The Fall

Noah

Abraham

Isaac and Rebekah

Jacob

John

The Fall

Genesis 3:1-7

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat or touch it, or you will die.'" "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "in fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate [it]; she also gave [some] to her husband, [who was] with her, and he ate [it]. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made lioncloths for themselves.

Questions

Who was the serpent?
Why did the serpent talk to Eve and not Adam?

Gold Star Section

What did God say concerning the eating of fruit from trees?
Who did God say it to?
What did Eve add to God's command?
When did the tree become desirable to Eve?

Genesis 3:8-13

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." Then He asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I had commanded you not to eat from?" Then the man replied, "The woman You gave to be with me--she gave me [some fruit] from the tree, and I ate." So the LORD God asked the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "It was the serpent. He deceived me, and I ate."

Questions

If God is omniscient, knowing everything, then why did He "play dumb" and ask Adam and Eve all those questions to which He already knew the answers?

Gold Star Section

Did God have a body?
If so, what kind of human features must this body have had?
Why was Adam afraid?
Who did Adam blame?

Genesis 3:14-19

Then the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you.

And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust."

Questions

What was Adam and Eve's sin?

Gold Star Section

Was the serpent the only animal cursed?
Why or why not?
What do you think God means when He says, "Your desire will be for your husband."
Who did Eve listen to?
Who should she have listened to?
Who did Adam listen to?
Who should he have listened to?
Was having to work part of the curse?

Genesis 3:23-24

Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. The LORD God said, "Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.

Questions

Why does God refer to Himself as "Us"?

Gold Star Section

In Genesis 2:17 God said that on the day that Adam ate from the tree he would surely die… why didn't Adam and Eve die?
Did something have to die in their place?
Were humans meant to live forever on earth before the fall?

Genesis 4:1-7

Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, "I have had a male child with the LORD's help." Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel Became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land. In the course of time Cain presented some of the land's produce as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also presented [an offering]--some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you furious? And why are you downcast? If you do right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Questions

Why did God favor Abel and his offering over Cain and his offering?

Gold Star Section

Which child followed in their father's footsteps and why?
Where have we seen a phrase similar to "Its desire is for you, but you must master it." earlier in our studies?
How do you think they correlate?

Genesis 4:8-16

Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's guardian?" Then He [God] said, "What have you done" Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed [with alienation] from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood you have shed. If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

But Cain answered to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear! Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me." Then the LORD said to him, "In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Questions

What was Cain's motivation to kill his brother?

Gold Star Section

Who did Cain blame for Abel's death?
What was Cain really worried about in his punishment?

Noah

Genesis 6:5-22

When the LORD saw that man's wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Then the LORD said, "I will wipe off the face of the earth: man, whom I created, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and the birds of the sky--for I regret that I made them." Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God. And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. God saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth. Then God said to Noah, "I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gofer wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside. This is how you are to make it: The ark will be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. You are to make a roof, finishing [the sides of the ark] to within 18 inches [of the roof]. You are to put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with owe, middle, and upper [decks].

"Understand that I am bringing a deluge--floodwaters on the earth to destroy all flesh under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will die. But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives. You are also to bring into the ark two of every living thing of all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of everything--from the birds according to their kinds, from the livestock according to their kinds, and from every animal that crawls on the ground according to its kind--will come to you so that you can keep them alive. Take with you every kind of food that is eaten; gather it as food for you and for them." And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.

Questions

1. What does scripture mean when it says that God "regretted" that He had made man on the earth?
2. Why did all the animals have to die as well?

Genesis 7:1-10

Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you [alone] are righteous before Me in this generation. You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female, and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky--in order to keep offspring alive on the face of the whole earth. Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe off the face of the earth every living thing I have made." And Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him.

Noah was 600 years old when the deluge came [and] water covered the earth. So Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives entered the ark because of the waters of the deluge. From the clean animals, unclean animals, birds, and every creature that crawls on the ground, two of each, male and female, entered the ark with Noah, just as God had commanded him. Seven days later the waters of the deluge came on the earth.

Questions

1. How manned days did noah, his family, and all the animals wait enclosed in the ark before the rain came?
2. Have you ever had to wait a week or more for God's promised to come to fruition?
3. How did that affect your faith?

Genesis 7:11-24

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened, and the rain fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights. On that same day Noah along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah's wife, and his three sons' wives entered the ark with him. They [entered it] with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that crawls on the earth according to its kind, all birds, every fowl, and everything with wings according to their kinds. Two of all flesh that has the breath of life in it entered the ark with Noah. Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in.

The deluge continued 40 days on the earth; the waters increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth. The waters surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. Then the waters surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered. The mountains were covered as the waters surged [above them] more than 20 feed. All flesh perished--creatures that crawl on the earth, as well as all mankind. Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils--everything on dry land died. He wiped out every living thing that was on the surface of the ground, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. And the waters surged on the earth 150 days.

Questions

1. The phrase "after its kind" is repeated many times in this passage and in previous ones. What do you think the significance of this is?
2. What must it have been like for Noah and his family to watch everyone they'd ever known on earth die before their eyes?
3. Do you think Noah tried to convince any of his friends that he'd known for the past 600 years to come on the ark and save themselves from certain doom?

Genesis 8:1-14

God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside. The sources of the water depths and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky stopped. The water steadily receded from the earth, and by the end of 150 days the waters had decreased significantly. The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

The waters continued to recede until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible. After 40 days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made, and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see whether the water on the earth's surface had gone down, but the dove found no resting place for her foot. She returned to him in the ark because water covered the surface of the whole earth. He reached out and brought her into the ark to himself. So Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove from the ark again. When the dove came to him at evening, there was a plucked olive leaf in her beak. So Noah knew that the water on the earth's surface had gone down. After he had waited another seven days, he sent out the dove, but she did not return to him again. In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water [that had covered] the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark's cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was dry.

Questions

1. In Genesis 8:1 scripture says, "God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark." So does this mean that God had forgotten about them?
2. Does it ever feel like God has forgotten about you?
3. Does Noah's faith in God ever seem to waver in favor of science in this passage? Why? or Why not?

Genesis 8:15-9:7

Then God spoke to Noah "Come out of the ark, you , your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you. Bring out every living thing of all flesh that is with you--birds, livestock, creatures that crawl on the ground--and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, came out. All wildlife, all livestock, every bird, and every creature that crawls on the earth came out of the ark by their groups.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, even though man's inclination is evil from his youth. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, and day and night
will not cease."

God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority. Every living creature will be food for you; as [I gave] the green plants, I have given you everything. However, you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it. i will require the life of every animal and every man for your life and your blood. I will require the life of each man's brother fro a man's life. Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image. But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it."

Questions

1. How was man's relationship to animals different before the flood?
2. What were the food laws before the flood and what did God add to the menu afterwards?

Genesis 9:8-28

Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, "Understand that I am confirming My covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you--birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you--all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. I confirm My covenant with you that never again will all flesh be wiped out by the waters of a deluge; there will never again be a deluge to destroy the earth."

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh: water will never again become a deluge to destroy all flesh. The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh on earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and all flesh on earth."

Noah's sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were Noah's sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.

Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backwards, they covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.

When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said: "Canaan will be cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers." He also said: "Praise the LORD, the God of Shem; Canaan will be his slave. God will extend Japheth; he will dwell in the tents of Shem; Canaan will be his slave.

Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood. So Noah's life lasted 950 years; then he died.

Questions

1. Why did God give the rainbow?
2. What is the purpose of a reoccurring sign?
3. Why do you think that Noah cursed Canaan when it was his father Ham who wronged Noah?

Abraham

Genesis 12:1-9

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.”

So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.) And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.

Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.) The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord. Abram continually journeyed by stages down to the Negev.

Questions

1. What were God's promises to Abram?
2. Did God ask for anything in return?

Gold Star Section

If you think God asked for something in return then how does this effect Paul's argument on salvation by faith vs. works in Romans 4?

Genesis 12:10-20

There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine in the land was severe. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' They will kill me but let you live. Please say you're my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account." When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. Pharaoh's officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, so the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. He treated Abram well because of her, and Abram acquired flocks and herds, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.

But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with severe plagues because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, "What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She's my sister,' so that I took her as my wife? Now, here's your wife. Take her and go!" Then Pharaoh gave [his] men orders about him, and they sent him away, with his wife and all he had.

Questions

1. Abram deceived the Egyptians and yet God protected him and allowed him to come away with financial blessing--why?

Genesis 13:1-18

Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev--he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram worshiped the LORD there.

Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together, and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.

Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn't the whole land before you? Separate from me: if [you go] to the left, I will go to the right; if [you go] to the right, I will go to the left."

Lot looked out and saw that the entire Jordan Valley as far as Zoar was well-watered everywhere like the LORD's garden and the land of Egypt. This was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities of the valley and set up his tent near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly against the LORD.

After Lot had separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, "Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Get up and walk from one end of the land to the other, for I will give it to you."

So Abram moved his tent and went to live beside the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built and altar to the LORD.

Questions

1. How did Abram show faith in God's provision?

Genesis 14:1-16

In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim waged war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All of these came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). They were subject to Chedorlaomer for 12 years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran by the wilderness. Then they came back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they defeated all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim contained many asphalt pits, and [as] the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, [some] fell into them, but the rest fled to the mountains. The [four kings] took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. They also took Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom, and they went on.

One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was at the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. When Abram herd that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan. And he and his servants deployed against them by night, attacked them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the [other] people.

Questions

1. What godly qualities did Abram display in this passage?
2. How was the faith Abram displayed in this passage shaped by his time in Egypt?
3. When you look back at your journey does your faith look more like a roller coaster or a steady climb?

Genesis 14:17-24

After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. He blessed him and said: "Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and give praise to God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you." And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself."

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand in an oath to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.' I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me--Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre--they can take their share."

Questions

1. Why didn't Abram accept gifts from the King of Sodom?
2. Who gets credit for the successes in your life?

Genesis 15:1-21

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”

But Abram said, “O sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”

But look, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.” The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars – if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”

Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty. The Lord said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But Abram said, “O sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?”

The Lord said to him, “Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts. That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River – the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Questions

1. What is Abram's "great reward"?
2. Was Abram satisfied with God being his reward?

Galatians 3:1-9

You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh? Did you suffer so much for nothing--if in fact it was for nothing? So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, so understand that those who have faith are Abraham's sons. Now the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed in you. So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.

Genesis 12:1-4

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.”

So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do.

Questions

1. Was Abram a Gentile or a Jew when he was called by God?
2. Did God call out Abram because of some great work Abram had done?
3. How do these passages affect our lives today?

Genesis 15:1-21

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance."

But Abram said, "O sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?" Abram added, "Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!"

But look, the word of the Lord came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir." The Lord took him outside and said, "Gaze into the sky and count the stars--if you are able to count them!" Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be."

Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty. The Lord said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." But Abram said, "O sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?"

The Lord said to him, "Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. Then the Lord said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit."

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts. That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River--the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites."

Questions

1. Scripture says, "the Lord considered his (Abram's) response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty." What loyal response did Abram show in this passage? How about earlier passages?
2. Think of a situation where your response to the Lord lacked faith. What could you have done differently? What could you do differently now?
3. How can you tell if someone has faith?

Genesis 17:1-27

When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, "I am God Almighty. Live in My prescence and be devout. I will establish my covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly."

Then Abram fell to the ground, and God spoke with him: "As for Me, My covenant is with you, and you will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram but your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. I will keep My covenant between Me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, as an everlasting covenant to be your God and the [God] of your offspring after you. And to you and your offspring after you I will give the land where you are residing--all the land of Canaan--as an eternal possession, and I will be their God."

God also said to Abraham, "As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep My covenant. This is My covenent, which you are to keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every one of your males must be circumcise. You mus circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Throughout your generations, every male among you at eight days old is to be circumcised. This includes a slave born in your house and one purchased with money from any foreigner. The one who is not your offspring, a slave born in your house, as well as one purchased with money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."

God said to Abraham, "As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her."

Abraham fell to the ground, laughed, and thought in his heart, "Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?" So Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael could live in Your presence!"

But God said, "No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will certainly bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will father 12 tribal leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will confirm My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year." When He finished talking with him, God withdrew from Abraham.

Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or purchased with his money--every male among the members of Abraham's household--and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day, just as God had said to him. Abraham was 99 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was 13 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised. On that same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. And all the men of his household--both slaves born in his house and those purchased with money from a foreigner--were circumcised with him.

Questions

1. How many years had gone by since God's initial calling of Abraham? (see ch. 12)
2. Abraham tried to help God out by giving Him an easier plan to accomplish--do you ever find yourself doing something similar?
3. If we are saved by faith and not works then what was circumcision all about? Isn't that a "work"?

Romans 4:1-25

What can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, then he has something to brag about--but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness."

Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "How happy those whos lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! How happy the man whom the Lord will never charge with sin!"

Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it credited--while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. And he became the father of the circumcised, not only to those who are circumcised, but also to those who follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

For the promise to Abraham or to his decendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. For the law produces wrath; but where there is no law, there is no transgression.

This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants--not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all in God's sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. Against hope, with hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. He considered his own body to be already dead (since he as about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith. He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but was srengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delievered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Questions

1. When looking at Abraham's life through Genesis does it seem like he is a righteous man? Why or why not?
2. Paul says that Abraham, "did not waver in unbelief at God's promise." When you look back at Genesis 17 (yesterday's reading) does it seem like Abraham didn't even waver in unbelief? Why or why not?
3. According to this passage what was the purpose of circumcision?

Genesis 22:1-18

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he answered.

"Take your son," He said, "your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

So early in the morning Abraham got up, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his yound men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you." Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.

Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father."

And he replied, "Here I am, my son."

Isaac said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Then the two of them walked on together.

When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"

He replied, "Here I am."

Then He said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me." Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham named that place the LORD Will Provide, so today it is said: "It will be provided on the LORD's mountain."

Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command."

Questions

1. How is Abraham's conversation with God at the beginning of this passage different than their earlier conversations?
2. Does Abraham seem like a man of faith in this passage? Why?
3. God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering and Abraham was going to do it? How does that make you feel about God? How does it make you feel about Abraham?

James 2:14-24

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him?

If a brother is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe--and they shudder.

Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see the faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham beleived God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God's friend. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Questions

1. How does James say Abraham was justified? How did Paul in Romans 4?
2. Do these two apostles contradict one another? Why or why not?
3. Dose your life have evidence of faith? What is the evidence of that faith?

Isaac and Rebekah

Genesis 24:1-9

Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything. Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, "Place your hand under my thigh, and I will have you swear by the LORD, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac."

The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?"

Abraham answered him, "Make sure that you don't take my son back there. The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, 'I will give this land to your offspring'--He will send His angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don't let my son go back there." So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham's thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

Questions

1. What two things were important to Abraham concerning his son Isaac?
2. Why do you think it is significant that Isaac not go back to the land Abraham left?
3. What are some things that God has called you away from that you should never go back to?

Genesis 24:10-14

The servant took 10 of his master's camels and departed with all kinds of his master's goods in hand. Then he set out for the town of Nahor, Aram-naharaim. He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. [This was] the time when the women went out to draw water.

"LORD, God of my master Abraham," he prayed, "grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water. Let the girl to whom I say, 'Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,' and who responds, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels also'--let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."

Questions

1. What was the servant's mission? At what time did he go to the well?
2. To whom did the servant ask God to show kindness in his prayer? How does that correlate to our prayers today?
3. Had God specifically picked out a "the one" for Isaac? Does He do that for us?

Genesis 24:15-21

Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah--daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor--coming with a jug on her shoulder. Now the girl was very beautiful, a young woman who had not known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me have a little water from your jug."

She replied, "Drink, my lord." She quickly lowered her jug to her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I'll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink." She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and hurried to the well again to draw water. She drew water for all his camels while the man silently watched her to see whether or not the LORD had made his jorney a success.

Questions

1. When did God answer the servant's prayer?
2. What does this passage say to you about prayer?
3. Why do you think God wants us to pray?

Genesis 24:22-33

After the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and for her wrists two bracelets wheighing 10 shekels of gold. "Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." She also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and feed, and a place to spend the night."

Then the man bowed down, worshiped the LORD, and said, "Praise the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring. As soon as he had seen the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah's words--"The man said this to me!"--he went to the man. He was standing there by the camels at the spring.

Laban said, "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD. Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was brought to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.

A meal was set before him, but hie said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say."

Questions

1. Does it seem strange to you that in the middle of the conversation between Rebekah and Abraham's servant without warning he all of the sudden bowed down in front of everyone and "worshiped the LORD"?
2. What might keep you from doing the same?
3. It's impontant to learn about Rebekah's brother Laban because he comes up later in Genesis. What stood out to Laban so much that he got everything fixed up for the servant and his camels and invited him to stay?

Genesis 26:1-6

There was another famine in the land in addition to the one that had occurred in Abraham's time. And Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at Gerar. The LORD apeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about; stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky, I will give your offspring all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My mandate, My commands, My statutes, and My instructions." So Isaac settled in Gerar.

Questions

1. Why did God confirm the oath that He swore to Abraham with Isaac?
2. Read Genesis 12:2-3, 13:14-16, & 15:5; how were the promises to Abraham and Isaac similar? How were they different?
3. Count all of the times that God used the terms "I" and "My"; who is this covenant about?

Genesis 26:7-11

When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say "my wife," [thinking], "The men of the place will kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is a beautiful woman." When Isaac had been there for some time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, "So she is really your wife! How could you say, 'She's my sister'?"

Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might die on account of her."

Then Abimelech said, "What is this you've done to us? One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us." So Abimelech warned all the people with these words: "Whoever harms this man or his wife will certainly die."

Questions

1. Where did Isaac get an idea like this? (See also Gen. 12:10-20 and 20:1-7)
2. Notice how Abraham's deceit mulitplied because Abraham was technically Sarah's brother while Isaac and Rebecca weren't brother and sister. Have you seen something like this from your parents past creep up in your life?
3. Who proved to be more "righteous" Isaac, the chlld of God's promise, or Abimelech the king of a pagan nation? What does this make you think about "the church" today?

Genesis 26:12-22

Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in that year he reaped a hundred times [what was sown]. The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich and kept getting richer until he was very wealthy. He had flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, and many slaves, and the Philistines were envious of him. The Philistines stopped up all the wells that his father's slaves had dug in the days of his father Abraham, filling them with dirt. And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Leave us, for you are much too powerful for us."

So Isaac left there, camped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there. Isaac reopened the water wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them. Moreover, Isaac's slaves dug in the valley and found a well of spring water there. But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Quarrel because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also, so he named it Hostility. He moved from there and dug another, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Open Spaces and said, "For now the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land."

Questions

1. Does God ever bless his children financially?
2. Is wealth always a blessing? What were some draw backs of wealth in this passage? What are some drawbacks today?
3. In light of this passage do you think that Isaac would rather have had wealth or peace?

Genesis 26:23-25

From there [Isaac] went up to Beer-sheba, and the LORD appeared to him that night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of My servant Abraham."

So he built an altar there, worshiped the LORD, and pitched his tent there. Isaac's slaves also dug a well there.

Questions

1. What is the proper response when the LORD appears to you?
2. Has God ever spoken to you in some way? How did you react? Does the feeling wear off in time? Does His words fade in time?

Genesis 26:26-33

Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me? You hated me and sent me away from you."

They replied, "We have clearly seen how the LORD has been with you. We think there should be an oath between two parties--between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you: You will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have only done what was good to you, sending you away in peace. You are now blessed by the LORD."

So he prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank. They got up early in the morning and swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. On that same day Isaac's slaves came to tell him about the well they had dug, saying to him, "We have found water!" He called it Oath. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba to this day.

Questions

1. Why did Abimelech change his mind about Isaac? What was his motivation for the covenant?
2. What do you think Isaac's motivation was for making the covenant? What did he have to gain? 3. I think God should have changed Isaac's name to Creative-Well-Namer-Man. What do you think?

Jacob

Genesis 25:20-26

Isaac was 40 years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram, and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was barren. The LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.

And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb; two people will [come] from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. The first one came out reddish, covered with hair like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out grasping Esau's heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born.

Questions

1. What is the significance of Rebekah being barren? What did God want to show Isaac? What does He want to show us?
2. If both of these children are in the line of Abraham--God's chosen--and sons of Isaac--the child of promise--then why must Esau serve Jacob? Is God choosing the future here or just forseeing it?

Genesis 25:27-34

When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, exhausted. He said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I'm exhausted." That is why he was [also] named Edom.

Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."

"Look," said Esau, "I'm about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?"

Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.

Questions

1. In what way does Esau remind you of today's "American" culture?
2. In the New Testament Paul talks about people, "whose god is their stomach [or appetite]". What do you think Paul is referring to? And why is it bad?

Genesis 26:34-35

When Esau was 40 years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

Questions

1. How do these two sentences differ from the entire chapter devoted to how Abraham got Isaac his wife?
2. In light of this what is a good way to get back at your parents for decieving you and giving your blessing to your younger brother and then helping him escape from your revenge?
3. Does Esau seem more like a deliberate, calculated guy or a rash, passionate human?

Genesis 27:1-17

When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could not see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, "My son."

And he answered, "Here I am."

He said, "Look, I am old and do not know the day of my death. Take your [hunting] gear, your quiver and bow, and go out in the field to hunt some game for me. Then make me the delicious food that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I can bless you before I die."

Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, 'Bring me some game and make some delicious food for me to eat so that I can bless you in the LORD's presence before I die.' Now obey every order I give you, my son. Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father--the kind he loves. Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies."

Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, "Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. Suppose my father touches me. Then I will seem to be deceiving him, and I will bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself."

His mother said to him, "Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me."

So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made the delicious food his father loved. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were there at the house, and had her younger son Jacob wear them. She put the goatskins on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. Then she handed the delicious food and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.

Questions

1. Reread yesterday's verses Gen. 26:34-35 and Gen. 25:23. In light of those verses why do you think that Isaac wanted to bless Esau?
2. Does God use evil to accomplish His purposes?

Genesis 27:18-29

When he [Jacob] came to his father, he said, "My father."

And he [Isaac] answered, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"

Jacob replied to his father, "I am Esau, your first born. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me."

But Isaac said to his son, "How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?"

He replied, "Because the LORD your God worked it out for me."

Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?"

So Jacob came closer to his father Isaac. When he touched him, he said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." He did not reconize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. Again he asked, "Are you really my son Esau?"

And he replied, "I am."

Then he said, "Serve me, and let me eat some of my son's game so that I can bless you." Jacob brought it to him, and he ate; he brought him wine, and he drank.

Then his father Isaac said to him, "Please come closer and kiss me, my son." So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said: "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. May God give to you--from the dew of the sky and from the richness of the land--an abundance of grain and new wine. May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brothers; may your mother's sons bow down to you. Those who curse you will be cursed, and those who bless you will be blessed."

Questions

1. Whose God did Jacob say blessed him on the hunt? Why wasn't the LORD Jacob's God also?
2. What kind of son was Jacob to Isaac? How would you describe their relationship?
3. How has your parent's faith effected you? In good ways or bad ways or both?

Genesis 27:30-40

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from the hunt. He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. Then he said to his father, "Let my father get up and eat some of his son's game, so that you may bless me."

But his father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?"

He answered, "I am Esau your firstborn son."

Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. "Who was it then" he said, "who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!"

When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me--me too, my father!"

But he replied, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing."

So he said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing." Then he asked, "Haven't you saved a blessing for me?"

But Isaac answered Esau: "Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?"

Esau said to his father, "Do you only have one blessing, my father? Bless me--me too, my father!" And Eau wept loudly.

Then his father Isaac answered him: "Look, your dwelling place will be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of the sky above. You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will break his yoke from your neck."

Questions

1. In this passage Esau is angry and says that Jacob cheated him out of his birthright. Read Gen. 25:27-34--is this an accurate description of what went down?
2. Read Gen. 26:34-35--in light of these past three passages of Esau what do you think of him? Do you think he would have been a good candidate through which God's blessing should have been passed?
3. Do you relate more to Jacob the deceiver or to Esau who feels entitled and that life is out to get him?

Genesis 27:41-46

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart: "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, and stay with him for a few days until your brother's anger subsides--until your brother's rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?"

So Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm sick of my life because of these Hittite women. If Jacob marries a Hittite woman like one of them, what good is my life?"

Questions

1. Which parent was told by God who would be the child of blessing--Isaac or Rebekah? (hint: Gen. 25:23)
2. When this passage begins it looks as if nothing has changed from the days of Cain and Able--until Rebekah steps in. Rebekah using deceit helps fulfill God's prophecy that Esau would serve Jacob. And, then using the same tactic she helps save Jacob's life from Esau. Do you think it's OK to use deceit to help fulfill God's promises?

Genesis 28:1-9

Isaac summoned Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him: "Don't take a wife from the Canaanite women. Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father. Marry one of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and mulitply you so that you become an assembly of peoples. May God give you and your offspring the blessing of Abraham so that you may possess the land where you live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham." So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Esau noticed that Isaac blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to get a wife there. When he blessed him, Isaac commanded Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman. And Jacob listened to his father and mother and went to Paddan-aram. Esau realized that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women, so Esau went to Ishmael and married, in addition to his other wives, Mahalath daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son. She was the sister of Nebaioth.

Questions

1. What was commendable about Jacob in this passage?
2. What do you think Esau's motivation was for taking another wife?

Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God's angels were going up and down on it. The LORD was standing there beside him, saying, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven."

Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. Then Jacob made a vow: "If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, if He provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God's house, and I will give to You a tenth of all that You give me."

Questions

1. Have you ever told God that if He would do this or that for you then you would do something for Him in return?
2. If the LORD God was already the God of Isaac, Jacob's father, then why hadn't Jacob already made the LORD his God? What does this say about Jacob? What does that say about Isaac?

John

Who (in the book of John)?

Who was the author of the book of John?

    Read John 21:20-24 (Click for Scripture)

What do we know about the author from this book?

    Read John 13:21-25 (Click for Scripture)

    Read John 18:12-18 (Click for Scripture)

    Read John 19:25-27 (Click for Scripture)

    Read John 20:1-10 (Click for Scripture)

    Read John 21:4-7 (Click for Scripture)

What is the author's purpose in writing this book?

    Read John 20:30-31 (Click for Scripture)

After reading these scriptures and answering these questions do you have any thoughts, observations or questions?

Next Reading in John (click here)

John 21:20-24

So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. [That disciple] was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is the one that's going to betray You?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord--what about him?"

"If I want him to remain until I come," Jesus answered, "what is that to you? As for you, follow Me."

So this report spread to the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

Back to Author (click)

John 13:22-25

When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit and testified, "I assure you: One of you will betray Me!"

The disciples started looking at one another--uncertain which one He was speaking about. One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. So he leaned back against Jesus and asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

Back to Author (click)

John 18:12-18

Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish temple police arrested Jesus and tied Him up. First they led Him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was advantageous that one man should die for the people.

Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard. But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?"

"I am not!" he said.

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John 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

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John 20:1-10

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, whil it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have but Him!"

At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrappin that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, the entered the tomb, saw, and believed. For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dad. Then the disciples whent home again.

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John 21:4-7

When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus.

"Men," Jesus called to them, "you don't have any fish, do you?"

"No," they answered.

"Cast the net on the right side of the boat," He told them, "and you'll find some." So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"

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John 20:30-31

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

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Who cont. (John 1:19-28)

Who is John the Baptist? or Was "Baptist" just his last name?

    Read Luke 1:5-25 (Click for Scripture)

    Read Luke 1:80 (Click for Scripture)

    Read Matthew 3:1-5; 13-15 (Click for Scripture)

    Read Matthew 11:7-11 (Click for Scripture)

What do these scriptures tell you about John the Baptist?

How does this background on John effect your understanding of the passage of John 1:19-28?

Next Reading in John (click here)

Luke 1:5-25

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirments of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of the were well along in years.

When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and brun incense. At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

"How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."

The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my discgrace among the people."

Back to John the Baptist (click)

Luke 1:80

The child [John] grew up and became spiritually strong and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

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Matthew 3:1-5; 13-15

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: "A voice of one cring out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for he Lord; make His paths staight!"

John himself had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then [people from] Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet You come to me?"

Jesus answered him, "Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him [to be baptized].

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Matthew 11:7-11

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressind in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings' palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. This is the one it is written about: 'Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; he will prepare Your way before You.' I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared

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John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed, "This was the One of whom I said, 'The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.'") Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for although the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son -- the One who is at the Father's side -- he has revealed Him.

Questions

1. According to Genesis 1:1 who was in the beginning?
2. In Genesis 1 how did God create?
3. Read Genesis 1:3 what was the first thing God created? Now reread the above passage in light of your answers.
4. Who has "the right to be children of God"?

John 1:19-28

This is John's testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"

He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: "I am not the Messiah."

"What then?" they asked him. "Are you Elijah?"

"I am not," he said.

"Are you the Prophet?"

"No," he answered.

"Who are you, then?" they asked. "We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?"

He said, "I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord--just as Isaiah the prophet said."

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. So they asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you aren't the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?"

I baptize with water," John answered them. "Someone stands among you, but you don't know [Him]. He is the One coming after me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to untie."

All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Questions

OK, there is a lot of stuff going on here and it can be a little confusing. Over the next week we're going to unpack this section.