Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Of Isaac's Beginning, and Abraham's Ending

This is the study page for Thursday, August 2.  We'll be studying Genesis 24 and the beginning of 25 (through verse 11).  This will wrap up Abraham, and then we'll take a break from the Patriarchs, and explore the Acts of the Apostles.

There are lots of strangeness in these verses.  Chapter 25 is so long partly because a major piece of it is a total repeat of itself.  As you read through, you will have questions, so please write them down and bring them Thursday.  You can post them to this blog as a comment, and I'll try to answer them before Thursday.  Consider these questions as you read through the passages:
  • What's the name of the "elder servant"? (bonus points if you figure this one out)
  • What's with the hand under the thigh?
  • The servant is looking for options, what options, and why is he so careful to look for them?
  • What is Abraham most adamant about?  Why that more than a wife from his kin?
  • In Chapter 11 and 12, what city did Abraham's family settle?  Where is this one?
  • What is the servant's tactic to fulfill his quest?  What does he rely on?
  • After the young woman fulfills his conditions, what does the servant give her? Look at the word used for 'ring'.  What might it have been? (hold that thought)
  • Who is Bethuel again? (look back at chapter 22)
  • What do you think Rebekah is thinking by the time the servant spontaneously worships Yahweh right there while talking to her?
  • Where does Rebekah run to?
  • What does her brother do?  Why does he do it?
  • Why is the servant still at the spring?
  • Besides the camels, who else is taken care of ?
  • After the camels are taken care of but before he eats, what must the servant do?
  • From verse 33 to 48 the servant recounts is tremendous detail what happened at the spring.  What does he do with the ring in verse 47?
  • Who is he talking to in verse 33?
  • Who is present in 50?
  • What is the servant's concern now that he has found Rebekah?
  • How do Bethuel and Laban respond?
  • What does the servant do once he has been given Rebekah?
  • The next day, what is the delay in heading back?
  • What is Rebekah's family concerned about?
  • What does it say about Rebekah that she agrees to go?  How hard was it to convince her?
  • What do you think of the blessing of her family?
  • So, how does Yahweh factor into this story?
  • What understanding do you have now about why he wanted a wife for Isaac from his family?
  • What is Beer-lahai-roi named for and who by?
  • Look up the word "meditate".  What are the other possibilities?  Why is it so hard to know for sure what it meant?
  •  What does Rebekah do when she sees Isaac for the first time?
  • Why wasn't the veil up the whole time?  Why now?
  • How elaborate is the "marriage"?
  • What is the main effect on Isaac?  What does that say about him?
  • After Sarah, what does Abraham do ?
  • How many kids does he have now?  Why is that really odd?
  • What does he do with all these kids?
  • What does he do for Isaac?
  • How old is he when he dies?
  • Where is he buried?
Wow! That's a lot.  I hope we can finish it in one night, but we may spend another one after next week wrapping up.  I think we're all supposed to be there Thursday (I hope), so I look forward to seeing you all at dinner!

Blessings!

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