1. Something to think about
“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, Who are you not to be? You are a child of God. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. God wants us to be all that we can be. “
From Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly

2. The Chosen People
Chapter 7
Who were the chosen people?

3. Deuteronomy 7:6
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth.”

4. Many Years Passed People forgot God Worshiped false gods
Forgot God’s promise of a Messiah
Many years passed between the promise of a Savior and his coming into the world.
God chose a special people to be his own and to prepare for the coming of the Savior.
Abraham is the father of the chosen people.

5. Adam to Abraham

6. Prepare the World Keep knowledge of God And love of God Chosen group
Special love and attention
Prepare the world for what?
the Messiah

7. God told Abraham Leave hometown Ur for land of Canaan
Descendents more than the stars
A son from his elderly wife
Isaac born
God tested Abraham, telling him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac.
Abraham passed his test and God told him to spare Isaac.
God promised Abraham numerous descendants, the Promised Land and a blessing for all people through one of his descendants.

8. Sacrifice of Isaac
Isaac grew into a strong and healthy boy, and Abraham loved his son with all of his heart—and then some!
One day, God called out, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," said Abraham.
"Abraham, I want you to take your only son Isaac—the one you love so dearly—up to the mountains, and there offer him to Me," said God. "I will show you where to go." Abraham felt sad. He had waited so long for a son, and he didn't want to give him away. But Abraham obeyed.
Early the next morning, he rose and took his only son—the one he loved so dearly—up into the mountains.

9. Abraham and Isaac
After three days, Abraham finally reached the place God had told him about. "Father," said Isaac, "we have fire and wood, but where is the lamb for our offering?" "God will provide," said Abraham, with tears in his eyes. And he began to carefully arrange the firewood on the altar. At last he bound Isaac and laid him on top. "Stop!" cried a voice from heaven. "Do not harm the boy. Now I know that you trust Me completely." Then Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket. He and Isaac offered the ram to God. And Abraham named the mountain "God will provide."

10. God’s Promise Gen 22:16-18
“By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, I will indeed bless you and I will multiply your descendants to the stars of heaven and the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendents shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.

11. Jacob and Esau Isaac grew up and married Rebecca Twins Jacob and Esau
Esau, firstborn, Isaac’s favorite
Jacob, Rebecca’s favorite
Rebecca received prophecy from God
“The elder shall serve the younger” Gen 25:23
Isaac married Rebecca and bore twins. Jacob and Esau
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing intended for Esau.

12. The Stolen Blessing Customarily given to oldest son
Esau promises rights of inheritance to Jacob.
Jacob tricks Isaac into giving him the blessing meant for Esau.
Rebecca tells Jacob to move away so Esau cannot kill him.

13. Jacob marries Jacob is blessed with 12 sons
God changes Jacob’s name to Israel
Sons become the 12 tribes of Israel
Known as the Israelites
Joseph the youngest sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.
God brought good out of brothers sin.
Jacob married Rachel and Leah, and had twelve sons.
Their descendants would be the twelve tribes of Israel.
Joseph was sold into slavery. God used Joseph to bring the Israelites into Egypt and save them from famine.

14. Joseph a savior Saves his family from famine
Interpreted Egyptian Pharos's dream
7 prosperous years, 7 years famine
Famine came to Jacob’s family
Brothers travel to Egypt and find long lost brother.
Brothers settle in Egypt raise families

15. God’s promise to Abraham
More numerous than the stars
Carried out in Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s 12 sons
The chosen people would prepare the world for salvation
Abraham the father of God’s holy people.
Our father in faith

16. Sacrifice the offering up of something to God
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only-begotten son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your descendants be named.” He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence he did receive him back. –Hebrews11:17-19

17. Questions Page 37 Why is Abraham called our father in faith?
Was God’s blessing to remain only with Abraham and his descendants?
Does God care for all people?

18. Family Tree

19. God’s Promises to Abraham Fulfilled in Jesus
Fulfilled in Old Testament
Fulfilled in Jesus
Descendants a countless as the stars
The twelve tribes of Israel
God’s family in the Church
Receive the Promised Land
Joshua leads them to the Promised Land
We have the true promised land of heaven
Blessing from God
Wealth, land, and triumph for David’s kingdom
Eternal life won by Christ

20. Sacrafice
the offering up of something to God