Genesis 39 - Job 5 - Mark 9 - Romans 9

Genesis 39
- Joseph became successful as Potiphar's servant and was put in charge of everything Potiphar owned.
- Why didn't Joseph ever try to run away and go back to his father?
- Potiphar saw that the Lord blessed everything Joseph did.
- The Lord blessed Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake.
- Potiphar's wife wants Joseph to lie with her, but he keeps refusing her because she is the one thing Potiphar has withheld from Joseph.
- Joseph saw this potential evil sin as first and foremost against God not Potiphar.
- She tried to force Joseph to lie with her, but he fled
- She told everyone that Joseph had tried to humiliate her, so Potiphar put Jospeh in prison.
- The Lord show His steadfast love toward Joseph and blessed him in prison and blessed the prison guard for Joseph's sake.
- The Lord made everything Joseph did succeed.

Job 5
- Elipaz's response is very poetic.
- Man is born to trouble (because of the Fall)
- Elipaz tells Job to turn to God and seek Him.
- God lifts people to safety and can heal.
- God gives hope to the poor and needy
(All of these things used to describe people around Job, but now they describe Job himself)
- Elipaz tells Job not to despise the discipline of the Almighty God.
- God wounds, but then He binds up (He gives trials but then helps us)
- Elipaz seems to prophesy that Job will have many children and live to be very old despite his present circumstances.
- What does Elipaz mean when he says, " Behold, this we have searched out; it is true.Hear, and know it for your good.”?

Mark 9
- What did Jesus mean that some there would not face death before they see the Kingdom of God?
- Peter, James, and John go with Jesus to the transfiguration, when Jesus' clothes turn brilliantly white and Jesus speaks with Moses and Elijah.
- Peter wants to build them all shelters, but they disappear and a voice tell them to listen to Jesus.
- Jesus charged them to tell no one what they saw until Jesus had been raised from the dead.
- Jesus showed them that many OT scripture would come to pass; Elijah had come (John the Baptist) and Jesus must suffer many things.
- There was a boy who the disciples were unable to cast out his evil spirit.
- Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith and Jesus shows that it is difficult for Him to be among people with such little faith.
- Jesus asks the father a few questions about the evil spirit (who never verbally addresses Jesus like the other evil spirits) and the father says "if you can heal him..."
- Jesus questions why the man said "if" and the man asks Jesus to help his unbelief.
- At this Jesus casts out this evil spirit.
- Why could this spirit only be driven out by prayer (and fasting)?
- Didn't the disciples pray when casting out demons?
- How many types of evil spirits are there?
- Jesus tells the disciples that He will be killed and rise after 3 days, but they do not yet understand.
- Jesus asks the disciples what they were debating about and they don't want to tell Him they were trying to see who was the best disciple.
- Jesus tells them that the first must be last and a servant of all (like Jesus Himself)
- In doing good to others (children) you are doing good to Jesus.
- Jesus tells the disciples not to stop those casting out demons in His name. Jesus says that those for us cannot be against us.
- How does this verse tie into what Jesus tells those casting out demons in His name whom He rejects from eternal life?
- Jesus tells the disciples that whatever cause them to sin, they must get rid of even a hand, eye, etc... Jesus says this to show them that it is better to lose something small then to keep it and lose eternal life to the fires of hell.
- How and why does "salt" equal a good, peaceful thing?

Romans 9
- Why is Paul in anguish recounting the promises and powers of God in Ch. 8?
- Paul is saying that not all Israelites are saved, but those who are saved are children of the promise to Abraham.
- Paul addresses election, and shows how it was present even before Jacob and Esau were born, when Rebekah loved Jacob and hated Esau while they were still in the womb.
- God's mercy depends on God's will, not on man's will or exertion.
- God raised Pharaoh up as a great king of Egypt in order to tear him down and show the world God's power.
- Why would God have mercy on some and not on others?
- Paul says who are we to question or answer back to God.
- A potter uses clay for honorable vessels and dishonorable uses too, just like God does with men.
- Paul quote from Hosea where it talks about saving grace for Gentiles,“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved."
- The number of sons of Israel are like sand on the seashore but only a portion of them will be saved Paul points out by quoting Isaiah.
- Paul uses all of these points to show the Romans that people receive righteousness by faith alone, and not by works.