Genesis 33 - Esther 9-10 - Mark 4 - Romans 4

Genesis 33
- Jacob was still afraid of Esau (maybe guilt from the last time they were together?)
- Jacob put his servants and their children first, Leah and her children second, and Rachel and Joseph last. Jacob went first to his brother.
- Jacob bowed 7 times before Esau, but Esau embraced Jacob and they wept.
- Jacob introduced his family to Esau.
- Esau asked about the 3 droves of animals Jacob had sent ahead of him as a gift to Esau, but Esau said he had enough livestock.
- Esau kept the 3 droves because Jacob told him to.
- Did Jacob give away part of his blessing to Esau?
- Esau sought to travel with Jacob ahead of the flocks and children to get caught up, but Jacob asked to be allowed to stay with his family and flocks.
- Jacob said he'd meet Esau in Seir, but he went to another city instead and set up camp there.
- Why would Jacob seek to lie to his brother again and not meet Esau in Seir?
- How will Esau respond to this apparent rudeness?

Esther 9 - 10
- On the 13th day of the 12th month when enemies of Jews sought to do them harm, the Jews defended themselves killing a total of 75,000 people throughout the king's kingdom.
- In Susa, the capital, the Jews killed 500 men on the 13th, and King Ahasuares asked Esther what else she desired and she said that Haman's sons be hanged and that he allow a second day of defending for the Jews in which they killed 300 more people.
- The Jews killed in defense but nowhere did they take plunder from those they killed in defense.
- The fear of the Jews was on all of the people.
- Why did Esther want Haman's sons hanged when they were murdered the previous day?
- Were the sins of Haman on his sons too?
- The Feast of Purim were established and recorded for the Jews by Esther and Mordecai. This was to be celebrated by the Jews on the 14th and 15th of the 12th month. (because all Jews in the king's provinces rested and celebrated on the 14th, but in Susa the king had allowed a second day of fighting, so the Jews in Susa rested and celebrated on the 15th, so both days were celebrated by all Jews)
- King Ahasueres and Mordecai's further doings are recorded in the book of Chronicles.

Mark 4
- Mark again condenses a story, the parable of the sower.
- Does Jesus use this OT reference to say that He is trying to teach so that some may not understand?
- Jesus' explanation to His disciples is almost identical to that in Matthew.
- Jesus tell the disciples that they are able to hear and understand where as others are not.
- This is the scripture reference that goes with the song, "This Little Light of Mine"
- The truth is not to be hidden from the world but shared with it.
- The Kingdom of God is mysterious, like a man who grows seeds. He doesn't know how the seed actually grows, but the man does know that when it is ripe to harvest it.
- If Jesus told the disciples that they were able to hear AND understand, then why did He explain all of the parables to the disciples and not those who listened to His teaching?
- They went into a boat and while Jesus was sleeping there was a big storm and the men thought the boat would sink so they woke Jesus up.
- Jesus stood and rebuked the storm and it was calm.
- Why did the disciples question who Jesus was at this point since they had seen Him do so many things?

Romans 4
- Paul turns the Romans' attention to Abraham who was counted righteous BEFORE he was circumcised because he believed in faith, not because he was circumcised.
- If people could work for salvation it would not be a gift but due payment.
- As it said yesterday, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
- Circumcision without faith is not counted as righteous.
- The Law brings only wrath on mankind.
- What does the phrase "where there is no law there is no transgression" mean?
- How could Paul, and other Jews, see only Abraham's faith, when he had seemed to weaken in faith in God when he slept with his slave woman to try and have children and "help" God fulfill His promises to Abraham?
- Paul says the Abraham was "fully convinced" that God was able to fulfil His promise but why then did he sleep with his servant girl?
- Abraham's faith was counted to him as righteousness, just as our faith in Jesus Christ will be counted to us as righteousness.
- Because of this faith we will be justified before God.