Searches every word across every teaching, article, and Q&A on the site.
Searches every word across every teaching, article, and Q&A on the site.
God's Blueprint for Relationships and Life
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Discover God's unfolding plan through the book of Genesis, exploring the beauty of relationships, the reality of sin, and the hope of redemption in our lives.
DIVINE DESIGN g A Relational Study of the Book of Genesis by Sue LeBoutillier CopyrightÊ©Ê2018ÊSueÊLeBouƟllier PublishedÊby: CalvaryÊChapelÊÊ—ÊOntario,ÊOregon g Divine Design g God’s Unfolding Plan Through the Book of Genesis DearÊFriend, WelcomeÊtoÊourÊstudyÊinÊtheÊScripturesÊenƟtledÊDivineÊDesign,ÊwhichÊ startsÊatÊtheÊveryÊbeginningÊofÊourÊBible!ÊStudyingÊtheÊBibleÊisÊlikeÊÊÊ accessingÊaÊlibrary.ÊWeÊthinkÊofÊourÊBiblesÊasÊoneÊbookÊfromÊstartÊtoÊ finish,ÊbutÊourÊBibleÊisÊreallyÊaÊsmallÊlibraryÊofÊ66ÊbooksÊ—ÊeachÊoneÊ partÊofÊtheÊwhole;ÊeachÊoneÊcontribuƟngÊaÊsignificantÊpieceÊtoÊunder- standingÊtheÊwholeÊ—ÊwhichÊisÊGod’sÊUnfoldingÊPlanÊfromÊtheÊbegin- ningÊofÊcreaƟonÊtoÊtheÊnewÊre-creaƟonÊthatÊwe’reÊwaiƟngÊfor. InÊthisÊnine-weekÊstudy,Êwe’llÊlookÊintoÊtheÊfirstÊbookÊofÊthatÊlibrary,Ê theÊbookÊofÊGenesis.ÊItÊisÊaÊbookÊofÊbeginnings,ÊaÊbookÊofÊoriginsÊandÊitÊ explainsÊmanyÊofÊtheÊmysteriesÊofÊlife:Ê · Marriage,ÊgenderÊandÊhumanÊsexuality · SinÊandÊitsÊconsequencesÊ · RelaƟonalÊpain,ÊoccupaƟonalÊpain,ÊandÊdeath · God’sÊrescueÊmissionÊfromÊsinÊandÊpain · HowÊGodÊusesÊbrokenÊpeopleÊtoÊblessÊtheÊworld It’sÊallÊinÊtheÊfirstÊbookÊofÊtheÊlibraryÊwithÊrealÊpeopleÊandÊsomeƟmesÊ rawÊrelaƟonshipsÊthatÊallÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplan. TheÊPsalmistÊwroteÊinÊPsalmÊ119:130: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” IÊhopeÊthisÊstudyÊwillÊbringÊunderstandingÊinÊsomeÊnewÊwayÊtoÊeachÊ oneÊofÊus!Ê RatherÊthanÊstudyÊeachÊchapterÊandÊverseÊ(whichÊwouldÊnotÊfitÊaÊnine- weekÊformat),Êwe’veÊcraŌedÊthisÊBibleÊStudyÊtoÊmoveÊswiŌlyÊthroughÊ Genesis,ÊpausingÊtoÊstudyÊfamilyÊunitsÊandÊpeopleÊofÊinterestÊrelevantÊ toÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplan.Ê(NoteÊtheÊtableÊofÊcontentsÊonÊtheÊnextÊpageÊ forÊaÊroadmapÊofÊourÊjourney.)
WhatÊwe’reÊseekingÊtoÊdiscoverÊinÊthisÊstudyÊisÊaÊblueprintÊofÊGod’s Divine Design thatÊwillÊenableÊusÊto:Ê · Combat cultural confusion · Understand the anƟcipated story of Jesus · InvesƟgateÊourÊownÊaƫtudes AtÊtheÊconclusionÊofÊeachÊweek’sÊlesson,Êyou’llÊfindÊquesƟonsÊrelatedÊ toÊtheÊaboveÊsubjects.ÊIÊhopeÊtheseÊwillÊbeÊusefulÊforÊbothÊpersonalÊ reflecƟonÊandÊconversaƟonÊinÊyourÊdiscussionÊgroups.Ê TheÊTRUTHÊofÊGod’sÊWordÊisÊwhatÊtriumphsÊwhenÊweÊliveÊinÊaÊcultureÊ ofÊconfusionÊandÊdecayÊandÊit’sÊtheÊchurch’sÊprivilegeÊandÊresponsibil- ityÊtoÊaffirmÊGod’sÊTRUTH.ÊTheÊWordÊofÊGodÊmustÊalwaysÊstandÊaboveÊ theÊwordÊofÊman.ÊÊWe’reÊnotÊtoÊjudgeÊHisÊWord,ÊbutÊratherÊallowÊitÊtoÊ judgeÊusÊandÊtheÊideasÊweÊabsorbÊinÊtheÊnormalÊcourseÊofÊlifeÊinÊaÊ brokenÊworld.ÊInÊorderÊtoÊdoÊthat,Êwe’llÊlayÊasideÊourÊpre-determinedÊ ideasÊandÊallowÊtheÊGod-breathedÊlivingÊWordÊtoÊimpartÊHisÊwisdomÊ toÊus. MayÊtheÊLordÊrichlyÊblessÊyouÊasÊyouÊstudyÊHisÊWord— Sue LeBoutillier sue@ccontario.com *TheÊbestÊtranslaƟonÊofÊtheÊBibleÊtoÊuseÊisÊtheÊoneÊyouÊunderstandÊ theÊmostÊÊeasily—andÊusingÊmoreÊthanÊoneÊtranslaƟonÊcanÊbeÊaÊgreatÊ aidÊtoÊstudy!ÊThisÊstudyÊguideÊwasÊcreatedÊusingÊtheÊ ESVÊ(EnglishÊStandardÊVersion)ÊwhichÊmayÊbeÊaÊhelpfulÊ toolÊasÊyouÊworkÊthroughÊyourÊstudy.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ToÊwatchÊtheÊvideoÊteachingsÊforÊthisÊBibleÊstudyÊgoÊto:ÊÊ ccontario.com/wow-genesis orÊ YouTube.com/calvarychapelontario
Table of Contents WeekÊ#1Ê—IntroducƟonÊtoÊourÊStudyÊ—ÊDivineÊDesign WeekÊ#2Ê—AdamÊ&ÊEveÊ—ÊGod’sÊDesignÊforÊGenderÊandÊMarriage WeekÊ#3Ê—AdamÊ&ÊEveÊÊ—ÊImplicaƟonsÊofÊDisobeyingÊGod’sÊDesign WeekÊ#4Ê—NoahÊ&ÊHisÊWifeÊ—ÊGod’sÊDesignÊtoÊSeparateÊfromÊCulture WeekÊ#5Ê—AbramÊ&ÊSaraiÊ—ÊGod’sÊDesignÊtoÊChooseÊaÊFamily WeekÊ#6Ê—AbrahamÊ&ÊSarahÊ—ÊGod’sÊDesignÊforÊaÊPromisedÊMessiah WeekÊ#7Ê—LotÊ&ÊHisÊWifeÊplusÊHagarÊ—ÊGod’sÊDesignÊforÊJusƟce WeekÊ#8Ê—IsaacÊ&ÊRebekahÊÊ—ÊÊGod’sÊDesignÊtoÊRevealÊHisÊChurch WeekÊ#9Ê—JacobÊ&ÊWivesÊ—ÊGod’sÊDesignÊtoÊBlessÊDespiteÊBlunders
ÊÊÊDate:ÊÊ______________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 1—Introduction
AdamÊandÊEve!ÊTheÊfirstÊpeopleÊwhoÊeverÊlived!ÊThey’veÊbeenÊtheÊ subjectÊofÊjokesÊandÊanecdotes,Êthey’veÊbeenÊblamedÊforÊourÊbrokenÊ world;ÊbutÊtheyÊholdÊaÊuniqueÊplaceÊinÊhistoryÊasÊtheÊonlyÊcoupleÊtoÊ walkÊwithÊGodÊinÊbothÊtheÊperfecƟonÊofÊHisÊcreaƟonÊandÊalsoÊexperi- enceÊitsÊfrustraƟon. TheirÊstoryÊcoversÊseveralÊchaptersÊofÊScripture.ÊWe’reÊgoingÊtoÊspendÊ ourÊfirstÊtwoÊweeksÊstudyingÊtheirÊplaceÊinÊGod’s Unfolding Story— oneÊweekÊinÊtheÊperfecƟonÊofÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊGodÊandÊtheÊnextÊ weekÊinÊtheÊfrustraƟonÊofÊaÊbrokenÊrelaƟonship.Ê MostÊofÊtheirÊstoryÊwithÊGodÊstartsÊinÊchapterÊtwo,ÊbutÊsinceÊGenesisÊ isÊaÊbookÊofÊbeginningsÊ—ÊweÊshouldÊbeginÊatÊtheÊbeginning.ÊChapterÊ oneÊchroniclesÊtheÊfirstÊsixÊdaysÊofÊcreaƟonÊasÊGodÊcraŌedÊaÊhabitatÊ perfectlyÊsuitedÊforÊtheÊhumansÊwhoÊwouldÊbearÊHisÊDivineÊimage.Ê PerhapsÊyouÊareÊaÊwomanÊwhoÊhasÊbeenÊshapedÊbyÊsecularÊratherÊ thanÊsacredÊthought.ÊMaybeÊyourÊeducaƟonÊtaughtÊyouÊtoÊdiscountÊ theÊideaÊofÊaÊcreatorÊaltogether,ÊorÊatÊleastÊconvenientlyÊtossÊthisÊ chapterÊuponÊtheÊpileÊofÊinteresƟngÊbutÊuntrueÊmyth.ÊOr,ÊmaybeÊyouÊ approachÊthisÊstudyÊhavingÊwalkedÊwithÊGodÊsinceÊyouÊwereÊaÊsmallÊ childÊandÊyouÊhaveÊeveryÊconfidenceÊinÊitsÊhistoricÊaccuracy. RegardlessÊofÊhowÊweÊarrived,ÊweÊcanÊleaveÊknowingÊthatÊGodÊhasÊ metÊourÊseekingÊheartÊwithÊunderstanding.ÊAsÊweÊapproachÊeachÊÊBi- bleÊpassageÊandÊeachÊquesƟonÊinÊourÊStudyÊGuideÊwithÊsincereÊhearts,Ê theÊHolyÊSpiritÊwillÊteachÊusÊandÊtransformÊus.Ê HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ1ÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊCreaƟonÊofÊEnvironmentsÊandÊInhabitants DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ2:1-17ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊAdamÊinÊhisÊEnvironmentÊ DayÊ3: GenesisÊ2:18-23ÊÊÊÊCreaƟonÊofÊtheÊWoman DayÊ4: GenesisÊ2:24-26ÊÊÊÊCreaƟonÊofÊMarriage WeekÊTwo—ADAMÊ&ÊEVEÊÊ God’sÊDesignÊforÊGenderÊandÊforÊMarriage
DAY ONE: CreaƟon of Environments and Inhabitants READÊGenesisÊ1Ê(theÊwholeÊchapter) Don’tÊyouÊloveÊbeginnings?ÊThere’sÊsomethingÊfreshÊaboutÊturningÊtheÊ calendarÊtoÊaÊnewÊyear,ÊstarƟngÊschoolÊinÊtheÊfall,ÊorÊstarƟngÊaÊnewÊ job.ÊInÊtheÊsameÊway,Êthere’sÊsomethingÊfreshÊaboutÊstudyingÊGenesis.ÊÊ ManyÊofÊyouÊinÊthisÊBibleÊStudyÊknowÊaÊbitÊaboutÊGod’sÊplanÊtoÊredeemÊ andÊsaveÊthoseÊHeÊcreated—you’veÊreadÊyourÊBibleÊthrough!ÊIÊfindÊitÊ soÊintriguing,ÊhavingÊlearnedÊtheÊend of the story,ÊtoÊgoÊbackÊtoÊtheÊ beginning andÊdiscoverÊcluesÊandÊinsightsÊthatÊenlivenÊourÊunder- standingÊandÊusherÊusÊintoÊaÊstateÊofÊaweÊandÊwonderÊatÊGod’sÊplan. We’reÊactuallyÊgoingÊtoÊfocusÊonÊtheÊsixthÊdayÊwhenÊGodÊfinallyÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ createdÊman;ÊbutÊfirst,Êlet’sÊobserveÊtheÊorderÊweÊseeÊinÊGodÊcreaƟng homes or environmentsÊonÊDaysÊ1,2,3ÊandÊthenÊfillingÊthoseÊenviron- ments withÊinhabitants onÊDaysÊ4,5,6.ÊÊWhatÊdoÊyouÊdiscover? ÊÊEnvironmentÊcreated: ÊÊÊInhabitantsÊcreated: DayÊ1 Ê____________________ DayÊ4 ____________________ ÊÊÊÊ(GenesisÊ1:3-5) ÊÊÊÊÊ(GenesisÊ1:14-19) DayÊ2ÊÊÊÊ____________________ DayÊ5ÊÊÊ____________________ ÊÊÊÊ(GenesisÊ1:6-8) ÊÊÊÊÊ(GenesisÊ1:20-23) DayÊ3ÊÊÊÊ____________________ DayÊ6ÊÊÊ____________________ ÊÊÊÊ(GenesisÊ1:9-13) ÊÊÊÊ(GenesisÊ1:24-27) WhatÊdidÊyouÊlearnÊinÊv.27ÊthatÊwasÊuniqueÊaboutÊtheÊcreaƟonÊofÊmanÊ comparedÊtoÊeverythingÊelseÊGodÊcreated? WeÊsaidÊthatÊwe’reÊparƟcularlyÊinterestedÊinÊsound doctrineÊthrough- outÊthisÊstudy.ÊTherefore,ÊasÊweÊapproachÊcertainÊfoundaƟonalÊverses,Ê we’llÊmakeÊroomÊinÊourÊStudyÊGuideÊtoÊactuallyÊtranscribeÊthem.Ê
OneÊofÊthoseÊversesÊisÊv.27.Ê WriteÊitÊoutÊhere:Ê ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ NoteÊthatÊtheÊHebrewÊwordÊusedÊforÊmanÊinÊv.27ÊisÊtheÊwordÊAdam.ÊÊ Let’sÊjustÊtuckÊthatÊawayÊforÊfutureÊreference. Finally,ÊinÊv.28ÊGodÊpronouncedÊaÊblessingÊonÊtheÊAdam HeÊcreated.Ê WhatÊtwoÊassignmentsÊdidÊGodÊgiveÊhim? · Ê · Ê DAYÊTWO:ÊAdam in his Environment READÊGenesisÊ2:1-17 g About the Man— to Inhabit the Garden ChapterÊtwoÊcompletesÊtheÊseven-dayÊcreaƟonÊnarraƟveÊbyÊrevealingÊ theÊlastÊdayÊasÊaÊgrandÊdayÊofÊrest,ÊcompleƟon,ÊandÊtheÊenjoymentÊofÊ GodÊandÊmanÊdwellingÊtogether!ÊTheÊSabbathÊisÊworthyÊofÊaÊlengthyÊ study—butÊwe’llÊsaveÊthatÊforÊanotherÊƟme.ÊRightÊnowÊweÊwantÊtoÊ conƟnueÊtoÊpressÊaheadÊtoÊtheÊdetailsÊofÊtheÊsixth-day. ChapterÊoneÊwasÊaÊfly-overÊofÊtheÊcreaƟonÊofÊenvironmentsÊandÊin- habitants,ÊsomethingÊlikeÊaÊlistÊorÊaÊgenealogy.ÊInÊfact,Êv.4ÊevenÊsays:Ê “These are the generaƟons of the heavens and the earth when they were created”.Ê NowÊwe’llÊrevisitÊtheÊsixthÊdayÊwithÊtheÊintentÊofÊcoloringÊinÊimportantÊ detailsÊthatÊweren’tÊexplainedÊinÊchapterÊone. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31
RememberÊtheÊHebrewÊwordÊintroducedÊinÊchapterÊoneÊ—ÊAdamÊ (man)?ÊÊWell,ÊinÊv.7ÊweÊlearnÊthatÊAdam wasÊmadeÊfromÊAdamah (ground).ÊExplainÊtheÊprocessÊbyÊwhichÊtheÊmanÊ(Adam) wasÊcreated: · WhatÊwereÊtheÊbuildingÊblocksÊorÊrawÊmaterialsÊused? · HowÊwasÊlifeÊimpartedÊtoÊtheÊman? ÊÊ ThisÊgivesÊusÊanÊunderstandingÊthatÊthereÊisÊaÊstrongÊlinkÊbetweenÊtheÊ environment thatÊGodÊcreatedÊandÊtheÊinhabitant.ÊAdamÊandÊAdamahÊ areÊconnectedÊandÊwe’llÊseeÊtheÊimpactÊofÊthisÊnextÊweek. ButÊforÊnow,Êlet’sÊtalkÊaboutÊtheÊcomparisonÊandÊcontrastÊofÊtheÊcrea- ƟonÊofÊmanÊandÊtheÊcreaƟonÊofÊanimals.Ê · BasedÊonÊwhatÊyou’veÊpreviouslyÊread,ÊandÊreadingÊaheadÊtoÊ2:19,Ê howÊwasÊtheÊcreaƟonÊofÊmanÊ(Adam)Êsimilar toÊtheÊotherÊanimals? · HowÊwasÊheÊcreatedÊdifferently fromÊtheÊanimalsÊ(1:27Ê&Ê2:7)?ÊÊ · WhatÊwasÊtoÊbeÊhisÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊtheÊanimalsÊ(1:28)? KnowingÊhumansÊwereÊcreatedÊinÊaÊuniqueÊmanner,ÊdifferentÊthanÊtheÊ otherÊanimalsÊANDÊmanÊwasÊtoÊhaveÊdominionÊoverÊeveryÊlivingÊthing,Ê Man was created by a mingling of dust and deity — the dust of the ground and the breath of God. No other creature was created in such a fashion.
whatÊtypesÊofÊcurrentÊculturalÊconfusionÊaboutÊmanÊandÊanimalsÊ shouldÊtheseÊtruthsÊconfrontÊandÊcorrect? g About The Garden —Êthe environment for the man V.8-15ÊprovideÊdetailedÊinformaƟonÊaboutÊtheÊgardenÊthatÊGodÊplant- edÊforÊtheÊmanÊtoÊtend.ÊTheÊwriterÊpointsÊoutÊtrees,Êrivers,ÊandÊpre- ciousÊstones.ÊListÊtheÊtwoÊtreesÊthatÊareÊnamedÊinÊv.9. · Ê · Ê InÊv.16-17ÊGodÊexplainedÊaÊveryÊimportantÊcommandÊtoÊAdam.Ê WriteÊ outÊv.17ÊsinceÊitÊisÊalsoÊimportantÊinÊourÊquestÊforÊsoundÊdoctrine:Ê ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ TheÊoriginal,ÊperfectlyÊcreated,ÊenvironmentÊcontainedÊtrees,ÊriversÊ andÊpreciousÊstones.ÊYouÊmayÊknowÊwithoutÊevenÊstudyingÊtheÊnextÊ chapterÊthatÊtheÊoriginalÊmanÊandÊwomanÊcorruptedÊthatÊperfectÊen- vironmentÊbyÊtheirÊdisobedience.ÊYouÊmayÊalsoÊguessÊthatÊGodÊhasÊ beenÊunfoldingÊaÊplanÊtoÊredeem andÊrestore HisÊcreaƟonÊeverÊsince. READÊRevelaƟonÊ22:1-5ÊwhichÊtellsÊusÊwhatÊweÊcanÊexpectÊwhenÊthatÊ redempƟonÊisÊcomplete.ÊWhatÊareÊallÊtheÊsimilariƟesÊinÊthisÊpassageÊ toÊwhatÊyouÊreadÊinÊGenesisÊ2ÊaboutÊtheÊoriginalÊGardenÊofÊEden?
DAYÊTHREE:ÊCreaƟon of Woman READÊGenesisÊ2:18-23 SixÊƟmesÊinÊchapterÊoneÊ—ÊaŌerÊeveryÊelementÊthatÊGodÊcreatedÊ—Ê weÊreadÊ“and God saw that it was good.”ÊNow,ÊinÊv.18ÊweÊcomeÊtoÊ theÊphraseÊ“not good”ÊforÊtheÊfirstÊƟme.ÊÊ · WhatÊisÊnot good? · WhatÊisÊGod’sÊsoluƟonÊtoÊthatÊwhichÊwasÊnot good? AlmostÊasÊifÊtoÊhelpÊAdamÊcomeÊtoÊtheÊrealizaƟonÊofÊwhatÊwasÊnot good,ÊGodÊgaveÊAdamÊaÊtask. · ExplainÊthatÊtaskÊgivenÊinÊv.19-20 NowÊweÊobserveÊaÊnewÊmethodÊinÊcreaƟon,ÊsomethingÊweÊhaven’tÊÊ seenÊbefore.ÊReadÊv.21-22Êand,ÊinÊyourÊownÊwords,ÊjotÊdownÊtheÊ thingsÊyouÊnoƟceÊaboutÊGod’sÊcreaƟonÊofÊtheÊwoman: WhatÊisÊtheÊoneÊmostÊglaringÊdifferenceÊinÊtheÊcreaƟonÊofÊtheÊmanÊ andÊtheÊwoman? When God said ‘it is not good that the man should be alone’ He wasn’t looking at his creation and noticing a fault. God’s words create! He was speaking a need into Adam specifically, and into every man in general for a companion. —Paul David LeBoutillier
...AŌerÊAdamÊspentÊƟmeÊnamingÊallÊofÊtheÊanimals; ...AŌerÊheÊrealizedÊthereÊwasÊnotÊfoundÊaÊhelperÊfitÊforÊhim; ...AŌerÊhisÊdeepÊsleepÊculminatedÊinÊtheÊcreaƟonÊofÊaÊwoman NOW…ÊthisÊfemaleÊisÊpresentedÊtoÊhimÊandÊheÊnames her! “SheÊshallÊbeÊcalledÊ______________Ê(HebrewÊishah)Ê becauseÊsheÊwasÊtakenÊoutÊofÊ__________Ê“Ê(HebrewÊish) NamesÊhaveÊmeaningÊandÊtheyÊcanÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊdesign.ÊWeÊ alreadyÊlearnedÊAdam, takenÊfromÊtheÊAdamah (ground)ÊisÊaÊtermÊforÊ allÊofÊmankind.ÊNow,ÊtheseÊspecificallyÊgenderedÊHebrewÊnamesÊ (notedÊabove)ÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊthatÊevenÊtheÊnamesÊforÊmanÊandÊ womanÊareÊsimilar yetÊdifferent.ÊIshah wasÊtakenÊoutÊofÊIsh.ÊGod’sÊun- foldingÊÊstoryÊteachesÊusÊthatÊtheÊtwoÊgendersÊHeÊcreatedÊremainÊsim- ilar yetÊdifferent. MenÊandÊwomenÊareÊnotÊtheÊsameÊandÊtheyÊareÊnotÊ interchangeable.Ê WeÊareÊcomplementary,ÊasÊwe’llÊseeÊinÊaÊfewÊverses. AndÊwhileÊwe’reÊspeakingÊofÊHebrewÊwords,ÊinÊv.18ÊwhenÊGodÊsays:Ê “I will make him a helper fit for him”Ê theÊHebrewÊwordÊhereÊforÊhelperÊisÊezer (pronounced ay’-zer). Helper doesn’tÊdenoteÊinferiorityÊofÊworthÊ(likeÊweÊmightÊconsiderÊaÊmaidÊasÊ theÊhelper aroundÊtheÊhouse).ÊRatherÊitÊdescribesÊfuncƟon andÊit’sÊtheÊÊ sameÊwordÊGodÊusedÊtoÊdescribeÊHimselfÊasÊhelperÊtoÊIsrael.Ê NoteÊwhatÊyouÊfindÊinÊtheÊfollowingÊexamplesÊwhereÊthatÊsameÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ HebrewÊwordÊisÊusedÊtoÊdescribeÊGodÊinÊrelaƟonÊtoÊHisÊownÊpeople: · DeuteronomyÊ33:7 · PsalmÊ33:20-22 · PsalmÊ115:9Ê Adam was put to sleep and his side opened that he might have a wife, but Jesus died on a cross and His blood shed that He might have a bride — the church. —Warren Wiersbe 1
DAYÊFOUR:ÊCreaƟon of Marriage READÊGenesisÊ2:24-26 SoundÊDoctrineÊScriptureÊƟme!!!Ê WriteÊv.24:Ê_____________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ TheÊfinalÊconceptÊweÊreadÊinÊScriptureÊbeforeÊeverythingÊturnsÊdarkÊinÊ theÊnextÊchapterÊisÊthatÊofÊaÊwedding.ÊTheÊFatherÊofÊtheÊbrideÊbroughtÊ theÊbrideÊHeÊcreatedÊtoÊherÊgroomÊandÊtheyÊbecameÊaÊunitedÊenƟty.Ê IshÊandÊIshah areÊnoÊlongerÊtwoÊ—ÊtheyÊhaveÊbecomeÊoneÊ—ÊtheyÊ haveÊbeenÊunitedÊinÊmarriage.Ê · HowÊdidÊtheyÊbecomeÊoneÊflesh?Ê AdamÊandÊEveÊwereÊcreatedÊinÊdifferentÊwaysÊandÊtheyÊhadÊdifferentÊ anatomyÊ—ÊtheyÊwereÊcomplementary.ÊEveryÊmanÊandÊwomanÊthatÊ hasÊbeenÊprocreatedÊsinceÊsharesÊtheseÊdisƟncƟonsÊ—ÊeachÊoneÊisÊ designedÊforÊaÊpurpose. TheÊcommentaryÊinÊv.24ÊprovidesÊthisÊpaƩernÊforÊfutureÊmarriages: “Therefore a _________ shall leave his ___________ and his ____________ and hold fast to his __________.” ReadÊtheseÊpassagesÊandÊnoteÊtheÊcontextÊandÊspeakerÊinÊeach: · MathewÊ19:1-6 · MarkÊ10:6-9 · 1ÊCorinthiansÊ6:16 · EphesiansÊ5:31-32 MarriageÊisÊaÊhugeÊtopicÊandÊyetÊourÊintroducƟonÊtoÊtheÊmarriageÊofÊaÊ manÊandÊwomanÊcameÊwithÊliƩleÊfanfareÊandÊgreatÊsimplicity.Ê
· MarriageÊisÊpartÊofÊGod’sÊplanÊforÊHisÊcreaƟon.ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊ passageÊsuggestsÊthatÊeveryÊwomanÊmustÊmarryÊtoÊfulfillÊherÊcre- atedÊfuncƟon?Ê(ReadÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ7:1-11ÊforÊtheÊApostleÊPaul’sÊ thoughtsÊonÊtheÊmaƩer.)ÊExplain… · IfÊweÊdo marry,ÊexplainÊwhatÊaÊBiblicalÊroleÊforÊaÊwifeÊwouldÊlookÊ likeÊbasedÊonÊtheÊmeaningÊofÊtheÊwordÊhelper. · ReinforceÊyourÊanswersÊwithÊScripturesÊthatÊsupportÊyourÊ thoughts: g WhatÊisÊtheÊulƟmateÊpointÊofÊstudyingÊhowÊmenÊandÊwomenÊwereÊ created?ÊWhyÊdoesÊtheÊsignificanceÊofÊmarriageÊmaƩer?ÊSoÊweÊcanÊ voteÊproperlyÊandÊcheckÊtheÊevangelical boxÊ“marriage is between one man and one woman”?ÊÊ WhileÊit’sÊgoodÊforÊusÊtoÊunderstandÊANDÊbeÊableÊtoÊdefendÊsoundÊ doctrine,Êthere’sÊsomethingÊbiggerÊforÊusÊtoÊunderstandÊ—ÊthatÊisÊtheÊ natureÊofÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplan.ÊGodÊisÊveryÊrelaƟonal.ÊHisÊiniƟalÊcrea- ƟonÊwasÊbasedÊonÊhomeÊandÊinhabitantsÊwhereÊGodÊhimselfÊwalkedÊ amongÊthem.ÊWeÊseeÊthisÊinÊtheÊcreaƟonÊaccountÊandÊthisÊwillÊbeÊtheÊ realityÊinÊtheÊnewÊkingdomÊasÊwell.Ê GodÊestablishedÊHisÊiniƟalÊpureÊkingdomÊonÊearthÊinÊaÊrelaƟonalÊman- nerÊ—ourÊBibleÊbeginsÊwithÊaÊweddingÊandÊitÊendsÊwithÊaÊwedding!ÊÊ ThatÊisÊtheÊnatureÊofÊourÊGod.
g CultureÊConfusionÊg Let’sÊbeginÊwithÊcreaƟonÊitself.ÊWhatÊtypesÊofÊculturalÊconfusionÊÊÊÊ surroundÊyouÊwithÊregardÊtoÊaÊcreatorÊGod? HaveÊyouÊconsideredÊaÊwayÊtoÊexpressÊyourÊbeliefsÊtoÊskepƟcs? HowÊdoesÊourÊcultureÊpromoteÊtheÊideaÊthatÊgenderÊdoesn’tÊmaƩer,Ê orÊgendersÊareÊinterchangeable?Ê WhatÊdoÊyouÊobserveÊinÊScriptureÊregardingÊGod’sÊdesignÊthatÊteach- esÊusÊthatÊgenderÊdoes maƩerÊandÊthey’reÊnotÊinterchangeable? InÊwhatÊwaysÊdoesÊourÊcultureÊshameÊtheÊmalenessÊoutÊofÊmen? AreÊthereÊwaysÊthatÊyouÊhaveÊshamedÊtheÊmalenessÊoutÊofÊaÊman?
InÊwhatÊwaysÊisÊourÊcultureÊconfusedÊaboutÊtheÊconceptÊofÊmarriageÊ betweenÊtwoÊuniqueÊgenders—maleÊandÊfemale? WhatÊporƟonsÊofÊScriptureÊwouldÊyouÊuseÊasÊaÊfoundaƟonÊforÊyourÊ beliefÊinÊmarriageÊbetweenÊaÊmanÊandÊaÊwoman? WouldÊyouÊholdÊonÊtoÊthatÊbeliefÊifÊsomeoneÊdearÊtoÊyouÊchallengedÊ you? ReadÊMalachiÊ2:15.ÊWhatÊdoesÊthisÊaddÊtoÊyourÊunderstanding? ReadÊEphesiansÊ5:31-32.ÊPaulÊquotesÊtheÊGenesisÊpassageÊweÊstudiedÊ thisÊweek.ÊWhyÊisÊanÊunderstandingÊofÊhumanÊmarriageÊimportantÊtoÊ understandÊGod’sÊplanÊforÊHisÊChurch?
g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg AlthoughÊweÊdidn’tÊmenƟonÊitÊonÊDayÊOneÊwhileÊreadingÊtheÊfirstÊ chapterÊofÊGenesis,ÊweÊdoÊseeÊtheÊacƟvityÊofÊtheÊsecondÊpersonÊofÊ theÊtriuneÊGodÊinÊacƟonÊfromÊtheÊfirstÊpagesÊofÊourÊBible. ReadÊJohnÊ1:1-3,Ê14ÊandÊshareÊhowÊweÊseeÊJesusÊinÊGenesisÊ1: ReadÊGenesisÊ2:7ÊalongÊwithÊJohnÊ20:21-22.ÊWhatÊareÊtheÊsimilariƟesÊ andÊimplicaƟons? g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg YouÊmayÊcomeÊfromÊaÊplaceÊofÊskepƟcismÊregardingÊtheÊBiblicalÊviewÊ ofÊcreaƟon,Êgenders,ÊandÊmarriageÊand/orÊyourÊopinionsÊmayÊhaveÊ beenÊformedÊfromÊyourÊculture.ÊCanÊIÊchallengeÊyouÊtodayÊtoÊfindÊaÊ sourceÊofÊauthorityÊforÊwhatÊyouÊbelieve?ÊTheÊChrisƟanÊchurchÊÊÊÊÊ believesÊinÊtheÊauthorityÊofÊtheÊBibleÊasÊGod’sÊrevelaƟonÊofÊtheÊrela- ƟonshipÊHeÊintendsÊtoÊhaveÊwithÊtheÊpeopleÊHeÊcreated.ÊOneÊofÊtheÊ waysÊweÊunderstandÊthisÊisÊthroughÊtheÊbeauƟfulÊcommunionÊthatÊ ourÊCreatorÊhasÊwithÊHisÊcreaƟonÊinÊtheÊopeningÊpassagesÊofÊtheÊÊ BibleÊ—ÊcommunionÊratherÊthanÊcommands.Ê YouÊtooÊareÊpartÊofÊHisÊcreaƟon.ÊHaveÊyouÊacceptedÊthisÊreality?ÊDoÊ youÊhaveÊaÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊtheÊoneÊwhoÊcreatedÊyou?ÊÊDoÊyouÊseekÊ toÊhonorÊtheÊoneÊwhoÊcreatedÊyou?
ÊÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 2
AsÊweÊstudyÊtheÊfirst couple forÊaÊsecondÊweek,ÊletÊmeÊremindÊyouÊ thatÊwe’reÊstudyingÊtheirÊlifeÊinÊtwoÊparts.ÊLastÊweekÊportrayedÊtheÊ blissÊofÊtheÊgarden,ÊtheÊÊperfecƟonÊofÊGod’sÊcreatedÊorder,ÊandÊtheÊ mostÊeffortlessÊweddingÊyouÊeverÊheardÊof.ÊNow,ÊinÊpartÊtwo,ÊthereÊisÊÊ aÊshockinglyÊsmallÊdistanceÊinÊtheÊprintedÊWordÊfromÊperfecƟonÊtoÊ turmoilÊasÊweÊÊrealizeÊtheyÊwillÊneverÊagainÊenjoyÊtheÊsameÊbeautyÊandÊ effortlessÊfellowshipÊwithÊtheirÊCreator.Ê Eve’sÊpart-oneÊnameÊwasÊIshah (forÊsheÊwasÊtakenÊoutÊofÊman).ÊInÊ part-two,ÊAdamÊwillÊcallÊhisÊwifeÊEve (meaningÊliving).ÊHerÊchoiceÊtoÊ walkÊcontraryÊtoÊGod’sÊDesignÊbeganÊbyÊlisteningÊtoÊaÊcraŌyÊserpentÊ andÊendedÊbyÊtryingÊtoÊcoverÊherÊnakedÊbodyÊfromÊtheÊguiltÊsheÊfelt.ÊÊ WhenÊitÊcomesÊtoÊsound doctrine,ÊthisÊchapterÊisÊcrucialÊtoÊstudy,ÊÊÊ understand,ÊandÊrevisitÊoŌenÊtoÊseeÊwhatÊGodÊmightÊrevealÊtoÊus.ÊÊ InÊtheÊfirstÊtwoÊchaptersÊofÊGenesis,ÊtheÊBibleÊrevealsÊGod’sÊoriginalÊ andÊbenevolentÊorderÊandÊdesign.ÊInÊchapterÊthreeÊweÊfindÊhumanity’sÊ distorƟonÊofÊthatÊdesignÊasÊEveÊandÊthenÊAdamÊrefuseÊGod’sÊorder.Ê HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ3:1-6Ê ListeningÊtoÊtheÊLie DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ3:7-13Ê ParƟcipaƟngÊwithÊtheÊLie DayÊ3: GenesisÊ3:14-24 TheÊImpactÊofÊtheÊLie DayÊ4: GenesisÊ4:1-11 FamilyÊLifeÊAŌerÊtheÊLie g DAYÊONE:ÊListening to the Lie READÊGenesisÊ3:1-6 · DescribeÊtheÊserpentÊinÊyourÊownÊwords: · TheÊenƟreÊconversaƟonÊinÊthisÊpassageÊisÊbetweenÊwhom?Ê · TheÊfirstÊquesƟonÊposedÊbyÊtheÊserpentÊwasÊaÊmisrepresentaƟonÊ ofÊGod’sÊcommandÊtoÊAdam.ÊCompareÊv.1ÊwithÊGenesisÊ2:16-17Ê andÊexplainÊtheÊserpent’sÊerror: WeekÊTHREE—ADAMÊ&ÊEVEÊÊ ImplicaƟonsÊofÊDisobeyingÊGod’sÊDesignÊ
· OnceÊtheÊserpentÊopenedÊtheÊdoorÊwithÊhisÊword-twisƟng,ÊEveÊ walkedÊrightÊthroughÊandÊparƟcipatedÊinÊit.ÊExplainÊherÊaddiƟonÊtoÊ God’sÊcommandÊbyÊcomparingÊv.2ÊwithÊGenesisÊ2:16-17: Boy,Êisn’tÊthatÊtheÊwayÊSatanÊsƟllÊdealsÊwithÊusÊtoday?ÊHeÊcanÊsuggestÊ somethingÊslightlyÊcontraryÊtoÊGod’sÊWordÊandÊweÊseemÊtoÊbeÊwillingÊ parƟcipantsÊtoÊfollowÊhisÊleadÊandÊtakeÊitÊtheÊdistance! V.6ÊcontainsÊaÊusefulÊparallelÊbetweenÊEve’sÊtemptaƟonÊtoÊdisobeyÊ GodÊandÊourÊpaƩernsÊofÊenƟcementÊtoÊsinÊtoday.ÊLet’sÊidenƟfyÊtheseÊ threeÊluresÊbyÊcompleƟngÊtheseÊsentences: 1.ÊÊ“...theÊwomanÊ________ÊthatÊtheÊtreeÊwasÊ________ÊforÊ_______” · represenƟngÊtheÊlustÊofÊtheÊflesh 2.ÊÊ“...andÊthatÊitÊwasÊaÊ__________ÊtoÊtheÊ__________” · represenƟngÊtheÊlustÊofÊtheÊeyes 3.ÊÊ“...andÊthatÊtheÊtreeÊwasÊtoÊbeÊ__________ÊtoÊmakeÊoneÊ_______” · represenƟngÊtheÊprideÊofÊlife TheÊApostleÊJohnÊwarnedÊofÊtheÊsameÊthingÊ— Read 1 John 2:15-17. ElaborateÊonÊwhatÊJohnÊwasÊtryingÊtoÊconveyÊinÊthoseÊversesÊandÊhowÊ theyÊshouldÊbeÊappliedÊinÊourÊlives: InÊEve’sÊcase,ÊwhatÊsheÊthoughtÊwouldÊimproveÊherÊlifeÊwasÊaÊactuallyÊ aÊspecificÊlimitaƟon of libertyÊsetÊbyÊGod.ÊGodÊsaidÊtheyÊcouldÊpartakeÊ ofÊanyÊtreeÊinÊtheÊgardenÊexceptÊthatÊone.ÊSheÊreasonedÊhowever,Ê thatÊGodÊwasÊbeingÊrestricƟveÊandÊmaybeÊevenÊholdingÊsomethingÊ backÊfromÊher.ÊPerhapsÊsheÊknewÊbeƩerÊthanÊGodÊonÊthisÊone!ÊÊ · InÊwhatÊwaysÊisÊthisÊaÊpotenƟalÊforÊsinÊinÊyourÊlifeÊ—ÊthinkingÊthatÊ GodÊisÊtooÊrestricƟve,ÊevenÊwithholdingÊsomethingÊfromÊyou? Ê
DAYÊTWO:ÊParƟcipaƟng with the Lie READÊGenesisÊ3:7-13 · WhatÊwasÊAdamÊandÊEve’sÊfirstÊrealizaƟonÊ(v.7)? · WhatÊwasÊtheÊfirstÊtaskÊtheyÊaƩemptedÊtoÊaccomplishÊ(v.7)? · WhatÊwasÊtheirÊresponseÊtoÊGodÊnowÊ(v.8)? Doesn’tÊthisÊgenerateÊaÊstrongÊurgeÊtoÊgoÊbackÊinÊƟmeÊandÊwarnÊ them?Ê“NO, don’t do it!”ÊAndÊyet,ÊevenÊthoughÊweÊwantÊtoÊwarnÊA&EÊ toÊmakeÊdifferentÊchoices,ÊweÊrealizeÊtheseÊsameÊtemptaƟonsÊhaveÊ succeededÊinÊourÊownÊlives.Ê HaveÊweÊnotÊalsoÊbentÊtoÊtheÊsuggesƟonÊthatÊGod’sÊdesignÊisn’tÊquiteÊ right,Êit’sÊrestricƟve,ÊweÊknowÊbeƩer.ÊMaybeÊwe’veÊdesperatelyÊwant- edÊsomethingÊandÊsoÊweÊsin.ÊSinÊmakesÊusÊself-centered,Êself-focused,Ê egocentric,ÊhoweverÊyouÊwantÊtoÊphraseÊitÊ—ÊweÊexaltÊourselvesÊandÊ thinkÊweÊpossessÊallÊtheÊknowledgeÊofÊgoodÊandÊevil.ÊOurÊsinÊalsoÊ makesÊusÊambiƟousÊratherÊthanÊatÊrest,ÊasÊweÊnowÊwantÊtoÊdo some- thingÊtoÊcoverÊourÊsin;ÊandÊitÊcreatesÊaÊdistanceÊbetweenÊusÊandÊGod.ÊÊÊ · WhatÊdidÊGodÊsayÊtheÊfirstÊƟmeÊHeÊspokeÊdirectlyÊtoÊEveÊinÊv.13? DoÊyouÊfeelÊtheÊweightÊofÊthat?ÊHasÊanyoneÊeverÊsaidÊtoÊyou:Ê“what have you done?” IfÊso,ÊyouÊknowÊthatÊterribleÊsinkingÊfeeling!ÊÊNoneÊofÊ thoseÊemoƟonsÊwereÊpartÊofÊherÊexperienceÊbeforeÊthisÊdayÊandÊnowÊ herÊemoƟonsÊwillÊbeÊchangedÊforever—boyÊwillÊtheyÊbeÊchanged! OneÊlastÊobservaƟon: · WhoÊdidÊtheÊmanÊblameÊinÊv.12? · WhoÊdidÊtheÊwomanÊblameÊinÊv.13? · WasÊeitherÊjusƟfiedÊinÊwhoÊtheyÊblamed?
· WhoÊorÊwhatÊdoÊyouÊoŌenÊblameÊwhenÊyouÊsin? DAYÊTHREE:ÊThe Impact of the Lie READÊGenesisÊ3:14-24 WhenÊAdamÊandÊEveÊactedÊinÊagreementÊwithÊtheÊlieÊofÊtheÊserpent,ÊwhichÊ wasÊinÊdisagreementÊwithÊGod,ÊitÊhadÊaÊswiŌÊimpactÊonÊeveryone.ÊÊ · InÊwhatÊorderÊdidÊGodÊspeakÊtoÊthoseÊwhoÊparƟcipatedÊinÊtheÊlieÊ (v.14,Ê16,Ê17)? · Ê · Ê · · RetellÊtheÊcurseÊuponÊtheÊSerpentÊinÊversesÊ14-15: · HowÊtoÊyouÊseeÊtheÊveryÊfirstÊglimpseÊofÊtheÊGospelÊinÊthatÊcurse? · WhatÊwereÊtheÊtwoÊmainÊareasÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊadverselyÊaffectedÊ inÊtheÊwoman’sÊlife?Ê(v.16) · ÊÊ · Ê The Tree of Knowledge causes us to focus our attention on our- selves. Sin is empowered by the law; not just because the evil is revealed but the good as well. It drives us either to corruption or self-righteousness, both lead to death. — Rick Joyner 2
· InÊwhatÊgeneralÊareaÊwouldÊtheÊmanÊnowÊexperienceÊmuchÊmoreÊ difficultyÊinÊhisÊlife?ÊÊÊ(v.17-19) You’veÊprobablyÊobservedÊthatÊmenÊareÊgenerallyÊmoreÊoccupaƟonal. TheyÊgainÊmoreÊsaƟsfacƟonÊfromÊwhatÊtheyÊdoÊandÊaccomplish;ÊandÊ womenÊareÊgenerallyÊmoreÊrelaƟonal,ÊspendingÊgreaterÊenergyÊinÊnur- turingÊbothÊfamilyÊrelaƟonshipsÊandÊfriendships. AsÊGodÊwasÊtellingÊAdamÊandÊEveÊaboutÊtheÊaffectsÊtheirÊsinÊwouldÊ nowÊhaveÊinÊtheirÊlives,ÊwhatÊinsightsÊdoÊyouÊseeÊrelatedÊtoÊthis?Ê SinceÊwe’reÊaÊBibleÊstudyÊofÊwomen,ÊweÊwantÊtoÊlearnÊasÊmuchÊasÊ possibleÊaboutÊhowÊEveÊfitsÊintoÊGod’s Divine Design — evenÊtheÊÊÊ newfoundÊpainÊinÊherÊlife.ÊRemember,ÊweÊcarryÊherÊDNAÊandÊwhatÊ becameÊpainfulÊforÊherÊwillÊaffectÊourÊexperienceÊinÊlife. g “I will surely mulƟply your pain in childbearing”Ê ThisÊstatementÊdoesn’tÊimpactÊmerelyÊtheÊprocessÊofÊchild-birthing,Ê butÊallÊrelaƟonalÊaspectsÊthatÊgoÊwithÊit!ÊListÊanyÊareasÊofÊraisingÊchil- drenÊthatÊyouÊcanÊthinkÊofÊthatÊhasÊbeenÊmadeÊmoreÊdifficult: g “Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you” ThereÊisÊaÊcompellingÊmeaningÊofÊtheÊwordÊdesireÊhereÊthatÊliterallyÊ meansÊ‘stretching out aŌer’. InÊotherÊwords,Ê‘Eve, you will always want to stretch out aŌer your husband, but HE will rule over you.’
· DoesÊthisÊmakeÊyouÊthinkÊthatÊitÊwillÊcomeÊnaturallyÊforÊaÊwifeÊtoÊ embraceÊtheÊcreatedÊorderÊofÊbeingÊaÊhelpmateÊtoÊherÊhusband? · IfÊyouÊareÊmarried,ÊorÊifÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊableÊtoÊobservedÊmarriageÊ relaƟonships,ÊlistÊelementsÊofÊmarriedÊlifeÊthatÊyouÊbelieveÊareÊ nowÊdifficultÊbecauseÊofÊthisÊdesire: InÊtheÊveryÊnextÊchapterÊweÊseeÊtheÊrepeƟƟonÊofÊtheseÊsameÊtwoÊ wordsÊ—Êdesire andÊrule — ReadÊGenesis 4:7. · WhatÊisÊitÊthatÊisÊwanƟngÊtoÊ‘crouch at the door’ÊinÊthisÊverse? · WhoÊmustÊruleÊoverÊit? · WhatÊcanÊweÊlearnÊfromÊunderstandingÊtheseÊwordsÊandÊhowÊdoÊ theyÊapplyÊtoÊourÊtendenciesÊtoday? READÊGenesisÊ3:20-24.Ê(WeÊfinallyÊhaveÊourÊfamiliarÊnameÊforÊEve!) · InÊv.21ÊhowÊwasÊGod’sÊmercyÊdisplayedÊtowardÊAdamÊandÊEve? · WhatÊhadÊtoÊhappenÊtoÊanÊanimalÊinÊorderÊforÊitsÊskinÊtoÊbeÊusedÊ toÊcoverÊthem? · HowÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊprefiguresÊtheÊministryÊofÊJesusÊtoÊus? · InÊv.23-24ÊwhatÊisÊtheÊfinalÊrelaƟonalÊstatusÊofÊtheÊenvironment GodÊcreatedÊandÊtheÊinhabitantsÊHeÊcreated?
DAYÊFOUR:ÊFamily Life AŌer the Lie READÊGenesisÊ4:1-11 TheÊsacrificeÊofÊlifeÊtoÊcoverÊsin— ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊTheÊsegregaƟonÊofÊmanÊfromÊHisÊgloriousÊenvironment— ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊTheÊseparaƟonÊbetweenÊtheÊCreatorÊandÊHisÊcreated— InÊthisÊchapterÊtheÊfruitÊofÊsinÊspringsÊtoÊlifeÊinÊaÊrelaƟonal-tragedyÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ betweenÊtheÊfirstÊtwoÊsonsÊofÊAdamÊandÊEve.ÊIt’sÊallÊatÊonceÊdisturbingÊ toÊseeÊfamilyÊdysfuncƟonÊsoÊearlyÊinÊhumanÊexperience;ÊbutÊalsoÊ strangelyÊreassuringÊtoÊrealizeÊit’sÊjustÊtheÊsameÊoldÊsinfulÊnatureÊthatÊ afflictsÊusÊtoday.ÊThereÊisÊtrulyÊnothingÊnewÊunderÊtheÊsun.ÊÊ Let’sÊlookÊatÊtheseÊtwoÊsons: First-born:ÊÊ ÊÊSecond-born:ÊÊ Names: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ ______________ OccupaƟon: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ ______________ OfferingsÊGiven: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ ______________ God’sÊResponse: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_______________ ______________ TheÊsacrificeÊwasÊtheÊpointÊofÊconflict.ÊHowÊdidÊCainÊfeelÊaboutÊGodÊÊÊÊÊÊ accepƟngÊhisÊbrother’sÊofferingÊwhileÊhavingÊnoÊregardÊforÊhisÊown? ReadÊPsalmÊ36:1-4ÊandÊshareÊhowÊthisÊpassageÊisÊrelevantÊtoÊCain’sÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ emoƟonalÊandÊmentalÊstateÊandÊhisÊresponse: Just as Cain could not tolerate Abel, those who seek to stand by their own righteousness find the presence of those who stand by faith in Jesus intolerable. — Rick Joyner 2
ReadÊ1ÊJohnÊ3:11-13.ÊWhatÊdoesÊthisÊexplainÊaboutÊCain’sÊmoƟves? Well,ÊGenesisÊchapterÊfourÊcouldÊbeÊanÊenƟreÊsermon,Êbut,ÊweÊsimplyÊ wantÊtoÊacknowledgeÊtheÊlinkÊbetweenÊEve’sÊcurseÊandÊtheÊulƟmateÊ tragedyÊwithÊherÊfirstÊtwoÊsons.ÊÊ · WasÊEveÊculpableÊatÊallÊforÊthisÊmurder? · CouldÊsheÊhaveÊraised themÊdifferentlyÊtoÊhaveÊpreventedÊit? ReadÊv.25-26.ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊnameÊofÊA&E’sÊthirdÊson?ÊÊ______________ FromÊSeth’sÊlineÊwillÊcomeÊtheÊMessiahÊwhoÊwillÊbruise the serpent’s heel. GodÊhasÊaÊplanÊandÊitÊwillÊunfoldÊinÊHisÊownÊƟme.ÊNextÊweekÊ we’llÊstudyÊaÊcoupleÊeightÊgeneraƟonsÊdownÊfromÊSethÊandÊseeÊhowÊ GodÊwoveÊthemÊintoÊHisÊDivineÊDesign.ÊInÊtheÊmeanƟme,Êlet’sÊjustÊendÊ withÊthisÊamazingÊlastÊlineÊofÊtheÊchapter:ÊÊ “At that Ɵme people began to call upon the name of the Lord”. g CultureÊConfusionÊg OurÊcultureÊtendsÊtoÊseeÊpeopleÊasÊbasicallyÊgood.ÊWeÊbelieveÊpeopleÊ do evilÊbecauseÊofÊaÊlackÊofÊeducaƟon,Êopportunity,ÊorÊtheÊlike.ÊFromÊ theÊGenesisÊrecordÊalongÊwithÊRomansÊ5:12ÊshareÊwhatÊtheÊBibleÊ teaches: DoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊhistoryÊofÊmanÊhasÊprovenÊorÊdisprovenÊtheÊideaÊthatÊ weÊareÊallÊbornÊwithÊaÊsinfulÊnature? DoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊhistoryÊofÊmanÊhasÊprovenÊorÊdisprovenÊtheÊrealityÊofÊ theÊmaleÊandÊfemaleÊdifficulƟesÊexpressedÊaŌerÊtheÊfall?
g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg TheseÊchaptersÊintroducedÊusÊtoÊdeathÊandÊsacrificeÊforÊtheÊfirstÊƟme.Ê First,ÊGodÊofferedÊanÊillustraƟonÊofÊsacrificeÊinÊtheÊanimalÊwhoÊwasÊ slainÊtoÊcoverÊAdamÊandÊEveÊwithÊitsÊhide.Ê · ReadÊRomansÊ4:7-8.ÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊpointÊtoÊwhatÊJesusÊwillÊaccom- plishÊthroughÊHisÊownÊsacrifice? Then,ÊinÊchapterÊfour,ÊweÊreadÊaboutÊAbelÊofferingÊanÊanimalÊsacrificeÊ thatÊwasÊpleasingÊtoÊGod.Ê · ReadÊHebrewsÊ9:22.ÊWhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊhisÊsacrificeÊwasÊpicturing? Finally,ÊReadÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ15:45-49ÊandÊÊRomansÊ5:18-19.ÊÊShareÊhowÊ youÊseeÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplanÊmakeÊsenseÊfromÊCreaƟonÊtoÊChrist. g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg ReadÊPsalmÊ53:1-3.ÊHaveÊyouÊcomeÊtoÊagreementÊwithÊGodÊthat,ÊbyÊ natureÊyouÊhaveÊaÊwickedÊheartÊandÊitÊneedsÊtoÊbeÊcleansed?ÊThatÊÊ anyÊÊgoodÊorÊbenevolentÊthingsÊyouÊmightÊdoÊwillÊneverÊbeÊableÊtoÊ compensateÊorÊƟltÊtheÊscalesÊinÊyourÊfavor?Ê ReadÊPsalmÊ51.ÊWhatÊisÊourÊremedy?
ÊÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 3
NoahÊwasÊaÊmanÊtenÊgeneraƟonsÊfromÊAdam.ÊAsÊweÊstepÊintoÊtheÊÊÊ historyÊofÊhis worldÊweÊreadÊtheÊcommentary: “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intenƟon of the thoughts of his heart was only evil conƟnually.”ÊGenesisÊ6:5Ê ThatÊwasÊNoah’sÊworld,ÊandÊitÊwasÊhisÊwife’sÊworld.ÊHowÊwouldÊyou likeÊÊraiseÊaÊfamilyÊinÊthatÊculture?ÊEveryoneÊaroundÊthemÊwasÊsaturat- edÊinÊevilÊthoughtsÊandÊviolenceÊ—Êyet,ÊGodÊhadÊaÊplanÊandÊtheyÊwereÊ willingÊtoÊbeÊusedÊinÊHisÊplan. NoahÊisÊwellÊknown,ÊbutÊhisÊwifeÊisÊanÊunsungÊhero.ÊTheyÊwereÊbothÊ undoubtedlyÊreliable,Êhelpful,Êdedicated,ÊandÊyetÊherÊpartÊinÊtheÊworkÊ isÊmostlyÊinvisible;ÊherÊnameÊisÊabsentÊandÊherÊcontribuƟonsÊareÊÊÊÊÊÊ neitherÊnotedÊnorÊpraised.ÊYet,ÊsheÊisÊclearlyÊfoundÊamongÊtheÊFirstÊ LadiesÊofÊFaith!ÊIÊdon’tÊthinkÊanyoneÊgetsÊintoÊtheÊHebrewsÊ11ÊHallÊofÊ FaithÊwithoutÊtheÊsupporƟngÊroleÊofÊanÊamazingÊfaith-filledÊwife!ÊÊ “By faith, Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, In reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Hebrews 11:7 HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ6:1-13Ê TheÊManÊofÊRest DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ6:14—7:16 TheÊObedienceÊofÊRestÊ DayÊ3: GenesisÊ7:17—8:19 TheÊMethodÊofÊRest DayÊ4: GenesisÊ8:20—9:17 TheÊCovenantÊofÊRest g DAYÊONE:ÊThe Man of Rest READÊGenesisÊ6:1-13 OneÊofÊtheÊfirstÊthingsÊweÊlearnÊinÊv.1ÊisÊthat,ÊaŌerÊtenÊgeneraƟons,Ê thereÊwasÊnowÊprobablyÊquiteÊaÊpopulaƟonÊonÊtheÊearth.ÊTheÊnextÊ WeekÊFOUR—NoahÊ&ÊHisÊWife God’sÊDesignÊtoÊbeÊsetÊApartÊfromÊourÊCulture thingÊyouÊrealizeÊisÊthatÊthereÊwasÊquiteÊaÊcontrastÊbetweenÊtheÊmanÊ NoahÊandÊtheÊremainingÊpopulaƟonÊofÊtheÊearth: Ê · FromÊv.5,Ê11-13ÊhowÊwouldÊyouÊcharacterizeÊtheÊearth’sÊpopula- Ɵon?Ê(WhatÊnegaƟveÊwordsÊdoÊyouÊseeÊrepeatedÊinÊtheseÊverses?) · FromÊv.9ÊhowÊwouldÊyouÊcharacterizeÊNoah? · FromÊv.6-7ÊhowÊwouldÊyouÊdescribeÊGod’sÊresponseÊtoÊtheÊgeneralÊ populaƟonÊofÊpeople? · FromÊv.8ÊwhatÊwasÊGod’sÊresponseÊtoÊNoah? · FromÊv.7,Ê13ÊwhatÊdoÊyouÊseeÊasÊGod’sÊremedy? IfÊyouÊwereÊtoÊthinkÊofÊaÊwordÊorÊphraseÊtoÊsumÊupÊtheÊfocusÊofÊv.5-13,Ê whatÊwouldÊitÊbe? Remember,ÊnamesÊmeanÊsomething.ÊNoah’sÊnameÊmeansÊrest (or comfort). That’sÊwhyÊthisÊday’sÊstudyÊisÊenƟtledÊTheÊManÊofÊRest.ÊGoÊ backÊtoÊGenesisÊ5:28-30ÊandÊreadÊhowÊhisÊfatherÊnamedÊhim,ÊhopingÊ heÊwouldÊbringÊrestÊtoÊaÊwearyÊworld.Ê
InÊv.9ÊweÊread,ÊThese are the generaƟons of ______________. It’sÊaÊ greatÊbenchmarkÊforÊhelpingÊusÊunderstandÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplan.Ê Let’sÊreviewÊotherÊgeneraƟonsÊthatÊweÊwereÊgivenÊpreviously: · GenesisÊ2:4—ÊÊ_________________________________________ · GenesisÊ5:1—ÊÊ_________________________________________ (AsÊweÊnoteÊmoreÊgeneraƟonsÊinÊpassagesÊtoÊcome,Ê youÊcanÊcompleteÊtheÊchartÊfoundÊinÊAcƟvityÊ“A”Ê atÊtheÊendÊofÊthisÊStudyÊGuide) AndÊjustÊforÊtheÊsakeÊofÊorder,Êlet’sÊmakeÊaÊlistÊofÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊ fromÊAdamÊtoÊNoahÊfromÊGenesisÊ5: ÊÊAdamÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ__________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ________ ÊÊ______ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ__________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ___Noah_ ListÊtheÊnamesÊofÊNoah’sÊthreeÊsons: _________ ÊÊÊ____________ ______________ YouÊmayÊbeÊwonderingÊaboutÊtheÊopeningÊversesÊofÊthisÊchapter.ÊÊ HereÊareÊusefulÊinsightsÊfromÊWarrenÊWiersbe:ÊÊ The most likely interpretaƟon of Genesis 6:2-4 is the intermarrying of the godly line of Seth (the sons of God) with the ungodly line of Cain (the daughters of men). God viewed the people of that day as fallen ones (Nephilim), while their fellow man perceived them as mighty men. When the Sethites compromised by mingling with the Cainites, they fell from God's blessing. God was grieved that they married godless Cainites, choosing wives as they pleased without considering God's will. In doing this, they endangered the fulfillment of the Genesis 3:15 promise; for how could God bring a Redeemer into the world through an unholy people? Even today, much of what is admired by the world is rejected by the Lord. 1
DAYÊTWO:ÊThe Obedience of Rest READÊGenesisÊ6:14Ê—Ê7:16 DueÊofÊtheÊcorruptedÊcondiƟonÊofÊman,ÊcoupledÊwithÊGod’sÊdesireÊtoÊ bringÊforthÊaÊredeemer,ÊGodÊdeterminedÊtoÊbringÊdestrucƟonÊoverÊ theÊfaceÊofÊtheÊearthÊandÊretainÊonlyÊthoseÊwhoÊhadÊremainedÊholyÊ untoÊtheÊLord.ÊHeÊmay haveÊrevealedÊtoÊNoahÊwhenÊthisÊwouldÊhap- penÊ(6:3),ÊbutÊHeÊclearlyÊrevealedÊhow theyÊwouldÊbeÊkeptÊsafeÊ(v.14): · NoahÊwasÊtoÊmakeÊan: · WithÊmulƟple: · AndÊcoverÊitÊwith: WeÊthinkÊofÊanÊarkÊasÊaÊboat,ÊbutÊtheÊwordÊmeansÊchest.ÊGodÊinstruct- edÊNoahÊtoÊmakeÊanÊenormousÊtreasureÊchestÊthatÊwouldÊholdÊthemÊ safeÊduringÊtheÊdestrucƟon—thatÊwasÊGod’sÊplan!Ê WhenÊweÊstudyÊBiblicalÊaccountsÊlikeÊThe Flood, weÊfirstÊneedÊtoÊclearÊ awayÊcoloringÊbooksÊimages,ÊmemoriesÊofÊFisherÊPriceÊplasƟcÊfigures,Ê andÊnurseryÊfabricÊthemesÊtoÊensureÊtheÊrealiƟesÊofÊNoah’sÊworldÊ don’tÊgetÊtossedÊintoÊtheÊfairyÊtaleÊorÊlegendÊcategoriesÊofÊourÊmind. ReadÊMaƩhewÊ24:36-42ÊandÊLukeÊ17:26-31 · WhoÊisÊspeakingÊinÊthisÊpassages? · WhatÊisÊtheÊcontextÊofÊtheÊpassages? · WhatÊlikenessesÊtoÊtheÊdaysÊofÊNoahÊareÊbeingÊmade?ÊListÊallÊofÊ theÊsimilariƟesÊyouÊsee: · WhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊofÊJesus’ÊstatementÊthatÊpeopleÊwereÊ “marrying and giving in marriage”Ê(MaƩhewÊ24:38)ÊinÊlightÊofÊMr.Ê Wiersbe’sÊcommentsÊonÊGenesisÊ6:2-4Ê(onÊtheÊpreviousÊpage)? DoÊyouÊthinkÊJesusÊwouldÊhaveÊspokenÊofÊtheseÊeventsÊinÊsuchÊaÊman- nerÊifÊtheÊaccountÊofÊNoahÊandÊtheÊFloodÊhadÊnotÊbeenÊanÊactualÊ event?
ReadÊ2ÊPeterÊ2:5.ÊItÊseemsÊincredible,ÊbutÊbothÊPeterÊandÊtheÊGenesisÊ narraƟveÊtellÊusÊthatÊonlyÊNoahÊandÊhisÊfamilyÊbelievedÊandÊobeyedÊ GodÊwhenÊeveryoneÊaroundÊthemÊwasÊignoringÊandÊdisobeyingÊGod.Ê GenesisÊ6:8ÊsaysÊ“Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”ÊNoah’sÊ favorÊwasn’tÊbecauseÊofÊhisÊobedience,ÊbutÊhisÊobedienceÊwasÊproba- blyÊbecauseÊheÊfavoredÊGod.ÊRecordÊwhatÊyouÊfindÊinÊtheseÊverses: · Gen.Ê6:22 · Gen.Ê7:5 · Gen.Ê7:9 · Gen.Ê7:16 ReadÊPsalmÊ73.ÊTheÊPsalmist’sÊobservaƟonsÊseemÊparallelÊtoÊNoah’sÊ day.ÊHaveÊyouÊeverÊfeltÊthatÊtheÊungodlyÊseemÊtoÊprosperÊmighƟlyÊandÊ evenÊunfairly?ÊÊ InÊyourÊworldÊrightÊnow,ÊwouldÊyouÊconsiderÊyourselfÊmoreÊlikeÊMr.Ê&Ê Mrs.ÊNoah,ÊbelievingÊandÊobeyingÊGod’sÊvoice;ÊorÊmoreÊinÊlineÊwithÊ theÊgeneralÊpopulaƟonÊofÊtheÊearth,ÊeaƟng,ÊdrinkingÊandÊmarryingÊasÊ youÊplease?ÊÊ(toughÊquesƟon...butÊimportantÊtoÊaskÊofÊourselves.) God’sÊSpiritÊwasÊstrivingÊwithÊlostÊpeopleÊinÊNoah’sÊday.ÊWeÊknowÊthisÊ becauseÊthatÊisÊGod’sÊrevealedÊcharacter.ÊWhyÊdidÊtheyÊresist?ÊWhyÊ doÊpeopleÊaroundÊusÊtodayÊresist?ÊReadÊ1ÊThessaloniansÊ5:1-10ÊandÊ recordÊyourÊinsights: We too can find favor in the eyes of the Lord by trusting that His plan is good, His timing is right, His method is best. Our part is to trust, obey and rest! — Sue LeBoutillier
DAYÊTHREE:ÊThe Method of Rest READÊGenesisÊ7:17-8:19 WeÊreadÊinÊ7:12Ê“rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” TheÊfinalÊverseÊofÊchapterÊsevenÊsaysÊtheÊwatersÊprevailedÊonÊtheÊ earthÊ____Êdays.ÊDescribeÊtheÊeffectÊtheÊfloodÊhadÊuponÊtheÊearthÊ fromÊ7:17-23: TheÊfocusÊofÊourÊstudyÊisn’tÊtoÊcountÊdays—butÊyouÊmayÊenjoyÊcalcu- laƟngÊhowÊmanyÊdaysÊtheseÊeightÊpeopleÊspentÊtogether.Ê OurÊfocusÊisÊtoÊponderÊtheÊmethod of God’s grace inÊpreservingÊNoahÊ inÊorderÊtoÊulƟmatelyÊfulfillÊtheÊpromiseÊmadeÊinÊGenesisÊ3.Ê WhatÊwasÊtheÊmeaningÊofÊNoah’sÊnameÊagain?Ê__________________ WhatÊdidÊweÊsayÊtheÊwordÊarkÊmeant?ÊÊ_________________________ WhatÊdidÊGodÊtellÊMr.Ê&ÊMrs.ÊRestÊtoÊdoÊinÊ7:1? WhatÊdidÊGodÊtellÊMr.Ê&ÊMrs.ÊRestÊtoÊdoÊinÊ8:16? WasÊthereÊanyÊotherÊmeansÊNoahÊcould haveÊusedÊtoÊrescueÊhimself?ÊÊ AnythingÊelseÊheÊcouldÊhaveÊdone? WeÊcouldÊsummarizeÊthisÊpassageÊbyÊsaying:Ê“God’sÊmethodÊofÊrescu- ingÊNoahÊwasÊhavingÊhimÊsimplyÊrestÊinÊtheÊ___________”
ReadÊMaƩhewÊ11:25-30Ê—ÊHebrewsÊ4:1-2Ê—ÊRomansÊ4:16 DescribeÊourÊmodernÊdayÊrestÊandÊmethodÊofÊescapeÊfromÊjudgementÊ inÊyourÊownÊwords: Let’sÊconsiderÊforÊjustÊaÊmomentÊtheÊimplicaƟonsÊforÊNoah’sÊwife.Ê · DidÊsheÊworkÊbyÊhisÊsideÊinÊcompleteÊtrust? · WasÊitÊdifficultÊtoÊtune outÊtheÊvoicesÊofÊherÊungodlyÊneighbors? · DidÊsheÊencourageÊhimÊonÊtheÊdaysÊwhenÊheÊgrewÊƟred? · WhoÊencouragedÊherÊonÊdaysÊwhenÊsheÊgrewÊƟred? · DidÊsheÊfearÊwhatÊlifeÊaŌer the stormÊwouldÊbeÊlike?Ê · DidÊsheÊunderstandÊtheÊimplicaƟons;ÊthatÊsheÊwouldÊbecomeÊtheÊ newÊMother of all the Living? Finally,Êlet’sÊreadÊoneÊverseÊinÊtomorrow’sÊtext—Gen.Ê8:20.ÊWhatÊwasÊ Noah’sÊfirstÊacƟonÊonceÊoutÊofÊtheÊarkÊandÊonÊdryÊground? DAYÊFOUR:ÊThe Covenant of Rest READÊGenesisÊ8:20-9:17 WhatÊdidÊGodÊpromiseÊaboutÊtheÊgroundÊ(v.21)? WhatÊdidÊGodÊpromiseÊaboutÊfutureÊflood-likeÊdestrucƟonÊ(v.21b)? WhatÊdidÊGodÊpromiseÊaboutÊtheÊrhythms/cyclesÊofÊtheÊearthÊ(v.22)? WhatÊcomfort,ÊsecurityÊandÊrestÊmustÊhaveÊbeenÊfosteredÊbyÊGod’sÊ promise!ÊComfortÊenoughÊthatÊGodÊwasÊableÊtoÊgiveÊthemÊinstruc- ƟonsÊandÊinsightsÊforÊtheirÊnewÊlife.ÊÊ
· WhatÊinstrucƟonÊdidÊHeÊgiveÊinÊ9:1ÊandÊ9:7ÊaboutÊprocreaƟngÊlife?ÊÊ · WhatÊdoesÊthatÊremindÊyouÊof? · WhatÊinstrucƟonsÊdidÊGodÊgiveÊaboutÊanimalÊlifeÊ(v.2-4)? · WhatÊlimitaƟonsÊwereÊplacedÊonÊtheÊeaƟngÊofÊanimals? · WhatÊdidÊGodÊreinforceÊaboutÊhumanÊlifeÊ(v.6)? Ê WhatÊwasÊtheÊsignÊofÊtheÊcovenantÊGodÊmadeÊwithÊNoahÊ(v.13-16)? InÊv.15ÊGodÊsaidÊ“I will ____________________ my covenant that is between me and you”ÊandÊinÊv.16ÊGodÊsaidÊ“when the bow is in the clouds I will see it and ____________________.”ÊÊNoteÊalsoÊinÊGenesisÊ 8:1Ê“GodÊ__________________ÊÊNoah.” TheÊwordÊremember doesÊnotÊmeanÊtheÊoppositeÊofÊforgetÊinÊthisÊ verse,ÊbutÊratherÊtheÊfulfillmentÊofÊaÊcommitment.ÊGodÊfulfilledÊhisÊ commitmentÊtoÊNoahÊasÊHeÊsafelyÊcarriedÊhimÊthroughÊtheÊdeluge.Ê WeÊalsoÊhaveÊaÊcovenantÊofÊrest.ÊWeÊrestÊinÊGod’sÊplan.ÊWeÊrestÊinÊ God’sÊRedeemerÊwhoÊwillÊbeÊbornÊtoÊtheÊlineÊofÊNoahÊandÊeventuallyÊ crushÊtheÊheadÊofÊtheÊserpent.ÊGodÊwillÊremember! God’sÊplanÊwasÊforÊNoahÊtoÊbeÊcarriedÊthroughÊtheÊstormÊandÊbecomeÊ aÊ‘herald of righteousness’ (2ÊPeterÊ2:5).ÊÊAndÊGodÊcalledÊhisÊwifeÊalongÊ withÊhim.ÊEvenÊthoughÊweÊdon’tÊknowÊherÊname,ÊtheyÊwereÊaÊteam,Ê andÊtogetherÊtheyÊbecameÊaÊsecondÊAdam and EveÊofÊGod’sÊchoosing. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. —Thomas Obadiah Chisholm3 g CultureÊConfusionÊÊÊg It’sÊimpossibleÊtoÊcompletelyÊdismissÊtheÊhistoricalÊevidenceÊofÊaÊ world-wideÊflood.ÊNotÊonlyÊdoÊweÊhaveÊgeologicalÊevidence,ÊbutÊal- mostÊeveryÊcultureÊfromÊeveryÊconƟnentÊhasÊanÊoralÊtradiƟonÊofÊaÊ flood.ÊSƟll,ÊsomeÊdenyÊthatÊitÊevenÊhappened,ÊorÊthatÊitÊwasÊaÊjudg- mentÊofÊGod. WeÊliveÊinÊaÊworldÊwhereÊpeopleÊareÊveryÊchallengedÊbyÊtheÊideaÊofÊaÊ comingÊjudgment.ÊSinceÊbothÊJesusÊandÊPeterÊusedÊtheÊfloodÊtoÊillus- trateÊeventsÊthatÊinvolveÊtheÊwholeÊworld,ÊhowÊshouldÊsomeoneÊwhoÊ followsÊChristÊviewÊtheÊcomingÊjudgment? DoÊyouÊfindÊitÊinteresƟngÊthatÊcertainÊsegmentsÊofÊourÊcultureÊuseÊtheÊ symbolÊofÊaÊrainbowÊ—ÊwhichÊGodÊgaveÊasÊaÊpromiseÊdeclaringÊHeÊ wouldÊneverÊagainÊdestroyÊtheÊearthÊwithÊaÊfloodÊ—ÊtoÊcelebrateÊactsÊ ofÊimmoralityÊagainstÊGod’sÊdesignÊthatÊcontributedÊtoÊtheÊfloodÊinÊ theÊfirstÊplace? g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg AdamÊandÊEveÊwereÊcoveredÊbyÊmeansÊofÊaÊsacrifice,ÊNoahÊandÊhisÊ wifeÊwereÊcarriedÊtoÊbyÊmeansÊofÊresƟngÊinÊGod’sÊprovision.ÊHowÊdoesÊ HebrewsÊ4:1-2ÊgiveÊinsightÊaboutÊresƟngÊinÊtheÊworkÊJesusÊhasÊdone? TakeÊaÊpeekÊatÊtheÊlastÊpageÊofÊthisÊStudyÊGuideÊtoÊseeÊhowÊGodÊinfusedÊ anÊunderstandingÊofÊHisÊplanÊintoÊnamesÊofÊtheÊfirstÊtenÊgeneraƟons. g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg It’sÊeasierÊforÊsomeÊpeopleÊtoÊpayÊmoreÊaƩenƟonÊtoÊclimate changeÊ thanÊheart change. Noah’sÊdayÊwasÊfilledÊwithÊpeopleÊwhoÊwouldÊnotÊ changeÊtheirÊhearts.ÊÊReadÊ1ÊTimothyÊ2:4ÊandÊexplainÊGod’sÊdesire:
WeÊhaveÊaÊNewÊTestamentÊword—repent—thatÊmeansÊto change, to go a different direcƟon.Ê2ÊTimothyÊ2:25ÊtalksÊaboutÊrepentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.ÊEvenÊinÊaÊhistory-basedÊBibleÊstudyÊlikeÊ thisÊone,ÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊisÊspeakingÊtoÊourÊconsciences.ÊIsÊthereÊanÊ areaÊinÊyourÊlifeÊtodayÊthatÊrequiresÊrepentance? God’sÊplanÊisÊnotÊalwaysÊeasyÊtoÊobey.ÊNoahÊbelievedÊGod’sÊplan,ÊtookÊ acƟon,ÊandÊobeyedÊHisÊinstrucƟons.Ê · IsÊthereÊaÊpartÊofÊyourÊlifeÊthatÊisÊscary,ÊperplexingÊorÊconfusing?ÊÊ · CommitÊthisÊareaÊtoÊprayerÊandÊexpectÊGodÊtoÊshowÊyouÊspecificÊ acƟons,ÊevenÊifÊitÊisÊwaiƟngÊquietly.ÊJournalÊwhatÊyouÊbelieveÊGodÊ isÊshowingÊyou: PaƟenceÊisÊsoÊhard!Ê100ÊyearsÊtoÊbuild!Ê40ÊdaysÊofÊconstantÊrain!ÊOverÊ aÊyearÊinÊaÊconfinedÊspace!ÊNotÊoneÊofÊusÊhasÊhadÊtoÊendureÊthatÊ muchÊstressÊonÊourÊpaƟence.ÊPaƟenceÊisÊaÊfruitÊofÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit.Ê WhenÊweÊallowÊthatÊfruitÊtoÊdevelopÊinÊourÊlives,ÊweÊareÊseeingÊChristÊ formedÊwithinÊus.Ê(GodÊpaƟentlyÊboreÊwithÊtheÊwickedÊpeopleÊofÊÊÊÊ Noah’sÊdayÊandÊevenÊgaveÊthemÊoverÊaÊcenturyÊtoÊrepent.)Ê ReadÊtheseÊversesÊofÊinspiraƟonÊonÊpaƟenceÊandÊnoteÊanythingÊtheÊ LordÊspeaksÊtoÊyouÊaboutÊthisÊvirtue: · ProverbsÊ14:29 · ColossiansÊ1:11-14 · HebrewsÊ6:10-12
ÊÊDate:ÊÊ______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 4
OurÊnextÊlessonsÊaboutÊAbrahamÊandÊSarahÊareÊtwentyÊgeneraƟonsÊ intoÊtheÊrecordedÊhistoryÊofÊman.ÊAlthoughÊweÊusuallyÊreferÊtoÊthisÊ coupleÊbyÊtheirÊGod-given namesÊofÊAbrahamÊandÊSarah,ÊtheyÊbeganÊ lifeÊwithÊtheirÊnatural-given namesÊofÊAbramÊandÊSaraiÊfromÊUrÊofÊtheÊ Chaldeans. JustÊasÊweÊstudiedÊAdamÊandÊEve’sÊpart-one lifeÊofÊperfecƟonÊandÊ part-two lifeÊofÊproblems;Êwe’llÊstudyÊAbram andÊSarai thisÊweekÊ (chaptersÊ11-16)ÊandÊAbraham andÊSarah nextÊweekÊ(chaptersÊ17-23).ÊÊ ItÊwasÊGod’sÊplanÊtoÊchooseÊAbrahamÊandÊSarahÊandÊestablishÊaÊcove- nantÊwithÊthemÊandÊtheirÊoffspringÊtoÊconƟnueÊHisÊunfoldingÊplan.ÊÊ WeÊsawÊAdamÊandÊEveÊcovered by God’s grace throughÊtheÊhideÊofÊaÊ sacrificedÊanimal.ÊWeÊobservedÊNoahÊandÊhisÊwifeÊrest inside God’s grace asÊHeÊprovidedÊtheÊshelterÊinÊtheÊstorm.ÊAndÊnowÊwithÊAbra- hamÊandÊSarahÊweÊwaitÊwithÊthemÊforÊtheÊchildÊofÊpromise,Êthe child of grace toÊemergeÊmiraculouslyÊandÊliveÊoutÊaÊdramaÊthatÊwillÊpointÊ toÊanotherÊmiraculously-bornÊSeedÊofÊAbraham.ÊÊ GenesisÊtellsÊtheirÊlifeÊstory;ÊRomansÊandÊHebrewsÊdeclareÊtheirÊfaith,Ê andÊPeter’sÊfirstÊleƩerÊholdsÊSarahÊasÊanÊexampleÊofÊGod’sÊdesignÊforÊ wivesÊwhoÊareÊheirs together in the grace of life. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, Even when she was past the age, since she considered him Faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ11:10-32 TheÊFamilyÊChosenÊ DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ12 TheÊTravelÊNecessaryÊ DayÊ3: GenesisÊ13,Ê15 TheÊLandÊPromised DayÊ4: GenesisÊ16 TheÊMistakeÊMade WeekÊFIVE—AbramÊ&ÊSaraiÊ God’sÊDesignÊtoÊChooseÊaÊFamily
DAYÊONE:ÊThe Family Chosen READÊGenesisÊ11:10-32 WeÊjournaledÊtheÊtenÊgeneraƟonsÊfromÊAdamÊtoÊNoahÊlastÊweek,ÊandÊ nowÊv.10ÊannouncesÊaÊnewÊset: “These are the generaƟons of Shem”. SoÊitÊseemsÊlikeÊaÊgreatÊideaÊforÊusÊtoÊjournalÊtheÊnextÊtenÊgeneraƟonsÊ fromÊNoah’sÊsonÊShemÊtoÊAbram.ÊUseÊv.10-26ÊasÊyourÊguide: ÊÊShemÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ ÊÊ______ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ__Abram__ JournalÊaÊfewÊmoreÊfamilyÊrelaƟonships: · WhoÊwereÊtheÊbrothersÊofÊAbram?ÊÊ__________ÊÊÊ____________ · WhoÊwasÊAbram’sÊwife?ÊÊÊ__________________ · WhatÊisÊrevealedÊaboutÊherÊinÊv.30?Ê________________________ NamesÊhaveÊmeaning,Êright?Ê · Abram’sÊgivenÊnameÊmeantÊExalted Father · SaraiÊmayÊhaveÊmeantÊÊprincess,ÊorÊitÊmayÊhaveÊmeantÊcontenƟous, orÊstubborn. WeÊwon’tÊclaimÊtoÊknowÊforÊsure,ÊbutÊweÊwill findÊÊÊÊ someÊvalidaƟonÊinÊbothÊmeaningsÊasÊweÊworkÊthroughÊherÊstory.Ê WhereÊwasÊtheirÊoriginalÊfamilyÊlocaƟon?ÊÊ______________________ ReadÊJoshuaÊ24:2.ÊWhatÊdoÊtheseÊwordsÊofÊJoshuaÊtellÊusÊaboutÊwhatÊÊ religiousÊlifeÊwasÊlikeÊinÊthatÊlocaƟon? ItÊwasÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplanÊtoÊcallÊaÊmanÊandÊhisÊwife,ÊandÊthroughÊ themÊbuildÊaÊfamily.ÊFromÊthatÊfamilyÊwouldÊcomeÊaÊgreatÊnaƟon,Ê throughÊwhomÊallÊtheÊnaƟonsÊofÊtheÊearthÊwouldÊbeÊblessed!Ê
DAYÊTWO:ÊThe Travel Necessary READÊGenesisÊ12 InÊthisÊchapterÊweÊunderstandÊtheÊnecessityÊforÊA&SÊtoÊleaveÊtheÊin- fluencesÊofÊtheirÊcultureÊandÊsetÊthemselvesÊapartÊforÊGod’sÊservice. ReadÊActsÊ7:2-5.ÊNowÊwithÊinsightsÊfromÊthatÊpassage,ÊalongÊwithÊÊÊÊÊÊ GenesisÊ12:1-6,Êlet’sÊtrackÊtheÊmovementsÊofÊAbramÊandÊSarai. PhaseÊOne:ÊÊFromÊUrÊtoÊÊ___________________ · WhoÊwasÊwithÊthem? PhaseÊTwo:ÊÊFromÊ______________ÊÊtoÊ_____________________ · WhoÊwasÊwithÊthem? · HowÊoldÊwasÊAbramÊwhenÊheÊleŌÊHaran? · WhoÊwasÊlivingÊinÊthatÊland?Ê(v.6) SoundÊDoctrineÊƟme!ÊWriteÊoutÊGenesisÊ12:3Ê___________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ · WhatÊspecificÊpromiseÊisÊgivenÊinÊv.7? · HowÊdidÊAbramÊrespondÊtoÊGod’sÊappearanceÊ(v.7-8)?
· ContrastÊAbram’sÊresponseÊwithÊtheÊacƟonsÊseenÊinÊGenesisÊ11:4. SaraiÊjourneyedÊwithÊherÊhusbandÊfromÊtheÊsmallÊcommunityÊinÊMes- opotamia,ÊwhereÊsheÊundoubtedlyÊhadÊfriendsÊandÊfamily,ÊtoÊtheÊlandÊ whereÊtheÊdescendantsÊofÊCanaanÊlived.ÊItÊwasÊprobablyÊallÊatÊonceÊ frighteningÊandÊthrillingÊtoÊbeÊherÊhusband’sÊpartnerÊinÊlifeÊonÊthisÊ greatÊadventureÊofÊfaith. · InÊv.10,ÊwhatÊtypeÊofÊtesƟngÊofÊtheirÊfaithÊdeveloped?Ê · FromÊv.11-20ÊexplainÊtheirÊchoices,ÊtheirÊjourneyÊandÊwhetherÊorÊ notÊtheyÊemployedÊtheÊsameÊchoicesÊofÊsimpleÊfaithÊasÊwhenÊtheyÊ leŌÊUr: DAYÊTHREE:ÊThe Land Promised READÊGenesisÊ13:1-13 GodÊprotectedÊhisÊfamilyÊofÊchoiceÊalright,ÊandÊatÊtheÊƟmeÊitÊprobablyÊ lookedÊlikeÊtheyÊcompletelyÊdodgedÊaÊbullet.ÊButÊlet’sÊinvesƟgateÊtheirÊ situaƟonÊuponÊleavingÊEgypt.Ê · FromÊGenesisÊ12:16,ÊlistÊeverythingÊAbramÊwasÊgiven:Ê
· HowÊdidÊv.2ÊdescribeÊAbram? · InÊv.6-7,ÊweÊlearnÊtheir possessions were so great that they could not dwell together...there was strife between their herdsmen. HowÊ doÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊextraÊstuffÊfromÊEgyptÊplayedÊintoÊtheÊinevitableÊ separaƟonÊofÊAbramÊandÊLot? ThereÊareÊƟmesÊwhenÊweÊdon’tÊimmediatelyÊfeelÊtheÊconsequencesÊofÊ failedÊtrialsÊinÊourÊlives.ÊTheyÊmayÊexist,ÊbutÊweÊdon’tÊrecognizeÊthemÊ asÊsuchÊrightÊaway.ÊThisÊwasÊtheÊcaseÊwithÊAbram. · FromÊv.11ÊwhereÊdidÊLotÊseƩle? · FromÊv.12ÊwhereÊdidÊAbramÊseƩle? · IfÊyouÊknowÊtheÊstory,ÊcanÊyouÊthinkÊofÊaÊcertainÊmaid-servantÊthatÊ mayÊbeÊamongÊthemÊatÊthisÊpointÊfromÊEgypt? READÊGenesisÊ13:14-18.ÊGod’sÊmerciesÊareÊtrulyÊnewÊeveryÊmorning— GodÊvisitedÊAbramÊagainÊtoÊaffirmÊHisÊplan.ÊInÊv.14-15:Ê · WhatÊdidÊGodÊspeakÊaboutÊtheÊland? · WhatÊdidÊHeÊsayÊaboutÊhisÊoffspring?
TheÊLANDÊandÊtheÊDESCENDANTS—theseÊareÊtheÊtwoÊpromises!Ê g TheÊLAND: WeÊneedÊtoÊrememberÊtheÊobviousÊ—ÊtheÊlandÊofÊCanaanÊwasÊinhab- itedÊbyÊCanaanites.ÊSo,Êlet’sÊgoÊbackÊandÊreadÊGenesisÊ9:18-28.Ê · WhatÊwereÊNoah’sÊpropheƟcÊwordsÊregardingÊCanaanÊ(sonÊofÊ Ham)? · WhatÊdidÊyouÊseeÊprophesiedÊaboutÊtheÊdescendantsÊofÊShem? InÊmanyÊways,ÊtheÊCanaanitesÊtookÊonÊtheÊsameÊungodlyÊcharacteris- ƟcsÊasÊtheÊCainitesÊofÊourÊpreviousÊstudy.ÊItÊisÊtheÊland inÊwhichÊthey resideÊthatÊGodÊisÊtellingÊAbramÊhisÊownÊdescendants willÊreceive.Ê g TheÊDESCENDANTS: READÊGenesisÊ15Ê(YouÊareÊright,ÊÊwe’reÊskippingÊoverÊchapterÊ14) · WhoÊdidÊAbramÊthinkÊwouldÊinheritÊtheÊpromisedÊlandÊ(v.2-3)? · WhoÊdidÊGODÊsayÊwouldÊbeÊhisÊheirÊ(v.4)? WriteÊoutÊRomansÊ4:3Ê______________________________________ ________________________________________________________ HowÊdoesÊthatÊpassageÊinspireÊyouÊinÊanÊareaÊforÊwhichÊyouÊareÊ waiƟng?
InÊv.7-16: · HowÊdidÊGodÊpointÊtoÊtheÊpastÊasÊaÊtesƟmonyÊofÊHisÊguidance? · WhatÊwasÊHisÊprophecyÊaboutÊtheÊfutureÊofÊAbram’sÊoffspring? · WhatÊwasÊaÊreasonÊgivenÊinÊv.16ÊthatÊtheÊsonsÊofÊAbrahamÊwouldÊÊ notÊpossessÊtheÊlandÊofÊpromiseÊinÊtheÊnearÊfuture: · HowÊdoesÊthisÊspeakÊofÊGod’sÊjusƟce? AtÊthisÊpointÊbothÊlandÊandÊdescendantsÊwereÊsƟllÊinÊtheÊpromiseÊ stageÊ—ÊnotÊyetÊreality.ÊSaraiÊfoundÊherselfÊneedingÊtoÊtrustÊtheÊGodÊ thatÊwasÊmakingÊpromisesÊtoÊherÊhusband,ÊevenÊthoughÊHeÊhadÊnotÊ personallyÊrevealedÊHimselfÊyetÊtoÊher.ÊAbramÊandÊSaraiÊwereÊGod’sÊ choiceÊforÊHisÊunfoldingÊplanÊandÊHeÊwouldÊconƟnueÊtoÊleadÊthem,Ê guideÊthemÊandÊremindÊthemÊofÊHisÊpromises...becauseÊHeÊisÊfaithful! DAYÊFOUR:ÊThe Mistake Made READÊGenesisÊ16 OnÊthisÊfinalÊdayÊofÊstudy,ÊSaraiÊtakesÊcenterÊstageÊandÊIÊthinkÊweÊmayÊ findÊtheÊcontenƟousÊmeaningÊofÊherÊnameÊwellÊsuitedÊtoÊthisÊchapter. CertainlyÊSaraiÊknewÊofÊGod’sÊpromiseÊtoÊAbramÊforÊaÊson,ÊcertainlyÊ theyÊwereÊbothÊwaiƟngÊandÊwonderingÊhowÊthatÊcouldÊeverÊhappen. · WasÊthereÊanyÊindicaƟonÊthatÊAbramÊwasÊimpaƟentÊinÊwaiƟng?
· WhoÊdidÊSaraiÊblameÊforÊherÊbarrenness? · WhatÊwasÊherÊsoluƟonÊtoÊthisÊdilemma? · NoteÊtheÊageÊofÊbothÊAbramÊandÊSaraiÊatÊthisÊpoint: HowÊdidÊtheÊfruitÊofÊSarai’sÊimpaƟenceÊandÊmanipulaƟonÊaffectÊallÊtheÊ relaƟonshipsÊinvolved?ÊListÊanyÊconsequencesÊyouÊobserveÊinÊv.4-6: RememberÊwe’veÊfocusedÊonÊallÊthatÊhappenedÊtoÊAbramÊandÊSaraiÊ before theÊCovenantÊofÊCircumcisionÊ—ÊbeforeÊGodÊchangedÊtheirÊ names.ÊPerhapsÊweÊcanÊsayÊwhile they were walking in the flesh.ÊTheÊ ApostleÊPaulÊwasÊgivenÊgreatÊunderstandingÊaboutÊthis.ÊÊ ReadÊGalaƟansÊ4:22-31.ÊSinceÊthisÊfamilyÊrepresentsÊtwo covenants (v.24),Êlet’sÊmakeÊaÊchartÊofÊallÊofÊtheseÊrelaƟonships: OLDÊCOVENANT NEWÊCOVENANT Son’sÊname _____________ ______________ Mother’sÊname _____________ ______________ RelaƟonshipÊtoÊAbraham _____________ ______________ MethodÊofÊbirth _____________ ______________ RelaƟonalÊReality FLESH ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊPROMISE SpiritualÊReality FLESH ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊSPIRIT CircleÊwhichÊwifeÊcameÊfirst,ÊthenÊcircleÊwhichÊsonÊcameÊfirst.ÊGodÊdidÊ notÊbeginÊwithÊtheÊworkÊofÊtheÊflesh,ÊHeÊbeganÊwithÊtheÊpromise,ÊandÊ fulfilledÊitÊbyÊHisÊSpirit.Ê g CultureÊConfusionÊÊÊg TheÊmanÊAbrahamÊisÊtheÊbeginningÊofÊwhatÊweÊknowÊtodayÊasÊtheÊ JewishÊnaƟon.ÊThere’sÊonlyÊoneÊcountryÊinÊtheÊworldÊwho’sÊveryÊlegiƟ- macyÊisÊquesƟoned,ÊonlyÊoneÊcountryÊthatÊisÊopenlyÊthreatenedÊwithÊ annihilaƟon,ÊandÊitÊisÊIsrael.ÊÊWhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊisÊtheÊcase? g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg RomansÊ4:11ÊtellsÊthatÊAbrahamÊisÊthe Father of all who believeÊandÊhe grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to GodÊ(v.20).ÊFaithÊisÊaÊcriƟcalÊ componentÊinÊourÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊGod,ÊbutÊGodÊhasÊgoneÊtoÊgreatÊ lengthsÊtoÊhelpÊusÊknowÊHimÊandÊhaveÊfaithÊinÊHim.Ê GodÊreachedÊoutÊtoÊAbraham,ÊGodÊdirectedÊhimÊinÊtheÊwayÊheÊshouldÊ go,ÊGodÊgaveÊhimÊtheÊpromises...in order that the promise may rest on grace.Ê(v.16).ÊThinkÊaboutÊwaysÊinÊwhichÊGod’sÊgraceÊtowardÊAbrahamÊ mirrorsÊtheÊgraceÊofÊJesusÊshownÊtoÊyou. g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg ThereÊareÊsoÊmanyÊpersonalÊapplicaƟonsÊinÊourÊlivesÊthatÊcorrespondÊ withÊthisÊlesson.ÊYouÊmayÊwantÊtoÊjotÊdownÊaddiƟonalÊthoughtsÊtoÊ shareÊwithÊyourÊgroupÊthatÊaren’tÊevenÊrepresentedÊbelow: · HaveÊyouÊexperiencedÊaÊƟmeÊwhenÊGodÊdirectedÊyouÊtoÊmakeÊaÊ bigÊchangeÊorÊevenÊaÊmoveÊlikeÊHeÊdidÊwithÊAbram?ÊLeavingÊpeo- pleÊandÊthingsÊbehindÊisn’tÊeasy.ÊHowÊdid/wouldÊyouÊrespond?
· AreÊyouÊcurrentlyÊwaiƟngÊonÊGod’sÊplan—evenÊthoughÊyouÊdon’tÊ knowÊhowÊlongÊitÊmayÊbe?ÊIsÊthereÊanythingÊfromÊtheÊaccountÊofÊ AbramÊthatÊinspiresÊyou? · SaraiÊreallyÊmessedÊthingsÊup,ÊnotÊonlyÊforÊtheirÊmarriage,ÊbutÊforÊ history!ÊAÊwifeÊhasÊaÊsignificantÊinfluenceÊoverÊherÊhusband—forÊ beƩerÊorÊworse.ÊIfÊyouÊhappenÊtoÊhaveÊtheÊdominantÊpersonalityÊ inÊyourÊmarriage,ÊitÊcanÊpresentÊaÊrealÊchallengeÊtoÊlearnÊhowÊtoÊ waitÊonÊyourÊhusbandÊandÊalsoÊempowerÊhimÊtoÊlead.ÊConsiderÊ howÊthisÊpassageÊappliesÊtoÊyour marriage.ÊÊ · HaveÊyouÊbeenÊtemptedÊtoÊtakeÊmaƩersÊintoÊourÊownÊhandsÊÊÊÊÊ recently?ÊShareÊwhatÊyouÊlearnÊfromÊSarai’sÊstoryÊthatÊmayÊsaveÊ youÊheartacheÊtoday: · HaveÊyouÊexperiencedÊtheÊnecessityÊforÊhumilityÊandÊrepentanceÊ aŌerÊyouÊtookÊmaƩersÊintoÊyourÊownÊhands?ÊHowÊdidÊyouÊfindÊ thatÊgrace? Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
ÊÊDate:ÊÊ______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 5
AbramÊandÊSaraiÊwereÊaÊcoupleÊwhoÊlearned,ÊoverÊtheÊcourseÊofÊtheirÊ life,ÊtheÊartÊofÊwaiƟngÊonÊGod.ÊItÊdidn’tÊcomeÊeasy,ÊtheyÊweren’tÊwith- outÊtheirÊbumpsÊinÊtheÊroadÊ—Êokay,ÊtheirÊmountainsÊinÊtheÊroad;ÊbutÊ justÊlikeÊyouÊandÊme,ÊtheyÊgrewÊinÊfaithÊandÊgrewÊinÊtheirÊunderstand- ingÊofÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊplanÊtoÊonceÊagainÊdrawÊmankindÊnearÊtoÊHim- selfÊthroughÊtheÊmeansÊofÊaÊsubsƟtuƟonaryÊsacrifice.ÊÊ WhatÊtheyÊdidn’tÊknowÊatÊtheÊbeginningÊofÊtheseÊchaptersÊwasÊthat,Ê throughÊtheÊmiraculousÊconcepƟonÊandÊbirthÊofÊtheirÊownÊpromisedÊ son,ÊtheyÊwereÊlivingÊoutÊaÊdramaÊthatÊwouldÊhelpÊturnÊtheÊfacesÊofÊ theirÊdescendantsÊtoÊanotherÊPromisedÊSon.ÊOneÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊ birthedÊinÊaÊdifferentÊmiraculousÊway.ÊOneÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊtheÊfulfill- mentÊofÊGod’sÊpromises.ÊOneÊthatÊwouldÊarriveÊaŌerÊmanyÊyearsÊofÊ waiƟngÊandÊlongingÊbyÊtheÊsonsÊofÊAbraham.ÊÊ HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ17 TheÊCovenantÊRenewedÊ DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ18 TheÊPromiseÊMade DayÊ3: GenesisÊ20—21:7 TheÊSonÊBorn DayÊ4: GenesisÊ22 TheÊSacrificeÊProvided g DAYÊONE:ÊThe Covenant Renewed READÊGenesisÊ17 AsÊyouÊreadÊthisÊchapter,ÊyouÊmayÊhaveÊthoughtÊsomeÊsentencesÊ soundedÊstrangelyÊfamiliar.ÊYou’reÊright!ÊIt’sÊbeenÊaboutÊthirteenÊ yearsÊsinceÊGodÊmadeÊhisÊiniƟalÊcovenantÊwithÊAbraham,Ê(GenesisÊ15)Ê whenÊtheÊanimalsÊlayÊinÊhalvesÊatÊsunsetÊandÊtheÊsmokingÊfireÊpotÊandÊ flamingÊtorchÊpassedÊbetweenÊthoseÊpieces.Ê ButÊthereÊisÊsomethingÊmoreÊthanÊjustÊaÊrepeƟƟonÊofÊthoseÊpromisesÊ goingÊonÊinÊthisÊchapter.ÊÊSomethingÊisÊaboutÊtoÊchange!ÊOneÊofÊtheÊ mostÊnoteworthyÊaspectsÊofÊthisÊchapterÊisÊtheÊchangeÊofÊnames.Ê WeekÊSIX—AbrahamÊ&ÊSarahÊ God’sÊDesignÊforÊaÊPromisedÊMessiah
InÊourÊculture,Êmarriage oŌenÊmeansÊaÊchangeÊofÊnameÊforÊaÊwoman.Ê ChangingÊherÊnameÊisÊaÊsignÊthatÊsheÊhasÊmadeÊaÊcommitmentÊto,ÊandÊ nowÊbelongsÊtoÊherÊhusband.ÊIsn’tÊitÊinteresƟngÊthenÊthatÊGodÊchoseÊ thisÊmomentÊasÊaÊƟmeÊforÊaÊchangeÊinÊnames? · AbramÊ—ÊmeaningÊExalted Father,ÊwasÊchangedÊto:Ê _______________ÊÊwhichÊmeansÊFather of MulƟtudes · SaraiÊ—ÊmeaningÊprincess orÊcontenƟous wasÊchangedÊto:Ê _______________ÊÊmeaningÊprincess It’sÊabundantlyÊclearÊthatÊGodÊhadÊchosenÊAbrahamÊandÊSarahÊtoÊbe- longÊtoÊHIMÊandÊthatÊtheÊwholeÊworldÊwouldÊbeÊblessedÊthroughÊtheirÊ family.ÊGoÊthroughÊtheÊconversaƟonÊinÊthisÊchapterÊandÊlistÊeverythingÊ GodÊsaidÊHeÊwouldÊdo...whetherÊHeÊusedÊpastÊtenseÊorÊfutureÊtense: V.5ÊIÊhaveÊ________________________________________________ V.6ÊIÊwill_________________________________________________ V.6ÊIÊwillÊ_________________________________________________ V.7ÊIÊwill_________________________________________________ V.8ÊIÊwillÊ_________________________________________________ V.8ÊIÊwillÊ_________________________________________________ Now,ÊwhatÊisÊAbraham’sÊpartÊinÊthisÊcovenant? V.9ÊYouÊshallÊ_____________________________________________ · WhatÊwasÊtoÊbeÊtheÊsignÊofÊthatÊcovenantÊ(v.10-14)?ÊHowÊwouldÊ AbrahamÊandÊhisÊdescendantsÊbeÊmarkedÊasÊbelongingÊtoÊGod? EvenÊthoughÊGodÊwasÊspeakingÊtoÊAbraham,ÊHeÊmadeÊpromisesÊspe- cificallyÊrelatedÊtoÊSarahÊasÊwell.ÊÊIdenƟfyÊthem:
V.16ÊIÊwillÊ________________________________________________ V.16ÊIÊwillÊ________________________________________________ WhatÊwasÊAbraham’sÊresponseÊ(v.17)? WhatÊalternaƟveÊsuggesƟonÊdidÊAbramÊofferÊinÊv.18ÊthatÊmightÊhelpÊ thisÊlaughableÊsituaƟon? InÊv.19-21,ÊwhatÊwasÊGod’sÊresponseÊtoÊthatÊsuggesƟon? DAYÊTWO:ÊThe Promise Made READÊGenesisÊ18 NowÊSarahÊgotÊaÊchanceÊtoÊhearÊaboutÊthisÊpromiseÊherself.Ê SummarizeÊtheÊdetailsÊofÊv.1-8: BeingÊtoldÊthatÊSarahÊwasÊinÊtheÊtentÊ(andÊprobablyÊwithinÊear-shot)Ê whatÊdidÊtheÊLordÊtellÊAbrahamÊagainÊinÊv.10?
AndÊwhatÊwasÊSarah’sÊresponseÊinÊv.12? NowÊbothÊAbrahamÊandÊSarahÊhaveÊlaughedÊasÊtheyÊheardÊGod’sÊplanÊ meansÊaÊrealÊconcepƟonÊbetweenÊtheÊtwoÊofÊthemÊandÊaÊrealÊbirth.ÊInÊ GenesisÊ17:19ÊGodÊtoldÊAbrahamÊtoÊnameÊhisÊsonÊIsaac,ÊmeaningÊhe laughs.ÊTheÊconceptÊofÊlaughter isÊrepeatedÊfourÊƟmesÊinÊtheseÊchap- tersÊandÊbecomesÊaÊbitÊofÊaÊsub-theme,ÊsoÊit’sÊprobablyÊworthÊexplor- ing.ÊReadÊtheseÊpassagesÊandÊwriteÊtheÊmoƟvaƟonÊandÊaƫtudeÊbe- hindÊeachÊparƟcipant’sÊlaughter: · AbrahamÊlaughedÊ(Gen.Ê17:15-17)Êbecause: · SarahÊlaughedÊ(Gen.Ê18:10-12)Êbecause: · SarahÊlaughedÊ(Gen.Ê21:6-7)Êbecause: · IshmaelÊlaughedÊ(Gen.Ê21:9)Êbecause: WhatÊaboutÊyou?ÊHaveÊyouÊengagedÊinÊoneÊofÊtheseÊtypesÊofÊlaughterÊ asÊyouÊhaveÊfoundÊyourÊplaceÊinÊGod’sÊunfoldingÊstory? WriteÊoutÊGod’sÊresponse—(theÊfirstÊsentenceÊinÊ18:14)Ê___________ ________________________________________________________ ConsiderÊtheÊreminderÊinÊv.19Ê“I have chosen him”. AbrahamÊwas God’sÊchoice.ÊGodÊmadeÊtheÊpromiseÊfirstÊtoÊAbraham,ÊthenÊinÊtheÊ hearingÊofÊhisÊwife.ÊWhenÊGodÊchoosesÊaÊman,ÊheÊchoosesÊhisÊwifeÊ alongÊwithÊhim.ÊItÊwasÊtheÊfamilyÊthatÊAbrahamÊandÊSarahÊwouldÊÊÊÊ createÊthatÊGodÊwasÊgoingÊtoÊuseÊtoÊreconcileÊallÊmankindÊtoÊHimself.Ê
DAYÊTHREE:ÊThe Son Born READÊGenesisÊ20—21:7Ê(we’llÊstudyÊtheÊskippedÊpassagesÊnextÊweek) WhenÊweÊcomeÊintoÊaÊcloseÊrelaƟonshipÊwithÊourÊCreatorÊGod,ÊHeÊ changesÊus!ÊGodÊhadÊsetÊoutÊtoÊCHANGEÊbothÊAbrahamÊandÊSarah.ÊItÊ beganÊwithÊtheÊchangeÊofÊtheirÊnamesÊatÊageÊ99ÊandÊ89;ÊthenÊtheÊsignÊ ofÊcircumcision;ÊthenÊinÊthisÊchapter,ÊweÊseeÊthatÊGodÊevenÊusedÊaÊÊÊÊ paganÊtoÊshowÊAbrahamÊtheÊerrorÊofÊhisÊways.ÊYep!ÊGodÊdoesn’tÊstopÊ unƟlÊHeÊchangesÊusÊintoÊHisÊlikeness.Ê ToÊwhatÊlocaƟonÊdidÊAbrahamÊandÊSarahÊtravelÊ(V.20:1)? WhatÊdidÊAbrahamÊsayÊaboutÊhisÊwifeÊ(v.2)? WhatÊdidÊKingÊAbimelechÊfeelÊfreeÊtoÊdoÊwithÊSarahÊ(v.2)? WhatÊwasÊAbraham’sÊmoƟvaƟonÊ(v.11)? DescribeÊhowÊGodÊintervenedÊtoÊprotectÊSarah: Let’sÊlookÊatÊthisÊsituaƟonÊ—ÊnestledÊbetweenÊtheÊpromise of the sonÊÊ andÊtheÊfulfillment of the son — fromÊSarah’sÊperspecƟve.ÊAŌerÊall,Ê SHEÊneededÊtoÊbeÊaÊwillingÊparƟcipateÊforÊGodÊtoÊbringÊforthÊHisÊplan. · RephraseÊAbraham’sÊrequestÊtoÊSarah: · RecountÊtheÊeffectÊofÊherÊAbraham’sÊplanÊonÊhisÊwife:
· WhatÊwouldÊhaveÊbeenÊtheÊresultÊifÊSarahÊhadÊsaid,Ê“That’s it...he’s pulled this sister-shenanigan for the last Ɵme...I’m not going to put up with this one more day!”? It’sÊnotÊeasyÊtoÊfollowÊaÊhusbandÊwhoÊisÊeitherÊfearfulÊorÊdisobedient.Ê Yet,ÊifÊyouÊfindÊyourselfÊinÊthisÊveryÊplace,ÊmaybeÊthisÊporƟonÊofÊGod’sÊ unfoldingÊplanÊcanÊgiveÊyouÊcomfortÊandÊinspiraƟon. ReadÊ1ÊPeterÊ3:1-6.ÊPerhapsÊthisÊisÊtheÊveryÊporƟonÊofÊGod’sÊplanÊthatÊ PeterÊhadÊinÊmindÊwhenÊheÊwrote:Ê “...just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.” 1ÊPeterÊ3:6Ê(NASB)Ê WhatÊwasÊtheÊoutcomeÊofÊtheÊwholeÊAbimelechÊsituaƟonÊforÊSarah? AsÊweÊmoveÊintoÊchapterÊ21,ÊtheÊfirstÊsevenÊversesÊareÊpureÊdelight: ÊÊÊ—ÊGodÊdidÊjustÊwhatÊHeÊpromisedÊ ÊÊÊ—ÊSarahÊgaveÊbirthÊjustÊasÊsheÊwasÊenabled ÊÊÊ—ÊAbrahamÊcircumcisedÊIsaacÊjustÊasÊheÊwasÊcommanded DAYÊFOUR:ÊThe Sacrifice Provided READÊGenesisÊ22 ThisÊchapterÊcanÊbeÊperplexingÊtoÊreadÊandÊunderstand.ÊWhat’sÊupÊ withÊaÊGodÊwhoÊtestsÊourÊallegianceÊbyÊaskingÊifÊwe’llÊsacrificeÊourÊ son?ÊBeforeÊweÊinvesƟgateÊtheÊScripturesÊmore,ÊthinkÊaboutÊandÊÊÊÊ answerÊtheseÊtwoÊquesƟons: · WasÊthisÊtestÊsoÊAbrahamÊcouldÊdemonstrateÊhisÊfaithfulÊobedi- enceÊtoÊGod?
· WasÊthisÊtestÊsoÊGodÊcouldÊdemonstrateÊHisÊfaithfulÊprovisionÊtoÊÊÊ Abraham?Ê SummarizeÊGod’sÊinstrucƟonsÊtoÊAbrahamÊ(v.1-2): WhatÊwasÊAbraham’sÊresponseÊ(v.3-5): ThereÊisÊaÊphraseÊinÊv.8ÊthatÊrevealsÊtheÊsignificanceÊofÊthisÊevent,Ê writeÊitÊout:Ê______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ It’sÊaÊreliefÊtoÊreadÊ“do not lay your hand on the boy”Ê(v.12).ÊButÊyouÊ mightÊask,Ê‘could Abraham have done this?’ ‘Could he have actually gone through with slaying his only son?’ Let’sÊdrawÊonÊwhatÊGodÊhadÊalreadyÊdoneÊinÊAbraham’sÊlife.ÊHeÊexpe- riencedÊaÊtypeÊofÊresurrecƟonÊpowerÊinÊhisÊownÊbodyÊthatÊenabledÊaÊ manÊ‘as good as dead’ toÊfatherÊaÊchild.ÊReadÊHebrewsÊ11:17-19.ÊÊ · WhatÊwasÊAbraham’sÊreasoningÊregardingÊthisÊevent: Consider how unreasonable God's request seemed. Isaac was Abra- ham's only son, and the future of the covenant rested in him. He was a miracle child, the giŌ of God to Abraham and Sarah in response to their faith. They loved Isaac very much and had built their whole future around him. When God asked Abraham to offer his son, He was tesƟng Abraham's faith, hope, and love; and it looked on the surface like God was wiping out everything Abraham and Sarah had lived for.
AbrahamÊhadÊlearnedÊtoÊwalkÊwithÊGod,ÊtoÊknowÊGod’sÊcharacter,ÊtoÊ knowÊHisÊpowerÊandÊHisÊintenƟons.ÊWhenÊaÊpersonÊcomesÊtoÊknowÊ GodÊinÊthisÊway,ÊtheyÊcanÊbeÊassuredÊthatÊGodÊisÊtrustworthyÊandÊthatÊ HisÊplanÊisÊgood.ÊDoÊyouÊthinkÊJesusÊalsoÊneededÊtoÊrestÊinÊHisÊownÊ Father’sÊgoodÊplanÊonÊHisÊwayÊtoÊtheÊcross?ÊWhatÊdidÊAbrahamÊcallÊ thisÊplaceÊofÊworshipÊ(v.14)? TheÊpointÊofÊstoryÊisÊnotÊtoÊconvinceÊyouÊthat youÊmustÊbeÊwillingÊtoÊsacrificeÊwhatÊisÊpreciousÊtoÊyou,Ê butÊthatÊGodÊisÊwillingÊtoÊsacrificeÊwhatÊisÊpreciousÊtoÊHim! g CultureÊConfusionÊÊÊg ConflictÊinÊtheÊMiddleÊEasternÊcountriesÊhasÊbeenÊaÊrealityÊforÊallÊofÊ ourÊlivesÊandÊforÊcenturiesÊbeforeÊweÊcameÊonÊtheÊscene.ÊWhatÊpartsÊ ofÊourÊstudyÊthisÊweekÊexplainÊtheÊrootÊofÊsomeÊofÊthisÊconflict? g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg ListÊallÊofÊtheÊwaysÊyouÊcanÊseeÊthatÊtheÊstoryÊofÊAbrahamÊandÊIsaacÊ parallelsÊourÊHeavenlyÊFatherÊandÊHisÊSon,ÊJesusÊChrist: Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked. He wouldn’t struggle or run away. Who was he? God’s Son, his only Son, the Son he loved. The Lamb of God. — The Jesus Storybook Bible 4
‘Where is the Lamb?’Ê(v.7)ÊisÊaÊquesƟonÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊaskedÊagainÊ andÊagainÊthroughoutÊtheÊcenturies.ÊEvenÊthoughÊbloodÊwasÊspilledÊ throughÊaÊsacrificeÊtoÊcoverÊAdamÊandÊEveÊandÊbothÊNoahÊandÊAbra- hamÊofferedÊsacrifices,ÊthisÊisÊperhapsÊoneÊofÊtheÊearliestÊandÊclearestÊ picturesÊofÊtheÊLamb of God offeredÊasÊaÊsacrifice.Ê ReadÊJohnÊ1:35-37ÊandÊshareÊyourÊthoughtsÊaboutÊtheÊlinkÊbetweenÊ theseÊtwoÊpassages: g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg Let’sÊthinkÊbackÊoverÊtheÊwholeÊnarraƟveÊofÊAbrahamÊandÊSarah’sÊlife.Ê · WhatÊreasonsÊdidÊAbrahamÊgiveÊSarahÊtoÊfear? · AsideÊfromÊherÊmanipulaƟonÊinÊtheÊepisodeÊwithÊHagar,ÊinÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ general,ÊhowÊdidÊsheÊrateÊasÊaÊhelp-mateÊtoÊherÊhusband? · WhatÊwasÊherÊrewardÊforÊherÊsteadfastÊsupport? ReadÊHebrewsÊ11:8-16ÊandÊnoteÊwhatÊAbrahamÊwasÊcommendedÊforÊ andÊperhapsÊhowÊitÊmightÊapplyÊtoÊyourÊlife: TurnÊtoÊAcƟvityÊ“B”ÊnearÊtheÊendÊofÊthisÊStudyÊGuide.Ê ThisÊmayÊbeÊaÊgoodÊƟmeÊtoÊprepareÊyourÊownÊgraphÊofÊ theÊmenÊGodÊchoseÊtoÊbeÊpartÊofÊHisÊStoryÊofÊRedempƟon.
ÊÊDate:ÊÊ______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 6
It’sÊaÊbitÊriskyÊtoÊallowÊthisÊweek’sÊlessonÊtoÊseparateÊtheÊson of prom- ise —ÊIsaac,ÊandÊhis bride —ÊRebekah.ÊButÊI’mÊconfidentÊinÊyourÊabilityÊ toÊhangÊontoÊourÊstorylineÊwhileÊweÊcoverÊsomeÊimportantÊlessonsÊonÊ God’sÊjusƟce. ThisÊweek’sÊScripturesÊareÊmostlyÊpassagesÊthatÊweÊleŌÊbehindÊinÊourÊ narraƟveÊofÊAbrahamÊandÊSarah.ÊTheÊfirstÊtwoÊdaysÊwe’llÊstudyÊLotÊandÊ hisÊwifeÊandÊtheÊsecondÊtwoÊdaysÊwe’llÊlookÊbackÊonÊHagar,ÊherÊsitua- ƟonÊandÊhowÊherÊdescendantsÊplayÊintoÊGod’sÊplan. OneÊstatementÊthatÊisÊcertainlyÊtrueÊandÊhasÊgreatÊimplicaƟonsÊisÊ foundÊinÊGenesisÊ18:25.Ê“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” THATÊisÊaÊgreatÊquesƟon.ÊDoÊweÊbelieveÊthatÊtheÊCreatorÊandÊ judgeÊofÊtheÊearthÊwillÊdealÊjustlyÊwithÊHisÊcreaƟon? BothÊofÊtheÊwomenÊinÊthisÊlessonÊwereÊoutsiders inÊaÊmannerÊofÊ speaking.ÊOneÊwillÊclingÊtoÊtheÊpastÊandÊbeÊsweptÊaway,ÊandÊoneÊwillÊ trustÊGod’sÊprovisionÊforÊtheÊfutureÊandÊnotÊonlyÊsurvive,ÊbutÊthrive.Ê HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ13,Ê18:16-33 Lot’sÊChosenÊHome DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ19 JusƟceÊRainsÊoverÊLot’sÊWife DayÊ3: GenesisÊ16 Hagar’sÊChosenÊHome DayÊ4: GenesisÊ21:9-21,ÊÊ25:12-18 JusƟceÊReignsÊoverÊHagar g DAYÊONE:ÊLot’s Chosen Home ReadÊGenesisÊ13 LotÊaccompaniedÊhisÊUncleÊAbrahamÊfromÊUrÊofÊtheÊChaldeesÊtoÊ HaranÊandÊthenÊulƟmatelyÊtoÊCanaan.ÊHeÊprobablyÊfollowedÊAbram’sÊ sojournÊinÊEgyptÊasÊwell.ÊWhenÊtheyÊleŌÊEgypt,ÊtheyÊpossessedÊlargeÊ herdsÊandÊeventuallyÊtheÊpasturelandÊwasn’tÊsufficientÊtoÊsupportÊallÊ theirÊstock,ÊandÊworkersÊgotÊcrabbyÊinÊƟghtÊquarters. WeekÊSEVEN—LotÊandÊhisÊWifeÊplusÊHagarÊ God’sÊDesignÊforÊJusƟce
TheÊtwoÊmenÊseparatedÊ(asÊyouÊreadÊinÊweekÊ5).ÊLotÊseƩledÊamongÊtheÊ ciƟesÊofÊtheÊvalleyÊnearÊSodomÊandÊAbraham,ÊseƩledÊinÊtheÊlandÊofÊÊÊÊÊÊ Canaan.ÊWeÊdidn’tÊhearÊaboutÊLotÊhavingÊaÊwifeÊunƟlÊaŌer heÊpitchedÊ hisÊtentÊnearÊSodom.ÊMostÊscholarsÊbelieveÊLotÊtookÊaÊwifeÊfromÊtheÊ peopleÊwhereÊheÊseƩledÊinÊtheÊplains—probablyÊfromÊSodom. OurÊsecondÊreadingÊtodayÊisÊaÊsmallÊsliceÊofÊGenesisÊ18ÊthatÊhappenedÊ onÊtheÊheelsÊofÊtheÊLordÊvisiƟngÊAbrahamÊbyÊtheÊOaksÊofÊMamre:Ê READÊGenesisÊ18:16-33 · WhatÊwasÊtheÊLord’sÊassessmentÊofÊtheÊpopulaƟonÊofÊSodomÊandÊ Gomorrah?Ê · AŌerÊtheÊtwoÊangelsÊturnÊtoÊheadÊtowardÊSodom,ÊAbrahamÊstayedÊÊ toÊtalkÊwithÊtheÊLordÊaboutÊ‘what he is about to do’ (v.17).ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ SummarizeÊtheÊdialogÊbetweenÊAbrahamÊandÊGod:Ê · WhatÊnumberÊdidÊtheyÊseƩleÊonÊthatÊwouldÊbeÊaÊsufficientÊamountÊ ofÊGodlyÊpeopleÊtoÊspareÊtheÊwholeÊcity? DAYÊTWO:ÊJusƟce Rains over Lot’s Wife READÊGenesisÊ19 TheÊchapterÊopensÊwithÊtwoÊangelsÊenteringÊSodom.ÊTheseÊwereÊtheÊ sameÊtwoÊangelsÊthatÊaccompaniedÊtheÊLordÊinÊtalkingÊtoÊAbraham.Ê Angels are created spiritual beings charged with caring for people and serving them in times of need. They also guide and instruct as well as meet a variety of human needs, in- cluding relieving hunger, overcoming loneliness and dread, and delivering God’s people from danger. —Nelson’s Bible Dictionary 6
· WhereÊdidÊtheÊangelsÊfindÊLot? · WhereÊdidÊLotÊwantÊtheÊangelsÊtoÊspendÊtheÊnight? · DescribeÊtheÊacƟonsÊofÊtheÊmenÊofÊtheÊcityÊatÊeveningÊƟme: · DoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊwasÊaÊsurpriseÊtoÊLot?ÊFromÊGenesisÊ13:13ÊnoteÊ whatÊtheÊcharacterÊofÊthisÊcityÊwasÊwhenÊLotÊmovedÊthere: LotÊtriedÊhisÊbestÊtoÊreasonÊwithÊtheÊtownsmenÊtoÊprotectÊhisÊguests.ÊIÊ wonderÊifÊheÊperceivedÊthemÊtoÊbeÊgodlyÊmessengersÊandÊwasÊactuallyÊ embarrassedÊbyÊtheÊacƟonsÊofÊthoseÊwhomÊheÊcalledÊbrothersÊ(v.7). · HowÊwasÊLotÊsavedÊfromÊtheÊmenÊofÊSodom? · DescribeÊwhatÊhappenedÊtoÊtheÊmenÊofÊSodom: Well,ÊtheÊwholeÊvisitÊwentÊfromÊbadÊtoÊworseÊandÊtheÊangelsÊtoldÊLotÊ toÊpackÊupÊanyÊfamilyÊthatÊwasÊwillingÊtoÊleaveÊwithÊhim.ÊSinceÊweÊ menƟonedÊlaughterÊinÊourÊlastÊlessonÊ—ÊnoteÊtheÊresponseÊofÊLot’sÊ sons-in-lawÊatÊthisÊdireÊƟmeÊ(v.14). · WhoÊactuallyÊleŌÊtheÊtownÊwithÊLot? · WhatÊtypeÊofÊhelpÊdidÊLotÊneedÊinÊtheÊrescueÊaƩemptÊandÊwhy? · WhatÊwasÊtheÊfateÊofÊLot’sÊwife?
· BasedÊonÊtheÊangel’sÊinstrucƟonsÊ“do not look back or stop any- where in the valley” andÊtheÊulƟmateÊfateÊofÊLot’sÊwife—whatÊdoÊ youÊthinkÊherÊacƟonsÊwereÊasÊtheyÊwereÊleaving? TheÊstoryÊsurroundingÊLot’sÊwifeÊisÊdistastefulÊtoÊourÊgeneraƟon.ÊWeÊ centerÊourÊtheologyÊonÊtheÊloveÊofÊGodÊandÊsquirmÊwhenÊpassagesÊofÊ HisÊjusƟceÊsurface.ÊButÊJesusÊdidn’tÊsquirm.ÊHeÊlikenedÊtheÊƟmeÊofÊHisÊ ReturnÊtoÊbothÊtheÊdaysÊofÊSodomÊandÊtheÊGlobalÊFlood. ReadÊLukeÊ17:26-32ÊandÊwriteÊoutÊv.32_________________________ ThisÊisÊoneÊreasonÊwe’veÊincludedÊLotÊandÊhisÊwifeÊinÊourÊstudy.ÊÊÊÊÊ ConƟnueÊreadingÊv.33.ÊHowÊdoÊtheÊwordsÊofÊJesusÊconnectÊtheÊdotsÊÊÊÊÊÊ betweenÊtheÊlessonÊofÊLot’sÊwifeÊandÊyourÊlifeÊandÊchoices? TheÊdayÊwillÊcomeÊwhenÊGod’sÊjusƟceÊwillÊprevail.ÊWeÊwantÊtoÊbeÊ foundÊcoveredÊby JesusÊ(likeÊAdamÊ&ÊEve),ÊresƟngÊin JesusÊ(likeÊNoahÊ &ÊhisÊWife),ÊandÊnotÊentangledÊorÊinÊloveÊwithÊtheÊwickednessÊofÊtheÊ worldÊaroundÊus.Ê It had been only 400 years since the flood, almost within the memory of men then living. Yet men had forgotten the lesson of the cataclysmic destruction of the race. God rained fire on these two cities to refresh men’s memories and to warn of the wrath of God that is in store for wicked men and perhaps to serve as a token of earth’s final doom in a holocaust of fire. — Halley’s Bible Handbook 5
DAYÊTHREE:ÊHagar’s Chosen Home READÊGenesisÊ16 LotÊchoseÊaÊhomeÊinÊSodomÊandÊchoseÊhisÊwifeÊfromÊamongÊtheÊÊ wickedÊpeopleÊlivingÊinÊtheÊplains.ÊAbrahamÊgaveÊhimÊtheÊgiŌÊofÊfirstÊ choiceÊinÊwhateverÊplaceÊheÊwantedÊtoÊlive. HagarÊhadÊnoÊchoiceÊinÊwhereÊsheÊwouldÊlive.ÊSheÊbeganÊlifeÊinÊEgyptÊ andÊwasÊlikelyÊre-assignedÊaÊhomeÊwhenÊsheÊwasÊgiŌedÊtoÊAbrahamÊ byÊPharaohÊ(GenesisÊ12:16).Ê We’llÊseeÊinÊtheÊcomparisonÊandÊcontrastÊofÊMrs.ÊLotÊandÊHagarÊthatÊ theirÊlocaƟonÊdidn’tÊmaƩer—itÊwasÊtheÊcondiƟon of their hearts andÊ howÊtheyÊviewedÊtheirÊacƟonsÊinÊlightÊofÊAlmightyÊGod. WeÊreadÊthisÊchapterÊtwoÊweeksÊago,ÊbutÊweÊareÊnowÊreadingÊitÊ throughÊtheÊeyesÊofÊHagar.Ê SarahÊcameÊupÊwithÊtheÊideaÊofÊusingÊherÊmaidÊservantÊasÊaÊsurro- gate.ÊSurrogacyÊwasÊwidelyÊpopularÊwithÊeasternÊpeople,ÊitÊwasÊevenÊ menƟonedÊinÊtheÊLawsÊofÊHammurabi.ÊHowever,ÊaÊchildÊbirthedÊbyÊaÊ differentÊmotherÊwasn’tÊGod’sÊplan.ÊGodÊhadÊpromisedÊthemÊaÊsonÊ andÊHeÊwasÊgoingÊtoÊdeliverÊonÊthatÊpromise.ÊTheÊdifficultyÊwasÊinÊtheÊ waiƟng.ÊWeÊcanÊallÊempathizeÊwithÊSarahÊonÊthatÊscore! · AŌerÊHagarÊrealizedÊsheÊhadÊconceived,ÊwhatÊwasÊherÊnewÊÊÊÊÊÊ aƫtudeÊtowardÊherÊboss? · WhoÊdidÊSarahÊblameÊforÊthisÊnewÊsourceÊofÊpain? · WhichÊotherÊGenesisÊwomanÊdoesÊthatÊremindÊyouÊof?ÊWhatÊisÊ theÊcomparison?
· WhatÊacƟonÊdidÊHagarÊtakeÊ(v.7)? WhenÊHagarÊranÊaway,ÊIÊwouldÊsupposeÊSarahÊwasÊrelieved.ÊItÊoŌenÊ feelsÊgood,ÊatÊleastÊiniƟally,ÊtoÊhaveÊpressureÊrelievedÊfromÊaÊbadÊÊÊÊ situaƟon.Ê ButÊHagar’sÊbodyÊcontainedÊtheÊlifeÊofÊAbraham’sÊoffspring GodÊhonorsÊlife,ÊGodÊcaresÊaboutÊlife EvenÊwhenÊit’sÊnotÊconceivedÊinÊtheÊbestÊofÊsituaƟons! So,ÊGodÊreachedÊoutÊtoÊHagarÊinÊtheÊwilderness,ÊbyÊaÊspringÊofÊwater,Ê maybeÊonÊherÊwayÊbackÊtoÊEgypt.ÊTheÊtextÊsaysÊ“the angel of the LORD found her.”ÊÊThisÊisÊamazing,ÊasÊitÊisÊtheÊfirstÊappearanceÊinÊScriptureÊofÊ theÊangel of the LORD,ÊwhoÊisÊgenerallyÊidenƟfiedÊasÊourÊLordÊJesusÊ Christ—andÊheÊappearedÊtoÊHagar,ÊtheÊservantÊgirlÊthatÊoŌenÊtakesÊ theÊhitÊforÊruiningÊtheÊfamilyÊtree.Ê · WhatÊwereÊGod’sÊinstrucƟonsÊtoÊHagarÊregarding: · HerÊhomeÊ(v.9): · TheÊnameÊofÊherÊsonÊ(v.11): ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ(GodÊhears) · WhatÊwasÊHisÊprophecyÊregardingÊherÊoffspringÊ(v.10,12)? HagarÊaddressedÊtheÊangel of the Lord as El Roi. · WriteÊoutÊwhatÊthatÊmeansÊfromÊv.13: These pre-incarnation visits of Jesus Christ were to meet spe- cial needs and to accomplish special tasks. The fact that the Son of God took on a temporary body, left heaven, and came down to help a rejected servant-girl surely reveals His grace and love. — Bible Exposition Commentary 1
· WriteÊoutÊHagar’sÊassessmentÊofÊherÊmeeƟngÊwithÊGodÊfromÊv.13: GodÊextendedÊHisÊgraceÊtoÊaÊhumbleÊservantÊgirl.ÊHe’sÊsƟllÊinÊtheÊÊÊ businessÊofÊextendingÊHisÊgrace,ÊofÊseeingÊandÊhearing: ReadÊtheseÊ passagesÊandÊnoteÊanyÊthoughts: · 1ÊSamuelÊ16:7 · 2ÊChroniclesÊ16:9 · PsalmÊ34:17 DAYÊFOUR:ÊJusƟce Reigns over Hagar READÊGenesisÊ21:9-21,ÊGen.Ê25:12-18 AboutÊ15ÊyearsÊhaveÊpassedÊandÊSarahÊhasÊbirthedÊIsaac.ÊAgainÊweÊ haveÊaÊrelaƟonalÊconflictÊbrewingÊbetweenÊtheÊtwoÊwomenÊandÊtheÊ twoÊsons.Ê · WhatÊseemedÊtoÊbeÊIshmael’sÊaƫtudeÊatÊtheÊfeastÊforÊIsaac? · WhatÊwasÊSarah’sÊdemandÊregardingÊIshmael? · ThisÊƟmeÊAbrahamÊseemedÊtoÊhaveÊmoreÊofÊanÊopinion.ÊHowÊdidÊ heÊfeelÊaboutÊSarah’sÊdemand? · GodÊintervenedÊbetweenÊSarahÊandÊAbrahamÊinÊaÊsurprisingÊway.Ê WhatÊdidÊHeÊtellÊAbraham?
· WhatÊwasÊtheÊcomfort/assuranceÊGodÊgaveÊAbrahamÊinÊv.13? HagarÊandÊIshmaelÊleŌÊAbraham’sÊhomeÊwithÊsomeÊwaterÊandÊbread: · ChronicleÊtheirÊacƟonsÊandÊemoƟonsÊ(it’sÊaÊbitÊdramaƟc): · WhatÊthingsÊdidÊtheÊAngelÊofÊGodÊspeakÊtoÊHagarÊ(v.17-18)? · HowÊdidÊGodÊrefreshÊHagarÊandÊgiveÊherÊencouragement? · FromÊwhereÊdidÊHagarÊgetÊaÊwifeÊforÊIshmael? God’sÊpromiseÊtoÊbothÊHagarÊandÊAbrahamÊwithÊregardÊtoÊtheÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ descendantsÊofÊIshmaelÊwasÊfulfilled.ÊReadÊGenesisÊ25:12-18ÊtoÊfindÊ out the generaƟons of Ishmael.ÊTwelveÊprincesÊandÊtwelveÊtribesÊthatÊ seƩled over against all his kinsmenÊ(v.18).ÊÊ g CultureÊConfusionÊÊÊg WhatÊweÊjustÊreadÊexplainsÊtheÊbeginningÊofÊtheÊArabÊpeople;ÊwhoÊforÊ 4000ÊyearsÊhaveÊseƩledÊnear andÊbeenÊagainst theÊJewishÊpeople. It’sÊfascinaƟngÊthatÊGod’sÊinteracƟonÊwithÊHagarÊandÊIshmaelÊbeganÊ withÊHisÊsovereignÊappearanceÊtoÊthem.ÊToÊthisÊdayÊweÊhearÊaccountsÊ ofÊGodÊreachingÊoutÊtoÊtheÊArabÊpopulaƟon,ÊperhapsÊmoreÊthanÊanyÊ otherÊpeopleÊgroupÊonÊearth,ÊinÊaÊsimilarÊway—throughÊdreamsÊandÊ visions.
g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg EvenÊthoughÊHisÊgraceÊextendedÊtoÊIshmael,ÊGod’sÊplanÊofÊsavingÊman- kindÊwouldÊbeÊthroughÊtheÊseedÊthatÊwouldÊcomeÊfromÊEve,ÊviaÊNoah’sÊ sonÊShem,ÊthroughÊAbrahamÊandÊSarah,ÊtoÊblessÊtheÊwholeÊearth.ÊÊ g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg ThereÊareÊsoÊmanyÊthingsÊtoÊtake to heartÊwithÊtheÊaccountÊofÊLot’sÊ WifeÊandÊHagar.ÊÊ · AlthoughÊGodÊwasÊbringingÊjudgmentÊonÊtheÊveryÊungodlyÊcultureÊ ofÊSodom,ÊheÊprovidedÊaÊwayÊofÊescapeÊforÊanyÊwhoÊwouldÊtakeÊit.Ê ReadÊJudeÊ1:18-20.ÊProcessÊwhatÊthisÊmayÊmeanÊforÊyourÊlifeÊtoday. · TheÊexistenceÊofÊIshmaelÊbecameÊinconvenientÊforÊSaraiÊandÊsoÊsheÊ choseÊtoÊdisposeÊofÊtheÊchild.ÊIt’sÊaÊharshÊstatement—butÊtrue.ÊInÊ ourÊcultureÊtheÊpresenceÊofÊchildrenÊcanÊbecomeÊinconvenientÊtoo.Ê WhatÊdoesÊitÊsayÊaboutÊGod’sÊcharacterÊthatÊHeÊwentÊtoÊsuchÊ lengthsÊtoÊsaveÊthem?ÊWhatÊdoesÊitÊimplyÊaboutÊtheÊcharacterÊthatÊ GodÊmayÊwantÊtoÊculƟvateÊinÊus? · AlthoughÊHagarÊwasÊmarginalizedÊinÊherÊday,ÊGodÊwentÊoutÊofÊHisÊ wayÊtoÊreachÊher.ÊSheÊcalledÊHimÊ“The God who sees.”ÊÊItÊcanÊbeÊÊÊÊÊ eitherÊaÊcomfortÊorÊaÊdisturbanceÊknowingÊGodÊseesÊourÊevery move.Ê(ConsiderÊtheÊdozensÊofÊƟmesÊweÊreadÊaboutÊtheÊKingsÊofÊ JudahÊandÊIsraelÊ‘he did evil in the eyes of the Lord.’)ÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊ affectÊyouÊtoday?ÊComfortÊorÊdisturbance?Ê
ÊÊÊDate:ÊÊ______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 7
AŌerÊourÊdetourÊlastÊweek,Êwe’reÊgeƫngÊbackÊtoÊtheÊconƟnuingÊstoryÊ ofÊGod’sÊplanÊtoÊrescueÊmankindÊthroughÊAbraham’sÊSeed.ÊOurÊfirstÊ chapterÊthisÊweekÊisÊtheÊlongestÊchapterÊinÊGenesis—67Êverses.ÊIt’sÊaÊ beauƟfulÊandÊmovingÊstoryÊwithÊanÊintriguingÊspiritualÊparallel.Ê RememberÊthatÊweÊpointedÊoutÊourÊBibleÊopensÊwithÊaÊmarriageÊinÊ theÊgardenÊofÊEdenÊandÊclosesÊwithÊaÊmarriageÊbetweenÊChristÊandÊ HisÊBrideÊinÊanotherÊgarden.ÊMaybeÊthatÊgivesÊusÊaÊliƩleÊinsightÊintoÊ whyÊthisÊweek’sÊchapterÊisÊsoÊlongÊandÊwhyÊit’sÊsoÊimportant.ÊIfÊIsaacÊ isÊaÊtypeÊofÊJesusÊChrist,ÊthenÊtheÊacquisiƟonÊofÊhisÊbrideÊmustÊinÊ someÊwaysÊbeÊaÊtypeÊofÊtheÊchurch.ÊÊLet’sÊdiscoverÊhow... HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ24:1-48 TheÊSearchÊforÊaÊBride DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ24:49-67 TheÊChoiceÊofÊtheÊBride DayÊ3: GenesisÊ25:19-24 TheÊChildrenÊofÊtheÊBride DayÊ4: GenesisÊ27 TheÊLegacyÊofÊBrokenness g DAYÊONE:ÊThe Search for a Bride READÊGenesisÊ24:1-48 AbrahamÊwasÊnowÊ140ÊyearsÊoldÊandÊwasÊdeterminedÊtoÊfinishÊhisÊ courseÊbyÊmakingÊsureÊhisÊsonÊIsaacÊhadÊaÊwifeÊthatÊwouldÊenableÊhimÊ toÊconƟnueÊtoÊfulfillÊGod’sÊrescueÊmission. · MakeÊaÊlistÊofÊtheÊspecificÊdosÊandÊdon’tsÊforÊAbraham’sÊservantÊasÊ heÊheadedÊtoÊtheÊterritoryÊofÊAbraham’sÊbirthÊfamilyÊ(v.3-8): · · · · Ê WeekÊEIGHT—IsaacÊ&ÊRebekahÊ God’sÊDesignÊtoÊRevealÊHisÊChurch
TheÊservantÊofÊAbrahamÊwasÊneverÊmenƟonedÊbyÊname,ÊbutÊsomeÊ thinkÊitÊmayÊhaveÊbeenÊEliezerÊ(GenesisÊ15:2),ÊwhoÊwasÊsoÊcloseÊtoÊ AbrahamÊthatÊheÊwasÊevenÊconsideredÊtheÊheirÊofÊhisÊestateÊbeforeÊ IsaacÊarrivedÊonÊtheÊscene.Ê(We’llÊtalkÊmoreÊaboutÊEliezerÊtomorrow.) TheÊjourneyÊfromÊCanaanÊtoÊtheÊcityÊofÊNahorÊinÊMesopotamiaÊwouldÊ haveÊbeenÊaboutÊ500Êmiles.ÊByÊtheÊƟmeÊAbraham’sÊservantÊgotÊthere,Ê heÊwouldÊhaveÊbeenÊfairlyÊtravelÊweary. · InÊorderÊtoÊknowÊwhichÊoneÊwouldÊbeÊtheÊrightÊgirl,ÊwhatÊsignÊdidÊÊÊ heÊaskÊGodÊforÊinÊv.12-14? · HowÊquicklyÊdidÊGodÊanswerÊhisÊprayer? · DescribeÊRebekah’sÊphysicalÊappearanceÊandÊherÊacƟons: · WhatÊwasÊherÊactualÊrelaƟonshipÊtoÊIsaacÊ(v.24)? · WhoÊinvitedÊAbraham’sÊservantÊtoÊstayÊinÊtheirÊhome? · HowÊdidÊtheÊservantÊcreditÊtheÊGodÊofÊAbrahamÊforÊhisÊsuccess? ToÊsummarizeÊtoday’sÊreading,ÊweÊseeÊtheÊdesireÊofÊtheÊfather,Êcou- pledÊwithÊtheÊdedicaƟonÊofÊtheÊservant,ÊbringingÊaboutÊaÊsuccessfulÊ encounterÊwithÊtheÊpotenƟalÊbrideÊforÊIsaac.ÊBut,ÊAbrahamÊsaidÊsheÊ mustÊbeÊwillingÊtoÊreturnÊtoÊCanaan…ÊWe’llÊsee…
DAYÊTWO:ÊThe Choice of the Bride READÊGenesisÊ24:49-67 ThisÊmatchmakingÊepisodeÊmovesÊalongÊfairlyÊswiŌly.ÊButÊwhoÊcouldÊÊÊ argueÊwithÊaÊstoryÊbackedÊupÊbyÊallÊthoseÊcostlyÊtreasures?ÊInÊtheÊ evening,ÊbothÊLabanÊandÊBethuelÊagreedÊtoÊletÊRebekahÊreturnÊandÊ becomeÊtheÊwifeÊofÊIsaac.Ê · WhatÊslightÊchangeÊpresentedÊitselfÊinÊtheÊmorningÊ(v.55)? · WhatÊwasÊRebekah’sÊresponseÊwhenÊtheyÊaskÊforÊHERÊchoice? TheÊdeterminaƟonÊofÊtheÊbrideÊ—ÊaffirmedÊbyÊherÊyes, leadÊtoÊtheÊÊÊ delightÊofÊtheÊgroomÊandÊsomeÊofÊtheÊmostÊromanƟcÊversesÊinÊtheÊÊ BibleÊ(v.63-67). · WhatÊisÊyourÊimpressionÊofÊthatÊscene? Rebekah’sÊnameÊmeansÊto Ɵe firmlyÊor secure.ÊIt’sÊanÊinteresƟngÊ meaningÊbyÊitself,ÊbutÊifÊweÊrememberÊthereÊisÊaÊdramaÊgoingÊonÊwithÊ biggerÊimplicaƟonsÊthanÊjustÊaÊguyÊinÊtheÊMiddleÊEastÊgeƫngÊaÊwife,Ê herÊnameÊbecomesÊfascinaƟng.ÊCouldÊitÊbeÊthatÊsheÊherselfÊisÊanÊim- ageÊofÊtheÊBrideÊofÊChristÊwhoÊwouldÊbeÊsecured orÊfirmly Ɵed toÊtheÊ bridegroom? WhatÊaÊdelightÊthatÊGodÊlaidÊoutÊhisÊrescueÊmissionÊinÊeveryÊchapterÊ ofÊScriptureÊsoÊthat,ÊwhenÊtheÊrealÊmanÊofÊrescueÊappeared,ÊpeopleÊ wouldÊrecognizeÊHim.ÊIsaacÊhimselfÊisÊclearlyÊaÊshadowÊofÊJesusÊChristÊ andÊit’sÊeasyÊtoÊseeÊFatherÊAbrahamÊasÊaÊshadowÊofÊFatherÊGod.ÊÊ · WhoÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊthisÊservantÊmayÊbeÊaÊshadowÊof?
IfÊAbraham’sÊservantÊwasÊindeedÊEliezer,ÊthenÊweÊhaveÊanotherÊintri- guingÊname.ÊEliezerÊcomesÊinÊtwoÊparts:ÊelÊandÊezer. DoÊyouÊremem- berÊezerÊfromÊGenesis?ÊHelper?ÊHisÊnameÊliterallyÊmeansÊHelper of God; andÊweÊknowÊfromÊtheÊNewÊTestamentÊthatÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊis,Ê amongÊotherÊthings,ÊourÊHelper.Ê · HowÊaboutÊRebekahÊherself?ÊÊWhoÊmightÊsheÊrepresent? · JournalÊallÊofÊtheÊelementsÊinÊthisÊchapterÊthatÊyouÊthinkÊmightÊ haveÊpotenƟalÊmeaningÊbetweenÊJesusÊChristÊandÊHisÊBride: DAYÊTHREE:ÊThe Children of the Bride READÊGenesisÊ25:19-24 Today’sÊpassageÊbeginsÊwithÊtheÊfiŌhÊoccurrenceÊ(outÊofÊten)ÊofÊtheÊ phraseÊ“these are the generaƟons of...” ThisÊƟmeÊit’sÊveryÊshort—oneÊ generaƟon—butÊgreatÊdetailÊisÊgivenÊusÊaboutÊIsaac’sÊwifeÊRebekah.Ê · RebekahÊhadÊwhatÊsimilarÊphysicalÊlimitaƟonÊasÊherÊauntÊSarah? · WhatÊdidÊIsaacÊdoÊaboutÊthatÊ(v.21)? · WhatÊwasÊtheÊresult? ThisÊwasÊtheÊfirstÊinstanceÊofÊintercessionÊandÊansweredÊprayerÊinÊtheÊ Scriptures.ÊI’veÊoŌenÊreferencedÊthisÊtoÊinspireÊmarriedÊcouplesÊonÊ howÊeffecƟveÊtheirÊprayersÊareÊtowardÊoneÊanotherÊsinceÊtheyÊareÊaÊ one-fleshÊenƟty.ÊWhatÊaÊblessingÊitÊwasÊtoÊRebekahÊthatÊIsaacÊwasÊ insighƞulÊenoughÊtoÊaskÊforÊGod’sÊfavorÊonÊtheirÊbehalf.Ê · PeterÊalsoÊconcurredÊwithÊtheÊblessingÊofÊaÊhusband’sÊprayers.Ê ReadÊ1ÊPeterÊ3:7ÊandÊwriteÊtheÊgistÊofÊit:Ê · WhatÊwasÊunusualÊaboutÊRebekah’sÊpregnancyÊ(v.22)? · WhatÊdidÊsheÊdoÊaboutÊit? · WhatÊdidÊGodÊrevealÊtoÊherÊaboutÊherÊchildren? CompleteÊthisÊchart: ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊFavoredÊby ÊÊBirth-Order ÊÊOccupaƟon ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊWhichÊParent JacobÊÊ__________________________________________________ EsauÊÊÊÊ__________________________________________________ READÊGenesisÊ25:25-34.ÊEsau’sÊnameÊmeantÊhairy,ÊwhichÊisn’tÊveryÊ deepÊorÊpropheƟc.ÊJacob’sÊname,ÊonÊtheÊotherÊhand,ÊstemmedÊfromÊ hisÊacƟonsÊatÊbirthÊasÊheÊwasÊholdingÊontoÊhisÊolderÊbrother’sÊheel.ÊSoÊ hisÊnameÊmeantÊ‘he takes by the heel’ orÊ‘he cheats’. ThisÊchapterÊchroniclesÊtheÊconƟnuaƟonÊofÊaÊlife-longÊreputaƟonÊofÊ cheaƟng orÊsupplanƟng.ÊBut,Êlet’sÊnotÊbeÊtooÊhardÊonÊJacob—itÊtakesÊ twoÊtoÊtransferÊaÊbirthrightÊandÊtheÊboysÊcouldn’tÊhaveÊfeltÊmoreÊ differentlyÊaboutÊit! · WhatÊvalueÊdidÊEsauÊplaceÊonÊhisÊGod-givenÊposiƟonÊinÊtheÊworld?
EsauÊalsoÊhadÊtheÊnicknameÊEdomÊmeaningÊred,ÊprobablyÊreferringÊtoÊ theÊred lenƟl stew.ÊHisÊdescendantsÊwereÊtheÊEdomites.Ê · HowÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊheÊmustÊhaveÊfeltÊwhenÊpeopleÊcalledÊhimÊEdomÊ (withÊaÊmentalÊpictureÊofÊlenƟlÊstewÊinÊhisÊhead)?Ê BeforeÊweÊleaveÊthisÊlesson,ÊreadÊalsoÊGenesisÊ26:34-35.Ê · InÊwhatÊotherÊareasÊdidÊEsauÊneglectÊtoÊseekÊGodÊorÊunderstandÊ theÊimportanceÊofÊchoosingÊwell?ÊWhatÊeffectÊdidÊitÊhaveÊonÊtheÊ family? DAYÊFOUR:ÊThe Legacy of Brokenness READÊGenesisÊ27 ItÊoŌenÊhappensÊthatÊcertainÊchoicesÊdon’tÊseemÊlikeÊaÊbigÊdealÊatÊtheÊ moment,ÊbutÊlater,ÊasÊweÊwalkÊoutÊtheÊconsequences,ÊweÊcanÊseeÊtheÊ enormityÊofÊthoseÊdecisions!ÊIÊthinkÊtheÊepisodeÊofÊtheÊstew for birth- rightÊexchangeÊisÊcertainlyÊoneÊofÊthoseÊƟmes.Ê Remember,ÊbeforeÊherÊboysÊwereÊborn,ÊGodÊhadÊtoldÊRebekah,Ê“the older shall serve the younger”Ê(GenesisÊ25:23).ÊThisÊchapterÊbeginsÊaÊ legacyÊofÊbrokennessÊthatÊcarriesÊintoÊtheÊrestÊofÊtheÊstoryÊofÊourÊMes- siah.ÊHowÊredempƟveÊofÊourÊGodÊthatÊHeÊchoosesÊtoÊuseÊbrokenÊ thingsÊforÊHisÊpurposeÊofÊblessing! · InÊv.1-4,ÊIsaacÊrequestedÊpreparaƟonsÊbeÊmadeÊforÊaÊbitÊofÊaÊfeastÊ thatÊwouldÊaccompanyÊwhatÊimportantÊevent? · InÊv.5-10,ÊhowÊdidÊRebekahÊbecomeÊinvolvedÊinÊthisÊevent? · WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊsheÊwentÊtoÊallÊofÊthisÊeffortÊsinceÊGodÊhadÊtoldÊ herÊ40ÊyearsÊearlierÊthatÊEsauÊwouldÊserveÊJacobÊanyway?
· WhatÊwasÊJacob’sÊreservaƟonÊwithÊhisÊmother’sÊplanÊ(v.11-13)? SoÊtheÊrouseÊwasÊsetÊinÊacƟonÊwithÊRebekah’sÊstew,ÊEsau’sÊgarments,Ê andÊtheÊskinÊofÊaÊgoat.ÊItÊwasÊoneÊthingÊforÊJacobÊtoÊmakeÊaÊbirthrightÊ tradeÊwithÊEsauÊface-to-faceÊ—ÊthatÊwasÊalmostÊlikeÊaÊbusinessÊdeal;Ê butÊthisÊeventÊraisesÊtheÊbarÊofÊdecepƟonÊtoÊanÊall-ƟmeÊhigh!Ê ÊÊÊÊ...DeceivingÊanÊelderlyÊandÊdyingÊfather!Ê ...LyingÊaboutÊhisÊidenƟfyÊnotÊonce,ÊbutÊmulƟplesÊƟmes! ...EvenÊemployingÊtheÊnameÊofÊtheÊLORD! · WhatÊwereÊsomeÊofÊtheÊelementsÊofÊIsaac’sÊblessingÊinÊv.28-29?Ê · WhatÊwasÊIsaac’sÊreacƟonÊwhenÊheÊrealizedÊheÊhadÊnotÊblessedÊ Esau? · It’sÊheartbreakingÊtoÊreadÊv.34-38ÊandÊwatchÊEsauÊrealizeÊwhatÊheÊ hadÊdespised,ÊratherÊthanÊcherished,ÊwasÊnowÊgoneÊforever.Ê WhatÊpersonalÊlessonÊdoesÊthisÊconveyÊinÊyourÊlifeÊrightÊnow? · WhatÊwasÊEsau’sÊemoƟonalÊstateÊtowardÊhisÊbrotherÊaŌerÊthisÊ event,ÊandÊwhatÊwasÊheÊploƫng? · WhereÊdidÊRebekahÊsuggestÊJacobÊtoÊgoÊ(v.43)?
YouÊmayÊorÊmayÊnotÊalreadyÊknowÊLaban’sÊcharacter,ÊbutÊwe’llÊfindÊ outÊinÊourÊnextÊlessonÊthatÊMr.ÊDeceiverÊisÊaboutÊtoÊmeetÊhisÊmatch. · WhatÊwereÊtheÊconsequencesÊofÊRebekah’sÊ(andÊJacob’s)ÊacƟonÊinÊ theÊfamilyÊdynamic? · SuggesƟngÊthatÊJacobÊmoveÊtoÊLaban,ÊRebekahÊseemedÊtoÊthinkÊ Esau’sÊfury would turn away.ÊWhyÊwouldÊsheÊevenÊthinkÊthatÊwasÊaÊ possibility?ÊÊWasÊthatÊrealisƟcÊorÊwasÊsheÊinÊdenial? · ControllersÊandÊmanipulatorsÊusuallyÊbecomeÊexertÊatÊspinningÊ storiesÊorÊdecisionsÊinÊtheÊmostÊfavorableÊlightÊforÊthemselves.Ê WhatÊspinÊdidÊRebekahÊputÊonÊherÊideaÊtoÊsendÊJacobÊawayÊ(v.46)? g CultureÊConfusionÊÊÊg AreÊyouÊrepelledÊatÊtheÊthoughtÊofÊanÊarrangedÊmarriage?ÊIt’sÊcertain- lyÊnotÊhowÊweÊdoÊthings,ÊbutÊmanyÊculturesÊaroundÊtheÊworldÊsƟllÊop- erateÊthisÊwayÊ—ÊsomeÊwithÊsuccess.ÊSinceÊthereÊareÊmanyÊdifferentÊ culturalÊpracƟces,ÊwhatÊwouldÊyouÊlistÊasÊBiblicalÊabsolutesÊforÊchoicesÊ inÊaÊlifeÊpartner? Ê g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg We’veÊalreadyÊpointedÊoutÊsoÊmanyÊofÊtheÊbeauƟfulÊillustraƟonsÊfromÊ Genesis:ÊbeingÊcovered byÊGod’sÊgrace,ÊresƟngÊinÊGod’sÊgrace,ÊtheÊ subsƟtuƟonary sacrificeÊofÊGod’sÊgrace...andÊnowÊtheÊcompellingÊpur- suit byÊGod’sÊgrace.Ê
ReadÊtheseÊpassagesÊaboutÊtheÊworkÊofÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit.ÊCommentÊonÊ howÊtheyÊbringÊsubstanceÊtoÊtheÊshadowsÊofÊtheÊstoryÊwe’veÊstudied: · JohnÊÊ6:65 · JohnÊ15:16Ê · JohnÊ15:26 g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg RebekahÊturnedÊintoÊquiteÊtheÊmanipulatorÊasÊsheÊaged.Ê · ContrastÊhowÊRebekah’sÊandÊSarah’sÊmanipulaƟonÊfactorÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ increasedÊorÊdecreasedÊasÊtheyÊaged. · DoÊyouÊhaveÊanyÊthoughtsÊasÊtoÊwhatÊcausesÊaÊwomanÊtoÊincreaseÊ orÊdiminishÊinÊbeingÊaÊcontroller/manipulator? · OnÊaÊscaleÊofÊ1—10,ÊwhereÊdoÊyouÊlandÊonÊtheÊcontrol or manipu- laƟon meterÊrightÊnowÊinÊyourÊlife? · ParentalÊfavoriƟsmÊcanÊbeÊaÊproblemÊandÊitÊcertainlyÊplayedÊintoÊ theseÊevents.ÊIsÊthereÊanÊapplicaƟonÊtoÊyourÊlife?
ÊÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 8
We’reÊstarƟngÊourÊlandingÊcycleÊforÊtheÊgeneraƟons listedÊinÊGenesis.Ê AllÊthatÊwe’veÊstudiedÊpointsÊtoÊaÊdayÊwhenÊGodÊwillÊmakeÊallÊthingsÊ new—fromÊtheÊfirstÊmarriageÊinÊtheÊgardenÊtoÊtheÊfinalÊmarriageÊinÊ RevelaƟon.ÊGod’sÊstoryÊwillÊconƟnueÊunfoldingÊfromÊtheÊclosingÊofÊ GenesisÊtoÊtheÊentranceÊofÊJesusÊChrist,ÊbornÊofÊtheÊvirginÊMaryÊinÊtheÊ NewÊTestament.ÊItÊisÊtheÊRegeneraƟonÊthatÊisÊourÊhope. TheÊwordÊgeneraƟonÊdoesn’tÊonlyÊmeanÊaÊgroupÊofÊpeopleÊbornÊ aroundÊtheÊsameÊƟme,ÊitÊalsoÊrefersÊtoÊtheÊbeginningÊofÊsomething.Ê (He generated many quesƟons with his report.)ÊSoÊlet’sÊobserve,ÊbyÊ wayÊofÊoverview,ÊtheÊgeneraƟon storyÊofÊGenesis: ChaptersÊ1-2 GeneraƟonÊ(theÊbeginning—perfect) ChaptersÊ3-11 DegeneraƟonÊ(theÊfall—fallingÊapart) ChaptersÊ12-50 RegeneraƟonÊ(theÊprocessÊofÊrestoring) GodÊhasÊbeenÊinÊtheÊprocessÊofÊrestoringÊwhatÊwasÊoriginallyÊHisÊeverÊ sinceÊtheÊfallÊofÊman,ÊtheÊjudgmentÊofÊmanÊandÊtheÊcallingÊofÊAbra- ham.ÊAsÊJesusÊsaid,Ê“SalvaƟon is from the Jews” JohnÊ4:22! ByÊtheÊendÊofÊthisÊweek’sÊstudy,ÊweÊshouldÊbeÊabsolutelyÊsureÊthatÊ GodÊhasÊaÊplannedÊkingdomÊandÊHisÊkingdomÊisÊforcefullyÊadvancing! HereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊthisÊweek: DayÊ1: GenesisÊ28 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊTheÊManÊandÊHisÊDream DayÊ2:Ê GenesisÊ29:1-30 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊTheÊManÊandÊHisÊTwoÊBrides DayÊ3: GenesisÊ29:31-35Ê&Ê30:1-24ÊÊTheÊManÊandÊHisÊTwelveÊChildren DayÊ4: GenesisÊ32:22-31 ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊTheÊManÊwhoÊBecameÊIsrael g DAYÊONE:ÊThe Man and His Dream READÊGenesisÊ28 AsÊthisÊchapterÊopens,ÊatÊleastÊoneÊthingÊhasÊbeenÊagreedÊuponÊbe- tweenÊIsaacÊandÊRebekah—theyÊbothÊreally,ÊreallyÊdon’tÊwantÊJacobÊ WeekÊNINE—JacobÊ&ÊHisÊWives God’sÊDesignÊtoÊBlessÊDespiteÊBlunders toÊtakeÊaÊwifeÊfromÊtheÊCanaaniteÊwomenÊsurroundingÊthem.ÊIsaacÊ offeredÊaÊsecond blessingÊtoÊJacobÊandÊoffÊheÊwent!ÊTheÊhome-bodyÊ boyÊwasÊoutÊonÊhisÊown.ÊHeÊwasÊthoughtÊtoÊbeÊaboutÊ77ÊyearsÊoldÊatÊ thatÊƟme.ÊÊProbablyÊƟmeÊtoÊgetÊmarried—don’tÊyouÊthink? We’reÊreallyÊfinishedÊwithÊtheÊstoryÊofÊEsau,ÊbutÊlet’sÊtakeÊoneÊlastÊ lookÊatÊhisÊaƩemptsÊtoÊpleaseÊhisÊfatherÊinÊv.6-9!Ê · WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊitÊwasn’tÊanÊopƟonÊforÊIsaacÊandÊRebekahÊtoÊ suggestÊthatÊJacobÊfindÊaÊwifeÊfromÊIshmael’sÊdescendants? OnÊJacob’sÊjourneyÊtoÊHaran,ÊprobablyÊaboutÊthreeÊdaysÊin,ÊheÊcame to a certain place and stayed there that nightÊ(v.11)Ê · WhatÊdidÊheÊcallÊtheÊplaceÊ(v.19)? · DescribeÊhisÊdreamÊthatÊnight: GodÊmetÊJacobÊthereÊforÊtheÊfirstÊofÊseveralÊƟmes. · ListÊtheÊmainÊpointsÊthatÊGodÊspokeÊtoÊJacob: DoÊyouÊwonderÊifÊAbrahamÊorÊIsaacÊhadÊsharedÊthoseÊpromisesÊwithÊ Jacob?ÊEvenÊifÊtheyÊhad,ÊhowÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊJacobÊmustÊhaveÊfeltÊhear- ingÊGodÊconfirmÊthoseÊpromisesÊaloneÊinÊtheÊdesertÊthatÊnight?
MaybeÊthoseÊthoughtsÊplayedÊintoÊhisÊexcitementÊinÊv.16-17. HowÊdidÊJacobÊrespondÊinÊtheÊmorning?Ê · PhysicalÊexpression? · VerbalÊexpression? DAYÊTWO:ÊThe Man and His Two Brides READÊGenesisÊ29:1-30 Jacob’sÊtripÊfromÊBethelÊtoÊHaranÊwasÊsuccessful.ÊHeÊstoppedÊatÊaÊwellÊ inÊtheÊfieldÊand,ÊalmostÊasÊifÊon cue,ÊLaban’sÊdaughterÊapproached. · DescribeÊJacob’sÊchivalrousÊacƟonsÊfromÊv.9-10: · WhatÊemoƟonsÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊwereÊbehindÊv.11? · IsÊthereÊanotherÊfind-a-bride-at-the-well storyÊthatÊthisÊremindsÊ youÊof? RachelÊranÊtoÊtellÊherÊdadÊthatÊsomeoneÊfromÊRebekah’sÊfamilyÊhadÊ comeÊtoÊHaran.Ê“As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob...he ran to meet him.”ÊDoÊyouÊrememberÊtheÊtenÊcamelsÊloadedÊwithÊgoodiesÊ thatÊEliezerÊbroughtÊallÊthoseÊyearsÊago?Ê · WhatÊwereÊtheÊpossibleÊmoƟvesÊthatÊLabanÊmightÊhaveÊhadÊtoÊrunÊ andÊgreetÊJacob? AsÊitÊturnedÊout,ÊJacobÊhadÊnoÊcamelsÊorÊdowryÊwithÊhim,ÊsoÊLabanÊ putÊhimÊtoÊwork.ÊAŌerÊaboutÊaÊmonth,ÊitÊcameÊtoÊhimÊthatÊmaybeÊheÊ shouldÊbeÊpayingÊJacobÊandÊsoÊtheÊnegoƟaƟonsÊbegan.Ê
LabanÊandÊJacobÊmadeÊanÊagreementÊthatÊJacobÊwouldÊserveÊhimÊÊÊ sevenÊyearsÊinÊexchangeÊforÊRachel.Ê · ExplainÊwhatÊhappenedÊfollowingÊtheÊweddingÊfeast: · HowÊlongÊdidÊJacobÊwaitÊinÊorderÊtoÊmarryÊRachel? ÊÊCOMPLETEÊTHISÊCHART: ÊCheckÊwhichÊwifeÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊwasÊlovedÊmoreÊ ____ÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊBirth-OrderÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊAppearance ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊbyÊJacob___Ê RachelÊ(meaningÊEwe) ÊÊ______________________________________ LeahÊ(meaningÊCow) ______________________________________ SoÊmuchÊofÊthisÊstoryÊisÊoutsideÊtheÊrealmÊofÊourÊexperience,ÊorÊevenÊ imaginaƟon.ÊIfÊwe,ÊbyÊsomeÊstrangeÊsetÊofÊcircumstancesÊmarriedÊtheÊ wrongÊperson,ÊweÊwouldÊquicklyÊannulÊtheÊmarriage;ÊbutÊtheirÊmethodÊ ofÊsolvingÊtheÊproblemÊwasÊtoÊkeepÊmulƟpleÊwives.ÊThatÊwasÊNOTÊanÊ idealÊarrangement,ÊitÊwasÊNOTÊGod’sÊintenƟonÊforÊaÊmanÊandÊaÊwomanÊ fromÊtheÊbeginning.ÊAndÊyet,ÊinÊHisÊmercy,ÊGodÊforgedÊaheadÊandÊcon- ƟnuedÊtoÊbuildÊtheÊoffspringÊofÊAbrahamÊ(whoÊwouldÊblessÊtheÊwholeÊ earth)ÊthroughÊtheÊbrokennessÊofÊJacob’sÊfamily. DAYÊTHREE:ÊThe Man and His Twelve Children READÊGenesisÊ29:31-35Ê&Ê30:1-24 TheÊcompassionÊexpressedÊbyÊtheÊLordÊinÊv.31ÊisÊheart-warming.Ê · WhatÊdidÊGodÊdoÊforÊLeahÊandÊwhy? LeahÊendedÊupÊbirthingÊmoreÊthanÊdoubleÊtheÊnumberÊofÊsonsÊasÊanyÊ ofÊtheÊotherÊwivesÊorÊservants,ÊGod’sÊmercyÊwasÊabundantÊtowardÊher.Ê It’sÊstrangeÊtoÊstudyÊaboutÊGod’sÊfamilyÊofÊpromiseÊandÊrealizeÊthereÊ wereÊfourÊwomenÊinvolvedÊ—ÊthatÊwasÊnotÊGod’sÊintenƟonÊforÊmar- riage,ÊandÊweÊknowÊthatÊfromÊlessonÊ#1.ÊButÊagain,ÊitÊhighlightsÊGod’sÊÊ mercyÊandÊlongsufferingÊinÊthatÊheÊusedÊtheÊblundersÊofÊJacob,ÊLaban,Ê andÊtheÊwomenÊtoÊbringÊforthÊaÊnaƟonÊtoÊbearÊHisÊname. Let’sÊmakeÊaÊchartÊofÊtheÊchildrenÊbornÊtoÊJacobÊfromÊtoday’sÊreading: Son’sÊname MeaningÊ(ifÊgiven) Leah: #1Ê________________________________________________ #2Ê________________________________________________ #3Ê________________________________________________ #4Ê________________________________________________ #9Ê________________________________________________ #10Ê_______________________________________________ Zilpah:Ê #7Ê________________________________________________ #8Ê________________________________________________ Rachel:Ê#11Ê_______________________________________________ #12Ê_______________________________________________ Bilhah:Ê #5Ê________________________________________________ #6Ê________________________________________________ WeÊseeÊfromÊourÊchartÊthatÊLeahÊboreÊtheÊfirstÊfourÊchildren. · WhatÊwasÊRachel’sÊpleaÊinÊchapterÊ30Êv.1? · WhatÊwasÊherÊhusband’sÊresponse?Ê · ContrastÊJacob’sÊandÊIsaac’sÊresponsesÊgivenÊtheÊsameÊsituaƟonÊÊ (GenesisÊ25:21).
InÊorderÊtoÊcompleteÊtheÊchart,ÊreadÊalsoÊGenesisÊ35:16-20ÊforÊtheÊac- countÊofÊtheÊtwelŌhÊson.Ê g HeartÊAssessmentÊÊÊg TheÊbookÊofÊGenesisÊisÊquiteÊtransparentÊaboutÊbiƩersweetÊrelaƟon- shipsÊbetweenÊbrothersÊandÊsisters.ÊFromÊmurderÊbetweenÊbrothersÊ inÊtheÊfirstÊgeneraƟon,ÊtoÊtheÊsegregaƟonÊofÊNoah’sÊsons,ÊtoÊtheÊde- cepƟveÊrelaƟonshipÊbetweenÊJacobÊandÊEsau,ÊtheÊjealousyÊbetweenÊ RachelÊandÊLeahÊ—ÊandÊweÊdon’tÊevenÊbeginÊtoÊscratchÊtheÊsurfaceÊofÊ theÊtwelveÊsonsÊofÊJacobÊandÊtheirÊunderhandedÊdealingsÊwithÊJoseph.Ê · KnowingÊthisÊtypeÊofÊrivalryÊisÊaÊnaturalÊresultÊofÊtheÊfall,ÊwhatÊpro- acƟveÊstepsÊwillÊyouÊtakeÊwithÊYOURÊsiblings...evenÊifÊyou’reÊolder? · WhatÊinspiraƟonÊdoesÊthisÊprovideÊforÊbothÊprayerÊandÊpurposefulÊ parenƟngÊwithÊyourÊchildren’sÊgeneraƟon? DAYÊFOUR:ÊThe Man who Became Israel READÊGenesisÊ32:22-31 IÊhopeÊyou’reÊnotÊdisappointedÊthatÊweÊareÊfinishingÊourÊstudyÊofÊÊ GenesisÊrightÊhere.ÊForÊoneÊthing,ÊweÊhadÊaÊnine-weekÊƟmeÊframeÊtoÊ workÊwith;ÊsoÊwe’llÊendÊwithÊthisÊfinalÊpassageÊwhereÊGodÊmeetsÊwithÊ JacobÊandÊchangesÊhisÊname.Ê WeÊlearnedÊinÊ30:25ÊthatÊasÊsoonÊasÊRachel had borne Joseph,ÊJacobÊ plannedÊhisÊexitÊstrategyÊfromÊLaban’sÊrealm.ÊIt’sÊanotherÊeventÊfilledÊ withÊdramaÊandÊanÊimpendingÊrendezvousÊwithÊEsauÊ(whichÊputÊÊÊ emoƟonsÊonÊred-alert).ÊButÊit’sÊtheÊmeeƟngÊwithÊtheÊLordÊthat’sÊofÊ interestÊtoÊus.ÊTwentyÊyearsÊago,ÊJacobÊhadÊmetÊGodÊatÊBethel,ÊandÊ thisÊisÊaÊsimilarÊencounter. · HowÊmanyÊotherÊpeopleÊspentÊtheÊnightÊwithÊJacobÊ(v.24)?
· WhoÊappearedÊtoÊhim? · AsÊdayÊbreakÊapproached,ÊJacobÊaskedÊforÊaÊblessingÊandÊwhatÊdidÊ theÊwrestlerÊaskÊhimÊ(v.27)? · NowÊtheÊlastÊƟmeÊheÊhadÊbeenÊaskedÊthatÊquesƟonÊ“who are you?”,ÊheÊgaveÊaÊdifferentÊresponse.ÊGoÊbackÊtoÊGenesisÊ27:18-19Ê andÊnoteÊtheÊcircumstancesÊandÊJacob’sÊanswer: · HowÊdidÊheÊrespondÊthisÊƟme? DoÊyouÊrememberÊourÊstudyÊofÊRuth?ÊInÊtheÊsameÊwayÊthatÊNaomiÊ askedÊherÊdaughter-in-lawÊ“who art thou?”ÊtoÊgetÊHERÊtoÊthinkÊaboutÊ herÊanswer,ÊtheÊmanÊwrestlingÊwithÊJacobÊisÊnotÊaskingÊtheÊquesƟonÊ toÊreceiveÊinformaƟon,ÊbutÊtoÊgetÊJacobÊtoÊthinkÊaboutÊhisÊanswer.Ê WouldÊJacobÊadmitÊwhoÊheÊwasÊinÊorderÊtoÊclearÊtheÊslateÊandÊallowÊaÊ changeÊinÊhisÊlife?ÊOrÊwouldÊheÊdeceiveÊandÊmanipulateÊonceÊagain?Ê HisÊreplyÊwas,Ê“Jacob!” AndÊtheÊresponseÊofÊtheÊmanÊwasÊ“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but _____________ for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” ManyÊscholarsÊinterpretÊIsrael’sÊnameÊtoÊmeanÊ‘one who wrestles with God.’ G.ÊCampbellÊMorganÊtranslatesÊitÊ‘a God-mastered man’, whichÊIÊratherÊlike. God meets us at whatever level He finds us in order to liŌ us to where He wants us to be. To Abraham the pilgrim, God came as a traveler (Genesis 19); and to Joshua the general, He came as a soldier (Joshua 5:13-15). Jacob had spent most of his adult life wrestling with people — Esau, Isaac, Laban, and even his wives — so God came to him as a wrestler. —BibleÊExposiƟonÊCommentaryÊ1 g God’sÊBlessingÊtoÊIsraelÊÊÊÊg ThereÊisÊaÊphraseÊinÊv.29ÊthatÊsaysÊ...and there He blessed him, whichÊ bringsÊusÊfullÊcircleÊtoÊGod’sÊoriginalÊpromiseÊtoÊAbrahamÊinÊ12:3:ÊI will bless you...so that you will be a blessing. ReadÊandÊcommentÊonÊtheseÊaddiƟonalÊpassagesÊofÊblessingÊforÊIsrael.Ê IsaiahÊ41:8-10 IsaiahÊ43:1-3 IsaiahÊ43:10-13 g God’sÊUnfoldingÊStoryÊofÊJesusÊÊÊg AsÊweÊwrapÊupÊourÊstudy,ÊweÊcanÊseeÊthatÊGodÊhadÊaÊDivineÊDesignÊforÊ HisÊcreaƟonÊandÊevenÊthoughÊthatÊcreaƟonÊwasÊfrustratedÊbyÊsin,Ê God’sÊplanÊwasÊtoÊredeemÊcreaƟonÊbyÊbringingÊforthÊaÊseedÊfromÊtheÊ womanÊthatÊwouldÊcrushÊtheÊserpent.Ê WhatÊGodÊchoosesÊtoÊuseÊinÊHisÊPlanÊcanÊsomeƟmesÊcanÊbeÊtotallyÊ beyondÊbelief.ÊLikeÊthisÊpolygamousÊfamilyÊforÊinstanceÊ—ÊsteepedÊinÊ decepƟonÊandÊdrama.ÊTheyÊwereÊchosenÊbyÊGodÊtoÊpropagateÊtheÊ TwelveÊTribesÊofÊIsrael,ÊwhichÊbecameÊtheÊMessianicÊNaƟon,ÊwhichÊ wouldÊbringÊsalvaƟonÊtoÊtheÊwholeÊworld.Ê SomeÊclosingÊthoughtsÊweÊcanÊlearnÊfromÊtheseÊScriptures: · GodÊusesÊhumanÊbeingsÊjustÊasÊtheyÊare,ÊtoÊserveÊHisÊpurposes.Ê · GodÊwillÊuseÊbothÊtheÊrighteousÊandÊtheÊunrighteousÊtoÊcarryÊoutÊ HisÊplan.Ê · TheÊBibleÊisÊaÊtransparentÊandÊhonestÊwork,ÊsharingÊwithÊcompleteÊ candorÊtheÊweaknessesÊofÊitsÊheroesÊandÊtheÊcircumstancesÊGodÊ usedÊtoÊfurtherÊHisÊpurpose. YouÊcanÊbeÊassuredÊthatÊyouÊtooÊhaveÊaÊpurposeÊtoÊfulfillÊinÊyourÊgen- eraƟon,ÊjustÊasÊeachÊofÊtheseÊpeopleÊdidÊinÊtheirÊgeneraƟons.ÊYouÊmayÊ notÊbeÊinÊtheÊhistoryÊbooks,ÊbutÊyouÊhaveÊaÊuniqueÊcallingÊinÊyourÊgen- eraƟonÊ(ActsÊ13:36).
ÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Week 9
ACTIVITYÊÊ“A” g The Ten GeneraƟons of Genesis g IfÊyouÊwantÊtoÊunderstandÊsomethingÊlongÊorÊcomplexÊfairlyÊquickly,ÊaÊ chartÊcanÊbeÊhelpful.ÊGenesisÊrepresentsÊtheÊfirstÊ2000ÊyearsÊofÊman’sÊ history,ÊandÊit’sÊactuallyÊorganizedÊintoÊaÊchart-likeÊformatÊthatÊhelpsÊ usÊcompartmentalizeÊtheÊhistoryÊandÊseeÊtheÊbigÊpicture. ThereÊareÊtenÊsecƟonsÊinÊtheÊbookÊofÊGenesis.ÊEachÊbeginsÊwithÊtheÊ HebrewÊphraseÊelleh toledot, whichÊisÊtranslatedÊinÊtheÊESVÊasÊthe gen- eraƟons of. TheseÊnotÊonlyÊprovideÊstructureÊforÊtheÊbookÊbutÊhelpÊusÊ seeÊthatÊfamilyÊisÊaÊcentralÊstructureÊofÊGod’sÊplanÊofÊrelaƟngÊtoÊman. ItÊwillÊprobablyÊsƟckÊwithÊusÊbeƩerÊifÊweÊlookÊupÊtheseÊheadingsÊandÊÊÊ completeÊtheÊfollowingÊchart: 2:4Ê ÊÊ TheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊtheÊ_________ÊandÊtheÊ________Ê whenÊtheyÊwereÊcreated,Ê 5:1ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊThisÊisÊtheÊbookÊofÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ______________.ÊWhenÊ GodÊcreatedÊman,ÊHeÊmadeÊhimÊinÊtheÊlikenessÊofÊGod.Ê 6:9Ê ÊÊÊÊÊTheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ_________ÊwhoÊwasÊaÊrighteousÊ man,ÊblamelessÊinÊhisÊgeneraƟon.Ê 10:1Ê ÊÊÊTheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊtheÊsonsÊofÊNoah,Ê________,Ê ________,ÊandÊ___________.Ê 11:10Ê TheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ___________. 11:27ÊÊÊNowÊtheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ____________ÊwhoÊ fatheredÊAbram,ÊNahor,ÊandÊHaran;ÊandÊHaranÊfatheredÊLot.Ê 25:12ÊÊTheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ______________,ÊAbraham’sÊson,Ê whomÊHagarÊtheÊEgypƟan,ÊSarah’sÊservant,ÊboreÊtoÊAbraham.Ê 25:19Ê TheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ_______________,ÊAbraham’sÊson. 36:1ÊÊÊÊTheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ___________Ê(thatÊis,ÊEdom).Ê 37:2Ê ÊÊTheseÊareÊtheÊgeneraƟonsÊofÊ____________.
ACTIVITYÊÊ“B” g The Lives of the Patriarchs g OneÊacƟvityÊthatÊcanÊbeÊveryÊinsighƞulÊisÊtoÊmakeÊyourÊownÊgraphÊofÊ theÊlifespansÊofÊtheÊpatriarchsÊfromÊAdamÊtoÊJacob.ÊIt’sÊalwaysÊmoreÊ enlighteningÊtoÊactuallyÊproduceÊyourÊownÊgraphÊthanÊtoÊmerelyÊlookÊ atÊoneÊinÊaÊbook.ÊThisÊisÊalsoÊaÊsuperbÊacƟvityÊtoÊdoÊwithÊyourÊchildrenÊ asÊwell. ToÊgetÊstartedÊgrabÊsomeÊgraphÊpaperÊandÊdecideÊhowÊmanyÊyearsÊ eachÊsquareÊwillÊstandÊforÊ(100ÊyearsÊperÊsquareÊoŌenÊworksÊwellÊwithÊ smallÊgrids).ÊNowÊplaceÊtheÊnamesÊofÊtheÊpatriarchsÊfromÊAdamÊtoÊÊ NoahÊdownÊtheÊleŌÊsideÊofÊtheÊpage.ÊYouÊwillÊbeginÊeachÊman’sÊlifeÊ withÊhisÊbirthÊandÊendÊatÊhisÊdeath.ÊForÊexample,ÊAdam’sÊlineÊÊbeginsÊ inÊyearÊ1ÊandÊSeth’sÊlineÊbeginsÊatÊAdam’sÊ130thÊyear.Ê You’llÊwantÊtoÊuseÊGenesisÊ5ÊandÊGenesisÊ11.Ê(ToÊfigureÊAbram’sÊbirth,Ê useÊGenesisÊ11:32ÊandÊ12:4ÊalongÊwithÊActsÊ7:4,ÊthenÊcalculateÊ75Ê yearsÊbackwardÊfromÊTerah’sÊdeathÊtoÊfindÊAbram’sÊbirthdate.) OnceÊyourÊchartÊisÊcomplete,Êit’sÊamazingÊtoÊobserveÊtheÊoverlapÊofÊ lifespansÊandÊconsiderÊthingsÊlike: · HowÊmanyÊdescendantsÊNoahÊmayÊhaveÊmet. · HowÊmanyÊgeneraƟonsÊShemÊmayÊhaveÊpreachedÊto. · TheÊshorteningÊofÊlifespans. I hope you enjoy the project!
g The Names of the Patriarchs g We’veÊpointedÊoutÊƟmeÊandÊagainÊthroughÊthisÊstudyÊthatÊnamesÊ meanÊsomething.ÊYouÊmayÊenjoyÊthisÊcondensedÊchartÊofÊwhatÊtheÊ givenÊnamesÊofÊtheÊmenÊchosenÊtoÊbearÊtheÊseedÊofÊtheÊMessiahÊ meantÊinÊtheirÊday: __Name: Meaning:____________ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊAdam Man ÊÊÊÊSeth (Is)ÊAppointed ÊÊÊÊEnosh Mortal Man (of) ÊÊÊÊKenan Sorrow ÊÊÊÊMahalalel The Blessed God ÊÊÊÊJared Shall Come Down ÊÊÊÊEnoch Teaching ÊÊÊÊMethuselah His Death Shall Bring ÊÊÊÊLamech The Despairing ÊÊÊÊNoah Comfort (Rest)
R¥ÙÄÝ ESVÊBibleÊverses… ScriptureÊquotaƟonsÊareÊfromÊtheÊESV®ÊBibleÊ(TheÊHolyÊBible,ÊEnglishÊ StandardÊVersion®),ÊcopyrightÊ©Ê2001ÊbyÊCrossway,ÊaÊpublishingÊÊÊ ministryÊofÊGoodÊNewsÊPublishers.ÊUsedÊbyÊpermission.ÊAllÊrightsÊÊÊÊ reserved. 1—ÊWiersbe,ÊWarrenÊW.ÊThe Bible ExposiƟon Commentary –ÊPenta- teuch.ÊColoradoÊSprings,ÊCO:ÊVictor,Ê2001.ÊWORDsearchÊCROSSÊÊÊÊ e-book. 2—ÊJoyner,ÊRick.ÊThere Were Two Trees in the Garden. CharloƩe,Ê NC: MorningÊStarÊPublicaƟons,Ê(JanuaryÊ31,Ê2006). 3—Chisholm,ÊThomasÊObadiah.ÊGreat is Thy Faithfulness. Hymn.ÊÊÊÊ PublicÊDomain. 4—Lloyd-Jones,ÊSally.ÊThe Jesus Storybook Bible. GrandÊRapids,ÊMI:Ê Zondervan. 5—Halley,ÊHenryÊH.ÊHalley's Bible Handbook: Deluxe EdiƟon.ÊGrandÊ Rapids,ÊMI:ÊZondervan,Ê2008.ÊWORDsearchÊCROSSÊe-book. 6—Youngblood,ÊRonaldÊF.ÊNelson's Illustrated Bible DicƟonary: New and Enhanced EdiƟon. Nashville,ÊTN:ÊThomasÊNelson.
TheÊfollowingÊWOWÊBibleÊStudiesÊwriƩenÊbyÊSueÊLeBouƟllierÊareÊ availableÊthroughÊtheÊCalvaryÊChapelÊOntarioÊbookstore,ÊandÊthroughÊ ourÊonlineÊstoreÊatÊwww.ccontario.com. ÊÊOldÊTestament: ·ÊÊGenesisÊ—DivineÊDesign,ÊFromÊEdenÊtoÊEgypt ·ÊÊExodusÊ—DivineÊDeliverance,ÊFromÊEgyptÊtoÊSinai ·ÊÊNumbersÊ—TheÊWildernessÊWay,ÊFromÊSinaiÊtoÊtheÊJordan ·ÊÊJoshuaÊ—TheÊPathÊofÊPromise,ÊFromÊtheÊJordanÊintoÊCanaan ·ÊÊJudgesÊ—ÊAÊTimeÊofÊTurning ·ÊÊRuthÊ—RescueÊandÊRestÊ ·ÊÊ1ÊSamuelÊ—ÊtheÊComingÊKing ·ÊÊJonahÊ—TheÊCallÊofÊCompassion ÊÊNewÊTestament: ·ÊÊTheÊWayÊofÊJesusÊÊ—TheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊ(MaƩhew)Ê ·ÊÊSimplyÊJesusÊ—TheÊ“IÊAMs”ÊofÊChristÊ(John) ·ÊÊActsÊ—WalkingÊinÊtheÊSpirit,ÊTheÊFirstÊDaysÊofÊtheÊLastÊDaysÊ ·ÊÊGalaƟansÊ—FindingÊGraceÊinÊaÊDemandingÊWorld ·ÊÊPhilippiansÊ—FindingÊJoyÊinÊaÊDisjointedÊWorld ·ÊÊColossiansÊ—WalkingÊinÊStrengthÊandÊPower ·ÊÊTitusÊ—WhileÊWeÊWait ·ÊÊJamesÊ—RealÊFaithÊforÊDailyÊLife ·ÊÊ1Ê&Ê2ÊPeterÊ—Hope,ÊHolinessÊandÊHumilityÊinÊaÊHosƟleÊWorld ·ÊÊ1,2,3ÊJohnÊ—Light,ÊLoveÊandÊLogic,ÊLessonsÊfromÊtheÊApostleÊJohn Women of the Word Bible Studies
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Steadfast in Christ's Unchanging Truth
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Living Out God's Purpose in Grace
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God's Quiet Hand in Our Lives
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