Thoughts on the Patriarchs

My Lenten practice has now brought me to the end of Genesis, and I thought this might be an appropriate time to share some thoughts I had.  When I study the Bible, I tend to more attention to people than I do events.  So it was surprising to me that the Patriarchs of the Bible, who are usually credited as righteous and holy people, have a wide range of faults and sins.  In this way, the men of faith who came after them as well as the Christians of today, have something very much in common with the Patriarchs of old.

Adam, though perfectly provided for in every way by God himself was tricked into believing that he wanted more than what was given to him.

Cain, the first offspring of Adam, burned with jealously and murdered his own brother, Abel.

Abraham was impatient and basically sold his wife as a prostitute (twice) to save himself from being persecuted, despite being given God's protection and blessing.  In a later instance, a domestic dispute between his wife Sarah and her maidservant, Hagar, forces a division between Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac.

Jacob was a manipulator (and borderline cheater when it comes to Esau's inheritance).  Furthermore, he was unable to deal with conflict among his wives, as well as his children.

Although I know this might cause people to stumble for a multitude for reasons.  But keep in mind that no man in the history of The Faith has ever been considered "good" or "righteous" or "holy" based on their own merit.  All these wrongful actions and character flaws developed when the said person decided to go against God's instruction and guidance.  The writer of Genesis (Moses) made this point very clear throughout this book of the Bible.  If it was worth covering up or getting rid of these events, they would have been eliminated.  But as Christians should know, this has to be known part of our history; anyone who leaves God to follow their own way is sowing the seed of sin and destruction.  Not even the "mighty and important" Patriarchs of the Bible were immune to this truth.  The sinful nature of man is contrasted to that of the actions and words of Jesus in the New Testament.  Without this very obvious illustration of man's brokenness do we see how praiseworthy Jesus becomes.