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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 24, Day 3: Nahum 2-3

SUMMARY OF NAHUM 2-3

Nahum 2

Nahum tells Nineveh they will be attacked. The Lord will restore Jacob and Israel. Nineveh will be exiled and carried away. It will be pillaged, plundered, and stripped. The Lord is against them.

Nahum 3

Woe to Nineveh. The Lord is against them. Many will die and be taken captive. Nothing will be able to save them.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 24, Day 3: Nahum 2-3

6)

The enemy’s appearance: The shields of the soldiers are red; the warriors are clad in scarlet. They had flashing metal chariots. They look like flaming torches; they dart about like lightning.

The siege and looting of the city: Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures! She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!

The flooding of the city and its results: The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.

The fall of Nineveh’s fortresses: All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

The sins for which Nineveh is judged: all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft.

7a) Psalm 119:89: Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Matthew 5:18: For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

What God says, God does. Nineveh was destroyed and God’s people were saved according to God’s plan.

b) That I can trust in what God says and does. I know He is in control of all world events. He has it.

8 ) Nahum 1:7: The Lord is good,  a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. I know I can turn to Him if I just trust in God, His ways, and His plan for my life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 24, Day 3: Nahum 2-3

Great study of Nahum! Loved reading this often-forgotten and overlooked book.

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End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 24, Day 3: Nahum 2-3

Nahum 2:

Nineveh is destroyed in a great battle, brought low by Babylon. They will be brought low and plundered. No one wants to hear that the Lord is against them. But Nineveh did.

God will avenge evil and deliver His people. He defends His people against those who come against Him.

Nahum 3:

Nineveh was a violent and immoral city. It will be humbled and judged. It would be flooded, burned, and plundered.

God can handle our judgments for us; we don’t need to seek vengeance.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 24:15-26

Jesus continues describing the End Times to his disciples on the Mount of Olives. He describes what will happen and says that those in Judea should flee. Don’t take anything with you. If their flight takes place in winter or on the Sabbath, there will be great distress. However, those days will be cut short for the sake of the elect. False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive you.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26

6a) The destruction of the Jewish temple

b) Flee

c) Jesus will confirm a covenant with many. Forces will desecrate the temple and abolish daily sacrifices. There will be 1,290 days from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up.

7a) “Unequaled from the beginning of the world till now — and never to be equaled again.” “No one would survive” “How dreadful it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers.” “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.”

b) You should take the warnings very seriously. They should respond with prayer.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26

I’m wondering how the disciples felt hearing from this. I would have been afraid.

An interesting read on the Olivet Discourse.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 24, Day 3: Matthew 24:15-26

The abomination of desolation is when the Jewish temple will be destroyed and an idolatrous image will be set up in the holy place. This act brings desolation.

Daniel describes the complete desecration of the temple, and Paul discusses this event more in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

There will be 3.5 years after the sign is set up before the consummation of all things.

When the abomination appears, you (the Jewish people) must flee immediately.

Bible scholars believe that the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 AD and the subsequent fleeing of God’s people was a foreshadowing of the coming End Times.

God will remove His church before the Great Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The Great Tribulation will be terrible, indeed.

All will know that Christ has arrived by his sign. Many will look for false prophets to save them.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 3: Genesis 39:19-23

Summary Genesis 39: 19-23:

Joseph was sent to the prison where the king’s prisoners were held after Potiphar’s wife claimed he tried to seduce her. God does not abandon Joseph here either. God granted Joseph favor with the prison warden. Joseph was put in charge of all those held in prison and all the happenings there, allowing the warden the ability to not do anything either, like Potiphar.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 3: Genesis 39:19-23

7) God granted Joseph favor with the prison warden. Joseph was put in charge of all those held in prison and all the happenings there, allowing the warden the ability to not do anything either, like Potiphar.

8 ) God was with Joseph, and God gave Joseph success in everything he did and on those around Joseph. God uses us to bless others and uses our situation to do so, no matter how dreadful it is.

9a) See Genesis 50:20: “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Psalm 119:50: My comfort in my suffering is that your promise preserves my life.

John 16:33: Jesus has overcome the world. You can have peace in this world.

Romans 8:28-29: God works in all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:17: “Our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

1 Peter 6-7: Your suffering, grief, and trials are so that your faith may be proved genuine, and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed.

and Revelation 21:4: The old order will pass away and so will grief, death, mourning, crying, or pain.

b) Our suffering grows our faith. We suffer because Jesus suffered. Suffering is only on this side of heaven. This is encouraging.

10) Wisdom, patience, waiting on God, depending on God, plus he had years of practice managing households and the jail so he was prepared to manage the country.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 3: Genesis 39:19-23

I love how God never leaves Joseph. However, I am also wondering because Joseph saw how he was blessed at Potiphar’s if he knew God would bless him wherever he went? Or, he expected it? Or, if you have that mindset that God will do great things always, life and trials would be infinitely easier.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 24, Day 3: Genesis 39:19-23

Spurgeon noted that Joseph’s silence was eloquent, saying nothing when your reputation and character are at stake. This is a prime example of letting your actions speak for themselves.

Bible scholars believe Potiphar was angry at his wife because he probably knew this was a false accusation, but Potiphar was forced to punish Joseph because he was a slave and for his wife’s reputation. Now, Potiphar will have a lot more work to do himself without Joseph running his affairs.

We know this was God’s plan as always so Joseph could get in front of Pharaoh. Yet, it was an odd plan. Joseph could have gotten to be 2nd in command of Egypt without going to prison just from his reputation at Potiphar’s house. God’s plans and ways are not ours. Perhaps Joseph needed one more lesson along the way of rising and falling and being faithful throughout.

The Lord was with Joseph and blessed him all throughout his life  (Genesis 39:2; 3; 5; 21:23)

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 24, Day 3: Genesis 32:3-23

Summary of passage:   Jacob sends messengers ahead to tell Esau that he is coming.  He calls himself Esau’s servant and asks to find favor in his eyes.

The messengers return, telling Jacob that Esau is coming to meet along with 400 men. Jacob is afraid and assumes Esau will attack him so he divides his band into 2 groups in hopes if one is attacked the other group will survive.

Then Jacob prays to God, praising him and beseeching him to save him and his family from the wrath of Esau, quoting God’s promises to him.

Jacob decides to give Esau gifts of hundreds of goats, camels, and donkeys from his flocks. He told the servants to care for these animals, to go ahead of him, and to keep the animals separate.  He tells the lead servant to tell Esau that these animals are his and are a gift to him and to say that Jacob is coming behind.

Jacob’s goal was to pacify Esau with the gifts so when he finally meets up with him Esau will not harm him and receive him instead.

Jacob and his family crosses the Jabbok along with his possessions.

Questions:

5a)  Verse 3 Jacob calls himself “your servant”.  Jacob calls Esau “my lord” in verse 5.  Verse 7 “in great fear and distress” Jacob divides his group.

b)  In every way.  He had to leave so Esau wouldn’t kill him for Jacob’s treachery at stealing the blessing (in Esau’s eyes.  We all know the blessing was Jacob’s) in the way he did.

6)  Before, he was merely panicked and completely being subservient, humbling himself before Esau. He was fearful and full of unbelief.  He split his camps up, afraid Esau would attack and destroy at least one of them.  Then Jacob prays and the prayer is amazing!

Then he had a plan.  He offered animals to Esau as a peace offering.  But he is coming behind the procession.  Despite the fact Jacob offers up a prayer to God, he goes right back to relying on himself, not trusting God to protect him.  If he did, he would have been at the head of the procession and his gift might not have been so extravagant as he attempts to placate Esau.  He goes right back to relying on his own self and never surrendering himself to God.

7)  Yes.  He gave 580 (assuming every camel “with their young” had a baby) animals. That’s an incredible amount.  It’s hard to picture because most farms these days don’t have that many animals.  It takes an incredible amount of land to feed that many animals. And that’s just what Jacob gave!  Can you imagine how many he had?

Plus, note a lot were female.  These are more valuable in farmer’s eyes because they can produce young.  You only need a few males to have babies.

8a)  1)  He addresses God by his titles and names (verse 9)

2)  He quotes God’s orders and promises to Him (verse 9)

3)  Jacob says he is unworthy of God’s kindness and faithfulness.  He humbles himself before the Lord (verse 10)

4)  He lists the facts for God, saying what he had before and what he had now (verse 10)

5)  Then Jacob states the reason for his prayer and what he wants God to do, which is save him (verse 11)

6)  He lists the reasons why he is asking–because he is afraid of Esau and for the people with him (verse 11)

7)  Jacob ends by repeating God’s promise to him (verse 12)

Jacob used God’s word for thanksgiving and in faith.

Note:  Jacob is not only praying for himself (although that’s the primary reason) but he also states he is fearful for the women and children in his group.  Great example of praying for others as well as yourself.

b)  Although God knows our hearts and even what we will say (even if we can’t formulate the words), God likes to hear that we understand Him, that we know Him, that we acknowledge what He has done in our lives, that we know His promises and His character, and that we desire for Him to do His work in our lives.  That what we are asking for aligns with His will and not ours.  And that we are praying for others and not just ourselves.  That we are not just praying “to get things” but to have things done in our life in accordance with His purpose and will.  That we have faith in HIM and are surrendering it all to HIM.

Of course, we have to follow through.  Our actions will prove our words once the ‘Amens’ are over.

Conclusions:  Did anyone else think Jabbok sounded like a name out of Star Wars?

I was hoping BSF would ask about the prayer model because when I read the passage, I thought to myself “Isn’t this a great example of prayer?”  It’s amazing how your thoughts change when you ponder God’s words often.

We see Jacob changing as well, praying before acting (well, almost!).  But we didn’t see the follow through that is so important to God.  It’s almost as if such a beautiful prayer is wasted.  God finally had to wrestle with Jacob to make him GET IT!  I hope I learn a bit quicker!

Great lesson and passage to sink your teeth into!

Map Work:  Seir is another name for Edom:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kingdoms_around_Israel_830_map.svg