Tag: bsf questions answers lesson 11 day 3

photo of Ezra 7-8 and his return to Jerusalem from bsf exile and return study www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

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

Summary of Ezra 7:11-28

King Artaxerxes gave a letter to Ezra, stating that anyone could return to Jerusalem with him with the silver and gold taken from the temple and more. He told him to use the money to buy offerings to God and to buy materials to build the temple. All the treasurers are to provide him with whatever he needs. He is to be in charge of administering justice and teaching the law to others. Those who do not obey the laws may be punished by death or imprisonment.

Ezra praised God for putting it in the king’s heart to help the Israelites and for extending good favor to him.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

6) God moved King Artaxerxes to authorize the return, provide lavish funding (silver, gold, supplies) from the royal treasury, grant tax exemption to all Temple workers, and give Ezra full civil authority to establish and enforce God’s Law, using state power to protect and provision the mission.
7) God’s providence included “stirring the spirit” of pagan kings. He moved Cyrus to release the exiles, Darius to find the lost decree and fund the Temple, and Artaxerxes to grant Ezra full authority and resources to restore the law.
8a) Ezra praised God for putting it in the king’s heart to help the Israelites and for extending good favor to him. He gathered up leaders from Israel to go with him.
b) Everything — food, clothing, shelter, life.
c) It’s important for us to remember what God has done in our lives so that when times get hard, we can go back to God’s faithfulness and use it to fuel us during the bad times. And, it’s crucial because it stops us from taking credit for God’s work and reminds us that we are not self-sufficient. We acknowledge His active hand in our lives. This moves us from thinking, “I’m so good/lucky” to “God is so good.” It cultivates gratitude and humility, actively pushing back against pride and reminding us that our successes are a result of His favor, just as Ezra did when he praised God for moving the king’s heart.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

I love how God can (and does) use anyone to help His people.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

The king commissions helpers, a copy of the Law, and gifts for the temple to go with Ezra upon his return to Jerusalem. The king encourages others to return to make Israel great again. The king was very generous in his offerings to Ezra.

Artaxerxes wanted to placate the gods (in this case, the One and Only God) so that he could be blessed. This was a common belief in those times.

Ezra was given significant authority. He knew that only God could create this!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 7:11-28 details the official letter of commission from King Artaxerxes to Ezra. This decree grants Ezra extraordinary authority and resources for his mission to restore the Jewish community in Jerusalem.

Interpretation

The letter from the Persian king, the most powerful ruler on earth at the time, contains four astonishing provisions:

  1. Official Permission (vv. 12-13): The king formally authorizes any Jewish person, priest, or Levite in his empire to return to Jerusalem with Ezra.
  2. Royal Funding (vv. 14-23): Artaxerxes and his counselors donate a massive amount of silver and gold for the Temple. He further commands his treasurers west of the Euphrates to give Ezra whatever else he needs—up to 100 talents of silver, plus wheat, wine, oil, and salt—”without limit” and “promptly.”
  3. Tax Exemption (v. 24): The king grants complete tax immunity to all priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other Temple servants.
  4. Civil Authority (vv. 25-26): Most significantly, the king empowers Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to govern the entire province based on the Law of God. He gives Ezra the full power of the Persian state to enforce this law, including imprisonment, confiscation of goods, banishment, or even death.

Conclusion

The passage concludes with Ezra’s own reaction (vv. 27-28): a burst of praise to God. Ezra recognizes that this incredible political and financial backing was not a human achievement but a divine miracle. He blesses God for “put[ting] such a thing as this into the heart of the king.” This letter demonstrates God’s absolute sovereignty, showing His ability to move the heart of a pagan king to not only fund the restoration but to legally establish God’s Law as the law of the land.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 3: Genesis 17:9-14; 23-27

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 17:9-14:

God tells Abraham that he and his descendants must keep His covenant. Every male must be circumcised, which is the sign of the covenant. This is to take place at 8 days old, and this applies to all male, whether adopted or not. If any male has not been circumcised, they are to be cut off from God’s people, as this will be a sign that the covenant has been broken.

Genesis 17:23-27:

Every male on that day was circumcised, including Abraham, his son, Ismael, and all in his household.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 3: Genesis 17:9-14; 23-27

7) “It will be the sign of the covenant between you and me.”

8 ) That he/they are faithful.

9) Having faith is more important than works.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 3: Genesis 17:9-14; 23-27

I love that Abraham obeyed immediately without delay. So, too, are we called to obey immediately as well.

genesis covenant circumcision abraham bsf lesson 11 www.atozmomm.com

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 11, Day 3: Genesis 17:9-14; 23-27

The cutting of the foreskin represents how God is setting His people apart (cutting them off). It is a physical sign that they are His people. Since males were born into it, it was fitting to be associated with reproduction. This is a sign of faith. Circumcision also helped with cleanliness, which was important in a society where no one bathed. Also, it was a sign of cleansing as well.

With Jesus, we are spiritually circumcised.

Why the 8th day? Childbirth is traumatic on a baby. After all, it goes from a water world to a world of air and newness. After 8 days, the baby’s body will recover faster, and some experts think that because the immune system is in place by now, that the baby will be less likely to get an infection. Doctors believe that a baby’s body can also blood-clot better on day 8 of life.

It’s important to note that the people were part of the covenant through faith. When they rejected circumcision, they were rejecting the covenant that God had granted through grace. Circumcision is not something you do that gets you to heaven, although the early Christians tried to make this so. (Galatians 5:1-15). Now, with the new covenant, you are free to circumcise or not.

Abraham’s immediacy speaks to his faith and his obedience to God’s commands. What does your response say when God tells you to move?

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 11, Day 3: Genesis 12:1-3

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  God calls Abram to leave his country (Mesopotamia) for the land He will show Him (Canaan).  God promises Abram to make him into a great nation and He will bless him.  He will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. ALL people on earth will be blessed through Abram.

Questions:

5a)  I (I being God) will:

1) Make you into a great nation.  This is the Jewish People and the Old Testament chronicles this through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and down to Christ. Genesis 13:16

2)  Bless you.  Philippians 4:19  “God will meet all your needs…in Christ Jesus.”

3)  Make your name great.  Abram is honored by Jews, Muslims, and Christians.  I would wager most people know who he is.

4)  You will be a blessing.  Matthew 28:19-20.  I think the biggest blessing we can be is to tell others about Jesus.

5)  Bless those who bless you.  Matthew 16:19

6)  Curse those who curse you.  I see this in God’s punishment of the nations who are against Israel (Babylon, Assyria, etc) as attested throughout the Bible, history, and today.

7)  All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.  Through Jesus and our faith the Gentiles are children of Abraham. Galatians 3: 7-9, 14-18,29, Genesis 22:18, Acts 3:25-26

b) I’m using Genesis 17 for all of these, where God re-affirms His covenant with Abram (ham) and gives him the sign of circumcision to seal the covenant.  Joshua 21:43-45 confirms Israel took the land and that “every one (promise) was fulfilled.”

6a)  Ephesians 1:3:  Every spiritual blessing

b)  Ephesians 1:18:  Know the hope He has called us to and the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints

c)  Ephesians 2:6-7:  Raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realm; Shows us the incomparable riches of His grace

d)  1 Corinthians 2:9-10: We receive His Spirit so we may know what God has prepared for those who love Him (us)

e)  Psalm 16:5-6, 11:  We have an assigned portion that is secure and pleasant which is a delightful inheritance.  Know the path of life, the joy in your presence, eternal pleasures

Conclusions:  A lot of looking up and researching with the challenge question.  Writing out God’s promises is a powerful reminder that God is for us–not against us (Romans 8:31).  He is our greatest cheerleader and our greatest protector against the enemy.  God is good despite all the bad that sometimes surrounds us.

With these promises, He expects us to be a blessing.  We must show God’s love.  Always.