BSF Genesis – Page 2 – The Notes are Good

BSF Genesis: Week 20, Day 2

Questions

3.
He was obedient to his parents and to God. He spent time alone with God and trusted in Him. He was submissive to God’s will even when that will wasn’t immediately clear.

4.
a.
humbly obedient, meek

Moses was very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way
the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity
He crowns the humble with victory
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, find rest
Beauty of inner self, unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

c.
My own pride takes away from giving all the glory to God. I also struggle with fears and worries because I am too proud and stiff necked to release it to God even though I know that is the right thing to do.

My Daily Journal:

The illustration today’s discussion about being meek and humble brought to my mind was that of a knighting ceremony. Knights were normally highly trained, educated and equipped individuals, prepared to go into battle for their king. But, becoming a knight was not something someone received by proxy. It wasn’t a letter or phone call, it was a very personal and up close experience with the king.

In the knighting ceremony, the trained fighter kneels before their king. The king then takes his sword, not a dull staff, but the sharp sword of the king, and places it on the shoulders of the knight, moving from one shoulder to another.

The knight cannot receive this honor in a stiff-necked posture (they would lose their head, literally). They must approach the throne in a manner that displays humble obedience and meekness. They then arose and took on the new garments of their order.

Isn’t this what we are called to as well, just as Isaac was humble and meek? To receive the blessing of the Word of God, sharper than any two edged sword, we must appear before our King with a humble and meek heart. To be clothed in the Holy Spirit, we must kneel in prayer and seek forgiveness and cleansing.

BSF Genesis: Week 19, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

12.
a.
Left everything he owned to Isaac, while living gave gifts to other sons (sent them away) Isaac and Ishmael came together to bury their father.

b.
Isaac lived in the Negev in Beer Lahai Roi, Ishmael lived in the Desert of Paran

This map shows both places (Beer Lahai Roi is at the southwest edge of Canaan)

13.
a.
Blessings of kind words from a believer
b.
Prayed for BSF children and co-leaders, my family, my church and my employees

My Daily Journal:

I thought it interesting that Isaac was living in the place that was named by Hagar in Genesis 16 when God saw her after she fled while pregnant with Ishmael. Clearly Isaac and Ishmael knew each other because they unite to bury their father. Despite everything else that has occurred, it is the provision of their father that unites them. While Isaac provided for all of his children, there were 2 things very special. 1. He did not try to renegotiate, circumvent or divide God’s promise. God had promised this land through Isaac to his descendents and Abraham made sure everyone else was moved off of it. 2. Abraham provided a foundation of faith in God to his children. While that seed did not necessarily take in all of them, it was planted and cultivated and we know, particularly with Isaac and Ishmael that God himself watered and cared for it.

Staying true to God’s word and promises and cultivating faith in our children. Isn’t that what we should strive for as Christian parents?

BSF Genesis: Week 19, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

9.
a.
Do not intermarry with pagan nations, Do not be yoked with unbelievers

b.
31: Come, you who are blessed by the LORD, 50: This is from the LORD 51: as the LORD has directed

10.
a.
48 I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD the God of my master who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son

b.
Glory to God, no one may boast before him. Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

11.
a.
Nose ring 2 gold bracelets (about $7005 by today’s price for gold), entire story of how he came here, the offer to marry, gold silver jewelry clothing

b.
He sought permission of her family. They knew who Abraham was, his demonstration of faith. Showed respect for her and for her family

c.
We chose to go, but everything else is provided by God. We are called by Him, chosen by him, not anything we have done to earn it

My Daily Journal:

I am truly struck by Rebekah. Earlier in this chapter we saw her actions reveal her character. We saw that Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for his son and the servant sought someone with a servant’s heart. But not a weak and fainting heart – Rebekah demonstrated strength of character, physical strength and strength of faith.

She was the first person to the well. She did not come with lots of other girls to chit chat, but she was the early bird. She was gracious and kind and went out of her way to treat a stranger with kindness, not only caring for him but also for his camels. She was chaste and pure.

She must have been physically strong and hearty as well. I looked it up – a camel drinks about 20 to 25 gallons. 10 camels = 200 to 250 gallons of water. Water weighs a little over 8 lbs per gallon. That means she was carting 1600 to 2000 lbs of water not counting the weight of her jug. And then, after she was done, she went for a run – running home to tell her mother’s family.

We see her faith in her decision. When her family wishes for her to linger with them, she displays obedience to God and a desire to step in that obedience. Think how difficult this was. Leaving home, family, everything behind to go to a strange land and be married to a stranger. No bridesmaids, no mother of the bride, just jump on a camel and go.

BSF Genesis: Week 18, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

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.

BSF Genesis: Week 17, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

12.
a.
They saw the blessings, Peace, God’s presence, Abraham’s prayer life

b.
prayer leads to God’s continuous presence leads to peace leads to blessings

13.
a.
Swore not to deal falsely, show kindness, swore oath together, gave 7 ewe lambs in settlement of disagreement

b.
show fairness, honesty, let my word be true, show honor to God in all

My Daily Journal:

I’m reading a book called God Forsaken by Dinesh D’Souza. I’m not very far into it, yet, but one of the things that struck me in the first chapter was the argument by athiest and non-believers that we’ve all heard before: “How could I possibly believe in a god who would __________?”

This stuck with me throughout our study this week. God’s position should be the head. He should be in the lead, in the forefront. But how often in my life do I act like Abraham and Sarah and ask God to perform janitorial duties and clean up my messes? Then when those messes get so large and convoluted, people blame God that He isn’t cleaning them up fast enough to suit their thinking.

It is good that he was able to settle in this region for a while and concentrate on raising his son. It is hard on a family to be traveling and relocating all the time. But, by relying on his own wit and wisdom, Abraham not only put that at risk but he put the ability to father a child at risk. It is hard to have a child with your wife if she is living in another man’s palace as his wife.

It was just convicting to me of looking at those areas where I run ahead of God and then pray for Him to bail me out of a mess I made. Not only because of the pain that causes me and those I love but also because of the message others see in those messes and how that reflects on their heart for God.

Side Note: What’s with the 7 lambs? In order to have a lasting relationship with Abimilech, Abraham had to reach the understanding that it could not just be about me, me, me. It also had to be about “ewe”. (sorry, couldn’t resist!) (I published this earlier on the wrong day, but it belongs with this day’s lesson.

BSF Genesis: Week 17, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions

9.
a.
mocking

b.
Hagar represents man’s attempt to be self-justified through works. Impossible to become part of God’s family, only by grace

c.
He did not abandon them, opened their eyes, provided for them, stayed with, saved, became a great nation

d.
The word of God last forever – while we face certain death God has the ability to bring us through it

10.
It is the difference between self sufficiency, self strength and complete submission to God’s strength. The second is stronger, but weaker and subject to mocking by the first in human view

b.
In the desert with a single skin of water, left for dead, but God saves. Mocking and despising/jealousy leads to being set apart

11.
a.
Struggle between patiently submitting and being led by the spirit and impatiently wanting to run forward

b.
The spirit controls my heart and the Lord fills me to overflowing with his Love, but I become impatient, allow human nature

My Daily Journal:

I was reminded of how God uses the desert. The desert is a barren, stripped down place. When Abraham followed Sarah’s wishes he abandoned this side of his family (something clearly not meant as an example of how to behave as a man) and sent them out into the desert with minimal provisions.

We find ourselves in the desert sometimes as well. We go through periods of time where things are plentiful and, at least on the surface, all may be seeming to go well. Then, one day we find ourselves in the desert, relying on the things we brought from our old life until those run out. In the deserts of life we have a hard time focusing on anything except the troubles all around us and the life we used to have.

But, God provides. To go from one mountaintop to the next you must go through the valley. God brings us into desert times in our lives so that we may learn to rely on him. In doing homiletics on this passage it struck me that every verse I summarized from 17-21 started with God. God heard, God called, God promised, God opened, God provided…

BSF Genesis: Week 17, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

3.
Same: Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister, taken by King, not gone to, God intervenes – people get ill, “what have you done to me/us?”, Abraham gained monetarily.
Difference: Run out of Egypt not Negev, Explanation of why they lied (habit and prior agreement), no mention of Sarah’s beauty, Abimelek knew God although Abraham didn’t recognize it, ended in prayer

4.
a.
He is an idiot and horrible role-model for being a husband. He was afraid and rather than rely on God relied on his own wit and intellect. Twisted truth to attempt to satisfy his own needs/desires. This lie must have been a deep rut he fell back in to.

b.
When afraid but feeling they can “weasel” their way out. They know it is wrong but justify it because it is “partially true.”

5.
a.
Missed opportunity. Rather than being a witness to Abimilek and the nation he was a source of disease and problems

b.
We can only be a blessing if people see God in us. If we deny God the opportunity to be at the forefront and relegate him to cleaning up our messes how can we be a blessing?
(text) vs 10: he was not treated as his sins deserved or repayed according to his iniquities

6.
a.
vs 10: he was not treated as his sins deserved or repayed according to his iniquities

b.
He formed a treaty with him, swore not to deal falsely, stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time

c.
He has treated me with compassion and not once given me what I truly deserve. He has blessed me and my family and encouraged me to be an honest husband.

My Daily Journal:

In the children’s lecture, one of the principles talks about restoration in this section. This brought to mind the illustration of restoring a piece of furniture. To truly restore furniture requires stripping it down to the bare wood and carving out any weak or decayed pieces of wood, joints or fabric.

We saw Abram and Sarai (names back then) pull this same stunt in Egypt. While God protected them at that point, it does not appear they really dealt with the lie. I equate this with putting another coat of paint on the furniture instead of refinishing it correctly.

That doesn’t work here because (1) Abimilech is a believer and (2) God’s plan is for Abraham to spend some time in this land raising his son. For this to work Abraham needed to be able to form a bond with Abimilech, to reach a covenant with him. But you cannot form a strong bond in furniture without stripping off the old varnish. Abraham and Sarah show their old varnish in their lie, but God’s response to Abimilech leads to Abraham’s prayer and ultimately to Abraham’s promise to Abimilech that he will not lie to him ever again.