Since we are recently read 1^st & 2^nd Samuel in our Old Testament Challenge, and my most recent articles dealt with the issue of creation in Genesis, my present challenge is to bring us up to date in these blogs so they’ll coincide with what is being covered on Sunday mornings. I plan to continue writing articles on certain difficult subjects in Bible books we’ve already covered, but also aim to stay current in summarizing portions of the Old Testament coinciding with our scheduled Old Testament reading challenge. Hopefully this will help to clarify where we’ve been in our reading, and thus help us to better understand the flow of Old Testament literature. This article will attempt to review key features of the first five Old Testament books which are known as the Law, or the Torah (Hebrew for law), or the Books of Moses, or the Pentateuch (from penta, Greek for five, and teuchos, which means tool).

In the Law were laid down the fundamental moral principles which were to guide Israel in being a holy people. The Ten Commandments are a summary of these moral principles (cf. Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). The Israelites were never able to keep God’s moral law. Only Christ was able to keep this law and, hence, only He was able to fulfill it and to give, by His death, the righteousness the law required of believers (Romans 8:1-4).

The Books of Moses cover the following time periods:

Genesis—from the creation of the world to the bondage of Israel in Egypt (c.a. 4004—1860 B.C.)

Exodus—from the sojourn of Israel in Egypt to Mount Sinai (1860—1447 B.C.)

Leviticus—one month between Exodus and Numbers

Numbers—from Mount Sinai to the end of the forty-years “wandering” (1447-1407 B.C.)

Deuteronomy—from the end of wandering to after Moses’ funeral (about two months)

The following themes are emphasized in the Books of the Law:

In Genesis God chose Abraham, his son Isaac, his grandson Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons to be the channel through which he would bless the whole world (Gen. 12:1-3). Hence, the theme is God’s election (electing or choosing).

In Exodus the chosen nation was in bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt. God delivered them under Moses and redeemed them by blood to teach them His love and power (Exod. 12:21-36). The main theme, therefore, is redemption.

In Leviticus God instructed the people how to be holy in both soul and body. “Therefore be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:45) is repeated over and over again. Israel was taught that they must be sanctified (or set apart) to God. Thus the central teaching is sanctification.

In Numbers the people were guided through the wilderness on their way back to the Promised Land. Despite their disobedience, God directed them day by day using a cloud which moved before them. The chief lesson in Numbers is that the Lord gives direction to His people.

In Deuteronomy Moses gave his farewell speeches to Israel. They included a repetition of God’s commandments. These commandments were to be the key to spiritual success in the promised land. This instruction of the Lord was essential to their victory.

A Closer Look into the Books:

Genesis – the Book of Beginnings

Chapters 1 - 11: The earliest history of the human race Chapters 12-50: The earliest history of the Hebrew race

Time: covers about 2000 years Time: covers about 300 years

Emphasizes four great events: Emphasizes four great men:

Creation (chaps. 1 - 2) Abraham (chaps. 12 - 25:18)

Man’s Fall into Sin (chap. 3) Isaac (chaps. 25:19 - 27)

The Flood in the Days of Noah (chaps. 6 - 9) Jacob (chaps. 28 - 36)

The Birth of the Nations (chaps. 10 - 11) Joseph (chaps. 37 - 50)

Exodus – the Book of Deliverance Exodus describes the departure of the Hebrews from Egypt to become God’s holy nation.

Chapters 1-12: The Hebrews are in Egypt

Chapters 13-18: Israel goes from Egypt to Sinai

Chapters 19-40: God’s people are at Sinai

Chaps. 19-24: The Israelites are given the Law

Chaps. 25-40: The Israelites are given instructions about the Tabernacle

Leviticus – the Book of Worship Leviticus details how the Israelites were to become a holy nation—how they were to revere God and approach His presence, how they were to treat one another, and how they were to reflect God in every area of life.

Chapters 1-17: The Way to God

Laws concerning offerings: Chaps. 1-7

Laws concerning the priesthood: Chaps. 8-10

Laws for purity: Chaps. 11-17

Chapters 18-27: The Walk with God

Holy Living: Chaps. 18-22

Holy Times: Chaps. 19-25

Numbers – the Book of Wanderings Numbers is the story of God leading His people through wildernesses on their way to Canaan, the rest land He promised.

Chapters 1-14: The old generation

Chapters 15-20: The wilderness wanderings

Chapters 21-36: The new generation

Deuteronomy – the Book of Transition Deuteronomy, which means “Second Law,” is a restatement and expansion of the Law originally given at Sinai. As Israel’s new generation of desert wanderers was about to enter the Promised Land, Moses urged them to recall the heritage God had given them and to obey God’s Law in a new land that had no regard for it.

Chapters 1-4: Remember God’s Faithfulness

Chapters 5-26: Remember God’s Holiness

Chapters 27-34: Remember the Blessings and Warnings of God

How Each Book Portrays Israel, Man, and God:

Book Nation of Israel Man God

Genesis Birth; Infancy Ruin and Rebellion through Sin Sovereignty

Exodus Delivered from Egypt Redemption from Bondage Omnipotence

Leviticus Given Law of Worship and Living Communion and Fellowship Holiness

Numbers Traveling to Canaan Redirection Justice

Deuteronomy Final Preparations for Entering Canaan Instruction Faithfulness

Relating the Pentateuch to Us as Christians Today:

As in Genesis, we all had our beginning. We came to God by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. As in Exodus, we were delivered, led out from our bondage to sin to become God’s people. As in Leviticus, we were then introduced to real worship, to the pursuit of personal holiness out of obedience to a holy God. As in Numbers, we’ve all experienced wanderings and periods of disobedience when God had to discipline us. And as in Deuteronomy, we need reviews and reminders of God’s laws and His faithfulness to strengthen our faith.