Faith That Travels, but Doesn't Protect?

Greetings!  On April 26 we will be out of the "Prologue" of Genesis and into the Patriarchs.  For this Thursday, read Genesis 12, and we'll discuss both halves (vs. 1-9, and 10-20).  As you read, consider the following questions:

• What are the elements of God's command to go to Canaan?
• Why does Abram build altars?
• At what point does God promise the land?  At what point does He promise Abram will be a great nation?
• How far through Canaan does Abram get?
• What do you think Abram thinks of being a great nation in that land?
• Why does Abram go to Egypt?
• Look at Genesis 11:26-32; what relationship is described between Abram and Sarai?
• What's the problem with Abram's logic as they enter Egypt?
• He seems right about his evaluation of Sarai, but what happens to the Pharaoh when he agrees?
• What does Pharaoh do once the plagues hit his household?

That should get us thinking anyway.  Be sure to note any other questions you have and bring them on Thursday.  I look forward to seeing everyone!

Remember? We studied this!

ComicReader- Peanuts: 2012/04/10

And now we have a name for it: sound theology. Don't you feel better?

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Cities of Confusion

We will be skipping April 12 and meeting again on April 19.  On the 19th, we will be in the first part of Genesis 11, but I will also bring in two pieces of chapter 10.  It would be a good idea to at least skim chapter 10 to get the list of who's who because what happens in the first part of 11 overlaps some events in 10 (or maybe it doesn't).  Be sure to read all of 11 (at least once) even though we won't be going over all of it in detail.

As you read, consider the questions below.  It might be good to have a Bible Atlas handy.

• In Genesis 10:8-12 where is the "Land of Cush" and where is his son, Nimrod, establishing cities?
• List the cities Nimrod established, and find as many of them as you can on a "Assyria" or "Babylonia" map in the back of your Bible (several of the more famous ones will be there).
• If the "people" moved east to Mesopotamia (the plain of Shinar), where did they come from?
• What is God's real problem with them building the city/tower?  How would you define it?
• Sandwiched between two genealogical lists, what do you think the purpose of this account might be?  Why is it here?
• Where is Ur?

That won't take anywhere near two weeks.  So whatever else you come up with will only enhance your study and understanding.  I look forward to studying this chapter with you in a few weeks.  From here we get into more familiar territory with Abram (Abraham) and the other Patriarchs.  It will be quite a journey to the Exodus. 

Streaks of Color and "Colorful People"

Coming up this Thursday, April 5, we will be studying Genesis 9.  The oddities in the chapter should make for great conversation.  Read it over a few times, jotting down questions that occur to you.  Also, if you have the opportunity to read it in a few different versions, that might generate some additional questions; jot those down too.

Consider the following on your third or fourth trip through the chapter:

• Read this blog entry I made way back in January this year.  It examines the first seven verses.
• Who is the "bow in the cloud" a reminder for, us or God?
• Look at Gen 8:20-22, then Gen 9:1-7, then Gen 9:8-17 as separate pieces.  Can they rearranged?  Are they "sequential"?  And what are the distinct emphases of each?
• What different (or similar) element of God's character shows in each piece?
• What is up between Noah and Canaan?  Is this a mean "grandpa" or what is it?
• Follow this link to see the range of meaning of this Hebrew word.  It was used in the blessing of Japheth in the first part of verse 27.  Was it necessarily a "blessing"?

That should shake it up enough for now. I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!  Have a blessed week, and be sure to post questions and/or prayer requests.

By the way, if you "join" this blog, you get automatic notifications of each posting, and it's easier to post comments.  It's not hard to do, but Google does want you to have a Google account.

Waiting on the Memory of God? No, Not Really.

This Thursday (March 29), we'll be studying Genesis 8.  This is one of the best "story" chapters, because imagining what Noah and his family are enduring is dramatic.  It's not hard to "fill-in" family dynamic back-story to what we read. One of the most poignant sentences is the first.

Read all through Chapter 8, and consider these few questions:

• Did God "forget" everyone on the ark?
• What might have been Noah's family's reaction during the waiting, after the ark came to rest?
• What might have been going on in Noah's mind and heart during the waiting?
• Do you hear the song, "Anticipation" (or whatever it's called) playing as theme music during the story?
• How does a dove with an olive branch in its mouth become the symbol for world peace?
• Follow this link and look a the meanings for this Hebrew word "chuwl" and see the variety of ways it can be translated.  This word appears in verse 10 and is normally translated here as "waited".  What sort of "waiting" is Noah doing?  Consider possible common themes in all the different ways to translate it.
• The word for "wait" in verse 12 is different, it's "yachal" and normally means waiting. 
• What do the first two things God did in response to the sacrifice tell you about His character?

That should do it for now.  Remember, one of the best points of this text is the word "remember in verse 1.  I hope you enjoy this study as much as I have.  See you Thursday!

Here Comes The Flood!

This coming Thursday, March 22, we'll be starting Genesis 7.  There are bunches of interesting things in there, puzzling things, and things that defy understanding.  That's okay, though, we've been down that road already, and we know we'll be alright.

The chapter breaks down into the following pieces:  vs. 1-5, 6-12, 13-16, 17-24. We'll look at them in that arrangement.  As you read through Genesis 7, consider the following:

•  Some of the passages seem repetitious.  But what are the differences?
• The law had not yet been given, so what's up with "clean" versus "unclean" animals?
• Some cultures have a "flood memory" that seems more regional than global.  How is this one described?
• The graphic below is a fairly good representation of how the ancients thought the world was.  Look it over and let's discuss what you think about it. 

There are two sets of "pillars", of the earth (1 Samuel 2:8, Job 9:6, Psalm 74:3, ), and of heaven (Job 26:11).  Together they form a supported "bowl" with the face of the land along the bottom.  The pillars of the earth support the "bowl" in the waters of the deep (primeval ocean).  The "vault" or dome over the earth has windows for rain.  The stars, sun, and moon travel the surface of the dome.  The dome creates a "bubble" in the waters surrounding the earth (like an underwater city?).

Think of this structure as you read the last two sections of Genesis 7.  Hows does it affect your understanding of what happened or what it might have looked like in the minds of the people first reading/hearing this account and those it was passed on down to?

That should be enough for Thursday.  I look forward to seeing you all again.  I hope you are blessed until then!

It Seems Giants Can't Swim

Read Genesis 6 a few times

The text falls into a few sections (v.1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-21), and can be seen in even most English translations (especially at v.8).

Some things to consider in v. 1-8:

• If someone 75 years old is referred to in Hebrew as "a son of 70 and 5 year", what might "sons of God" mean?
•  What's the connection between verse 2 and verse 3?
• What's the connection between verse 4 and verse 5?
• If you have a Bible Dictionary, look up the "Giants" or "Nephilim" and read the entry.
• What are the clues to the character of these Nephilim?
• What is the ray of hope in this passage?

Some things to consider in v.9-13

• What similarities are there between Noah and Enoch (Gen 5:21-24)?
• In the previous passage, God repented that he made man, how is that problem described differently here? 
• Why is the answer to destroy the earth?
• Several Hebrew words used to describe how Noah is to build the ark are really difficult to understand.  So, if Noah did only what God told him to do, what do you think it looked like?
• Why might this story be a story of love and grace rather than wrath?

Read back through the whole chapter.  What is the character of God in this chapter?

That should be enough to get us going.  See most of you on Thursday!