The Sad Passing of a Woman and Some Land

This is the study page for the small group meeting on July 26. At the meeting we will discuss switching to Acts after the next chapter (after Abraham dies).

Genesis 23 is partly sad, partly dismally boring.  Hang in there, it's in here for a reason, if only encouragement (yes, encouragement - if you want to know how it could be...see you for dinner Thursday ;).

As you read the chapter consider the following few questions:

• How old is Sarah when she dies?
• So, how old is Isaac when she dies?
• After Abraham mourns, what's next on his "todo" list?
• Who are the "sons of Heth"? Check out http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?type=getTopic&topic=HITTITES for two opinions.
• Why do you think this field is his choice?
• What does Abraham get in addition to the "cave"?
• What significance does it have that Abraham now owns a "piece of Canaan"?

That should do for now.  Bring your own questions, or post them as comments.  See you Thursday!

Isaac Carries His Own Wood

This is the study page for Genesis 22 for the July 19 small group meeting.  There may be a lot of people out, and they are going to miss one of the most familiar and confusing chapters of Genesis.

There should be plenty of questions.  A lot of our group will be travelling this week, so if you who are can get to the Internet and read this page this week, post questions you may have as comments.  We'll share and discuss in the group, and post answers we come up with (almost like you're there).

As you read through the chapter, consider these questions; and as always, remember to come up with your own as well.

• Why is God so specific with Abraham about Isaac?
• Abraham has had discussions with God on other things he was told (Sodom for instance), but he doesn't push back on sending away Hagar and her son, nor here.  We know that he was bothered about sending his first-born away.  So what would be going on with Abraham here?
• How does Abraham distribute the burdens once he leaves the two servants with the donkey?
• We always use this passage for a name of God, that He is the 'Provider'.  Follow the link to look up the word "ra'ah" (H7200).  How is it most commonly translated?
• What is Isaac thinking here, and as this is happening?
• We always think of the angel "grabbing" Abraham's arm with the knife.  What did the Angel of The Lord actually do?
• What's with Abraham's common response of, "Here I am"?  Has he been using this response all the way through so far?
• What was God doing, or how does He explain His test?
• Where did the "ram" come from?
• What does Abraham name God here?
• We've already looked at the word compounded with God's proper Name to make this.  Now see what the Strong's does with it (H3070).  What other name of God we have run across already does this sound like (hint: it wasn't Abraham that gave it to Him, but one of his household)?
• What do you think of the promise God makes here, not so much the content which is familiar, but the timing and construction?
• What is new in this promise?

That should do for now.  As I said, you will probably have questions of your own (or at least I hope so).  If you can't make it Thursday, post your questions as comments or replies to the email.  We'll share answers after Thursday's meeting.

Blessings upon you all, and safe travels for those not able to be with us!

Sad and Shrewd: The Emotional Swings of Genesis 21

Hey Folks!

Here is the study page for Chapter 21.  I am debating about whether to tackle the entire chapter or just the first 21 verses.  The last part isn't long, but it is odd.  The questions will cover both pieces.

This is for the meeting on July 12.  Pay attention to the character of God shown here.  Also note that something is missing all through the first section.  The absence may not be obvious until you read it through a few times and ask yourself some questions about what's going on (that should annoy a lot of you ;)

As you read, ask a lot of questions, and jot them down.  Here are some to spur on some discussion on Thursday:

• Who is responsible for the birth of Isaac?
• What does Abraham do when his son is born?
• What does Sarah do? (and which do you think Isaac preferred?)
• This is the word used for "laughter" (H6712) in verse 6, it is related to the verb, "laugh" (H6711) used in the last part of the verse.  Look at the letters and the Strong's definitions.  Now look at "Isaac" (H3327) in the Strong's.  The similarity is really obvious when you look at the Hebrew letters, only the first letter is different.
• How does Abraham celebrate Isaac's "weaning"?
• Something turns the "laughter" to "mocking" (H6711) in verse 9.  Look at the various translations of this word.  How often is it translated as "mocking"?  Why is it "mocking" here, but "laughter" just a few verses prior?
• What is Sarah's real concern with keeping "Hagar's son" around?
• What is Abraham's response to Sarah's demand?
• What is the character of God demonstrated in His response to Abraham's dilemma?
• What is the emotions going on in Abraham as he acquiesces to his wife's demand to send Hagar and "her son" away?
• What does Hagar do when the water runs out?  How do you feel at verse 16?
• Who is crying? God responds but who does He hear?
• How does the son of Hagar make his way in the wilderness?  What similarities does he have with Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-9)?

Now, the next section:

• Who's the new guy?  Why do you think Abimelech now brings his "battle chief"?
• So, what does Abimelech propose?  What does Abraham say to the suggestion?
• After the oath (v. 24) what does Abraham want to discuss?  Look at verse 25 is several translations.  Look up this word for "complain" (H3198) in Strong's.  What is the tone of Abraham here with the "king"?
• What is Abimelech's response?  With his "battle chief" sitting there, how does this seem?
• Now there is another covenant, and what's with the seven lambs?
• What does it mean if Abimelech takes the lambs?
• In other places Abraham builds an altar, what does he do here?
• What name does Abraham use for God here?  Why that?  How, from all that transpires in this chapter, does Abraham arrive at that name for God?

That should do it for this week.  Be sure to write down your own questions and bring them Thursday!

Blessings!

Genesis 20: Same Song, Different Tune

Happy Fourth!  This is partly a reminder and partly a more accessible page.  This is the study page for Genesis 20 for the Thursday, July 5 group.  This chapter will sound and feel a lot like the last half of Chapter 12.  But there are differences.

I sent these bullets to you in an email, but here they are again.  As you read the chapter consider these questions, but also come up with some of your own.

• Where is the area Abraham goes located?
• What is different about how God deals with the king of Gerar as opposed to Pharaoh?
• What sort of person does God consider Abimelech?
• This Strong's word (H1166) is used in verse 3 for "married".  What do we normally think of when we hear this word? 
• This Strong's word (H0136) is used in verse 4 for how Abimelech addresses God.  What might be expected here if he is a pagan king?
• What does Abimelech do first thing after the "dream"?
• When Abimelech confronts Abraham, what is Abraham's explanation?
• Before, in Chapter 12, I posed the possibility that Abraham was shrewd, not afraid.  What does Abraham's explanation claim was his motivation?
• What does God tell Abimelech to do to fix the problem?
• From verses 16 & 17, what importance does Sarah play here?  What's the possibility that she is more than a "pawn" here?
• What is interesting in the "plague" and the timing of these events?

Hopefully you have already had a chance to go through the passage, look at a map, and get a sense of the events here.  I hope you have questions!  See you tomorrow night!

The Goofy World of Sodom, and Its Firery End

Hey gang, here we go with Chapter 19.  This is for the study on June 21.

As you read over the chapter, try to not to furrow your brow and frown...I dare you, try it.  You may also find yourself squinting lopsidedly in confusion.  If you don't do either of these things, go back, read it again, but more slowly this time.

Here are some questions that I have, I'm sure you will have scads of your own.  And there are links in these for those of you who missed that in the last page.

• Where is Lot when the angels arrive?  What does that mean?  Why would he be there?
• He recognizes the men, and is hospitable to them.  It says he "urged them strongly".  Look up this word in the Blue Letter Bible:  patsar.  Where else besides verse 3 does this occur in chapter 19?
• Read verse 4 in as many translations as you have.  Where were these guys from?  
• Lot now has given up nomad life.  He has a house, a wife and two daughters.  Where did the wife have to come from?
• What is Lot's solution to the problem of the mob at his door?  What are the odds that this is some sort of cultural hospitality tradition?  How effective is it?
• What does the men's response to Lot indicate about his duties at the gate?
• Read verse 11 in several versions.  What effect did the blindness caused by the angels have?
• Who is Lot to gather?  How many does he gather?
• Why were the angels sent there?  Who's going to destroy Sodom?
• If someone comes up to you and tells you to get out of Fernley because God's about to destroy it, how long would it take you to be elsewhere?
• How long does it take Lot and his family to get their collective "stuff" together?
• After a night with a mob of sexual deviants, news that your city is about to be destroyed, and condescending sons-in-law, as dawn breaks, why does Lot and his family hesitate?
• Why do the angels work so hard to save Lot and his uncooperative family?
• What does Lot re-negotiate with the angels?
• With fire at their backs, and destruction all going on behind them, Lot's wife still looks back.  When have you given something dangerous to you, but difficult to give up, a second glance?
•  According to verse 29, why did God show Lot such mercy?
• After all the destruction has passed, where does Lot go?  Where might have been a better, possibly wiser option to go?  What are some reasons he didn't return to his uncle?
• The nameless daughters have an idea to prolong their family line.  What is the rationale?
• What is the result of these "solutions"?  Read Deuteronomy 2:8-19.  And then read Deuteronomy 23:1-4.  Even though they are given territory by God, among what groups does He regard them as far as worship is concerned?

There is a lot more than we may be able to cover in one session, and I hope you will have questions of your own.  We'll plan on getting as far as we comfortably can, and then skip the following Thursday (June 28).  We'll still be meeting at the Paxton's on Saturday at about 6 or so for food, fellowship, and stars.

I look forward to seeing you Thursday!

Once More Around the Covenant Mulberry Bush

Chapter 18 looks somewhat like 17, only with more people in it.  This is the page for our meeting on June 14.  I said in the last entry that 17 was somewhat like 18 (or vice versa).  So part of what we'll be doing is a good ole "compare and contrast" like from school (a skill you probably never thought you'd use once you graduated).

So, the chapter falls neatly into two pieces, verses 1 through 16 and 17 through 33.  Read through the whole chapter first, then each section once or twice separately.

As you read the first section (v. 1-16) consider the following questions:

• How is verse 1-2 much like Genesis 17:1-3?  How are they different?
• In verses 3-5 Abraham makes a proposition to the "three men", what do you think of his idea?  What other biblical encounters does it remind you of?
• He gets together meat, bread, butter and cheese (verses 6-8).  Why would these foods be expected?  Where did the grain have to come from?
• In verse 9, who is speaking?  Why might this be an odd question for them to ask?
• In verse 10, who is speaking? 
• When does He predict the coming of the child? Read Gen 17:21. What is the same?  What is different?
• Now who laughs?  Yet, what is the child's name as far as this chapter is concerned?
• Who is never mentioned in this chapter, but figures prominently in chapter 17?
• Having finished the meal and conversation, where do they head off to?

As you read the second section (v. 17-33) consider the following questions:

• Now Who is speaking?  Who is He speaking to initially?
• Where are the "two" going?
• Now that it's just Abraham and Yahweh, what does Abraham do with his "private audience"?
• Read verses 23 through 32 with your best New York/German Jewish or Middle Eastern accent.  How does that flavor the dialogue?  What sense of "culture" do you gain?
• Abraham starts out strong, what is the basis of his plea?  Why should Yahweh not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
• Abraham starts at 50 as the "saving threshold".  What skill is he using to reduce that number and how successful is he?

As you read over the chapter some more (yes, that's at least once as a whole, twice at least of each piece, and now a few times more as a whole...what's your point?), and as you do consider your relationship with God; use a few of these questions:

• What would it take for you to recognize God if He showed up at your door?
• What would you feed the Maker of all matter for Sunday lunch?  Why that?
• What has God revealed to you that made you laugh?
• When you ask God for something, how willing are you to "negotiate"?
• How willing do you believe God is to negotiate?

That should do for now (hurry, you only have two days!).  See you all on Thursday!

Ouch! What Was That For?

I didn't want to forget again, so I made sure I posted here before I started posting on another page.  This is the study page for our group meeting on June 7 next week.  Chapter 17 forms an interesting couplet with 18, somewhat like Chapter 1 and 2 as we saw before.  The similarities are striking as are the differences.  It might help to read both chapters together even though we will be spending more time on 18 later.

As you read 17, consider the following questions, and, as always, come up with your own.

• God names Himself, what is different here from the names previous?
• Look up "blameless", or in the Strong's Concordance, "perfect".  How is that the same or different from what we normally think of as either blameless or perfect?
• This seems to be another "greeting" (remember chapter 15?).  How does this event seem to differ from before in Chapter 15? (there's a clue in verse 22)
• God changes Abram and Sarai's names here.  Read this article about names, and the significance of name changes from the Blue Letter Bible website.  So why does this relationship between Abram and God "turn a corner" here? What's so different now?
• The promise of lots of descendants and the land Abraham resides in is repeated in verses 4-8.  But now the covenant is ratified, not by binding God to it (chapter 15), but by circumcision of Abraham; and everyone else.  Why impose this so thoroughly throughout Abraham's household?
• What would you have thought if your household leader comes to you with this "new plan" from God?
• The text is very explicit that Abraham complied that very day, repeating it several times.  Why is that important?
• What limits would you place on your obedience to God?  What does "making sense" have to do with obedience?

That should do it for now.  Remember to write down questions you have as you read.  Some will be answered are you study, and some not (some never).  Bring 'em on!

Blessings upon you, and see you this Thursday!