Tag: bsf lesson 18 day 2

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 18, Day 2: Isaiah 1:1 and Others

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

ISAIAH 1:1

“The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 18, Day 2: Isaiah 1:1 and Others

3a) Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah

b) The spiritual climate was tumultuous to say the least. The people were ungodly and were moving further away from God, as were some of Judah’s kings. Uzziah and Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Ahaz did not. He practiced child sacrifice amongst others horrors. and Hezekiah did what was right. The service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished under his reign.

4)

1:2-3: God’s children have rebelled against him (His people).

1:16-18: Isaiah beseeches God’s people to stop doing wrong.

9:19; 22:5: God will bring judgment on those who have turned from Him by scorching the land and the people.

9:6; 11:1-3: Jesus will save God’s people.

27:6; 32:1-2: 40:1-2; 43:1-2: Israel will be saved. Kings will rule in righteousness and with justice. Israel’s sins will be paid for; they will be redeemed.

5a) I loved the redemption (Isaiah 43:1-2). God will summon me by name and be with me. It’s so full of hope.

b) God’s promises.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 18, Day 2: Isaiah 1:1 and Others

Isaiah was my first study in BSF so many years ago, and I am looking forward to this part of the study again!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 18, Day 2: Isaiah 1:1 and Others

About the Book of Isaiah

This is the first and largest of the Major Prophets books.

Isaiah was a prophet mainly to the Southern kingdom of Judah from between 740 to 680 B.C.  Israel, the Northern kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. during Isaiah’s ministry.

This was the time period we’ve been studying (2 Kings 15 through 21 and 2 Chronicles 26 through 33)

Isaiah was a prophet with Hosea and Micah. The other prophets Elijah, Elisha, Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, and Amos had already passed.

Keep in mind, before Isaiah, the judges ruled Israel. Then Saul, David, and Solomon ruled. Israel broke into two kingdoms in 917 B.C.

Israel in the north had 18 kings who did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Judah in the south had 11 kings before Isaiah, with some bad and some good.

Israel is in the crosshairs of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon who were all fighting for power.

Fun Fact: Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament. In fact, he is quoted more than any of the other prophets combined (21 times).

Isaiah predicted the Son of God a lot in his book.

Fun Fact: There are seven men in the Bible called Isaiah, which mans “salvation of the Lord.”

When you consider that Jesus began his ministry by quoting Isaiah (Luke 4:16-21), that should tell you the importance of this book.

Facts About Isaiah

  • Isaiah was married
  • He was the father of at least two sons (Isaiah 7:3 and 8:3)
  • He lived in Jerusalem (Isaiah 7:3, 22:1, 37:2, 38:5, and 39:3)
  • He was advisor to the kings of Judah
  • The book of Isaiah was written about the same time as Homer was writing The Illiad and The Odyssey
  • Isaiah is the most eloquent book in the Old Testament
  • Isaiah speaks about the nature of God and His plan for the earth

Organization of Isaiah

  • Isaiah 1-12: Isaiah warns Judah when the nation is prosperous under Jotham and Ahaz
  • Isaiah 13-23: Isaiah speaks to the nations around Judah
  • Isaiah 24-35: Earth’s future and messages to Judah as Assyria is about to invade
  • Isaiah 36-39: The crises of King Hezekiah (an interlude)
  • Isaiah 40-48: Prophecies of Babylon 200 years into the future
  • Isaiah 49-55: Hope through Jesus
  • Isaiah 56-66: Warnings to Judah and more about the future

Fun Facts about the Book of Isaiah

  • The Bible has 66 books; Isaiah has 66 chapters
  • 1st 39 chapters address judgment and hope like the Old Testament
  • Last 27 chapters announces hope in Christ like the New Testament
  • Sin, salvation, and hope are the major themes like the New Testament

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 2: Matthew 17:1-5

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 17:1-5

Jesus went up a mountain with Peter, James, and John. Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. Peter offers to build three shelters for them — one for each of them. Then, a bright cloud enveloped all of them and God spoke, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 2: Matthew 17:1-5

3a) They saw Jesus’s face that shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus.

b) Peter says he was an eyewitness of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God when God spoke at the Transfiguration.

4) Both Moses and Elijah were dead, so this shows God’s power to raise the dead. This shows how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecy, and it’s where Jesus can shine his glory, too.

5) Peter offers to build three shelters for them — one for each of them. This is a culture where hospitality rules, so Peter probably thought Moses and Elijah might stay awhile and would need a comfortable place to sit and talk.

6a) This moment was not about meeting earthly needs, like shelter, but instead was about shining God’s glory on and through Jesus. God did not want Peter to distract anyone or taper the message at all.

b) Listen to Jesus’s calling on my life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 2: Matthew 17:1-5

I wonder why Jesus chose only these three disciples to go with him. This would be something I wouldn’t want to miss!

Love this book with this lesson! God calls us to listen to Jesus; Jesus listens to us!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 18, Day 2: Matthew 17:1-5

The Transfiguration takes place approximately three years into Jesus’s three and a half years of ministry. It is about one week after Jesus first tells his disciples he will be killed. The whole point is to reinforce to these three disciples who he really is. Transfiguration comes from the Latin “trans,” which means across and “figura,” which means shape or form. Thus, a change in shape.

Why did Jesus only take these three disciples? No one knows, as we are not told. Some say Jesus only took three because he wanted the Transfiguration to remain a secret (Matthew 17:9). Others say he only needed a few witnesses.

No one knows which mountain the Transfiguration took place on. There are guesses:

  • Mount Tabor
  • Mount Hermon
  • Mount Miron

Jesus was transformed both inside and outside. Many Bible scholars point out that the real miracle was that Jesus appeared an ordinary man for so long and hid his glory from all. The disciples see Jesus’s true glory.

Moses and Elijah

Moses was the first great lawgiver, and Elijah was the first great prophet. In addition, Moses had been dead 1400 years and Elijah 900 years.

Here, we have the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) represent the Old Testament at this moment. They appeared in order to show the two institutions that Jesus had come to fulfill.

They spoke of the cross. How cool!

The Greek word for departure is “exodos,” where we get Exodus from. Thus, Jesus delivers as he departs. Cool!

Peter (of course) is the one to speak. The problem is he didn’t know what he was saying (Mark 9:6 and Luke 9:33  His words put Jesus at an equal level as Moses and Elijah — not good.

God appears in a cloud to save Peter from himself essentially. This is the same cloud of Glory God appears in in the Old Testament known as shekinah. As you know, no one can see God’s face and live, so this is fitting since the disciples are there.

Here, we clearly see Jesus above all else and everyone else.

Listen to Jesus! The one voice that matters.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 2: Genesis 28:1-9

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 18:1-9:

Isaac blesses Jacob and tells him to find a wife amongst the house of his mother in Paddan Aram (Northern Mesopotamia) among the daughters of Laban, Abraham’s brother. He blesses Jacob, giving him the blessing of Abraham to inhabit the land and increase in number. Esau learned that Isaac had been sent to find a wife that was not a Canaanite. So he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath in addition to his current wives.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 2: Genesis 28:1-9

3) This blessing was to become fruitful and multiply so that they could inherit the Promised land. Previously, the blessing had consisted of blessing the land with richness, having nations serve him, and being lord over his brothers. He also cursed those who cursed him and blessed those who blessed him. (Genesis 27:27:29)

4) Isaac encouraged him to find a wife that was not a Canaanite.

5) Haven’t recently.

6) Esau learned that Isaac had been sent to find a wife that was not a Canaanite. So he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath in addition to his current wives. This doesn’t make sense. It’s an act that is too little, too late. Esau should have sought God to avoid all these mistakes in the first place.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 2: Genesis 28:1-9

We see how little amount of godly people actually exist since Jacob has to go to the same place Isaac did to find a wife.

map of jacob fleeing to haran www.atozmomm.com genesis 28

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 2: Genesis 28:1-9

Since Jacob was the one who would inherit the birthright, he had to have a godly wife.

God Almighty here is El Shaddai, first used in  Genesis 17:1 where God was talking to Abraham. This shows the blessing of God and the covenant being passed.

We see this blessing being passed to Jacob (Genesis 12:7, 15:8, 17:7-8). Jacob was promised a land, a nation, and a blessing like Abraham was. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Here we see God’s sovereignty play out with the choice of Jacob who was chosen by God’s grace alone. He would not see Isaac again for 20 years.

Esau went to marry women that weren’t Canaanite, too. I say this is too little, too late.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 18, Day 2: Genesis 22:1-10

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  God calls Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac as a burnt offering in the mountains of Moriah. So Abraham faithfully takes Isaac to where God calls him, bounds his son, and prepares to kill him.  On the journey, Abraham tells Isaac that God will provide the burnt offering.

Questions:

3a)  God tests everyone but I think God had to be sure Abraham trusted Him after all the wishy-washyness from before.  Abraham does not trust God to provide for him so he flees to Egypt.  He sleeps with his maidservant to have an heir.  And he laughs at God when God says Sarah will have a son.

God has to be sure Abraham finally has faith and trust in Him.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  We never know what we will do in a situation until it arises.  We say we will give it all up to follow Jesus but when the time comes, do we?  We say we would lay down our life for another but would we if the situation actually presents itself?

Thus, tests are necessary to grow our faith.  Here, God had to be sure of Abraham’s heart and this was the ultimate test.

4a)  Verse 2  “Take your son, your only son, whom you love”

b)  Verse 1:  Abraham says “Here I am” when called by God.  Remember Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden when called.  Abraham never questions (at least that is recorded like when he did for Sodom).  The very next day (verse 3) early in the morning Abraham sets out for where God said to go.  He follows God’s instructions exactly.  He answers Isaac with faith, saying God will provide the sacrifice in verse 8.  He has the knife, ready to strike, when the angel stops him (verse 10).

5a)  Obeying His voice pleases God more than burnt offerings.  This verse doesn’t say what kinds He rejects for He didn’t reject burnt offerings in the Old Testament; He, in fact, required them.  So not sure about what He rejects except maybe the opposite of obeying:  disobeying Him.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  He is asking me to have faith in what my husband is doing with his job.  Personally, not sure.  I got a lot going on right now and my novel has been put on the back-burner once again.  My heart is just not in it right now.  Not sure if that’s God or the devil.  Also, I am really struggling to exercise.  And I haven’t been sleeping really well either.

So I’m trying to support my husband in his job search.  I’m still trying to figure out my novel thing for I still feel it’s God’s work somewhere in there.  And just continue writing in general.

Conclusions:  Great emphasis on testing for we are all tested and most of the time none of us like it because it’s hard.  But everything works together for our good and we must walk through the fire and grow with Him.  Never easy to do.

No one is exempt.  Even though we think people are such as rich people or celebrities we know they are all tested as well just in different ways.  Thankfully, we aren’t asked to sacrifice our kids like Abraham was because that’s one I’m not sure I’d pass.  But each of our tests are just as significant and meaningful and important to God.  We would do well to remember that.

Abraham is trusting even when he doesn’t understand or doesn’t feel like it.  It’s about faith and obeying God and doing it, not how we feel about it.

Abraham believes God will raise his son from the dead once killed.  He is prepared to kill him but he knows anything is possible with God.

It is thought Isaac is in his thirties at this time and he hasn’t had any kids yet.  Isaac is just as trusting in God because he willingly lied down on the altar.  He could have overpowered his elderly father and ran but he didn’t.  He was just as faithful as Abraham here.

This is the difference between trusting in the promise versus trusting in the Promiser (God).  If we trust the Promiser, then the promise will be taken care of.

Map of Moriah:  http://bibleatlas.org/mount_moriah.htm

This same mountain where Abraham takes Isaac later becomes Jerusalem, the place where God provides His only son as a sacrifice for all.

Fun Facts:  This is the first mention of love in the Bible and significantly it’s between a father and son, foreshadowing God’s love for His son.

This is also the first use of the word “worship” in terms of worshipping God.  The Hebrew word here means “to bow down”.