John the Baptist says he is not the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet when asked who he was by the Jewish leaders. Instead, he quotes Isaiah and says he’s the one preparing the way for the Lord.
The leaders ask John why he baptizes then if he’s not the Messiah. He says he baptizes with water. He says that Jesus is coming after him. They do not know him, but he is not worthy to untie his sandals.
This happened in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 2, Day 2: John 1:19-28
3)
Question 1 – 1:19-20 Question: Who are you? John answered, “I am not the Messiah.”
Question 2 – 1:21a (Malachi 3:1; 4:5) Question: Are you Elijah? John answered: “I am not.”
Question 3 – 1:21b (Deuteronomy 18:15) Question: Are you the Prophet? John answered: “No.”
Question 4 – 1:22-23 (Isaiah 40:3) Question: Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John answered: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Question 5 – 1:24-27 Question: “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered: “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
4) He was solid in his identity. He understood Jesus was much greater than him. John is very clear about his purpose and calling and never questions it. He wants no attention on himself.
5) John never wavers. He quotes the Bible for his answers. He makes simple statements. He is straightforward. I think we all could be like this.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 2, Day 2: John 1:19-28
I love how John does not cave when confronted by the Jewish leaders. He stands firm in his purpose and for the Lord. Fabulous!
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 2, Day 2: John 1:19-28
Here, we see for the first time in John’s Gospel the word “Jews,” referring to one particular group here, the religious leaders.
Fun Fact: Jews meaning Jewish leaders appears almost 70 times in John’s Gospel.
John says who he is not, not who he is. He does not want any attention focused on himself.
Rehoboam ruled Judah, which did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They set up for themselves high places, sacred stones, and Asherah poles to other gods. There were male shrine prostitutes, as the people engaged in detestable practices.
The King of Egypt attacked Judah and carried off all the treasures of the royal palace. There was continual warfare between Jeroboam and Rehoboam. When Rehoboam died, he was succeeded by his son, Abijah.
SUMMARY OF 2 CHRONICLES 11:5-12:16
Rehoboam fortifies Judah by building up the towns’ defenses. The Levite priests all moved to Jerusalem because of Jeroboam choosing other priests than those from their tribe. Those who were in Israel but loved God moved to Judah to sacrifice to the One, True God and supported Rehoboam.
The King of Egypt attacked Jerusalem because the people had been unfaithful to God. He captured the cities of Judah. However, the king and leaders humbled themselves, so God showed them mercy. he made them subject to the King of Egypt rather than destroy them as punishment.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 5: 1 Kings 14:21-31 and 2 Chronicles 11:5-12:16
12) Faithfulness by those moving to Judah to worship God. Yet, they abandoned God’s law.
13) The attack from Egypt made Rehoboam humble himself before the Lord. This allowed the kingdom of Judah to keep surviving rather than be destroyed.
14) Mixed. He did right in the eyes of the Lord, but then he didn’t. Probably like most of our lives, I would say.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 5: 1 Kings 14:21-31 and 2 Chronicles 11:5-12:16
I love how God always looks for ways to lessen our consequences when we turn back to Him. He is merciful, indeed.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 5: 1 Kings 14:21-31 and 2 Chronicles 11:5-12:16
Now, Judah sins, so God becomes jealous and angry. God uses the King of Egypt to enact punishment.
However, when Rehoboam humbled himself, God showed mercy and made them servants to the King instead. He took away the treasures and the gold. This would have been the equivalent of millions of dollars today.
Note that the strength of Judah lay in their faith with God.
As Rehoboam grew in strength, he decided he didn’t need God, and he took the rest of the people with him in this sentiment, which is a horrible sin in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore, God sent Egypt to attack them.
Note that Jeroboam ended his life totally against God. Note that Rehoboam humbled himself and had a better ending to his life.
Jeroboam made Shechem his capital. Then, he made two golden calves for the people to worship, fearing that if the Israelites went to Jerusalem (in King Rehoboam’s territory to worship God they would rebel against him). He built more shrines to foreign gods and appointed priests not from the tribe of Levi. He made sacrifices to foreign gods.
1 Kings 13
A man of God came to Bethel and prophesied that a son names Josiah would be born to the house of David. He would sacrifice the bad priests who sacrificed to false gods. The altar would be split apart, too. King Jeroboam went to seize the man, but his hand shriveled up and the altar was broken. He begged the man to pray to restore his hand, and it was done by God. He rejected the king’s offer to eat with him.
The man of God was tricked into disobeying the Lord and was killed because of it. Through it all, King Jeroboam did not change his ways, but still appointed priests for high places to worship false gods. This sin led to the downfall of the house of Jeroboam.
1 Kings 14:1-20
Jeroboam’s son became ill, so he sent his wife disguised to the house of Ahijah the prophet for advice. He tells the wife that King Jeroboam has disobeyed all of God’s commands and done evil in God’s eyes. The consequences include: the son will die, as will all the males in the house. Dogs will eat people, as will the birds.
God will raise for himself a king of Israel. He will scatter Israel. Jeroboam’s son, Nadab, succeeded him.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 2: 1 Kings 12:25-14-20
8a) King Jeroboam feared that if the Israelites went to Jerusalem in King Rehoboam’s territory to worship God, they would rebel against him.
b) I don’t have a lot of fears to be honest. My biggest one is my job. I cling to it even though I’d like to pursue something else out of fear of losing money.
c) God gives us power according to 2 Timothy 1:7 and there is no fear in God’s love according to 1 John 4:18. This encourages me that I can do all things through God who strengthens me and provides me with courage and power.
9) King Jeroboam built more shrines to foreign gods and appointed priests not from the tribe of Levi. He made sacrifices to foreign gods. He tried to kill those who spoke against him.
10a) A man of God came to Bethel and prophesied that a son names Josiah would be born to the house of David. He would sacrifice the bad priests who sacrificed to false gods. The altar would be split apart, too. King Jeroboam went to seize the man, but his hand shriveled up and the altar was broken. He begged the man to pray to restore his hand, and it was done by God. He rejected the king’s offer to eat with him. In 1 Kings 14, it was Jeroboam’s wife who received the prophecy of having his son and all the males in his home die, as well as having the dogs and birds eat people.
b) He continues to do what he wants to do to save his own skin, not relying on God to defend him. Yet, God allows him to still reign. God, in His mercy, gave Jeroboam signs to confirm the prophet’s words. And, God healed Jeroboam’s hand when Jeroboam was not really repentent.
11) He never gives up even when I don’t really want to hear from Him. His calls are never easy.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 2: 1 Kings 12:25-14-20
I love history, so this is super interesting to me. It’s easy to judge Jeroboam for turning from God on a consistent basis, but how many of us do that? We can see that he’s a dumbo, but when are we dumbos, too?
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 2: 1 Kings 12:25-14-20
Jeroboam made “worshipping God” convenient for his people, so they went along to these fake altars.
Fun Fact: Jeroboam repeated the same words of Aaron from 500 years ago (Exodus 32:4) when he presented them with the golden calves. He may have intended the golden calves to represent God. Either way, God was angry.
We’ll see the prophecy of Josiah fulfilled in 2 Kings 23:15.
God, in His mercy, gave Jeroboam signs to confirm the prophet’s words.
The second prophet who lied to the first may have been prompted by Satan. Satan and his messengers can appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
The first prophet should have said no; instead, he paid the ultimate consequence with his life.
Note how God tends to judge his own people more harshly than unbelievers since He expects more from us. (1 Peter 4:17).
Jeroboam never repents in his lifetime. Instead, he would go down in history as completely disobedient to God. His sins caused a curse upon the people of the Northern Kingdom, and they would remember this (2 Kings 17:21-23).
You would think Jeroboam would pray for his son, rather than play tricks.
God’s judgement is harsh. Note there is an immediate judgement (death of his son), and a judgement in the future (the people of Isreal would be scattered).
Rehoboam went to Shechem to be made king after his father, King Solomon, died. Jeroboam who had fled to Egypt when Solomon pursued him heard about the king’s death and returned. The people asked Rehoboam to lighten their load. He consulted the elders about how to answer the people, who advised him to give them what they want. Rehoboam rejected this advice and instead followed the advice of the younger men who told him to make their load heavier. This fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken to Jeroboam.
Rehoboam now ruled only over Judah. Rehoboam wanted to war against the Israelites to regain the kingdom. But God told them to not make war against their brothers, so they all returned home.
SUMMARY OF 2 CHRONICLES 10
Exact same summary as above.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 2: 1 Kings 12:1-24 and 2 Chronicles 10
6a) He listened to the young men rather than to the elders who has served under King Solomon.
b) The consequences were that Jeroboam lost the kingdom of Israel, which was God’s plan. Both worked together to make it so. God manages, but Rehoboam made the decision.
c) This is a tough one. I think we all make up for our sins each and every day if we are striving to be closer to God.
7a) The tribe of Judah and the majority of the tribe of Benjamin accepted Rehoboam as king. The other 10 tribes and the remainder of the tribe of Benjamin chose Jeroboam as their king. This happened arouns 975 BC after King Solomon died.
b) God’s redemptive plan was that Jesus would come from the line of King David, so it was vital that that line was preserved. Also, when Jesus comes again, he will bind the tribes together once again.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 2: 1 Kings 12:1-24 and 2 Chronicles 10
I forgot how the Bible repeats itself almost word for word here. I love how God’s hand is in everything on earth, even our decisions and consequences.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 2, Day 2: 1 Kings 12:1-24 and 2 Chronicles 10
Fun Fact: Rehoboam is the only son of Solomon we know by name. Obviously, with 1,000 wives, he had a lot more.
Shechem was the center of the Northern Tribes. Abraham worshipped there (Genesis 12:6). Jacob built an altar and purchased land there (Genesis 33:18-20). Joseph was buried there (Joshua 24:32).
The people were heavily taxed by Solomon. They wanted relief.
Basically, Rehoboam already knew what he wanted to do, so he listened to the group who verified his decision.
From now on, Israel will refer to the 10 tribes of the North when mentioned in the Bible and Judah will refer to the southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah.
We’ll meet another Jeroboam in the Bible, who is a later king of Israel (2 Kings 14:23-29).
Jeroboam wanted to go against God’s prophecy and force the kingdoms back together. God forcefully said no, and Jeroboam listened.
Fun Fact: Not one of the 20 kings of Israel did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
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!
Joseph was Israel’s/Jacob’s favorite son, being the oldest son of Rachel. At age 17, he attended the flocks. He was given a rich robe as his father’s favorite, which made all of his brothers hate him. Joseph had a prophetic dream where his sheave of grain rose up and his brothers’ sheaves gathered around him and bowed down to it. This angered his brothers who understood the meaning and said he would never rule over them. Joseph had another dream where the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed down to him. He told his brothers this dream and his father who rebuked him, saying that does he expect his mother, him and his brothers to bow down to him? His brothers again grew jealous, but Jacob knew it was from God and remembered it.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 2: Genesis 37:1-11
3) His dreams
4a) God planned for Joseph to be the leader of Egypt.
b) God is good and great.
5) Jacob knew this dream was from God.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 2: Genesis 37:1-11
Joseph is my absolute favorite person in the Bible (after Jesus, of course). I love this story!
Unsure why Joseph would tell his brothers his dreams, especially his second dream. Either 1) he was bragging or 2) he was utterly clueless how everyone hated him. Then again, he is a teenager. He has A LOT to learn about the world and how it works.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 2: Genesis 37:1-11
We immediately notice that the family of Jacob is dysfunctional with kids from four different women, Jacob playing favorites amongst his kids and his wives, and the brothers murdering a whole town over the reputation of their sister. Yet, the story of Jospeh, Jacob, and Abraham is about God’s triumph over sin. He uses all of us despite our sins.
Joseph tattled on his brothers, which did not help his case.
The coat of many colors was probably not a work coat but one meant to show privilege.
Joseph’s First Dream
The first dream of Joseph conveyed the fact that he would rule over his brothers with the sheaves bowing down to him. Note the symbolism of the sheaves since Joseph will meet his brothers in Egypt when they come for grain during the famine.
Joseph’s Second Dream
Joseph’s second dream revealed that Joseph would be over his father and mother, as well as his brothers. This made everyone angry. This illustrates that sometimes keeping information to yourself, even if it’s from God, is best for all involved.
Note that here Rachel seems to still be alive Genesis 35:16-20,. This shows that Genesis is not in chronological order, probably to keep the story of Joseph as one whole here.
Note that most likely Jacob is ending his tale here and Joseph is picking it up so Joseph is telling his remembrances. Genesis 37:2: This is the genealogy of Jacob. You’ll see these transitions elsewhere in the book of Genesis Genesis 5:1, 6:9 and 25:19.
The sun, moon, and stars represents those from Jacob. We see this again in Revelation 12:1 as we Jesus coming from Israe.
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.
Summary of passage: God created living creatures in the water and birds to fly in the skies. He saw that it was good and blessed them to multiply and fill the earth–the fifth day.
Sixth day: God created living creatures (both domestic and wild) to fill the land. He saw that it was good.
Questions:
8a) Orderly process. He fills the seas with living creatures and the sky with birds (He separated these first so He fills these first). The He populates the land with creatures, which follows since He separated dry land after He separated out the sky.
b) Here BSF mentions evolution but does nothing to explain the the term. BSF assumes everyone knows what evolution is which I can tell you right now my kids have no clue what evolution is. They kind of do from all the dinosaur books we read but could not explain the theory.
Evolution is a complicated theory and even scientists have different definitions. There is also the evolution of the universe and biological evolution (the evolution of life forms).
So this question I think would be best answered keeping it as general and as simple as possible. Since we are talking about life forms on the fifth and sixth day of creation, we will stick with biological here.
Biological evolution is the process that results in changes in a population spread over many generations.
To me, I define evolution as the idea that all life evolved from a single-celled microorganism over billions of years. Obviously, Genesis states God created every kind of plant and animal–nothing evolved over time.
God created; not time.
9a) Personal Question. My answer: Ephesians tells us to be filled with the Spirit. I don’t think me life is right now. It’s pretty chaotic around here. So much going on: caring for and teaching my kids, running my household, kids activities, meeting husband’s needs, working out, carving out a niche of time to be with God (bible study) and do His will (my novel). This is my typical day.
I need to pray more. Give more. Reflect God more. Love more.
b) Personal question. My answer: He has reinforced old ideas and desires, not necessarily new. Refocused I guess. I gotta get my query letter done and get it out to agents. I gotta quit cussing. I gotta be more grateful and thankful for all that I have. I gotta be a life-giver, not a life-drainer.
c) Personal question. My answer: Watching my tongue more. Being more encouraging. Praying more and thanking more. Caring for others more than myself.
Conclusions: To be honest, I didn’t really like this lesson. 8b seems obvious if you are a believer what the answer should be. But it just seems out of place and presumptuous–to throw in the theory of evolution without discussing it first. It’s like assuming everyone knows what “pop” is.
Question 9 is a good reminder of what I should be doing. But I don’t have any new ideas. God’s word is timeless. How you should live has not changed and never will change. Nothing should be “new” unless you just learned it. I know how I should be filling my life and I’m not. I guess that’s why I don’t like it. I don’t want to change. But I know it’s time. And re-prioritizing is never easy.
Again, we see “child” mentioned first in reference to this event, emphasizing Jesus’s importance over others.
