Tag: bsf lesson 17 day 4

photo of Zechariah 1:1-6 as God calls Zechariah to prophesy to the exiles in Jerusalem from bsf exile and return study www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

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

Summary of Zechariah 1:4-5

“Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5 Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever?”

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17 Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

7a) Don’t be like your ancestors. Turn from your evil ways and practices.

b) To remember what it was like in exile. They remembered that their ancestors died in captivity, proving sin has deadly consequences. They realized that while the prophets were gone, their warnings had come true. This forced them to admit that humans are temporary, but God’s Word is eternal and inevitably overtakes those who ignore it.

8a) Because if you don’t learn from history, you’ll repeat the mistakes of the past. Reflecting on history exposes the undeniable link between actions and consequences. It prevents repeating past failures by showing that while generations pass, truth remains constant. We gain wisdom from our ancestors’ errors, allowing us to choose obedience today rather than suffering the same regrets.

b) I think people can get too caught up in the guilt of it all, when they need to let it go, learn from it, and move forward. Past failures can create a prison of fear, convincing people that history inevitably repeats itself. Shame paralyzes them, making them feel defined by old wounds rather than future potential. This mindset blocks hope, causing them to surrender to cynicism instead of trusting God for a new beginning.

A healthy response acknowledges past failures without being defined by them. It involves honest confession and learning from mistakes, then accepting God’s grace to break the cycle. We use history as a guide, not a shackle, trusting that repentance opens the door to a new, redeemed future.

c) I have seen His faithfulness in all that I do, how He helps and guides me, and this helps me to trust Him as I move forward in life.

We learn that we are fragile and prone to wandering, highlighting our deep need for grace. Conversely, the past reveals God as the faithful constant. We see that while we change, He remains patient and sovereign, proving that His mercy is greater than our mistakes and His plan outlasts our failures.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

Great lessons about learning from your past and using history to trust in God. So good!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 17, Day 4: Zechariah 1:4-5

It’s important to learn from your ancestors the mistakes they made so that you do not repeat them.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

These verses act as a stern reality check regarding the consequences of ignoring God.

  • De-romanticizing the Past: Zechariah warns the people not to idealize their heritage. Their “fathers” (ancestors) had the same opportunity to repent when the “former prophets” (like Jeremiah and Isaiah) preached, but they stubbornly refused. Tradition is not an excuse for disobedience.

  • The Argument from Mortality: Verse 5 asks two haunting rhetorical questions: “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?” Zechariah is forcing them to look at the graveyards.

    • The ancestors are dead (many in exile), proving they could not outrun God’s judgment.

    • The prophets are dead, proving that the opportunity to hear God’s word through a specific messenger is limited.

Conclusion

Humanity is transient, but accountability is permanent. You cannot wait out God; the messengers will eventually pass away, and the stubborn will eventually die, but the window to repent is open now.

Great Gifts (Leftover Edition)!

https://amzn.to/3MhB1sG

https://amzn.to/43QouCK

https://amzn.to/3LXAmwz

https://amzn.to/43Jh3gz

https://amzn.to/4p5NHSk

https://amzn.to/4oS6PTz

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Contact me today!

photo of sea and earth www.atozmomm.com bsf revelation

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

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

Summary of Revelation 13:11-18

John saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.  This beast performed great signs, and it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast. It forced all people to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name, 666.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

9)  The second beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast. It performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people, which deceived them. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

10a) To deceive believers.

b)

Moses (Exodus 7:1-5): To make himself known and to rescue His people

Elijah (1 Kings 18:30-39): To show the world and His people that God is the One True God

Jesus (John 11:41-44; 20:30-31; Acts 2:19-21): To show others that God is God, to show others that Jesus is indeed the Son of God who has come to redeem God’s people so that people may have everlasting life. To bring others to God so that they can be saved from eternal damnation.

11a) The mark was on their right hands or on their foreheads, and it was the number 666. The mark allowed them to buy and sell goods.

b) The mark is our name written in the Book of Life, the seal of the Holy Spirit. The benefits are immense. We receive the Holy Spirit so that we can have the mind of Christ, so that we can understand God and His Word and live by God’s laws. It means our sins are forgiven, we can be with God, and we receive eternal life with God in heaven. It means we are redeemed!

c) God protects us by giving us no more temptations than we can handle. He gives us weapons to avoid sin, such as prayer, His word, and the Holy Spirit to guide us. He intervenes when He needs to to keep us safe. He sends others to us with messages from God and to protect us from others. He is so, so good! I have way too many times when God has protected me. He has given me an innate feeling when something is not right, and I have bolted, which has saved me many times!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

I love the graciousness of God to make Himself known! I love the idea in Ephesians of us being God’s possession. What else could you want besides God to have and hold you?

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 17, Day 4: Revelation 13:11-18

This second beast is subordinate to the first beast and comes from the earth, not the sea.

This beast is a false prophet. (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10)

This makes 3 evil beings we’ve seen (dragon, the beast from the sea, and the beast from the earth) that form a perverse trinity.

It is important that we are made aware of these false prophets and their signs because we don’t know when they will show themselves. We must always be vigilant for them.

We must all be careful because the image of the beast will appear very real to us. It is what is referred to as the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

If you don’t have the mark of the beast, you will most likely die because you can’t buy or sell goods.

Letters were assigned numeric values in ancient times, which is why the beast’s name is 666.

Bible commentators have put forth dozens of theories on who the person may be with numbers that add up to 666. Interestingly, the letters of Jesus add up to 888. 666 falls way short of Jesus (obviously). No doubt it is an unholy Trinity.

The beast is impersonating Christ. That is all it can do. It has no originality whatsoever.

Top New Year’s Gifts

https://amzn.to/3OSBVKz

https://amzn.to/4fhqR4c

https://amzn.to/4fkXIVT

https://amzn.to/4gvtZun

https://amzn.to/4iDFZf5

https://amzn.to/3DcuuLn

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Contact me today!

broadmoor hotel colorado springs www.atozmomm.com bsf john

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21

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

Summary of John 13:18-21

Jesus said, “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me,” meaning God.

He also says one of them will betray him.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21

9a) It was predicted that Jesus would be betrayed in Psalm 41:9: Even my close friend,
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned against me.

b) That if Jesus was betrayed, we can be betrayed, too. Yet, Jesus forgave Judas, as we must forgive those who betray us, too.

10a) The devil. The devil has a way to twist everything, even what we see with our own eyes. We must be wary of this and fortify ourselves with the power of Jesus in order to overcome.

b) Betrayal is a violation of your trust in someone else. Because it’s someone we know and care about (or someone we think we know), which hurts more than a stranger because we trusted them.

11) Another example of his omniscient powers to strengthen the disciples’ faith in him and for later generations to have more faith, too.

12) Because he loved Judas, and no one wants to see their loved one go down the wrong path of evil.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21

Jesus loves despite betrayal. So must we.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21

When you reject Jesus, you reject God, too.

Contact me today!

Best New Year’s Gifts

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

people of the promise kingdom divided lesson 17 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

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

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 23:21-30; 2 CHRONICLES 35

2 Kings 23:21-30:

Josiah orders everyone to celebrate the Passover. Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger.

Josiah was killed in battle by the King of Egypt. He was buried, and his son Jehoahaz became king.

2 Chronicles 35:

Josiah celebrates the Passover. He goes to battle with the King of Egypt who tried to warn Josiah not to fight him or he would die. Josiah ignores him and dies.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

9a) “Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem.” The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. 

It was a grand celebration that had not been seen for so long. He followed the instructions in the book of the Law exactly as written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon.

b) Josiah goes all out in worship of the Lord – as we should.

10a) He goes to battle with the King of Egypt who tried to warn Josiah not to fight him or he would die. Josiah ignores him and dies.

b) Pride maybe. Maybe he thought he could help or postpone God’s judgment.

c) God speaks through other people sometimes, and we can’t ignore them. We need to take new knowledge to God to confirm and not let pride get in our way.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

It is so good to celebrate God as He should be celebrated.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 17, Day 4: 2 Kings 23:21-30; 2 Chronicles 35

2 Kings 23:21-30:

Josiah celebrates Passover and reforms Judah. Josiah was Godly in a wicked time in Israel’s history. And, it wasn’t long after him that Judah would be judged. Jeremiah says that God would have relented (Jeremiah 7:5-7) if they only followed Him. Instead, they would face judgment, and Josiah dies.

2 Chronicles 35:

Josiah celebrates Passover for the first time since Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30:1-3). Sacrifices were made, and it was a wild success.

Josiah disregards God’s warning and goes to war. The was was between the Babylonians and the Assyrians, not Judah. The warning delivered via King Necho was from God. Josiah pays the ultimate price – his death. The disguise did not fool God.

Contact me today!

Great New Year Gift Ideas

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Jesus giving Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven peter paul reubens www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 16:17-20

Jesus blesses Simon, saying God revealed to him who he was. He names him Peter, which means rock, and he will build his church that Hades (hell) cannot overcome. Jesus will give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven. He told his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Christ.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

9) Jesus blesses Simon, saying God revealed to him who he was.

10a) Jesus will be the rock (the foundation) of the church.

b) He will build his church that Hades (hell) cannot overcome. Whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever he loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven, meaning whoever believes he is the Son of God will be free from sin; those who don’t will be bound forever.

11a) The Gospel frees those from Old Testament laws.

b) In every way (such a broad question with so many answers). Freedom allows me to follow Christ’s path for me.

Conclusion BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

My answers are short here. See more explanation in the End Notes.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 17, Day 4: Matthew 16:17-20

God divinely inspired Peter when he spoke, saying who Jesus was.

Jesus renamed Peter the rock, and he would become a rock for the disciples after Jesus’s death.

“This rock” is Jesus. The church will be built upon Jesus, although some Bible scholars say the rock here is Peter or even the confession itself.

Fun Fact: This is the first use of the word ‘church’ in the Bible. Fitting it is spoken by Jesus.

Jesus was prophesizing the founding of the church.

The Greek word for church, ekklesia, meant group. Thus, the church is a group.

Note Jesus says “my church.” We belong to him.

Hell will not penetrate the church, meaning God’s people will overcome sin, death, and Satan.

Peter the Disciple

Jesus will give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. This is why Peter is usually depicted in art with keys. This symbolizes Jesus giving Peter the authority to unlock the Gospel to the world.

This passage is a basis for many images of Peter. There is no doubt that Peter was special. Some think he stands at the gates of heaven, letting people in or blocking their entrance.

  • He is always listed first when the disciples are listed in the Bible.
  • He paved the way for the Jews Acts 2:38-39 and the Gentiles Acts 10:34-44 to come to heaven.

Binding and loosing is an idea during that time that pertained to the law. To be bound was to be prohibited and be put under the law. To loose was to permit and be free from the law. Here, Jesus gives Peter and the disciples the power to define the New Covenant church and set the rules.

Sinners would be set free from sin and death (loosed). Those who refuse to believe are bound in sin.

Jesus set the rules for the disciples, which explains them taking the grains in the fields  (Matthew 12:1-8).

Peter and the disciples would set the New Covenant, including dietary rules. Still, Jesus was not ready for all to know he was the Christ (probably because the disciples were not ready and he needed more training time).

Contact me today!

esau discovers Jacob received Isaac's blessing www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 4: Genesis 27:30-41

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 27:30-41:

Esau returns, saying the same words as Jacob, asking his father to sit up, eat, and bless him. Isaac realizes he had been tricked with Esau’s arrival. Esau wants his father’s blessing, but Isaac says it is too late.

Esau is angry how Jacob tricked him into taking his birthright and his blessing. Isaac tells Esau that Jacob will be lord over him and everything and then tells him the future that he will dwell away from the earth’s riches and the dew of the heavens. He will live by the sword and serve his brother. But he will throw off his yoke. Esau plans to murder Jacob once Isaac has passed.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 4: Genesis 27:30-41

10) Esau does not respect the birthright by giving it to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:31). He marries pagan women who were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:35). Esau is angry and keeps demanding Isaac’s blessing in Genesis 27, which truly only God can give.

11a) Regret means,”feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity).” You wish you had not done whatever you  are regretting. Repentance means, “the action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse.” You look at your actions and feel regret for what you did wrong. According to Wikipedia, repetance means: Repentance is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, which is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better. In Judaism and Christianity it is often defined as an action, turning away from self-serving activities and turning to God, to walk in his ways.

b) Esau shows regret over selling his birthright and missing out on the blessing (Genesis 27:36). Isaac shows regret that he blessed Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 27:33), but repentance when he realizes that God’s will is done (Genesis 27:37-40).

2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

12) Everything works together for my good (Romans 8:28). That God is in control. He has this; I don’t. It is as God has meant it to be.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 4: Genesis 27:30-41

Esau reacts out of anger and vows to kill Jacob instead of accepting God’s ulimate authority and will. Isaac realizes God’s will has been done, and he accepts it.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 17, Day 4: Genesis 27:30-41

Isaac’s trembling could be because he realizes that God is in control no matter what he tries to do. He also realizes he was wrong in trying to circumvent God and does not try to retract his blessing. He knows God’s will has been done and tells Esau this as well.

Esau is angry (rightfully so). However, he knows God’s words from His revelation to Rebekah, yet he fights against them. Now that he’s older, he understands that the birthright brings material advantages as well. Here, he cares about it for the first time and wants it back, blaming Jacob when God had already chosen.

Esau wept not out of a sense of wrongdoing or repentance, but out of sense of what he had lost in material wealth and privilege. (Hebrews 12:15-17) shows how Esau was rejected despite his tears and plea here.

 

bible study fellowship www.atozmomm.com

Isaac Blesses Esau

These comforting words from Isaac about Esau’s future were not bad and could be considered a blessing. Many Bible scholars believe that “your dwelling will be away from the earth’s presence” should read “from” without the away. This means he will be a nomad, he will have to fight to live, but he won’t be under Jacob his entire life.

We’ll see later that Esau was blessed, indeed. (Genesis 33:9)

Esau was jealous of Jacob and wanted to kill him when Isaac died. Little did he know this would be decades down the road.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 17, Day 4: Genesis 21:8-21

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  Isaac grew and Abraham held a great feast for him on the day he was weaned.  Sarah saw Ishmael was mocking so she told Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael.  Abraham was distressed by God told him to do as Sarah says for it is Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.  He will also make Ishmael into a nation also.

So Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away.  They wandered in the desert of Beersheba. They ran out of water and Hagar and Ishmael began to cry.  An angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar and told her God had heard the boy crying.  Take him by the hand for God will make him into a great nation.

God provided water and was with the boy as he grew up.  He lived in the desert of Paran and became an archer.  His wife was Egyptian.

Questions:

9a)  Act haughty, despise their masters, be jealous of Isaac, be prideful and boastful of being Abraham’s son

b)  Because Ishmael is a slave, meaning he does not share in the freedom Christ brings believers, and he persecutes Isaac or believers.

c)  He provided them water in the desert and gave them assurance and peace about their path.  God was with Ishmael as he grew up and blessed him with 12 kids, each who were tribal rulers.  He gave them a place to settle and rule.

d)  Personal Question.  My answer:  1 Peter here doesn’t help me.  We’ve read it before this year.  It assures me in the fact that God cares for all of His children even those who are not liked by others and who bear a difficult life and who according to Galatians are not free and are of the flesh.  Thus, He cares for me as well.

Besides this, I’m not assured because I am a believer; whereas, Ishmael was not so the comparison is hard to make.

10a)  Ishmael wants to dominate and win over Isaac and receive God’s blessing.  Same with sin which wants to dominate the Spirit.  It’s the devil versus God and only you can decide who will win.

It is a conflict still raging today:  following God in the flesh versus following God in faith through the promise.

b)  The sinful nature has died in a believer so that the Spirit may rule.  Here, Ishmael was removed so Isaac could win.

There is no reconciliation with the flesh.  We must either trust in the Spirit or the flesh and the decision must be final.

11a)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Struggles we all have:  to do what is right versus what is wrong; to listen to God or to the world; to do the easy thing or the hard thing; to fight for our beliefs or let it slide; to do God’s work or to not even bother; to take up the sword and fight or to give in; to cut off others who are sapping our Spirit or to continue in a lackluster and drama-ridden relationship.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  The Spirit and therefore I live and the sinful nature is put to death.  The Spirit leads me to do what is right against sin and to overcome it.  The Spirit wins.  It’s not always easy.  But my faith prevails.

Conclusions:  Maybe I’m just being lazy today but I cringed every time I was sent to another passage today.  I thought Ah, I don’t want to read anymore or look anything else up.  Especially 1 Peter.  I’m not for sure if this is a symptom of this year where it seems like we are constantly being sent elsewhere or what but today I was weary of it.

I liked how Ishmael is sin so he must be sent away in order for the Spirit (Isaac) to prosper.  I had never thought of it like this before.  A good lesson in how sin (the flesh) must be vanquished in order for us, the Spirit, to thrive.  We must make difficult decisions at times so we can accomplish God’s purpose for us here on earth.

End Note:  Here’s a map where people say the Desert of Paran is: http://bibleatlas.org/full/paran.htm

This makes sense to me because Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt through the wilderness of Paran in Numbers so it would be in the Sinai Peninsula.

However, some say Paran is in Saudia Arabia where Mecca was since Ishmael was an Arab it would make sense he would settle here where Islam began.

This could be true as well since no one knows how big the area called the Paran was.  It could be a whole desert area that encompasses both the Sinai and Arabia.

You make the call.