Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/46

 The Book of Genesis

2S

what absolute faith prophets insisted, more or told

God

ception of

means.

really

consciously,

less

the controller and guide

as

and particularly of

God

in

All

the

upon the conof

all

history,

But the story of Joseph illustrates concretely and convincingly the wondrous way in which God's providence constantly works through history. Deutero-Isaiah gave clear and positive expression to the doctrine of Israel's selection by God and its mission to all Israel's history.

the peoples of the earth, but the entire cast into tells

its

concretely

Thus

its

why and how God

and prepared

disciplined

is

present form by

it

for

its

its

purpose

is

revisers,

sublime task.

Book

of Genesis

and apply means of concrete illustraand legends.

Israel's ancient traditions

It

therefore be inferred that in the main these authors of

(jcnesis viction

were followers of the great prophets, filled with conand enthusiasm for the prophetic conception of Is-

history

rael's

phetic

and

religion.

movement by

prophetic

they

upon

and

clearly to enforce

the teachings of the prophets by tions based

of Genesis, as

chose Israel, and gradually

the thought of almost the entire

prophetic, and

may

Book

latest wTiters

They sought

concretizing

the

teachings and principles in narrative might be more fully understood and

people.

to

support

fundamental form, ap])lied

so

the

prothat

by the

In particular they sought to enforce the basic pro-

phetic doctrine, that (lod has been and will be ever present in

Israel's

history,

and purpose with

manifesting His divine power and love Israel,

and that the people can always

favor l)y walking and living in accordance with His law, which, in His love. He had revealed to them, and by discharging 'J'hese faithfully the mission for which lie had chosen them. writers, though frecjuently manifesting literary powers of the highest merit, were not the great j^rophets themselves, and on the whole there is little originality of prophetic thought in their writings. They were rather ardent followers and

assure themselves of His j^rotection and with

Him

truly