Numbers and Work

Introduction to Numbers God Numbers and Orders the Nation of Israel (Numbers 1:1-2:34) The Levites and the Work of God (Numbers 3-8) Offering God the Products of Human Labor (Numbers 4 and 7) Confession and Restitution (Numbers 5:5-10) Aaron’s Blessing for the People (Numbers 6:22–27) Retirement from Regular Service (Numbers 8:23–26) The Challenge to Moses’ Authority (Numbers 12) When Leadership Leads to Unpopularity (Numbers 13 and 14) Offering God our First Fruits (Numbers 15:20-21; 18:12-18) Reminders of the Covenant (Numbers 15:37-41) Moses’ Unfaithfulness at Meribah (Numbers 20:2-13) When God Speaks Through Unexpected Sources (Numbers 22-24) Land Ownership and Property Rights (Numbers 26-27; 36:1–12) Succession Planning (Numbers 27:12-23) Daily Offering for the People (Numbers 28 and 29) Honoring Commitments (Numbers 30) Civic Planning for Levitical Towns (Numbers 35:1–5) Conclusions about Numbers and Wor

Leviticus and Work

Introduction— does Leviticus have anything to tell us about our work? The Foundational Concept of Holiness in Leviticus Israel’s Sacrificial System (Leviticus 1–10) The Dwelling of God in the Community (Leviticus 1-10) The Whole People of God at Work (Leviticus 1-10) The Workplace Significance of the Guilt Offering (Leviticus 6:1-7) The Unclean and the Clean (Leviticus 11–16) The Permissibility of Eating Particular Animals (Leviticus 11) Dealing with Skin Diseases and Mold Infections (Leviticus 13–14) Holiness (Leviticus 17–27) Gleaning (Leviticus 19:9–10) Behaving honestly (Leviticus 19:11–12) Treating workers fairly (Leviticus 19:13) Rights of People with Disabilities (Leviticus 19:14) Doing Justice (Leviticus 19:15–16) Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself (Leviticus 19:17–18) Who is My Neighbor? (Leviticus 19:33–34) Trading Fairly (Leviticus 19:35–36) The Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25) Conclusions from Leviticu

Exodus and Work

Introduction to Exodus Israel in Egypt (Exodus 1:1–13:16) The Harshness of the Israelites’ Slave Labor in Egypt (Exodus 1:8-14) The Work of Midwifery and Mothering (Exodus 1:15-2:10) God’s Call to Moses (Exodus 2:11-3:22) God’s Work of Redemption for Israel (Exodus 5:1-6:28) Moses and Aaron Announce God’s Judgment to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1-12:51) Israel at the Red Sea and on the Way to Sinai (Exodus 13:17-18:27) The Work of Justice Among the People of Israel (Exodus 18:1-27) Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-40:38) The Meaning of Law in Exodus (Exodus 19:1-24:18) The Role of the Law for Christians (Exodus 20:1-24:18) Instructions about Work (Exodus 20:1-17 and 21:1-23:9) The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) “You shall not make for yourself an idol” (Exodus 20:4) “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:7) Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor (Exodus 20:8-11) Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12) “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16) “You shall not covet … anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17) Case laws in the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21:1-23:33) Slavery or indentured servitude (Exodus 21:1-11) Commercial restitution (Exodus 21:18-22:15) Productive opportunities for the poor (Exodus 22:21-27 & 23:10-11) Lending and collateral (Exodus 22:25-27) The Tabernacle (Exodus 25:1-40:38) Conclusions from the Book of Exodu

Genesis 12-50 and Work

Introduction to Genesis 12-50 and Work Abraham (Genesis 12:1-25:11) Abraham’s faithfulness contrasted with the faithlessness of Babel (Genesis 12:1-3) The Pastoral Lifestyle of Abraham and his Family (Genesis 12:4-7) Abraham’s journey begins with disaster in Egypt (Genesis 12:8-13:2) Abraham and Lot parted (Genesis 13:3-18) Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality (Genesis 18:1-15) Abraham’s dispute with Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-16; 21:22-34) A burial plot for Sarah (Genesis 23:1-20) Isaac (Genesis 21:1-35:29) Jacob (Genesis 25:19-49:33) Jacob\u27s unethical procurement of Esau’s birthright and blessing (Genesis 25:19-34; 26:34–28:9) Jacob Gains His Fortune (Genesis 30-31) Jacob’s transformation and reconciliation with Esau (Genesis 32–33) Joseph (Genesis 37:2-50:26) Joseph rejected and sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:2-36) The schemes of Potiphar’s wife and Joseph’s imprisonment (Genesis 39:1-20) Joseph’s interpretation of dreams in prison (Genesis 39:20-40:23) Joseph\u27s promotion by Pharaoh (Genesis 41:1-45) Joseph’s successful management of the food crisis (Genesis 41:46-57; 47:13-26) Joseph creates a long-term agricultural policy and infrastructure (Genesis 41:46-57) Joseph relieves the poverty of Egypt’s people (Genesis 47:13-26) Applications from Joseph’s management experience (Genesis 41:46-57; 47:13-26) Joseph’s dealings with his brothers (Genesis 42-43) Judah’s transformation to a man of God (Genesis 44:1-45:15) Jacob’s family’s move to Egypt (Genesis 45:16-47:12) God meant all for good (Genesis 50:15-21) Conclusions about Genesis 12-50 Key Verses and Themes in Genesis 12-5

No. 4 - Agriculture and the WTO: Subsidies in the Cross Hairs

September 2003 saw trade talks pursuing the Doha Development Agenda at the Cancún WTO Ministerial Meeting collapse, primarily over the disagreements between rich and developing countries regarding agriculture. Despite the great pessimism that ensued, on August 1, 2004, WTO negotiators from 147 countries announced a breakthrough in negotiations to liberalize trade in agricultural products. The most striking aspect of this new framework agreement is the proposed elimination of agricultural subsidies by rich countries in return for developing countries opening up their markets to more imports. At the same time, WTO dispute resolution panels have delivered stunning decisions against the U.S. cotton subsidy program and the European Union\u27s sugar subsidies. Clearly agriculture trade policy will be a pivotal issue determining the failure or success of the Doha round. This conference featured noted experts from senior levels of government, the private sector, and the legal profession addressing current developments in multilateral negotiations and the WTO cases on agriculture and analyzing their impact on the future of the world agricultural market. It was presented on November 16, 2004, at the University of Georgia School of Law by the Dean Rusk Center–International, Comparative, and Graduate Legal Studies and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences