hope in our suffering people of the promise kingdom divided lesson 22 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

SUMMARY OF ISAIAH 26:16, 43:2

Isaiah 26:16: Lord, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer.

Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

3)

Israel: 2 Kings 17:1-23: They have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day. The kings did evil. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. They worshiped idols. They never turned from their evil ways. They disobeyed all God’s commands repeatedly.

Judah: 2 Kings 25:1-21: they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day. God allowed Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to march against Jerusalem with his whole army. The people starved and were taken captive by Babylon. The temple was destroyed. The sons of Zedekiah were killed. All the buildings were burned and destroyed. The people were exiled to Babylon.

4a) God sent his Son to redeem His people. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

b) He preserved a remnant. The people were freed from exile and allowed to return home to Jerusalem. God still watched over His people and protected them. He was always with them. He gave them hope with prophets and with prophecies, such as that of Jesus. The people knew there was more to life than just this.

5a) The same question I always have: why didn’t the people see their evil ways before the exile? Why didn’t they return to the Lord sooner?

b) God is always with His people and us no matter our sufferings. Even in our darkest days and in the midst of punishment sent by God, He is there. This gives me comfort during my struggles.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

Great passages on how God is still with His people and offers hope despite their suffering.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 22, Day 2: Isaiah 26:16; 43:2 & Others

We don’t have to fear if we have the Lord in our lives. We should remember the three sons who did not burn when thrown into the fire for their refusal to worship idols. (Daniel 3:19-25).

No matter our fires, God is just a prayer away.

God’s judgment of Israel and Judah revealed His sovereignty, upheld His purposes, and showed His glory.

Your strain is designed to accomplish His gain.

There is more for us if we believe.

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jesus makes a fig tree wither www.atozmomm.com matthew 21:18-22

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21:18-22

Jesus is on his way back to Jerusalem. He was hungry and hoped to find fruit on a fig tree. When he found none, he told the fig tree to never bear fruit again, so it withered. The disciples were stumped (no pun intended), so Jesus explained what had happened. Jesus told them if they have faith and do not doubt, mountains will throw themselves into the sea on command, too. If you believe, you’ll receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

3) Jesus was hungry, but when he found no fruit to eat, he told the fig tree to never bear fruit again, so it withered.

4a) The fig tree was supposed to have fruit for it had leaves. The fig tree reprenents those who are all show, but no actions.

b) They do not believe so they don’t bear fruit. They were all show with no real faith at all.

5a) Jesus told them if they have faith and do not doubt, mountains will throw themselves into the sea on command, too. If you believe, you’ll receive whatever you ask for in prayer. He encouraged them to ask and it will be given and they will bear fruit because of it. The miracle was an act of prayer with faith. He encourage his disciples to have this kind of faith, trusting that God will answer.

b) It both challenges me to have faith and helps me to ask for things in prayer and have faith, too.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

This is an often-forgotten story of Jesus hidden in this chapter that serves to remind us to have faith in God to answer our prayers.

Great for strengthening your prayer life!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 22, Day 2: Matthew 21:18-22

This is one of two destructive miracles of Jesus. We read about the first one when Jesus cast out demons into pigs Matthew 8:30-32

Note Jesus does not harm humans.

The fig tree represents those in Israel who do not accept him. Outwardly, they look like they are followers of God. Inwardly, they are not and thus they bear no fruit. Jesus knows their hearts.

Here, he judges the tree, as he will you and me. Those who fail can expect death.

Take away: Pray with faith to receive.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 22, Day 2: Genesis 27:1-25

Summary of passage:  Isaac, now old and blind, asks Esau to hunt him some wild game and prepare him a meal at which he will give him his blessing.  Rebekah overheard Isaac tell Esau this so she told Jacob to go and bring her some young goats to prepare for him so that Jacob can go and receive Isaac’s blessing.  Jacob wonders though if Isaac touches him what to do because Esau is hairy and he is not.  His mother said not to worry.

Rebekah prepared the food and then dressed up Jacob in Esau’s clothes.  She covered his hands and neck with goatskins and sent him in to Isaac.  Jacob says he is Esau and bids his father to eat.  Isaac wonders how he found the game so quickly.  Jacob says the Lord granted him success.

Isaac suspects a trick and asks to touch Jacob.  He knows Jacob’s voice but falls for the goatskin trick.  Isaac blessed Jacob but is still unsure if he is Esau or not.  Jacob lies again, saying he is.  Isaac ate of the game.

Questions:

3)  Isaac planned to bless Esau and give him the birthright, which defied God’s plan which He revealed to Rebekah before Esau was even born (Genesis 25:23).  God intended Joseph to have the “older serve the younger.”

4a)  In this passage only, Jacob and Rebekah conspire to gain the blessing by having Jacob pretend to be Esau.  Jacob dressed up in goatskin to simulate Esau’s hair.  He wore Esau’s clothes.  Rebekah cooked a meal for Isaac.  Jacob lied to Isaac about his identity.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Don’t lie or deceive or white lie.  Numerous times I have posted about not lying to your kids so they will trust you in the big things.  HERE and HERE if interested.  Have an open relationship.  Have God at the center.  For if God is the center, love and honesty reign.

5a)  She did everything in her power to have Jacob receive the blessing as God intended.  And it worked.

b)  They were deceptive and involved lies and tricks.  Rebekah would have been better served if she had confronted Isaac about his intentions and told him to pray to God to ask for the truth.

c)  Same as above.  White lies.  Or lies.  Cheating people.  Deceiving people.

Conclusions:  Not happy AT ALL about this filler lesson.  I thought we had milked this passage already and here it shows up again?  Seriously?  Enough with the review.  In my opinion, nothing is learned in this lesson we didn’t already know.  We knew God’s plan.  We knew the deceptions Jacob and Rebekah do.  And we know the deceptions Christians (as all people-not just Christians) do today.  Wasted lesson in my opinion.

My time is valuable.  There’s so much in this world I don’t have time for.  And redundant study of a passage is something I don’t have patience for.  A year-long bible study in this society is a huge commitment.  And if indeed this lesson is just to stretch it out I have qualms with that.  I’d rather end a week earlier.  I have no problems being done in April.

In my class, you can tell people are dropping out.  Not as many women are coming nor kids.  This happens every year at the end of the study from my observations.  And maybe lessons like this is part of the reason why.  Something BSF should consider as they are analyzing attendance and growth numbers.