1) What is the purpose of genealogy? For Jews, knowing one’s lineage was very important. You had to be able to prove your heritage in order to inherit property rights; to hold a religious position (priests had to be descendants of Levi) and political position (king had to be a descendant of David and even further back to Judah, son of Jacob – Genesis 49:10); and to marry someone.
2) Why does Matthew begin his story of Jesus with Jesus’ genealogy? Matthew’s audience, the people he is writing this letter to, were Jews. (In contrast to John who wrote to a Gentile audience.) They knew the prophecies regarding the Messiah. Matthew was informing them up front that Jesus was the long promised Messiah. He did so using genealogy.
3) How does verse 1 begin? It does not say Jesus son of Joseph; rather, Jesus the son of David, the son of Abraham. Who was David? Established the royal line of kings. OT prophecy clearly stated that a descendant of David would be the Messiah. The ultimate ruler. Matthew presenting proof that Jesus, being a descendant of David, is the fulfillment of that prophecy. But Matthew doesn’t stop at David. He takes Jesus’ lineage further back to Abraham. Who was Abraham? The physical and spiritual patriarch of Israel. The receiver of the promise – through Abraham and his descendants all nations will be blessed. Matthew presenting proof that Jesus, being a descendant of Abraham, is the fulfillment of that promise. By connecting Jesus further back to Abraham, Matthew was informing his Jewish audience that the role of the Messiah was not confined to fulfilling a political responsibility but also a spiritual one- to be a blessing for all peoples, Jew and Gentile.
4) What are some names in Jesus’ genealogy that stand out to you? Point out – Jesus’ ancestors are mixture of good and evil; heroes and villains; the godly and the degenerates. Judah and Tamar; Salmon and Rahab (Matthew doesn’t refer to her as “the Harlot); Boaz and Ruth; David and the wife of Uriah (Matthew pointing out David’s greatest sin – opposite of Rahab); Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah; Zerubbabel; Jacob the father of Joseph. All shaped/molded Joseph. Take what he learned; the values he received from his ancestors and pass them on to Jesus.
Background on Jewish marriage ritual:
Marriages anciently were arranged by parents and continue to be even today in orthodox families. It was considered an act of honor to permit those with the wisdom and experience to make such important decisions. Children were betrothed, or engaged, generally as teenagers around age 15 or 16. A boy or girl becomes a man or woman at their 'bar' or 'bat' mitzvah at age 13. Taking on the rights and obligations of adulthood include the obligations of preparing for marriage and having a family. Girls work in earnest on their dowries and boys work on getting a room or place to live, generally in his families homes or lands. A betrothal would generally be arranged in the children’s mid to late teens and would last a long period of time like a year or more. A betrothal is more serious than an engagement by our standards. Once committed in this way behavior and expectations change dramatically for these children.
The first major step in a Jewish marriage was betrothal. Betrothal involved the establishment of a marriage covenant. By Jesus' time it was usual for such a covenant to be established as the result of the prospective bridegroom taking the initiative. The prospective bridegroom and his father would travel house to the home of the prospective bride. There they would negotiate with the father of the young woman to determine the price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride. Once the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was thereby established.
Arrangements were also made right then concerning the terms of the marriage. A written contract listed the time, place, and size of the wedding as well as recording the dowry and terms of maintenance of the marriage. This binding document called a "ketubah" was kept in the bride's possession until the consummation of the marriage.
The potential bride then entered the room whereupon the prospective groom proclaimed his love and asked her to be his bride. If the young woman wished to be his wife, she accepted his proposal at this time. The validation of the agreement made by the engaged couple was the presentation of a gift by the groom. He offered it in the presence of at least two witnesses. As he gave the gift, usually a ring, he said to his intended bride, "Behold you are consecrated unto me with this ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel." The young man and woman were regarded to be husband and wife. From that moment on the bride was declared to be consecrated or sanctified, set apart exclusively for her bridegroom. As a symbol of the covenant relationship that had been established, the groom and bride would drink from a cup of wine over which a betrothal benediction had been pronounced.
After the marriage covenant had been established, the groom would leave the home of the bride and return to his father's house. There he would remain separate from his bride for a period of twelve months. This period of separation afforded the bride time to gather her tousseau and to prepare for married life. The groom occupied himself with the preparation of living accommodations in his father's house to which he could bring his bride.
The Bible refers to the status of the prospective bride and groom as "espousal" or "betrothal." It meant that the two people were committed to each other as much as a married couple would be. The only parts of the marriage not yet completed were the formal "huppah" ceremony followed by their physical union. This betrothal was considered so binding that the only way to break it was by an actual bill of divorcement.
Read Matthew chapter 1:18-19
5) If you were Joseph, what would have been your reaction to hearing the news that Mary was pregnant? Betrayed, angry, sad. What have you been doing the past year?
6) What did Joseph choose to do? Divorce Mary without making a big stink about it. Why? a) Joseph was a “just man.” – keeper of God’s commandments. Did not want to be married to someone who could follow God’s commandments. b) Unwilling to put her to shame. What other option could he have chosen? Joseph could have had Mary publicly stoned to death but did not. Despite what she did, Joseph loved Mary enough not to add to her embarrassment/shame. Let her have her life/future.
7) What does this tell you about Joseph’s character? Follower of the law mixed with compassion. Mercy over judgment. Acknowledged the sin but love the sinner. Perhaps big reason why God selected Joseph to raise His Son. Joseph’s occupation may have something to do with it also. Joseph was a carpenter. Jesus grew up in a carpenter’s shop. What would He see everyday? Wood and nails. A constant reminder to Jesus of his primary mission on earth. Die by wood and nails to redeem humanity.
Read Matthew 1:20-25
8) What did it take to convince Joseph not to divorce Mary? A visit from an angel who explained to Joseph the significance of the child Mary was carrying.
9) What do you think were some of the thoughts Joseph was thinking during Mary’s pregnancy and in the moments after Jesus’ birth?
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Old Testament Christmas
Background – Read Isaiah 8:18-22. The people of Judah are in distress. The Assyrian empire is at their doorstep. There is an atmosphere of terror in the land. The people turned to mediums and spirits for answers … for words of hope which amazed Isaiah. Read vs. 19-20. In time, the people will be consumed by their fear and uncertainty. Fear and uncertainty will turn into anger and the people will curse their king and God. They blame God … point finger at God for their distress. In reality, the blame is theirs. They committed spiritual adultery. The people look down at the earth and all they see is distress and gloom. Read vs. 22.
Read Isaiah 9:1-7
The lands of Zebulun and Naphtali are located in northeastern Israel. See map. We’ll come back to the significance of this region in a little bit.
1) Characterize the emotional state/spiritual state of a person walking in darkness and living in the land of the shadow of death. Fear, doubt, anger, distress, lost, directionless, gloom. Not a happy, joyful place to be.
2) What will the people walking in darkness and living in the land of the shadow of death see? Light. What will it do to the darkness and the shadow of death? The light will make them disappear. Darkness and death will no longer have power over the people.
3) Would you characterize verses 1 through 7 as words of optimism or pessimism? Optimism. No more distress. No more gloom. There will be great rejoicing. The yoke that burdened the people, the bar across their shoulders weighing them down, the rod of their oppressors that brings them pain and suffering will all be shattered. There will be peace.
4) How will this happen? Through a child. Not a through great army or through special effect filled miracle. It’ll be in the same mode as God defeated Midian - unexpected/unusual. Read Judges chapters 6-8. The 12 tribes of Israel were constantly attacked by their neighbor the Midianites. The Israelites came under Midianite rule. Midianites treated Israelites harshly. Darkness of gloom and death fell upon the land. The people were looking for a messiah (God’s anointed) to rescue them. Another Moses to deliver them. Instead they got Gideon. He was the least of his family and his family was the least of the tribe of Manasseh. Gideon was a wimp not a great leader. He was the opposite of a Moses. God anointed this obscure nobody from a nobody family to be the messiah/deliverer of Israel. – God had Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 men to 300 men to defeat Midian and free his people from the oppression of Midian. Salvation came in an unusual manner. 1) God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300. 2) Defeated Midian using trumpets and lanterns not swords and chariots.
5) What titles will the newborn child be called? What characteristics do you associate with each title?
Wonderful Counselour – advocate/defender against all accusers. Offers words of wisdom.
Mighty God – power, strength
Everlasting Father – eternal, provider, comforter, protector
Prince of Peace – ruler, peace
6) How long will his reign last? Forever. What two attributes will characterize his reign? Justice and righteousness.
7) Who will make this happen? God
8) How does Isaiah 9:1-7 relate to Jesus?
Jesus began his ministry in the region of Galilee that was once the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. Read Matthew 4:12-17.
Jesus is the Light. Read John 1:1-9; John 8:12: John 12:46
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus broke the yoke/bar/rod of sin and death that brought fear and oppression to mankind.
Comparison to the defeat of Midian – Jesus was born in obscurity. Bethlehem – cow stall; He was raised in Nazareth – John 1:46 “Does anything good come out of Nazareth?”; Galilee – Pharisees dismissed Jesus’ ministry by saying no prophet has ever come from Galilee; Jesus was not the Messiah that the Jews anticipated. He was not a mighty warrior.
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.
His kingdom is an eternal one founded on justice and righteousness.
9) What were the people who heard Isaiah’s message suppose to get from it? Hope. The bad times will not last forever. There will come a time of peace and joy that will last for eternity.
In the Garden of Eden, man disobeyed God. Consequently, the darkness of sin and death fell upon the world. The shadow of death haunted man like a ghoul. Humanity lived in fear of this darkness. There was no rejoicing in the world for there was no hope. The yoke of sin and death weighed heavily upon the back of humanity. The rod of Satan beat down upon humanity. The soul of man knew no peace. As the centuries passed, sin became more rampant. The world became even darker. Humanity walked blindly in the darkness with no direction. Satan continued to beat into man fear, hatred, despair, and lies.
Two thousand years ago, God looked down upon the earth wrapped in a blanket of darkness. In my mind’s eye, God seemed to speak four familiar words “Let there be Light!” That Light descended from Heaven to this dark, gloomy world in the form of a child. This child was not any ordinary child. This child was the Mighty God Himself – a Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This child dispelled the darkness that for so long had blanketed the earth. This child forced the shadow of death to flee to the depths of hell from whence it came. This child shattered the yoke of sin, the bar of iniquity, and the rod of our oppressor, Satan. Humanity would no longer wander aimlessly in the darkness nor would they have to fear death. With the Light, came life, hope, love, peace, courage, and truth. Consequently, the world felt something that it had not felt in a long time – indescribable, unspeakable joy.
Since the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, has the darkness of sin and death reclaimed the world from His Light? After two thousand years, has the Light of Bethlehem been extinguished by the darkness? The Great Deceiver, Satan, would like us to believe it has. He would like us to believe that sin still rules over us who believe in the Light and that death is something that followers of God should still fear. Do not allow Satan to deceive you. The true Light that is Jesus is not like the like the light of a candle that can be easily blown out. The Light still shines as bright as ever. That Light that came to earth two thousand years ago is in you. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Matthew 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
John 1:1-9
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Read Isaiah 9:1-7
The lands of Zebulun and Naphtali are located in northeastern Israel. See map. We’ll come back to the significance of this region in a little bit.
1) Characterize the emotional state/spiritual state of a person walking in darkness and living in the land of the shadow of death. Fear, doubt, anger, distress, lost, directionless, gloom. Not a happy, joyful place to be.
2) What will the people walking in darkness and living in the land of the shadow of death see? Light. What will it do to the darkness and the shadow of death? The light will make them disappear. Darkness and death will no longer have power over the people.
3) Would you characterize verses 1 through 7 as words of optimism or pessimism? Optimism. No more distress. No more gloom. There will be great rejoicing. The yoke that burdened the people, the bar across their shoulders weighing them down, the rod of their oppressors that brings them pain and suffering will all be shattered. There will be peace.
4) How will this happen? Through a child. Not a through great army or through special effect filled miracle. It’ll be in the same mode as God defeated Midian - unexpected/unusual. Read Judges chapters 6-8. The 12 tribes of Israel were constantly attacked by their neighbor the Midianites. The Israelites came under Midianite rule. Midianites treated Israelites harshly. Darkness of gloom and death fell upon the land. The people were looking for a messiah (God’s anointed) to rescue them. Another Moses to deliver them. Instead they got Gideon. He was the least of his family and his family was the least of the tribe of Manasseh. Gideon was a wimp not a great leader. He was the opposite of a Moses. God anointed this obscure nobody from a nobody family to be the messiah/deliverer of Israel. – God had Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 men to 300 men to defeat Midian and free his people from the oppression of Midian. Salvation came in an unusual manner. 1) God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300. 2) Defeated Midian using trumpets and lanterns not swords and chariots.
5) What titles will the newborn child be called? What characteristics do you associate with each title?
Wonderful Counselour – advocate/defender against all accusers. Offers words of wisdom.
Mighty God – power, strength
Everlasting Father – eternal, provider, comforter, protector
Prince of Peace – ruler, peace
6) How long will his reign last? Forever. What two attributes will characterize his reign? Justice and righteousness.
7) Who will make this happen? God
8) How does Isaiah 9:1-7 relate to Jesus?
Jesus began his ministry in the region of Galilee that was once the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. Read Matthew 4:12-17.
Jesus is the Light. Read John 1:1-9; John 8:12: John 12:46
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus broke the yoke/bar/rod of sin and death that brought fear and oppression to mankind.
Comparison to the defeat of Midian – Jesus was born in obscurity. Bethlehem – cow stall; He was raised in Nazareth – John 1:46 “Does anything good come out of Nazareth?”; Galilee – Pharisees dismissed Jesus’ ministry by saying no prophet has ever come from Galilee; Jesus was not the Messiah that the Jews anticipated. He was not a mighty warrior.
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.
His kingdom is an eternal one founded on justice and righteousness.
9) What were the people who heard Isaiah’s message suppose to get from it? Hope. The bad times will not last forever. There will come a time of peace and joy that will last for eternity.
In the Garden of Eden, man disobeyed God. Consequently, the darkness of sin and death fell upon the world. The shadow of death haunted man like a ghoul. Humanity lived in fear of this darkness. There was no rejoicing in the world for there was no hope. The yoke of sin and death weighed heavily upon the back of humanity. The rod of Satan beat down upon humanity. The soul of man knew no peace. As the centuries passed, sin became more rampant. The world became even darker. Humanity walked blindly in the darkness with no direction. Satan continued to beat into man fear, hatred, despair, and lies.
Two thousand years ago, God looked down upon the earth wrapped in a blanket of darkness. In my mind’s eye, God seemed to speak four familiar words “Let there be Light!” That Light descended from Heaven to this dark, gloomy world in the form of a child. This child was not any ordinary child. This child was the Mighty God Himself – a Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This child dispelled the darkness that for so long had blanketed the earth. This child forced the shadow of death to flee to the depths of hell from whence it came. This child shattered the yoke of sin, the bar of iniquity, and the rod of our oppressor, Satan. Humanity would no longer wander aimlessly in the darkness nor would they have to fear death. With the Light, came life, hope, love, peace, courage, and truth. Consequently, the world felt something that it had not felt in a long time – indescribable, unspeakable joy.
Since the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, has the darkness of sin and death reclaimed the world from His Light? After two thousand years, has the Light of Bethlehem been extinguished by the darkness? The Great Deceiver, Satan, would like us to believe it has. He would like us to believe that sin still rules over us who believe in the Light and that death is something that followers of God should still fear. Do not allow Satan to deceive you. The true Light that is Jesus is not like the like the light of a candle that can be easily blown out. The Light still shines as bright as ever. That Light that came to earth two thousand years ago is in you. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Matthew 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
John 1:1-9
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Friday, December 2, 2011
A Thanksgiving lesson
Background –
Samaritans – The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel also called Samaria. The Assyrians scattered thousands of people from the North Kingdom throughout their empire. Forcibly removed them from their homes and exiled them to strange lands hundreds of miles away. The Assyrians then forced other people groups in their empire to settle in the Northern Kingdom. People of different races and religions. Overtime, the remaining Israelites intermarried with these other people groups. Their descendants would become known in Jesus’ day as Samaritans. The Samaritans were greatly looked down upon by their relatives to the south the Jews. The Jews held a strong racial and religious prejudice against the Samaritans. The Jews perceived Samaritans as “half-breeds”. They were genetically and religiously impure/unclean. A Jew did not step foot on Samaritan soil for fear they would become “unclean”. They would walk miles around Samaritan territory to get to where they were going. A Jew did not associate or socialize with a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had a similar relationship as whites and blacks in the United Stated during the days of segregation.
Leprosy – a generic name given to a skin disorder that was common in Biblical days. Leprosy produced sores and eruptions on the skin. The skin turned a snow white color. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. A person with leprosy can feel no pain in the area affected because the nerves are dead. A person who contracted leprosy was immediately ostracized from the community for fear of spreading diseases, not just leprosy. According to Jewish law, the leprous person had to wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose. He had to cover his upper lip and cry out, “Unclean! unclean!” Consequently, there was a strong social stigma associated with being a leper. The only people lepers could socialize with were other lepers. These “leper colonies” as they were known would go around the countryside begging for food and money.
Read Luke 17:11-19
1) Where was Jesus travelling? Along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
2) Who did Jesus come across during this journey? Ten lepers
3) What did they want Jesus to do? Show mercy towards them by healing them of their leprosy.
4) What did Jesus tell them to do? Go show themselves to the priest. According to scripture (Leviticus 14), a person with leprosy had to be examined by a priest to determine if he is cleansed or not.
5) As the ten were going to see the priest, what happened? They were healed. The leprosy was gone. Their skin was a normal color. They could actual feel again.
6) What did one of the ten do after he realized he was healed? He went back to see Jesus praising God the whole way. For what purpose? To give thanks to Jesus for healing him.
7) In the last sentence of verse 16, what does Luke point out about this former leper? He is a Samaritan. Why does Luke say this? To explain what Jesus says about this former leper in verse 18.
8) How would you describe Jesus’ response to the actions of the former leper? Amazement perhaps. Why does Jesus exhibit this response? By pointing out that this man who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was a foreigner/a Samaritan, what was Jesus implying about the nationality of the other nine? They were probably Jews. People of Jesus’ race. Yet His own people failed to return to thank Him for healing them.
9) Why was the Samaritan so grateful to Jesus for healing him? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Feel the physical and emotional suffering this man endured. You are a leper. Your skin is basically rotting off your bones. You have open sores. You can’t feel anything. There is an awful stench coming from your body. You are ostracized from your family, friends, and normal community. You can’t touch your wife and children. Even if you could, you could not feel them. When you do come into contact with healthy people, you have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” so that they know not to come near you. When they do recognize you as a leper they run away in fear from you. The only people you can socialize with are other lepers. But, you are not just a leper. You are a Samaritan leper. If the other nine lepers you associated with were Jews, how did they treat you? Not well. They probably stole whatever alms you received or shared with you the last morsel of moldy bread. In effect, you are an outcast among outcasts. But that all changed on the day Jesus healed you. You are healthy once more. You will no longer be treated as a pariah. You can go home to your family. Moreover, it was a Jew who showed compassion for you … a Jew who healed you. That has to make some impression on you. Out of the Samaritan’s joy, poured praises of thanksgiving for the one who changed his life. In return, Jesus, a Jew, commended him, a Samaritan, for his faith. Wow!
10) Why did the other nine not return to Jesus? We don’t really know. In my opinion, the nine were so ecstatic over what happened to them that they simply forgot to thank the One who made it possible. Before we throw rocks at them for being so ungrateful, how many people today … how many of us are guilty of doing the same?
11) In today’s culture with whom does our nation identify most when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving - expressing thanks to God – the one Samaritan or the nine ex-lepers? You can deduce my conclusion from the title of this lesson and what I shared at the beginning of this lesson. This Thanksgiving be like the Samaritan and not the nine. Do not take God’s blessing for granted.
Samaritans – The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel also called Samaria. The Assyrians scattered thousands of people from the North Kingdom throughout their empire. Forcibly removed them from their homes and exiled them to strange lands hundreds of miles away. The Assyrians then forced other people groups in their empire to settle in the Northern Kingdom. People of different races and religions. Overtime, the remaining Israelites intermarried with these other people groups. Their descendants would become known in Jesus’ day as Samaritans. The Samaritans were greatly looked down upon by their relatives to the south the Jews. The Jews held a strong racial and religious prejudice against the Samaritans. The Jews perceived Samaritans as “half-breeds”. They were genetically and religiously impure/unclean. A Jew did not step foot on Samaritan soil for fear they would become “unclean”. They would walk miles around Samaritan territory to get to where they were going. A Jew did not associate or socialize with a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had a similar relationship as whites and blacks in the United Stated during the days of segregation.
Leprosy – a generic name given to a skin disorder that was common in Biblical days. Leprosy produced sores and eruptions on the skin. The skin turned a snow white color. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. A person with leprosy can feel no pain in the area affected because the nerves are dead. A person who contracted leprosy was immediately ostracized from the community for fear of spreading diseases, not just leprosy. According to Jewish law, the leprous person had to wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose. He had to cover his upper lip and cry out, “Unclean! unclean!” Consequently, there was a strong social stigma associated with being a leper. The only people lepers could socialize with were other lepers. These “leper colonies” as they were known would go around the countryside begging for food and money.
Read Luke 17:11-19
1) Where was Jesus travelling? Along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
2) Who did Jesus come across during this journey? Ten lepers
3) What did they want Jesus to do? Show mercy towards them by healing them of their leprosy.
4) What did Jesus tell them to do? Go show themselves to the priest. According to scripture (Leviticus 14), a person with leprosy had to be examined by a priest to determine if he is cleansed or not.
5) As the ten were going to see the priest, what happened? They were healed. The leprosy was gone. Their skin was a normal color. They could actual feel again.
6) What did one of the ten do after he realized he was healed? He went back to see Jesus praising God the whole way. For what purpose? To give thanks to Jesus for healing him.
7) In the last sentence of verse 16, what does Luke point out about this former leper? He is a Samaritan. Why does Luke say this? To explain what Jesus says about this former leper in verse 18.
8) How would you describe Jesus’ response to the actions of the former leper? Amazement perhaps. Why does Jesus exhibit this response? By pointing out that this man who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was a foreigner/a Samaritan, what was Jesus implying about the nationality of the other nine? They were probably Jews. People of Jesus’ race. Yet His own people failed to return to thank Him for healing them.
9) Why was the Samaritan so grateful to Jesus for healing him? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Feel the physical and emotional suffering this man endured. You are a leper. Your skin is basically rotting off your bones. You have open sores. You can’t feel anything. There is an awful stench coming from your body. You are ostracized from your family, friends, and normal community. You can’t touch your wife and children. Even if you could, you could not feel them. When you do come into contact with healthy people, you have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” so that they know not to come near you. When they do recognize you as a leper they run away in fear from you. The only people you can socialize with are other lepers. But, you are not just a leper. You are a Samaritan leper. If the other nine lepers you associated with were Jews, how did they treat you? Not well. They probably stole whatever alms you received or shared with you the last morsel of moldy bread. In effect, you are an outcast among outcasts. But that all changed on the day Jesus healed you. You are healthy once more. You will no longer be treated as a pariah. You can go home to your family. Moreover, it was a Jew who showed compassion for you … a Jew who healed you. That has to make some impression on you. Out of the Samaritan’s joy, poured praises of thanksgiving for the one who changed his life. In return, Jesus, a Jew, commended him, a Samaritan, for his faith. Wow!
10) Why did the other nine not return to Jesus? We don’t really know. In my opinion, the nine were so ecstatic over what happened to them that they simply forgot to thank the One who made it possible. Before we throw rocks at them for being so ungrateful, how many people today … how many of us are guilty of doing the same?
11) In today’s culture with whom does our nation identify most when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving - expressing thanks to God – the one Samaritan or the nine ex-lepers? You can deduce my conclusion from the title of this lesson and what I shared at the beginning of this lesson. This Thanksgiving be like the Samaritan and not the nine. Do not take God’s blessing for granted.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Transforming Power of the Bible pt. 2
Background: I Kings chapters 12 & 13 – Around 930 B.C., Israel divided into two kingdoms: Northern Kingdom (Israel/Samaria) ruled by Jereboam and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) ruled by Reheboam. Jereboam established a new place of worship for the people of the Northern Kingdom. They were to worship two golden calves that represented their new gods. God sent a prophet to speak against this abomination performed by Jereboam. Read I Kings 13:1-2.
Flash forward nearly 300 years later …
II Kings 22:1-7: Josiah becomes king at age 8. At age 26, the Temple in Jerusalem was being repaired. During the repair someone made a discovery.
Read II Kings 22:8-13
1) What was discovered and who discovered it? The Book of Law … specifically the Book of Deuteronomy. Found by Hilkiah the high priest.
2) Who did he give the book to? Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, secretary to the king and he read it.
3) vs. 10. What did the secretary tell the king? “The high priest gave me a book.” He did not call it the Book of the Law. Why?
Read Deuteronomy chapters 4-6
4) What was the king’s response after hearing the words of the book? Tore his clothes in a symbol of repentance.
Read II Kings 23:1-3
5) Who did the king send for? The elders of Jerusalem and Judah. Who were they? Leaders of the people - Men of standing, men of respect.
6) vs. 2. Where did the king go and who went with him? The Temple. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem from every section of society; priests and prophets.
7) Who read from the Book of the Covenant? King Josiah. Point out the book is referred to as the Book of Covenant. Covenant defined – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. God and His people. God agrees to bless His people in return His people agree to submit to God’s authority – embodied in the Book of the Law. Josiah reads to the people the Book of Deuteronomy.
8) What is significant about who it is that is reading the Book? Josiah is the people’s leader. The fact that he is king gives greater weight to what he is doing. If Hilkiah the high priest or a prophet been the one to read from the Book would the people have responded the way they did?
9) vs. 3 What did Josiah and the people do? Made a covenant to walk after God. To learn and keep God’s Word. More importantly, act out God’s word in their lives. “Faith without works is dead.”
Read II Kings 23:4-20, 24
10) What did Josiah do? Eradicate idolatry and pagan religions in Judah.
Read II Kings 23:21-23, 25
11) What did Josiah restore? The celebration of the Passover.
12) How did the spiritual transformation of Judah happen? People hearing and applying the Word of God.
13) Did the people continue to walk after God after Josiah’s death (II Kings 23:31-36). If no, why? Both of Josiah’s sons did what was evil. Perhaps speaks to Josiah’s failure as a father. Josiah and the people of Judah did not fulfill God’s commandment found in Deuteronomy chapter 6.
13) Could such a spiritual transformation happen in the U.S. today?
Flash forward nearly 300 years later …
II Kings 22:1-7: Josiah becomes king at age 8. At age 26, the Temple in Jerusalem was being repaired. During the repair someone made a discovery.
Read II Kings 22:8-13
1) What was discovered and who discovered it? The Book of Law … specifically the Book of Deuteronomy. Found by Hilkiah the high priest.
2) Who did he give the book to? Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, secretary to the king and he read it.
3) vs. 10. What did the secretary tell the king? “The high priest gave me a book.” He did not call it the Book of the Law. Why?
Read Deuteronomy chapters 4-6
4) What was the king’s response after hearing the words of the book? Tore his clothes in a symbol of repentance.
Read II Kings 23:1-3
5) Who did the king send for? The elders of Jerusalem and Judah. Who were they? Leaders of the people - Men of standing, men of respect.
6) vs. 2. Where did the king go and who went with him? The Temple. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem from every section of society; priests and prophets.
7) Who read from the Book of the Covenant? King Josiah. Point out the book is referred to as the Book of Covenant. Covenant defined – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. God and His people. God agrees to bless His people in return His people agree to submit to God’s authority – embodied in the Book of the Law. Josiah reads to the people the Book of Deuteronomy.
8) What is significant about who it is that is reading the Book? Josiah is the people’s leader. The fact that he is king gives greater weight to what he is doing. If Hilkiah the high priest or a prophet been the one to read from the Book would the people have responded the way they did?
9) vs. 3 What did Josiah and the people do? Made a covenant to walk after God. To learn and keep God’s Word. More importantly, act out God’s word in their lives. “Faith without works is dead.”
Read II Kings 23:4-20, 24
10) What did Josiah do? Eradicate idolatry and pagan religions in Judah.
Read II Kings 23:21-23, 25
11) What did Josiah restore? The celebration of the Passover.
12) How did the spiritual transformation of Judah happen? People hearing and applying the Word of God.
13) Did the people continue to walk after God after Josiah’s death (II Kings 23:31-36). If no, why? Both of Josiah’s sons did what was evil. Perhaps speaks to Josiah’s failure as a father. Josiah and the people of Judah did not fulfill God’s commandment found in Deuteronomy chapter 6.
13) Could such a spiritual transformation happen in the U.S. today?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Transforming Power of the Bible Pt. 1
Read II Kings 21:1-9, 16
1) Describe the spiritual environment in Judah during the reign of King Manasseh –
a) Rebuilt high places – places of worship set apart for a pagan god(s) (Baal, Asherah, etc.) Located on hills. These gods were usually fertility gods; therefore, worship rituals included immoral activity.
b) Built altars to Baal and Asherah – fertility gods worshipped by many people groups in the Middle East. Asherah was the wife of Baal. Many Jews worshipped Asherah as the wife of Yahweh. Asherah poles – cult symbol connected with the worship of Asherah. Wooden artifact or tree dedicated to Asherah. Asherah poles could be seen throughout Judah.
c) Worshipped the stars and planets; built altars to them in the Temple (the house of the Lord) in Jerusalem.
d) Human sacrifice – Manasseh offered his son to the god Molech. Literal translation of verse 6 – “made his son pass through the fire.” Manasseh’s son was burned alive as part of a ritual purification practice to the god Molech. His infant son was passed through fire to receive the blessings of Molech. The child died and therefore was not deemed worthy of Molech’s blessings.
e) Astrology and spiritism (communication with the dead) was practiced – fortune telling, mediums (psychics), necromancer (someone who could speak to the dead)
f) Placed an idol of Asherah in the Temple (House of the Lord) – Typically images of female fertility gods were extremely sexual. Accentuated her sexual appearance. Jews continued to worship God in the Temple. However, they brought him down to the same level with other gods (Stars, planets, Baal, Asherah). The Lord (Yahweh) was just one of many gods.
g) Manasseh committed great bloodshed - specifically innocent blood. Why? Who were the innocents? The innocents were probably Jews who refused to follow Manasseh’s example. Rejected the worship of other gods. Unhappy/angry with Manasseh … his desecration of the Temple, his promotion of the worship of false gods, etc. Voiced their anger. Manasseh’s response – had them killed. From the description in verse 16, sounds like it was a high number who were killed. According to Jewish tradition, one of them was the prophet Isaiah. Manasseh had him sawed in half (Hebrews 11: 37)
Let me add that it is probable that there were priests in the Temple who supported/tolerated Manasseh’s actions. A lot of authority/influence came with the position of priest. If you want to keep that social position, you went along with whatever the king wanted. There were probably men who claimed to be prophets of God who supported/tolerated Manasseh’s actions. They gave God’s seal of approval to Manasseh’s actions. False prophets – “God spoke to me and said ‘I have a brother named Baal and a wife named Asherah. Worship them also or else!’
2) Do you see any parallels between the spiritual environment of Judah during the reign of Manasseh and the spiritual environment of the United States today? List examples –
a) High places and altars to false gods – Celebrity worship such as the Kardashians – the high place/altar is the TV set; sports – the high place/altar is the football stadium/arena.
b) Sexual immorality practiced publicly
c) Astrology, mediums, psychics all over the place.
d) human sacrifice = abortion; the infant is not worthy of life
e) Disgrace the House of the Lord – Churches/denominations that tolerate/condone sinful practices. Pastors speaking from the pulpit who condone sexual immorality (homosexuality, sex outside of marriage) and/or who condone other religions (there are many roads to God, Jesus was a great religious figure like Mohammed and Buddha)
f) Persecution of true followers of God – Christians who speak against sexual immorality, abortion, and sinful activities; who disagree with the teachings of other religions; who condemn idolatry (celebrity worship), astrology, psychic hotlines ... how are they perceived in the world? Intolerant, backwards thinking, religious nut jobs, insensitive to the religious rights of others. Form of persecution? Ridicule
Next Sunday – Read II Kings chapters 22 and 23. What happened that transformed the spiritual environment of Judah? Also read Deuteronomy chapter 4.
1) Describe the spiritual environment in Judah during the reign of King Manasseh –
a) Rebuilt high places – places of worship set apart for a pagan god(s) (Baal, Asherah, etc.) Located on hills. These gods were usually fertility gods; therefore, worship rituals included immoral activity.
b) Built altars to Baal and Asherah – fertility gods worshipped by many people groups in the Middle East. Asherah was the wife of Baal. Many Jews worshipped Asherah as the wife of Yahweh. Asherah poles – cult symbol connected with the worship of Asherah. Wooden artifact or tree dedicated to Asherah. Asherah poles could be seen throughout Judah.
c) Worshipped the stars and planets; built altars to them in the Temple (the house of the Lord) in Jerusalem.
d) Human sacrifice – Manasseh offered his son to the god Molech. Literal translation of verse 6 – “made his son pass through the fire.” Manasseh’s son was burned alive as part of a ritual purification practice to the god Molech. His infant son was passed through fire to receive the blessings of Molech. The child died and therefore was not deemed worthy of Molech’s blessings.
e) Astrology and spiritism (communication with the dead) was practiced – fortune telling, mediums (psychics), necromancer (someone who could speak to the dead)
f) Placed an idol of Asherah in the Temple (House of the Lord) – Typically images of female fertility gods were extremely sexual. Accentuated her sexual appearance. Jews continued to worship God in the Temple. However, they brought him down to the same level with other gods (Stars, planets, Baal, Asherah). The Lord (Yahweh) was just one of many gods.
g) Manasseh committed great bloodshed - specifically innocent blood. Why? Who were the innocents? The innocents were probably Jews who refused to follow Manasseh’s example. Rejected the worship of other gods. Unhappy/angry with Manasseh … his desecration of the Temple, his promotion of the worship of false gods, etc. Voiced their anger. Manasseh’s response – had them killed. From the description in verse 16, sounds like it was a high number who were killed. According to Jewish tradition, one of them was the prophet Isaiah. Manasseh had him sawed in half (Hebrews 11: 37)
Let me add that it is probable that there were priests in the Temple who supported/tolerated Manasseh’s actions. A lot of authority/influence came with the position of priest. If you want to keep that social position, you went along with whatever the king wanted. There were probably men who claimed to be prophets of God who supported/tolerated Manasseh’s actions. They gave God’s seal of approval to Manasseh’s actions. False prophets – “God spoke to me and said ‘I have a brother named Baal and a wife named Asherah. Worship them also or else!’
2) Do you see any parallels between the spiritual environment of Judah during the reign of Manasseh and the spiritual environment of the United States today? List examples –
a) High places and altars to false gods – Celebrity worship such as the Kardashians – the high place/altar is the TV set; sports – the high place/altar is the football stadium/arena.
b) Sexual immorality practiced publicly
c) Astrology, mediums, psychics all over the place.
d) human sacrifice = abortion; the infant is not worthy of life
e) Disgrace the House of the Lord – Churches/denominations that tolerate/condone sinful practices. Pastors speaking from the pulpit who condone sexual immorality (homosexuality, sex outside of marriage) and/or who condone other religions (there are many roads to God, Jesus was a great religious figure like Mohammed and Buddha)
f) Persecution of true followers of God – Christians who speak against sexual immorality, abortion, and sinful activities; who disagree with the teachings of other religions; who condemn idolatry (celebrity worship), astrology, psychic hotlines ... how are they perceived in the world? Intolerant, backwards thinking, religious nut jobs, insensitive to the religious rights of others. Form of persecution? Ridicule
Next Sunday – Read II Kings chapters 22 and 23. What happened that transformed the spiritual environment of Judah? Also read Deuteronomy chapter 4.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Story of the Bible - pt. 4: How the OT came together
Septuagint
Septuagint (sometimes abbreviated LXX) is the name given to the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures. The Septuagint has its origin in Alexandria, Egypt and was translated between 300-100 BC. The term “Septuagint” means seventy in Latin, and the text is so named to the credit of these 70 scholars. According to an ancient document called the Letter of Aristeas, it is believed that 70 to 72 Jewish scholars were commissioned during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus to carry out the task of translation. Most scholars consider the Letter of Aristeas steeped in legend rather than historical truth. The motivation behind the Septuagint lays more in the fact that there was a large Jewish population living outside Palestine. The Septuagint was aimed at Hellenistic Jews (Jews who spoke Greek and adopted Greek culture and learning) who were beginning to lose their Hebrew language and heritage. The process of translating the Hebrew to Greek also gave many non-Jews (Gentiles) a glimpse into Judaism. For the first time Gentiles (Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Syrians, etc.) could read God’s Word. Emphasize – Primary goal of the Jewish scholars involved in translating the Septuagint was not establish a definitive Hebrew canon of Scriptures but to preserve Jewish heritage and culture in a non-Jewish world.
Not all Jews accepted the Septuagint. One religious group in particular that was active during Jesus’ life: the Sadducees. They rejected the Prophets and Writings as authoritative Scripture. They regarded the Pentateuch as the only authoritative Scripture.
The Septuagint contains the standard 39 books of the Old Testament canon, as well as certain apocryphal books. The term "Apocrypha" was coined by the fifth-century biblical scholar, Jerome, and generally refers to the set of ancient Jewish writings written during the period between the last book in the Jewish scriptures, Malachi, and the arrival of Jesus Christ. Word “apocrypha” means “hidden away”. Biblical scholars, both Jewish and Christian, questioned their legitimacy as authoritative Scripture. Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin around 410 A.D. (Bible called the Latin Vulgate which became the official version of Bible used by Catholic Church) included a disclaimer before each Apocryphal book that it was not found in the Hebrew Bible and therefore should not be regarded as canonical. In fact, Jerome was reluctant to even do a Latin translation of the Apocrypha because they were not found in the Tanakh. Overtime Jerome’s disclaimers disappeared from future translations of the Latin Vulgate. As a consequence, the Apocrypha began to be accepted as canonical.
Why were the Apocryphal books not found in the Hebrew Bible? They did not meet O.T. benchmarks we talked about previously. The Apocrypha had 1) Historic and geographic inaccuracies – Book of Judith starts by saying it was written while Nebuchadnezzar was king of Assyria. Actually he was a Babylonian king. 2) Lacked commonality with accepted O.T. books. Doctrinal inconsistencies; Apocrypha books read more like morality tales, myths, and legends. Read examples found in NIV Archeological Bible. II Esdras – apocalyptic/end times book consisting of seven visions. Attributed to Ezra the scribe. Actually written as a reaction to destruction of temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. hundreds of years after Ezra’s death. Martin Luther was so confused by the visions in the book that it said he threw it into the Elbe River. Point out similarities between American Apocrypha (George Washington chopping down cherry tree, Daniel Boone, Davey Crockett) and Jewish Apocrypha. However, scholars refused to declare them worthless. The Apocryphal books were included in the Septuagint for historical and religious purposes, but are not recognized by Protestant Christians or Orthodox Jews as canonical (inspired by God). Emphasize again purpose of Septuagint translators was to preserve Jewish heritage and culture not to establish a Hebrew canon. Martin Luther wrote that the Apocrypha are books which are not considered equal to the Holy Scriptures, but are useful and good to read" … in other words he regarded the Apocrypha to be morality tales or useful for learning Jewish culture. I Maccabbees – Tells the story of Jewish revolt against foreign rule. The Church of England told its members to read the Apocrypha for example of life and instruction of manners.” Example – the Apocrypha book titled Ecclesiasticus – it reads like a book of etiquette sort of like Emily Post or Roberts Rules of Order. “Speak concisely. Say much in a few words.” “Act like a man who knows more than he says.” “Prepare what you have to say and then you will be listened to.” Therefore, they were “hidden away” in a separate section of the Bible often at the end of the OT. It’s important to point out that the New Testament writers never quoted from the Apocryphal books, and that the Apocrypha was never considered part of the canonical Jewish scripture (the Tanakh). However, the Roman Catholic Church (in 1546 at the Council of Trent and perhaps in reaction to Protestant Bible) and the Orthodox churches include the Apocrypha in their Bible. Most Protestant Bibles (KJV, NASB, NIV) do not include the Apocrypha. Separatist Groups within the Church of England (Puritans, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc., did not consider the Apocrypha to be authoritative. Excluded them from their Bibles.)
The Septuagint was also a source of the Old Testament for early Christians during the first few centuries AD. Many early Christians spoke and read Greek, thus they relied on the Septuagint translation for most of their understanding of the Old Testament. The New Testament writers also relied heavily on the Septuagint, as a majority of Old Testament quotes cited in the New Testament are quoted directly from the Septuagint (others are quoted from the Hebrew texts). Some modern Bible translations also use the Septuagint along side Hebrew manuscripts as their source text. (ex. The New American Standard Bible) – Point out that the NASB, KJV, NIV do not rely solely on one translation of OT – use multiple sources (Tanakh, Septuagint, Latin Vulgate, etc. – show example in Bible - more recently the Dead Sea Scrolls) in order to be as accurate as possible to original language. Unfortunately, we do not have the original Books of Genesis, Joshua, Isaiah.
Starting approximately in the 2nd century (100-200 A.D.), several factors led most Jews to abandon the Septuagint. The Jews began to perceive the Septuagint as Christian Bible. Christians naturally used the Septuagint since it was the only Greek version available to the earliest Christians; and since Christians, as a group, had rapidly become overwhelmingly Gentile and, therefore, unfamiliar with Hebrew. The association of the Septuagint with a rival religion may have rendered it suspect in the eyes of the newer generation of Jews and Jewish scholars. Perhaps more importantly, the Greek language — and therefore the Greek Bible — declined among Jews after most of them fled from the Greek-speaking eastern Roman Empire into non-Greek speaking countries when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. Instead, Jews adopted the Hebrew based Tanakh as their Bible.
Septuagint (sometimes abbreviated LXX) is the name given to the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures. The Septuagint has its origin in Alexandria, Egypt and was translated between 300-100 BC. The term “Septuagint” means seventy in Latin, and the text is so named to the credit of these 70 scholars. According to an ancient document called the Letter of Aristeas, it is believed that 70 to 72 Jewish scholars were commissioned during the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus to carry out the task of translation. Most scholars consider the Letter of Aristeas steeped in legend rather than historical truth. The motivation behind the Septuagint lays more in the fact that there was a large Jewish population living outside Palestine. The Septuagint was aimed at Hellenistic Jews (Jews who spoke Greek and adopted Greek culture and learning) who were beginning to lose their Hebrew language and heritage. The process of translating the Hebrew to Greek also gave many non-Jews (Gentiles) a glimpse into Judaism. For the first time Gentiles (Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Syrians, etc.) could read God’s Word. Emphasize – Primary goal of the Jewish scholars involved in translating the Septuagint was not establish a definitive Hebrew canon of Scriptures but to preserve Jewish heritage and culture in a non-Jewish world.
Not all Jews accepted the Septuagint. One religious group in particular that was active during Jesus’ life: the Sadducees. They rejected the Prophets and Writings as authoritative Scripture. They regarded the Pentateuch as the only authoritative Scripture.
The Septuagint contains the standard 39 books of the Old Testament canon, as well as certain apocryphal books. The term "Apocrypha" was coined by the fifth-century biblical scholar, Jerome, and generally refers to the set of ancient Jewish writings written during the period between the last book in the Jewish scriptures, Malachi, and the arrival of Jesus Christ. Word “apocrypha” means “hidden away”. Biblical scholars, both Jewish and Christian, questioned their legitimacy as authoritative Scripture. Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin around 410 A.D. (Bible called the Latin Vulgate which became the official version of Bible used by Catholic Church) included a disclaimer before each Apocryphal book that it was not found in the Hebrew Bible and therefore should not be regarded as canonical. In fact, Jerome was reluctant to even do a Latin translation of the Apocrypha because they were not found in the Tanakh. Overtime Jerome’s disclaimers disappeared from future translations of the Latin Vulgate. As a consequence, the Apocrypha began to be accepted as canonical.
Why were the Apocryphal books not found in the Hebrew Bible? They did not meet O.T. benchmarks we talked about previously. The Apocrypha had 1) Historic and geographic inaccuracies – Book of Judith starts by saying it was written while Nebuchadnezzar was king of Assyria. Actually he was a Babylonian king. 2) Lacked commonality with accepted O.T. books. Doctrinal inconsistencies; Apocrypha books read more like morality tales, myths, and legends. Read examples found in NIV Archeological Bible. II Esdras – apocalyptic/end times book consisting of seven visions. Attributed to Ezra the scribe. Actually written as a reaction to destruction of temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. hundreds of years after Ezra’s death. Martin Luther was so confused by the visions in the book that it said he threw it into the Elbe River. Point out similarities between American Apocrypha (George Washington chopping down cherry tree, Daniel Boone, Davey Crockett) and Jewish Apocrypha. However, scholars refused to declare them worthless. The Apocryphal books were included in the Septuagint for historical and religious purposes, but are not recognized by Protestant Christians or Orthodox Jews as canonical (inspired by God). Emphasize again purpose of Septuagint translators was to preserve Jewish heritage and culture not to establish a Hebrew canon. Martin Luther wrote that the Apocrypha are books which are not considered equal to the Holy Scriptures, but are useful and good to read" … in other words he regarded the Apocrypha to be morality tales or useful for learning Jewish culture. I Maccabbees – Tells the story of Jewish revolt against foreign rule. The Church of England told its members to read the Apocrypha for example of life and instruction of manners.” Example – the Apocrypha book titled Ecclesiasticus – it reads like a book of etiquette sort of like Emily Post or Roberts Rules of Order. “Speak concisely. Say much in a few words.” “Act like a man who knows more than he says.” “Prepare what you have to say and then you will be listened to.” Therefore, they were “hidden away” in a separate section of the Bible often at the end of the OT. It’s important to point out that the New Testament writers never quoted from the Apocryphal books, and that the Apocrypha was never considered part of the canonical Jewish scripture (the Tanakh). However, the Roman Catholic Church (in 1546 at the Council of Trent and perhaps in reaction to Protestant Bible) and the Orthodox churches include the Apocrypha in their Bible. Most Protestant Bibles (KJV, NASB, NIV) do not include the Apocrypha. Separatist Groups within the Church of England (Puritans, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc., did not consider the Apocrypha to be authoritative. Excluded them from their Bibles.)
The Septuagint was also a source of the Old Testament for early Christians during the first few centuries AD. Many early Christians spoke and read Greek, thus they relied on the Septuagint translation for most of their understanding of the Old Testament. The New Testament writers also relied heavily on the Septuagint, as a majority of Old Testament quotes cited in the New Testament are quoted directly from the Septuagint (others are quoted from the Hebrew texts). Some modern Bible translations also use the Septuagint along side Hebrew manuscripts as their source text. (ex. The New American Standard Bible) – Point out that the NASB, KJV, NIV do not rely solely on one translation of OT – use multiple sources (Tanakh, Septuagint, Latin Vulgate, etc. – show example in Bible - more recently the Dead Sea Scrolls) in order to be as accurate as possible to original language. Unfortunately, we do not have the original Books of Genesis, Joshua, Isaiah.
Starting approximately in the 2nd century (100-200 A.D.), several factors led most Jews to abandon the Septuagint. The Jews began to perceive the Septuagint as Christian Bible. Christians naturally used the Septuagint since it was the only Greek version available to the earliest Christians; and since Christians, as a group, had rapidly become overwhelmingly Gentile and, therefore, unfamiliar with Hebrew. The association of the Septuagint with a rival religion may have rendered it suspect in the eyes of the newer generation of Jews and Jewish scholars. Perhaps more importantly, the Greek language — and therefore the Greek Bible — declined among Jews after most of them fled from the Greek-speaking eastern Roman Empire into non-Greek speaking countries when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. Instead, Jews adopted the Hebrew based Tanakh as their Bible.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Story of the Bible - pt. 3: How the OT came together
The Bible was a little over 1500 years in the making. From the time the first words were written until the last words in Revelation – 1500 B.C.–100 A.D. - 1600 years.
The first words written are not “in the beginning.” They were “I am the Lord your God …” Exodus 20: 2” - The Ten Commandments.
The materials the Bible was written on – stone, clay, animal hide (leather) and papyrus – at first scrolls and later (N.T. era) bound volumes.
Originally the Bible was not divided into chapters and verses. The Bible was first divided into chapters in the 1100’s. The chapters were divided into verses in the 1500’s. The first printing of a Bible with chapters and verses was published in 1551. The original purpose for verses was not for the reader’s benefit but for the printer’s benefit. It helped the printer know where a page began and ended so that there would be no duplication on the next page. Thus the verses sometimes break off in the middle of a thought, sentence, or paragraph. What is the positive to the Bible being divided into chapter and verses? Help us memorize Scripture. What is the negative to the Bible being divided into chapter and verses? They can interfere with the understanding of what a verse is saying by taking it out of context. Ex. Romans chapters 6-8.
The official canon (authoritative writings) of the Bible was established during the Protestant Reformation (1500’s A.D.) – Catholic canon was established at the Council of Trent (1546); Protestant canon was established by Martin Luther (1534), King James Version (1611), and by Separatists groups (Puritans, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc.) within the Church of England.
How the Bible came together is act of God. The official canon was completed after centuries of deliberation, discussion, and debates. Multiple councils and meetings were held and numerous treatises and letters were written to decide on what books should or should not be in the Bible. There were those (Jewish and Christian) who believed certain books should be excluded (most notably Esther) or included (the Apocrypha). A number of benchmarks had to be met before a book was considered canonical. Old Testament - Historical authenticity – events and author, fulfilled prophecy, God played a major role in the book; commonality among O.T. books – Books of O.T. fit together like pieces in a large jigsaw puzzle. Other books that scholars and churches claim should be canon (ex. Apocrypha books) are jigsaw pieces that do not fit in the authorized O.T. jigsaw puzzle. New Testament – Historical authenticity – eyewitness of Jesus, lived during the birth of Christianity, and/or church was known to have existed (ex. Revelation) and consistency in doctrine with other accepted NT books. Over the course of time (centuries), this discussion and debate produced the Bible we have today.
382-410 A.D. – Jerome was commissioned by the pope who was the leader of the Church to translate the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into Latin, the predominant language in the world at that time. The Latin Vulgate was THE official Bible of the Church and would be for the next thousand years. It is still the Bible used by the Catholic Church today and would be the template for future bible translations. The New Testament in the Vulgate Bible included the 27 books regarded at the time to be the New Testament adding greater authority to the 27.
Late 1400’s-early 1500’s A.D. – The Protestant Reformation era. The Church divides between Catholic led by Pope in Rome and Protestant led by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. Protestant leaders reexamine/call into question decisions/church rules made by the papal led Church during the past one thousand years including the books that made up the Old and New Testament.
One should not forget the role played by God in the creation of the Bible. For example, Martin Luther openly stated that the Books of Esther, Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation should be excluded from the biblical canon. Esther – because it does not mention God’s name. Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation – they did not support Luther’s doctrine of justification. However, Luther included all these books in what became the Luther Bible. Why? It’s my opinion that the Holy Spirit convinced Luther to leave these books in his Bible. The Luther Bible had a huge impact on the development and direction of Christianity.
Bible divided into two parts – Old Testament and New Testament. They were not referred to as Old and New Testament until after 100 A.D. Prior to then, the Old Testament was referred to as the Law and the Prophets or sometimes the Law, the Psalms/Writings, and the Prophets. Testament is Latin for Covenant. Old Covenant and New Covenant. Covenant defined – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. God and man. Old/New Covenant – God agrees to redeem man in return man agrees to submit to God’s authority.
Old Testament – An overview
Consists of 39 books that covers a period from the beginning of time (Genesis) until 400 B.C. (Malachi)
Written mostly in Hebrew. Some Aramaic. Authors - Shepherds, farmers, kings, priests, and government officials.
Origins of the Old Testament:
I. The Tanakh – is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. The acronym is based on the initial Hebrew letters of each of the text's three parts:
1. Torah תורה meaning "Instruction." It is also called the Chumash חומש, meaning "the five" or "the five books of Moses." In Greek, it is called the Pentateuch. The Torah is often referred to as the law of the Jewish people.
2. Nevi'im נביאים, meaning "Prophets." This term is associated with anything to do with the prophets.
3. Ketuvim כתובים, meaning "Writings" or "Hagiographa."
The Tanakh contains 24 books. Christians count the books found in the OT as thirty-nine, not twenty-four. This is because Jews often count as a single book what Christians count as several. Examples – Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Minor Prophets are grouped together as one book called the Twelve.
Evidence suggests that the process of canonization of the Tanakh occurred between 200BC and 200 AD. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the 70’s AD wrote that the Tanakh contained the books "all Jews immediately - and from their very birth! - esteem to contain Divine doctrines, and persist [in performing these doctrines] in them, and, if occasion be, willingly die for them". Josephus also wrote “Many ages have passed, no one has been so bold as to either add anything to them or take anything from them, or to make any changes to them. By 200 AD, after much deliberation, the Jews recognized the Tanakh as the authorized Hebrew Scripture.
Masoretes
The Masoretes were a special group of Jewish scribes entrusted with the task of making copies of the Tanakh by hand between 500 B.C.-90 AD. They developed a meticulous system of counting the number of words in each book of the Bible to make sure they copied it accurately. Any scroll found to have an error was buried according to Jewish law
The first words written are not “in the beginning.” They were “I am the Lord your God …” Exodus 20: 2” - The Ten Commandments.
The materials the Bible was written on – stone, clay, animal hide (leather) and papyrus – at first scrolls and later (N.T. era) bound volumes.
Originally the Bible was not divided into chapters and verses. The Bible was first divided into chapters in the 1100’s. The chapters were divided into verses in the 1500’s. The first printing of a Bible with chapters and verses was published in 1551. The original purpose for verses was not for the reader’s benefit but for the printer’s benefit. It helped the printer know where a page began and ended so that there would be no duplication on the next page. Thus the verses sometimes break off in the middle of a thought, sentence, or paragraph. What is the positive to the Bible being divided into chapter and verses? Help us memorize Scripture. What is the negative to the Bible being divided into chapter and verses? They can interfere with the understanding of what a verse is saying by taking it out of context. Ex. Romans chapters 6-8.
The official canon (authoritative writings) of the Bible was established during the Protestant Reformation (1500’s A.D.) – Catholic canon was established at the Council of Trent (1546); Protestant canon was established by Martin Luther (1534), King James Version (1611), and by Separatists groups (Puritans, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc.) within the Church of England.
How the Bible came together is act of God. The official canon was completed after centuries of deliberation, discussion, and debates. Multiple councils and meetings were held and numerous treatises and letters were written to decide on what books should or should not be in the Bible. There were those (Jewish and Christian) who believed certain books should be excluded (most notably Esther) or included (the Apocrypha). A number of benchmarks had to be met before a book was considered canonical. Old Testament - Historical authenticity – events and author, fulfilled prophecy, God played a major role in the book; commonality among O.T. books – Books of O.T. fit together like pieces in a large jigsaw puzzle. Other books that scholars and churches claim should be canon (ex. Apocrypha books) are jigsaw pieces that do not fit in the authorized O.T. jigsaw puzzle. New Testament – Historical authenticity – eyewitness of Jesus, lived during the birth of Christianity, and/or church was known to have existed (ex. Revelation) and consistency in doctrine with other accepted NT books. Over the course of time (centuries), this discussion and debate produced the Bible we have today.
382-410 A.D. – Jerome was commissioned by the pope who was the leader of the Church to translate the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into Latin, the predominant language in the world at that time. The Latin Vulgate was THE official Bible of the Church and would be for the next thousand years. It is still the Bible used by the Catholic Church today and would be the template for future bible translations. The New Testament in the Vulgate Bible included the 27 books regarded at the time to be the New Testament adding greater authority to the 27.
Late 1400’s-early 1500’s A.D. – The Protestant Reformation era. The Church divides between Catholic led by Pope in Rome and Protestant led by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. Protestant leaders reexamine/call into question decisions/church rules made by the papal led Church during the past one thousand years including the books that made up the Old and New Testament.
One should not forget the role played by God in the creation of the Bible. For example, Martin Luther openly stated that the Books of Esther, Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation should be excluded from the biblical canon. Esther – because it does not mention God’s name. Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation – they did not support Luther’s doctrine of justification. However, Luther included all these books in what became the Luther Bible. Why? It’s my opinion that the Holy Spirit convinced Luther to leave these books in his Bible. The Luther Bible had a huge impact on the development and direction of Christianity.
Bible divided into two parts – Old Testament and New Testament. They were not referred to as Old and New Testament until after 100 A.D. Prior to then, the Old Testament was referred to as the Law and the Prophets or sometimes the Law, the Psalms/Writings, and the Prophets. Testament is Latin for Covenant. Old Covenant and New Covenant. Covenant defined – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. God and man. Old/New Covenant – God agrees to redeem man in return man agrees to submit to God’s authority.
Old Testament – An overview
Consists of 39 books that covers a period from the beginning of time (Genesis) until 400 B.C. (Malachi)
Written mostly in Hebrew. Some Aramaic. Authors - Shepherds, farmers, kings, priests, and government officials.
Origins of the Old Testament:
I. The Tanakh – is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. The acronym is based on the initial Hebrew letters of each of the text's three parts:
1. Torah תורה meaning "Instruction." It is also called the Chumash חומש, meaning "the five" or "the five books of Moses." In Greek, it is called the Pentateuch. The Torah is often referred to as the law of the Jewish people.
2. Nevi'im נביאים, meaning "Prophets." This term is associated with anything to do with the prophets.
3. Ketuvim כתובים, meaning "Writings" or "Hagiographa."
The Tanakh contains 24 books. Christians count the books found in the OT as thirty-nine, not twenty-four. This is because Jews often count as a single book what Christians count as several. Examples – Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Minor Prophets are grouped together as one book called the Twelve.
Evidence suggests that the process of canonization of the Tanakh occurred between 200BC and 200 AD. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the 70’s AD wrote that the Tanakh contained the books "all Jews immediately - and from their very birth! - esteem to contain Divine doctrines, and persist [in performing these doctrines] in them, and, if occasion be, willingly die for them". Josephus also wrote “Many ages have passed, no one has been so bold as to either add anything to them or take anything from them, or to make any changes to them. By 200 AD, after much deliberation, the Jews recognized the Tanakh as the authorized Hebrew Scripture.
Masoretes
The Masoretes were a special group of Jewish scribes entrusted with the task of making copies of the Tanakh by hand between 500 B.C.-90 AD. They developed a meticulous system of counting the number of words in each book of the Bible to make sure they copied it accurately. Any scroll found to have an error was buried according to Jewish law
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Story of the Bible - Introduction pt. 2
Read Exodus 20:3-17
5) a) List the Ten Commandments. b) Meditate/pray – let God’s Spirit inspire you – write down what God is saying to humanity in each of the ten commandments. The first four really stood out for me.
1st commandment – Relates to God’s authority over man - No one else is to have authority over me but God. No one is to control my life but God. Not money, not spouse, not children, not job
2nd commandment – Worship - I am not to worship anyone or anything but God.
3rd commandment – Vain – Hebrew – empty, worthless; I am to respect God. I am to have deep reverence for God. Evidence of this – How I use his name. I am not use it to express my feelings about something (surprise, anger). His name is not to be used as an adjective/adverb. Not to be used flippantly in conversation. See Yahweh article in last week’s handout on how the Jews respected God’s name.
4th commandment – Follow God’s example. “Holy” means to set apart/be different. One day of the seven day week is to be different than the others. Rest one day out of seven.
6) Do you notice a division within the Ten Commandments? The first four are concerned with relationship between humanity and God. The last six are concerned humanity’s relationship with one another. Focus on the first four commandments:
5) a) List the Ten Commandments. b) Meditate/pray – let God’s Spirit inspire you – write down what God is saying to humanity in each of the ten commandments. The first four really stood out for me.
1st commandment – Relates to God’s authority over man - No one else is to have authority over me but God. No one is to control my life but God. Not money, not spouse, not children, not job
2nd commandment – Worship - I am not to worship anyone or anything but God.
3rd commandment – Vain – Hebrew – empty, worthless; I am to respect God. I am to have deep reverence for God. Evidence of this – How I use his name. I am not use it to express my feelings about something (surprise, anger). His name is not to be used as an adjective/adverb. Not to be used flippantly in conversation. See Yahweh article in last week’s handout on how the Jews respected God’s name.
4th commandment – Follow God’s example. “Holy” means to set apart/be different. One day of the seven day week is to be different than the others. Rest one day out of seven.
6) Do you notice a division within the Ten Commandments? The first four are concerned with relationship between humanity and God. The last six are concerned humanity’s relationship with one another. Focus on the first four commandments:
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Story of the Bible pt. 1
Ta biblia ta hagia, "the holy books"), which derived from biblion ("paper" or "scroll,” the ordinary word for "book"), which was originally a diminutive of byblos ("Egyptian papyrus"), possibly so called from the name of the Phoenician port from which Egyptian papyrus was exported to Greece.
Biblical scholar Mark Hamilton states that the Greek phrase Ta biblia ("the books") was "an expression Hellenistic Jews used to describe their sacred books several centuries before the time of Jesus," and would have referred to the Septuagint. The Online Etymology Dictionary states, "The Christian scripture was referred to in Greek as Ta Biblia as early as c.223."
1) What does the Bible have to say about itself?
Exodus 31:18 – When He (God) had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
Exodus 32:15-16 - Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other. The tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing engraved on the tablets.
Deuteronomy 4:13 - So He (God) declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
Deuteronomy 9:10 - The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.
If you were to give a title summarizing the above verses, what would it be? God is the author of the Bible.
2600 times in the Bible, you see this refrain – “The Lord says” or in the King’s English “Thus saith the Lord!”
Hebrews 1:1 - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways …
Luke 1:70 – As He (God) spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old …
Numbers 12:6-8 – He (God) said, “Hear now My words: if there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses, he is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:1-4 – The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign …. Now the word of the LORD came to me saying …
Micah 1:1 – The word of the LORD which came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
If you were to give a title summarizing the above verses, what would it be? God spoke His Word to men.
The men God spoke to – Shepherds (Amos), fishermen (Peter), kings (David, Solomon), priests (Ezekiel, Ezra), government officials (Daniel), and a doctor (Luke.)
Mark 12:36 – David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET."
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
II Peter 1:21 – for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
If you were to give a title summarizing the above verses, what would it be? God’s Holy Spirit inspired men to write down His Word.
Define inspire/inspiration – expire means to breathe out. Inspire means to breathe in
Literal translation in II Timothy – God breathed – God breathed His Word into man. What image does that produce? Mouth to mouth resuscitation. Gives life.
Hebrews 4:12a – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.
If you were to summarize the above verse, what would you write?
God’s Word is full of life and energy
Active – literal translation energy
Review our summaries. Put them together to write an overall summary of what the Bible says about itself.
The Bible was authored by God and was spoken to men whom inspired by God’s Spirit wrote down His Word. God’s Word is not dead, but is full of life and energy.
Last sentence is very important. The words that God spoke to Moses, Jonah, Ezekiel, Matthew, Paul did not “die” when a book was completed. God’s was not just for the person/people/nations He was speaking to a thousand years ago. He is speaking to us as well in Jonah, Micah, Genesis, Nahum, Romans, Colossians, etc. To say otherwise, is to say God’s Word is dead. To believe otherwise, is to believe that God’s Word is dead. If that’s the case, might as well throw the Bible in a trash can.
2)Why did/does God speak to humanity through the Bible? What is He saying to humanity?
Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You.
II Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Matthew 4: 4 – But He (Jesus) answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
If you were to summarize the above verses, what would you say? Purpose of God’s Word – Draw humanity to obedience to Him so that they might find life and purpose.
Disobedience – death and uselessness
Biblical scholar Mark Hamilton states that the Greek phrase Ta biblia ("the books") was "an expression Hellenistic Jews used to describe their sacred books several centuries before the time of Jesus," and would have referred to the Septuagint. The Online Etymology Dictionary states, "The Christian scripture was referred to in Greek as Ta Biblia as early as c.223."
1) What does the Bible have to say about itself?
Exodus 31:18 – When He (God) had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
Exodus 32:15-16 - Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other. The tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing engraved on the tablets.
Deuteronomy 4:13 - So He (God) declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
Deuteronomy 9:10 - The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.
If you were to give a title summarizing the above verses, what would it be? God is the author of the Bible.
2600 times in the Bible, you see this refrain – “The Lord says” or in the King’s English “Thus saith the Lord!”
Hebrews 1:1 - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways …
Luke 1:70 – As He (God) spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old …
Numbers 12:6-8 – He (God) said, “Hear now My words: if there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision I shall speak with him in a dream. Not so, with My servant Moses, he is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:1-4 – The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign …. Now the word of the LORD came to me saying …
Micah 1:1 – The word of the LORD which came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
If you were to give a title summarizing the above verses, what would it be? God spoke His Word to men.
The men God spoke to – Shepherds (Amos), fishermen (Peter), kings (David, Solomon), priests (Ezekiel, Ezra), government officials (Daniel), and a doctor (Luke.)
Mark 12:36 – David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET."
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
II Peter 1:21 – for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
If you were to give a title summarizing the above verses, what would it be? God’s Holy Spirit inspired men to write down His Word.
Define inspire/inspiration – expire means to breathe out. Inspire means to breathe in
Literal translation in II Timothy – God breathed – God breathed His Word into man. What image does that produce? Mouth to mouth resuscitation. Gives life.
Hebrews 4:12a – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.
If you were to summarize the above verse, what would you write?
God’s Word is full of life and energy
Active – literal translation energy
Review our summaries. Put them together to write an overall summary of what the Bible says about itself.
The Bible was authored by God and was spoken to men whom inspired by God’s Spirit wrote down His Word. God’s Word is not dead, but is full of life and energy.
Last sentence is very important. The words that God spoke to Moses, Jonah, Ezekiel, Matthew, Paul did not “die” when a book was completed. God’s was not just for the person/people/nations He was speaking to a thousand years ago. He is speaking to us as well in Jonah, Micah, Genesis, Nahum, Romans, Colossians, etc. To say otherwise, is to say God’s Word is dead. To believe otherwise, is to believe that God’s Word is dead. If that’s the case, might as well throw the Bible in a trash can.
2)Why did/does God speak to humanity through the Bible? What is He saying to humanity?
Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You.
II Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Matthew 4: 4 – But He (Jesus) answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
If you were to summarize the above verses, what would you say? Purpose of God’s Word – Draw humanity to obedience to Him so that they might find life and purpose.
Disobedience – death and uselessness
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Walking with Abraham pt. 7 - Covenant Tested
When Abraham and Isaac reached their destination, Abraham proceeded to build the altar, arranged the wood on the altar, bound Isaac, and placed him on the altar. No evidence that Isaac put up a struggle. He took out his knife, raised it, and was about to bring it down to slay his son when he heard a voice from heaven cry out his name. Abraham stopped immediately and said “Here I am.” Throughout his test, Abraham was always listening. No matter the level of stress/anxiety Abraham was experiencing his ears were open to hearing from God. Lesson there for us.
8. What reason did God give to Abraham as to why He wanted Abraham to go through this experience? What was the purpose of God’s test? Repeat definition of test with emphasis on what is in bold - the method by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined. The trial of the quality of something. In this test, God is using the sacrifice of Isaac to test the presence, quality, or genuineness of something in Abraham. It was a trial whose purpose was to find the quality of something in Abraham. What was that something? That Abraham feared God; therefore, he would obey and trust God no matter what if even it meant the life of his only son Isaac. Fear of God defined – healthy recognition of the sovereignty/supreme authority of God. As Job put it – God gives and God takes away. Abraham learned that God gives, God takes away, and God gives back (See question 10) God tested Abraham to determine the presence, quality, and genuineness of Abraham’s faith/obedience to Him and Abraham passed the test successfully. Method of testing – Abraham was to sacrifice his one and only son whom he loved dearly – Isaac. Abraham had failed this test in the past. He did not always have faith that God would protect him or his family (see Genesis chapter 12.)
9. Why did God choose this method (sacrificing Isaac) to test Abraham? Another purpose for a test is to teach. What God was teaching to Abraham was the Gospel – the good news of salvation. Read Galatians 3:7-9. God was showing Abraham how He would bring about salvation to humanity. The near sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows a similar event that would take place thousands of years later. A Father would one day lead His Son … His one and only Son whom He loved … to be sacrificed. The event would occur in the same vicinity that Abraham offered Isaac. The Father would lead His Son, not for three days, but for three years, on His journey to the mountain. Just as Abraham’s son carried wood that lead to his death, God’s Son carried wood that would lead to his death. When the journey ended, there would be no angel crying “Stop!” There would be no substitute found to sacrifice in the Son’s place. This Son died. Consequently, the plan of salvation that was put into motion through Abraham’s obedience to God’s call came to a successful conclusion in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The blessing promised to Abraham and his descendants would now be passed down to us. That blessing is salvation through Jesus Christ.
10. Why was Abraham willing to go through with the sacrifice of his son? Read Hebrews 11:17-19. Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the death despite the fact that up to this point no one had ever been raised from the dead. Other examples of Abraham passing the test. Genesis 22: 5, 8. How was Abraham able to have such faith? His faith was steeped in God’s promise that through Isaac His covenant with Abraham would be carried out.
11. Verse 13-14 - What did Abraham do? Worshipped God. Even after the difficult emotional/spiritual test God had put he and Isaac through. Would you have responded to God in the same way?
Read verses 15-19
12. What did the angel say to Abraham? Repeated the covenant. Why God will keep His covenant with Abraham? Abraham obeyed.
And God did keep His covenant with Abraham.
Isaac
Jacob/Israel
Twelve sons
Descendants become the Twelve Tribes
Nation of Israel
Death of Sarah at age 125. Abraham remarries has more children. Before he dies gives children by second marriage their inheritance and they move east. Abraham dies at age 175. Isaac is 75. Abraham lived long enough to see his grandchildren – Esau and Jacob.
APPLICATION
Read the following verses to determine a common reason why God tests His people.
Exodus 16: 4
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.
Exodus 20:20
Moses said to the people , "Do not be afraid ; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.
Psalm 26:1-3
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
VII. Conclusion
Why did God choose Abraham? Why did God choose an old man who was a nobody from a nobody people to make His covenant with … to initiate His plan of salvation? Remember I Samuel 16: 7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." What did God see in the heart of Abraham that would have God choose Abraham to be the Father of the Chosen People? Attributes/characteristics? God does not choose names out of a hat. Number one has to be Abraham’s faith. Followed by obedience. Heart of worship (built many altars). Wisdom and integrity (battle with kings). Love (Lot, Ishmael). Justice (Sodom). There were negative characteristics that God saw in Abraham’s heart. Some major flaws – Passing Sarah off as his sister, the Hagar incident (listened to Sarah rather than God, lack of compassion for Hagar and Ishmael). God saw the good and the bad in Abraham’s heart and yet He still chose to make His covenant with Abraham. God looked beyond Abraham’s shortcomings/flaws and saw what was good and right and said “I choose Abram!” Common theme in Scripture. When God looks at your heart, what does He see?
8. What reason did God give to Abraham as to why He wanted Abraham to go through this experience? What was the purpose of God’s test? Repeat definition of test with emphasis on what is in bold - the method by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined. The trial of the quality of something. In this test, God is using the sacrifice of Isaac to test the presence, quality, or genuineness of something in Abraham. It was a trial whose purpose was to find the quality of something in Abraham. What was that something? That Abraham feared God; therefore, he would obey and trust God no matter what if even it meant the life of his only son Isaac. Fear of God defined – healthy recognition of the sovereignty/supreme authority of God. As Job put it – God gives and God takes away. Abraham learned that God gives, God takes away, and God gives back (See question 10) God tested Abraham to determine the presence, quality, and genuineness of Abraham’s faith/obedience to Him and Abraham passed the test successfully. Method of testing – Abraham was to sacrifice his one and only son whom he loved dearly – Isaac. Abraham had failed this test in the past. He did not always have faith that God would protect him or his family (see Genesis chapter 12.)
9. Why did God choose this method (sacrificing Isaac) to test Abraham? Another purpose for a test is to teach. What God was teaching to Abraham was the Gospel – the good news of salvation. Read Galatians 3:7-9. God was showing Abraham how He would bring about salvation to humanity. The near sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows a similar event that would take place thousands of years later. A Father would one day lead His Son … His one and only Son whom He loved … to be sacrificed. The event would occur in the same vicinity that Abraham offered Isaac. The Father would lead His Son, not for three days, but for three years, on His journey to the mountain. Just as Abraham’s son carried wood that lead to his death, God’s Son carried wood that would lead to his death. When the journey ended, there would be no angel crying “Stop!” There would be no substitute found to sacrifice in the Son’s place. This Son died. Consequently, the plan of salvation that was put into motion through Abraham’s obedience to God’s call came to a successful conclusion in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The blessing promised to Abraham and his descendants would now be passed down to us. That blessing is salvation through Jesus Christ.
10. Why was Abraham willing to go through with the sacrifice of his son? Read Hebrews 11:17-19. Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the death despite the fact that up to this point no one had ever been raised from the dead. Other examples of Abraham passing the test. Genesis 22: 5, 8. How was Abraham able to have such faith? His faith was steeped in God’s promise that through Isaac His covenant with Abraham would be carried out.
11. Verse 13-14 - What did Abraham do? Worshipped God. Even after the difficult emotional/spiritual test God had put he and Isaac through. Would you have responded to God in the same way?
Read verses 15-19
12. What did the angel say to Abraham? Repeated the covenant. Why God will keep His covenant with Abraham? Abraham obeyed.
And God did keep His covenant with Abraham.
Isaac
Jacob/Israel
Twelve sons
Descendants become the Twelve Tribes
Nation of Israel
Death of Sarah at age 125. Abraham remarries has more children. Before he dies gives children by second marriage their inheritance and they move east. Abraham dies at age 175. Isaac is 75. Abraham lived long enough to see his grandchildren – Esau and Jacob.
APPLICATION
Read the following verses to determine a common reason why God tests His people.
Exodus 16: 4
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.
Exodus 20:20
Moses said to the people , "Do not be afraid ; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.
Psalm 26:1-3
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
VII. Conclusion
Why did God choose Abraham? Why did God choose an old man who was a nobody from a nobody people to make His covenant with … to initiate His plan of salvation? Remember I Samuel 16: 7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." What did God see in the heart of Abraham that would have God choose Abraham to be the Father of the Chosen People? Attributes/characteristics? God does not choose names out of a hat. Number one has to be Abraham’s faith. Followed by obedience. Heart of worship (built many altars). Wisdom and integrity (battle with kings). Love (Lot, Ishmael). Justice (Sodom). There were negative characteristics that God saw in Abraham’s heart. Some major flaws – Passing Sarah off as his sister, the Hagar incident (listened to Sarah rather than God, lack of compassion for Hagar and Ishmael). God saw the good and the bad in Abraham’s heart and yet He still chose to make His covenant with Abraham. God looked beyond Abraham’s shortcomings/flaws and saw what was good and right and said “I choose Abram!” Common theme in Scripture. When God looks at your heart, what does He see?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Walking with Abraham pt. 7 - Covenant Tested
Genesis 21:1-7 – Covenant confirmed with birth of Isaac.
Genesis 22:1-19
Read verse 1
“After these things ….” A significant period of time has passed between chapters 21 and 22. See last verse in chapter 21. Probably years. Isaac perhaps a young teenager.
1. What was God’s reason for visiting Abraham? He wanted to test Abraham. The word test in Hebrew is “nasa” – pronounced nawsaw. It means “to test, to prove, put to the test.”
2. What is the purpose of a test? The method by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined. The trial of the quality of something. Are tests easy? There is a level of stress/anxiety that comes with tests. That level depends upon the method used for testing. In chapter 22, God gives Abraham a test. As we read, be thinking about the definition of test.
Read verse 2-14
3. What did God tell Abraham to do? What method did God use to test Abraham? Hold off giving reason for test until question 8. Do you find how God phrased the wording of the test interesting? If you read this Scripture in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), it would read like this: Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac. God piles it on.
4. What was Abraham’s response? Similar to his response to God’s call to leave Haran back in chapter 12. He probably told Isaac and his servants they were going to the region of Moriah to offer a burnt offering to God and no more. Isaac and the servants may have thought it unusual that Abraham had brought wood for the sacrifice but no animal to sacrifice. Region of Moriah – according to tradition is where Jerusalem is located today. The mountain on which Abraham would offer Isaac as a sacrifice is where the Jewish temple was built – the Temple Mount.
5. During the three day journey, if you are Abraham, what’s going through your mind? What is your level of stress/anxiety? Emotional and spiritual. Abraham probably is questioning God. Wanting answers from God. What ever anxiety and stress Abraham is feeling, he continues to do what God has told him to do without hesitation. Lesson there for us.
6. What did Abraham say to his servants? We will worship and we will return. What does that tell you about Abraham? How is he doing in regards to the test so far?
Abraham and Isaac walk for a while. Isaac breaks the silence.
7. What obvious question did Isaac ask Abraham? Where’s the lamb that is to be sacrificed? What was Abraham’s response? God will provide. How is Abraham doing in regards to the test so far? And the two kept walking.
Genesis 22:1-19
Read verse 1
“After these things ….” A significant period of time has passed between chapters 21 and 22. See last verse in chapter 21. Probably years. Isaac perhaps a young teenager.
1. What was God’s reason for visiting Abraham? He wanted to test Abraham. The word test in Hebrew is “nasa” – pronounced nawsaw. It means “to test, to prove, put to the test.”
2. What is the purpose of a test? The method by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined. The trial of the quality of something. Are tests easy? There is a level of stress/anxiety that comes with tests. That level depends upon the method used for testing. In chapter 22, God gives Abraham a test. As we read, be thinking about the definition of test.
Read verse 2-14
3. What did God tell Abraham to do? What method did God use to test Abraham? Hold off giving reason for test until question 8. Do you find how God phrased the wording of the test interesting? If you read this Scripture in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), it would read like this: Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac. God piles it on.
4. What was Abraham’s response? Similar to his response to God’s call to leave Haran back in chapter 12. He probably told Isaac and his servants they were going to the region of Moriah to offer a burnt offering to God and no more. Isaac and the servants may have thought it unusual that Abraham had brought wood for the sacrifice but no animal to sacrifice. Region of Moriah – according to tradition is where Jerusalem is located today. The mountain on which Abraham would offer Isaac as a sacrifice is where the Jewish temple was built – the Temple Mount.
5. During the three day journey, if you are Abraham, what’s going through your mind? What is your level of stress/anxiety? Emotional and spiritual. Abraham probably is questioning God. Wanting answers from God. What ever anxiety and stress Abraham is feeling, he continues to do what God has told him to do without hesitation. Lesson there for us.
6. What did Abraham say to his servants? We will worship and we will return. What does that tell you about Abraham? How is he doing in regards to the test so far?
Abraham and Isaac walk for a while. Isaac breaks the silence.
7. What obvious question did Isaac ask Abraham? Where’s the lamb that is to be sacrificed? What was Abraham’s response? God will provide. How is Abraham doing in regards to the test so far? And the two kept walking.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Walking with Abraham pt. 6: Abraham – Intercessor
Define intercessor – someone who pleads on another’s behalf
Summarize Genesis 18:1-15 - God and the three visitors. Sarah’s reaction to the news she will bear a son in one year.
Genesis 18:16-33
1) What information does God share with Abraham? He’s going to pay a visit to Sodom and Gomorrah personally to determine if they are as wicked/sinful as He has heard. Walk the streets and see it with physical eyes. If they are, He is going to wipe them off the face of the earth. What if God personally walked Colonial Heights/Richmond/your neighborhood/your home? What is your reputation? What is God hearing about you?
2) Why does God share this with Abraham? Vs. 19 – God has chosen Abraham and his descendants to be His champions of righteousness and justice in the world – end result they would be blessed. Sodom and Gomorrah were the complete opposites of Abraham. Champions of sin/depravity in the world – end result they would receive God’s judgment. Point out whose responsibility it was teach God’s commandments – Abraham, the parent. Not church’s responsibility.
God did not have to share this information with Abraham but He did. Why? Why should Abraham be concerned with the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah? His nephew Lot lives in Sodom.
3) In verses 23-32, what does Abraham proceed to do? Act as an intercessor on behalf of Lot and any other righteous people who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. Understand something … this would be like a Jew during WW II praying for God to spare Berlin, Germany if at least10 godly Jews lived in the city. Or a Christian praying for God to spare Las Vegas, Nevada (nickname Sin City) if at least 10 godly Christians lived in the city.
4) How would you characterize the discussion between God and Abraham? Abraham’s questions and God’s responses? Abraham – humility; God – patience. God owed Abraham no answers. Could have said to Abraham: “FYI … I’m on my way to destroy S & G. See ya.” But He didn’t. God had developed such a rapport/harmonious relationship with Abraham, He felt like He could share anything with Abraham.
5) What did Abraham appeal to in God? God’s sense of justice – doing what is fair. It was Abraham’s belief that if God destroyed S & G and if the cities had as many as 50 or as few as 10 righteous people were destroyed along with them, that was not just/fair. Therefore God was an unjust/unfair God. Look at how Abraham phrases his argument. Read vs. 25. Remember God chose Abraham to command his descendants to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and JUSTICE. In this event Abraham proved/confirmed to God that He had chosen wisely. Abraham was a man of justice.
6) How does the discussion end? God departed for S & G; Abraham returned to his home perhaps hoping that there were at least 10 righteous people living in S & G for Lot’s sake.
7) What do you learn about Abraham’s character here? Man of humility, justice, and great love (for Lot – someone who rarely, if ever, returned his uncle’s love). If you were Abraham and God broached you about what He was going to do to S & G, how would you have responded? “Fine with me! They deserve it! Two less enemies I have to worry about. Lot deserves to be wiped out with them. He made his bed in Sodom. He chose to live there … he can die there as well!” But Abraham did not respond that way. A great example of why God made His covenant with Abraham.
8) What do you learn about God’s character here?
Lot's story - Read Genesis chapter 19
The two angels enter Sodom. They warn Lot that God is about to destroy Sodom. He and his family need to leave now. Lot was slow in leaving. Although he knew Sodom to be extremely wicked and it tormented him (read II Peter 2:7-9) there was something about Sodom that appealed to him. He couldn't let it go. Whatever that appeal was, it was going to cost him and his family their lives if they didn't leave. The angels practically had to drag Lot out of the city. They warned Lot and his family not to look back on Sodom as the destruction or they would die as well. As God rained down destruction on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters fled to the mountains. Lot's story ends with his daughters getting him drunk and committing incest with him. Lesson - Remember, Lot chose to live in Sodom. When his uncle Abraham gave him the choice of the land (Genesis 13), Lot chose to pitch his tents near Sodom because the land was beautiful. Didn't matter that Sodom had a well-known reputation for wickedness. It was not long before Lot found himself living IN Sodom. Consequences of Lot's choice - a) Spiritual stress/anxiety - He was tormented by the wickedness around him day and night. b) Lot's wife and daughters came under the influence of Sodom's wickedness, namely sexual immorality. His daughters were raised in this wicked environment. They continued to practice sexual immorality after Sodom was destroyed. Always remember that the consequences that come with the choice you make, to pursue godliness or wickedness, do not impact just you. The consequences will impact those around you as well.
Summarize Genesis 18:1-15 - God and the three visitors. Sarah’s reaction to the news she will bear a son in one year.
Genesis 18:16-33
1) What information does God share with Abraham? He’s going to pay a visit to Sodom and Gomorrah personally to determine if they are as wicked/sinful as He has heard. Walk the streets and see it with physical eyes. If they are, He is going to wipe them off the face of the earth. What if God personally walked Colonial Heights/Richmond/your neighborhood/your home? What is your reputation? What is God hearing about you?
2) Why does God share this with Abraham? Vs. 19 – God has chosen Abraham and his descendants to be His champions of righteousness and justice in the world – end result they would be blessed. Sodom and Gomorrah were the complete opposites of Abraham. Champions of sin/depravity in the world – end result they would receive God’s judgment. Point out whose responsibility it was teach God’s commandments – Abraham, the parent. Not church’s responsibility.
God did not have to share this information with Abraham but He did. Why? Why should Abraham be concerned with the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah? His nephew Lot lives in Sodom.
3) In verses 23-32, what does Abraham proceed to do? Act as an intercessor on behalf of Lot and any other righteous people who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. Understand something … this would be like a Jew during WW II praying for God to spare Berlin, Germany if at least10 godly Jews lived in the city. Or a Christian praying for God to spare Las Vegas, Nevada (nickname Sin City) if at least 10 godly Christians lived in the city.
4) How would you characterize the discussion between God and Abraham? Abraham’s questions and God’s responses? Abraham – humility; God – patience. God owed Abraham no answers. Could have said to Abraham: “FYI … I’m on my way to destroy S & G. See ya.” But He didn’t. God had developed such a rapport/harmonious relationship with Abraham, He felt like He could share anything with Abraham.
5) What did Abraham appeal to in God? God’s sense of justice – doing what is fair. It was Abraham’s belief that if God destroyed S & G and if the cities had as many as 50 or as few as 10 righteous people were destroyed along with them, that was not just/fair. Therefore God was an unjust/unfair God. Look at how Abraham phrases his argument. Read vs. 25. Remember God chose Abraham to command his descendants to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and JUSTICE. In this event Abraham proved/confirmed to God that He had chosen wisely. Abraham was a man of justice.
6) How does the discussion end? God departed for S & G; Abraham returned to his home perhaps hoping that there were at least 10 righteous people living in S & G for Lot’s sake.
7) What do you learn about Abraham’s character here? Man of humility, justice, and great love (for Lot – someone who rarely, if ever, returned his uncle’s love). If you were Abraham and God broached you about what He was going to do to S & G, how would you have responded? “Fine with me! They deserve it! Two less enemies I have to worry about. Lot deserves to be wiped out with them. He made his bed in Sodom. He chose to live there … he can die there as well!” But Abraham did not respond that way. A great example of why God made His covenant with Abraham.
8) What do you learn about God’s character here?
Lot's story - Read Genesis chapter 19
The two angels enter Sodom. They warn Lot that God is about to destroy Sodom. He and his family need to leave now. Lot was slow in leaving. Although he knew Sodom to be extremely wicked and it tormented him (read II Peter 2:7-9) there was something about Sodom that appealed to him. He couldn't let it go. Whatever that appeal was, it was going to cost him and his family their lives if they didn't leave. The angels practically had to drag Lot out of the city. They warned Lot and his family not to look back on Sodom as the destruction or they would die as well. As God rained down destruction on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters fled to the mountains. Lot's story ends with his daughters getting him drunk and committing incest with him. Lesson - Remember, Lot chose to live in Sodom. When his uncle Abraham gave him the choice of the land (Genesis 13), Lot chose to pitch his tents near Sodom because the land was beautiful. Didn't matter that Sodom had a well-known reputation for wickedness. It was not long before Lot found himself living IN Sodom. Consequences of Lot's choice - a) Spiritual stress/anxiety - He was tormented by the wickedness around him day and night. b) Lot's wife and daughters came under the influence of Sodom's wickedness, namely sexual immorality. His daughters were raised in this wicked environment. They continued to practice sexual immorality after Sodom was destroyed. Always remember that the consequences that come with the choice you make, to pursue godliness or wickedness, do not impact just you. The consequences will impact those around you as well.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Walking with Abraham pt. 5 - Covenant Further Defined
Define covenant - a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. In this case the parties are God and Abram. In this chapter, God provides Abram with more detail about the nature of their solemn agreement. What God agrees to do for Abram and what Abram agrees to do for God particularly the latter (Abram.)
Genesis 17:1-8
1. How old is Abram? 99. The event in this chapter takes place 13 years after the Hagar incident. The promised son still has not been born. Abram once again needs a booster shot of faith from God. God appears to Abram in his time of need.
2. How does God refer to Himself? God Almighty. In the Hebrew, translated El Shaddai. Define almighty – unlimited power. Why does God refer to Himself this way to Abram at this time? Abram is 99. Sarai is 90. It’s going to take a God with unlimited power to enable them to have a child.
3. What requirement does God give to Abram in relation to the covenant? Walk before me and be blameless. This is the spiritual requirement of the covenant. Why? God emphasizes the importance of Abram being obedient/holy particularly after the Hagar incident. What did God mean by “walk before me”? Abram was to be God’s herald to a world dominated by sin. In order to carry out that call, Abram had to be blameless/holy. He didn’t do a good job of it during the Hagar incident.
4. vs. 5 – What significant moment happens to Abram? God changes his name to Abraham. Why? To better reflect the promise made in the covenant (multitude of descendants.) Abram – “exalted father”; Abraham – father of multitude/many. The name change could also be God’s way of offering Abraham a fresh start after the Hagar incident. Abraham has clean slate.
Genesis 17:9-14
5) What is the second requirement God gives to Abraham in relation to the covenant? Circumcision. This is the physical requirement of the covenant. What was its purpose? Outward/physical expression of obedience to God. See vs. 11 – Finalizing/sealing of the covenant between Abraham and his descendants and God. Circumcision would be a constant reminder of the covenant agreement. Read Romans 2: 28-29. Unfortunately, over time the Jews placed more emphasis on the physical requirement of the covenant than they did on the spiritual requirement. Today, physical circumcision is no longer required. Christ fully met the physical requirement of the covenant when he shed his blood at Cavalry. Spiritual requirement still valid today. Are Christians guilt of the same thing? Emphasize the external and deemphasize the internal.
Genesis 17:15-22
6) What all did God say in reference to Sarai? Name change. See answer to quest. 4. Point out that this is the first time God says that Sarah will be the one to bear the promised son.
7) What is Abraham’s response? Laughter. Why did he respond this way? He and Sarah were now 99 and 90.
8) What did Abraham petition God? Let Ishmael be the promised son. Why? Perhaps impatience. Ishmael already born and is now 13. Wouldn’t be long before he’s married off and taking over the family business and having children. Abraham and Sarah have a child now … they’ll have to wait longer for the child to grow up. Moreover, Abraham loved Ishmael. He was his firstborn son.
9) What was God’s response to Abraham? No. What else did God tell Abraham? He’ll have a son by Sarah and will name him Isaac – “He laughs” Why? Perhaps as a constant reminder to Abraham of his reaction to God’s almighty power. Emphasize that God said “My covenant” not “our covenant” or “Abraham’s covenant”. God is the sole author of the covenant. Attempts by Abraham to make edits to a covenant God had written (ex. Hagar incident) only led to pain/failure. There is a lesson there for us.
10) When will the child be born? One year. God finally gives Abraham a date. Also, God reassured Abraham that he will not forget Ishmael.
APPLICATION
God does not tell us everything He is going to do for us up front/at the beginning. Why? For one thing our limited brain would not be able to comprehend it all. More importantly, we would be less dependent on God during the journey. We would have no need of faith. That’s a dangerous place to be. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. What God does during our journey is tell us what we need to know at that time/moment so that we can mature. Result – we are better able to comprehend the journey.
Genesis 17:1-8
1. How old is Abram? 99. The event in this chapter takes place 13 years after the Hagar incident. The promised son still has not been born. Abram once again needs a booster shot of faith from God. God appears to Abram in his time of need.
2. How does God refer to Himself? God Almighty. In the Hebrew, translated El Shaddai. Define almighty – unlimited power. Why does God refer to Himself this way to Abram at this time? Abram is 99. Sarai is 90. It’s going to take a God with unlimited power to enable them to have a child.
3. What requirement does God give to Abram in relation to the covenant? Walk before me and be blameless. This is the spiritual requirement of the covenant. Why? God emphasizes the importance of Abram being obedient/holy particularly after the Hagar incident. What did God mean by “walk before me”? Abram was to be God’s herald to a world dominated by sin. In order to carry out that call, Abram had to be blameless/holy. He didn’t do a good job of it during the Hagar incident.
4. vs. 5 – What significant moment happens to Abram? God changes his name to Abraham. Why? To better reflect the promise made in the covenant (multitude of descendants.) Abram – “exalted father”; Abraham – father of multitude/many. The name change could also be God’s way of offering Abraham a fresh start after the Hagar incident. Abraham has clean slate.
Genesis 17:9-14
5) What is the second requirement God gives to Abraham in relation to the covenant? Circumcision. This is the physical requirement of the covenant. What was its purpose? Outward/physical expression of obedience to God. See vs. 11 – Finalizing/sealing of the covenant between Abraham and his descendants and God. Circumcision would be a constant reminder of the covenant agreement. Read Romans 2: 28-29. Unfortunately, over time the Jews placed more emphasis on the physical requirement of the covenant than they did on the spiritual requirement. Today, physical circumcision is no longer required. Christ fully met the physical requirement of the covenant when he shed his blood at Cavalry. Spiritual requirement still valid today. Are Christians guilt of the same thing? Emphasize the external and deemphasize the internal.
Genesis 17:15-22
6) What all did God say in reference to Sarai? Name change. See answer to quest. 4. Point out that this is the first time God says that Sarah will be the one to bear the promised son.
7) What is Abraham’s response? Laughter. Why did he respond this way? He and Sarah were now 99 and 90.
8) What did Abraham petition God? Let Ishmael be the promised son. Why? Perhaps impatience. Ishmael already born and is now 13. Wouldn’t be long before he’s married off and taking over the family business and having children. Abraham and Sarah have a child now … they’ll have to wait longer for the child to grow up. Moreover, Abraham loved Ishmael. He was his firstborn son.
9) What was God’s response to Abraham? No. What else did God tell Abraham? He’ll have a son by Sarah and will name him Isaac – “He laughs” Why? Perhaps as a constant reminder to Abraham of his reaction to God’s almighty power. Emphasize that God said “My covenant” not “our covenant” or “Abraham’s covenant”. God is the sole author of the covenant. Attempts by Abraham to make edits to a covenant God had written (ex. Hagar incident) only led to pain/failure. There is a lesson there for us.
10) When will the child be born? One year. God finally gives Abraham a date. Also, God reassured Abraham that he will not forget Ishmael.
APPLICATION
God does not tell us everything He is going to do for us up front/at the beginning. Why? For one thing our limited brain would not be able to comprehend it all. More importantly, we would be less dependent on God during the journey. We would have no need of faith. That’s a dangerous place to be. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. What God does during our journey is tell us what we need to know at that time/moment so that we can mature. Result – we are better able to comprehend the journey.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Walking with Abraham pt. 4 - The Hagar incident
Read Genesis 16:1-6
Abram in his mid-80's and Sarai in her mid-70’s. Still no child. God has yet to fulfill his promise. Sarai experiences her crisis of faith.
1) How did Sarai get a servant from Egypt? Read Genesis 12:12-20. Pharoah gave Sarai and Abram servants before they left Egypt. Abram's Egyptian trip is about to come back to haunt him.
2) What did Sarai tell Abram to do? Sleep with her handmaiden Hagar. Why? Sarai blamed God for her failure to bear children. It’s been 10 years since God promised Abram an heir.
3) What did Abram do and why did Abram do it? Took Hagar as his wife and slept with her. Did Abram consult God and ask Him if that was part of the Plan? Have a discussion with Sarai about whether or not her plan was a good idea? No. He listened to the voice of Sarai. No hesitation in Abram. Those of who have spouses. How much influence does your spouse have over the decisions you make? I don’t mean what color paint to use for the bathroom or what you drink, Coke or Pepsi. I’m talking about life-impacting decisions – financial (buying a house) and spiritual (sin or not to sin). Ex. Visit to Egypt. Abram used his influence as Sarai’s husband to cause her to do something that was wrong. Now, Sarai’s using her influence as Abram’s wife to cause him to do something wrong. How are you influencing your spouse/someone close to you? Positive or negative? Holiness or sin? Who should have the greater influence in a relationship? You, your spouse/friend/family member, or God?
Factor influencing Abram’s decision to have a child by Hagar is what God said to Abram in Genesis 15:4. Abram probably believed this is how God’s promise would be carried out. God said that he would have a child from his own flesh, not Sarai’s.
4) What happened? Hagar got pregnant immediately.
5) What problems arose from Hagar’s pregnancy? Tension within Abram’s household. between Sarai and Hagar and between Sarai and Abram. Despised/contempt – Two ways to interpret this word. 1) to make light of. Hagar began to rub it in Sarai’s face that she was pregnant and Sarai was not. 2) to treat with contempt. Hagar angry at Sarai for getting her pregnant. She did not choose to be with child. Who did Sarai blame? Abram. Why? He was the one that got Hagar pregnant. It’s so easy to blame others for our mistakes.
6) vs. 6. What was Abram’s response to Sarai? Sarai, you deal with her however you please. What is your opinion of Abram’s response? What did Sarai do? Abuse Hagar
7) What image of Abram do we gleam from this incident? Weakness as a husband/spiritual leader, impatience, lacking wisdom, lack of compassion
8) What lessons are we to learn from the “Hagar incident?” PATIENCE. Wait upon the Lord. Allow God to work out His plan for us in His timing. If we become impatient and try to carry out God’s plan on our own, the outcome will not be good. Negative consequences in the immediate and far reaching future. Impact Abram’s impatience – immediate: friction in the family (Sarai vs. Hagar; Sarai vs. Abram; Ishamael vs. Isaac) and friction between God and Abram (see in Genesis 17); Far-reaching future (Genesis 16:11-12) – According to Islamic tradition, the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael. Enemies of the descendants of Isaac – the Jews/Israel. Hit hard – Impact of sin can be felt for generations/centuries. Your sin does not just impact you, but impacts others around you. In the same way your obedience to God/your righteousness does not just impact you, but can impact others around you – your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.
Summarize the rest of the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Rest of chapter 16 - Sarai kicked Hagar out of the house. She ran into the wilderness. An angel from God told her to go back to Sarai. Moreover, the angel told Hagar that she would have a multitude of descendants. Her son Ishmael would be constantly in conflict with his others especially his kinsmen (Isaac and his descendants the Jews); ch. 21:8-21 - After Sarai (no Sarah) gave birth to Isaac, she kicked Hagar and Ishmael out of the house. They fled to the wilderness. Hagar and Ishmael were dying of thirst. She walked away from her son not wanting to watch him die. An angel came and showed them a fountain of water in the wilderness. God told them that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation. Islamic tradition says this great nation is the Arabs. ch. 25:12-18 - Ishmael's descendants settle in Havilah and Shur - modern day Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Abram in his mid-80's and Sarai in her mid-70’s. Still no child. God has yet to fulfill his promise. Sarai experiences her crisis of faith.
1) How did Sarai get a servant from Egypt? Read Genesis 12:12-20. Pharoah gave Sarai and Abram servants before they left Egypt. Abram's Egyptian trip is about to come back to haunt him.
2) What did Sarai tell Abram to do? Sleep with her handmaiden Hagar. Why? Sarai blamed God for her failure to bear children. It’s been 10 years since God promised Abram an heir.
3) What did Abram do and why did Abram do it? Took Hagar as his wife and slept with her. Did Abram consult God and ask Him if that was part of the Plan? Have a discussion with Sarai about whether or not her plan was a good idea? No. He listened to the voice of Sarai. No hesitation in Abram. Those of who have spouses. How much influence does your spouse have over the decisions you make? I don’t mean what color paint to use for the bathroom or what you drink, Coke or Pepsi. I’m talking about life-impacting decisions – financial (buying a house) and spiritual (sin or not to sin). Ex. Visit to Egypt. Abram used his influence as Sarai’s husband to cause her to do something that was wrong. Now, Sarai’s using her influence as Abram’s wife to cause him to do something wrong. How are you influencing your spouse/someone close to you? Positive or negative? Holiness or sin? Who should have the greater influence in a relationship? You, your spouse/friend/family member, or God?
Factor influencing Abram’s decision to have a child by Hagar is what God said to Abram in Genesis 15:4. Abram probably believed this is how God’s promise would be carried out. God said that he would have a child from his own flesh, not Sarai’s.
4) What happened? Hagar got pregnant immediately.
5) What problems arose from Hagar’s pregnancy? Tension within Abram’s household. between Sarai and Hagar and between Sarai and Abram. Despised/contempt – Two ways to interpret this word. 1) to make light of. Hagar began to rub it in Sarai’s face that she was pregnant and Sarai was not. 2) to treat with contempt. Hagar angry at Sarai for getting her pregnant. She did not choose to be with child. Who did Sarai blame? Abram. Why? He was the one that got Hagar pregnant. It’s so easy to blame others for our mistakes.
6) vs. 6. What was Abram’s response to Sarai? Sarai, you deal with her however you please. What is your opinion of Abram’s response? What did Sarai do? Abuse Hagar
7) What image of Abram do we gleam from this incident? Weakness as a husband/spiritual leader, impatience, lacking wisdom, lack of compassion
8) What lessons are we to learn from the “Hagar incident?” PATIENCE. Wait upon the Lord. Allow God to work out His plan for us in His timing. If we become impatient and try to carry out God’s plan on our own, the outcome will not be good. Negative consequences in the immediate and far reaching future. Impact Abram’s impatience – immediate: friction in the family (Sarai vs. Hagar; Sarai vs. Abram; Ishamael vs. Isaac) and friction between God and Abram (see in Genesis 17); Far-reaching future (Genesis 16:11-12) – According to Islamic tradition, the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael. Enemies of the descendants of Isaac – the Jews/Israel. Hit hard – Impact of sin can be felt for generations/centuries. Your sin does not just impact you, but impacts others around you. In the same way your obedience to God/your righteousness does not just impact you, but can impact others around you – your spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.
Summarize the rest of the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Rest of chapter 16 - Sarai kicked Hagar out of the house. She ran into the wilderness. An angel from God told her to go back to Sarai. Moreover, the angel told Hagar that she would have a multitude of descendants. Her son Ishmael would be constantly in conflict with his others especially his kinsmen (Isaac and his descendants the Jews); ch. 21:8-21 - After Sarai (no Sarah) gave birth to Isaac, she kicked Hagar and Ishmael out of the house. They fled to the wilderness. Hagar and Ishmael were dying of thirst. She walked away from her son not wanting to watch him die. An angel came and showed them a fountain of water in the wilderness. God told them that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation. Islamic tradition says this great nation is the Arabs. ch. 25:12-18 - Ishmael's descendants settle in Havilah and Shur - modern day Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Walking with Abraham pt. 3
Why did Abram refuse the king of Sodom’s offer to keep the goods Abram won from the battle to free Lot? vs. 23. The king of Sodom saw in Abram a valuable ally after witnessing Abram’s army easily defeated the king’s enemies. He’d be a good guy to have in any future war. King of Sodom attempted to “buy” Abram’s loyalty to him. Make it where Abram would be obligated to serve him in the future. Play on Abram’s sense of honor. Abram was wise enough to refuse the king of Sodom’s offer. What characteristic do you see in Abram? Wisdom.
III. God’s Covenant – Genesis ch. 15
1) Define covenant – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. Examples – mortgage, marriage
Read vs. 1-7 – Why does God tell Abram “do not fear … I am your shield”? Abram’s heart is troubled by many things. Fear of other peoples in the land. Example – King of Sodom may have been upset at Abram for refusing his offer. Also Abram was experiencing a crisis of faith. God told Abram to not fear, I will protect you/reward you. How could Abram have faith in that promise when God had yet to fulfill his first promise – offspring/children? Abram asked God, “Where is the child you promised me?” God responded by renewing his covenant with Abram.
2) Genesis 15:1-7; 18-19 – What was God’s covenant with Abram? Offspring, specifically a son who would come from his own body and the land of Canaan.
Homework – count number of times God repeats the covenant to Abraham beginning in Genesis ch. 12
3) Genesis 15:5-6 - What sign did God give Abram to show him that he would have a son from his very own body? Told Abram to look at the stars in the sky and count them. So will be the number of his offspring.
4) Genesis 15:6 – What did Abram do? He believed what God said. Covenant – God makes promise to Abram. In exchange, Abram is to place his faith in God. God will do what He says. What did God do in response? Define “credited/reckoned” – God regarded Abram’s faith as an act of righteousness even though Abram did not do any physical act – no sacrifice, no good work. Simply believed in what he did not see and was sure of his hope that God would give him what he wanted most – a son.
vs. 7-8 – second part of covenant: God will give Abram and his descendants land of Canaan. Abram again questions God. Again, he needs a sign. God provides one. Speaks to Abram in a dream. Prophesies of the Israelite’s slavery in Egypt. After 400 years, God will bring his descendants to the Promised Land. This seems to be an odd and depressing sign to strengthen Abram’s faith. God giving Abram insight into the future of his descendants. Not pretty BUT the outcome will be positive. They will possess the land just as God promised Abram.
III. God’s Covenant – Genesis ch. 15
1) Define covenant – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. Examples – mortgage, marriage
Read vs. 1-7 – Why does God tell Abram “do not fear … I am your shield”? Abram’s heart is troubled by many things. Fear of other peoples in the land. Example – King of Sodom may have been upset at Abram for refusing his offer. Also Abram was experiencing a crisis of faith. God told Abram to not fear, I will protect you/reward you. How could Abram have faith in that promise when God had yet to fulfill his first promise – offspring/children? Abram asked God, “Where is the child you promised me?” God responded by renewing his covenant with Abram.
2) Genesis 15:1-7; 18-19 – What was God’s covenant with Abram? Offspring, specifically a son who would come from his own body and the land of Canaan.
Homework – count number of times God repeats the covenant to Abraham beginning in Genesis ch. 12
3) Genesis 15:5-6 - What sign did God give Abram to show him that he would have a son from his very own body? Told Abram to look at the stars in the sky and count them. So will be the number of his offspring.
4) Genesis 15:6 – What did Abram do? He believed what God said. Covenant – God makes promise to Abram. In exchange, Abram is to place his faith in God. God will do what He says. What did God do in response? Define “credited/reckoned” – God regarded Abram’s faith as an act of righteousness even though Abram did not do any physical act – no sacrifice, no good work. Simply believed in what he did not see and was sure of his hope that God would give him what he wanted most – a son.
vs. 7-8 – second part of covenant: God will give Abram and his descendants land of Canaan. Abram again questions God. Again, he needs a sign. God provides one. Speaks to Abram in a dream. Prophesies of the Israelite’s slavery in Egypt. After 400 years, God will bring his descendants to the Promised Land. This seems to be an odd and depressing sign to strengthen Abram’s faith. God giving Abram insight into the future of his descendants. Not pretty BUT the outcome will be positive. They will possess the land just as God promised Abram.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Walking With Abraham pt. 2
II. Egypt, Lot, and War of the Nine Kings – Genesis ch. 12-14
Genesis 12:12-20 – Abram goes to Egypt. What is your impression of Abram? Coward; selfish. See Abram’s faults. Not perfect. He is still in the infant stage of his faith. Abram has yet to learn how to fully trust God.
Genesis ch. 13 - vs. 4 Abram returns to altar at Bethel and calls on God. What do you think he talked to God about? Repentance for his lack of faith in Egypt; thankful that God spared his life; the altar reminded Abram of God’s promise to him. Summarize dispute between Lot’s herdsmen and Abram’s. Abram and Lot go separate ways.
Read vs. 9-11. What is your impression of Abram? Generous, humble, peacemaker. What is your impression of Lot? Selfish, disrespectful to his “father.” Read vs. 14-18 – What does God do? Reaffirmed the covenant. Gives Abram reassurance. Once again Abram builds an altar to God.
Genesis ch. 14 – Nine kings in Canaan get into a big war. Lot finds himself in trouble. Taken hostage by one of the kings. Abram hears about it. Vs. 13 – first time word “Hebrew” used in the Bible. Describes Abram’s nationality.
If you had been Abram, what would your response had been to the mess Lot found himself in? What was Abram’s response? Determined to rescue Lot. Led his special forces unit/Green Berets/Seal Team 318 to rescue Lot.
What characteristic do you see in Abram? Love. A “turn the other cheek” love, a forgiving love. Abram willing to sacrifice his life and the lives of others to rescue his disrespectful nephew. Abram gets into a war among rival local kings to rescue Lot.
Read vs. 18-24. What is unique about Melchizedek? King and priest. His name means “king of righteousness.” Salem – Hebrew for “peace.” Early name for Jerusalem. Melchizedek is a “king of righteousness” and “king of peace.” Sound familiar. Hr foreshadow Jesus Christ. Read Hebrews chapter 7. First communion service and first tithe. Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he won in the battle against the kings.
Genesis 12:12-20 – Abram goes to Egypt. What is your impression of Abram? Coward; selfish. See Abram’s faults. Not perfect. He is still in the infant stage of his faith. Abram has yet to learn how to fully trust God.
Genesis ch. 13 - vs. 4 Abram returns to altar at Bethel and calls on God. What do you think he talked to God about? Repentance for his lack of faith in Egypt; thankful that God spared his life; the altar reminded Abram of God’s promise to him. Summarize dispute between Lot’s herdsmen and Abram’s. Abram and Lot go separate ways.
Read vs. 9-11. What is your impression of Abram? Generous, humble, peacemaker. What is your impression of Lot? Selfish, disrespectful to his “father.” Read vs. 14-18 – What does God do? Reaffirmed the covenant. Gives Abram reassurance. Once again Abram builds an altar to God.
Genesis ch. 14 – Nine kings in Canaan get into a big war. Lot finds himself in trouble. Taken hostage by one of the kings. Abram hears about it. Vs. 13 – first time word “Hebrew” used in the Bible. Describes Abram’s nationality.
If you had been Abram, what would your response had been to the mess Lot found himself in? What was Abram’s response? Determined to rescue Lot. Led his special forces unit/Green Berets/Seal Team 318 to rescue Lot.
What characteristic do you see in Abram? Love. A “turn the other cheek” love, a forgiving love. Abram willing to sacrifice his life and the lives of others to rescue his disrespectful nephew. Abram gets into a war among rival local kings to rescue Lot.
Read vs. 18-24. What is unique about Melchizedek? King and priest. His name means “king of righteousness.” Salem – Hebrew for “peace.” Early name for Jerusalem. Melchizedek is a “king of righteousness” and “king of peace.” Sound familiar. Hr foreshadow Jesus Christ. Read Hebrews chapter 7. First communion service and first tithe. Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything he won in the battle against the kings.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Walking With Abraham pt. 1
I. The Call – Genesis 11:27 – 12:9
Ur – Cultural/historical background. Metropolitan city. Wealthy. Had a tall ziggurat (shrine) built to the moon god Nanna. Abram raised in a pagan culture.
Summarize Genesis ch. 11 verses. Abram’s family. Marriage to Sarai – Half-sister. Journey to Haran. Death of Terah, his father. Abram made Haran his home. The city of Haran is a wealthy city. Important city along the Middle Eastern trade routes. Not a bad place to settle down.
After hundreds of years, God speaks. God reaches out to man. Specifically to one man, a fella named Abram. Why did God choose Abram? An old man (75yrs old) who was a nobody from a nobody people. I Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." What did God see in the heart of Abram that would have God choose Abram to be the Father of the Chosen People? Attributes/characteristics? God does not choose names out of a hat.
Read Genesis 12:1-8
1) Genesis 12:1 – What did God say to Abram? Leave. Go to a land I will lead you to. Did God tell Abram where to go? Abram has never seen this land.
2) Genesis 12:2-3 – What did God say he will do for Abram and through Abram? Make a great nation; bless Abram; make Abram’s name great. For what purpose? To establish an empire? To acquire great wealth? Purpose: to be a blessing. Define blessing - to consecrate or sanctify; make or pronounce holy; bestow divine favor on (material, spiritual, emotional). God will make Abram a blessing. Set Abram and his descendants apart for a divine purpose. Who will be blessed through Abram? Just Abram and Sarai and nephew Lot? All peoples. Who are all peoples? What did God mean when He said that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abram? Through Abram all of humanity will know God’s favor/make them holy. All humanity – all races. Not just Jews/Hebrews. Gentiles (non-Jews also.) Problem – Abram has no children.
In Genesis 12, God takes the next step in His plan to redeem humanity that will culminate in one individual - Jesus Christ. The plan starts with one individual: Abram - an elderly man (age 75) of no significance/no claim to fame/not the smartest man/not the wealthiest man and who is a member of a people of no significance. Moreover, Abram has no children. The name Abram means “exalted father” yet Abram has no children. Let that sink in for a moment. Every time you hear your name, it reminds you of your greatest failure. Knowing that makes it a little easier for us to relate to Abram. Brings him down to our level. Just like God to take an insignificant nobody from a nobody people group and make him significant … the foundation for His plan of redemption. Why? Read I Corinthians 1:25-29. God carries out His plans in ways that to us seem foolish/don’t make sense … in ways we wouldn’t do it. EXACTLY! Otherwise we would not give credit/glory to God. Abram has no right to boast to the fact that he is one of the most famous individuals in world history who is revered by three religions that trace their origins to him. Why? Without God, Abram would to this day still be a nobody. Abraham Lincoln might have been named Melchizedeck Lincoln. God chose Abram. Abram did not choose God.
Clarify blessing – Misconception that purpose of God’s blessing directed at me for me. “God blessed me with a nice home, great job, wonderful family, good health, etc., for my benefit.” God’s blessings are directed to you but they are NOT JUST FOR YOU. God did make Abram a great nation (Jews, Arabs, Christians – spiritual nation); God did bless Abram with material wealth; God did make Abram’s name great. Thousands of years later, Abraham is still revered throughout the world. But these blessings were not meant for Abram alone nor for just his family/his race, they were for the benefit of others – humanity. The ultimate blessing being salvation through the descendant of Abram – Jesus Christ. (Draw on board Abram – Children of Abram (Israelites/Hebrew/Jews – Jesus) The blessings that God has given you (wealth, health, wisdom, talent, spiritual gifts, etc.) are to be used for the benefit of others so that they can receive God’s blessings.
Application: Are you a blessing? Have you been set apart/pronounced holy by God? Has God bestowed divine favor upon you? More importantly, have you taken what God has blessed you with to be a blessing to others? Write down how God has blessed you then think of ways you can use those blessings for the benefit of others.
3) Genesis 12:4-9 - What was Abram’s response to God’s call? Obedience. One of faith. Read Hebrews 11:1 for definition of faith. Leaves the comfort of Haran for a place he has never seen. What about Sarai? She had to have faith as well. Haran was the “known.” Canaan was the “unknown.” God takes Abram on a tour of the land He was going to give to Abram and his descendants. Show map. What do you think Abram saw? Positive - Rich, fertile land – land of milk and honey. Canaan part of the Fertile Crescent. Negative - The cities and lands of other peoples – Canaanites, Jebusites, Perizzites, and seven other –ites people groups. All worshipped other gods, primarily Baal. Moreover – they all hate each other. Constantly fighting one another. You’re Abram. Seeing these people groups, what’s going through your head? These peoples are not going to give up there cities and land without a fight. Twice what did Abram build? An altar. Abram does this several more times. What is the purpose of an altar? Worship (acknowledge God – who He is and our need for Him); thanksgiving (expression of gratitude); petition – request God’s aid; memorial (place of remembrance of God’s appearance/blessings/favor. When Abram returned, he would see the altar – remind him of God’s blessings – and he would worship.) Do you have an altar?
Ur – Cultural/historical background. Metropolitan city. Wealthy. Had a tall ziggurat (shrine) built to the moon god Nanna. Abram raised in a pagan culture.
Summarize Genesis ch. 11 verses. Abram’s family. Marriage to Sarai – Half-sister. Journey to Haran. Death of Terah, his father. Abram made Haran his home. The city of Haran is a wealthy city. Important city along the Middle Eastern trade routes. Not a bad place to settle down.
After hundreds of years, God speaks. God reaches out to man. Specifically to one man, a fella named Abram. Why did God choose Abram? An old man (75yrs old) who was a nobody from a nobody people. I Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." What did God see in the heart of Abram that would have God choose Abram to be the Father of the Chosen People? Attributes/characteristics? God does not choose names out of a hat.
Read Genesis 12:1-8
1) Genesis 12:1 – What did God say to Abram? Leave. Go to a land I will lead you to. Did God tell Abram where to go? Abram has never seen this land.
2) Genesis 12:2-3 – What did God say he will do for Abram and through Abram? Make a great nation; bless Abram; make Abram’s name great. For what purpose? To establish an empire? To acquire great wealth? Purpose: to be a blessing. Define blessing - to consecrate or sanctify; make or pronounce holy; bestow divine favor on (material, spiritual, emotional). God will make Abram a blessing. Set Abram and his descendants apart for a divine purpose. Who will be blessed through Abram? Just Abram and Sarai and nephew Lot? All peoples. Who are all peoples? What did God mean when He said that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abram? Through Abram all of humanity will know God’s favor/make them holy. All humanity – all races. Not just Jews/Hebrews. Gentiles (non-Jews also.) Problem – Abram has no children.
In Genesis 12, God takes the next step in His plan to redeem humanity that will culminate in one individual - Jesus Christ. The plan starts with one individual: Abram - an elderly man (age 75) of no significance/no claim to fame/not the smartest man/not the wealthiest man and who is a member of a people of no significance. Moreover, Abram has no children. The name Abram means “exalted father” yet Abram has no children. Let that sink in for a moment. Every time you hear your name, it reminds you of your greatest failure. Knowing that makes it a little easier for us to relate to Abram. Brings him down to our level. Just like God to take an insignificant nobody from a nobody people group and make him significant … the foundation for His plan of redemption. Why? Read I Corinthians 1:25-29. God carries out His plans in ways that to us seem foolish/don’t make sense … in ways we wouldn’t do it. EXACTLY! Otherwise we would not give credit/glory to God. Abram has no right to boast to the fact that he is one of the most famous individuals in world history who is revered by three religions that trace their origins to him. Why? Without God, Abram would to this day still be a nobody. Abraham Lincoln might have been named Melchizedeck Lincoln. God chose Abram. Abram did not choose God.
Clarify blessing – Misconception that purpose of God’s blessing directed at me for me. “God blessed me with a nice home, great job, wonderful family, good health, etc., for my benefit.” God’s blessings are directed to you but they are NOT JUST FOR YOU. God did make Abram a great nation (Jews, Arabs, Christians – spiritual nation); God did bless Abram with material wealth; God did make Abram’s name great. Thousands of years later, Abraham is still revered throughout the world. But these blessings were not meant for Abram alone nor for just his family/his race, they were for the benefit of others – humanity. The ultimate blessing being salvation through the descendant of Abram – Jesus Christ. (Draw on board Abram – Children of Abram (Israelites/Hebrew/Jews – Jesus) The blessings that God has given you (wealth, health, wisdom, talent, spiritual gifts, etc.) are to be used for the benefit of others so that they can receive God’s blessings.
Application: Are you a blessing? Have you been set apart/pronounced holy by God? Has God bestowed divine favor upon you? More importantly, have you taken what God has blessed you with to be a blessing to others? Write down how God has blessed you then think of ways you can use those blessings for the benefit of others.
3) Genesis 12:4-9 - What was Abram’s response to God’s call? Obedience. One of faith. Read Hebrews 11:1 for definition of faith. Leaves the comfort of Haran for a place he has never seen. What about Sarai? She had to have faith as well. Haran was the “known.” Canaan was the “unknown.” God takes Abram on a tour of the land He was going to give to Abram and his descendants. Show map. What do you think Abram saw? Positive - Rich, fertile land – land of milk and honey. Canaan part of the Fertile Crescent. Negative - The cities and lands of other peoples – Canaanites, Jebusites, Perizzites, and seven other –ites people groups. All worshipped other gods, primarily Baal. Moreover – they all hate each other. Constantly fighting one another. You’re Abram. Seeing these people groups, what’s going through your head? These peoples are not going to give up there cities and land without a fight. Twice what did Abram build? An altar. Abram does this several more times. What is the purpose of an altar? Worship (acknowledge God – who He is and our need for Him); thanksgiving (expression of gratitude); petition – request God’s aid; memorial (place of remembrance of God’s appearance/blessings/favor. When Abram returned, he would see the altar – remind him of God’s blessings – and he would worship.) Do you have an altar?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
TOWER OF BABEL
Chapter 10
Migration of descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Japheth – Coastline of Turkey, Greece, Italy
Ham – Northeast Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia) and Palestine. Talk about Nimrod. Man of great reputation. “Your like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before God.” Your like Michael Jordan, a great basketball player.” Your like Paula Dean, a great cook.” Founded two great cities that play a major role in the Bible - Babel/Babylon and Nineveh.
Shem – Eastern Mesopotamia. Present day Iraq, Iran, and Arabian peninsula. We get the term Semite/Semitic from the word Shem. Eber – some scholars associate with the name Hebrew. Peleg – either born or lived at the time of a great earthquake.
The events in Genesis chapter 11:1-9 take place somewhere in chapter 10 a few generations after the Flood. Descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth had yet to spread across the earth.
Read Genesis 11:1-9
1. What observation is made in verse 1 concerning the people of earth? They speak the same language and the same words.
The land of Shinar is located in present day Iraq. History refers to this region as Mesopotamia. Show on map.
2. What did the people want to do and for what purposes? Build a city and an extremely tall tower. Purposes – a) Fame. Selfish, prideful, egotistical. b) Maintain unity. They did not want to spread across the earth.
3. Read Genesis 9:1. What did God tell Noah and his three sons to do? Have lots of kids and fill up the earth. Spread out across the earth.
These people were disobeying God’s commandment. Their purpose for building a city and a tower was to assert their independence from God. “We know what’s best for ourselves. That is to remain together. To prove it, we’re going to build a city. Symbol of our independence will be a great tower that will reach to the heavens … God. We don’t need God to come down to us. We’ll go to Him. Relate to God as equals (like gods.) If there is one sin God despises above all others, it is pride. Why? I think it reminds him of the first sin – Satan’s rebellion. Isaiah 14:13-14 - You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' Pride excludes God from your life completely.
The tower the people were building is known in history as a ziggurat. Very prominent in ancient Mesopotamian cities. A stepped pyramid. At the top was a shrine where the god of the city could come down and reside in. Purpose was to connect heaven with the earth/gods with humanity. See that in names of some of the early ziggurats: ex. Temple of the foundation of heaven and earth built in Babylon.
4. Who came to see the city and the tower? God. Something funny about people building a tower to reach God and God coming down to see them.
5. vs. 6. How would you characterize God’s reaction to what He was seeing? Impressed by what humanity had accomplished in a short span of time. What all goes into building a city? Engineering skills; architectural planning; mathematics; technology that went in to building the city and the tower was amazing. Organizational skills. Everyone working together.
6. What do you think motivated God to say, “And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them”? Fear that humanity would pose a threat to Him? No. It was out of concern for humanity’s future. In their present unified state, humanity will be able to accomplish anything. But for what purpose/whose purpose? Good or evil/God or humanity. Repeat why the people built the city and tower. What could be the outcome? If purpose is evil, out come could be self destruction. Examples – nuclear technology, the internet.
7. What did God do to get the people to scatter across the earth? He confused their language. Someone said “Bring me that tool.” The person he spoke to could not understand what he was saying. It was like this throughout the city. People could not understand what other people were saying. Consequently, they could not complete building the city or the tower. The people spread out across the earth as God intended.
The reason why the city was called Babel – After God confused the language, when someone spoke what they heard was “ba, ba, ba,” … a bunch of babbling.
God’s problem with the people of Babel was not advancements science and technology. His problem was with their hearts’ motivation for building the city and tower. Selfish motivation; ungodly.
Migration of descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Japheth – Coastline of Turkey, Greece, Italy
Ham – Northeast Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia) and Palestine. Talk about Nimrod. Man of great reputation. “Your like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before God.” Your like Michael Jordan, a great basketball player.” Your like Paula Dean, a great cook.” Founded two great cities that play a major role in the Bible - Babel/Babylon and Nineveh.
Shem – Eastern Mesopotamia. Present day Iraq, Iran, and Arabian peninsula. We get the term Semite/Semitic from the word Shem. Eber – some scholars associate with the name Hebrew. Peleg – either born or lived at the time of a great earthquake.
The events in Genesis chapter 11:1-9 take place somewhere in chapter 10 a few generations after the Flood. Descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth had yet to spread across the earth.
Read Genesis 11:1-9
1. What observation is made in verse 1 concerning the people of earth? They speak the same language and the same words.
The land of Shinar is located in present day Iraq. History refers to this region as Mesopotamia. Show on map.
2. What did the people want to do and for what purposes? Build a city and an extremely tall tower. Purposes – a) Fame. Selfish, prideful, egotistical. b) Maintain unity. They did not want to spread across the earth.
3. Read Genesis 9:1. What did God tell Noah and his three sons to do? Have lots of kids and fill up the earth. Spread out across the earth.
These people were disobeying God’s commandment. Their purpose for building a city and a tower was to assert their independence from God. “We know what’s best for ourselves. That is to remain together. To prove it, we’re going to build a city. Symbol of our independence will be a great tower that will reach to the heavens … God. We don’t need God to come down to us. We’ll go to Him. Relate to God as equals (like gods.) If there is one sin God despises above all others, it is pride. Why? I think it reminds him of the first sin – Satan’s rebellion. Isaiah 14:13-14 - You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' Pride excludes God from your life completely.
The tower the people were building is known in history as a ziggurat. Very prominent in ancient Mesopotamian cities. A stepped pyramid. At the top was a shrine where the god of the city could come down and reside in. Purpose was to connect heaven with the earth/gods with humanity. See that in names of some of the early ziggurats: ex. Temple of the foundation of heaven and earth built in Babylon.
4. Who came to see the city and the tower? God. Something funny about people building a tower to reach God and God coming down to see them.
5. vs. 6. How would you characterize God’s reaction to what He was seeing? Impressed by what humanity had accomplished in a short span of time. What all goes into building a city? Engineering skills; architectural planning; mathematics; technology that went in to building the city and the tower was amazing. Organizational skills. Everyone working together.
6. What do you think motivated God to say, “And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them”? Fear that humanity would pose a threat to Him? No. It was out of concern for humanity’s future. In their present unified state, humanity will be able to accomplish anything. But for what purpose/whose purpose? Good or evil/God or humanity. Repeat why the people built the city and tower. What could be the outcome? If purpose is evil, out come could be self destruction. Examples – nuclear technology, the internet.
7. What did God do to get the people to scatter across the earth? He confused their language. Someone said “Bring me that tool.” The person he spoke to could not understand what he was saying. It was like this throughout the city. People could not understand what other people were saying. Consequently, they could not complete building the city or the tower. The people spread out across the earth as God intended.
The reason why the city was called Babel – After God confused the language, when someone spoke what they heard was “ba, ba, ba,” … a bunch of babbling.
God’s problem with the people of Babel was not advancements science and technology. His problem was with their hearts’ motivation for building the city and tower. Selfish motivation; ungodly.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
After the Flood: Return of Sin
1. Did God spare humanity from total destruction because Noah and his three sons were righteous or because Noah was righteous? Because Noah was righteous. Not his sons. Noah’s wife, his three sons (Shem, Ham, Japheth), and their wives were saved because Noah lived a life pleasing to God. We do not know for sure what the lifestyles of Noah’s sons were prior to the flood. We do know they were well up in age by the time the flood hit. They were not children. They were not teenagers. They were grown men old enough to make their own decisions … their own choices – good or evil.
2. Noah raised three sons in a culture of evil prior to the Flood. What do you think the odds were that all three would grow up being righteous like him? Children are not born saints. Noah’s children were raised in a Godly home. He passed on to them a knowledge of God that his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, passed on to him. But, Noah’s three sons lived in a world of evil that offered a lot of temptations. At some point, Noah’s three sons would be put in a position to make a choice – follow God or follow the world. Given the spiritual environment of the world, Noah would be lucky if one of his sons chose Godliness. Today, I’m going to make the argument that prior to the flood, two sons chose Godliness and one did not. This son was spared from death by the Flood, not because of his conduct, but because of his father Noah’s relationship with God. This son experienced God’s salvation. Not unusual for God to do this. Ex. Abraham and Lot; Moses and children of Israel. After the Flood, this son of Noah had an opportunity at a second chance at life. To put away the old (sin), and start anew (Godliness). Read Genesis 9:1. God blessed him.
Read Genesis 9:18-28
3. What was Noah’s occupation after the Flood? Farmer and wine producer. Raised a vineyard for eating and drinking.
4. What happens to Noah in verse 21? He gets drunk from the wine. Goes to his tent where he lays down without any clothes on. How far Noah has fallen from the man who was described in Genesis 6:9 as a righteous man, blameless in his time.
5. Why did Noah do this? Possibilities - 1) A post-Flood celebration that got out of hand. 2) The negative effects of fermented wine were not known until after the Flood. Noah suffered the innocent results of something he was not aware of. (Weak argument given that people got drunk prior to the flood.) 3) Noah experiencing survivor’s guilt - a mental condition that occurs when a person perceives him- or herself to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not. The impact of the Flood event - the deaths of thousands – began to sink in. Noah may have become depressed. Turned to alcohol to numb the emotional pain. Whatever the reason, it was not proper behavior. A drunken person exhibits embarrassing behavior.
Moses, the author of Genesis, does not focus anymore on Noah’s shortcoming. Reason - once Noah entered his tent that should have been the end of the story. Why? The tent was a place of privacy. No one was to enter into a man’s tent uninvited. Not even family.
6. What happens in verse 22? Ham entered the tent and saw his father lying inside drunk and naked. He left the tent and told his two brothers standing outside what he saw.
7. What did Shem and Japheth do in verse 23? They entered the tent walking backwards so that they would look upon their father’s nakedness and covered him with a garment.
8. What did Ham do that was so wrong? The three brothers were probably aware that their father was drunk before he entered his tent. All three standing outside tent. Ham chose to violate his father’s privacy. Ham entered the tent uninvited and saw his father in an undignified state. Ham was not ashamed by what he saw. He did nothing to preserve the dignity of his father. Apparently, Ham was amused by what he saw. Noah – the great man of God now a nude drunk. He walked out of the tent and told his brothers standing outside. “You two need to go inside and check out the old man. Ha, ha, ha. He’s a sight to behold.” Disrespectful behavior on the part of Ham towards his father. Not respecting his father's privacy and the disrespectful behavior showed a lack of honor by Ham for his father. “Honor your father and mother.” Honor – to revere; high respect (heavy, weighty.) Even though Noah was acting like an embarrassing fool, he was still Ham’s father and deserving of honor. On the other hand, Shem and Japheth honored/respected their father. They took a garment Noah should have been wearing, placed it on their shoulders, walked backwards into the tent, covered Noah without looking, and left the tent.
9. How does one honor their parents? It’s not just by saying “yes sir” or “no sir.” Honor can be expressed by how the children lead their lives.
Ham – dishonored his father; Shem and Japheth – honored their father. Do you think this was the only time that Ham dishonored his father? I don’t. I would argue (even though I have no evidence to support my argument; pure speculation) that Ham had a pattern of dishonoring his father going back to the pre-Flood years. He did not respect his father’s teachings concerning God and Godliness. After the Flood, Ham’s dishonor for his father continued. Shem and Japheth honored their father pre- and post-Flood.
10. After Noah woke up from his drunken stupor and realized what Ham had done, what did Noah proceed to do? Proclaim curses and blessings. 1) Curses Canaan – one of the sons of Ham. Canaan will be a servant his brothers (other sons of Ham) 2) Blesses God of Shem. Identifies the close relationship between God and Shem and his descendants (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the nation of Israel, David, Jesus.) Noah adds “let Canaan serve Shem.” 3) God would enlarge Japheth (his descendants? his lands?) Noah identifies the close bond that Shem and Japheth and their descendants will share. Japheth will live in Shem’s tents. Canaan will serve Japheth and his descendants.
11. Whose name does Noah not say? Ham. Why? This is a big deal. To be denied a blessing by your father in Old Testament days was like being cut out of the will. Essentially, these verses are Noah’s last will and testament. By denying Ham his blessing, Noah cut him out of the will. What Ham did was so egregious, so dishonorable, so disrespectful, so sinful, Noah chose not to acknowledge his son’s existence. It was as if Ham had never been born.
12. Ham had four sons. Why did Noah curse Canaan and not his brothers as well? Noah lived long enough to see his grandsons become adults. He got to see they type of men they became. Followers of God or followers of evil. Noah saw in Canaan the same moral flaws that he saw in Ham. Noah saw in Canaan the same dishonorable/sinful traits that his father Ham had. Indeed, Canaan learned these traits from his father. There are consequences to sin. For Ham, he did not receive the blessing of his father. For Canaan, it would be servitude to his brothers and uncles. Unfortunately, the legacy of sin did not stop with Canaan. It continued through his descendants. Read Genesis 10:15-19. Canaan’s descendants may have founded Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of their sinfulness, they would be cursed.
Application:
In your family (parent, child, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew, niece), are you living a life that is spiritually honorable?
Parents – do your children honor/respect you as a Christian parent? Are you living a lifestyle that is worthy of their honor/respect?
2. Noah raised three sons in a culture of evil prior to the Flood. What do you think the odds were that all three would grow up being righteous like him? Children are not born saints. Noah’s children were raised in a Godly home. He passed on to them a knowledge of God that his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, passed on to him. But, Noah’s three sons lived in a world of evil that offered a lot of temptations. At some point, Noah’s three sons would be put in a position to make a choice – follow God or follow the world. Given the spiritual environment of the world, Noah would be lucky if one of his sons chose Godliness. Today, I’m going to make the argument that prior to the flood, two sons chose Godliness and one did not. This son was spared from death by the Flood, not because of his conduct, but because of his father Noah’s relationship with God. This son experienced God’s salvation. Not unusual for God to do this. Ex. Abraham and Lot; Moses and children of Israel. After the Flood, this son of Noah had an opportunity at a second chance at life. To put away the old (sin), and start anew (Godliness). Read Genesis 9:1. God blessed him.
Read Genesis 9:18-28
3. What was Noah’s occupation after the Flood? Farmer and wine producer. Raised a vineyard for eating and drinking.
4. What happens to Noah in verse 21? He gets drunk from the wine. Goes to his tent where he lays down without any clothes on. How far Noah has fallen from the man who was described in Genesis 6:9 as a righteous man, blameless in his time.
5. Why did Noah do this? Possibilities - 1) A post-Flood celebration that got out of hand. 2) The negative effects of fermented wine were not known until after the Flood. Noah suffered the innocent results of something he was not aware of. (Weak argument given that people got drunk prior to the flood.) 3) Noah experiencing survivor’s guilt - a mental condition that occurs when a person perceives him- or herself to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not. The impact of the Flood event - the deaths of thousands – began to sink in. Noah may have become depressed. Turned to alcohol to numb the emotional pain. Whatever the reason, it was not proper behavior. A drunken person exhibits embarrassing behavior.
Moses, the author of Genesis, does not focus anymore on Noah’s shortcoming. Reason - once Noah entered his tent that should have been the end of the story. Why? The tent was a place of privacy. No one was to enter into a man’s tent uninvited. Not even family.
6. What happens in verse 22? Ham entered the tent and saw his father lying inside drunk and naked. He left the tent and told his two brothers standing outside what he saw.
7. What did Shem and Japheth do in verse 23? They entered the tent walking backwards so that they would look upon their father’s nakedness and covered him with a garment.
8. What did Ham do that was so wrong? The three brothers were probably aware that their father was drunk before he entered his tent. All three standing outside tent. Ham chose to violate his father’s privacy. Ham entered the tent uninvited and saw his father in an undignified state. Ham was not ashamed by what he saw. He did nothing to preserve the dignity of his father. Apparently, Ham was amused by what he saw. Noah – the great man of God now a nude drunk. He walked out of the tent and told his brothers standing outside. “You two need to go inside and check out the old man. Ha, ha, ha. He’s a sight to behold.” Disrespectful behavior on the part of Ham towards his father. Not respecting his father's privacy and the disrespectful behavior showed a lack of honor by Ham for his father. “Honor your father and mother.” Honor – to revere; high respect (heavy, weighty.) Even though Noah was acting like an embarrassing fool, he was still Ham’s father and deserving of honor. On the other hand, Shem and Japheth honored/respected their father. They took a garment Noah should have been wearing, placed it on their shoulders, walked backwards into the tent, covered Noah without looking, and left the tent.
9. How does one honor their parents? It’s not just by saying “yes sir” or “no sir.” Honor can be expressed by how the children lead their lives.
Ham – dishonored his father; Shem and Japheth – honored their father. Do you think this was the only time that Ham dishonored his father? I don’t. I would argue (even though I have no evidence to support my argument; pure speculation) that Ham had a pattern of dishonoring his father going back to the pre-Flood years. He did not respect his father’s teachings concerning God and Godliness. After the Flood, Ham’s dishonor for his father continued. Shem and Japheth honored their father pre- and post-Flood.
10. After Noah woke up from his drunken stupor and realized what Ham had done, what did Noah proceed to do? Proclaim curses and blessings. 1) Curses Canaan – one of the sons of Ham. Canaan will be a servant his brothers (other sons of Ham) 2) Blesses God of Shem. Identifies the close relationship between God and Shem and his descendants (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the nation of Israel, David, Jesus.) Noah adds “let Canaan serve Shem.” 3) God would enlarge Japheth (his descendants? his lands?) Noah identifies the close bond that Shem and Japheth and their descendants will share. Japheth will live in Shem’s tents. Canaan will serve Japheth and his descendants.
11. Whose name does Noah not say? Ham. Why? This is a big deal. To be denied a blessing by your father in Old Testament days was like being cut out of the will. Essentially, these verses are Noah’s last will and testament. By denying Ham his blessing, Noah cut him out of the will. What Ham did was so egregious, so dishonorable, so disrespectful, so sinful, Noah chose not to acknowledge his son’s existence. It was as if Ham had never been born.
12. Ham had four sons. Why did Noah curse Canaan and not his brothers as well? Noah lived long enough to see his grandsons become adults. He got to see they type of men they became. Followers of God or followers of evil. Noah saw in Canaan the same moral flaws that he saw in Ham. Noah saw in Canaan the same dishonorable/sinful traits that his father Ham had. Indeed, Canaan learned these traits from his father. There are consequences to sin. For Ham, he did not receive the blessing of his father. For Canaan, it would be servitude to his brothers and uncles. Unfortunately, the legacy of sin did not stop with Canaan. It continued through his descendants. Read Genesis 10:15-19. Canaan’s descendants may have founded Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of their sinfulness, they would be cursed.
Application:
In your family (parent, child, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew, niece), are you living a life that is spiritually honorable?
Parents – do your children honor/respect you as a Christian parent? Are you living a lifestyle that is worthy of their honor/respect?
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