Re-do of reflections on Genesis chapter 17-18, since it was windy earlier and video skips some at the beginning.
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June 2, 2018
Reflecting on Assignment # 9 of Genesis 17 & 18 (2nd one)
Re-do of reflections on Genesis chapter 17-18, since it was windy earlier and video skips some at the beginning.
Reflecting on Assignment # 9 Study Lesson: Gen. 17-18
Kassie shares notes and reflects on assignment #9: Genesis chapter 17-18.
June 1, 2018
Assignment # 9 Old Testament Study Lesson: Gen. 17-18
Hello, welcome
back to our study in Genesis. We have a lot to consider in this lesson, so lets
get right to.
Gen. 17
God Establishes His Covenant
When we finished up chapter 16, it was with the birth of Ishmael.
It has now been 13 years since then. And once again, we find God speaking with
Abram. Notice how God introduces himself: I am the God Almighty. This is the
first time we are introduced to God by this name. Why would God start off His
conversation this way? Because He is fixing to declare what would seem impossible.
- Remember that Abram was 75 years old when God commanded him to leave his home. He was 86 when Ishmael was born. Now he is 99 years old.
As we read chapter 17, there is a key phrase repeated
several times, “I will establish my covenant…” God then goes on to declare what
HE WILL DO. In fact, look at verse 4, He says, “as for Me…” notice at this
point, it is all God, He has yet to say what Abram’s role is to be.
The phrase “I will establish…” God is the one determining
what He wants to do, so since He is the one declaring it, He will also be the
one to bring it to pass.
- Look up Isa. 46:10-11 and write down the key points that reflect what He is saying here in Gen. 17.
- Now look up Ps. 138:8. What does it say?
In verse 5 of Gen. 17, God makes a statement that would
seem contrary… “I have made you…” Notice He did not say, “I WILL make you…” God
spoke as if He already had.
How can He state this? Because He is God and sees the end
from the beginning. He is all-knowing, and because He is, He can declare what
is to be as if it already were.
- Read Isa. 49:8 with me: Thus says the Lord, “In a favorable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation, I have helped you.
- Again, here we see God speaking of something He will do in the future as if He already has accomplished it. And since He has spoken it, His Word will not come back void (as it says in Isa.55).
In verse 19 of Gen. 17, God tells Abraham that his to be
son shall be called Isaac. Again, speaking as if the child were already born.
How does Abraham respond? He laughed (in his heart) as if
to say, “yeah right” and then went on to suggest that God’s promise be brought
about through Ishmael. Why would Abraham suggest this? Maybe because he looked
at how old he was now and was to tired to let his hopes get up again for
something that would seem impossible.
So, what was God’s response? God didn’t take offense, instead,
He reassured Abraham that He would indeed have a son, and what is more, is that
the child will be from his wife (Sarah). Hence starting out His conversation
with the “I am the Almighty God”
- El Shaddai: This name of God means exactly what it says. He is the Almighty One, the Powerful One, or Mighty One. Some think this name also means that He is the All-Sufficient One.
After
declaring what He Himself would do, God goes on to say “And as for you (Abram)…”
He told Abram to walk before Him and be blameless, in
other words to live as God would have him live. This was not to say that he had
not been doing this, but it was a command from God to keep on living as he
should.
God then began to speak of covenant again. He then changed
Abram’s name to “Abraham.”
And what was the promise behind this name? God promised
that nations and kings would come from Abraham.
- NOTE: In Genesis 12:2, it says that God told Abram He would make him a great nation. Here God said He would make him the father of a multitude of nations. The great nation promised in Genesis 12 was the nation of Israel that came out of Egypt in very large number.
What else did He promise? God said that His covenant with
Abraham and his descendants would be an everlasting covenant and that the land
will be theirs forever. In fact, He stated twice that He will be their God.
In Verses 9-14 God talks about the circumcision.
- Abraham and his descendants were to keep this as a condition of the covenant.
Why did God declare a circumcision and not something else
as the sign? What about women? And, isn’t circumcision part of the Law?
- The physical location of circumcision is the place closest to the seed that God told Abraham would come forth from his own body. It was a sign of the promise God made to Abraham for descendants. Also, since the lineage is through the men (and not the women), the sign of the covenant was unnecessary for the women.
- NOTE: The circumcision was instituted as a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, not of the Law as sometimes is assumed. It was given by God many years earlier than the Law was given.
What did Abraham do? He believed God and put action to
his faith. He didn’t mole it over, he didn’t think about it for a few days… No
ON THE VERY SAME DAY Abraham took and active step of faith.
What is faith? The ability to trust that something is true before you see it manifested.
What is faith? The ability to trust that something is true before you see it manifested.
- Look up James 1:22-24 and write it down.
- And then of course read and write down Heb. 11:6
God also made a promise concerning Sarai, and changed her
name to Sarah, meaning “princess.”
God made a promise concerning Ishmael as well. God said
that he would be fruitful and multiply and be the father of twelve princes and
a great nation. But the covenant promises would go to Isaac whom Sarah would
bear to Abraham at the same season the next year.
GENESIS 18
The Time has Come
The Lord appeared to Abraham again by the oaks of Mamre
in Hebron (which is where Abraham had built an alter to the Lord in Gen. 13.
So how did
the Lord appear to Abraham this time? He was one of three men.
Something to consider while reading chapter 18; God could
have given His message to Abraham through a vision, or an angel. But He didn’t.
Instead, God came down in person (this is the second time we see Jesus manifested
in the Old Testament). Not only did God make it personal, but Jesus ate a meal
with Abraham (thus having fellowship with him).
Where was Sarah during all this? Inside the tent listening
to their conversation. What was her reaction about the timing? She laughed. But
there must have been some bitterness in her laugh, or something, because when
Abraham laughed at the idea in Gen. 17, God didn’t say anything. But here,
where we see Sarah laugh, one might almost think it was more of a scoffed
laugh. The reason being is Jesus’ response.
The Lord who asked Abraham why Sarah laughed, which she
quickly denied. However, God being all-knowing, knew better. And His reply? Is
there anything to difficult for God?
We have to
keep in mind, that so far, we haven’t seen God do the impossible yet.
What did the Lord tell Abraham in verses 9-10? At that
time the next year, Sarah would have a son (look back at the timing to Genesis
17:21). So apparently Genesis 17 and 18 were very close in time.
Look up Romans 4:18-21. Even though he knew that there
was no physical way that Sarah and he could produce a child, he believed what
the Lord told him. He wasn’t weak in faith. In fact, he was fully assured /
convinced that what God promised, He was able to perform.
He came to
a decision to believe that nothing was too difficult / hard for the Lord.
Look at the last part of Gen. 18. God didn’t hide from
Abraham what He was going to do, because in him all nations of the earth will
be blessed. God chose him so that he could command all those nations who would
come from him to do right according to the Lord’s ways.
- What does Amos 3:7 say?
Because God considered Abraham a friend, He confided in
him what He (God) was going to do.
- Look up Isa. 41:8
- Look up Ps. 25:14
- And finally look up John 15:13-16 and summarize it.
My friend, only a friend would feel comfortable enough to
“nose in” and ask questions the way Abraham dared to do.
Why do you think Abraham kept dwindling the numbers down?
Who do you think Abraham was thinking about when he asked
if God would spare the city for 10 people? I will give you a hint… Abraham
called him family.
One last thought about this lesson: God said from generation
to generation. So, what are we to do to ensure that generations after knows God’s
ways? We are to teach them.
Look up Ps. 78:1-8 and summarize what you read.
My friend,
that is all for this lesson, I hope you are encouraged and will take God’s
message to heart.
Kassie
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May 30, 2018
Assignment #8 New Testament Study Lesson: Matt. 6:19-34
 |
| Other study lessons from Matthew |
Jesus Continues with His Teaching
on the Mount (part 4)
on the Mount (part 4)
Matt. 6:19-34
We are
still on the Sermon on the Mount. So, read Matt. 6:19-34 and continue your
outline the lessons (with any insight God gives you).
#4 (vs 19-24) ____________________________________
#5 (vs 25-34) _____________________________________
So,
now let’s look a little bit deeper into this section of Matt. 6.
Did you
happen to notice a repeated command in these verses?
I will give you a hint: “Do not” is used four
times in these verses.
So, what did Jesus say not to do?
Why do you
think He did (or what was the reason) in verses 19-24?
In verses
25-34 He said “Do not…” but what was the rest of the sentence that He stated
THREE times?
Do a quick
lookup of the following verses:
- Genesis 1:31
- Psalm 19:1
- Psalm 29:3-9
- Psalm 104:1-4
- Romans 1:20
So, who
created nature? Of course, God did. And He is more than able to care for
nature. We may take care of our yards but out in the middle of no-where, where
there isn’t man to tend it, nature and all in it continues to be cared for by
God. So, if God will go to such extremes to provide and care for nature, how
much more do you think He will tend to us? After all, we are made in His image,
He created us to have a relationship with us.
- Now look up Rom. 12:2 and write it down in your notes.
- Also look up Phil. 2:13 and add it to your notes.
- And finally look up Eph. 2:10
Do
you see a pattern in these verses?
God has
“work” for us to do. He has created each of us for a purpose. So, if we are
walking with Him and are seeking His will for our lives (and we are being
obedient), then doesn’t it make sense that God is going to provide for us so
that we can do His will?
This
doesn’t mean we won’t have hardships. This doesn’t mean we are going to be
filthy rich… but if we are truly seeking His will, and we are earnestly
stepping out in faith, then His Word says He will provide. Keep in mind though
that sometimes “our needs” are more of what we desire to have. And sometimes,
what we need and what we desire are two totally different things.
Now look up Ps. 37:25 and write it out in
your notes.
How does
this comfort you? What are your thoughts now?
What we
watch, or what we allow ourselves to “look upon” will fill our minds… once that
happens, then we start thinking about it… and eventually it takes root inside
of us. So Jesus is basically warning them not to fill their minds with garbage from
what they are gazing upon.
What are
your thoughts now on this?
That’s all for now. See you soon!
Kassie
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May 28, 2018
Assignment #8 Old Testament Study Lesson: Gen. 15-16
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| Click here for other lessons in Genesis |
Hello, I hope you
are ready to dig deeper in God’s Word!
Before
we start this lesson, lets recap what we have already seen in the last few
chapters:
>> In Genesis
12 we saw God’s promises to Abram, and a step of faith taken as Abram obeyed
God and left his people to travel to Canaan. However, Abram decided to go down
to Egypt due to a famine and suffered the consequences.
>>In Genesis
13 Abram and Lot separated due to the feuding between their herdsmen. And we
saw God restate His promise to Abram.
>> In Genesis
14 we read where Abram was called into a battle to rescued Lot after he (Lot)
was taken captive. We were also introduced to Melchizedek, who gave glory to
God for Abram’s victory.
Because neither of the two chapters in this
lesson are very long,
we are going to go straight to our study
survey.
Chapter 15:
The Cutting of the Covenant
When
starting out in chapter 15, the first thing we read is God telling Abram “Not
to be afraid…” Typically not the best way to start out a conversation. This
reminds me of several times my sons would come in and start out their
conversation with me by saying, “Mon, don’t get mad, but…” However, if we look
back over chapter 14, we see that Abram just came from a battle with some very fierce
tribes. He probably was a little
concerned that there might be some retribution, so God starts by telling him
not to worry.
Something very important to grasp in this very first
verse: God didn’t tell Abram that He would give
Abram a shield. No, God said “I am a
shield to you.”
The next thing to take note of is that Abram totally
accepted God’s pledge and went on to discuss something totally different. In
other words, God said “Hey, don’t worry…” So, Abram basically said “OK”. How can I say that? Because Abram
obviously didn’t feel the need to ponder God’s pledge any further, because he went on to
change the subject.
So, what did Abram want to talk about? He brought up the
topic of another promise God had made him… and that was of an heir. God listened
to Abram and then reassured him that he will have a son (one from his own flesh).
Notice something else: God didn’t take offense to Abram questioning Him.
God then went on to reaffirm the promise of the land to
Abram’s descendants. Then Abram asks something that might seem peculiar. Abram
asked, “But how will I KNOW….?”
My friend there is a difference between believing
something and KNOWING something. Let me
give you an example: Say my phone rings and I see that the caller ID shows my
oldest son’s name. I would instantly believe that it was my oldest son calling,
but when I answer it and hear his voice, well, then I KNOW it is him.
We can believe something to be true (even if its not). We
can believe a lot of things… until they are put to the test. And then we know
for certain what is true and that which is not. God did not take offense to
Abram needing a little more reassurance. After all, there were a lot of people
living in the land that God had just promised him.
But notice something else. Abram didn’t ask God “how will I know you will give me a son?”
God said he would have a son, and Abram completely accepted this as truth and
trusted God for it. Somewhere in his heart and mind, he must have thought there
was still a way for him to have a son. But the land… now that was something
different.
What did God do to build the same faith (and trust) to
this part of the promise? He made a blood covenant with Abram. And in verse 13
God Himself declared, “You can know for certain…”
- Read very carefully verse 17. God Himself made the covenant. God was the one to walk through the sacrifice laid out (as a flaming torch). Abram didn’t have to meet God half way and shake hands like you and I would if we were making an agreement with each other. God took full responsibility.
Abram did believe,
but he also needed to know. Again, God was not upset. Instead, God had Abram
prepare the most binding of all forms of ancient covenants from that culture,
which was a "covenant of blood."
Take a moment to read Hebrews 6:17-18. It tells us that
God took this action because He wanted to make the unchanging nature of His
purpose very clear (and not only to Abram, but also
to us as heirs of what was promised). God confirmed it with an oath. But why would He do this? To show that by
two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie. And, because
God is totally committed to us as well, we can also know that when God makes
us a promise, He will uphold it.
My friend, God not only knows the future, but is also in
full control of the future. So, on this basis we (like Abram) needn’t have
doubts when God reveals His intentions to us. Abram had to “know” based on
God's word alone. We can “know” (not only because God is the One who speaks to
us), but because we can look back on fulfilled prophecy (which Abram could not
do) and see the faithfulness of God.
We can look back at the 400 years in Egypt, the slavery
imposed on Abram's descendants, the punishment of Egypt, and the Exodus
deliverance as history today. And what do
we see when we do? Everything happened just as God said it would.
One last
thing to consider before going on to the next chapter.
God told Abram that his descendants would be blessed, but
that there was also going to be hardship. My friend just because we are
Christians, doesn’t mean we won’t have hardships as well. Just as Abram’s
descendants would suffer trials and long periods of waiting… so will we at
times.
>> Thought to ponder: God’s Word
came to Abram in a vision (vs. 1) but then there was action on Abram’s part.
Look up Hab. 2:1-3. Notice it says he will “keep watch to see what God will
speak to him…” And he was to write it down. My friend, God does the same for us
while we are in prayer with Him. Many times, He will “speak to our hearts” and
we can "see" with our spiritual eyes what He is speaking to us. And when we do,
we need to write it down!
__________________________________
Study Survey
Chapter 16: Impatience & Consequences
“Perhaps I can build a family” (Gen. 16:1-16).
Let’s start with on overview
of this chapter:
When reading Gen. 16, we need t0 remember that in
biblical times, bearing children was viewed by women as giving meaning to their
lives. Abram had believed God's promise, but as the years passed and no children
came, Sarai became impatient. Finally,
she decided to take matters into her own hands and she urged Abram to sleep
with her maid, Hagar.
This might seem awful to us, but according to the customs
of those times, this was not an immoral act. It was actually a recognized way
to provide a childless wife with children she would then call her own. Though this might have been acceptable in
man’s eye, but it wasn’t by God.
Sarai’s impatience is proven to be a horrible mistake…
all starting with one thought, "Perhaps I can build a family."
It was foolish for her to think that SHE could build it
when God had already said HE
would build Abram's family!
>> Life
Lesson: My friend, anytime we try to do God's work in our own
strength (or insist on imposing our timing instead of waiting for God to act),
it will always wind up proving to be a dreadful mistake.
As we see, Sarai's self-help effort turned out horribly. Because,
Hagar did become pregnant, however, soon after Hagar began showing contempt for
her mistress! And, since Hagar was pregnant by Abram, it was now very clear
that the couple's childlessness was Sarai's fault. Sarai probably didn’t expect
this result when she set out on her own. The strife that then dominated Abram's
tents (as a result) reminds us to wait on God rather than going ahead without
His guidance or direction.
>> Life
Lesson: This invariably happens when we take over for God,
trying to make His promise come true through efforts that are not in line with His specific directions.
In this case, time was the greatest test of
Abram and Sarai's willingness to let God work in their lives. My friend, sometimes
we too must simply wait. When we ask God for something and have to wait, we can
be tempted to take matters into our own hands and interfere with God's plans.
But when we do, it only causes more hardship and possible delays.
Look back at vs. 2, notice that it says, “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai…” Consider this:
Look back at vs. 2, notice that it says, “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai…” Consider this:
>> Who did God talk to?
>> Who did God make the
promise to?
>> Who should be the leader
(head) of the family?
>> So, who should have
enforced God’s Word in the family?
>> What did he do
instead?
He became passive and
followed the voice of his wife instead of what God had told him.
>> What was the result?
Where have we seen this pattern before?
In Gen. 3 with Adam and Eve.
In Gen. 3 with Adam and Eve.
Now look at vs. 5. Although
Sarai arranged for Hagar to have a child by Abram, she later blamed
Abram for the results (Adam and Eve did the same thing in Gen. 3:12-13).
In vs. 6 we see that Sarai was
angry with Abram, but she took it out on Hagar.
Instead of accepting her responsibility to what was now happening, she
blamed everyone else.
Though Hagar was originally
the victim in this situation, she made it worse by HER treatment towards
Sarai. And then instead of facing the problem, she did what a lot of us do… She
tried running away from her mistress, thus running away from her problem.
So now, we have three people who are entangled in a
serious mess: (1) Sarai, who took matters into her own hands and gave her
servant to Abram; (2) Abram, who went along with the plan but, when the circumstances
began to cause strife, he refused to help solve the problem; and (3) Hagar, who
added to the strife with her attitude and then ran away from the problem.
However, despite this messed up situation, we
will soon see God demonstrate His ability to work all things for good (see
Rom. 8:28), and the truth of Pr. 19:21 (look this verse up and write it down).
Going
Deeper:
After Hagar ran away, the Angel of the Lord found her in the desert at a spring (beside the road to Shur) on
the way to her homeland (Egypt).
This is the first reference in the Old
Testament to "the
Angel of the Lord".
o Though this Angel is identified with God, this Angel also identifies distinctive from God. And by doing so, refers to a theophany
(meaning a visible manifestation) of the preincarnate Christ.
§
I highly suggest you highlight this in your Bible in a special
way, so that you will know that you just saw Jesus.
God (Jesus) asked Hagar
two questions: Where have you come
from, and where are you going? Why
would He ask her these questions if He is all knowing? To draw her closer
to Him in relationship, and to have her voice (admit) what she is doing
(running away).
After God (Jesus) asked her these questions, He did two
things. First, He gave her a command which was to return to her mistress and submit to authority instead of
rebelling. The fact that she was able to conceive after all these years that
Sarai couldn’t would suggest that the “contempt” she was showing her mistress
was a form of GLOATING, and that is never acceptable in God’s eye.
Secondly, He gave her a promise. He told her that she
would give birth to a boy and was to call him Ishmael.
- God Himself named her son Ishmael, which He then explained: for the Lord has heard your misery. He also promised her that her descendants would be too many to number (thus giving her a future and a hope).
Somewhere in her, she accepted and believed. And she
stated what each of us needs to know about our God…
- She called God the One who sees me. and to commemorate the event she named the well at that ion Beer Lahai Roi ("well of the living One who sees me”).
God spoke to Hagar in direct revelation, and she
responded in faith. My friend, God really does see our distress and
affliction, and He hears us. And
this was something that Sarai should have known. Since God knew Sarai was
barren (but had promised Abram a son), she should have cried out to God
for help, instead of trying to figure out her own solution.
This is a great reminder to us that in our distress (like
that of Sarai's barrenness), we should turn to God because He hears our
cries and sees our needs. God is able to miraculously fulfill His promises
He doesn’t need our help
God provided for this woman who was thrust out into the
desert. And He made her a promised; that her son would become the father of a
great tribe of wild,
hostile people. However, he would not be the promised son to fulfill God’s Word
to Abram. By Sarai taking matters into her own hands, she caused the origin of
the Ishmaelites, and that harvest is still being reaped today. Ironically,
Sarai's great-grandson (Joseph) was later taken to Egypt in slavery by the
Ishmaelites (see Gen. 37:28).
>> Life
Lesson: God's people can trust His Word and should wait for its
fulfillment, enduring patiently till the end.
o
Look up Hab. 2:2-3 and write it out as a reminder.
My friend,
that is all for this lesson, I hope you are encouraged and will take God’s
message to heart.
Kassie
To find out more about this series
>>> Have these free study lessons blessed you?
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So, your help is greatly appreciated.