Tag: bsf lesson 28 day 4

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 28, Day 4: Malachi 2:17-3:18

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

Summary of Malachi 2:17-3:18

You have wearied the Lord asking, “Where is the God of justice?” He answers: “I will send my messenger… suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come.” But “who can endure the day of his coming? For he will be like a refiner’s fire,” and “he will purify the Levites.”

The Lord declares, “I do not change… Return to me, and I will return to you.” You ask, “How?” He replies, “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me… in tithes.” “Bring the whole tithe… see if I will not throw open the floodgates.” Then “a scroll of remembrance was written,” and God promises, “They will be my treasured possession.”

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 28, Day 4: Malachi 2:17-3:18

9) His “messenger” aka John the Baptist. John the Baptist did indeed come before Jesus to announce the Messiah’s coming, preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins.

10) By questioning God’s motives and goodness and by withholding tithes. They wearied God with cynicism, asking “Where is justice?” and robbed Him by withholding tithes. They arrogantly claimed serving God was futile. God revealed they were under a curse but offered a gracious challenge: “Test me.” If they returned with full obedience, He promised to pour out overwhelming blessings.

11a) The Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.

  • He Listened Intently: God paid close attention to their conversations. The text says the Lord “listened and heard,” indicating that their fellowship and encouragement of one another mattered deeply to Him.

  • He Memorialized Them: A “scroll of remembrance” was written in His presence. God ensured that their names and their reverence were permanently recorded, signifying they would never be forgotten.

  • He Claimed Them as His Treasure: God declared they would be His “treasured possession” (or jewels) on the day He acts. He promised to spare them with the compassion of a father sparing a son, marking a clear distinction between them and the wicked.

b) I am amazed and overwhelmed that God would listen to me and hear my cries. He is so, so good. THEN, the fact I’m His treasured possession?! How?! God is so good!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 28, Day 4: Malachi 2:17-3:18

Great lesson on how we grumble and make excuses for our disobedience to God. We should never question God’s character or motives. He is for us no matter what!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 28, Day 4: Malachi 2:17-3:18

Here, we see the fourth question of Malachi’s book: Where is the God of justice in this unjust world?

God grows weary of our ungratefulness for Him and all He does for us. He answers the people by promising to send the Messiah after sending the messenger (John the Baptist).

In ancient times, the messenger went before the King to prepare the way Isaiah 40:3-5. This is John the Baptist’s job.

The Messenger of the Covenant is Jesus. He will come to purify and refine the people (aka save them). He will purify the sons of Levi and punish the evil-doers.

God never changes, and He calls His people to return to Him.

The people robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings. Everything belongs to God (Psalm 24:1), and He simply lets us use it. Therefore, the people were not blessed because they did not give.

We are to give, too  1 Corinthians 16:1-4. The tithes supported the priests and the poor. God challenged the people to test Him in this and see how He would bless them.

The people then ask why serve God? Malachi told the people that God will not forget them or ignore them. They will be like jewels instead.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The Interpretation: The Refiner and the Robber

This section addresses two major complaints: the justice of God and the stewardship of the people.

  • The Coming Justice (2:17–3:5): The people weary God by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” claiming that evildoers are prospering. God answers not with immediate comfort, but with a warning: He is coming. He promises to send a “messenger” (prophetically John the Baptist) to prepare the way, followed by the Lord Himself. But this visit won’t be a party; it will be a refiner’s fire. He will “bleach” the sin out of the priesthood and judge those who exploit workers and widows.

  • The Robbery (3:6–12): God pivots to the people’s role in the broken relationship. He accuses them of robbing God by withholding tithes (10% of income) and offerings. This financial disobedience has brought a curse on the nation. God issues a rare challenge: “Test me in this.” He promises that if they bring the full tithe, He will open the “floodgates of heaven” and stop the pests from devouring their crops.

  • The Book of Remembrance (3:13–18): The people complain again that it is “futile to serve God” because the arrogant seem blessed. God listens, but this time He takes note of the faithful remnant—those who feared the Lord. He has a scroll of remembrance written for them, promising that on the day of judgment, the distinction between the righteous and the wicked will finally be clear.

Conclusion

This passage dismantles the idea that God is indifferent to justice. It teaches that God’s silence is not absence. While the people waited for justice, God was waiting for their obedience. The text establishes a “double cure” for spiritual cynicism: the promise of a future Redeemer (Jesus) and the present practice of generous giving.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 28, Day 4: Habakkuk 3:1-15

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

SUMMARY OF HABAKKUK 3:1-15

After questioning God, Habakkuk now prays to God and praises Him for who He is and His goodness.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 28, Day 4: Habakkuk 3:1-15

11a) Habakkuk asks God to repeate his awesome deeds in his day and make them known. He asks him to remember mercy in his anger.

b) It’s a wonderful prayer, asking God to show up and do good deeds in our day like He did in the past. Habakkuk is humble, declaring God’s goodness. We all can be humble to God, declare His goodness, and ask Him to show up in our lives.

12a)

His glory covered the heavens
    and his praise filled the earth.
6 He stood, and shook the earth;
    he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
    and the age-old hills collapsed—
    but he marches on forever.
9 You uncovered your bow,
    you called for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers;

11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens

    at the glint of your flying arrows,

    at the lightning of your flashing spear.
13 You came out to deliver your people,
    to save your anointed one.
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
    you stripped him from head to foot.
14 With his own spear you pierced his head
    when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
    the wretched who were in hiding.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses,
    churning the great waters.

b) God has always been there in the past and worked things out. He will continue to do so for me today.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 28, Day 4: Habakkuk 3:1-15

Love the prayer. Absolutely breathtaking.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 28, Day 4: Habakkuk 3:1-15

Habakkuk prays for revival of the people like in yesteryear. We should pray for personal revival. He prays for God to remember them and have mercy.

He praises God for His glory, His works, and for who God is.

When we remember what God did in the past, it helps us to remember what God can do in the present.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 4: Genesis 48:1-14

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 48:1-14:

Joseph took his two sons to see Jacob when it was reported that he was ill. Jacob repeated to Joseph the covenant promise God had made him. Jacob adopts Joseph’s two sons as his own, Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob asks to bless them, but his eyesight is failing so Joseph places the older one, Manasseh, on right and the younger one, Ephraim, on his left. Jacob switches his hands to bless the younger one over the older one like Isaac and Jacob were chosen. Joseph’s family received a double share since he was adopting both boys.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 4: Genesis 48:1-14

10) Jacob adopts both of Joseph’s boys as his own so that they will receive a share in the Promised Land. He blesses them all.

11a) Isaac and Jacob were chosen over their brothers. Seth, Shem, and Joseph’s now double blessing over Reuben

b) God can do what He wants, and we can’t understand His reasons.

12) I am facing none now, or at least I don’t feel hopeless cause I think nothing is hopeless. But there have been many times there I faced hopelessness and God brought me through, like in our moves.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 4: Genesis 48:1-14

I love how the patriarchs of the family are honored; their blessings are sought; it matters what they think, say, and do. Too many of us dismiss the elderly as not having much of value to say.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 4: Genesis 48:1-14

Luz is another name for Bethel (Genesis 28:19, 35:6), which is where Jacob saw God.

We read the exact words of the covenant passed down verbally from generation to generation. It is presumed that Jacob and most of God’s people couldn’t read nor was there much to read. Joseph most likely could since he was in the house of Pharaoh.

There is still 12 tribes of Israel, but there are 13 sons now with this adoption, as Joseph was now divided into two tribes. They are listed over 20 different ways in the Bible

The Number 12 in the Bible

12 is often associated with government or administration in God’s eyes.

There are

  • 12 tribes;
  • 12 apostles;
  • 12 princes of Ishmael;
  • 12 pillars on Moses’ altar;
  • 12 stones on the high priest’s breastplate;
  • 12 cakes of showbread;
  • 12 silver platters; silver bowls; and gold pans for the service of the tabernacle;
  • 12 spies to search out the land;
  • 12 memorial stones;
  • 12 governors under Solomon;
  • 12 stones in Elijah’s altar;
  • 12 in each group of musicians and singers for Israel’s worship;
  • 12 hours in a day;
  • 12 months in a year;
  • 12 Ephesian men filled with the Holy Spirit;
  • 12,000 from 12 tribes sealed and preserved through the tribulation;
  • 12 gates of 12 pearls in heaven, and 12 angels at the gates;
  • 12 foundations in the New Jerusalem, each with the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb; it’s length, breadth, and height are all 12,000 furlongs;
  • the tree of life in heaven has 12 fruits.

Jacob still remembers his beloved Rachel.

Manasseh means forgetfulness and Ephraim means fruitfulness (Genesis 41:51-52).

Note how Joseph bows down to Jacob even though he only bows to Pharaoh.

We know that the right hand in the Bible is the favored hand. It is usually most people’s stronger hand and Jesus sat down at the right hand of God in heaven (Mark 14:62). We also see the right hand representing God’s strength and favor (Exodus 15:6),(Psalm 16:11)

 

 

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 28, Day 4: Genesis 42-44

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passages:  Genesis 42:  Jacob sent his sons (all except Benjamin for fear harm might come to him) to Egypt to buy grain during the famine.  Joseph was the governor and he was the one who sold grain.  All his brothers bowed down to him and he recognized them but they did not recognize him.

Joseph speaks harshly to them, accusing them of being spies, which they deny and insist they are all the sons of one man and one is at home and one is no more.

Joseph decides to test his brothers.  He tells them one must return and fetch their youngest brother in order to validate their story.  They will be kept in prison until he returns.  He threw them all in prison for three days.

Then Joseph tells them to let one stay here in prison while the rest return with grain for their starving families. But they must return with their youngest brother.  The brothers said this was punishment for Joseph’s death.  Reuben says didn’t I tell you so?  This is accounting for his blood.

At these words which the brothers did not know Joseph could understand, Joseph wept. He had Simeon taken and bound.  Joseph filled their bags with grain and returned their payment of silver.  Then they left.

When the brothers saw the silver returned, they were confused and frightened and wondered what God has done to them.  They told Jacob all that had transpired, Jacob is angry and thinks everything is against him.  Reuben tells his father he can put both of his sons to death if he does not return with Benjamin.  Jacob refuses to let Benjamin go, saying he is the only one left and he will be in sorrow if something happens to him.

Genesis 43:  Jacob, who seemed content to let Simeon rot in jail, told the brothers to go and get more grain when they ran out.  Judah refused unless Benjamin accompanied them for Joseph had said he would not see them again unless Benjamin was with them.

Israel (interesting he is not called Jacob), showing the utmost integrity, asked the brother why they didn’t lie to Joseph–chastising them for telling the truth.

Now it is Judah who says he will be responsible for Benjamin’s safety and chastises Israel for his delay and for the hunger in the family.

Finally, Israel agrees to let Benjamin go (and he seems to remember the “other” brother as well), telling them to bring gifts to Joseph as well as double the silver to pay for the previous grain.  But of course, it’s all about him for he is “bereaved” (while he seems to be content to let his family starve).

The brothers went to Joseph and he had them eat with him.  The brothers were frightened, scared they would suffer because of the silver that was put back in their bags. They expressed their concerns to Joseph’s steward who assured them that he had received the silver the first time.  Simeon joined them at Joseph’s house.

Joseph asked them how his father was as his brothers bowed to him.  He wept at the sight of Benjamin.  Then they ate their meals separately since they were Hebrews and noticed Joseph had sat them in the order of their birth.  Benjamin was served five times as much proportions as the others.

Genesis 44:  Joseph instructed his steward to fill their bags and return their silver and to put the silver cup in Benjamin’s bag.  Then the brothers left.  But Joseph had his steward go and accuse them of stealing the silver cup.  The brothers denied the charges and said that if any of them is found to have it, he will die and the rest will become slaves. The cup was found in Benjamin’s bag and they tore their clothes and returned to Egypt.

The brothers again threw themselves at Joseph’s feet and said they are guilty.  Joseph said only Benjamin would have to be a slave and the rest could return to their father. Then Judah (the one who suggested to sell Joseph instead of kill him) stepped forward and explained to Joseph that their father would die and he would be killed if Benjamin did not return and offered to take Benjamin’s place.

Questions:

11a)  Joseph is trying to see if they have changed since the evil they executed towards him. He wanted to see what they would say.

b)  The brothers lied to him about saying Joseph was dead.  Joseph threw them in prison perhaps so they would know what he went through.  To see the reality of their sin against him.

c)  He imprisoned Simeon so they brothers would see what they did to Joseph.  Maybe as penalty against Simeon as well for his sin.

d)  He wanted to see Benjamin in my opinion.  He probably also wanted to observe how the brothers treated Benjamin since he was now the favored by Jacob.

e)  I see this as two-fold purpose:  one, Joseph is saying he doesn’t need nor want their money.  He is being generous here and doing what Jesus would do.  Two, he is setting them up to be accused of thievery if they do not change from this experience.

f)  Joseph was testing the brothers’ hearts again to see how they reacted to his favoritism of Benjamin.  When he was favored, he was thrown in a pit.  He wondered if they had changed at all.

g)  Joseph wanted to see if the brothers would abandon Benjamin like they had him and make up a story again to Jacob about what happened to him.  He wanted to see if they would stand by him and defend him.  Or he wanted to see if secretly they would be happy that the favored son was once again “gotten rid of” and abandon him to his fate.

h)  Again, Joseph is seeing if they will abandon Benjamin to his fate or if they will stand by him

12)  Genesis 44:16 where they admit their guilt.  Genesis 44:18-34 where we see Judah’s concern for his father and his offer to take Benjamin’s place.

13a)  God Almighty

b)  may God grant you mercy

c)  He will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you

d)  He is bereaved.

e)  Personal Question.  My answer:  It shows to recognize God’s power and God’s grace (hence the use of the word “may”) and to ask specifically for what you want and to express your feelings over the matter (bereavement).

14)  Judah consistently points out his love for his father by putting his father’s well-being above his own.  Verse 44:20 says how “father loves him”.  He is concerned that Jacob will die if they return without Benjamin.  Judah offered to take the blame for Benjamin’s well-being.  He begs Joseph for him to be allowed to take his place for he cannot face his father’s misery if he had to return without him.

He does not lie about what happened to Joseph like they did previously (Genesis 42:13) as exhibited in Genesis 44:28.

Conclusions:  Note the guilt from verse 1 when Jacob mentions Egypt.  The brothers give each other guilty looks for they must know in their hearts Joseph ended up there.

Any one else sickened by Jacob’s pity party?  The attitude of “everything is against me” often causes us to become immobile, to stop living, to stop doing God’s work.  Jacob here still does not trust God.  He is still playing favorites.  He is still a Fallen Man.

Jacob was willing to sacrifice Simeon to allow Benjamin to live!  He would not allow Benjamin to go to save Simeon!  He’s just as bad as the brothers throwing Joseph in the well.  How sad!

And the fact Jacob said “your other brother” (Genesis 43:14).  Did he forget Simeon’s name?  And of course, he ends his prayer with how he is affected.  Poor, poor me!

Joseph is testing his brothers and trying to see if they have truly repented of their crime against him.  They do stick by their brother as they face slavery.  They realize this is a result of their sin against Joseph (Genesis 44:16).  They show concern for their father in their protection of Benjamin–at all costs.

Note the sovereignty of God here:  As we saw with Dinah (Genesis 34), God’s people were at risk of assimilating with the pagans surrounding them.  Here, we note how the Egyptians abhorred foreigners and would not eat with them (Genesis 43:32).  God sends the Israelites to Egypt for them to be safe and multiply without the risk of intermarriage for the Egyptians would have nothing to do with them.  The Egyptians considered themselves superior to all other races (not just the Hebrews).

It is interesting to see Judah’s role throughout Genesis since he is the one who Jesus will descend from.  How Judah treated Tamar but in the end how he did right by her.  He is the one to suggest to sell Joseph yet he has completely changed to be the one to offer to take Benjamin’s place.  Fascinating stuff how God can use man in all his sin to fulfill His purposes.  How man can change his heart with the power of God and the Holy Spirit. How there is always hope even in the midst of sin.

Fun Facts:  They took double the money with them to Egypt.  So 10 brothers times 2 is 20–the exact amount they sold Joseph for.

Statistical odds of placing the brothers in the right order of birth:  1 in 40 million.