Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Genesis 24/25 - Nehemiah 13 - Matthew 23/24 - Acts 23/24

Genesis 24/25
- Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. He will not let Isaac marry a Canaanite nor will he send Isaac back to his homeland because God has promised Abraham this land.
- Why does Abraham have his servant put his hand under his thigh to make an oath?
- Abraham tells the servant that if he is unsuccessful, he shall go free.
- The servant prayed that he'd find a girl who would say certain things to him.
- While he was finishing his prayer Rebekah came to the well.
- Rebekah is Isaac's first cousin once removed.
- The servant rejoice at the Lord's provision.
- Why does the servant always say "the God of my master"?
- Laban and Bethuel's response was that if the servant's mission was from the Lord they could say nothing good or bad about it.
- Rebekah said she would go with Abraham's servant and when she saw Isaac in the field she covered her face and became Isaac's wife.
- The grieving for Sarah was now over.
(Ch. 25)
- Abraham got another wife Keturah and she bore him 6 more children.
- Abraham died at 175 and was buried with Sarah
- Ishmael bore 12 sons and died at 137
- Isaac and Rebekah got married at 40 and she bore him children when he was 60.
- The Lord told Rebekah that she'd bear twins and she did
- Esau came out first and was a hunter and loved most by Isaac
- Jacob came out second hold Esau's heel and was loved most by Rebekah
- Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for some stew because he was so hungry.
- What is entailed in a birthright and how can you physically sell it?

Nehemiah 13
- After hearing the Book of the Law, Nehemiah had Israel separate themselves from the foreigners among them.
- Eliashib, the priest, gave Tobiah (one of the men against rebuilding Jerusalem) a house in the temple.
- Nehemiah returned to King Artaxerxes in his 32 year as king for some time and then came back to Jerusalem later. Nehemiah was in Jerusalem rebuilding it for 12 years before returning to Assyria as he had promised.
- Nehemiah tried to right all the wrongs being done by the people of Jerusalem. He kicked Tobiah out of the temple.
- The Levites had left the temple to grow crops because the people stop giving them their tithes.
- Nehemiah rebuked the people for this too.
- People were bringing in goods on the Sabbath, and Nehemiah shut the gates on the Sabbath and told the merchants to go away.
- Some Jews intermarried and had children. Nehemiah beat them and pulled out their hair because he said even King Solomon sinned because of marrying foreigners.
- 3 times in this chapter Nehemiah asks God to remember him for what he had done for God's people.
(This chapter just shows how quickly people can go from worshipping God with their whole hearts to drifting away from God and hardening their hearts toward Him.

Matthew 23/24
- Jesus points out to the disciples that the Pharisees are hypocrites who do not help the people but put extra burdens on them.
- Christ is to be their only instructor.
- Woe #1 - They keep people from entering heaven
- Woe #2 - Make proselytes (new convert to a doctrine or religion) of people and make them even more evil than themselves.
- Woe #3 - For swearing to and exulting in the wrong things; such as gold, instead of the temple or in the sacrifice rather than the altar.
- Woe #4 - They offer things on the alter but neglect justice and mercy and faithfulness (What does the gnat and camel reference mean?)
- Woe #5 & #6 - The Pharisees try to look good and righteous on the outside while being corrupt and hypocritical on the inside
- Woe #7 - For killing prophets in the past from Abel to Zechariah

Can the wrongs of my ancestors be charged against me?)
Jesus laments for the city
(Ch. 24)
- Jesus says that the temple will be destroyed.
- This chapter goes into detail about Christ's return.
- There will be famines, wars, and earthquakes in the last days and many will be led astray.
- Jesus tells the disciples that they will be hated and killed.
- Daniel's prophecies will come to pass as well
- What were Daniel's prophecies?
- Jesus tells them not to believe anyone else who claims to be the Christ because when Christ returns it will come as a surprise to everyone, like the flood in Noah's day.
- (v.24) - Is Jesus saying it is possible for the elect to fall away?
- The sun will be darkened and the stars will fall from heaven and Jesus will return in great glory and the angels will round up the elect.
- Jesus tells them to look for these signs because they will let them know when Jesus will be coming.
- What does Jesus mean that this generation will not pass away until they see these things since Jesus did not return in the disciples' days?
- One person will be taken and the person next to the left behind (kinda like what happened in the movie)
- Jesus told them to always be ready for His return because it will come when they are not expecting it. Only God knows when, no person, angel, not even Jesus himself knows when this will occur.

Acts 23/24
- Paul spoke to the Jews and the high priest smacked him for which he called a curse against the high priest. Paul apologized because there is a commandment against speaking evil of rulers.
- Paul stated he had been a Pharisee himself and this caused a debate because the Pharisees believed in angels, the spirit, and the resurrection, where as the Sadducees do not. The Pharisees thought his story might be true.
- Where did they base their beliefs?
- The tribune took Paul back to the barracks because of the crowd and the Lord spoke to him and told him he must preach the same truth in Rome.
- The Jews plotted to kill him and made an oath amongst themselves not to eat until they killed Paul.
- Paul's nephew learned of their plot and told Paul who sent him to tell the tribune.
- The tribune escorted Paul with military protection to Caesarea which was under Felix.
- Felix sent Paul to be guarded until they could hear Paul's case when his accusers arrived.
(Ch.24)
- Tertullus spoke for the Jews and accused Paul of being in a sect called the Nazarenes and stirring up Jews in many nations.
- Paul simply replied that he had been in Jerusalem for 12 days worshipping and seeking to do right by God and man, when Jews from Asia brought accusations against him.
- Paul said that the only controversial thing he said was about the resurrection and the Way.
- Felix put Paul back in prison and conversed with him often for his remaining 2 years in office before Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus.
- Felix kept Paul in prison when he was replaced to make the Jews happy.

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