BSF Genesis Week 18 – The Notes are Good

BSF Genesis: Week 18, Day 5

Questions:

11.
a.
offer bodies as living sacrifice – what do we love more: self and safety or God? By obedience to sacrifice we are open to transformation and renewal
b.
For some missionaries it is literal, for others it is sacrifice of mortal rights/pleasures to honor and respect God and bro’s

c.
I need to improve in my “Here I am” response instead of, “Hold on just a minute and let me finish this first…”

12.
a.
To bury his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (Hebron) to bury his dead

b.
Like a family burial plot today, want it where loved ones can return to honor the memory of the dead and to be laid to rest by their side

c.
I hope they show the desire to serve Him and teach others about Him. Still opportunities to improve.

My Daily Journal:

I have been critical of Abraham’s past deeds as a husband, his treatment of Hagar, his willingness to put Sarah in harms way because of his own fear. But here we see another side, possibly a growth and maturing. For it is in the death of Sarah that we see some new firsts.

This is the first mention of a burial in the bible. It is also the first commercial transaction recorded in the scriptures. How fitting that those two go together to honor the death of the mother of the promised children of the Lord.

This plot of land comes up time and again. It is the burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. It is the place that the 10 spies investigated when they first stepped foot into the promised land again after the exodus from Egypt (Num 11). It was given as a Levitical city and a city of refuge after being regained by Joshua. It is here that David was annointed King (2 Sam 5).

BSF Genesis: Week 18, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

8.
a.
h17/g1 God tested Abraham, h17/g10 offered Isaac as sacrifice, h19/g5 resurrect his son – we will return

b.
showed Abraham’s obedience to God, Isaac’s obedience to his father and allowed God to show his love and plan of salvation

c.
He was the perfecter of faith for through the ultimate obedience and sacrifice faith is perfectly demonstrated

d.
There is joy in honoring God and in doing my best for him. Sacrifices are hard, but in denial of sinful self I know that I am honoring God and am closer to Him.

9.
a.
person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

b.
a voice calling from heaven and a ram for the sacrifice

c.
that He sent His only son as an atoning sacrifice for my sins

d. dedication of self and family, willingness to serve as He calls, willingness to rely on Him

10.
a.
Here I am, The LORD will provide

b.
bless you, make descendants numerous as stars/sand. Possess cities of enemies, thorough offspring all nations earth blessed

My Daily Journal:

I love verse 22. “I swear by myself, declares the Lord…” I can hear God saying, “I swear in the name of, well, Me….” One of the other leaders told me he saw a cartoon that asked the question, what do you say to God if he sneezes?

I think part of the message in this is that faith is not a possession, it is something to be lived out. It is not a pair of shoes you lock away, it is something you wear and use. It is only through the exercise of faith that God can use it to His glory. Hide it under a bushel? No!

Where do I need to take my faith for a walk?

How do I need to trust more in the Lord?

Am I giving thanks to God for the provisions He has given me? Is my first response to that provision the same that Abraham demonstrated – by immediately wanting to use it to give back and honor God?

BSF Genesis: Week 18, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

6.
a.
He was his only son, whom he loved, he was a patient and respectful father

b.
Obedient to his father even to the point of carrying the wood for his own sacrificial death and placing himself upon the wood to accept the judgment of this father. Abraham was 100 years old, Isaac could have fought or fled. Took burden from animal, 3 days, final steps alone with his father, He was bound to the act by the will of his father.

7.
a.
Where God had mercy on Jerusalem and stopped the hand of death they were to experience. Where David built an altar to seek for God to stop the plague

b.
Abraham was willing to give the life of his innocent son simply because God had required it. God substituted and provided a lamb, but ultimately that lamb became the lamb of Christ who took away the sins of the world (while it was still in sin)

My Daily Journal:

Abraham’s discussions with God and his faith actions are the book covers to this story, but the heart of the story is Isaac and the way he reveals God’s character and plan of salvation through His Son. There are so many parallels: 3 days, took the burden from animals and carried the wood that would enable his own sacrifice, submitted fully to his father, an only son, loved by his father.

The bible is God’s method of revealing Himself to his children. This is not a story just about a test of Abraham, it is a story of prophecy of God’s demonstration of His own love.

An altar is for sacrifice, for honor and tithe for the account of sin. But, how interesting that we see that this very altar is the location that God repeatedly stops the taken of the payment. He stopped Abraham from killing Isaac. He stopped the plague in the days of David. He stopped all sacrifices with His all atoning sacrifice.

BSF Genesis: Week 18, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

Questions

3.
a.
1. to strengthen him, it is only by exercising our faith that it grows. 2. to honor Abraham by giving him an opportunity to demonstrate his love and obedience 3. to reveal Himself (God himself will provide the lamb), not pay price by own death 4. God knew outcome – not endorsing human sacrifice.

b.
His relationship with God, with his son and even his own confidence in himself grew as a result. He also learned more about God and we did as well.

4.
a.
Take your son, your only son, whom you love.. God himself will provide the lamb…

b.
22.Here I am. 3 Early the next morning… had cut enough wood, 4. On the 3rd day saw place in distance 5. stay we will worship and then come back, 6. placed wood on his son. 8. God himself will provide.9. built altar, arranged wood, bound his son, laid him on the altar. 10. reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

5.
a.
He delights in obedience and sacrifice of the heart. Rejects those done only out of obligation.

b.
Trust in him entirely for provision for my family

My Daily Journal

1. Faith is a movie not a snapshot. For several weeks in BSF we have lived with Abraham and been able to glimpse scenes from his life and his walk with God. It has not been a perfect picture. Looking at a single snapshot he is either demonstrating great obedience or falling into old sins and habits. Highs and lows. Thankfully for him and for us God does not judge us by a single snapshot but by the entire story of our life, remastered through the lens of the atoning sacrifice of his son. This week we see Abraham’s great strength – obedience. God calls and he responds in obedience not objection. God asks for sacrifice and he demonstrates obedience not obligation. He is prepared to obey completely – gone is the Abraham of partial truths and technicalities (she is my sister) – a burnt sacrifice is all consuming, there is no partial burnt sacrifice, first death then totally consumed in the flames. Abraham obeys.

2. While I love this story and the lesson it teaches, it is also so very convicting and painful. I don’t have an issue making any personal sacrifice to God. Take my health, take my wealth, take my time, reputation, life. I can be all in for God. But. And that is the part that I’m convicted of – it is that But word.

But is is my job to provide for my family. But it is my job to keep them safe and protected. But it is my job as a dad and father. I don’t love my family more than Abraham did. But I’m convicted because I know in my core I’m still thinking, “God you can take anything from me, but don’t allow harm/hurt to come to my family.” Then we read these stories of Abraham. First his oldest son, not only taken from him, but Abraham himself must cast him out into the wilderness. Next, Isaac. Then, Sarah. I know and believe, as our memory verses have stated, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. I know and believe that I must let go, that my thoughts that I have the power to truly provide or protect is inadequate, especially compared to the Lord’s ability. But is hard to let go of.