Tag: bsf answers questions lesson 11 day 5

photo of Ezra 7-8 and his return to Jerusalem from bsf exile and return study www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 8:21-36

Ezra asked God for a safe journey. He gave the priests the silver, gold, and other articles to protect and carry to Jerusalem. Everyone (and the gold) arrived in Jerusalem safely, thanks to God.

They praised God and sacrificed burnt offerings to Him. They conveyed the King’s orders to the governors there, too.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

12a) They fasted and humbled themselves before God. They asked God for a safe journey.
b) It allows people to recognize that they totally depend on God. A humble posture of prayer recognizes God’s ultimate sovereignty, power, and goodness. It acknowledges our own limitations, vulnerability, and complete dependence on Him for protection and provision. It is an act of submitting our will to His authority and trusting in His character, not our own merit.
13a) Because he had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him,” so it would look like they didn’t trust God if they had asked.
b) I need to trust God with my coaching, my novel, and my future career.
14a) He put the provisions (gold, silver, and such) in the hands of the priests. He counted it out before they left and then, when they arrived to ensure it all had arrived safely and had not been stolen.
b) It’s just always a good idea to safeguard items. People learn that true faith and practical action work together. Ezra modeled this by fasting and praying (divine trust) while also creating meticulous accountability (human responsibility). His story shows God faithfully protects those who boldly depend on Him and manage His provisions with integrity.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

Great lesson on relying on God for all your life’s journeys!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

Fasting can have immense power.

Robbers were always a threat in ancient times. Yet, God was faithful!

The gold and silver were worth millions of dollars in today’s money. This was an important job, indeed.

God’s hand was upon them (as His is on us!).

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem took 4 months.

The accounting and stewardship were amazing here.

The burnt offerings showed gratitude to God and dedication to Him. A sin offering was made as well.

12 bulls for the 12 tribes of Judah.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 8:21-36 records Ezra’s profound act of faith, his meticulous care for God’s holy items, and the safe arrival of his contingent in Jerusalem, proving God’s faithfulness.

Interpretation

  • Faith over Fear (vv. 21-23): Before beginning the dangerous journey, Ezra proclaims a fast, asking God for protection. He does this because he had previously told King Artaxerxes that “the good hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him.” Ezra was ashamed to ask for a military escort after making such a bold declaration of faith. He chose to rely radically on God’s protection rather than the king’s army, and the text confirms, “He answered our prayer.”
  • Accountability and Sanctity (vv. 24-30): Ezra demonstrates wise leadership by entrusting the vast treasures of gold and silver to twelve consecrated priests and their Levite assistants. He weighs everything, gives them a solemn charge to guard these “sacred” items, and makes them accountable for delivering the exact weight upon arrival. This shows his respect for the sanctity of the items and his prudence in managing them.
  • God’s Protection and Mission Accomplished (vv. 31-36): The group completes the perilous four-month journey safely, as God delivers them from “enemies and bandits on the way.” Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they rest, meticulously weigh and deliver the treasures to the Temple, and offer burnt offerings to God. They also deliver the king’s decrees, ensuring the mission has the full backing of the Persian authorities.

Conclusion

This passage is a powerful testament to faith in action. Ezra’s decision to forgo a military guard was a risky demonstration of his total trust in God, and God honored that faith with safe passage. The section highlights a perfect balance of divine reliance (fasting and prayer) and human responsibility (meticulous accounting and stewardship), resulting in the successful completion of the mission and the joyful restoration of worship.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of 2 Peter 3

2 Peter 3:1-10:  Peter is imploring the people to wholesome thinking.  In the last days, scoffers will come, skeptical and evil, questioning God, forgetting the creation.  The world was destroyed in the flood and the day of judgment will come when the world will be destroyed by fire.

The Lord’s time is not our time; a thousand years are like a day. He is patient, giving everyone a chance to repent.  But the Day of Judgment will come, and everything will be destroyed.

You should live holy and godly lives until a new heaven and earth come. Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. Be on your guard so that you do not fall away.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

13a) Peter encourages us to wholesome thinking. wholesome thinking. He wants us to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. This is important because we must be ready for when Jesus comes again, and the devil is perpetually looking to trip us up and make us fall.

b) Those who do not believe in Jesus are wont to commit sins without repentance or caring. They justify their actions no matter whom they hurt. They act this way because they are slaves to the flesh, to themselves, to what feels good at the time, and to the devil. They have no moral compass as to what is right or wrong.

c) With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. It means that His time is not our time. We must have patience for God to do His thing for us.

14) The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

15a) We should live holy and godly lives. Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. This is accomplished by staying close to God and Jesus: praying, going to church and Bible study, surrounding yourself with believing friends, reading the Bible, and relying on God for everything.

b) He is encouraging me to keep going; to keep fighting the fight for Him. And, He is encouraging me to do His will for my life. He is encouraging me to explore more His will.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

I love how we are to stay close to God even though we know where we are going and are saved. We still must be vigilant in our walk with Jesus, and we are to be patient with events that happen in our lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

There are always those who doubt Jesus who don’t put him first in their lives.

Days can seem long to us, but they are mere hours to God. Nothing limits God, not even time.

God will keep His promises and come again once all have a chance to turn to Him.

Jesus will come quickly when he does come. We should live with this in mind, seeking God and righteousness.

Peter says we can hasten Jesus’ coming by being holy and through evangelism and prayer.

We must be careful that the Scriptures aren’t twisted by others.

We must always be abiding in Jesus and striving to grow our relationship with him. That is our calling. By continually growing in our walk with Jesus, we won’t fall.

We live differently and share the Gospel, so others can as well.

“Amen” is praising God and His blessings. It is an entreatment and a prayer at all at once. How powerful!

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 5: Genesis 18:1-15

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 18:1-15:

The Lord appeared to Abraham among three visitors one day while Abraham was resting in the heat of the day.  When Abraham saw these men, he hurried to greet them and bowed low, knowing one was God for he says, “my lord” while addressing them. Abraham entreats them to stay, and he washes their feet and brings food and drink for their comfort. They agree to stay.

Abraham bustles about, hurrying the preparations of bread, meat, and milk (it is God). The men ask Abraham where is Sarah. God Himself tells Abraham (again) that Sarah will have a child this time next year.

Sarah who was eavesdropping laughs, believing she is worn out. God, of course, hears Sarah and asks Abraham directly, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Then God says He will return this time next year and Sarah will have a son.

Then Sarah denies she laughed out of fear.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 5: Genesis 18:1-15

14a) They may not have invited the men to stay, nor feed them a meal. He selected the best calf to slaughter and brought curds and milk and baked bread. They both did the work themselves instead of servants, and we sense urgency in Abraham’s doings, indicating he knew his guests were special.

b) Personal Question. My answer: Attitude and joy, mainly. I either begrudge every moment and have a miserable time, or I have a good time and feel joy.

15) The first thing they ask is where is Sarah, so their visit was to confirm to Sarah that she would have a son. God says that when He returns, Sarah will have a son.

16) Because God heard Sarah laugh and knew she had.

17) Sarah had to believe God. We must believe God. God blesses (Luke 1:45) and rewards those who have faith (Hebrews 11:6; 11) Without faith you can’t please God.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 5: Genesis 18:1-15

I love how God includes Sarah and makes sure she understands and has faith in this culture where women did not matter. This shows God loves all equally.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 5: Genesis 18:1-15

It is possible that Sarah never conceived earlier because she never had faith in God’s promise.

Bible scholars believe this was only 3 months since the last time God appeared because Sarah is not pregnant yet.

Here we literally see the Triune God, appearing as 3 men. So cool!

map of mamre bible

We’ve seen Mamre a lot so far in the Bible

Abraham knew it was God. At what point, we are unsure. Did God appear the same? No one knows. He could have changed his appearance at will.

Note God called Sarah by her new name. (Genesis 17:15-16).

God says His promise over and over again because dumb humans need to hear it over and over again, albeit this appearance was for Sarah, not Abraham.  Genesis 17:17-22

Romans 10:17:  “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ”

Both knew they’d have a son only be God’s miraculous hand, which may have been why they had to wait so long because God wanted to make it clear it was a miracle.

Doubt Versus Faith

As time passes and things don’t happen in our lives as we believe they should, we doubt as we see here with Sarah and Abraham. During their childbearing years, they believed. Now, it’s hard for them to do so.

Great commentary on the tree and this passage HERE

Some scholars think Abraham and Sarah were not having sex for whatever reason so God needed to reinforce His will personally, which is why He appears here.  In other words, they did not believe God (they were doubting His word) and were doing nothing to fulfill God’s will for their lives.

God heard Sarah’s laugh. We should remember God hears everything. God does not punish them for their unbelief. God is faithful to His promises despite our doubt (2 Timothy 2:13). He never abandons us like we do Him.

Hard is the same Hebrew word for wonderful in Isaiah 9:6 referring to Christ.

God talks to Abraham about Sarah’s doubt since he is the head of the household. He is responsible for her faith, or, in this case, her unbelief.