Genesis 7 - Ezra 7 - Matthew 7- Acts 7

Genesis 7
- (v.2) Noah was to take "7 pairs" of each animal not just two of each kind.
- Noah was 600 years old when the flood came (his children were around 100)
- "Windows of heavens opened" - it rained for the first time ever. Rained for 40 days and the flood lasted 150 days.
- God shut them in the ark.
-The highest mountains were covered by 22.5 feet of water.
- Only Noah and those on the ark survived.


Ezra 7
- Ezra was a 15th generation descendant of Aaron
- Artaxerxes came AFTER Darius because the first three words of this chapter start "Now after this" referring to Darius' decree.
- God blessed Ezra because Ezra "set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel" (v.10)
- Artaxerxes is the third Persian king to generously bless the Israelites in order to receive blessings from "their God". The Persians always refer to God as "Your God".
Who were the gods that the Persians worshipped?
- Artaxerxes said that Ezra could and should punish anyone who breaks the law of God.
Did Artaxerxes follows God's commandments too?
- Ezra was aware of God's provision and presence, so Ezra had courage in what he did.

Matthew 7
- We should not judge others because God will use that same measure against us. We should not analyze the sins of others without first looking at our own sins.
- (v.7-8) We need to take action and God will acknowledge us. We need
to ask, to seek, and to knock, and the door will be opened (but it may not be the door we expect or think we want). These are action statements for us.
-The Law and the Prophets - "whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them" If we are doing this we will not be selfish or self focused.
-We will be judged based on the fruit in our lives. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit.
-(v.22-23) How can people do things in Jesus' name without knowing Him?
- (v.27) - The rain destroyed the house on the sand just like the homes were destroyed by the first rains in Noah's time. Rain was a result of the Fall. Building your house on "the rock" (God) will assure that the house will not fall.
- People were amazed because Jesus had no "authority" but taught like those who did.

Acts 7
- Steven recounts Israel's history from Abraham to to Moses to Solomon
- God promised Abraham that His descendants would inherit the promised land but not for 400 years, yet Abraham still was faithful even though he didn't see the end results.
- During those 400 years, Joseph's story happened and as the 400 year period of time drew to a close, Moses was born. From Abraham to Moses was 400 years.
- The Israelites didn't want to follow Moses at first but were content being slaves in Egypt. This was not God's promised plan for His people.
- Moses' response to the bush was to tremble, look away, and take off his shoes.
- The angel gave them "living oracles" (the 10 commandments), but while Moses was on the mountain the people became impatient and had Aaron make the golden calf. Their faith was so weak that it caused Aaron to dishonor God.
- Why does it say an "angel" spoke to Moses from the bush and not God?
- Solomon built the house of God but God can not be contained there alone.
- Stephen points out how the people (Israelites) constantly persecuted the prophets, including Jesus and turned away from God. This made them angry and they stoned him for what he had said.
- Stephen ends his life aware of God and heaven, and his last words are, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” which mirrors what Christ said before he died on the cross.
- Stephen was the first martyr in the early church.