During the time of the Patriarchs, Israel, as Abraham's descendants came to be known, ‘was simply a large family. Before becoming a nation-state, a nation or a people living i its ‘own land with its own government, Israel would endure a long period of slavery in Egypt, where it would grow from a large family into a nation. The People of Canaan ‘Many peoples in Canaan. Canaan was named after one of its inhabitants, Canaan the son of Ham. The Canaanites consisted of ‘many peoples such as the Amorites, Hittites, Kenites, Jebusites, and others. Canaan had no single center of political or military power. This lack of a central, unified government in Canaan made it easier for Israel to develop as a nation during the time of the Patriarchs and to estab- lish a nation-state after her years in Egypt. Worshipers of pleasure. In spite of all their diversity, the Canaanites had in common the worship of a host of false deities, some sev- enty in number. The gods of the Canaanites were, if possible, worse than those that Abra- ham had left behind in Sumer and Mesopota- mia. Baal was the chief god of the Canaanites. ‘They imagined him as a rider in the clouds, identifying him with storms, and associated hhim with sex. The Canaanites’ “worship” con- sisted of wild dances and rituals, including the sacrifice of human beings, even babies. The Canaanites were worshipers of pleas- ure. Their gods inspired a life devoted to the satisfaction of lust. In the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the evils of the flesh reached such extremes that God destroyed the cities with fire and brimstone. Over time, the evils of the Canaanites grew worse. When the Israclites returned from Egypt, God would, with full jus- tice, take the land away from the evil Canaan- ites and give it to His chosen people ‘The Godliness of the Patriarchs Like most of the people in Canaan, the Patriarchs were nomads, wandering herdsmen with no permanent home. They also followed ‘many of the same customs as the Canaanites in matters of inheritance, marriage contracts, 16 Ch.2 From Sumer to Canaan children, and land. Only their recognition of the one true God made the Patriarchs stand out from the Canaanite. Although some members of their fami- lies began following the Canaanite religion of pleasure, the Patriarchs themselves always ‘maintained their faith in the promises of God and enjoyed a unique relationship with God. Everyone who dealt with them quickly saw that the Patriarchs were special people, to be harmed only at great risk. Abraham, for example, used a few hundred men to defeat the armies of kings from the east who had pre- viously devastated the Canaanites in battle. The Humanity of the Patriarchs It should not be surprising that the Patri- archs and their children were humans who sinned and suffered the consequences. Our study of the Patriarchs in Canaan closes with terrible sin among the twelve sons of Jacob, the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. AS a consequence of their great jealousy for Jacob's favorite son Joseph, ten of the brothers sold him into slavery. Abraham, isaac, and Jacob were never- theless three of the most important men in tory. They are not remembered for super- human perfection, or for achievements such as Hammurabi’, but for their godly lives and their special legacy to mankind through Israel From Sumer to Canaan, the Patriarchs were shining examples of faith to a world in rebel- lion against God. Section 2.4 Review 1, Who are the Patriarchs? How long did they live in Canaan? 2, What is a nation-state? 3. How did the lack of a central, unified {government in Canaan help Isracl? 4. Give one example of God's judgment on the lustful people of Canaan. 5. How were the Patriarchs similar to the Canaanites? How did they differ? Identify: Megiddo, Armageddon, Baal, Joseph