Genesis and Exodus - Essay Example

Genesis and Exodus Due to failure to obey God’s commands, God was annoyed with the people of Israel and swore to punish them. He revealed this punishment to Abraham many years before punishing the Israelites. In his dream, God told Abraham that the Israelites had disobeyed Him and hence, He was going to punish them. He will send them into exile in Babylon for 400 years where they will suffer and the leadership of the Babylonians. However, he assured Abraham that he will live long and die peacefully at the old age and that he would be buried with a decent burial ceremony.

God also assures Abraham that after punishment He will raise up the Israelites and lead them to the Promised Land. After 400 years of hardship and torture in exile, the Israelites were ready to leave Babylon and go back to rebuild Jerusalem. However, bearing in mind that it was not an easy task, the books of Isaiah and Genesis encourage the exiles to leave Babylon and go back to rebuild Jerusalem. In order to encourage exiles, these two books (Isaiah and Genesis) used different means including reminding them of God’s promises.

For instance, the book of Genesis reminds exiles how God entered into a covenant with Abram. The Book of Genesis states that “And Abram fell sound asleep when the sun went down. Then he was overwhelmed by a great terror. Then the Lord said to him, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be oppressed and enslaved for 400 years. But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward, they will come out with numerous possessions.

But for you, you will join your ancestors peacefully and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sins of the Amorites have not yet reached their limit.” When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts” (Gen. 15: 12-17) On the other hand, book of Isaiah encourages exiles by also reminding them God’s plan. For instance, the book of Isaiah states that “Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “don’t be afraid, for I will protect you.

I call you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. For I am the Lord your God, the sovereign king of Israel, your deliver. I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price, Ethiopia and Seba in place of you.” This is what the Lord says, your protector, the sovereign king of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and make them all fugitives, turning the Babylonian’s joyful shouts into mourning songs.

I am the Lord, your sovereign ruler, the one who created Israel, your king.” This is what the Lord says, “The one who made a road through the sea, a pathway through the surging waters, the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, together with a mighty army. They fell down, never to rise again; they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick” (Isa. 43:1-3, 14-17)” These words of encouragement reminded exiles of their relationship with God. They all turned to God, and with the strengths that they obtained from the words of encouragement, all exiles were prepared to leave Babylon and go back to rebuild Jerusalem.

Even though these books remind exiles of an agreement and promises that God had made to them a long time ago, they all remember that it was the right time to start going in accordance with God’s will and wishes. Thus, these books remained to be constant reminders to the exiles, hence, encouraging them to leave Babylon quickly.