An angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph after Herod had died and told them to return to Israel. Archelaus, Herod’s son, followed Herod on the throne of Judea. Joseph was afraid to return. Joseph was warned in a dream so he went to Galilee to a town called Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus being called a Nazarene.
BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18
13 ) Archelaus, Herod’s son, followed Herod on the throne of Judea. Joseph was afraid to return. Consequently, Joseph was warned in a dream so he went to Galilee to a town called Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus being called a Nazarene.
14a ) The Bible foretold the King would come from Nazareth.
b ) In truth, all of us come from unexpected places since no place is truly more significant than another. Anything good can come from anywhere.
15 ) In every way. God has always guided me and protected me throughout all of the events of my life.
CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18
God draws us to Him one step at a time. The journey of our faith doesn’t happen by leaps and bounds; it’s in the little faithful doings when we say “Yes, Lord” when we grow until one day, we are His.
END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18
Again, we see “child” mentioned first in reference to this event, emphasizing Jesus’s importance over others.
Archelaus, Herod’s son, was just as cruel as his father, which is why Joseph was hesitant to return. He killed indisciminantly, too. He ended up being replaced as ruler because of his incompetency.
God directs Joseph to settle in Galilee in the town of Nazareth, knowing that those people would need Jesus. Nazareth was an insignificant little town that has a not-so-stellar reputation. Here, Jesus, the King of the World, would come forth. Jesus who stood for the everyman and was for every man would be raised as no one special. That means that we all can start from nowhere and achieve great things with God.
God and Jesus’s glory will never be snuffed out. If you continue on God’s path, yours won’t either. Take his hand, and walk with him today!
An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and tells him to go to Egypt for Herod is searching for Jesus to kill him. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus all fled in the middle of the night. They stayed there until Herod died. Herod had all of the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area under the age of 2 killed in an effort to kill Jesus. Hosea prophesied this.
BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18
9 ) The threat to his crown
10a ) God sends an angel of the Lord to protect Jesus and his family. Joseph obeyed immediately, fleeing in the middle of the night. When God calls, you answer. There is no room for hesitancy.
b ) God’s people frequently flees to Egypt for protection, like during the famine. This is for protection and survival. Jesus will redeed us from sin like Moses did the ancient Israelites when he led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Hosea predicted this so this shows the legitimacy of the Bible.
11a ) Killing innocent children.
b ) Proverbs 21:30 “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” The insecurity of my future. Nothing happens without God and it being in his plan.
12 ) Matthew uses this verse to portray Rachel weeping over Herod’s slaughter of all baby boys in Bethlehem. But God answers, showing He is there and is planning redemption.
CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18
I don’t remember this either. It amazes me to what lengths mankind will go to to try to circumvent God. They lose every time.
Great book on angels!
END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 4: MATTHEW 2:13-18
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled 225 miles to Egypt at God’s warning. In ancient times, a lot of Jews lived in Egypt, and Herod had no control there. Bible scholars believe this was right after the Magis left. This was a long journey in ancient times, which shows again that God doesn’t usually take the easy way. In fact, God often uses ordinary means.
We can only guess at how long the family stays in Egypt; we are not told. Some say months; others say years.
Herod’s fear turns to murdering children. God weeps for them.
We should expect opposition too as we follow Jesus. Instead of lamenting it, use God’s strength to grow stronger in faith and overcome. The prophecy from Hosea 11:1 is fulfilled here, as God calls his son out of Egypt to save the world.
Ordering the death of innocent children was completely in line with Herod as a cruel leader that we know him to be. At that time, there would not have been many children tpu to death since Bethlehem was a small town. In ancient times, whole towns and peoples would be wiped out on a regular basis due to war, which may explain why this event is not recorded elsewhere in history. In truth, this was an everyday occurence, so there was nothing special about it.
The Magi went on their way after talking to King Herod. They followed the star until they saw where it had stopped over the place where Jesus was. They saw Jesus with Mary and worshipped him. The Magi gave Jesus gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. They did not report back to Herod (having been warned in a dream), so they returned home a different way.
BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 3: MATTHEW 2:9-12
6 ) The Magi followed the star until they saw where it had stopped over the place where Jesus was. God wanted to make it clear who the real King was to them. God is gracious, indeed.
7a ) You should go to great lengths to worship Jesus and God. The Magis traveled very far on a long journey to see this King and give him gifts and worship. You and I, too, should go to great lengths to worship him.
7b ) Remembering all that Jesus did for me, all of my blessings, and praising him for those blessings and my life.
8 ) The Magi were warned in a dream to not to go back to Herod. This ensured Herod would not find Jesus and kill him.
CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 3: MATTHEW 2:9-12
This is a great example of ignoring what your leaders tell you when it puts others in harm’s way. The Magi did not trust Herod, and since they were from another country, they were not obligated to follow his orders. Also, this is a great example of going out of your way to worship the One, True King.
END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 3: MATTHEW 2:9-12
The star continually guided the Magi. This indicates that it was obviously from a supernatural power (God himself). It shows God’s care for them. And, it gives us hope that God will guide us with signs, too.
Bible scholars debate is this is where the idea of the halo comes from with the star’s light falling upon Jesus’s head.
Jesus is a child here, so at least six months old. Matthew mentions Jesus first, as fitting a king (which breaks with ancient tradition). And, note that Joseph is no where to be found. This was so that Magis would not think Joseph was the father of the child.
The fact that the Magi offered three gifts gave rise to the notion of three Magi.
Even though the Magi gave the gifts to Jesus, the parents would use them — and indeed they did. It wasn’t cheap to flee to Egypt (coming up). God provides all that we need, when we need it.
When compared to the shepherds’ visit (Luke 2:15-20), you’ll see that they offered what they could — their hearts — instead of expensive gifts. We need to offer what we can.
Note God’s control over the entire situation (every situation, in fact), as well as his control over Herod. He guides the Magi to the precise location of Jesus. Moreover, they worship him with expensive gifts. God sends a dream (one of five dreams in Matthew 1-2) that will protect Jesus from the Enemy.
The Magi themselves relentlessly pursued Jesus and worshipped him when they arrived. So must we.
God is great and actively working in your life. Seek Him today!
During the time of King Herod, Jesus was born. Magi came from the east to Jerusalem looking for the king of the Jews to worship him. King Herod heard about the birth of Jesus, which disturbed him. He knew Jesus would be born in Judah in Bethlehem as Micah had foretold.
Herod found out from the Magi the exact time the star had appeared and then told them to report back to him where Jesus was so that he could worship him, too.
BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 2: MATTHEW 2:1-8
3) The Magi heard that the king of the Jews was born and went to find him to worship him. The news of the birth of the Messiah disturbed King Herod, and he secretly planned to find out where Jesus was from the Magi.
4) Skepticism. Belief. Cherry-picking the parts of the Bible that work and don’t work.
5) By sending challenges my way, as well as victories.
CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 2: MATTHEW 2:1-8
I don’t remember this part of Matthew’s account! How King Herod used the Magi to discover where Jesus was. King Herod was a weak man and a weak ruler. He was threatened by the birth of Jesus and harbored nefarious inklings towards Jesus right from the get-go. No one had a problem killing infants in ancient times. No doubt that was on Herod’s mind. The Magi were wary of Herod and probably had no intention of returning to him.
END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 2, DAY 2: MATTHEW 2:1-8
Check out these excellent resources for more in-depth information on the Magi and King Herod
Who Were the Magi?
While there are many questions surrounding the Magi, such as who they were, were exactly did they come from, how many were there, and why would they even care about the King of the Jews being born, Matthew focuses on the facts. Magi arrived from the east looking to worship the King of the Jews. They followed a star to find him (another question that Bible scholars cannot answer. What kind of star? And how did the Magi know to follow it?). Regardless, you have foreigners seeking to worship the One, True King. This shows God’s inclusion into His plan for the world.
Who Was King Herod?
Herod was one of many “Herods” in the Bible. They were the ruling dynasty that reigned over the Jews during the time of the Roman Empire. Obviously, he wanted to keep power, and the birth of a foretold king did not help the situation. He would do anything he could to snuff out Jesus’s life, including using the Magis. This Herod was considered a great ruler by Rome because he ran his territory with skill. However, he suffered near the end of his life from paranoia and often killed people when angry. Herod murdered his own sons, his wife, and Sanhedrin, and anyone else who was a threat. He was not a Jew. He was troubled as was others; great uncertainty was about to take root.
Bethlehem was where David was from, and it was super tiny even by ancient times’ standards. It lies six miles to the south of Jerusalem. There is another Bethelehem, too, which is why it is referred to as Bethlehem of Judea.
Note that the star is HIS star. While many try to wonder what the star was naturally, such as a comet, a supernova, or even planetary conjunctions, suffice it to say it was God, plain and simple. In addition, Jesus was born a king, and he is still a king.
The chief priests and scribes were the teachers and those with book knowledge in ancient times.
Fun Fact: Matthew is the only one of the four Gospels that tell the tale of the Magi. This beloved part of the Christmas story holds more significance than just gifts — it shows how God always intended for Jesus to be for everyone. Contact me today!
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After God made the heavens and the earth but before plants had sprung and only streams had watered the earth, God made man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into his nostrils and man became living. He put the man in the garden of Eden. He made all kinds of trees for food and in the middle were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A river watered this garden.
God put man in charge of the garden to work it and take care of it. He warned the man not to eat from the tree of knowledge or he would die. He brought the animals to Adam to name. When God did so, He noticed no helper was found for man; so He created woman from Adam’s rib while he was sleeping so man would not be alone.
This is why man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and become one flesh. They were naked and felt no shame.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 5: Genesis 2:4-25
Personal Day
13) God intends for marriage to be a sacred bond between one woman and one man who work together for God’s ordained purposes of taking care of the the planet and to not be lonely.
14) God cares about our well-being — enough to give us a companion so as not to be lonely. Humanity is to work for God and for the Creation God has given man.
15) Another broad question so no wrong answer here. I see my role as taking care of my family that in turn cares for God and His family (the world).
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 5: Genesis 2:4-25
All personal day today, so I’m afraid my answers are less than par here. I do much better with Biblical ones.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 5: Genesis 2:4-25
And so ends the genealogy of the heavens and the earth, a history given directly by God to either Moses or Adam, recording the history of God’s 7 day creation that no human was present to witness.
FUN FACT: This is the first use of LORD (Yahweh) in the Bible. Our English word Lord comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for bread (as does our word loaf) because ancient English men of high stature would keep a continual open house, where all could come and get bread to eat. They gained the honorable title of lords, meaning “dispensers of bread.”
Man had not yet been created to care for the vegetation of the earth, and there was no rain. The thick blanket of water vapor in the outer atmosphere created on the second day of creation (Genesis 1:6-8) made for no rain. However, a system of evaporation and condensation formed heavy dew or ground-fog.
When God created man, He made him out of the most basic elements, the dust of the ground.
When the Bible uses dust in a figurative or symbolic sense, it means something of little worth, associated with lowliness and humility (Genesis 18:27; 1 Samuel 2:8; 1 Kings 16:2).
With this Divine breath, man became a living being, like other forms of animal life (the term chay nephesh is used in Genesis 1:20-21 and here). Yet only man is a living being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
The word for breath in Hebrew is ruach is the same word for Spirit, as is the case in both ancient Greek (pneuma) and Latin (spiritus). God created man by putting His breath, His Spirit, within him.
The King James Version reads: man became a living soul. So is man a soul, or does man have a soul? This passage seems to indicate that man is a soul, while passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12 seem to indicate that man has a soul. It seems that the Scripture speaks in both ways.
The Garden of Eden
Eden was a garden specifically planted by God; it was a place God made to be a perfect habitation for Adam (and later, Eve).
Genesis chapter 2 is the history of creation from Adam’s perspective, which does not contradict the account of Genesis 1:1-2:7 .
The tree of life was to grant (or to sustain) eternal life (Genesis 3:22). God still has a tree of life available to the His people (Revelation 2:7), which is in heaven (Revelation 22:2).
The whole feel of this account gives the sense that it was written by an actual eyewitness of the rivers and surroundings. Adam probably wrote this himself.
These rivers used to exist. However, the names of these rivers can’t be used to determine where the Garden of Eden was located because the flood dramatically changed the earth’s landscape and reconfigured these rivers.
God put Adam into the most spectacular paradise the world has seen, but God put Adam there to do work. Work is something good for man and was part of Adam’s perfect existence and our purpose before the fall.
If there is never a command or never something forbidden there can then never be choice. God wants our love and obedience to Him to be the love and obedience of choice.
The Creation of Eve
For the first time, God saw something that was not good – the aloneness of man.
God gives man the responsibility (and the accountability) to be the leader in the home and gives women the responsibility and the accountability to help him.
We only see “helping” as a position of inferiority when we think like the world thinks. God considers positions of service as most important in His sight (Matthew 20:25-28).
COOL FACT: Here, Adam’s intellect had not yet suffered from the fall, so he was probably the most brilliant man who ever lived.
ANOTHER COOL FACT: This is the first surgery recorded in history. God even used a proper anesthetic on Adam.
God used Adam’s own body to create Eve to forever remind him of their essential oneness. Man and woman are more alike than they are different.
We also know the Bride of Christ comes from the wound made in the side of the second Adam, Jesus Christ.
“She was taken from under his arm that he might protect her and from next to his heart that he might love her” (Barnhouse).
Note that the subordinate relationship of wives to husbands is found before the curse, not only after it.
Man and Wife Are One Flesh
A man and wife can truly come together in a one-flesh relationship, yet they must be joined. It is a spiritual fact, but the benefits of that oneness are not gained by accident or by chance.
This passage forms the foundation for the Bible’s understanding of marriage and family. Both Jesus (Matthew 19: 5) and Paul (Ephesians 5:31) quoted it in reference to marriage.
Husband and wife become one flesh under God’s blessing. In extramarital sex, the partners become “one flesh” under God’s curse.
The fullness of what God wants to do in the one flesh relationship takes time. It has to become.
Adam understood the essential oneness in his relationship with Eve. This point is so important that it is referred to several times in the New Testament, including the great marriage passage in Ephesians 5:28-29
Being naked shows being open and exposed as a person before God and man. To be naked… and not ashamed means you have no sin, nothing to be rightly ashamed of, and nothing to hide.
After God made the heavens and the earth but before plants had sprung and only streams had watered the earth, God made man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into his nostrils and man became living. He put the man in the garden of Eden. He made all kinds of trees for food and in the middle were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A river watered this garden.
God put man in charge of the garden to work it and take care of it. He warned the man not to eat from the tree of knowledge or he would die. He brought the animals to Adam to name. When God did so, He noticed no helper was found for man; so He created woman from Adam’s rib while he was sleeping so man would not be alone.
This is why man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and become one flesh. They were naked and felt no shame.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 4: Genesis 2:4-25
10) Personal Question. My answer: Man felt no shame; this is a consequence of sin. After all, what was to be ashamed about if you didn’t sin? God gave Adam a companion because it was for Adam’s good. God gives us companions and other things because it is for our good.
11) God put man in charge of the garden to work it and take care of it. He commanded the man not to eat from the tree of knowledge or he would die. He brought the animals to Adam to name. Man’s purpose is to care for the garden and everything in it, including the animals. He commanded man not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge because he would die. This was for man’s own good.
12) This is a loaded question, and the answers can be anything. Mine: You can know God’s care for us as He has given us everything we need to survive. You can see God’s attention to detail, and how He has given everything a purpose and a place. You can see and feel God’s love for us in His creation. You can see His goodness, His desire for us to have everything we need, and His purpose for our lives. You can see His supremacy, and you can see why He deserves nothing less than our complete devotion. In essence, you see God when you truly see nature.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 4: Genesis 2:4-25
I love how what we think to be human emotions, such as shame, fear, and anxiety, were never God’s intention for us. He did not give those to us; we gave those to ourselves when sin entered the picture. God never meant for us to be afraid of anything, to want for anything, and to fear Him. He meant for us to always be with Him as we will be in heaven. God and everything He has made are good.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 4: Genesis 2:4-25
And so ends the genealogy of the heavens and the earth, a history given directly by God to either Moses or Adam, recording the history of God’s 7 day creation that no human was present to witness.
FUN FACT: This is the first use of LORD (Yahweh) in the Bible. Our English word Lord comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for bread (as does our word loaf) because ancient English men of high stature would keep a continual open house, where all could come and get bread to eat. They gained the honorable title of lords, meaning “dispensers of bread.”
Man had not yet been created to care for the vegetation of the earth, and there was no rain. The thick blanket of water vapor in the outer atmosphere created on the second day of creation (Genesis 1:6-8) made for no rain. However, a system of evaporation and condensation formed heavy dew or ground-fog.
When God created man, He made him out of the most basic elements, the dust of the ground.
When the Bible uses dust in a figurative or symbolic sense, it means something of little worth, associated with lowliness and humility (Genesis 18:27; 1 Samuel 2:8; 1 Kings 16:2).
With this Divine breath, man became a living being, like other forms of animal life (the term chay nephesh is used in Genesis 1:20-21 and here). Yet only man is a living being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
The word for breath in Hebrew is ruach is the same word for Spirit, as is the case in both ancient Greek (pneuma) and Latin (spiritus). God created man by putting His breath, His Spirit, within him.
The King James Version reads: man became a living soul. So is man a soul, or does man have a soul? This passage seems to indicate that man is a soul, while passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12 seem to indicate that man has a soul. It seems that the Scripture speaks in both ways.
The Garden of Eden
Eden was a garden specifically planted by God; it was a place God made to be a perfect habitation for Adam (and later, Eve).
Genesis chapter 2 is the history of creation from Adam’s perspective, which does not contradict the account of Genesis 1:1-2:7 .
The tree of life was to grant (or to sustain) eternal life (Genesis 3:22). God still has a tree of life available to the His people (Revelation 2:7), which is in heaven (Revelation 22:2).
The whole feel of this account gives the sense that it was written by an actual eyewitness of the rivers and surroundings. Adam probably wrote this himself.
These rivers used to exist. However, the names of these rivers can’t be used to determine where the Garden of Eden was located because the flood dramatically changed the earth’s landscape and reconfigured these rivers.
God put Adam into the most spectacular paradise the world has seen, but God put Adam there to do work. Work is something good for man and was part of Adam’s perfect existence and our purpose before the fall.
If there is never a command or never something forbidden there can then never be choice. God wants our love and obedience to Him to be the love and obedience of choice.
The Creation of Eve
For the first time, God saw something that was not good – the aloneness of man.
God gives man the responsibility (and the accountability) to be the leader in the home and gives women the responsibility and the accountability to help him.
We only see “helping” as a position of inferiority when we think like the world thinks. God considers positions of service as most important in His sight (Matthew 20:25-28).
COOL FACT: Here, Adam’s intellect had not yet suffered from the fall, so he was probably the most brilliant man who ever lived.
ANOTHER COOL FACT: This is the first surgery recorded in history. God even used a proper anesthetic on Adam.
God used Adam’s own body to create Eve to forever remind him of their essential oneness. Man and woman are more alike than they are different.
We also know the Bride of Christ comes from the wound made in the side of the second Adam, Jesus Christ.
“She was taken from under his arm that he might protect her and from next to his heart that he might love her” (Barnhouse).
Note that the subordinate relationship of wives to husbands is found before the curse, not only after it.
Man and Wife Are One Flesh
A man and wife can truly come together in a one-flesh relationship, yet they must be joined. It is a spiritual fact, but the benefits of that oneness are not gained by accident or by chance.
This passage forms the foundation for the Bible’s understanding of marriage and family. Both Jesus (Matthew 19: 5) and Paul (Ephesians 5:31) quoted it in reference to marriage.
Husband and wife become one flesh under God’s blessing. In extramarital sex, the partners become “one flesh” under God’s curse.
The fullness of what God wants to do in the one flesh relationship takes time. It has to become.
Adam understood the essential oneness in his relationship with Eve. This point is so important that it is referred to several times in the New Testament, including the great marriage passage in Ephesians 5:28-29
Being naked shows being open and exposed as a person before God and man. To be naked… and not ashamed means you have no sin, nothing to be rightly ashamed of, and nothing to hide.
The heavens and the earth were completed. On the 7th day of Creation, God rested. He blessed the 7th day and made it holy because of this.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 3: Genesis 2:1-3
7) God rested, and it was blessed.
8 ) God rested has also been translated at God ceased. It means that God took a respite, a reprieve, a vacation if you will, from His work. God was still on duty, but not active duty. A good lesson for us to follow.
9) Personal Question. My answer: I’m not going to give the stock answer here of “We should rest because God rested.” Other versions say “cease” and not rest. God ceased his work, not rested from it. I like ceased here. God’s work is never done as is your work. You have a God-given purpose here on earth, and if you don’t know it yet, you need to keep working until you discover it. If you know your purpose here on earth, you don’t quit until God calls you home. You keep working, long day after long day, month after month, year after year, decade after decade. You will have time to “rest” in heaven.
Does that mean that you shouldn’t take a break and recharge? Absolutely not. But the idea of doing work and quitting is not in this passage. You do work, you rest, you go again. That is life on this side of heaven.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 3: Genesis 2:1-3
Just an example of everything we used to have to look up from BSF Genesis 2012 Lesson 2 Day 2 HERE
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 3: Genesis 2:1-3
Obviously, God did not need rest. He doesn’t get tired. He rested to give us an example of rest, work, and living. It also gives us the 7-day work week. France attempted a 10-day work week during the French Revolution, which failed. We have a 7-day cycle because God told us to.
Many people fail to notice that you work 6 days (not 5) and rest 1.
The 7th day and the Sabbath is a foreshadow of Jesus’s work on the cross.
Colossians 2:16-17 and Galatians 4:9-11 make it clear that Christians are not under obligation to observe the Sabbath today because Jesus fulfilled the purpose and plan of the Sabbath for us and in us (Hebrews 4:9-11). This does not mean that the Sabbath as a day of rest is lost. It just means that every day is a day of rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
IF YOU LEARN NOTHING ELSE, GET THIS:
At the end of each other day of creation, the phrase, so the evening and the morning were the… day concludes the passage and the day, giving us a passage of time. However, this seventh day of creation does not have that phrase. This is because God’s rest for us isn’t confined to one literal day. In Jesus, God has an eternal Sabbath rest for His people (Hebrews 4:9-11).
God made man in His image to rule over all of His creation on the earth. He created male and female and blessed them to be fruitful and multiple. He gave them every seed-bearing plant and every tree with fruit with seed for food. God gave every green plant to everything else that has life in it. This was the sixth day, and God saw that it was very good. Thus, heaven and earth were complete.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 2: Genesis 1:26-31
3) Humanity rules over everything in creation, and humanity is made in the image of God.
4) Created how God is, although our image has been distorted by the Fall and sin. Being in the image of God is what makes us human and redeemable. Thus, even as sinners, we bear God’s image. We are in some sense like God. For an AMAZING discourse on this, click HERE
5) Part personal Question. My answer: Man is to rule over everything in creation, and God provides them with food. He exercises dominion by having children to continue to care for the earth. My job as a parent is to help my children understand their role in the universe. While I believe we all have additional purposes God has given us, we can’t forget about the original purpose of caring for the earth.
6) God made man in His image to rule over all of His creation on the earth. He gave them every seed-bearing plant and every tree with fruit with seed for food. It is our responsibility to ensure the earth stays healthy and that everything in creation is provided for.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 2: Genesis 1:26-31
Not until the Fall did God give man animals to eat (Genesis 9:3).
In 2012, BSF focused on how this passage reveals that God gives man everything he needs to survive and sent us to Psalms and Acts that reminded us that we are wonderful and that we belong here. That’s what I miss most about the old BSF with the new is the cross passages we were sent to look up within the questions. For me, this showed me the connections the Bible has and how God’s story is all intertwined with life. I feel this is a shame BSF does not do that now and that we are truly missing out and not learning as much because of it.
With the predominance of personal questions, I’m afraid this is gone by the wayside. A travesty, indeed.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 2, Day 2: Genesis 1:26-31
Again, we see God as the Triune God since the plural is used here (we).
Man is made in God’s image. This means:
The resurrection is possible
We are above angels since they are not made in the image of God
We are distinct in moral and intelletual capabilities
All human life matters
This does not mean God has a physical body.
Evolution has no Biblical backup when Adam was created fully-formed.
Man was created separate from female, meaning God meant there to be differences between us.
Note that the first thing God did was bless us. Remember that in the midst of your heartaches and struggles; you are blessed!
Man’s purpose is to exercise dominion over the earth. He can only do this if he is fruitful and multiplies. Yet, the primary purpose of sex is bonding, not procreation. This is a huge difference between man and animals who only have sex for reproduction.
Note that before the flood, man was vegetarian. After the flood, animals were allowed to be eaten (Genesis 9:3).
Summary of passage: Finishing up the sixth day, God made man in our image (our being God the father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) and let man rule over the fish, birds, livestock, and all of earth and its creatures. He created both male and female. God blessed man and told him to be fruitful and multiply.
God gave man every seed-bearing plant and every fruit for food. He gave all the other living creatures green plants for food. God saw all He made and it was good.
Questions:
10) 1) God made man in His own image
2) God created both male and female
3) God let man rule over the fish, birds, livestock, and all the earth and its creatures
4) God blessed man
5) God told man to multiply
11a) God gave man food: every seed-bearing plant and every fruit. Not until the Fall did God give man animals to eat (Genesis 9:3).
b) Personal Question. My answer: Basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter, all of which I have thanks to God. Everything else I have would be “beyond”, again all of which God has provided.
How? By making me human, with a brain, the ability to work and grow into His purpose for my life.
12) Personal Question. My answer: The gist of this passage for me was God making us in His image. This is huge since nothing else on earth is. So wrapping my mind around how God is similar to me (but definitely not the same).
Psalm tells us God created me and I am wonderful. Always good to hear. Especially when you don’t feel such.
Acts tells us that I belong here and now so I could find Him.
Great passages if you are questioning your place in this world.
Conclusions: It’s always a good reminder that God provides everything we need. This is His promise. Not everything we want (as some claim and then get frustrated when they don’t receive). It’s a good day to thank Him for the basics, which we often forget to do.
Summary of passage: God made light and separated it from the darkness. He called the light “day” and the dark “night”. God made an expanse between the waters to separate them, creating “sky”. He gathered the waters to create dry ground, which He named “land.” The water was called “seas”. Then God made vegetation on the land. And God saw all this was good.
God made lights to separate the day and night and so they would serve as signs to mark the seasons, days, and years and to give light on earth. These lights were the sun and the moon and the stars and God saw that it was good.
Questions:
5) God himself is light so the light on the first day is God. You could also say it’s God bringing his light or knowledge of himself to the world and into our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:3-6). Light is Truth.
The lights on the fourth day are the sun (the greater light to govern the day) and the moon (the lesser light to govern the night) and the stars (which could include the constellations)–literal objects to provide light. Both were made to separate the light from the darkness.
6a) The main purpose of all is to separate out night and day, light from dark. The sun’s main purpose is to govern the day and serve as signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. The moon’s purpose is the same: to give light at night just not as much. The stars give light as well. All govern the night and the day.
b) Psalm 8:3-4: The glory of God (got this from verse 1). The love of a God who can create such marvels, yet He still cares for such lowly beings as man.
Psalm 19:1-6: The glory of God; the work of His hands. They pour forth knowledge of God, proclaiming His divinity so that all will know Him (much like Romans 1:18-20).
Jeremiah 8:7: Literally, as signals for the birds of the world to migrate. Broadly, as signs for all animals in their life cycle such as when to migrate, hibernate, breed, etc.
Matthew 2:2: As a sign of Jesus Christ’s coming
Acts 2:19-20; Revelation 8:12: As signs of the end times when the sun will be turned to dark and the moon to blood and other wonders in the heavens above.
7a) Miraculously. He designed everything perfectly. Orderly. He starts with light, separated it from the darkness. Separated the seas to make the sky. Made dry ground. Produced vegetation on this dry ground. Made the moon and the stars for light at night.
b) Personal Question. My answer: To my new home, to my life without my first dog, to getting back in the routine of school after our move.
Conclusions: This lesson was a bit tricky. I had to go back and re-read the first day where God created light and analyze it (initially, I got it wrong). It’s hard for us humans because light to us means the sun. Sun gives life. Without it we can’t survive. Plants won’t grow. We need sunlight to be healthy. It’s essential to life on earth for earth cannot exist without the sun.
What we miss and what we commonly don’t connect is that God made the sun to give life. He is the ultimate giver. He gave us life and created a light source to sustain us while we are here on earth.
Yes, we cannot exist without the sun. But the sun cannot exist without God. Therefore we cannot exist without God.
It’s that math common math problem: If a needs b and b needs c, then a must need c. Or another way:
If a equals b and b equals c, then a must equal c.
Again, we see “child” mentioned first in reference to this event, emphasizing Jesus’s importance over others.
Bethlehem was where David was from, and it was super tiny even by ancient times’ standards. It lies six miles to the south of Jerusalem. There is another Bethelehem, too, which is why it is referred to as Bethlehem of Judea.
After God made the heavens and the earth but before plants had sprung and only streams had watered the earth, God made man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into his nostrils and man became living. He put the man in the garden of Eden. He made all kinds of trees for food and in the middle were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A river watered this garden.
