Hey all!
I came across this blog post of mine from 2011 where I proposed an online BSF study.
I’m so happy that this finally came to fruition with the pandemic. I just thought this was REALLY cool since my proposal is very similar to what BSF came up with.
Happy Throwback Sunday!
When Jacob stopped to sleep, he had a dream of a stairway to heaven that angels traversed. God appeared and told Jacob He would give him the land on which he was lying. His descendents will be numerous and fill the earth. All people will be blessed through him. God is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will bring him back and not leave until He has done what He has promised He will do.
9) When Jacob stopped to sleep, he had a dream of a stairway to heaven that angels traversed. God appeared and told Jacob He would give him the land on which he was lying. His descendents will be numerous and fill the earth. All people will be blessed through him. God is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will bring him back and not leave until He has done what He has promised He will do. John 14:6 is where Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to God except through him. Hebrews 10:19-20 tells us that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. The stairwell is the way to heaven, namely Jesus, a descendent of Jacob’s. Jesus is the stairway.
10a) God would give him the land on which he was lying
b) His descendents will be numerous and fill the earth.
c) All people will be blessed through him
d) God is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will bring him back and not leave until He has done what He has promised He will do.
11) I love how God tells Jacob He is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will not leave him until His work has been completed. This is very comforting to know God is with you always as I still struggle to follow His will for me.
Love how God appears here and promises never to leave. I think He does this for us in subtle ways every day that we need to capture and hold on to when life does not go our way.
(John 1:51) is where we see Jesus speak of the angels going back and forth on the Son of Man. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Jacob sees access to Heaven but not yet that it is Jesus.
God is repeating the covenant to Jacob that He gave to Abraham and Isaac before him. (Genesis 12:1-3) (Genesis 26:2-5). See the promise here: Philippians 1:6: God completes His work in us.
God is with Jacob, He will be with Jacob, He is faithful, and He will continue His work after you are gone.(Genesis 31:3) (Genesis 31:5) (Genesis 48:21)
Esau grew into a skilled hunter, while Jacob grew into a quiet man, prefering to stay around the tents. Isaac loved Esau; Rebekah loved Jacob. One day, Esau returned and wanted some stew that Jacob was serving. He called it red stew, which is why he was also called Edom, which means red. Jacob told him he would have to sell him his birthright for stew. Esau didn’t care and agreed. He ate and left, despising his birthright.
9) Esau grew into a skilled hunter, while Jacob grew into a quiet man, prefering to stay around the tents. They are both Isaac and Rebekah’s sons.
10a) Genesis 27:29 is Jacob receiving Isaac’s blessing, which in this case for birthright, is nations and people serving him and lord over your brothers. It also has those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 explains that the right of the firstborn no matter the preference of feelings receives a double share of all he has, as the son is a sign of the father’s strength. Great explanation of birthright HERE
We have inherited “birthright” status through Jesus Christ as the firstborn Son of God (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 1:5)
b) He sold the birthright because he was hungry and on impulse. He didn’t care; he only wanted food. He let temporary wants override eternal needs and desires. We can’t let things interfer that are temporary here on earth with eternity in heaven.
11) We see here God’s will be done as Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing despite being the second born. We see Esau make a dumb decision that affects the rest of his life. We must always be vigilant, prayerful, and seeking of God’s will before we make decisions.
Like Moses being banned from the Promised Land over one decision, so, too, we see Esau sell his birthright. It seems harsh to us, but we ourselves should know that every decision we make has consequences, most, thankfully are not as severe if we choose poorly. Pray always first, and trust God for the rest.
We should note that Esau acted impulsively, Jacob, too, was being a scoundrel, taking advantage of his brother and asking for the birthright when it was not his. Interestingly, Martin Luther himself pointed out that the birthright was already Jacob’s because of what God told Rebekah. Jacob had to have know this, as too did Esau. Essentially, this deal was invalid then.
Here, there was much more at stake because the birthright also came with God’s covenant to make that person into a great nation with land and bring forth the Messiah.
We see Jacob’s character as he attempted to take what God had already given him. We see his heart here. This is funny to me because God already said who was chosen. It would have been better if both brothers had just accepted that.
Neither men here were acting Godly at all.
Christians have a birthright to heaven and God via Jesus. Yet, look at how many thumb their nose at this. Ephesians 1:3-14
The writer of Hebrews tells us more of Esau Hebrews 12:16 which shows God’s wisdom in choosing Jacob.
On the fourth day, God made the stars, the sun, and the moon. God said this was good.
On the fifth day, God made the sea creatures and the birds according to their kind. He told them to multiply. God saw that this was good.
On the sixth day, God made the land animals according to their kind. God said this was good.
9) On the fourth day, God made the stars, the sun, and the moon. God said this was good.
On the fifth day, God made the sea creatures and the birds according to their kind. He told them to multiply. God saw that this was good.
On the sixth day, God made the land animals according to their kind. God said this was good.
10) The lights on the 4th day are more specific. On the first day, God created light. On the 4th day, God created more light with a specific purpose: “to separate the day from the night, serve as signs to mark seasons, days, and years, and to give light on earth.” The stars, sun, and moon were to separate light from darkness and to govern the night and the day.
11) Personal Question. My answer: God knows what is good and what is not good. Thus, in our lives, God’s rules of how to live let us know what is good and what is not. It is clear-cut. Man does not have to decide. Instead, man frequently does what is not good against God’s wishes.
12) I have no answer for this. I have always believed, and when you look around at the amazing vastness and diversity of this earth, it is evident that only a higher power could create this. I think those who don’t believe in the Creator God choose to turn a blind eye, or God blinds them. They are in denial. Let’s face it, it’s easier this way; then you don’t have to follow God’s laws, and you can live as you choose.
I love re-reading the formation of everything on this planet. It’s always so humbling to know how insignificant we truly are.
Man has used God’s provision of the sun, moon, and stars to mark and measure time and direction since the beginning on humanity, as God has intended.
God knew exactly how far to set the sun from the earth. If the earth were closer or further from the sun, life as we know it would be impossible.
We see birds and sea creatures were created at the same time, not evolving slowly over millions of years.
The fossil record totally rejects the idea of millions of tiny changes. Most creatures stay the same over time.
Only an omnipotent God can create such a variety of land animals, and God shows His sense of humor, too, in the variety of unusual creatures that only a Creator could make up.
Credit to enduring word for commentary
Hey all!
I know you are probably like me and beginning to get an itch for Bible study again!
Many of you are still facing COVID restrictions. Thus, BSF is preparing diligently to open up new online class groups for you all to attend.
As far as I know, you can begin to sign up for these groups in August.
Visit here: http://www.bsfonline.org and sign up for email notifications for when this will be open for registration.
I’m SUPER excited about these online groups as it has been something I’ve been pushing since I started this blog many years ago. Bible study any time, any where. It doesn’t get much better! Who’s ready?
Take care and God bless!