Welcome to the Word of Life Study Series- The Patriarchs! The word patriarch means the head of a father’s house. The founder or ruler of a tribe, family, or clan; the forefathers of the Israelite nation. The phrase, “The Patriarchs” usually refers to the tribal leaders of Israel who lived before the time of Moses. Specifically, it is used of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the 12 sons of Jacob. Therefore, the patriarchs were the ancestors of the Israelites from Abraham to Joseph. The name Abraham was given him by God meaning, “Father of a multitude” was the first and great patriarch in the Bible of ancient Israel and a primary model of faithfulness for Christianity.
1. The Call of Abraham
Abraham was a native of Chaldea, and descendant in the ninth generation from Shem, the son of Noah. His father’s name was Terah, and he was born in the land of Ur (present day Iraq) his home, is the modern Mugheir, the primeval capital of Chaldaea in ancient southern Babylonia. Prior to age 70 when Abram was called to leave his homeland, we do not have much record. When Abram was about seventy years of age he, with his father, Terah, his nephew Lot and his wife Sarai, went to live in Haran.
2. The Covenant is Confirmed
Thirteen more years passed, and Abram reached his ninety-ninth year. God appeared to him and favored him with still more explicit declarations of His purpose. He changed his name from Abram to Abraham, renewed his covenant and in token of it commanded that he and the males of his company should receive circumcision. In verse 15, Sarai’s names was changed to Sarah. God took the “h” out of Jehovah, and added it to Abraham’s and Sarah’s names as a result of the covenant.
3. Isaac
I’SAAC (i’zak; Heb. yishaq, “laughter,” i.e., “mockery”). The only son of Abraham by Sarah. The name Isaac was fitly chosen by Jehovah in commemoration of the child’s miraculous birth in Genesis 17:19, and of the obvious laughter and joy as a result. The birth of Isaac occurred around 2061 BC when Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah ninety-Genesis 21:5. He was circumcised when he was eight days old and his mother’s skeptical laughter was turned into exultation and joy.
4. Jacob
JA’COB (ja’kob; “heel-catcher, supplanter”; by popular etymology, but perhaps “he whom God protects,” from Arab. and Ethiopic `akaba, “guard, keep”).
The second born of the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, their conception being supernatural in answer to Isaac’s prayer. Jacob was born when his father was sixty years old, probably at Beer-lahai-roi in Genesis 25:21-26, about 2001 BC. The fact Jacob as a new born baby was grasping his brother’s heel would be significant in later life.
5. Jacob Serves Laban
Arriving at Haran, Jacob met Rachel, Laban’s daughter, by whom Jacob’s coming was made known to her father. After a month, Laban inquired what wages Jacob desired for his services and he asked for Rachel on the condition of seven years’ service. After which Jacob begins reaping all the deception he had sown previously.
6. Joseph
JOSEPH (jo’zef; “may he,” i.e., Jehovah, “add”). The eldest son of Jacob and Rachel, born while his father was still serving Laban in Genesis 30:22-25, about 1910 BC. After his birth Joseph is mentioned in connection with his father’s flight from Laban in Genesis 33:2,7 and then no more until he was seventeen years of age.