(4) Old Testament Prophets

OUTLINE OF CHAPTER

Definition of apostle and prophet; doctrine of historical continuity of divine revelation; prophets as warners of right and wrong. Adam: man’s superiority over angels; the original sin; Satan’s false pride; God consciousness as protection from Satan; Satan and choice between good and evil; Satan’s contempt for human race; negligence of spiritual truths by Adam; creation of man and Satan’s arrogance. Able and Cain: murder of able by Cain. Noah: Noah’s preaching to his erring fellow-men; definition of a believer and story of Noah; rejection by Noah’s people; rejection by the leaders of the community; Noah’s reply; demand for judgment; building of ark and flood of epic proportion; Noah’s attempt to save his son; continuous, torrential rains and floating of Noah’s ark; resting of Noah’s ark on mount Judi; symbol of God’s grace and saving of the righteous; wives of Noah and lot who betrayed their husbands. Abraham (Ibrahim): spiritual evolution of Abraham; Abraham and parables of trained birds; adoration of celestial bodies to realization of God’s transcendence. Abraham preaching to his people: do not ascribe divinity side by side with God; worship God alone and doctrine of resurrection. Dialogues with his father and his people: idol-worship equal Satan worship; following blindly the religion of forefathers; Abraham’s prayer for salvation of his father; creator and lord of the universe; declaration of enmity; Abraham finally disavowing his father; challenge to the king; Abraham breaking idols; cast Abraham into fire; follow the creed of Abraham. Abraham travel to Palestine and Egypt: biblical bias against Ishmael and Arabs. Lot (Lut in Arabic): migration of Lot with Abraham; sin of homosexuality; angels bringing news of birth of Isaac and destruction of Sodom to Abraham; Abraham pleading on behalf of Lot’s people; angels announcing doom of Sodom to Lot; attempt to sodomize the strangers; severing ties with the sinful city and God’s judgment; saving of Lot’s household except his wife; Sodom and Gomorrah part of mankind’s moral heritage; homosexuality and Lot’s people. Isaac and Jacob: angels bringing good news of birth of Isaac; Jacob’s admonition. Joseph (Yusuf): Joseph’s dream; conspiracy by brothers of Joseph; Joseph’s journey to Egypt; evil temptations; false accusation of rape; gossips among women of the city; wrongful imprisonment of Joseph; Joseph’s proselytizing his fellow prisoners; interpretation of dreams of fellow prisoners; dream of the king of Egypt; confession of guilt; appointment of Joseph in king’s court; Joseph’s first encounter with his long lost brothers (except Benjamin); return of Joseph’s brothers to their homeland; Joseph’s second encounter with all his brothers; king’s drinking cup in Benjamin’s possession; father’s sorrow and hope; Joseph reveals his identity; reuniting of Joseph with his father; moral implications of story of Joseph.
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