Tag: bsf lesson 12 day 4

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 12, Day 4: Ezra 10:1-17

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

Summary of Ezra 10:1-17

Ezra continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. The people supported him and repented as well. Ezra issued a proclamation for the people to separate themselves from the people around them, including their foreign wives.  All the peoples agreed.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 12, Day 4: Ezra 10:1-17

9a) Ezra set the example, and the people followed. Ezra’s authentic public grief had a powerful impact, igniting a corporate conviction that caused the assembly to weep with him. His response didn’t just shame them; it moved them to take ownership, propose a radical covenant to separate, and commit to a unified, organized process of repentance.

b) How else will people change and follow the ways of the Lord if they don’t recognize the gravity of their sins? And, the Lord will forgive if sins are confessed. Grasping sin’s gravity is crucial because it reveals its true cost. It motivates genuine, costly repentance by showing sin as a relational rupture with God, not just a mistake. This understanding protects our community from corruption and magnifies our gratitude for the precious gift of grace and forgiveness.

10a) Shekaniah acknowledges that they have done wrong in the eyes of the Lord, but recognizes there is still hope. He proposes a solution: to make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

b) The plan was to separate themselves from the peoples around them and from their foreign wives.

11) Many times. I prayed about it and worked on it daily. Every time it was hard, but I am better, and while I still fail, every small step towards God is a victory!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 12, Day 4: Ezra 10:1-17

I love how we see the power of leaders setting the right example for the people to follow and the results when this happens. Great stuff!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 12, Day 4: Ezra 10:1-17

The heart of Ezra’s sorrow is what impacted the people so.

Shechaniah knew there was hope because of the power of God’s spirit working within the people to confess their sins. He proposed concrete action to fix it.

Divorce was permitted by the Law (Deuteronomy 24:1), and this seems to be a good reason to do so for the Israelites at the time.

The children would be expelled as well because children stayed with their mother. Children do suffer for the sins of their parents (then and now). But, it seems not all had children (Ezra 10:44).

Ezra issues a proclamation and fasts. The people all agreed.

The pagan wives would be examined, and if they agreed to follow the Lord, they could stay. There were only about 114 wives actually expelled. The rest converted.

God still takes a strong stance on marriage within the faith. Christians should marry Christians but if a Christian is married to an unbeliever, they should not divorce. Instead, they are to be a witness to the spouse and stay together for the kids (1 Corinthians 7:12-17).

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 10:1-17 details the community’s dramatic, unified response to the sin of intermarriage, moving from emotional grief to a practical, organized plan of repentance.

Interpretation

  • Public Confession (vv. 1-8): As Ezra wept and confessed, a massive assembly of men, women, and children gathered, joining him in bitter weeping. A leader named Shecaniah spoke for the people, acknowledging their sin but also declaring, “There is hope.” He proposed a radical, public covenant: to send away all foreign wives and their children. He urged Ezra to lead, and Ezra immediately made the leaders swear an oath to do it. A proclamation was then sent for every exile to gather in Jerusalem within three days or forfeit their property and be excommunicated.
  • Collective Agreement (vv. 9-15): The entire community gathered in the open square, trembling in the cold rain and from the gravity of the matter. Ezra stood and formally charged them to confess their sin and separate. The assembly shouted back in agreement, “It is our duty to do as you have said!” Recognizing that the sin was widespread and could not be handled in a day, they wisely proposed a systematic plan: a committee of leaders would investigate every case, town by town, over time.
  • The Process Begins (vv. 16-17): This proposal was accepted. Ezra and the appointed family heads immediately began the difficult investigation, which took them three full months to complete.

Conclusion

This passage is the climax of Ezra’s reform, showing a nation genuinely broken over its sin. It demonstrates a move from personal grief (Ezra’s) to corporate responsibility (the people’s). The community not only confesses but also commits to a painful and thorough process of purification, showing they were serious about restoring their covenant identity and turning away God’s wrath.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 5: Revelation 6:12-17

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

Summary of Revelation 6:12-17

Jesus opened the 6th seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black, the moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth. The heavens receded, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 5: Revelation 6:12-17

12) Exodus 19:18: Mount Sinai trembled, so both passages have earthquakes

Isaiah 34:4: All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. Both say that the stars will fall to the earth like figs dropping from trees. Both describe heaven as being rolled up/receding like a scroll.

Jeremiah 4:23-26: The mountains and hills were quaking, there were no people, and the light was gone from heaven. Both describe an earthquake, people hiding/not existing, and no light/stars in heaven.

Joel 2:30-31: The sun will be dark, the moon will be like blood. Wonders will be seen in heaven and earth. Both describe the sun as dark and the moon as red/blood. More wonders will be seen as well.

Zechariah 14:3-5: The mountains will split. People will flee. God will come. Both describe earthquakes and people running/fleeing/hiding. All before God comes.

13a) Hid in caves amongst the rocks of mountains. Refuge in God.

b) Psalm 46 says that God is our refuge and our strength. We shall not fear no matter what happens. The Lord is with us. He is our refuge. He will be exalted. Romans 5:1-11 says that we are saved, justified by the blood of Christ. We have peace with God because of our faith in Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us. This says a lot about God! God is everything we will ever need. All we have to do is hold onto Him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 5: Revelation 6:12-17

Basically, God is in control of everything that happens, and if we just give it all to Him, He will be our strength, our salvation, our hope, and our everything.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 5: Revelation 6:12-17

The 6th scroll is near the End.

There will be many natural disasters when God comes. God will use nature and nations to execute his judgment.

Many people/Bible scholars hold different opinions on whether these things described will happen before Jesus comes again or as he is coming again. Many believe these are ongoing and you can expect an intensification of these natural events right before Jesus comes again.

Your answer to “Who is able to stand?” is the only question you need to answer. Only believers in Christ will be left standing at the end.

God’s wrath will not matter to believers. Jesus bore this wrath for us already. We have no reason to fear, only to worship!

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 4: Revelation 6:9-11

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

Summary of Revelation 6:9-11

Jesus opened the 5th seal, and John saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God (Christian martyrs) and the testimony they had maintained. They asked how long they had to wait for the judgment of the world. Each was given a white robe and told to wait longer till all the martyrs had died.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 4: Revelation 6:9-11

9a) John saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God (Christian martyrs) and the testimony they had maintained. They asked how long they had to wait for the judgment of the world and to be avenged.

b) I know that Jesus will bring eternal judgment, so I look at evil in the world with that lens.

10a) The martyrs were told to wait longer till all the martyrs had died. God wants to give everyone a chance to come to him.

b) The white robes can represent garments of salvation, God’s righteousness wrapped around them. It is also a symbol of purity and victory.

11a) Christians should expect suffering and persecution because Jesus suffered and was persecuted. Romans 5:3-5 says, “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” 1 Peter 3:13-17 says that you are blessed if you suffer for doing good. 1 Peter 4:12-16 says that we share in God’s glory when we suffer. 1 Peter 5:10 says that God restores those who suffer. Suffering makes us strong, firm, and steadfast in Christ. 

b) I trust God because he is full of grace and forgives me all of my transgressions. He works all things for my good. He is with me and blesses me even in my hardships. He grows me in Him always. God is holy and true to His word. He will restore us and offer us everlasting life and eternity with Him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 4: Revelation 6:9-11

God is full of grace and merciful as He gives everyone a chance to come to Him. How awesome is He!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 12, Day 4: Revelation 6:9-11

The martyrs are depicted beneath the altar as their blood is poured out as an offering to God. Leviticus 4:7

They are taking refuge in Jesus’ sacrifice.

Asking God for revenge on evil is not wrong. We can expect God to protect His people and defend us and right the wrongs done to us. We’ve seen this before: (Genesis 4:10), (Numbers 35:33).

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 12, Day 4: John 8:31-47

by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

SUMMARY OF JOHN 8:31-47

Jesus told the people that The Truth will set those free who believes in him from sin. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Since they are looking to kill him, they are not free and are a slave to their father, the devil.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 12, Day 4: John 8:31-47

11a) The freedom Jesus offers is freedom from the bondage of sin’s guilt and consequences. He offers forgiveness. People receive this freedom when they believe in Christ’s saving grace.

b) Not having guilt from sin, the freedom to ask for and receive forgiveness for my sins from others, the freedom to fail and fall and have Jesus pick me up, the freedom to follow His will for my life.

12a) They are not Abraham’s descendants/children of Abraham if they are looking for a way to kill him. They belong to their father, the devil. If they belonged to Abraham, they would love him and hear what God says.

b) Because they did not belong to God, so they could not hear what God says. Instead, they belong to the devil so they hear his words and obey him.

c) Many ways. Prayer, consult the Bible, examine the character of the words. For example, are you being asked to commit a sin? Jesus would never say that. What does your gut tell you? Abiding/living like Jesus will help you know the Truth.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 12, Day 4: John 8:31-47

I love the freedom that Christ offers. There truly is nothing else like it.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 12, Day 4: John 8:31-47

Jesus is addressing those who believe in him, but have not yet fully committed to following him.

People must live by Jesus’ word to believe in him. When we abide in Jesus’ word and live it, we’ll know the truth. When we know the truth, we are free.

There is no escape from slavery to sin except through Jesus Christ. You can live a life of sin or a life of freedom. But, it’s for life.

Abraham is not their father in a spiritual sense. Their rejection of Jesus shows they don’t have the word or Christ in their lives; thus, they did not have freedom.

Jesus’ actions are consistent with God. The actions of unbelievers are consistent with the devil.

The religious leaders again bring up Jesus’ shady parentage  John 8:19

If you love God, you love Jesus. Period.

Jesus came from God and is different from God.

Unbelievers are of the devil. The devil only speaks lies. Your actions prove this to be so.

We must repent of our sins and turn from our old ways in order to follow Jesus’ teachings.

Only the Holy Spirit can give us the power to live as God intended.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 12, Day 4: Jonah 3

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF JONAH 3

God gives Jonah the same command twice to go to Nineveh and proclaim His message. Jonah obeyed.

It took Jonah 3 days to deliver God’s message to all the people: Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. When Jonah’s message reached the king of Nineveh, he ordered everyone to cover themselves in sackcloth, fast, and call on God. They were to give up their evil ways and violence. God saw this and relented. He did not punish them because they repented.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 12, Day 4: Jonah 3

10a) “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” A message of destruction.

b) The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. They called upon God and turned from their evil and violent ways. God does listen, and God’s word can change people and their lives.

11a) God is merciful. God listens. God relents. God warns. God gives people second chances. God is gracious, loving, and caring

b) I love second chances. I need them a lot. I love God’s mercy, too, for all my daily sins. I love God’s warning. I should listen more. These truths draw me closer to God.

12) This one is hard. Unsure. Hopefully, with my kids. I’ve learned to give God the glory for everything.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 12, Day 4: Jonah 3

So encouraging to see so many people turn to the Lord. God is gracious, loving, and caring. He loves us so much He never stops chasing us. How awesome!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 12, Day 4: Jonah 3

God had work to do through Jonah, and He was determined to accomplish it, despite how much we (humans) resist it.

Oftentimes, God only gives us enough information that we can process at one time. The rest will come in time and with faith.

The word “overthrown” was used in the destruction of other cities in the Bible, too.  (Genesis 19:25, Lamentations 4:6, and Amos 4:11).

Believing God is repenting. The people put on sackcloth (animal hair clothes essentially) and came to God. God, in his mercy, forgave.

Nineveh does receive judgment as we read in Nahum. It was just delayed 150 years out of God’s mercy.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 12, Day 4: Matthew 12:1-21

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 12:1-21

Jesus and his disciples were walking through fields of grain. His disciples were hungry, so they began to eat the grain heads. The Pharisees claimed this was unlawful. Jesus responded that David ate consecrated bread when he was hungry and the priests desecrate the day by doing temple work. He says one greater than the temple is here, since he, the Son of Man, is Lord of the Sabbath.

The Pharisees ask Jesus if it’s lawful to heal on the Sabbath. He uses the example of if a sheep had fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, would they not rescue it? It’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand, and the Pharisees plotted how to kill Jesus.

Jesus withdrew and healed all the sick, telling them to tell no one who he was. This fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 12, Day 4: Matthew 12:1-21

9a) No. The law was to do no work on the Sabbath. Picking heads of grain was not only allowed according to Deuteronomy 23:25, but it most definitely is not work. The law did not say, “starve on the Sabbath.”

b) Jesus responded that David ate consecrated bread when he was hungry and the priests desecrate the day. He says one greater than the temple is here, since he, the Son of Man, is Lord of the Sabbath. Mark 2:23:27 says the Sabbath is made for man and his rest. In 1 Samuel 21:4-6, we read that the priests gave David and his men consecrated bread to eat as long as they had kept themselves from women. Jesus meant that as Lord of the Sabbath, he can do what he pleases.

10) He cared more about people than laws.

11) The Pharisees are beginning to plot against him. Jesus knows he still has work to do before he is called home to God, so he withdraws to protect himself. He’s trying to keep a low profile and not draw attention to himself, so he tells those to not tell others, so he can continue his ministry here on earth.

12) I love how in his name, there is hope. Jesus’s name is so powerful that all we need to do is hope in him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 12, Day 4: Matthew 12:1-21

Human nature is to bring those down around you who are more successful than you, more popular, and who are helping others. Here, we see Jesus begin to suffer for his goodness.

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End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 12, Day 4: Matthew 12:1-21

This passage shows us how the Bible can be misinterpreted and the consequences thereof. The Pharisees would have Jesus and his disciples starve because in their minds they were doing work on the Sabbath. This is not what the Bible says at all.

Jesus, of course, never broke a law; he did break man’s interpretation of that law, and sometimes on purpose, to make a point.

Here, human need is more important than the rules of the Sabbath. Besides, Jesus says, the priests break the laws of the Sabbath constantly by performing their rituals, which is work. Mercy is more important than sacrificing for principles (Hosea 6:6)

Jesus once again proclaims his deity with his declaration that he is Lord of the Sabbath and greater than the temple, which was everything to the Jewish people at that time. He  himself is worthy of love, admiration, honor, sacrifice, service, and worship.

Jesus Healing on the Sabbath

Jesus sets the example of us going to church on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees try to set Jesus up with a man who needs healing, knowing Jesus will have compassion on the man and heal him.

Here, the Pharisees turn from just rejecting Jesus to plotting to murder him.

Jesus withdrew to preserve God’s plan for him. He healed all who came to him in faith, and this probably took a long time.

Jesus is the chosen Servant of God.  Matthew 20:25-28, Matthew 23:11, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:43-45. He still serves us by being our guiding light, our Savior, and loving us despite our sins every day.

Jesus doesn’t need to draw attention to himself; his deeds speak for themselves.

Jesus is gentle with those who are bruised and nourishes us who are like smoldering flames.

“The nations” refers to Jesus’s ministry to the Gentiles.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 12, Day 4: Genesis 19:15-29

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 19:15-29:

Finding no one else righteous to save, the angels told Lot to take his wife and two daughters and flee. Lot did not want to go. The angels pulled him and his family away, and God showed them mercy. They told them not to look back  or they would be swept away. Lot asked to flee to a small town instead, fearing he couldn’t make it to the mountains. The angels agreed.

When Lot was safe in this town called Zoar, God rained down burning sulphur on Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying them. However, Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Abraham saw the destruction the next morning, and God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out safely.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 12, Day 4: Genesis 19:15-29

10) Lot hesitated so the angels had to grasp his hand and pull him away. He still did not want to flee to the mountains as instructed, instead opting for a small town to rest in. Lot was so attached to his home he didn’t want to leave his nice life for an unknown life. This fear holds many of us back.

11) God’s judgement is complete and perfect, yet merciful, still giving everyone a chance to turn to Him.

12) Personal question. My answer: Good question. Unsure. Right to be right, maybe? Old life instead of new life. Clinging to security rather than risk.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 12, Day 4: Genesis 19:15-29

I love this story because it shows immediate consequences of disobeying God with Lot’s wife and oftentimes we see consequences later on down the road. Indecision and hesitancy are things we all face and have to overcome to choose God and his ways.

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End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 12, Day 4: Genesis 19:15-29

We see the angels were the ones who saved Lot and his family. They have to be pulled out of Sodom and urged forward. Luckily, God does this for us as well.

God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because there were only 4 righteous people, rather than 10. Genesis 18

Because Lot was so ingrained in the world, it’s hard to say if he was happy being saved or not.

Yet God in His righteousness would not destroy the righteous people, so He waited until they were save to rain down sulphur.

Many Bible scholars believe the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah now lie below the Dead Sea as the map shows to show God’s complete annihilation of the cities. Sodom and Gomorrah were beautiful places (remember Lot chose them for their beauty), yet the people within, all of whom could have turned to God, were the opposite of beautiful.

Lot’s Wife

Many Bible scholars believe this was a unique judgement on Lot’s wife and she did actually turn to salt. Other think she got caught up in the pyroclastic flow of the fire because she turned back. The verb in Greek connotates a looking intently, as if she paused and would not move forward.

We see Lot’s wife in  Luke 17:32  where Jesus speaks of the End Times where those who try to stay in the world will lose their life and not gain eternity.

Never look back in life; look forward to God instead. So many of us lose out on so many opportunities because we hesitate. Keep moving forward.

Abraham probably is grateful he is spared and sees God is faithful.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 12, Day 4: Genesis 13:14-18

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  The Lord told Abram He was giving him and his offspring all the land Abram could see forever.  God will make Abram’s offspring as numerous as the dust on the earth.  God told Abram to walk his land.  So Abram moved his tents and settled near Hebron where he built an altar to the Lord.

Questions:

8a)  Lot chose the best, greenest, most fertile land for himself.

b)  Abram stayed in Canaan which had been overgrazed.

c)  Not everything is as it seems.  Matthew 6 says you need to be concentrating on storing up treasures in heaven and not treasures on earth (or having the best) for where you treasure is lies your heart.  Matthew 10 says its about following Jesus and sacrificing all for him.  Matthew 19 reminds us its about giving and not receiving to earn treasures in heaven.  Luke reminds us the earth is not our home.

9)  Abram got all the land he could see forever plus his offspring would inherit it and his offspring would be numerous as dust.  Lot’s was probably temporary and subject to takeovers.

10a)  Matthew 19:29:  “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  My favorite is Matthew 5:10:  “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Luke 6:22-23:  “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”

b)  Our greatest blessing is having our sins forgiven and promised an eternal life with God.  What we give up seems paltry next to Jesus’s sacrifice especially in the 21st century.  When I read the Bible, God’s commandments in essence are simple. He asks nothing impossible of us.  Yet we fail repeatedly.  Overcoming our sinful nature is where the battle is but with training and practice we can all become better.

God does not ask us to give up much it seems.  To just be a good person.  Do what Jesus would do.  Hard?  Yes.  Impossible?  No.

Conclusions:  For Question 8 I had to go back to Genesis 13:10.  I believe our sacrifices for Jesus are small compared to his.  We must remember this world is not our home and if we keep that in the forefront of our minds when we are tempted by our eyes then we should be alright.

Myself, though, I’m jaded anyways.  I don’t believe half of what I see anyways.  If it’s too good to be true, it probably is, as the saying goes.

Yet so many get caught in the materialistic trap.  Just look at Black Friday.  I don’t leave the house on that day.  It’s not about the latest gadget.  It’s about the fact you are able to purchase the latest gadget through God’s provision.  So many lose sight of that.

Everything is God’s.  It is just on loan to us.