Did Jesus do many miracles in places where He was dishonored? What was the purpose of the first short-term mission trip? Why was John the baptist killed? How did Jesus provide for the 5000? Did Jesus take time alone to pray? Were the disciples' hearts still hardened? Let’s look at Mark 6.
Why did Jesus go into the synagogue? What was the people's reaction?
He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? (Mark 6:1-2 WEB)
Were they repulsed? Did familiarity breed contempt?
Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were repulsed by him and fell into sin. (Mark 6:3 CEB)
What did Jesus say about their prejudice? Are prophets honored in their own families?
But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family.” (Mark 6:4 CEV)
Can our attitude prevent God from wanting to do mighty works among us? Does such an attitude shock us like it did Jesus?
And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. (Mark 6:5-6 ESV)
Did Jesus then send the disciples on a short term mission trip, sent out in pairs?
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. (Mark 6:7 HCSB)
Was this also possibly a faith building exercise as much as practical experience?
He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick—no bread, no traveling bag, nothing in their moneybag. They could wear sandals but not take along an extra shirt. (Mark 6:8-9 ISV)
Should they stay put so that people could know where to find them?
And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. (Mark 6:10 KJV)
What if they were rejected? Is that going to happen to us? What do we do when we are rejected?
And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:11 LSB)
What did they do? What was their message? Do churches today still preach repentance?
And they went out and preached that people are to repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. (Mark 6:12-13 NASB)
What was Herod’s fear? Was he worried about John the baptist or himself?
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” (Mark 6:14-16 NIV)
What had Herod done? What had John said to him? Did he publicly condemn Herod’s adultery?
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:17-18 NKJV)
Did John compromise the truth? Is speaking truth to power courageous?
So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:19-20 NLT)
Did Herod make a foolish promise? Do we make foolish promises?
Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” (Mark 6:21-23 WEB)
What was the tragic result? Is a root cause of injustice among the powerful, their pride?
She left the banquet hall and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” Herodias replied. Hurrying back to the ruler, she made her request: “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a plate, right this minute.” Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. So he ordered a guard to bring John’s head. The guard went to the prison, cut off John’s head, brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the young woman, and she gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took his dead body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:24-29 CEB)
As the disciples return from their mission trip, did they and Jesus need some rest?
After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught. But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.” They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. (Mark 6:30-32 CEV)
Despite His tiredness, did Jesus have compassion on the crowd that followed?
Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:33-34 ESV)
What did the disciples want to do with the people? What did Jesus tell them? Does Jesus sometimes change our plans?
When it was already late, His disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late! Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.” “You give them something to eat,” He responded. They said to Him, “Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” And He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” (Mark 6:35-37 HCSB)
How did Jesus multiply their efforts way beyond their wildest dreams? Can Jesus do the same with the church’s needs?
Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover bread and fish. There were 5,000 men who had eaten the loaves. (Mark 6:39-44 ISV)
Did Jesus take time out for prayer alone? Do we? Have we ever taken time alone for prayer?
And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. (Mark 6:45-46 KJV)
Did Jesus walk on the water? What would we have done if we saw Him?
And when it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. And seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He was intending to pass by them. (Mark 6:47-48 LSB)
Were they terrified? Had their hearts been too hard to have any insight?
But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:49-52 NASB)
Did Jesus get much rest on the other side? Or, did He continue healing the sick?
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. (Mark 6:53-56 NIV)
Did Jesus do many miracles in places where He was dishonored? What was the purpose of the first short-term mission trip? Why was John the baptist killed? How did Jesus provide for the 5000? Did Jesus take time alone to pray? Were the disciples' hearts still hardened? Are ours? You decide!
Abraham's Biggest Test (Genesis 22)
Does God sometimes test our faith severely? Does a test also increase our trust in God? Did Abraham’s test foreshadow the cross of Christ? Let’s look at Genesis 22.
How did God test Abraham’s faith? Was it perhaps Abraham’s biggest test of his life? What has been our biggest test?
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:1-2 NLT)
What did Abraham do? Did he delay obeying God? Was his son already dead in his mind for three days? Does this picture Jesus being dead for three days?
Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:3-7 WEB)
Is there a clue to Abraham’s faith in his reply to his son, God will see to it? Did he trust the previous promise about Isaac? Did he trust that God would resurrect Isaac?
Abraham said, “The lamb for the entirely burned offering? God will see to it, my son.” The two of them walked on together. They arrived at the place God had described to him. Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. (Genesis 22:8-10 CEB)
What does the letter to the Hebrews tell us was in Abraham’s mind during this very difficult test of his faith?
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, to whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back. (Hebrews 11:17-19 LSB)
Did an angel stop him? What was the angel’s conclusion? Does God know that we truly obey God?
But the Lord's angel shouted from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!” the angel said. “Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it instead of his son. Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” And even now people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:11-14 CEV)
What was the angel’s second message?
Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By Myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command.” (Genesis 22:15-18 HCSB)
Where did Abraham live? Beer-sheba is still a town today, called locally Be'er Sheva.
After this, Abraham returned to his servants and they set out together for Beer-sheba, where Abraham settled. Now after these things somebody told Abraham, “Look, Milcah has given birth to sons for your brother Nahor. Uz is his firstborn, Buz is his brother, and Kemuel is the father of Aram, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” Bethuel fathered Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Also, his concubine Reumah gave birth to Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah. (Genesis 22:19-24 ISV)
Does God sometimes test our faith severely? Does a test also increase our trust in God? Did Abraham get his son back? Did God get His Son back in the resurrection? Was this a foretaste of the cross? You decide!
How did God test Abraham’s faith? Was it perhaps Abraham’s biggest test of his life? What has been our biggest test?
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:1-2 NLT)
What did Abraham do? Did he delay obeying God? Was his son already dead in his mind for three days? Does this picture Jesus being dead for three days?
Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:3-7 WEB)
Is there a clue to Abraham’s faith in his reply to his son, God will see to it? Did he trust the previous promise about Isaac? Did he trust that God would resurrect Isaac?
Abraham said, “The lamb for the entirely burned offering? God will see to it, my son.” The two of them walked on together. They arrived at the place God had described to him. Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. (Genesis 22:8-10 CEB)
What does the letter to the Hebrews tell us was in Abraham’s mind during this very difficult test of his faith?
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, to whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back. (Hebrews 11:17-19 LSB)
Did an angel stop him? What was the angel’s conclusion? Does God know that we truly obey God?
But the Lord's angel shouted from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way!” the angel said. “Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.” Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it instead of his son. Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” And even now people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:11-14 CEV)
What was the angel’s second message?
Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By Myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command.” (Genesis 22:15-18 HCSB)
Where did Abraham live? Beer-sheba is still a town today, called locally Be'er Sheva.
After this, Abraham returned to his servants and they set out together for Beer-sheba, where Abraham settled. Now after these things somebody told Abraham, “Look, Milcah has given birth to sons for your brother Nahor. Uz is his firstborn, Buz is his brother, and Kemuel is the father of Aram, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” Bethuel fathered Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Also, his concubine Reumah gave birth to Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah. (Genesis 22:19-24 ISV)
Does God sometimes test our faith severely? Does a test also increase our trust in God? Did Abraham get his son back? Did God get His Son back in the resurrection? Was this a foretaste of the cross? You decide!
Making Peace (Genesis 21)
Is laughter sometimes an expression of joy? Is making peace a good thing? Is separation sometimes the best course of action for peace? Is a formal covenant of peace a good thing? Let’s look at Genesis 21.
Did Sarah bear a son named Laughter in her old age? Did she laugh again, with joy?
The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:1-7 ESV)
What does the New Testament say about her and her underlying faith?
By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful. Therefore from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12 HCSB)
Did the animosity with Hagar arise again? What did Sarah want to do?
The child grew and eventually was weaned, so Abraham threw a tremendous banquet on the very day Isaac was weaned. Nevertheless, when Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian—whom Hagar had borne to Abraham—making fun of Isaac, she told Abraham, “Throw out this slave girl, along with her son, because this slave’s son will never be a co-heir with my son Isaac!” (Genesis 21 ISV)
What was God’s advice? Should Abraham listen to his wife’s wishes? Was separation the best option for peace?
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. (Genesis 21:11-13 KJV)
How did God care for Hagar? Will God care for us despite some major mistakes in our lives?
So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “May I not see the boy die!” And she sat opposite him, and raised her voice and wept. God heard the boy crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. (Genesis 21:14-21 NASB)
Did Abraham make peace with Abimelech? Did Abimelech expect Abraham to return the kindness?
At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” Abraham said, “I swear it.” (Genesis 21:22-24 NIV)
What dispute did they settle? How was Beersheba [well of the oath] named? Did they make an oath of peace?
Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?” And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there. Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days. (Genesis 21:25-34 NKJV)
Is laughter sometimes an expression of joy? Is making peace a good thing? Is separation sometimes the best course of action for peace? Is a formal covenant of peace a good thing? You decide!
Did Sarah bear a son named Laughter in her old age? Did she laugh again, with joy?
The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:1-7 ESV)
What does the New Testament say about her and her underlying faith?
By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful. Therefore from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12 HCSB)
Did the animosity with Hagar arise again? What did Sarah want to do?
The child grew and eventually was weaned, so Abraham threw a tremendous banquet on the very day Isaac was weaned. Nevertheless, when Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian—whom Hagar had borne to Abraham—making fun of Isaac, she told Abraham, “Throw out this slave girl, along with her son, because this slave’s son will never be a co-heir with my son Isaac!” (Genesis 21 ISV)
What was God’s advice? Should Abraham listen to his wife’s wishes? Was separation the best option for peace?
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. (Genesis 21:11-13 KJV)
How did God care for Hagar? Will God care for us despite some major mistakes in our lives?
So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “May I not see the boy die!” And she sat opposite him, and raised her voice and wept. God heard the boy crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. (Genesis 21:14-21 NASB)
Did Abraham make peace with Abimelech? Did Abimelech expect Abraham to return the kindness?
At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” Abraham said, “I swear it.” (Genesis 21:22-24 NIV)
What dispute did they settle? How was Beersheba [well of the oath] named? Did they make an oath of peace?
Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?” And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there. Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days. (Genesis 21:25-34 NKJV)
Is laughter sometimes an expression of joy? Is making peace a good thing? Is separation sometimes the best course of action for peace? Is a formal covenant of peace a good thing? You decide!
Lying to Abimelech (Genesis 20)
Is a half-truth still a lie if the intent is to deceive? Do even God’s leading servants occasionally sin out of weakness? Is God merciful to our weaknesses? Let’s examine Genesis 20.
Did Abraham lie again about his wife as he had previously done in Egypt?
Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace. (Genesis 20:1-2 NLT)
Did God warn Abimelech? Did God allow Abimelech to touch Sarah?
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.” Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” (Genesis 20:3-7 WEB)
Did he confront Abraham in public? Is it right to publicly confront church leaders for their sins?
Abimelech got up early in the morning and summoned all of his servants. When he told them everything that had happened, the men were terrified. Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that you have brought this terrible sin to me and my kingdom, by doing to me something that simply isn’t done?” Abimelech said to Abraham, “What were you thinking when you did this thing?” (Genesis 20:8-10 CEB)
What was Abraham’s excuse for his deception? What did Abimelech do?
Abraham answered: I did it because I didn't think any of you respected God, and I was sure that someone would kill me to get my wife. Besides, she is my half sister. We have the same father, but different mothers. When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, “If you really love me, then tell everyone that I am your brother.” After Abimelech had given Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves, he sent Sarah back and told Abraham he could settle anywhere in his country. Then he said to Sarah, “I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver as proof to everyone that you have done nothing wrong.” (Genesis 20:11-16 CEV)
What did God do? Had He prevented Abimelech’s women from getting pregnant?
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, for the Lord had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household on account of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. (Genesis 20:17-18 HCSB)
Is a half-truth still a lie if the intent is to deceive? Do even God’s leading servants occasionally sin out of weakness? Is God merciful to our weaknesses? You decide!
Did Abraham lie again about his wife as he had previously done in Egypt?
Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace. (Genesis 20:1-2 NLT)
Did God warn Abimelech? Did God allow Abimelech to touch Sarah?
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.” Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.” God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” (Genesis 20:3-7 WEB)
Did he confront Abraham in public? Is it right to publicly confront church leaders for their sins?
Abimelech got up early in the morning and summoned all of his servants. When he told them everything that had happened, the men were terrified. Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that you have brought this terrible sin to me and my kingdom, by doing to me something that simply isn’t done?” Abimelech said to Abraham, “What were you thinking when you did this thing?” (Genesis 20:8-10 CEB)
What was Abraham’s excuse for his deception? What did Abimelech do?
Abraham answered: I did it because I didn't think any of you respected God, and I was sure that someone would kill me to get my wife. Besides, she is my half sister. We have the same father, but different mothers. When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, “If you really love me, then tell everyone that I am your brother.” After Abimelech had given Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves, he sent Sarah back and told Abraham he could settle anywhere in his country. Then he said to Sarah, “I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver as proof to everyone that you have done nothing wrong.” (Genesis 20:11-16 CEV)
What did God do? Had He prevented Abimelech’s women from getting pregnant?
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children, for the Lord had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household on account of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. (Genesis 20:17-18 HCSB)
Is a half-truth still a lie if the intent is to deceive? Do even God’s leading servants occasionally sin out of weakness? Is God merciful to our weaknesses? You decide!
Two Angels in Sodom (Genesis 19)
Were some in Lot’s family completely immersed in the life of Sodom and not wanting to leave? Were Lot, his wife, and his daughters also affected by the perverse environment of that city? What can happen to our thinking, living and working in this world? Are we truly in the world but not of the world? Let’s examine Genesis 19.
Did the two angels that had been with the Lord talking to Abraham continue on to Sodom?
The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. (Genesis 19:1-3 WEB)
Was homosexual gang rape attempted by just a few in Sodom or everyone? Did Lot’s stupid decision to offer his two daughters show that he had been affected by that perverse society? How much are we influenced by the world around us?
Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom—everyone from the youngest to the oldest—surrounded the house and called to Lot, “Where are the men who arrived tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may have sex with them.” Lot went out toward the entrance, closed the door behind him, and said, “My brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. I’ve got two daughters who are virgins. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them whatever you wish. But don’t do anything to these men because they are now under the protection of my roof.” (Genesis 19:4-8 CEB)
Did the crowd threaten Lot? What did the angels do?
“Don't get in our way,” the crowd answered. “You're a foreigner. What right do you have to order us around? We'll do worse things to you than we're going to do to them.” The crowd kept arguing with Lot. Finally, they rushed toward the door to break it down. But the two angels in the house reached out and pulled Lot safely inside. Then they struck blind everyone in the crowd, and none of them could even find the door. (Genesis 19:9-11 CEV)
How did the rest of Lot’s relatives respond to his warning?
The men said to Lot, “Do you have any people here besides yourself? Whomever you have in the city — son-in-law, your sons, your daughters — bring them out of this place; because we are going to destroy it. Adonai has become aware of the great outcry against them, and Adonai has sent us to destroy it.” Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up and leave this place, because Adonai is going to destroy the city.” But his sons-in-law didn’t take him seriously. (Genesis 19:12-14 CJB)
Did Lot procrastinate? Do we linger or have a sense of urgency about leaving the Sodom of this world’s ways?
As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Genesis 19:15-17 ESV)
Did Lot have simple trust like Abraham or want to quibble about where he went? Did God have mercy on his weak faith? Does God have mercy on our sometimes weak faith?
But Lot said to them, “No, my lords—please. Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by saving my life. But I can’t run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. Look, this town is close enough for me to run to. It is a small place. Please let me go there—it’s only a small place, isn’t it?—so that I can survive.” And he said to him, “All right, I’ll grant your request about this matter too and will not demolish the town you mentioned. Hurry up! Run there, for I cannot do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city is Zoar. (Genesis 19:18-22 HCSB)
Did Lot’s wife obey God’s directive not to look back? What happened? Do we sometimes look back on our previous life of sin with longing?
The sun had risen over the land about the time Lot reached Zoar. Then the Lord rained sulfur and fire out of the sky from the Lord on Sodom and Gomorrah, overthrowing those cities, all of the plain, and everyone who lived in the cities. He also destroyed the plants that grew out of the ground. But Lot’s wife looked back as she lingered behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:23-26 ISV)
Did Lot eventually decide that it was best to leave Zoar anyway?
And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. (Genesis 19:27-30 KJV)
What did Lot’s older daughter plot? How crazy are human decisions sometimes?
Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to have relations with us according to the custom of all the earth. Come, let’s make our father drink wine, and let’s sleep with him so that we may keep our family alive through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or got up. (Genesis 19:31-33 NASB)
Did the younger daughter follow suit? Had their years in Sodom influenced their thinking?
The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. (Genesis 19:34-35 NIV)
What was the result? Did people descend from this act?
Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day. (Genesis 19:36-38 NKJV)
Were some in Lot’s family completely immersed in the life of Sodom and not wanting to leave? Were Lot, his wife, and his daughters also affected by the perverse environment of that city? What can happen to our thinking, living and working in this world? Are we truly in the world but not of the world? You decide!
Did the two angels that had been with the Lord talking to Abraham continue on to Sodom?
The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. (Genesis 19:1-3 WEB)
Was homosexual gang rape attempted by just a few in Sodom or everyone? Did Lot’s stupid decision to offer his two daughters show that he had been affected by that perverse society? How much are we influenced by the world around us?
Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom—everyone from the youngest to the oldest—surrounded the house and called to Lot, “Where are the men who arrived tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may have sex with them.” Lot went out toward the entrance, closed the door behind him, and said, “My brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. I’ve got two daughters who are virgins. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them whatever you wish. But don’t do anything to these men because they are now under the protection of my roof.” (Genesis 19:4-8 CEB)
Did the crowd threaten Lot? What did the angels do?
“Don't get in our way,” the crowd answered. “You're a foreigner. What right do you have to order us around? We'll do worse things to you than we're going to do to them.” The crowd kept arguing with Lot. Finally, they rushed toward the door to break it down. But the two angels in the house reached out and pulled Lot safely inside. Then they struck blind everyone in the crowd, and none of them could even find the door. (Genesis 19:9-11 CEV)
How did the rest of Lot’s relatives respond to his warning?
The men said to Lot, “Do you have any people here besides yourself? Whomever you have in the city — son-in-law, your sons, your daughters — bring them out of this place; because we are going to destroy it. Adonai has become aware of the great outcry against them, and Adonai has sent us to destroy it.” Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up and leave this place, because Adonai is going to destroy the city.” But his sons-in-law didn’t take him seriously. (Genesis 19:12-14 CJB)
Did Lot procrastinate? Do we linger or have a sense of urgency about leaving the Sodom of this world’s ways?
As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Genesis 19:15-17 ESV)
Did Lot have simple trust like Abraham or want to quibble about where he went? Did God have mercy on his weak faith? Does God have mercy on our sometimes weak faith?
But Lot said to them, “No, my lords—please. Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by saving my life. But I can’t run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. Look, this town is close enough for me to run to. It is a small place. Please let me go there—it’s only a small place, isn’t it?—so that I can survive.” And he said to him, “All right, I’ll grant your request about this matter too and will not demolish the town you mentioned. Hurry up! Run there, for I cannot do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city is Zoar. (Genesis 19:18-22 HCSB)
Did Lot’s wife obey God’s directive not to look back? What happened? Do we sometimes look back on our previous life of sin with longing?
The sun had risen over the land about the time Lot reached Zoar. Then the Lord rained sulfur and fire out of the sky from the Lord on Sodom and Gomorrah, overthrowing those cities, all of the plain, and everyone who lived in the cities. He also destroyed the plants that grew out of the ground. But Lot’s wife looked back as she lingered behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:23-26 ISV)
Did Lot eventually decide that it was best to leave Zoar anyway?
And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. (Genesis 19:27-30 KJV)
What did Lot’s older daughter plot? How crazy are human decisions sometimes?
Then the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to have relations with us according to the custom of all the earth. Come, let’s make our father drink wine, and let’s sleep with him so that we may keep our family alive through our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or got up. (Genesis 19:31-33 NASB)
Did the younger daughter follow suit? Had their years in Sodom influenced their thinking?
The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. (Genesis 19:34-35 NIV)
What was the result? Did people descend from this act?
Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day. (Genesis 19:36-38 NKJV)
Were some in Lot’s family completely immersed in the life of Sodom and not wanting to leave? Were Lot, his wife, and his daughters also affected by the perverse environment of that city? What can happen to our thinking, living and working in this world? Are we truly in the world but not of the world? You decide!
Three Heavenly Visitors (Genesis 18)
Did Jesus play a greater role in the Old Testament than we may have realized? How is it that we cannot see God and live (Exodus 33:20), yet Abraham saw and spoke with the Lord in Genesis 18? Is this an allusion to God the Father and God the Son in the Old Testament, before the Lord was made incarnate as Jesus Christ?
Who appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre?
Then the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground. Then he said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.” “Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1-5 HCSB)
Did Abraham prepare a meal for them to eat? Does that mean that God and angels can eat?
Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread.” Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate. (Genesis 18:6-8 ISV)
Did Sarah also laugh, as Abraham had on a previous occasion (remember Isaac means “to laugh”)?
And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (Genesis 18:9-12 KJV)
Was Sarah embarrassed about laughing? Imagine being reminded of that when you use your son’s name?
But the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it, however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:13-15 NASB)
When the three left, did they walk part of the way with Abraham?
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:16-19 NIV)
What did the Lord say to Abraham? Does God really need to go and see, or was He speaking in human terms?
And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20-21 NKJV)
Did Abraham have a private conversation with the Lord? Was he persistent with God?
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.” Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.” “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent. (Genesis 18:22-33 NLT)
Did Jesus play a greater role in the Old Testament than we may have realized? How is it that we cannot see God and live (Exodus 33:20), yet Abraham saw and spoke with the Lord in Genesis 18? Is this an allusion to God the Father and God the Son in the Old Testament, before the Lord was made incarnate as Jesus Christ? You decide!
Who appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre?
Then the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground. Then he said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.” “Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1-5 HCSB)
Did Abraham prepare a meal for them to eat? Does that mean that God and angels can eat?
Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread.” Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate. (Genesis 18:6-8 ISV)
Did Sarah also laugh, as Abraham had on a previous occasion (remember Isaac means “to laugh”)?
And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (Genesis 18:9-12 KJV)
Was Sarah embarrassed about laughing? Imagine being reminded of that when you use your son’s name?
But the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah denied it, however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:13-15 NASB)
When the three left, did they walk part of the way with Abraham?
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:16-19 NIV)
What did the Lord say to Abraham? Does God really need to go and see, or was He speaking in human terms?
And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20-21 NKJV)
Did Abraham have a private conversation with the Lord? Was he persistent with God?
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.” Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.” “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent. (Genesis 18:22-33 NLT)
Did Jesus play a greater role in the Old Testament than we may have realized? How is it that we cannot see God and live (Exodus 33:20), yet Abraham saw and spoke with the Lord in Genesis 18? Is this an allusion to God the Father and God the Son in the Old Testament, before the Lord was made incarnate as Jesus Christ? You decide!
The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17)
Is the promise to Abraham fully realized in Abraham’s descendant, Jesus and the Good News for all nations? Is true circumcision of the heart and not just the flesh?
How did Abram’s name get changed? What does Abraham mean?
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:1-5 NIV)
What did God promise Abraham? Was it one nation only?
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:6-8 NKJV)
What was the sign of the covenant? Was there a spiritual circumcision that this eventually pointed to?
Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.” (Genesis 17:9-14 NLT)
Was Sarai’s name also changed? What did God promise for her? Did Abraham laugh (Isaac means “to laugh”)?
God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac [Yitzhak, meaning to laugh]. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:15-21 WEB)
Did Abraham obey God, or just believe? How quickly did Abraham obey God?
When God finished speaking to him, God ascended, leaving Abraham alone. Abraham took his son Ishmael, all those born in his household, and all those purchased with his silver—that is, every male in Abraham’s household—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that same day, just as God had told him to do. Abraham was 99 years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and his son Ishmael was 13 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised. That same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. All the men of his household, those born in his household and those purchased with silver from foreigners, were circumcised with him. (Genesis 17:22-27 CEB)
Who are the children of Abraham spiritually speaking? Do Christians have faith? Are Christians also children of Abraham? What does Galatians say?
And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7 CEV)
What circumcision is more important to God? What does this circumcision of our hearts entail?
Then Adonai your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your children, so that you will love Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being, and thus you will live. (Deuteronomy 30:6 CJB)
According to the New Testament which circumcision counts? What makes for a true Jew?
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:29 ESV)
Is the promise to Abraham fully realized in Abraham’s descendant, Jesus and the Good News for all nations? Is true circumcision of the heart and not the flesh? You decide!
How did Abram’s name get changed? What does Abraham mean?
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:1-5 NIV)
What did God promise Abraham? Was it one nation only?
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:6-8 NKJV)
What was the sign of the covenant? Was there a spiritual circumcision that this eventually pointed to?
Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.” (Genesis 17:9-14 NLT)
Was Sarai’s name also changed? What did God promise for her? Did Abraham laugh (Isaac means “to laugh”)?
God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac [Yitzhak, meaning to laugh]. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:15-21 WEB)
Did Abraham obey God, or just believe? How quickly did Abraham obey God?
When God finished speaking to him, God ascended, leaving Abraham alone. Abraham took his son Ishmael, all those born in his household, and all those purchased with his silver—that is, every male in Abraham’s household—and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that same day, just as God had told him to do. Abraham was 99 years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and his son Ishmael was 13 years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised. That same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. All the men of his household, those born in his household and those purchased with silver from foreigners, were circumcised with him. (Genesis 17:22-27 CEB)
Who are the children of Abraham spiritually speaking? Do Christians have faith? Are Christians also children of Abraham? What does Galatians say?
And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7 CEV)
What circumcision is more important to God? What does this circumcision of our hearts entail?
Then Adonai your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your children, so that you will love Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being, and thus you will live. (Deuteronomy 30:6 CJB)
According to the New Testament which circumcision counts? What makes for a true Jew?
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:29 ESV)
Is the promise to Abraham fully realized in Abraham’s descendant, Jesus and the Good News for all nations? Is true circumcision of the heart and not the flesh? You decide!
Various Healings (Mark 5)
Did Jesus heal an insane man of demon possession who had not asked for it? Was a woman healed because of her faith? Did Jesus heal a man’s daughter despite other people’s lack of faith? Do we have faith? Let’s discuss this in Mark 5.
On the other side of the lake, who came out to meet Jesus?
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. (Mark 5:1-2 NLT)
Where did he live and why? What was he doing?
He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. (Mark 5:3-5 WEB)
What did the demons say to Jesus through this man’s voice?
When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” (Mark 5:6-7 CEB)
What had Jesus said? The Roman legion was about 5,000 men.
The man said this because Jesus had already told the evil spirit to come out of him. Jesus asked, “What is your name?” The man answered, “My name is Lots [Legion], because I have ‘lots’ of evil spirits.” He then begged Jesus not to send them away. (Mark 5:8-10 CEV)
What did the demons beg for from Jesus?
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:11-13 ESV)
Why did Jesus leave the area? Could fear be a reason that people still avoid even talking about Jesus?
The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. Then they began to beg Him to leave their region. (Mark 5:14-17 HCSB)
What did Jesus ask him to do other than become a disciple? What can someone think about doing, if rejected for a ministry in the church that they wanted?
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging him to let him go with him. But Jesus wouldn’t let him. Instead, he told him, “Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you.” So the man left and began proclaiming in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was utterly amazed. (Mark 5:18-20 ISV)
After Jesus again moved on, did even a synagogue ruler come to Jesus in desperation for his daughter?
And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. (Mark 5:21-23 KJV)
As Jesus was leaving with Jairus what happened? What expression of her faith did the woman exhibit?
And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. And a woman—who had a hemorrhage for twelve years and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His garment. For she was saying, “If I just touch His garments, I will be saved from this.” (Mark 5:24-28 LSB)
What did Jesus say to her? Whose faith made her well?
And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power from Him had gone out, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman, fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease.” (Mark 5:29-34 NASB)
There is a phrase that is criticized by unbelievers and believers alike, “Just believe!” Is there a time and place where that is exactly the right advice?
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:35-36 NIV)
When Jesus commented that the child was not dead, what did people do?
And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. (Mark 5:37-40a NKJV)
By whose faith was the girl healed, because the crowd doubted?
But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:40b-43 NLT)
Did Jesus heal an insane man of demon possession who had not asked for it? Was a woman healed because of her faith? Did Jesus heal a man’s daughter despite other people’s lack of faith? Do we have faith? You decide!
On the other side of the lake, who came out to meet Jesus?
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. (Mark 5:1-2 NLT)
Where did he live and why? What was he doing?
He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. (Mark 5:3-5 WEB)
What did the demons say to Jesus through this man’s voice?
When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” (Mark 5:6-7 CEB)
What had Jesus said? The Roman legion was about 5,000 men.
The man said this because Jesus had already told the evil spirit to come out of him. Jesus asked, “What is your name?” The man answered, “My name is Lots [Legion], because I have ‘lots’ of evil spirits.” He then begged Jesus not to send them away. (Mark 5:8-10 CEV)
What did the demons beg for from Jesus?
Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:11-13 ESV)
Why did Jesus leave the area? Could fear be a reason that people still avoid even talking about Jesus?
The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. Then they began to beg Him to leave their region. (Mark 5:14-17 HCSB)
What did Jesus ask him to do other than become a disciple? What can someone think about doing, if rejected for a ministry in the church that they wanted?
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging him to let him go with him. But Jesus wouldn’t let him. Instead, he told him, “Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been to you.” So the man left and began proclaiming in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was utterly amazed. (Mark 5:18-20 ISV)
After Jesus again moved on, did even a synagogue ruler come to Jesus in desperation for his daughter?
And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. (Mark 5:21-23 KJV)
As Jesus was leaving with Jairus what happened? What expression of her faith did the woman exhibit?
And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. And a woman—who had a hemorrhage for twelve years and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His garment. For she was saying, “If I just touch His garments, I will be saved from this.” (Mark 5:24-28 LSB)
What did Jesus say to her? Whose faith made her well?
And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power from Him had gone out, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman, fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease.” (Mark 5:29-34 NASB)
There is a phrase that is criticized by unbelievers and believers alike, “Just believe!” Is there a time and place where that is exactly the right advice?
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:35-36 NIV)
When Jesus commented that the child was not dead, what did people do?
And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. (Mark 5:37-40a NKJV)
By whose faith was the girl healed, because the crowd doubted?
But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:40b-43 NLT)
Did Jesus heal an insane man of demon possession who had not asked for it? Was a woman healed because of her faith? Did Jesus heal a man’s daughter despite other people’s lack of faith? Do we have faith? You decide!
Abram's Bad Decision (Genesis 16)
Though he was righteous by faith, did Abram still make the occasional horrible decision? Is Christian history also filled with both virtuous and shameful choices? When we forget to pray and seek God’s will, inspired by the Holy Spirit, scripture, and Godly counsel, can we cause ourselves and others great suffering? Do we walk and talk with God throughout our day, always seeking His guidance? Let’s discuss the events of Genesis 16.
Did Abram make a huge mistake with a household servant? Did Hagar treat Sarai with contempt?
Abram’s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you.” (Genesis 16:1-5 HCSB)
Did this cause great problems between the two women? Was God concerned for Hagar?
Abram answered Sarai, “Look, your servant is under your control, so do to her as you wish.” So Sarai dealt so harshly with Hagar that she ran away from Sarai. The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the desert on the road to Shur. “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he asked, “Where are you coming from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” (Genesis 16:6-8 ISV)
What did the angel of the Lord say to Hagar? Did God mercifully promise to bless Hagar?
And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 16:9-12 KJV)
Did Hagar give birth to a son? Is there still strife between their descendants? Ishmael is sometimes considered to be an ancestor of Arabs living across parts of Saudi Arabia.
Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees me”; for she said, “Have I even seen Him here and lived after He saw me?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [well of the Living One who sees me]; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore a son to Abram; and Abram named his son, to whom Hagar gave birth, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him. (Genesis 16:13-16 NASB)
Are these two women compared to the two covenants, old and new?
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:21-26 NKJV)
Though he was righteous by faith, did Abram still make the occasional horrible decision? Is Christian history also filled with both virtuous and shameful choices? When we forget to pray and seek God’s will, inspired by the Holy Spirit, scripture, and Godly counsel, can we cause ourselves and others great suffering? Do we walk and talk with God throughout our day, always seeking His guidance? You decide!
Did Abram make a huge mistake with a household servant? Did Hagar treat Sarai with contempt?
Abram’s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you.” (Genesis 16:1-5 HCSB)
Did this cause great problems between the two women? Was God concerned for Hagar?
Abram answered Sarai, “Look, your servant is under your control, so do to her as you wish.” So Sarai dealt so harshly with Hagar that she ran away from Sarai. The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the desert on the road to Shur. “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he asked, “Where are you coming from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” (Genesis 16:6-8 ISV)
What did the angel of the Lord say to Hagar? Did God mercifully promise to bless Hagar?
And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 16:9-12 KJV)
Did Hagar give birth to a son? Is there still strife between their descendants? Ishmael is sometimes considered to be an ancestor of Arabs living across parts of Saudi Arabia.
Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees me”; for she said, “Have I even seen Him here and lived after He saw me?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [well of the Living One who sees me]; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore a son to Abram; and Abram named his son, to whom Hagar gave birth, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him. (Genesis 16:13-16 NASB)
Are these two women compared to the two covenants, old and new?
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:21-26 NKJV)
Though he was righteous by faith, did Abram still make the occasional horrible decision? Is Christian history also filled with both virtuous and shameful choices? When we forget to pray and seek God’s will, inspired by the Holy Spirit, scripture, and Godly counsel, can we cause ourselves and others great suffering? Do we walk and talk with God throughout our day, always seeking His guidance? You decide!
Count the Stars (Genesis 15)
What did the Lord promise Abram? Did he trust God? How many descendants would Abram have? Did God intend to bless the whole world through a descendant of Abram, Jesus?
Did God visit Abram in a vision? What was his request of God?
After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” (Genesis 15:1-3 WEB)
What was the Lord’s answer? Did Abram trust God? Did he have a high moral character?
The Lord’s word came immediately to him, “This man will not be your heir. Your heir will definitely be your very own biological child.” Then he brought Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you think you can count them.” He continued, “This is how many children you will have.” Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character. (Genesis 15:4-6 CEB)
How did God ask Abram to prepare before giving him an answer? Should we also spend time in worship while waiting on an answer?
The Lord said to Abram, “I brought you here from Ur in Chaldea, and I gave you this land.” Abram asked, “Lord God, how can I know the land will be mine?” Then the Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove, and a young pigeon.” Abram obeyed the Lord. Then he cut the animals in half and laid the two halves of each animal opposite each other on the ground. But he did not cut the doves and pigeons in half. And when birds came down to eat the animals, Abram chased them away. (Genesis 15:7-11 CEV)
How did God reveal His answer to Abram? Did He speak to Abram in his sleep?
As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell on Avram; horror and great darkness came over him. Adonai [the Lord, YHWH] said to Avram, “Know this for certain: your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will be slaves and held in oppression there four hundred years. But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions. As for you, you will join your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. Only in the fourth generation will your descendants come back here, because only then will the Emori [Amorites] be ripe for punishment.” (Genesis 15:12-16 CJB)
How far did the promised land extend? Is that from the Nile to the Euphrates, perhaps the extent of David and Solomon’s reigns? Will that again be Israel’s land when Christ returns?
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17-21 ESV)
Did Abraham also become our father, to those who have the same faith that he had?
This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. (Romans 4:16-17 HCSB)
Are we who are of that same faith then spiritual children of Abraham, his real descendants?
You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham’s real descendants. (Galatians 3:7 ISV)
What did the Lord promise Abram? Did he trust God? How many descendants would Abram have? Did God intend to bless the whole world through a descendant of Abram, Jesus? You decide!
Did God visit Abram in a vision? What was his request of God?
After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” (Genesis 15:1-3 WEB)
What was the Lord’s answer? Did Abram trust God? Did he have a high moral character?
The Lord’s word came immediately to him, “This man will not be your heir. Your heir will definitely be your very own biological child.” Then he brought Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you think you can count them.” He continued, “This is how many children you will have.” Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character. (Genesis 15:4-6 CEB)
How did God ask Abram to prepare before giving him an answer? Should we also spend time in worship while waiting on an answer?
The Lord said to Abram, “I brought you here from Ur in Chaldea, and I gave you this land.” Abram asked, “Lord God, how can I know the land will be mine?” Then the Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove, and a young pigeon.” Abram obeyed the Lord. Then he cut the animals in half and laid the two halves of each animal opposite each other on the ground. But he did not cut the doves and pigeons in half. And when birds came down to eat the animals, Abram chased them away. (Genesis 15:7-11 CEV)
How did God reveal His answer to Abram? Did He speak to Abram in his sleep?
As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell on Avram; horror and great darkness came over him. Adonai [the Lord, YHWH] said to Avram, “Know this for certain: your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will be slaves and held in oppression there four hundred years. But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions. As for you, you will join your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. Only in the fourth generation will your descendants come back here, because only then will the Emori [Amorites] be ripe for punishment.” (Genesis 15:12-16 CJB)
How far did the promised land extend? Is that from the Nile to the Euphrates, perhaps the extent of David and Solomon’s reigns? Will that again be Israel’s land when Christ returns?
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17-21 ESV)
Did Abraham also become our father, to those who have the same faith that he had?
This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. (Romans 4:16-17 HCSB)
Are we who are of that same faith then spiritual children of Abraham, his real descendants?
You see, then, that those who have faith are Abraham’s real descendants. (Galatians 3:7 ISV)
What did the Lord promise Abram? Did he trust God? How many descendants would Abram have? Did God intend to bless the whole world through a descendant of Abram, Jesus? You decide!
A Tithe to Melchizedek (Genesis 14)
In the midst of war weariness, Abram paid tribute to a mysterious priest, who is described as without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life. Was this the preincarnate Christ or merely a prototype? Let’s discuss this in Genesis 14.
Was there war in the land? Was Lot taken captive?
And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these kings came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites on their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in the Valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. (Genesis 14:1-12 NASB)
Did Abram hear about this and rescue his nephew from captivity?
A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). (Genesis 14:13-17 NIV)
What happened with the mysterious king of Salem, the old name for Jerusalem? What did Abram give him?
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. (Genesis 14:18-20 NKJV)
Did Abram regularly tithe to Melchizedek or just this one time, as far as we know? Who was this mysterious priest?
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. (Hebrews 7:1-3 NKJV)
Was Abram willing to compromise with the king of Sodom or as a man of character, did he stand by his principles?
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.” (Genesis 14:21-24 NLT)
In the midst of war weariness, Abram paid tribute to a mysterious priest, who is described as without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life. Was this the preincarnate Christ or merely a prototype? You decide!
Was there war in the land? Was Lot taken captive?
And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these kings came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites on their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in the Valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. (Genesis 14:1-12 NASB)
Did Abram hear about this and rescue his nephew from captivity?
A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). (Genesis 14:13-17 NIV)
What happened with the mysterious king of Salem, the old name for Jerusalem? What did Abram give him?
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. (Genesis 14:18-20 NKJV)
Did Abram regularly tithe to Melchizedek or just this one time, as far as we know? Who was this mysterious priest?
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. (Hebrews 7:1-3 NKJV)
Was Abram willing to compromise with the king of Sodom or as a man of character, did he stand by his principles?
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.” (Genesis 14:21-24 NLT)
In the midst of war weariness, Abram paid tribute to a mysterious priest, who is described as without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life. Was this the preincarnate Christ or merely a prototype? You decide!
Abram & Lot Separate (Hebrews 13)
God does not demand that everyone physically leave their country, but do Christians become spiritual citizens of a heavenly country? Are we therefore in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-15)? Let’s discuss this in Genesis 13.
What did Abram do as he left Egypt for the promised land?
Avram [Abram] went up from Egypt — he, his wife and everything he had, and Lot with him — into the Negev. Avram became wealthy, with much cattle, silver and gold. As he went on his travels from the Negev, he came to Beit-El [Bethel], to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beit-El and ‘Ai, where he had first built the altar; and there Avram called on the name of Adonai [Yahweh, or the Lord]. (Genesis 13:1-4 CJB)
Was there internal family strife? What caused it?
And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. (Genesis 13:5-7 ESV)
Was Abram’s character revealed in his generous offer to solve the crisis?
Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9 HCSB)
Did Lot’s choice bring him into danger? Do we have dangerous neighborhoods?
Lot looked around and noticed that the whole Jordan plain as far as Zoar was well-watered like the garden of the Lord or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan plain. Then Lot traveled eastward, and they separated from each other. So Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent in the vicinity of Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were particularly evil and sinful in their defiance of the Lord. (Genesis 13:10-13 ISV)
Did God further detail the promise? How numerous were Abraham’s descendants to become?
And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. (Genesis 13:14-18 KJV)
God does not demand that everyone physically leave their country, but do Christians become spiritual citizens of a heavenly country? Are we therefore in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-15)? You decide!
What did Abram do as he left Egypt for the promised land?
Avram [Abram] went up from Egypt — he, his wife and everything he had, and Lot with him — into the Negev. Avram became wealthy, with much cattle, silver and gold. As he went on his travels from the Negev, he came to Beit-El [Bethel], to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beit-El and ‘Ai, where he had first built the altar; and there Avram called on the name of Adonai [Yahweh, or the Lord]. (Genesis 13:1-4 CJB)
Was there internal family strife? What caused it?
And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. (Genesis 13:5-7 ESV)
Was Abram’s character revealed in his generous offer to solve the crisis?
Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9 HCSB)
Did Lot’s choice bring him into danger? Do we have dangerous neighborhoods?
Lot looked around and noticed that the whole Jordan plain as far as Zoar was well-watered like the garden of the Lord or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan plain. Then Lot traveled eastward, and they separated from each other. So Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent in the vicinity of Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were particularly evil and sinful in their defiance of the Lord. (Genesis 13:10-13 ISV)
Did God further detail the promise? How numerous were Abraham’s descendants to become?
And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. (Genesis 13:14-18 KJV)
God does not demand that everyone physically leave their country, but do Christians become spiritual citizens of a heavenly country? Are we therefore in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-15)? You decide!
An Honest History (Genesis 12)
Nations often whitewash their history leaving out the bad. Does frank honesty about the strengths and weaknesses of patriarchs, prophets and apostles help us trust the Bible as true history? Let’s discuss this in Genesis 12.
How did Abram become Abraham, father of the faithful? Does the letter to the Hebrews explain whether he just had faith alone or a faith that obeyed God?
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10 NKJV)
Does Romans explain that the promise to Abraham is also to those who have the same faith as he?
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (Romans 4:16 NKJV)
Was Abraham justified by faith without works of the law?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (Romans 4:2 NKJV)
Was Abraham’s faith a living faith with good works of obedience as fruits?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21 NKJV)
Were Abraham’s descendents to be an exclusive inward-looking people or to bless the whole world?
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you into a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 NASB)
Did Abram obey God? How old was he? Would we be willing to do something similar in our old age?
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. (Genesis 12:4-6 NIV)
What did God promise? What does He promise us for our obedience?
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:7-9 NLT)
Did Abram receive the promise in his lifetime or only after his death?
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13 NKJV)
What lie did Abram concoct about his wife as he entered Egypt?
There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at. It will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.” (Genesis 12:10-13 WEB)
Did the lie seem to go well at first? Did Abram’s lie help him prosper for a time?
When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful his wife was. When Pharaoh’s princes saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s household. Things went well for Abram because of her: he acquired flocks, cattle, male donkeys, men servants, women servants, female donkeys, and camels. (Genesis 12:14-16 CEB)
Did the lie eventually catch up with Abram? Did the Egyptian king have a certain level of moral integrity regarding another man’s wife?
Because of Sarai, the Lord struck the king and everyone in his palace with terrible diseases. Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, “What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife? Why did you make me believe she was your sister? Now I've married her. Take her and go! She's your wife.” So the king told his men to let Abram and Sarai take their possessions and leave. (Genesis 12:17-20 CEV)
Nations often whitewash their history leaving out the bad. Does frank honesty about the strengths and weaknesses of patriarchs, prophets and apostles help us trust the Bible as true history? You decide!
How did Abram become Abraham, father of the faithful? Does the letter to the Hebrews explain whether he just had faith alone or a faith that obeyed God?
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10 NKJV)
Does Romans explain that the promise to Abraham is also to those who have the same faith as he?
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (Romans 4:16 NKJV)
Was Abraham justified by faith without works of the law?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (Romans 4:2 NKJV)
Was Abraham’s faith a living faith with good works of obedience as fruits?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21 NKJV)
Were Abraham’s descendents to be an exclusive inward-looking people or to bless the whole world?
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you into a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 NASB)
Did Abram obey God? How old was he? Would we be willing to do something similar in our old age?
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. (Genesis 12:4-6 NIV)
What did God promise? What does He promise us for our obedience?
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:7-9 NLT)
Did Abram receive the promise in his lifetime or only after his death?
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13 NKJV)
What lie did Abram concoct about his wife as he entered Egypt?
There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at. It will happen that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.” (Genesis 12:10-13 WEB)
Did the lie seem to go well at first? Did Abram’s lie help him prosper for a time?
When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful his wife was. When Pharaoh’s princes saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s household. Things went well for Abram because of her: he acquired flocks, cattle, male donkeys, men servants, women servants, female donkeys, and camels. (Genesis 12:14-16 CEB)
Did the lie eventually catch up with Abram? Did the Egyptian king have a certain level of moral integrity regarding another man’s wife?
Because of Sarai, the Lord struck the king and everyone in his palace with terrible diseases. Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, “What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife? Why did you make me believe she was your sister? Now I've married her. Take her and go! She's your wife.” So the king told his men to let Abram and Sarai take their possessions and leave. (Genesis 12:17-20 CEV)
Nations often whitewash their history leaving out the bad. Does frank honesty about the strengths and weaknesses of patriarchs, prophets and apostles help us trust the Bible as true history? You decide!
The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)
God separated our ancestors into language groups at Babel to encourage them to migrate and populate the whole world. On Pentecost, God began a process of reversing the language division at Babel, bringing the nations back together again in one church (Acts 2), through the miracle of hearing the message in their own languages. Let’s examine this in Genesis 11.
Had God commanded a family blessing for Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1)? But, did the people choose to rebel against God and make a name for themselves instead? Is this kind of self-aggrandizing attitude still evident in the world’s nations today?
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4 ESV)
What did God do? Was populating the whole world God’s intent?
Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:5-9 HCSB)
Who were names of note in the generations from Shem to Abram?
These are the family records of Shem. When Shem had lived 100 years, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. Shem lived 500 years after he fathered Arpachshad and had other sons and daughters. When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Cainan. After he fathered Cainan, Arpachshad lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters, and then died. Cainan lived 130 years and fathered Shelah. After he fathered Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other sons and daughters, and then died. When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters. When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters. When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters. When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters. When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters. When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11:10-26 ISV)
What happened to Abram’s family including his father Terah?
Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. (Genesis 11:27-32 KJV)
God separated our ancestors into language groups at Babel to encourage them to migrate and populate the whole world. On Pentecost, God began a process of reversing the language division at Babel, bringing the nations back together again in one church (Acts 2), through the miracle of hearing the message in their own languages. What is our attitude towards foreigners? You decide!
Had God commanded a family blessing for Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1)? But, did the people choose to rebel against God and make a name for themselves instead? Is this kind of self-aggrandizing attitude still evident in the world’s nations today?
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4 ESV)
What did God do? Was populating the whole world God’s intent?
Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:5-9 HCSB)
Who were names of note in the generations from Shem to Abram?
These are the family records of Shem. When Shem had lived 100 years, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. Shem lived 500 years after he fathered Arpachshad and had other sons and daughters. When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Cainan. After he fathered Cainan, Arpachshad lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters, and then died. Cainan lived 130 years and fathered Shelah. After he fathered Shelah, Cainan lived 330 years and had other sons and daughters, and then died. When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. After he fathered Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters. When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. After he fathered Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters. When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. After he fathered Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters. When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. After he fathered Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters. When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. After he fathered Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters. When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11:10-26 ISV)
What happened to Abram’s family including his father Terah?
Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. (Genesis 11:27-32 KJV)
God separated our ancestors into language groups at Babel to encourage them to migrate and populate the whole world. On Pentecost, God began a process of reversing the language division at Babel, bringing the nations back together again in one church (Acts 2), through the miracle of hearing the message in their own languages. What is our attitude towards foreigners? You decide!
Parables & Secrets (Mark 4)
What are the four places where the seed of the word is broadcast? Why did Jesus speak in parables to outsiders? Is light to be hidden under a basket? How is God’s kingdom like harvesting? How is God’s kingdom like a mustard plant? How would we have reacted as Jesus calmed a lake storm? Let’s discuss this in Mark 4.
What teaching method did Jesus often use for large crowds? Did Jesus use a boat on water as a natural means of amplification?
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: (Mark 4:1-2 NLT)
What four places did the sower sow? Do we have ears to hear?
“Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it. Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil. When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.” He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:3-9 WEB)
What was the purpose of parables? Was it so that people would not understand?
When they were alone, the people around Jesus, along with the Twelve, asked him about the parables. He said to them, “The secret of God’s kingdom has been given to you, but to those who are outside everything comes in parables. This is so that they can look and see but have no insight, and they can hear but not understand. Otherwise, they might turn their lives around and be forgiven. (Mark 4:10-12 CEB)
What was Jesus’ key to understanding other parables? Is this a description of four kinds of people who attend our churches?
Jesus then told them: If you don't understand this story, you won't understand any others. What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom. The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them. The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it at once. But they don't have roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up. The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce 30 or 60 or even 100 times as much as was planted. (Mark 4:13-20 CEV)
Is the message of Jesus like a lamp? Do we have ears to hear?
And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:21-23 ESV)
Do we pay attention to the words of Jesus, or nod politely and ignore them?
Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:24-25 HCSB)
What is the kingdom of God like? Has harvest time come?
He was also saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. He sleeps and gets up night and day while the seeds sprout and grow, although he doesn’t know how the ground produces grain by itself—first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, he immediately starts cutting with his sickle because the harvest time has come.” (Mark 4:26-29 ISV)
Will God’s kingdom remain that little flock or grow incredibly large? There are several kinds of plant called mustard. The black mustard plant can grow very large and dominate a vegetable garden.
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. (Mark 4:30-32 KJV)
Were parables a more useful teaching tool for large crowds, but in private did Jesus explain more to His disciples?
And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it; and He was not speaking to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples. (Mark 4:33-34 LSB)
Did Jesus take a boat to cross the lake? Were there other boats with Him?
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” After dismissing the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. (Mark 4:35-36 NASB)
On a shallow lake squalls can cause dangerously high waves. What happened to the group?
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:37-38 NIV)
What did Jesus do? What did He say? Did the disciples catch a glimpse of who Jesus was?
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:39-41 NKJV)
What are the four places where the seed of the word is broadcast? Why did Jesus speak in parables to outsiders? Is light to be hidden under a basket? How is God’s kingdom like harvesting? How is God’s kingdom like a mustard plant? How would we have reacted as Jesus calmed a lake storm? You decide!
What teaching method did Jesus often use for large crowds? Did Jesus use a boat on water as a natural means of amplification?
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: (Mark 4:1-2 NLT)
What four places did the sower sow? Do we have ears to hear?
“Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it. Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil. When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.” He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:3-9 WEB)
What was the purpose of parables? Was it so that people would not understand?
When they were alone, the people around Jesus, along with the Twelve, asked him about the parables. He said to them, “The secret of God’s kingdom has been given to you, but to those who are outside everything comes in parables. This is so that they can look and see but have no insight, and they can hear but not understand. Otherwise, they might turn their lives around and be forgiven. (Mark 4:10-12 CEB)
What was Jesus’ key to understanding other parables? Is this a description of four kinds of people who attend our churches?
Jesus then told them: If you don't understand this story, you won't understand any others. What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom. The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them. The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it at once. But they don't have roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up. The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce 30 or 60 or even 100 times as much as was planted. (Mark 4:13-20 CEV)
Is the message of Jesus like a lamp? Do we have ears to hear?
And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:21-23 ESV)
Do we pay attention to the words of Jesus, or nod politely and ignore them?
Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:24-25 HCSB)
What is the kingdom of God like? Has harvest time come?
He was also saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. He sleeps and gets up night and day while the seeds sprout and grow, although he doesn’t know how the ground produces grain by itself—first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, he immediately starts cutting with his sickle because the harvest time has come.” (Mark 4:26-29 ISV)
Will God’s kingdom remain that little flock or grow incredibly large? There are several kinds of plant called mustard. The black mustard plant can grow very large and dominate a vegetable garden.
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. (Mark 4:30-32 KJV)
Were parables a more useful teaching tool for large crowds, but in private did Jesus explain more to His disciples?
And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it; and He was not speaking to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples. (Mark 4:33-34 LSB)
Did Jesus take a boat to cross the lake? Were there other boats with Him?
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” After dismissing the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. (Mark 4:35-36 NASB)
On a shallow lake squalls can cause dangerously high waves. What happened to the group?
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:37-38 NIV)
What did Jesus do? What did He say? Did the disciples catch a glimpse of who Jesus was?
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:39-41 NKJV)
What are the four places where the seed of the word is broadcast? Why did Jesus speak in parables to outsiders? Is light to be hidden under a basket? How is God’s kingdom like harvesting? How is God’s kingdom like a mustard plant? How would we have reacted as Jesus calmed a lake storm? You decide!
Table of Nations (Genesis 10)
The history of the world takes into account many ancient documents. Is discounting the history recorded in the world’s most popular document, the Bible, rather dishonest?
Who were Japheth’s descendants? It is possible that the name Japheth was corrupted by the Romans to Jupiter. Many ancient historians identify Madai with the Medes. Many other names have similar possibilities in ancient history.
These are the descendants of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to whom children were born after the flood. Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. From these the island-nations were divided into their own countries, each according to their languages and their clans within their nations. (Genesis 10:1-5 CEB)
Who were Ham’s descendants? Accounts from ancient history appear to reveal where the descendants of Ham settled, largely in Africa and parts of Asia. The original name of Egypt is the land of Mizraim and is still called Misr in many languages including Arabic.
Ham's descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Cush was the ancestor of Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah was the ancestor of Sheba and Dedan. Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, a mighty warrior whose strength came from the Lord. This is why people say: “You hunt like Nimrod with the strength of the Lord!” Nimrod first ruled in Babylon, Erech, and Accad, all of which were in Babylonia. From there Nimrod went to Assyria and built the great city of Nineveh. He also built Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, as well as Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah. Egypt was the ancestor of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, the ancestor of the Philistines. Canaan's sons were Sidon and Heth. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanites spread from the territory of Sidon and settled as far away as Gaza in the direction of Gerar. They also went as far as Lasha in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. (Genesis 10:6-20 CEV)
Who were Shem’s descendants? Ancient and modern history considers Shem to be the ancestor of peoples from the Middle East to Asia, including the Semites.
Children were also born to Shem, ancestor of all the descendants of ‘Ever and older brother of Yefet. The sons of Shem were ‘Elam, Ashur, Arpakhshad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram were ‘Utz, Hul, Geter and Mash. Arpakhshad fathered Shelach, and Shelach fathered ‘Ever. To ‘Ever were born two sons. One was given the name Peleg [division], because during his lifetime the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Yoktan. Yoktan fathered Almodad, Shelef, Hatzar-Mavet, Yerach, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ‘Oval, Avima’el, Sheva, Ofir, Havilah and Yovav — all these were the sons of Yoktan. Their territory stretched from Mesha, as you go toward S’far, to the mountain in the east. These were the descendants of Shem, according to their families and languages, in their lands and in their nations. These were the families of the sons of Noach, according to their generations, in their nations. From these the nations of the earth were divided up after the flood. (Genesis 10:21-32 CJB)
The history of the world takes into account many ancient documents. Is discounting the history recorded in the world’s most popular document, the Bible, rather dishonest? You decide!
Who were Japheth’s descendants? It is possible that the name Japheth was corrupted by the Romans to Jupiter. Many ancient historians identify Madai with the Medes. Many other names have similar possibilities in ancient history.
These are the descendants of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to whom children were born after the flood. Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. Javan’s sons: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. From these the island-nations were divided into their own countries, each according to their languages and their clans within their nations. (Genesis 10:1-5 CEB)
Who were Ham’s descendants? Accounts from ancient history appear to reveal where the descendants of Ham settled, largely in Africa and parts of Asia. The original name of Egypt is the land of Mizraim and is still called Misr in many languages including Arabic.
Ham's descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Cush was the ancestor of Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah was the ancestor of Sheba and Dedan. Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, a mighty warrior whose strength came from the Lord. This is why people say: “You hunt like Nimrod with the strength of the Lord!” Nimrod first ruled in Babylon, Erech, and Accad, all of which were in Babylonia. From there Nimrod went to Assyria and built the great city of Nineveh. He also built Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, as well as Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah. Egypt was the ancestor of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, the ancestor of the Philistines. Canaan's sons were Sidon and Heth. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanites spread from the territory of Sidon and settled as far away as Gaza in the direction of Gerar. They also went as far as Lasha in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. (Genesis 10:6-20 CEV)
Who were Shem’s descendants? Ancient and modern history considers Shem to be the ancestor of peoples from the Middle East to Asia, including the Semites.
Children were also born to Shem, ancestor of all the descendants of ‘Ever and older brother of Yefet. The sons of Shem were ‘Elam, Ashur, Arpakhshad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram were ‘Utz, Hul, Geter and Mash. Arpakhshad fathered Shelach, and Shelach fathered ‘Ever. To ‘Ever were born two sons. One was given the name Peleg [division], because during his lifetime the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Yoktan. Yoktan fathered Almodad, Shelef, Hatzar-Mavet, Yerach, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ‘Oval, Avima’el, Sheva, Ofir, Havilah and Yovav — all these were the sons of Yoktan. Their territory stretched from Mesha, as you go toward S’far, to the mountain in the east. These were the descendants of Shem, according to their families and languages, in their lands and in their nations. These were the families of the sons of Noach, according to their generations, in their nations. From these the nations of the earth were divided up after the flood. (Genesis 10:21-32 CJB)
The history of the world takes into account many ancient documents. Is discounting the history recorded in the world’s most popular document, the Bible, rather dishonest? You decide!
The Rainbow (Genesis 9)
We each bear the consequences of our own sins, yet pass on bad habits and genetic corruption. Our children also sin and each generation suffers more as the sins of society accumulate. Did God know all this in advance? Has He prepared a plan to save humanity? Let’s discuss this in Genesis 9.
How did God bless Noah’s family? Was the blessing for repopulating the whole world? What change in diet was there?
God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. (Genesis 9:1-3 WEB)
Was there a guideline about blood? Can we eat blood sausage for instance?
However, you must not eat meat with its life, its blood, in it. (Genesis 9:4 CEB)
Is this still valid? Did the apostles reinforce this rule for Christians?
But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. (Acts 15:20a CEV)
Was there a penalty for murder as early as Noah’s day?
I will certainly demand an accounting for the blood of your lives: I will demand it from every animal and from every human being. I will demand from every human being an accounting for the life of his fellow human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by a human being will his own blood be shed; for God made human beings in his image. (Genesis 9:5-6 CJB)
Was human reproduction encouraged? Was population growth important at that time?
And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it. (Genesis 9:7 ESV)
What covenant did God make? Would such a worldwide flood never again occur in human history?
Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, “Understand that I am confirming My covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. I confirm My covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by the waters of a flood; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11 HCSB)
What was the token or sign of that covenant? There have been many local floods since. Was this therefore logically a promise that there would never be such a global flood again?
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9:12-17 KJV)
Does a rainbow also surround God’s throne in heaven? Has this symbol been hijacked to encourage self-destructive lifestyles today?
Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. (Ezekiel 1:28a NASB)
Is the rainbow in heaven slightly different in appearance than we experience here on earth?
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. (Revelation 4:2–3 NIV)
While kings were often selfish and brutal, glorifying their ancestors, there is one advantage they give us today. They left us their ancestry records. Comparing the lines of kings from Europe, we find common ancestry back to Japheth. Other areas of the globe have similar stories to tell. Are the ancestors of our nations also recorded in the Bible?
Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. (Genesis 9:18-19 NKJV)
Was Noah perfect? Are any of God’s faithful without peccadillos? How far have we fallen from honoring our elders that Ham’s disrespectful act seems rather trivial today? Or, was there more to it that is left unsaid?
And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. (Genesis 9:20-23 NKJV)
Was the punishment of Ham’s son just? Was some detail left out on purpose? Some speculate that the relatively small sin of Ham grew worse in his son Canaan, who had illicit relations with his own mother. Perhaps it’s better we don’t know the details.
When Noah woke up from his stupor, he learned what Ham, his youngest son, had done. Then he cursed Canaan, the son of Ham: “May Canaan be cursed! May he be the lowest of servants to his relatives.” Then Noah said, “May the Lord, the God of Shem, be blessed, and may Canaan be his servant! May God expand the territory of Japheth! May Japheth share the prosperity of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.” Noah lived another 350 years after the great flood. He lived 950 years, and then he died. (Genesis 9:24-29 NLT)
Though we each bear our own sins, do our sins also affect future generations?
I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:9b-10 WEB)
We each bear the consequences of our own sins, yet pass on bad habits and genetic mutations. Our children also sin and each generation suffers more as the sins of society accumulate. Did God know all this in advance, and has He prepared a plan to save humanity in Jesus? You decide!
How did God bless Noah’s family? Was the blessing for repopulating the whole world? What change in diet was there?
God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. (Genesis 9:1-3 WEB)
Was there a guideline about blood? Can we eat blood sausage for instance?
However, you must not eat meat with its life, its blood, in it. (Genesis 9:4 CEB)
Is this still valid? Did the apostles reinforce this rule for Christians?
But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. (Acts 15:20a CEV)
Was there a penalty for murder as early as Noah’s day?
I will certainly demand an accounting for the blood of your lives: I will demand it from every animal and from every human being. I will demand from every human being an accounting for the life of his fellow human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by a human being will his own blood be shed; for God made human beings in his image. (Genesis 9:5-6 CJB)
Was human reproduction encouraged? Was population growth important at that time?
And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it. (Genesis 9:7 ESV)
What covenant did God make? Would such a worldwide flood never again occur in human history?
Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, “Understand that I am confirming My covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you—birds, livestock, and all wildlife of the earth that are with you—all the animals of the earth that came out of the ark. I confirm My covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by the waters of a flood; there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11 HCSB)
What was the token or sign of that covenant? There have been many local floods since. Was this therefore logically a promise that there would never be such a global flood again?
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9:12-17 KJV)
Does a rainbow also surround God’s throne in heaven? Has this symbol been hijacked to encourage self-destructive lifestyles today?
Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. (Ezekiel 1:28a NASB)
Is the rainbow in heaven slightly different in appearance than we experience here on earth?
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. (Revelation 4:2–3 NIV)
While kings were often selfish and brutal, glorifying their ancestors, there is one advantage they give us today. They left us their ancestry records. Comparing the lines of kings from Europe, we find common ancestry back to Japheth. Other areas of the globe have similar stories to tell. Are the ancestors of our nations also recorded in the Bible?
Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. (Genesis 9:18-19 NKJV)
Was Noah perfect? Are any of God’s faithful without peccadillos? How far have we fallen from honoring our elders that Ham’s disrespectful act seems rather trivial today? Or, was there more to it that is left unsaid?
And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. (Genesis 9:20-23 NKJV)
Was the punishment of Ham’s son just? Was some detail left out on purpose? Some speculate that the relatively small sin of Ham grew worse in his son Canaan, who had illicit relations with his own mother. Perhaps it’s better we don’t know the details.
When Noah woke up from his stupor, he learned what Ham, his youngest son, had done. Then he cursed Canaan, the son of Ham: “May Canaan be cursed! May he be the lowest of servants to his relatives.” Then Noah said, “May the Lord, the God of Shem, be blessed, and may Canaan be his servant! May God expand the territory of Japheth! May Japheth share the prosperity of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.” Noah lived another 350 years after the great flood. He lived 950 years, and then he died. (Genesis 9:24-29 NLT)
Though we each bear our own sins, do our sins also affect future generations?
I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:9b-10 WEB)
We each bear the consequences of our own sins, yet pass on bad habits and genetic mutations. Our children also sin and each generation suffers more as the sins of society accumulate. Did God know all this in advance, and has He prepared a plan to save humanity in Jesus? You decide!
The Flood Ends (Genesis 8)
Is there evidence for our descent from Noah’s three sons and their wives? Mitochondrial DNA (female) seems to show three main branches, inline with what we would expect from the three wives of Noah’s sons. Recent studies of the number of mutations in Y-chromosome DNA sequence (male) indicate only about 4,500 years of mutation accumulation. Do we just dismiss it, accept it or want more information?
How many days did it take for the flood waters to disappear entirely? Was tectonic activity also possibly involved?
God kept Noah in mind, along with all the wildlife and livestock that were with him in the ark. God’s Spirit moved throughout the earth, causing the flood waters to subside. The water sources from the ocean depths were blocked and the floodgates of the heavens were closed. Then the flood waters steadily receded, diminishing completely by the end of the 150 days. (Genesis 8:1-3 ISV)
What happened to the ark? Could such an ark still be visible on the mountains of Ararat? Despite several expeditions to the region of Ararat, the ark has not yet been conclusively found. The lumber may have been repurposed after the flood and the wood would have long decayed. Are we satisfied with that? You decide!
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: (Genesis 8:4-6 KJV)
What did Noah do to see if it was yet dry enough? Were various birds involved?
and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was low on the surface of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him in the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took it, and brought it into the ark to himself. So he waited another seven days longer; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. And the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, in its beak was a fresh olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was low on the earth. Then he waited another seven days longer, and sent out the dove; but it did not return to him again. (Genesis 8:7-12 NASB)
When did they finally leave? Were they to release the animals?
By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry. Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” (Genesis 8:13-17 NIV)
What did they do in exiting the ark? Did Noah offer a sacrifice?
So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:18-20 NKJV)
What did God say? Will such a worldwide flood ever occur again?
And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (Genesis 8:20-21 NLT)
Is there evidence for our descent from Noah’s three sons and their wives? Female DNA research seems to show three main branches of humanity. Male DNA research seems to support about 4,500 years of human history since Noah. Do we just dismiss such information? You decide!
How many days did it take for the flood waters to disappear entirely? Was tectonic activity also possibly involved?
God kept Noah in mind, along with all the wildlife and livestock that were with him in the ark. God’s Spirit moved throughout the earth, causing the flood waters to subside. The water sources from the ocean depths were blocked and the floodgates of the heavens were closed. Then the flood waters steadily receded, diminishing completely by the end of the 150 days. (Genesis 8:1-3 ISV)
What happened to the ark? Could such an ark still be visible on the mountains of Ararat? Despite several expeditions to the region of Ararat, the ark has not yet been conclusively found. The lumber may have been repurposed after the flood and the wood would have long decayed. Are we satisfied with that? You decide!
And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: (Genesis 8:4-6 KJV)
What did Noah do to see if it was yet dry enough? Were various birds involved?
and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was low on the surface of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him in the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took it, and brought it into the ark to himself. So he waited another seven days longer; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. And the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, in its beak was a fresh olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was low on the earth. Then he waited another seven days longer, and sent out the dove; but it did not return to him again. (Genesis 8:7-12 NASB)
When did they finally leave? Were they to release the animals?
By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry. Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” (Genesis 8:13-17 NIV)
What did they do in exiting the ark? Did Noah offer a sacrifice?
So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:18-20 NKJV)
What did God say? Will such a worldwide flood ever occur again?
And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (Genesis 8:20-21 NLT)
Is there evidence for our descent from Noah’s three sons and their wives? Female DNA research seems to show three main branches of humanity. Male DNA research seems to support about 4,500 years of human history since Noah. Do we just dismiss such information? You decide!
The Flood Begins (Genesis 7)
Geological evidence for a worldwide flood is ubiquitous. There are sea fossils on the highest mountains. Complete fossils only exist when there is rapid burial. Some sedimentary rock layers cover whole continents. Some of those sediments were carried very long distances. There is no long-term erosion between most strata, disproving theories that they were deposited millions of years apart. Bent strata reveal that they occurred while they were still mud. Does the popular worldview prejudice us against such evidence?
Why was Noah saved? Did his righteousness protect his whole family? Were clean and unclean, edible and inedible animals known?
Yahweh said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. (Genesis 7:1-3 WEB)
What did God tell Noah at the beginning of that last week? How long would it rain?
In seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will wipe off from the fertile land every living thing that I have made.” Noah did everything the Lord commanded him. (Genesis 7:4-5 CEB)
How old was Noah when the flood began? When did the flood begin?
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. (Genesis 7:6-10 ESV)
Where did the water come from? Where did Noah go? Who closed the door of the great wooden ship?
The water under the earth started gushing out everywhere, the sky opened like windows, and rain poured down for 40 days and nights. All this began on the seventeenth day of the second month of the year. On that day Noah and his wife went into the boat with their three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. They took along every kind of animal, tame and wild, including the birds. Noah took a male and a female of every living creature with him, just as God had told him to do. And when they were all in the boat, the Lord closed the door. (Genesis 7:11-16 CEV)
How long was the flood? How deep was it? Is it possible to cover the whole earth with water? If all the earth’s land mass subsided, there would be enough water in our present oceans to cover the earth to a depth of 2700 meters. That’s over 1½ miles.
The flood was forty days on the earth; the water grew higher and floated the ark, so that it was lifted up off the earth. The water overflowed the earth and grew deeper, until the ark floated on the surface of the water. The water overpowered the earth mightily; all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered; the water covered the mountains by more than twenty-two-and-a-half feet. (Genesis 7:17-20 CJB)
Did every creature perish? After the rain, how long did the waters last?
Every creature perished—those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind. Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died. He wiped out every living thing that was on the surface of the ground, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. And the waters surged on the earth 150 days. (Genesis 7:21-24 HCSB)
Geological evidence for a worldwide flood is ubiquitous, sea fossils on mountains, sedimentary rock layers covering whole continents, no long-term erosion between strata, and bent strata. Does the popular worldview prejudice us against such evidence? You decide!
Why was Noah saved? Did his righteousness protect his whole family? Were clean and unclean, edible and inedible animals known?
Yahweh said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. (Genesis 7:1-3 WEB)
What did God tell Noah at the beginning of that last week? How long would it rain?
In seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will wipe off from the fertile land every living thing that I have made.” Noah did everything the Lord commanded him. (Genesis 7:4-5 CEB)
How old was Noah when the flood began? When did the flood begin?
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. (Genesis 7:6-10 ESV)
Where did the water come from? Where did Noah go? Who closed the door of the great wooden ship?
The water under the earth started gushing out everywhere, the sky opened like windows, and rain poured down for 40 days and nights. All this began on the seventeenth day of the second month of the year. On that day Noah and his wife went into the boat with their three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. They took along every kind of animal, tame and wild, including the birds. Noah took a male and a female of every living creature with him, just as God had told him to do. And when they were all in the boat, the Lord closed the door. (Genesis 7:11-16 CEV)
How long was the flood? How deep was it? Is it possible to cover the whole earth with water? If all the earth’s land mass subsided, there would be enough water in our present oceans to cover the earth to a depth of 2700 meters. That’s over 1½ miles.
The flood was forty days on the earth; the water grew higher and floated the ark, so that it was lifted up off the earth. The water overflowed the earth and grew deeper, until the ark floated on the surface of the water. The water overpowered the earth mightily; all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered; the water covered the mountains by more than twenty-two-and-a-half feet. (Genesis 7:17-20 CJB)
Did every creature perish? After the rain, how long did the waters last?
Every creature perished—those that crawl on the earth, birds, livestock, wildlife, and those that swarm on the earth, as well as all mankind. Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died. He wiped out every living thing that was on the surface of the ground, from mankind to livestock, to creatures that crawl, to the birds of the sky, and they were wiped off the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. And the waters surged on the earth 150 days. (Genesis 7:21-24 HCSB)
Geological evidence for a worldwide flood is ubiquitous, sea fossils on mountains, sedimentary rock layers covering whole continents, no long-term erosion between strata, and bent strata. Does the popular worldview prejudice us against such evidence? You decide!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)