Genesis 38 - Job 4 - Mark 8 - Romans 8

Genesis 38

- Why does Genesis 38 talk about Judah's offspring and leave the story of Joseph on hold?

- Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua who bore him 3 sons; Er, Onan and Shelah.

- Judah found his son Er a wife, Tamar, but because Er was wicked God put him to death.

- Judah told Onan he should perform the "duty" of a brother-in-law and lie with Tamar.

- Onan did not want to do this and have sons for his brother, and because he didn't fulfill this duty God put him to death too.

- Was this the custom of this culture?

- Why wouldn't Onan's children with Tamar be counted as his own?

- Judah told Tamar to return to her father until Shelah was old enough to marry her.

- Did Judah marry his own child (the one who dies)?

- Here's where things get weird. After Judah's wife/daughter dies he goes with his friend into town and sees who he think is a prostitute (It is actually Tamar who has dressed like a prostitute because Judah's son Shelah has NOT married her as promised).

- Why would Judah lie with a prostitute?

-Isn't he a man of God?

- Judah offers to pay Tamar aka the prostitute with a goat later, but gives her his staff, his cord, and signet until he can get her the goat.

- Tamar conceives by Judah.

- Judah sends his friend to pay the prostitute the goat and get his things back, but the friend can not find the prostitute and the people of the town say there has never been a prostitute who works there.

- Tamar had twins.

- The first baby stuck out his hand and the nurse put a red ribbon around it, but the other brother came out first. His name was Perez (which means breach) and then the ribboned brother came out and was named Zerah.



Job 4

- Elipaz the Temanite responds to Job's first thoughts

- Elipaz looks to Job's own witness, in how Job has cared for the weak and the given wisdom to many.

- Elipaz questions Job as to why he is so impatient with his present condition now that misfortune has come to Him.

- Elipaz wisely asks if the fear of God is not still his confidence (This shows how dedicated and godly a man Job had been to those around him).

- The integrity of Job's way had been his hope (He was placing his hope in his good works)

- Elipaz says incorrectly that God punishes those who have done wrong, basically asking Job what sin he has committed to receive punishment from God.
- A spirit had visited Elipaz to ask him, " Can mortal man be right before God?"
- He points out that even the angels are no to be compared with God, so how can man boast about anything before a holy God.
- Jesus' work on the cross is the ONLY way a man can be made pure before his Maker!!!

Mark 8
- Why did the disciples doubt Jesus could feed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread when Jesus had already fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread?
- The Pharisees wanted a sign but Jesus said they would not be given any sign.
- Jesus cautions the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees, so they talk about not having any bread.
- Jesus knows their thoughts and sighs saying that he is not speaking about bread. (Jesus seems to be sad about the way people respond to Him at times and at people's lack of faith and understanding)
- Why did it take Jesus two attempts to heal the blind man at Bethsaida?
- The people say that Jesus is John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets.
- Why would the people think he was John the Baptist when Jesus and John had been together at the same time?
- Peter says that Jesus is the Christ and Jesus tells them not to tell anyone yet.
- Jesus tells the disciples that he will be killed and raised after 3 days.
- Peter (who had just been praised by Jesus) is now rebuked and referred to as "Satan" for rebuking Jesus' prophecy about what must happen to Him.
- Peter was focusing on earthly things and not on the things of God (This should be our thinking too)
- What does Jesus mean when He says people must take up their cross and follow Him?
- Jesus had not gone to the cross yet, so what does the cross refer to at this point?
- We must lose our lives for Christ's sake, because if we try and save ourselves we will lose our lives.
- Jesus again tells of His second coming with God and the angels.

Romans 8
- There is no condemnation for those in Christ!
- We have been set free from the law of sin and death through Jesus
- God sent His Son to justify us and do for us what the law could not do.
- Those who believe in Christ have the Spirit of life in them not death from the flesh any more.
- We did not gain the spirit of slavery but the spirit of adoption as sons (We are not merely given life, but we are counted as God's sons)
- The suffering we face now is so small compared to the glory we will experience later.
- What does it mean that creation will receive glory?
- Creation and man has been groaning before the spirit of adoption (stemming from the Fall)
- Hope that is seen is NOT hope.
- The Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us even when words escape us.
- For those adopted by God all things work for our good.
- Does only God know who He predestined?
- Why doesn't God predestine everyone? Why me over someone else?
- Predestined - Called - Justified - Glorified
- If God is for us, who can be against us Paul asks. No one is the answer.
- If God gave up His Son for us how will He not give us all things (What amazing grace!)
- Christ is interceding for believers before the Father on our behalf.
- Tribulation, trials, distress. etc cannot keep us from God.
- Nothing, not even angels, will be able to separate us from the love of God given to us in Christ Jesus!!!