remember god's promises www.atozmomm.com

Friday Digest: BSF’s Study of Genesis Lesson 6

WHAT YOu NEED TO KNOW IN GENESIS CHAPTER 8-9:17:

  • God judges sin but always offers deliverance
  • It rained for 40 days and 40 nights, and it took 110 days for the floodwaters to recede
  • God is faithful
  • We exist only because of God’s grace

Take Away: Every time you see a rainbow, remember God’s promises to you.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 6, Day 5: Genesis 5:25-32

Summary of passage:  Methuselah became the father of Lamech who was Noah’s father. Noah fathered Shem, Ham and Japheth.  All lived long lives.

Questions:

11)  Methuselah and he was 969 years old.

12)  God kept Seth’s descendants alive longer than others so they would have a chance to repent before he sent the flood (right after Methuselah died).  Also, Seth’s descendants lived right after the Fall.  God had intended man to live forever so because it was so close to the Fall, God kept man alive longer.

I would speculate God wanted the earth populated so he allowed man to live longer so he could procreate more.

Also, the atmosphere/environment was very different before the flood destroyed everything.  Think of the differences say in the times of Dinosaurs and Ice Ages.  The world was a different place.  Everything was teeming with life.  No pollutants or hazards in the environment.  Probably little illnesses and diseases as of yet.  Abundant food.  We don’t hear of starvation during this time.  Genetically, there probably wasn’t a lot of harmful mutations yet.  God is still very, very close to His people here–physically–so they lived longer.

As more and more generations passed, more and more turning from God entered the world.  Sin accumulated.  Thus, I would say God decided to shorten man’s life in accordance.  To lessen the evil we do to ourselves and in the world.

Ultimately, it’s God’s will and grace that determines how long we live.  The rest is just speculation.

Conclusions:  The only day I liked in this lesson.  It shows how everything is God’s will and is in His grace.  Perfect lesson for me today.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 6, Day 4: Genesis 5:18-24

Summary of passage:  Jared had Enoch and then he died.  Enoch had Methuselah.  Enoch walked with God and was taken up to heaven.

Questions:

8 )  Jude says Enoch prophesied.  Hebrews says he was commended as one who pleased God.  Genesis says Enoch walked with God.

9)  No.  He was taken up to heaven but did not experience a physical death.

10a)  Enoch was just taken up to heaven as those of us who are living in Christ (the faithful) shall be taken up to heaven when the Lord comes.

b)  We will all rise and be changed and given a new body.  The Lord will come down from heaven and with a loud command and trumpet call the dead in Christ will rise.  Then the living in Christ will rise and be with the Lord forever.

c)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Rising again to be with Christ forever.  Gives me hope.

Conclusions:  I’m REALLY not liking this lesson.  I just feel like BSF is spending way too much time on Genesis 5 and an obscure guy named Enoch.  Furthermore, we discussed all of this in Acts last year.  We read Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Thessalonians and discussed Enoch as well.  I just don’t see his importance like BSF does.

Question 8 had no specifics.  We don’t know why Enoch was commended with God or how he exactly walked with God.  We just know he did something to be taken up to heaven by God.  I just don’t see how this applies to my life.

For me, I didn’t get anything out of this lesson and am ready to move on to Lesson 7.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 6, Day 3: Genesis 5

Summary of passage:  A written account of Adam’s line.  God created man (Adam) in His likeness.  Then Adam had a son, Seth, in his likeness instead of God’s since Adam had ushered sin into this world.  Seth had Enosh.  Enosh had Kenan.  Kenan had Mahalalel.  Mahalalel had Jared.  Jared had Enoch.  Enoch had Methuselah.  Methuselah had Lamech.  Lamech had Noah.  Noah had Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Enoch walked with God so he did not die we are told.

Questions:

5a)  “And then he died”

b)  John 3:6-8: You must be born again in the Spirit

John 8:24:  If you don’t believe in Jesus, you will die in your sins

Romans 5:14:  Death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses.  Adam was the pattern of the one to come.

Romans 6:23:  The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus

6)  That Adam was created sinless but Seth was not.  Once Adam sinned, all man was born into sin; thus, Seth was as well.  But if you believe in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross, you will be made righteous and be justified before God.

Conclusions:  All men are born sinners.  But all men can be redeemed through Jesus Christ our Savior.

7a)  “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more because God took him away.”  He did not die.  The writer of Hebrews thus commends Enoch as a man of faith since “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:5-6

b)  In Genesis 5, we only have one example of faithfulness (Enoch) and we know nothing about him except he walked with God.  There could have been others but none are mentioned specifically.  So, it encourages me to walk with God.

Conclusions:  I see Genesis 5 as nothing more than a genealogy to Noah.  So, I re-read the questions and am trying to think about what I’m supposed to get out of this besides we all die but can be redeemed through Jesus.

Enoch walked with God but that is all we are told–no specifics.  So a guy who’s mentioned a handful of times in the Bible doesn’t really encourage me.

I think the question would have been better asking who has encouraged us in our commitment to God and how instead of pointing to a dead guy none of us know.

Again, not getting much out of this one either.  Either I am struggling to get a personal application out of a list of names or BSF is struggling to get a personal application question out of a genealogical record.

Either way I’m not getting much.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 6, Day 2: Genesis 4:25-26 with Psalm 34

Summary of passages:  Genesis 4:25-26:  Adam and Eve had another son named Seth.  Seth had a son named Enosh.  At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.

Psalm 34:  David says he will extol the Lord at all times so the afflicted may hear and rejoice.  He sought the Lord who answered him and delivered him from all his fears. Those who look to Him are radiant and never in shame.  The Lord heard the poor man call and He saved him out of all his troubles.

Blessed are those who take refuge in Him.  Fear the Lord and you will lack nothing.  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The Lord’s ears are attentive to the righteous’ cry.  He delivers them from all his troubles.  He protects him.  He is against those who do evil.

He redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who take refuge in Him.

Questions:

3a)  Well, the only possible answer is men began to call on the name of the Lord.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Bring all my troubles to God.  Pray.  Continually talk about God.  Shine His light into society through my actions.

4a)  If you seek the Lord, He answers you and delivers you from all your fears.  Those who seek Him lack no good thing.  The Lord hears those who cry out and He delivers them from all their troubles.  His ears are attentive to your cry.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  That the Lord hears me and delivers me from ALL my troubles.  Knowing I can bring every little thing to Him gives me peace of mind.

Conclusions:  Not a fan of this lesson either especially 3b.  It’s a stretch.  Now I’m assuming we’re only talking about Genesis and NOT Psalm here because it’s a 3b and question 4 discusses Psalm.  Could be wrong here though.

Calling on the Lord, to me, is a personal thing.  It’s when I’m on my knees, pouring my heart out.  It’s not in a grocery store where people think I’m a freak.  Yes, showing my family how to call on Him is very important.  Influencing society?  Not quite sure except to tell others how you rely on Him.

You have to walk that fine line where people don’t think you are a freak.

Just my take again.  Could have missed the point completely.