Genesis 15 - Nehemiah 4 - Matthew 14- Acts 14

Genesis 15
- God promises Abram to bless him greatly. Abram asks how since he has no heir except Eleazar who is not Abram's son.
- God promises Abram that he will indeed have a son, and his descendants will be as many as the stars. (This is a great promise!)
- Abram met God's promise with a question, so God had Abram prepare a sacrifice. God promises Abram that his descendants will be servants and sojourners for 400 years before finally gaining the promised land.
- What does it mean when it says the iniquities of the Amorites is not yet complete?
- Why did God send a flaming torch and a smoking fire pot between the halves of meat that were sacrificed to seal His promise to Abram?

Nehemiah 4
- Sanballat and Tobiah continued to taunt and mock the Jews who were rebuilding the wall in order to discourage them. They said the wall was so weak that a fox could knock it over.
- Nehemiah asked God to curse them for these taunts and not forgive them of their sins against the Israelites.
- They continued the wall until it was finished to half its original height.
- Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites were angry that the Jews were finishing the wall so plotted to come and fight the Jews and confuse their plans.
- Nehemiah sent people with their families to protect the gaps still in the wall. This shows that praying to God for safety can also be met with action. The people trusted God to protect them, but were ready for the battle if and when it came.
- Nehemiah reminded the people that the Lord is "great and awesome".
- The people building the wall carried building materials in one hand and their weapon in the other.
- Nehemiah told the people that when and where the trumpet sounded they should be come to fight because they were all building in different parts of Jerusalem.
- They didn't bathe because they wanted their weapons on at all times.

Matthew 14
- Herod had arrested John because John told Herod that it was not right that he should marry his brother's wife.
- Herod beheaded John the Baptist as per request of his step daughter because Herod had promised to grant any request she had.
- Jesus prayed over the five loaves and two fish (giving credit to God and not himself) and then fed 5,000 mean plus women and children. There were still 12 baskets lefts over after everyone ate. This was a big miracle!
- Jesus told disciples to sail across the sea ahead of Him. He went up to pray before meeting them.
- The disciples' boat was a long way offshore (many stadia - 1 stadia = 607 feet)
- Jesus walked across the water to them in a storm. They thought He was a ghost.
- Peter believed it was Him and asked to come out on the water. Peter walked on the water, but once his focus went from Jesus to the storm he began to sank. His faith was too weak to totally trust Jesus.
- The disciples worshipped Him and called Him the Son of God.
- The town of Gennesaret welcomed Him and took Him to heal all their sick. They only wanted to touch his clothes and their faith healed them. (It's amazing how different towns and groups of people responded to Him. I guess the same is true today).

Acts 14
- Paul and Barnabas go to Iconium and many people believe until Jews again stir up the people.
- They spoke boldly for God (something I need to do more).
- They had to leave that town because many plotted against them.
- They continued on into Lystra where Paul heal a lame man. When this happened the townspeople thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods (Zeus and Hermes) but even when Paul told them they were just men they celebrated and worshipped.
- (v.16 - 17) - Paul told how God had allowed the people to walk in their own ways but still God still gave all people witness of Himself (rains, harvest, etc.)
- Then people from Antioch and Iconium came and and persuaded the people of Lystra to stone Paul (and they thought he was dead)
- Paul got up after being stoned and went back into that city, and eventually back to Antioch. Paul did not fear death and boldly preached to all towns, even the ones where some people despised him.
_ Why does Paul flee one city where the people were planning on stoning him and go back into a city where they just tried to stone him to death?
- Paul appointed elders to the churches he was planting. This would ensure their leadership and fruitfulness.
- He stayed with the disciples and other believers for awhile to be strengthened. (The Christian walk is not a solo journey)