- Jacob sent his 10 sons (not Benjamin) to Egypt to but grain because of the famine.
- Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
- Why does it say he recognized them a second time after they speak?
- Joseph remembered his dream about them from his youth.
- Joseph treats them harshly and accuses them of being spies.
- They leave Simeon as a prisoner and Joseph tells them to bring their younger brother to prove they are NOT spies.
- Joseph originally told them to send 1 brother to get Benjamin, but then he told them that he feared God, so he sent all the brothers back except Simeon.
- They remember what they did to Joseph and talk about how bad it was in front of Joseph assuming that he could not understand them because Joseph's interpreter didn't translate their words, but their words made Joseph cry.
- The brothers find their money back in their grain sacks and wonder why God has done this to them.
- Jacob refuses to send Benjamin and lose a third son.
- Reuben again steps in and says that Jacob can kill Reuben's 2 sons if he lets anything happen to Benjamin.
- Jacob still refuses to send Benjamin and sadden his own heart any more.
- Why don't they refer to Jacob as Israel here?
-Ch. 43
- The famine continued and Jacob's grain ran out, so he wanted to send his sons back to Egypt for more grain.
- The brothers refused to go unless Jacob sent Benjamin with them because Joseph had warned them about coming back without their brother.
- Why did Jacob want his sons to lie to Joseph?
- The brothers had simply answered Joseph's carefully crafted questions.
- Judah steps in and tell Jacob that he will take complete responsibility for Benjamin's safety.
- Judah finally allows them to take Benjamin, but also has them take gifts AND the money which had been returned to them on their last trip.
- Judah asked God to give them mercy on their trip.
- Joseph told the steward of the house to go prepare Joseph's house for a meal with his brothers.
- His brothers were very afraid for they feared that Joseph would imprison them all.
- They told Joseph's steward all that had happened on the previous journey and were surprised to hear that their last bill had been paid in full.. The steward attributed this "miracle" to their God.
- Was this steward a Jew?
- Did Joseph worship the Egyptian gods or the God of Israel?
- Joseph came for lunch and inquired about their father's health.
- Joseph was so overwhelmed with emotions that he left the room and wept, washed up and returned.
- They served Joseph and his brothers in separate places because Egyptians were not allowed to eat with Hebrews.
- Didn't Pharaoh know that Joseph was of Hebrew descent?
- When served Benjamin got 5 times the amount of food as his brothers.
Job 8/9
- Bildad the Shuite answers Job's last response.
- Bildad points out that God is just, pure and merciful.
- Bildad tells Job that He will indeed restore Job if he turns to God.
- Bildad states that God will provide even more to Job later than he had before.
- He states that the godless shall perish like the grass.
- Bildad tells Job that God will provide richly for him again and those who mock him now in his great sorrow will be put to shame by God.
Ch.9
- Job replies in agreement with Bildad and says who can make a case before God?
- Job knows that God is perfect, powerful, and always right (God's attributes)
- Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ (How many times have I asked God the same thing?)
- Job says that even though he thinks he is in the right, Job cannot stand up to God in a conversation.
- How can Job be filled with bitterness and not sin? Isn't bitterness sin?
- Job feels trapped because he is sad, but if he acts happy, then others will think that he has sinned. Job says, "If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’28 I become afraid of all my suffering,for I know you will not hold me innocent."
- Job says that the only way he, a man, could speak before God is if there was someone to be a go between (This definitely points toward our need for Jesus)
Mark 12/13
- "Them" refers to the chiefs priests and elders carrying over from Mark 11.
- Jesus tells the crowd the parable of the tenants in which a man plants a vineyard and leases to others. The owner then sends tenants which are beaten and killed. So the owner sends his son, whom they also kill. The owner will come and destroy those leasing his vineyards for their wickedness.
- The chief priests wanted to arrest him but left because they knew his parable was against them.
- I thought "they" left, but "they" sent him to others to be tested about paying taxes.
- Jesus knew they were testing Him and He said to pay to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God. (Even "they" had to marvel at His answer)
- The Sadducees ask Jesus about the resurrection (which they don't believe in). Jesus says that the woman would not belong to any of her husbands but would be like the angels because God is not a God of the dead but God of the living.
- They again test Him - and Jesus replies that Love the Lord your God is the most important commandment. Loving your neighbor as yourself is the 2nd.
- The scribe agrees with Jesus statement and adds, " And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
- Why did this scribe ask the question if he himself already agreed with Jesus' views?
- Jesus told this scribe that he was not far from the kingdom of God.
- They didn't ask Jesus any more questions.
- Jesus quotes the OT showing that David had called Jesus Lord even then, so He could NOT be the son of David but David's Lord.
- Jesus warns about long prayers and walk around showing off because they are doing so falsely but will receive condemnation
- Jesus draws our attention to a widow who puts in a penny giving out of her poverty and contrasting that with the wealthy who give out of their abundance.
Ch. 13
- Jesus said that the temple would be destroyed.
- Peter, James, John, and Andrew pull Jesus aside in the Mount of Olives to ask when these things will happen.
- Why is Andrew included in this talk with the "big 3"?
- Jesus tells them that they will suffer for His name's sake, but they shouldn't be anxious for the Spirit will give them words to say in that moment.
- v. 14 - 23 are more difficult to understand but here's a try at it.
- Who are the people fleeing that Jesus is speaking of?
- Why would it be worse in winter?
- Is Jesus saying that He must return so that people can be saved?
- Is this saying that in order for the elect (even the ones who have died) to saved, Jesus must return?
- Is it possible to lead astray the elect? (This is the 2nd reference to this in the gospels)
- The sun will go dark and Jesus will return and send His angels to gather the elect.
- Will this include the elect that have already passed away?
- Jesus tells them to look for these signs and await His return.
- What does Jesus mean that this generation will not pass away before they will see these things?
- Only God knows the time of Jesus return (He doesn't even know when).
- Jesus warns them to keep watch for these things and His return.
Romans 12/13
- We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices acceptable to God and not be conformed to the world.
- How are we to test in order to fin out God's will as stated by Paul when he says, "that by testing you may discern what is the will of God"?
- Paul says that every member has a different job. Not everyone has the same giftings, but the giftings given to him by God.
- Paul lists the following gifts to be used by the church: prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership, and mercy.
- Paul tells the Romans to outdo one another in showing love and honor.
- Serve the Lord with zeal, be patient, and constant in prayer
- What does being constant in prayer look like?
- Bless those who persecute you.
- Try to do what is honorable in the sights of everyone
- How do you honor those with different convictions from yourself?
- Don't avenge yourself but leave that to God.
- Don't be haughty but associate with the lowly.
- Paul tells the Romans (and us) to "not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Ch. 13
- We should subject to our governing authorities (which Jesus said in Mark today about Caesar's coin)
- God has appointed all authorities to be obeyed.
- What about governments which forbid Christianity?
- Owe no one anything except love.
- Paul reemphasizes what Jesus also said today in Mark that "loving your neighbor as yourself" over arches many other commandments. (You can't love your neighbor AND kill them or commit adultery with their wife)
- We must not make any provision for the flesh, but we must put on the Word of God, so that we may be in the light.
- We need to be preparing for Christ's return because it is closer today than it was when we first believed.
No comments:
Post a Comment