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.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
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!!!
- 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!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Genesis 37 - Job 3 - Mark 7 - Romans 7
Genesis 37
- Joseph was 17 and his father loved him best because he was born in Israel's old age
- Why didn't Israel love his oldest son best as was the way of the culture?
- Why didn't he love Benjamin most since he was his youngest son?
- Israel gave Joseph a coat of many colors which made his other sons jealous.
- He tells his brothers about his first dream in which 11 sheives bowed down to him.
- Then he tells his father and broethers his second dream in which the sun and moon (his parents) and 11 stars (his borthers) bow down to him.
- Israel rebuked him for sharing this, but Israel remembered what Joseph had said.
- Why did Israel talk about Joseph's mother bowing down when she had just died?
- Israel sent Joseph out to see how his brothers were doing pasturing the sheep.
- Joseph's brothers jealousy ahd turned to bitterness which caused them to conspire to kill Joseph (Do not let the sun go down on your anger?)
- Reuben intervened and convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph but to throw him into a pit instead.
- Reuben intended to restore Joseph back to Israel later.
- Judah convinced his brothers to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites so that they might not kill their own blood.
- They sold Joseph for 20 shekels (220 grams) of silver.
- Joseph was take by the Ishmaelites to Egypt.
- How did Reuben's brothers sell Joseph without Reuben knowing it?
- They slaughter a goat and put its blood on Joseph's tron coat.
- Israel identified the coat and he wept, refusing to be comforted, for many days
- Why is Israel referred to as Jacob here?
- Why did Jacob say he'd go to Sheol?
- Isn't Sheol hell?
- Are Midian traders and Ishmaelites the same people?
- The Midians sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer to Pharoah, in Egypt.
Job 3
- v. 3 -10 show Job sorry he was conceived. He is wishing that it never happened.
- Then Job was wishing that he had died at birth and never had to experience this misery.
- He is longing to die, yet still does not curse God or take his own life.
- Job is saying that everything is at peace and restful at death and he longs for it.
- He is "bitter in soul" and is searching and hoping for death.
- He is fearful and full of dread because of what has happened to him.
- Job is not at ease nor quiet, but restless because trouble has come.
- Is Job's response to his present trials a godly response to troubles in life?
Mark 7
- Traditions and God's commandments are addressed by Jesus.
- The Pharisees ask Jesus why He does not wash his hands as tradition says He should.
- He emphasizes His point by quoting from Isaiah where Isaiah said that the people will teach as doctrine the commandments of men. "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the traditions of men.
- Corban means given to God
- Jesus says by telling children to give only to God and not to parents they are breaking the commandment to "honor their father and mother"
- Jesus turned the people's thinking on it's head when he said it's not what goes into the body that makes it unclean, it's what comes out of one's body that makes one unclean.
- Jesus declares all food clean.
- If Jesus said this, why did Peter not think all foods were clean in Acts when the blanket was laid before him 3 times?
- Jesus healed the Gentile woman's sick daughter because she had spoken wisely (It did not mention her faith in Mark as it did in Matthew)
- Why does Mark tell us that she is a Syrophoenician?
- The people brought to Jesus a deaf man with a speech impediment.
- Jesus took the man to the side, put his fingers in the man's ears and spit on the man's tongue and the man was healed.
- Jesus told those present to tell no one, but they told everyone instead. They proclaimed Jesus' work zealously.
Romans 7
- Paul says that a woman is only married under the law until her husband dies. Then that law has no weight and she is free to remarry.
- Paul ties in the fact that they too have died to the law through Christ's resurrection from the dead. We are released from the old law.
- Paul is saying that until the law was given mankind was unaware of their sin.
- The law itself is holy and good, but sin is bad and we died because of our sin.
- The battle of our Spiritual selves and our flesh wages war within us.
- The law itself does not bring death, but the sin that is within us.
- The Law is spiritual but we are of the flesh, so that even when we want to do good, our flesh causes us to sin.
- What were some "good things" that Paul wanted to do, but did not do because Paul was always boldly preaching the gospel?
- What does Paul mean when he says, "So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. "? Is he excusing sin?
- How do we keep from doing the things we hate, when we know what we should be doing that is right?
- The battle between flesh and spirit wages on "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand." (We need to be on guard for sin even when we are trying to do what's right)
- Thanks to God sending Christ to die for us we have the ability to serve the law of God even while our flesh serves the law of sin.
- Joseph was 17 and his father loved him best because he was born in Israel's old age
- Why didn't Israel love his oldest son best as was the way of the culture?
- Why didn't he love Benjamin most since he was his youngest son?
- Israel gave Joseph a coat of many colors which made his other sons jealous.
- He tells his brothers about his first dream in which 11 sheives bowed down to him.
- Then he tells his father and broethers his second dream in which the sun and moon (his parents) and 11 stars (his borthers) bow down to him.
- Israel rebuked him for sharing this, but Israel remembered what Joseph had said.
- Why did Israel talk about Joseph's mother bowing down when she had just died?
- Israel sent Joseph out to see how his brothers were doing pasturing the sheep.
- Joseph's brothers jealousy ahd turned to bitterness which caused them to conspire to kill Joseph (Do not let the sun go down on your anger?)
- Reuben intervened and convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph but to throw him into a pit instead.
- Reuben intended to restore Joseph back to Israel later.
- Judah convinced his brothers to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites so that they might not kill their own blood.
- They sold Joseph for 20 shekels (220 grams) of silver.
- Joseph was take by the Ishmaelites to Egypt.
- How did Reuben's brothers sell Joseph without Reuben knowing it?
- They slaughter a goat and put its blood on Joseph's tron coat.
- Israel identified the coat and he wept, refusing to be comforted, for many days
- Why is Israel referred to as Jacob here?
- Why did Jacob say he'd go to Sheol?
- Isn't Sheol hell?
- Are Midian traders and Ishmaelites the same people?
- The Midians sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer to Pharoah, in Egypt.
Job 3
- v. 3 -10 show Job sorry he was conceived. He is wishing that it never happened.
- Then Job was wishing that he had died at birth and never had to experience this misery.
- He is longing to die, yet still does not curse God or take his own life.
- Job is saying that everything is at peace and restful at death and he longs for it.
- He is "bitter in soul" and is searching and hoping for death.
- He is fearful and full of dread because of what has happened to him.
- Job is not at ease nor quiet, but restless because trouble has come.
- Is Job's response to his present trials a godly response to troubles in life?
Mark 7
- Traditions and God's commandments are addressed by Jesus.
- The Pharisees ask Jesus why He does not wash his hands as tradition says He should.
- He emphasizes His point by quoting from Isaiah where Isaiah said that the people will teach as doctrine the commandments of men. "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the traditions of men.
- Corban means given to God
- Jesus says by telling children to give only to God and not to parents they are breaking the commandment to "honor their father and mother"
- Jesus turned the people's thinking on it's head when he said it's not what goes into the body that makes it unclean, it's what comes out of one's body that makes one unclean.
- Jesus declares all food clean.
- If Jesus said this, why did Peter not think all foods were clean in Acts when the blanket was laid before him 3 times?
- Jesus healed the Gentile woman's sick daughter because she had spoken wisely (It did not mention her faith in Mark as it did in Matthew)
- Why does Mark tell us that she is a Syrophoenician?
- The people brought to Jesus a deaf man with a speech impediment.
- Jesus took the man to the side, put his fingers in the man's ears and spit on the man's tongue and the man was healed.
- Jesus told those present to tell no one, but they told everyone instead. They proclaimed Jesus' work zealously.
Romans 7
- Paul says that a woman is only married under the law until her husband dies. Then that law has no weight and she is free to remarry.
- Paul ties in the fact that they too have died to the law through Christ's resurrection from the dead. We are released from the old law.
- Paul is saying that until the law was given mankind was unaware of their sin.
- The law itself is holy and good, but sin is bad and we died because of our sin.
- The battle of our Spiritual selves and our flesh wages war within us.
- The law itself does not bring death, but the sin that is within us.
- The Law is spiritual but we are of the flesh, so that even when we want to do good, our flesh causes us to sin.
- What were some "good things" that Paul wanted to do, but did not do because Paul was always boldly preaching the gospel?
- What does Paul mean when he says, "So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. "? Is he excusing sin?
- How do we keep from doing the things we hate, when we know what we should be doing that is right?
- The battle between flesh and spirit wages on "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand." (We need to be on guard for sin even when we are trying to do what's right)
- Thanks to God sending Christ to die for us we have the ability to serve the law of God even while our flesh serves the law of sin.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Genesis 35/36 - Job 2 - Mark 6 - Romans 6
Genesis 35/36
- In Bethel the Lord renames Jacob, Israel and told Israel to get rid of all idols in his household which he did.
- Jacob made a pillar to the Lord.
- His servant, Deborah, died and was buried there.
- Rachel went into hard labor and gave birth to Benjamin, and she died.
- Why would Jacob change Rachel's son's name after she died?
- Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, Israel's servant. That is Reuben lay with his two brother's mother.
- Did she bear any children by Reuben?
- Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
- Isaac died and was buried at age 180.
- Ch. 36
- Esau had many descendants but here's a few notes on them.
- Esau is also called Edom.
- Esaua settled in Seir
- It mentioned Timnah, Loran's sister (Will something bad happen to her or why is she mentioned?)
- One of the sons of Disan was Uz, which sounds familiar.
- Why does it tell Anah found the hot springs and no added details about the other people listed?
- It listed kings from that time period as well.
Job 2
- Satan again goes before the Lord, presenting himself.
- God again points to Job's example.
- Satan says that if God takes away his health Job would curse God.
- Who is actually "doing" these things to Job, God or Satan?
- God allows Satan to take Job's health but not his life.
- Job was covered in sores and his wife told him to curse God and die.
- Why had Satan not sought to take away Job's wife?
- Why was Job's wife not full of faith too?
- Job's 3 Friends came to comfort him; Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.
- They sat with him weeping and not speaking for 7 days. (They didn't have to speak to show their sympathy and care for Job in his time of sorrow)
Mark 6
- People in His hometown did not have faith in Him.
- Didn't he begin His ministry in His hometown, Nazareth, with success before?
- Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs to cast out demons and heal the sick telling them if people reject them to shake the dust off their shoes and move on.
- King Herod thought Jesus was John the baptist come back from the dead.
- Why was Herod sorry to kill John when that's what he wanted to do all along?
- Disciples return from healing and preaching and Jesus tells him to join them to rest.
- The people gather near the shore and Jesus has compassion on them.
- Jesus tells the to feed the people but they say that that would cost 200 denari (200 days' wages)
- Jesus feeds 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
- There was 12 baskets of leftovers, making the whole event even more of a miracle.
Romans 6
- Paul asks, Should we sin, so that grace may grow? NO!
- We are called to walk in "newness of life" since Christ was raised from the dead.
- We, as believers, are no longer enslaved to sin.
- Jesus will never die again, it was a once for all, so that He might live to God. Death has no dominion over Him, so it has no dominion over believers either.
- We should seek to no longer walk in sin because we are no longer under the Law but under grace.
- We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.
- We are able to walk in righteousness, the ways of the law, because we have obedience of the heart.
- We were slaves to impurity and lawlessness now we are slaves to righteousness which leads to sanctification.
- In sin we were free from righteousness, but that led us to death.
- We are slaves to God which leads to sanctification which leads to eternal life.
- Wages of sin is death, free gift of eternal life through Jesus
- In Bethel the Lord renames Jacob, Israel and told Israel to get rid of all idols in his household which he did.
- Jacob made a pillar to the Lord.
- His servant, Deborah, died and was buried there.
- Rachel went into hard labor and gave birth to Benjamin, and she died.
- Why would Jacob change Rachel's son's name after she died?
- Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, Israel's servant. That is Reuben lay with his two brother's mother.
- Did she bear any children by Reuben?
- Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
- Isaac died and was buried at age 180.
- Ch. 36
- Esau had many descendants but here's a few notes on them.
- Esau is also called Edom.
- Esaua settled in Seir
- It mentioned Timnah, Loran's sister (Will something bad happen to her or why is she mentioned?)
- One of the sons of Disan was Uz, which sounds familiar.
- Why does it tell Anah found the hot springs and no added details about the other people listed?
- It listed kings from that time period as well.
Job 2
- Satan again goes before the Lord, presenting himself.
- God again points to Job's example.
- Satan says that if God takes away his health Job would curse God.
- Who is actually "doing" these things to Job, God or Satan?
- God allows Satan to take Job's health but not his life.
- Job was covered in sores and his wife told him to curse God and die.
- Why had Satan not sought to take away Job's wife?
- Why was Job's wife not full of faith too?
- Job's 3 Friends came to comfort him; Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.
- They sat with him weeping and not speaking for 7 days. (They didn't have to speak to show their sympathy and care for Job in his time of sorrow)
Mark 6
- People in His hometown did not have faith in Him.
- Didn't he begin His ministry in His hometown, Nazareth, with success before?
- Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs to cast out demons and heal the sick telling them if people reject them to shake the dust off their shoes and move on.
- King Herod thought Jesus was John the baptist come back from the dead.
- Why was Herod sorry to kill John when that's what he wanted to do all along?
- Disciples return from healing and preaching and Jesus tells him to join them to rest.
- The people gather near the shore and Jesus has compassion on them.
- Jesus tells the to feed the people but they say that that would cost 200 denari (200 days' wages)
- Jesus feeds 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
- There was 12 baskets of leftovers, making the whole event even more of a miracle.
Romans 6
- Paul asks, Should we sin, so that grace may grow? NO!
- We are called to walk in "newness of life" since Christ was raised from the dead.
- We, as believers, are no longer enslaved to sin.
- Jesus will never die again, it was a once for all, so that He might live to God. Death has no dominion over Him, so it has no dominion over believers either.
- We should seek to no longer walk in sin because we are no longer under the Law but under grace.
- We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.
- We are able to walk in righteousness, the ways of the law, because we have obedience of the heart.
- We were slaves to impurity and lawlessness now we are slaves to righteousness which leads to sanctification.
- In sin we were free from righteousness, but that led us to death.
- We are slaves to God which leads to sanctification which leads to eternal life.
- Wages of sin is death, free gift of eternal life through Jesus
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Genesis 34 - Job 1 - Mark 5 - Romans 5
Genesis 34
- Now I understand why Dinah had been listed as a child of Leah. It was becuase she would be the reason for future events for Jacob's family.
- Shechem, the Hivite, lay with Dinah and "humiliated" (raped?) her.
- Shechem then falls in love with Dinah and asks his father, Haran, to talk with Jacob to get him Jacob's daughter.
- Did Haran know what his son had done to Dinah?
- How did Jacob find out about Dinah when she was still being kept with Shechem?
- Jacob's sons were very angry when they found out.
- Hamor says to Jacob and his sons that they should intermarry and share the land. (Sounds reasonable)
- Jacob didn't ask Haran for a bride price, but he did say that Dinah could not marry someone who had not been circumcised.
- Jacob also said they could all dwell together as one people, if and only if all their men were circumcised.
- Didn't any Hivite males object to do this? It just doesn't seem like the kind of thing everyone would/should get excited about doing to oneself.
- On the third day after everyone had been circumcised, Simeon and Levi went and killed all the males of that place, took the women and children, and plundered the people's things.
- Jacob apparently was NOT part of this plan because he was upset at his sons for causing future tension between them and the Canaanites.
- How had Jacob planned on enacting revenge and why had he said every man should be circumcised if not to wipe them out?
Job 1
- Job had great wealth, seven sons and 3 daughters. He was an upright man and blameless.
- Job would offer sacrifices for his children in case they had sinned within their hearts. He did this continually.
- Is this fact an exaggeration since in Romans it says, "all have sinned"?
- Who are the "sons of God" referred to in v. 6? Are these the angels?
- Why would God talk with Satan?
- Satan tells God that Job is only so righteous because God protects him and his household placing a "hedge" around them.
- Satan continues to say that if God takes away all Job's blessings, Job will curse God.
- God tells Satan do do as he wishes, but not to harm Job himself.
- Job lost his sheep and oxen, his servants and camels were destroyed by fire, and then finally ALL of his children were killed in a windstorm (tornado?)
- The amazing thing is that this all happened at the same time because the next servant came to tell Job these things "while he was yet speaking"
- Job falls and worships God who "gives and takes away" (a moving and godly response).
- What powers are Satan capable of since he called forth a firs storm and wind storm with God's permission?
Mark 5
- Jesus meets a man across the sea immediately who possessed by many demons.
- Again "Legion" the spirits know who Jesus is and state it to him. Legion begs Jesus to send them into the pigs, so Jesus does and they run down the hill and drown.
- Why wouldn't Jesus simply kill the spirits instead of sending them away to deal with again later?
- Why did the spirits drown the pigs and what happened to the evil spirits?
- The townspeople saw the possessed man well and asked Jesus to leave them.
- The depossessed man wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus told him to go tell others what God had done for him.
- Why would Jesus want this man to tell others, when He always orders people NOT to tell about Him?
- Jairus came to Jesus to have him heal his daughter.
- While Jesus was going to Jairus' house a woman pressed through the crowd and touched Jesus' clothes.
- It said Jesus knew that power went out from him.
- The disciples could not understand why Jesus was upset about who touched him when they were in a great crowd.
- The woman, who had already been healed, fell before Jesus who commended her for her faith which had healed her, sent her away in peace.
- Jairus's servants came and told him that his daughter had already died and that Jairus should not bother Jesus any longer.
- Did Jairus' faith waver in this moment or did he believe that Jesus could still heal her?
- Jesus told Jairus not to fear but only to believe.
- Jesus took Peter, James, and John in with him.
- The people laughed at Jesus when he said that the girl was not dead, but He still went in and healed the girl.
- Jesus charged them to tell no one what had happened.
- Why did He say this to them, when it would be obvious to others that Jesus had raised the girl from the dead, since she had in fact been dead?
Romans 5
- We have recieved grace and hope through our faith in Christ.
- We should rejoice in suffering because it leads to endurance which leads to character which leads to hope (similar to what James 1 says)
- Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (His enemies).
- Jesus has justified us and saved us from God's just wrath.
- We have been reconciled to God. (The effects of sin from the fall have been reversed for believers)
- The comparison between Adam's one sin and Jesus' one act of righteousness and how these two events affected mankind.
- Are there different types of sin? (v. 14)
- People were sinning from the times of Adam to Moses before the law was given.
- What does Paul mean when he says that sin was not counted before the law?
- Didn't Paul just say all people can see God in all creation even if they've never heard the gospel a few verses earlier?
- What's the difference between the grace of God and the "free gift"?
- Sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and righteousness and justification has come through one man, Jesus.
- Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more! (Wow!)
- Sin reigns in death, but grace and righteousness reigns in eternal life.
- Now I understand why Dinah had been listed as a child of Leah. It was becuase she would be the reason for future events for Jacob's family.
- Shechem, the Hivite, lay with Dinah and "humiliated" (raped?) her.
- Shechem then falls in love with Dinah and asks his father, Haran, to talk with Jacob to get him Jacob's daughter.
- Did Haran know what his son had done to Dinah?
- How did Jacob find out about Dinah when she was still being kept with Shechem?
- Jacob's sons were very angry when they found out.
- Hamor says to Jacob and his sons that they should intermarry and share the land. (Sounds reasonable)
- Jacob didn't ask Haran for a bride price, but he did say that Dinah could not marry someone who had not been circumcised.
- Jacob also said they could all dwell together as one people, if and only if all their men were circumcised.
- Didn't any Hivite males object to do this? It just doesn't seem like the kind of thing everyone would/should get excited about doing to oneself.
- On the third day after everyone had been circumcised, Simeon and Levi went and killed all the males of that place, took the women and children, and plundered the people's things.
- Jacob apparently was NOT part of this plan because he was upset at his sons for causing future tension between them and the Canaanites.
- How had Jacob planned on enacting revenge and why had he said every man should be circumcised if not to wipe them out?
Job 1
- Job had great wealth, seven sons and 3 daughters. He was an upright man and blameless.
- Job would offer sacrifices for his children in case they had sinned within their hearts. He did this continually.
- Is this fact an exaggeration since in Romans it says, "all have sinned"?
- Who are the "sons of God" referred to in v. 6? Are these the angels?
- Why would God talk with Satan?
- Satan tells God that Job is only so righteous because God protects him and his household placing a "hedge" around them.
- Satan continues to say that if God takes away all Job's blessings, Job will curse God.
- God tells Satan do do as he wishes, but not to harm Job himself.
- Job lost his sheep and oxen, his servants and camels were destroyed by fire, and then finally ALL of his children were killed in a windstorm (tornado?)
- The amazing thing is that this all happened at the same time because the next servant came to tell Job these things "while he was yet speaking"
- Job falls and worships God who "gives and takes away" (a moving and godly response).
- What powers are Satan capable of since he called forth a firs storm and wind storm with God's permission?
Mark 5
- Jesus meets a man across the sea immediately who possessed by many demons.
- Again "Legion" the spirits know who Jesus is and state it to him. Legion begs Jesus to send them into the pigs, so Jesus does and they run down the hill and drown.
- Why wouldn't Jesus simply kill the spirits instead of sending them away to deal with again later?
- Why did the spirits drown the pigs and what happened to the evil spirits?
- The townspeople saw the possessed man well and asked Jesus to leave them.
- The depossessed man wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus told him to go tell others what God had done for him.
- Why would Jesus want this man to tell others, when He always orders people NOT to tell about Him?
- Jairus came to Jesus to have him heal his daughter.
- While Jesus was going to Jairus' house a woman pressed through the crowd and touched Jesus' clothes.
- It said Jesus knew that power went out from him.
- The disciples could not understand why Jesus was upset about who touched him when they were in a great crowd.
- The woman, who had already been healed, fell before Jesus who commended her for her faith which had healed her, sent her away in peace.
- Jairus's servants came and told him that his daughter had already died and that Jairus should not bother Jesus any longer.
- Did Jairus' faith waver in this moment or did he believe that Jesus could still heal her?
- Jesus told Jairus not to fear but only to believe.
- Jesus took Peter, James, and John in with him.
- The people laughed at Jesus when he said that the girl was not dead, but He still went in and healed the girl.
- Jesus charged them to tell no one what had happened.
- Why did He say this to them, when it would be obvious to others that Jesus had raised the girl from the dead, since she had in fact been dead?
Romans 5
- We have recieved grace and hope through our faith in Christ.
- We should rejoice in suffering because it leads to endurance which leads to character which leads to hope (similar to what James 1 says)
- Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (His enemies).
- Jesus has justified us and saved us from God's just wrath.
- We have been reconciled to God. (The effects of sin from the fall have been reversed for believers)
- The comparison between Adam's one sin and Jesus' one act of righteousness and how these two events affected mankind.
- Are there different types of sin? (v. 14)
- People were sinning from the times of Adam to Moses before the law was given.
- What does Paul mean when he says that sin was not counted before the law?
- Didn't Paul just say all people can see God in all creation even if they've never heard the gospel a few verses earlier?
- What's the difference between the grace of God and the "free gift"?
- Sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and righteousness and justification has come through one man, Jesus.
- Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more! (Wow!)
- Sin reigns in death, but grace and righteousness reigns in eternal life.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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.
- 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.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Genesis 32 - Esther 8 - Mark 3 - Romans 3
Genesis 32
- Angels (plural) met Jacob and said to him that "This was God's camp!"
- Jacob sent servants ahead of him to tell Esau how the Lord had blessed him to see how Esau would respond.
- Jacob also divided his people and belongs in two groups, so that IF his brother attacked him half might flee to safety.
- Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men (When they last saw one another Esau had vowed to kill Jacob for stealing his blessing from his father.
- Jacob's response is fear and appeals to God in prayer, pointing to God's promise to bless him and multiply his family and to God's undeserved faithfulness and steadfast love. Jacob was well aware that everything he now had was an undeserved blessing.
- He created 3 "droves" to give to his brother http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/drove
- Jacob offered these 3 droves to his brother hoping to make peace with him.
- Did Jacob perhaps feel guilty about what he had done to Esau?
- Everyone crosses the stream except Jacob who finds a man and wrestles with him.
- Jacob demands that the "man" bless him before he stops wrestling with him.
- The man touches Jacob's hip and it dislocates at the sinew (which now Jacob's people no longer eat) and the man renames Jacob, Israel (he who has striven with God and man) This happened at Peniel.
- How and why did Jacob wrestle with this man for a blessing when he already had God's blessing?
- What was this new extra blessing that he received?
- Who was this man who wrestled with Jacob? If it was God how could Jacob see God face-to-face without dying (which is referenced in late passages like Moses on Mount Sinai.
- Was this an angel who wrestled with Jacob?
Esther 8
- Esther again risked her life going before the king and pleading, with tears, for the lives of her people.
- Mordecai replaced Haman as the king;s right hand man.
- Did King Ahasuares ever write his own laws?
- Esther had a law passed that on the 13th day of the 12th month (on the same day as the last Jew annihilating law) that the Jews could now defend themselves and destroy anyone who wanted to harm them.
- This took place on the 23rd day of the 3rd month, so the Jews still had 9 months until the old law proposed to destroy them.
- The Jew everywhere were filled with joy and celebrated this new law.
- Many people became Jews because they saw God's favor on the Jews.
Mark 3
- Jesus became angry with the Pharisees who questioned Him healing a man on the Sabbath.
- After this they plotted to destroy Him.
- The unclean spirits continued to call Him the Son of God, but He continued to tell them to stop speaking.
- Jesus calls the disciples and refers to James and John as "the sons of thunder". Mark also refers to Matthew here as Matthew and NOT Levi as referenced in Mark 2.
- Why did His family think Jesus was out of His mind?
- What part of His family thought this since His mother and brothers come to Him a few verses later?
- The scribes again accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebub, but Jesus says that Satan against Satan would end Satan's kingdom so would not make sense.
- Jesus said blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (because they were saying Jesus had an "unclean spirit" not the Holy Spirit)
- Aren't all sins eternal sins?
- Why does Jesus again deny seeing His family?
- Jesus says that all believers are His brothers and sisters, which refers to our "adoption" as son and daughters of God because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
- Why does the footnote say that in earlier manuscripts the "brothers" word may have been "sisters"?
Romans 3
- Paul shows that Jews were trusted with God's oracles.
- He asks if the Jews' faithlessness means God is unfaithful, by no means!
- Our unrighteousness simply shows God's righteousness and why He must inflict wrath on us the sinners.
- Jews are therefore no better off than the Gentiles...all have sinned
- Paul seeks to rightly humble us by pointing out that "all have fallen short of the glory of God".
- "No one does good no not one"
- What OT reference is this from?
- Not one person will be justified by the Law, but by faith alone.
- The Law is to show people how far short they fall from the glory of God, so that they will turn to Jesus and place their faith in Him so that they may be justified.
- Jesus was a propitiation for us sent by God http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=propitiate
- God is just and our justifier
- This faith does not overthrow the law, it causes us to uphold it!
- Why would a just God choose to save sinners like me?
- Angels (plural) met Jacob and said to him that "This was God's camp!"
- Jacob sent servants ahead of him to tell Esau how the Lord had blessed him to see how Esau would respond.
- Jacob also divided his people and belongs in two groups, so that IF his brother attacked him half might flee to safety.
- Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men (When they last saw one another Esau had vowed to kill Jacob for stealing his blessing from his father.
- Jacob's response is fear and appeals to God in prayer, pointing to God's promise to bless him and multiply his family and to God's undeserved faithfulness and steadfast love. Jacob was well aware that everything he now had was an undeserved blessing.
- He created 3 "droves" to give to his brother http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/drove
- Jacob offered these 3 droves to his brother hoping to make peace with him.
- Did Jacob perhaps feel guilty about what he had done to Esau?
- Everyone crosses the stream except Jacob who finds a man and wrestles with him.
- Jacob demands that the "man" bless him before he stops wrestling with him.
- The man touches Jacob's hip and it dislocates at the sinew (which now Jacob's people no longer eat) and the man renames Jacob, Israel (he who has striven with God and man) This happened at Peniel.
- How and why did Jacob wrestle with this man for a blessing when he already had God's blessing?
- What was this new extra blessing that he received?
- Who was this man who wrestled with Jacob? If it was God how could Jacob see God face-to-face without dying (which is referenced in late passages like Moses on Mount Sinai.
- Was this an angel who wrestled with Jacob?
Esther 8
- Esther again risked her life going before the king and pleading, with tears, for the lives of her people.
- Mordecai replaced Haman as the king;s right hand man.
- Did King Ahasuares ever write his own laws?
- Esther had a law passed that on the 13th day of the 12th month (on the same day as the last Jew annihilating law) that the Jews could now defend themselves and destroy anyone who wanted to harm them.
- This took place on the 23rd day of the 3rd month, so the Jews still had 9 months until the old law proposed to destroy them.
- The Jew everywhere were filled with joy and celebrated this new law.
- Many people became Jews because they saw God's favor on the Jews.
Mark 3
- Jesus became angry with the Pharisees who questioned Him healing a man on the Sabbath.
- After this they plotted to destroy Him.
- The unclean spirits continued to call Him the Son of God, but He continued to tell them to stop speaking.
- Jesus calls the disciples and refers to James and John as "the sons of thunder". Mark also refers to Matthew here as Matthew and NOT Levi as referenced in Mark 2.
- Why did His family think Jesus was out of His mind?
- What part of His family thought this since His mother and brothers come to Him a few verses later?
- The scribes again accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebub, but Jesus says that Satan against Satan would end Satan's kingdom so would not make sense.
- Jesus said blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (because they were saying Jesus had an "unclean spirit" not the Holy Spirit)
- Aren't all sins eternal sins?
- Why does Jesus again deny seeing His family?
- Jesus says that all believers are His brothers and sisters, which refers to our "adoption" as son and daughters of God because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
- Why does the footnote say that in earlier manuscripts the "brothers" word may have been "sisters"?
Romans 3
- Paul shows that Jews were trusted with God's oracles.
- He asks if the Jews' faithlessness means God is unfaithful, by no means!
- Our unrighteousness simply shows God's righteousness and why He must inflict wrath on us the sinners.
- Jews are therefore no better off than the Gentiles...all have sinned
- Paul seeks to rightly humble us by pointing out that "all have fallen short of the glory of God".
- "No one does good no not one"
- What OT reference is this from?
- Not one person will be justified by the Law, but by faith alone.
- The Law is to show people how far short they fall from the glory of God, so that they will turn to Jesus and place their faith in Him so that they may be justified.
- Jesus was a propitiation for us sent by God http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=propitiate
- God is just and our justifier
- This faith does not overthrow the law, it causes us to uphold it!
- Why would a just God choose to save sinners like me?
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