John Lennox is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College, Oxford and joint Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He studied at Cambridge, from which he holds the degrees of MA and PhD, and was subsequently Reader in Pure Mathematics at the University of Wales where he was awarded a DSc degree. He also holds an MA in Bioethics. Professor Lennox is interested in the interface of Science, Philosophy and Theology and has lectured and written many articles and several books on mathematics and on Christian apologetics, particularly on the Science-Religion debate. Titles include God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? and Christianity: Opium or Truth? (the latter co-authored with David Gooding). In the past 18 months, Professor Lennox has debated a number of the world's leading atheists including Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Michael Shermer. John and his wife Sally live near Oxford and they have three children and four grandchildren. (Website: www.johnlennox.org) 1. The problem of human favouritism – sowing the seeds of hatred. 1 Pet. 1.15-19, 1 Tim. 5.21 A. The content of Joseph's dreams fuels the flame of jealousy 2. Reuben's good intentions: 'Shed no blood. Cast him in the pit'. 3. The cruelty of the brothers (42.21) A Joseph sold for silver – suggested by Judah 4. The deceit – the sons deceive Jacob by showing him Joseph's cloak dipped in blood: 'Please identify whether it is your son's robe or not.' A Joseph lost to Jacob. 5. Judah goes down from his brothers. A Judah's sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. 1. Er dies childless. 2. Onan refuses to fulfil the Levirate law and give Er's widow Tamar a child. 3. Judah fails to give Shelah to Tamar. AM Plenary (Bible Teaching)/ Day 2/ John Lennox/ Jacob's Family Disintegrates 2 6. The deceit – Tamar deceives Judah with her clothing: 'Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff' 7. The birth of Perez – ancestor of David and of Christ. Questions 1. How might Jacob have learned about the dangers of favouritism from his own prior experience? 2. Have we experienced favouritism or rejection? How has it affected us? What steps can we take to avoid carrying into the next generation – of family, church, work etc? 3. Do we think that Joseph was a talebearer? Should he have mentioned his dreams? 4. What differences are there, if any, in the brothers' attitude to Joseph, and why?
