Waiting for the Land: The Story Line of the Pentateuch

This book was a required read for my Pentateuch class at LETU. I appreciated the new perspective of creation, the exodus story, and how it relates to Christians today.

I found this book very helpful. I disagree w/ Leder's exaltation of Moses, but his grasp of the high points of each book is amazing. I enjoyed reading this work & highly recommend it. He added a piece of the puzzle to my own Biblical Theology that needed greater emphasis, this, and Palmer Robertson's, The Israel of God, with his chapter on the Land. I am indeed glad Leder has contributed this information to the Christian community. Get this book!

Good book

While many books on the Pentateuch merely rehash the interpretive theories behind the text, Waiting for the Land seeks to bring coherence to the narrative flow of the first five books of the Bible. Arie Leder, a seasoned Professor of OT at Calvin Seminary has written a timely and narrative focused study on these Scriptures. First of all, Leder understands that to get into the narrative of Genesis through Deuteronomy one must attune to the narrative details of the text (plot, structure, vocabulary) by using the 'narrative's own vocabulary' and secondly by using the 'vocabulary typical of the church's reading of Scripture' (5). This method allows the story to stand on its own, with its own nuances, by also brigdges the gap to modern renderings of the text that serve the needs of the church. Yet, for the Christian who believes that the Pentateuch is Christian Scripture, he also reads these books with their fulfillment in mind through Christ. This kind of interpretive stance does not entail historical amnesia on the part of the interpreter but rather looks at the unfolding history of God's mighty acts and deeds done through the whole of Scripture.Building a case in ch. 2 for Leviticus as the 'axis mundi' of the Pentateuch, Leder writes, "In the terms of the Pentateuch's fundamental narrative problem, obedience to Levitical instruction and maintenance of the ritual at the ritual center keeps Israel safe in God's presence; it prevents exile, uncleanness, and death that are the natural inheritance of Adam's descendants" (36-37). Although Levitics might not display the mighty acts of God like Exodus, it provides a clear cut answer to the destruction of the fall and the way of holiness that Israel is to follow. Secondly, the blessings and curses of the covenantal structure that God initiated to his people are clearly carried out in relationship to laws of holiness and purity, ritual and sacrifice. As the Genesis through Exodus narratives unfolding, sin brought the people of Israel away from the presence of God in disruption, confusion, and idolatry. Yet, as Leder indicates, "At this textual center, Leviticus, Israel receives instructions for organizing her life in the presence of God" (40).Chapter 3 provides the reader an interpretive lens upon which to guide our reading through the Pentateuch, the lens being the kingship pattern. The kingship pattern as Leder notes is a series of events that take place in a narrative involving disorder, finding ones enemy, seeking him out to destroy and returning to his kingdom to build a victory edifice (43-44). Leder goes on to explain how this narrative structure is found throughout the Pentatechal narrative starting with Adam and Eve and progressing forward.The next few chapter focus individually on the separate books of the Pentateuch. Of primary importance for Leder's discussion is the focus on the land. "Genesis ends with death hemmed in, but still a certainty; with the land still only a distanct reality, yet gained in death" (90). Although death surrounds the main figures of the narratives, God still has in focus the land that Israel will enter. The chapter on Exodus is a reminder to the Israelite community that their being is associated with the instructions given to them at Mount Sinai (114). Following the laws of God is tantamount to heeding the word of God, being frutiful in life and bringing about blessing. As God's presence is the camp is evident in the book of Numbers, so is his instruction as the Israelites wait on the border (161-164). The last section on Deuteronomy focuses on the transition from God's word mediated through Moses to the people and the subsequent leadership of Joshua ahead. The Torah is especially important in the leadership of Joshua, for although Moses and Abraham will pass away, the torah will not (170).The last chapter concerns the church and its application of the Pentateuch. Leder dissects the Dispensational theology with respect to the land that has caused much controversy and opts for a different position altogether (193-196). Lastly, Leder points out that the Pentatechal narratives are very important in pointing out the need for obedience to God's word for his people today.I recommend this book highly and hope that it does a great service to its readers.Thanks to P&R for the review copy

Over the past few years I have fallen in love with the Pentateuch. I now see it as some of the richest theology in all of Scripture. So when I saw this book from P & R Publishing, its title and evocative cover had me hooked in no time flat. "Waiting for the Land: The Story Line of the Pentateuch" by Arie C. Leder did not disappoint. Instead old insights were crystallized and new gems were discovered as I paged through this wonderful book.My copy of this book is so dog-eared and underlined that for a long time I've hesitated to write this review. I know I won't be able to say everything I want to about this book, or share every insight that I gained through reading it. I almost want to read the book again right now, as I prepare to finish this review!What Leder does in this book is to look at the Pentateuch as a whole, and to find the big picture behind it. He analyzes each part and applies the insights of a variety of scholars, yet maintains an evangelical approach throughout. He unpacks the power of narrative and then provides detailed analyses of the structure of each of the Pentateuch's five books. He argues that the Pentateuch is the ultimate cliff-hanger. The final editors of the Pentateuch know the ultimate ending (as recorded in Joshua), yet they deny the reader the benefit of seeing the end. Like Moses, we are left on a hill overlooking the promised land. And this is an intentional part of the book. Israel is "waiting for the land", and this waiting continues down to today. Leder argues, and I agree, that this waiting shaped Israel's experience of the land itself, and shapes how the church views its own wilderness pilgrimage.The Narrative Structure of the PentateuchThe narrative problem of the Pentateuch, as expressed by Arie Leder, is that Israel refused Divine Instruction and was thus exiled. Therefore, the message of the Pentateuch as we find it in its canonical form, speaks directly to the Jewish people post-exile. The structure of the Pentateuch is one gigantic chiasm. Genesis stands opposed to Deuteronomy, each dealing with the separation of Israel from the nations, blessing, seeing the land (but not permanently dwelling in it) and promises concerning descendants and the land. Exodus and Numbers both detail Israel's desert journeys, describe apostasy and plagues, have a role for magicians (Pharaoh's magicians and Balaam), and discuss the first-born and Levites' dedication to God. Then Leviticus is the crux, dealing with sacrifices, cleanliness and holiness. The center of Leviticus is the Day of Atonement, and since all of the Pentateuch is about how to live life in God's presence in the land of promise, it is interesting to note how central a redemptive sacrifice is to it all.Central to the Pentateuch is the role of fellowship with God, and building projects. God builds the world to be the place of fellowship, but this is marred by sin. Then mankind rebels and builds a tower for their own fellowship apart from God's presence. Ironically the Israelites are forced to build the towers of Egypt, but end up voluntarily building a tabernacle for the LORD. This tabernacle allows God to dwell in Israel, albeit with barriers to separate His holiness from their sin. God is the one who undoes what man had done: God initiates this building project, and ultimately no temple will be needed as God will finally dwell with his people (of all ethnicities) in the new Jerusalem, where the Lamb is the temple.Divine Presence and the Promised LandLeder argues that the Divine presence is the defining characteristic of the promised land, and that all too often this is forgotten in discussions of the nature of the promised land. The church is to be viewed as God's desert people today, as Hebrews 3 and 4 intimate. Leder explains:"Israel's desert transition from Egypt to Sinai defines how believers at all stages of sanctification wait for the land: not in triumphal transformation of the desert, but in the regular testing of a rebellious heart and the experience of God's surprising provision of daily sustenance." (pg. 198-199)"Israel foreshadows the body of Christ as the temple of God, in which each member is a living, priestly stone (1 Peter 2:5, 9; cf. Ex. 19:5)." (pg. 201)"The desert is not only an historico-geographical reality but also a theological reality, one that teaches Israel not to think of herself as a landed people, for no earthly soil can produce the fruit of righteousness." (pg. 203)Ultimately,"...Jesus completes the desert journey for his people. With his ascension he brings them into the intimate presence of God (Heb. 10:19), from where he pours out the Holy Spirit to indwell the body of Christ, the church, God's temple (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19) on earth. Thus indwelt, the church of Jesus Christ awaits a promised future: not land to cultivate, but rest from her work just as God rested from his (Heb. 4:6-11), a full rest in God's presence for all who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 21)." (pg. 204)"Separated from earthly cultures and ethnicities, and in transition to the heavenly city, God's people will suffer a constant uprooting from the soils of their past and will be eager for enduring instruction in righteous cultivation of the fruit that produces holy distraction from the world and its interests." (pg. 205)I could go on offering quote after quote, but you'll have to get the book and read it for yourself.Replacement Theology?Some may take issue with supposed "replacement theology" here. But such is not the case. He sees the church as the ultimate fulfillment of believing Israel, not a replacement of it. Furthermore, the argument is directly tied to and springs from the text itself. Since the Pentateuch itself was concerned with the presence of God more so than mere land, the New Testament's claims about God's presence and the church are rightly seen as an outgrowth of this native OT concern. Even if you disagree with some of Leder's theology, studying this book will prove immensely rewarding as time and again he focuses us on the power of the text.I devoured this book and I expect you will too. It's written in an accessible and clear way, with many helpful charts and diagrams. You will be blown away by the connections Leder finds throughout the Pentateuch, so you'll want to take notes. Perhaps after reading this book, you too will fall in love with the Pentateuch anew.Disclaimer: This book was provided by P & R Publishing for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.