, they named Jacob, Israel. - Gen. 35:9-10 -

I give you this land, the land I gave to Abraham and to Isaac; and I will give this land to your descendants after you.' Then God went up from Jacob/Israel. - Gen. 35:12-23 -

The ancient Hebrews were just one of the number of nations living in the ancient Near East. This region of the world included ancient Persia, Mesopotamia (the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) Syria, Anatolia, Palestine, and Egypt. Each of the nations in the area experienced at least one period in its history when it was more powerful or influential than its neighbors.

But the nature of empires is such that all of them destined to fall and to be replaced by a society that was more aggressive than those it overthrew.

The first of these great empires was that of the 'Sumerians.' It consisted of about a dozen small city-states located in southern Mesopotamia in an area about 245 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of the Persians Gulf. The Sumerians established the first high culture in human society about 4000 B.C. Apparently, they made fundamental discoveries in many important areas of life.

They were at their height when a person named Sargon founded an aggressive culture at Agade, some 128 kilometers (80 miles) northwest in central Mesopotamia, adopting much of the Sumerian culture.

Sargon's dynasty was overthrown ultimately by a nation that was itself conquered after a century of rule by a powerful Babylonian king named 'Hammurabi' (about 1790-1750 B.C.) During Hammurabi's reign, the Sumerian cities were conquered and a large Semitic empire was established in Mesopotamia.

Humanly speaking, it is difficult to assign an exact beginning to Hebrew history. But if we regard Abraham as the forefather of the Israelites, it is clear that they had their roots in ancient Sumer. Abraham came from Ur, a Sumerian city. - Gen. 11:31 -  Abram/Abraham became prosperous in Haran in northwestern Mesopotamia, then later moved to the land of Canaan as God told him. - Gen. 12:4-5 - Abraham received God's assurance that he would be the ancestor of a mighty people.

Abraham's promised son, Isaac had two sons of his own, Esau and Jacob. Jacob's had a dream and God chose Jacob for the renewal of His promise to Abraham. - Gen. 28:10-22 - Jacob/Israel later moved from Haran, where he had married Leah and Rachel, daughters of Laban, and settled in Canaan.

Jacob, whose name was changed to "Israel" was given by God, that is, after an encounter with God, - Gen. 32:22-33 - had 12 sons. Eleven of these sons plotted to sell their youngest brother Joseph into slavery in Egypt.

When God prospered Joseph and made him a high official in Egypt, the brothers were forgiven, after being humiliated. They were instructed to bring their father and other family members to Egypt, where they settled in the fertile Goshen area for over two centuries. Then a Pharaoh who did not acknowledge Joseph's achievements and fearing that, the Israelites may overthrow and conquer Egypt came to power. The descendants of Israel, now known as 'Hebrews' or 'Israelite', were rooted from their land and forced to work on the rebuilding of great Egyptian cities.

These are the names of the sons of Israel who went with Jacob/Israel to Egypt, each with his family: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. In all, the descendants of Jacob numbered seventy persons. Joseph was in Egypt already. Then Joseph died, and his brothers, and all that generation. But the sons of Israel were fruitful and grew in numbers greatly; they increased and grew so immensely powerful that they filled the land. - Ex. 1:1-7 -

Then there came to power in Egypt a new king who knew nothing of Joseph. 'Look' he said to his subjects 'these people, the sons of Israel, have become so numerous and strong that they are a threat to us. We must be prudent and take steps against their increasing any further, or if war should break out, they might add to the number of our enemies. They might take arms against us and so escape out of the country.'

Accordingly, they put slave-drivers over the Israelites to wear them down under heavy loads. In this way, they built the store-cities of Pithom and Ramese for Pharaoh. But the more they were crushed, the more they increased and spread, and men came to dread the sons of Israel. The Egyptians forced the sons of Israel into slavery, and made their lives unbearable with hard labor, work with clay and with brick, all kinds of work in the fields; they forced on them every kind of labor.

The king of Egypt then spoke to the Hebrews midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah, and the other Puah. 'When you midwives attend Hebrew women' he said 'watch the two stones carefully. If it is a boy, kill him; if a girl, let her live.' But the midwives were God-fearing: they disobeyed the command of the king of Egypt and let the boys live.

So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives, 'Why' he asked them 'have you done this and spared the boys?' 'The Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women' they answered Pharaoh 'they are hardy, and they give birth before the midwife reaches them.' God was kind to the midwives. The people went on increasing and grew very powerful; since the midwives reverenced God he granted them descendants.

Pharaoh then gave his subjects this command: 'Throw all the boys born to the Hebrews into the river, but let all the girls live.' - Ex. 1:8-22 -

After the Israelites experienced considerable suffering, God appointed Moses............

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -