King Ahab wants a vineyard that Naboth owns. When Naboth refuses to sell it, citing God’s laws against selling the Promised Land, Ahab sulks. He tells his wife Jezebel about it. She hatches a plot to kill Naboth by declaring a day of fasting and having two scondrels testify that Naboth has cursed God and the king. Naboth is stoned to death.
The word of the Lord comes to Elijah for King Ahab. Since King Ahab has murdered a man and seized his property, he will die. King Ahab humbled himself before the Lord, so God postpones hid judgment till the days of his son.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 5: 1 Kings 21
14a) Ahab is childish. He pouts and storms around when he doesn’t get his way, refusing to eat.
b) Jezebel abuses her power and uses evil ways to get what she wants.
c) Naboth upholds the laws of God and refuses to go against them, even at the request of a king.
15a) He sends a word through Elijah for Ahab. He condemns Ahab and his lineage to death.
b) King Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. He must have been sincere or God would have seen through it and followed through with His judgment. I think he was sincere at this moment, but as we’ve seen, he’ll fall back into his old ways again.
16a) He postpones Ahab’s judgment when he sees he is repentant.
b) It was a good week. I spent some quality time with my daughters and did the Lord’s work.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 5: 1 Kings 21
This is an example of how sometimes there is no end to evil people’s evil.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 5: 1 Kings 21
Every Israelite had a right to possess a piece of the Promise Land, which not even a king coule legally usurp. In fact, selling the land broke a law God had given Moses. Leviticus 25:15, 25:23, 25:25; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
From 2 Kings 9:26 it is likely that the entire family of Naboth was murdered so no heirs could claim his property. Ahab seized the land anyway.
Note that Ahab is held responsible for the murder and theft since his is the head of the household. Note Elijah is sent, probably one of the few courageous enough to tell the king his judgment.
Ahab will have his blood licked, just in Samaria instead (1 Kings 22:38) Ahab’s son, Jehoram, receives this punishment 2 Kings 9:25,
The judgment was severe: his children would not inherit the thrown.
God’s judgments against us are always invitations to repent, humble oneself, and turn to God for mercy.
God always wants to show mercy and compassion on His children. He gives it freely to the undeserving when people humbly repent.
Ben-Hadad king of Aram attacked Samaria, demanding all the silver, gold, wives, and children. At first, Ahab did not refuse. Then he did when more demands were made, so Ben-Hadad prepared to attack.
A prophet comes to Ahab to tell him that the Lord will deliver the enemy into his hands so that he will know the Lord did it. Ahab must start the battle and the young officers of the provincial commanders will defeat the army. The 7,000 remaining Israelites of faith went out while the enemy was in their tent getting drunk. The Israelites defeated the king of Aram, but the king escaped.
The prophet told Ahab that the king of Aram would attack next year. So, Ahab prepared for the attack. When it came, the prophet told Ahab that God would once again deliver the enemy into his hands so that he will know He is God. Ahab won the battle, but he ended up making a deal with the king of Aram and let him go free. A prophet tells Ahab that because he let a man go free whom he should have (the king of Aram), he would give his life for him.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 4: 1 Kings 20
10) God ensured that if an enemy attacked Israel that Israel would win. He used prophets to tell Ahab these things.
11a) Verse 13 & 28
b) Too many. Honestly, every day in some small way when He rescues me from sin.
12) He bargained with the king of Aram and let him go free.
13a) He was “sullen and angry” and retreated to his palace in Samaria. Note he was not repentant.
b) Every time He lets me know He’s in charge and not me.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 4: 1 Kings 20
I love how God never gives up on us like we give up on Him.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 4: 1 Kings 20
At first, Ahab willingly surrenders. Then, he changes his mind with advice.
A prophet appears and tells Ahab the Lord will deliver them out of His infinite mercy and love. Ahab wonders how, which is something most of us wonder when God promises to do something in our lives. God delivers Israel, but the Syrians would try again in the spring.
Saying that God was a god of the hills and valleys meant God was only a god over certain areas instead of the Lord of the earth.
The Lord delivers Israel another miraculous victory over a vastly superior army. Yet, Ahab makes a treaty with the defeated pagan king instead of completely destroying him.
The Mysterious Prophets
These prophets mentioned here are nameless and are believed to not be Elijah or Elisha. They are presumed to be among the 7,000 faithful.
The reason for the harsh judgement of against the man who refused to strike the prophet was because that man was a fellow man of God or a son of the prophet. Thus, he should have known to follow the command of the prophet.
The prophet tells Ahab a story that is really a story of the mistake he just made — failing to guard the life of someone. Since King Ahab failed to guard what was entrusted to him, he would pay the ultimate price. God wanted the death of the king of Aram to be by the army that He had empowered.
God reached out in so many ways to Ahab. As He does to us.
The Lord tells Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by. Wind, an earthquake, and fire passed by without the Lord in them. Finally, the Lord came in a gentle whisper. Elijah pulled his cloak over his face and stood at the mouth of the cave. The Lord repeated his question to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah repeats his answer from before.
The Lord then give Elijah instructions: Go to the desert of Damascus. Anoint Hazael king over Aram. Anoint Jehu king over Israel. Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet. The Lord will spare 7,000 in Israel who have not worshipped Baal.
Elijah calls Elisha to be a prophet. Elisha slaughters his oxen and fed the meat to the people.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 3: 1 Kings 19:11-21
7a) The Lord tells Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by. Wind, an earthquake, and fire passed by without the Lord in them. Finally, the Lord came in a gentle whisper. I love how the Lord comes gently in a whisper so as not to startle us or make us afraid. The Lord is kind and good, indeed!
b) To feel God’s peace and love and to learn God is gentle and wants the best for His people.
8a) God gave Elijah direct and specific instructions. God told Elijah to: Go to the desert of Damascus. Anoint Hazael king over Aram. Anoint Jehu king over Israel. Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet.
b) Elijah’s main complaint was that he was alone. Not anymore. God gives Elijah a companion, a friend, to help him in this desperate time he’s in. Plus, Elijah could now know someone would come after him to take on God’s work. God gives Elijah hope, too.
9) God has given me the drive and perseverance to work for Him each and every day with the goals He has given me to obtain.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 3: 1 Kings 19:11-21
I love the gentle whisper of the Lord. This will stick with me for a long time.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 3: 1 Kings 19:11-21
God know Elijah needed to encounter God, and in His goodness, God provides us with what we need.
God first shows what where he was not. Then he shows us where He is. So comforting God is gentle. God’s small voice is all we need in our desperate moments.
Elijah humbled himself when he wrapped himself in a cloak.
God gave Elijah work to do like he gives all of us. Sometimes, the best healing is in action.
God is going to punish idolaters, another complaint of Elijah’s. This encourages Elijah that punishment for sin was coming.
Elijah was not alone; there were 7,000 Israelites loyal to God still.
Elijah’s Call of Elisha
The cloak was a symbolic gesture that Elijah was calling Elisha to be God’s servant. Prophets were distinguishable by their cloaks.
Elijah gives us everything he owns (his plows and his oxen) as he says good-bye to his old live and enters into a new life as God’s servant.
When Jezebel found out from Ahab that Elijah had killed all of the prophets with the sword, she threatened to kill him. Afraid, Elijah fled. He left his servant at Beersheba while he went into the wilderness. He prayed to die. He woke to an angel who fed him and gave him water. The angel appeared again telling him to eat and drink for strength.
Elijah then traveled 40 days and nights till he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. While in a cave, the word of the Lord came to him and asked him what he was doing there. Elijah said how he is afraid for his life.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 2: 1 Kings 19:1-10
3) First, he was elated and boastful. Then he was afraid for his life. He also experienced remorse and sadness over the Israelites and their worship of other gods. Frankly, he was depressed. He was physically exhausted, too.
4a) God sent an angel who fed him and gave him water. The angel appeared again telling him to eat and drink for strength.
b) Similarly, God has provided when I’ve been exhausted from the trials of life with food, clothing, shelter, friendships, and more.
5) God asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
6) Elijah prays for God’s help. He listens to and for God. He obeys God and trusts God for provision.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 2: 1 Kings 19:1-10
I think many of us have reached breaking points like Elijah to the point where we wish we were dead. Note here how God is there at our weakest moments, waiting to pick us up and strengthen us in the days ahead.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 2: 1 Kings 19:1-10
Jezebel was not impressed with God’s show at Mount Carmel. Instead, she went after the instigator.
Beersheba is about 80 miles south of Mount Carmel. We are not told if God told Elijah to go there or not. All we know is God wanted to protect Elijah.
It’s ironic that Elijah prayed to die, but he’s one of the few humans that ever lived that never experienced death. Sometimes a no from God is a good thing.
Elijah was wore out, plain and simple.
We see this many times in the Bible where God provides for our physical needs before our spiritual needs.
On Elijah’s 40-day, 200-mile journey to Mount Horeb (or Mount Sinai), it is likely he gained strength physically.
Obviously, God knew the answer to why Elijah was there, but God graciously allows Elijah to explain his feelings and relieve the burdens on his heart.
Basically, Elijah is saying life is unfair here. He shouldn’t have his life threatened if he is doing God’s work (but this is usually the case). He wants an easy life like we all do. But, as God’s servant, he would not have that.
Blessed are the peacemakers who will be called the sons of God. The persecuted will have the kingdom of heaven. You are blessed when you are insulted. Your reward in heaven will be great. The prophets were persecuted, too.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 4: Matthew 5:9-12
12a) The one in your family who just wants everyone to get along. They are the facilitators of communication and advocates for relationships to be mended.
b) 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 tells us that since we have been reconciled to God through Christ that we can reconcile others to God and reconcile situations and people around us.
13a) People persecute us because we have God and Jesus and know where we are going. They are jealous by nature and therefore want us to be brought down. Those who do good are always targeted by man’s evil nature.
b) I wish I could say a forgiving heart, but it’s often negatively in the beginning. However, I end up praying for them and not letting me bother me because I do know where I’m going.
14) Unsure. Mostly it’s hardships of knowing what to do with my life at this moment and what path to take for him. Since I work from home, I have very little interaction with the outside world.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 4: Matthew 5:9-12
Spoken to first century Jews, these verses are hard for us to understand. Some may be facing persecution because of their faith, but most of us are not facing persecution by death. Our persecutions are small in comparison. However, when they do occur, know the kingdom of heaven awaits.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 4: Matthew 5:9-12
You can be a literal peacemaker in your family, or you can bring peace to others through helping them reconcile to God and accept Jesus as Savior.
Some will be persecuted because of their faith and righteousness. Other translations say to be joyful in persecution. Many Christians who were martyred were joyful, being on the cusp of meeting God. In our lives, it’s good to be joyful knowing we will meet God soon.
The world does not value the character traits in the Beatitudes. No matter. You live your truth; the rest will be damned.
Blessed are the meek who will inherit the earth. Those who search for righteousness will be blessed. The merciful will be shown mercy. Those pure in heart will see God.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 3: Matthew 5:5-8
7 ) I think of someone cowering in the corner, afraid and too timid to speak their minds. The definition of meek is “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.” In the Bible, meekness is when someone is willing to accept and submit to the will of someone else, which is God. Moses was described as meek in Numbers 12. Meekness is when you put everything in God’s hands. Great explanation HERE
Jesus calls himself meek in the King James version in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Jesus meant those who rely on God will inherit the earth.
8a ) To always be seeking to be right with God, to lead a life without sin, to be like Jesus.
b) Psalm 19:7-11, we saw that God’s law and the way he wants us to live is good and perfect. We can trust in them, and when we do, we’ll have a great reward. We should seek God and have our hope in him. The way God wants us to live is good, for our good, and without sin.
9) When you give mercy, mercy shall be returned. This holds true for all things in life. When you give, you receive back.
10) Psalm 24:4-5 tells us that those who are pure will receive blessings from God. Wanting to have God at the center of your life allows you to see him. You can see God in nature, in others, in your kids, in your dog’s devotion to you, and more.
11) The more you know him, the more you see him everywhere in every aspect of your life. As you study God’s word and strive to know him, you seek to be like Jesus and to please God. You will become like him and embody the character traits that God desires in you.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 3: Matthew 5:5-8
I love the Biblical meekness and how it is perceived today. There’s nothing wrong with being meek in God’s eyes; in fact, it’s how we’re supposed to be. If Moses and Jesus were meek, shouldn’t we be, too?
If you love knowing the original meaning of Biblical words like I do, try this Greek study bible today!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 3: Matthew 5:5-8
The Greek meaning of “meek” gives the idea of having strength while having control. Meekness is to put others before you, and do their will over yours. Submit to God and be humble. God watches out for the meek and promises those who give up themselves will inherit his kingdom. This is why we are meek.
Hunger here means you can never be satisfied. You should always be hungering for Christ. In Jesus’s day, people regularly went days without food. Hunger used here was much more impactful than it is to us in the modern world. Jesus will fill our hunger as we hunger to be righteous and sanctified.
The definition of mercy is “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” God is merciful to us to show us how broken we are so that we can seek him. Otherwise, why would we? Since Christians have received the greatest mercy of all (Jesus), we are to show mercy to others — to anyone who is broken, suffering, mourning, and those lost in their own sin.
Think God showed mercy to David who showed mercy to Saul. Think in your life who you need to show mercy to.
“Pure in heart” denotes the idea of being singular in your devotion to God. An inner, moral purity. The reward is to see God. If you’re not motivated to be devoted to God in order to see him, then what are you motivated for in your spiritual journey?
There is a place in Israel where it is believed that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. It’s called the Mount of Beatitudes.
Jesus teaches that the poor are blessed as they have the kingdom of heaven. Those who mourn will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. Those who search for righteousness will be blessed. The merciful will be shown mercy.
Those pure in heart will see God. The peacemakers will be called the sons of God. The persecuted will have the kingdom of heaven. You are blessed when you are insulted. Your reward in heaven will be great. The prophets were persecuted, too.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 2: Skim Matthew 5:1-12 and Focus on Matthew 5:1-4
3) To be blessed is when God endows/gives someone something that is usually cherished, such as blessed with finances, free will, etc. Jesus lists a bunch of people who are blessed who, at the time, would not normally be considered blessed. He expands being blessed to the destitute. The ultimate blessing is, of course, to know God and be a Christian. Nothing else really matters.
4) Psalm 51:17 tells us in the Message Version: “I learned God-worshipwhen my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for lovedon’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”
In Isaiah 66:2, God says he has made and esteems those who is humble, contrite in spirit, and humble at his word. The definition of contrite is one who expresses remorse or penitence, one who feels bad for what they did. In sum, God esteems those who respond to him.
When you are down and out, you are blessed. When you are struggling, you are blessed. When you question God due to your life’s circumstances, you are blessed. All because you have God.
5a) Mourning is when you are sad over a loss. For most of us, we mourn when we’ve lost a loved one, lost a furry friend, lost a lifestyle or job, lost a home, lost a marriage, or anything else you’ve cherished and is now gone. You mourn what once was and is no more. I mourn all of these things.
b ) Sin makes all of us sad. Jesus who quotes Isaiah 61:1-2 in Luke 4:18-19 has come to comfort those who mourn, who feel guilt over sin, to free sinners from their sin.
Romans 7:22-24 is interesting. You want to do good, but because sin is always present in our lives, it’s a struggle. Mourning when you do sin shows you desire to do good. Christ rescues us from sin.
James 4:8-10 says to draw near to Christ and resist sin. He will lift us up even in our grief, mourning, and wailing.
You are sad when you do wrong, but with Christ, you have hope that you will do (and be) better.
6 ) Having to depend on God is a blessed. I’ve lost much and had much in my life. Every time I fail, it brings me closer to him. You sin, your mourn, you learn. That’s the life of a Christian.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 2: Skim Matthew 5:1-12 and Focus on Matthew 5:1-4
Admittedly, it’s been a long time since I’ve read the Beatitudes, so I’m excited to do so now! Great beginning to lesson 5 as we are reminded that grief is a part of life, but there is hope in Christ.
I am reminded of this song. Enjoy!
Try some great scripture music today!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 5, Day 2: Skim Matthew 5:1-12 and Focus on Matthew 5:1-4
Bible scholars believe that Jesus went up on a mountain because the crowds that followed him had grown so big. What a beautiful picture. Luke records Jesus as speaking this at a different time, too, in Luke 6. This makes sense; most pastors preach the same message multiple times to different groups and for repetition, too, for learning.
This Sermon on the Mount is Jesus teaching us how to live. Many say this is the summation of Christianity in these short verses. The disciples are listening, too. It’s super important they understand this since they will be carrying on without him.
The Beatitudes (or The Blessings) are attitudes of being — what we hope to achieve as Christians and what we strive for every day.
The word blessed means “happy” in the ancient Greek. This word is also applied to God himself 1 Timothy 1:11.
On the day of Judgment, the blessed, or happy, will come. Matthew 25:34
Spurgeon notes: “You have not failed to notice that the last word of the Old Testament is ‘curse,’ and it is suggestive that the opening sermon of our Lord’s ministry commences with the word ‘Blessed.’”
The poor in spirit are those who recognize their sin and are in need of Christ. It is the first Beatitude because it’s where we all start. When you are poor in spirit, you are able to receive the kingdom of heaven. You have to be poor in spirit before you can mourn.
When you are poor in spirit, you mourn and will be comforted. The Greek word used here for “mourning” is the strongest form of grief. You mourn over sin that then produces repentance 2 Corinthians 7:10. Jesus both mourned and grieved (Isaiah 53:3). It’s a part of human life.
God tells Noah to enter the ark with the animals for in seven days He will send rain for 40 days and nights. Noah obeys. Noah was 600 years old when the flood happened. All the animals came to him. Then the Lord shut them in and the waters came. Everything perished. After the rain stopped, the earth remained flooded for 150 days.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 5: Genesis 7
13) Personal Question. My answer: God always has hope, even though He knows what will happen. He created man, knowing that one day He would destroy them. He gave man 120 years to repent, and still nothing but evil. God’s judgement is swift, it’s absolute, and you are powerless beneath it. No questions are raised for me.
14) Personal Question. My answer: God is always faithful to His word, and if we have faith in the Word, we have faith in God.
15) Personal Question. My answer: It’s an encouragement because it shows there is retribution for all the wrongs done in the world. It’s a warning that God can judge whenever He wants. It’s both for me, to follow His ways always. I know God will punish and destroy the wicked one day. I know He will judge. And I need to be as prepared as I can be for when He judges me.
16) Personal Question. My answer: It shows how every day could be your last and that you should live each life — treating others as if it is your last.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 5: Genesis 7
I love the story of Noah. Here’s a guy of faith who is told to build a big boat and save his entire family by God. How awesome and scary is that! Yet, he does it without fail, without question, showing us what a walk with God truly is.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 5: Genesis 7
Genesis 7:
God was in the ark and would be with Noah in the ark, so He called Noah to come into the ark with Him.
“Notice that the Lord did not say to Noah, ‘Go into the ark,’ but ‘Come,”
In Genesis 6:20 God said the animals would come to Noah by migration.
Noah, the animals, and his family had to wait in the ark seven days for the rain to come. They had never seen rain up to this time. This was a real test of faith – to wait a week after more than 100 years of preparation.
The heavens containing the great waters that were above the firmament (Genesis 1:7) opened up. These waters formed the huge so-called blanket of water in the upper part of the earth’s atmosphere since creation. Waters came up from under the earth, too.
The Number 40 in the Bible
Here we see the first use of the number 40 in the Bible. It has become associated with testing and purification, especially before entering into something new and significant.
Note that God shuts the door. God has the final say in judgement. God shuts people out.
God kept the door open until the last possible minute, but there came a time when the door had to shut. Jesus is He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (Revelation 3:7).
Of the more than 200 cultures that have their own account of the flood the following aspects of the story are common:
88% describe a favored family.
70% attribute survival to a boat.
95% say the sole cause of the catastrophe is a flood.
66% say that the disaster is due to man’s wickedness.
67% record that animals are also saved.
57% describe that the survivors end up on a mountain.
Many of the accounts also specifically mention birds being sent out, a rainbow, and eight persons being saved.
The water from the flood is collected in oceans today.
The Bible says that only the animals that had the breath of the spirit of life. The fish did not die in the flood; only animals with the breath of life in them died, the animals on dry land.
God may have put some or many of these animals into a period of hibernation for this period, meaning that less food, space, and supervision was be needed.
God provides many animals today with an amazing instinct for hibernation. It would be no difficulty for Him to miraculously impart a unique instinct for these particular animals.
Fun Fact: The flood is given more words in Scripture than Creation or the Fall.
The sons of God married any daughters they chose. The Lord said His Spirit will not contend with (be with) man forever for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years. The Nephilim were the heroes of old, men of renown and were on earth during this time when the sons of God were as well.
God saw how men’s hearts had become only evil and He was filled with pain. God said he would wipe mankind from the face of the earth for He is grieved (regretted) He created them. Except for Noah who was a righteous man and walked with God. Noah had 3 sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
The earth was corrupt and the people were violent.
God tells Noah He is going to destroy the world, and he needs to build an ark. God enters a covenant with Noah. He tells Noah he will need to bring in two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive and every kind of food for him and for the animals.
Noah did everything God commanded.
Summary of Genesis 7:
God tells Noah to enter the ark with the animals for in seven days He will send rain for 40 days and nights. Noah obeys. Noah was 600 years old when the flood happened. All the animals came to him. Then the Lord shut them in and the waters came. Everything perished. After the rain stopped, the earth remained flooded for 150 days.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 4: Genesis 6-7
10) Noah did everything just as God commanded him. God told Noah exactly what to do, including the size and dimensions of the ark, so Noah knew what to do. God revealed information to Noah as needed, telling him to build the ark before telling him why.
11a) Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
b) Personal Question. My answer: We only exist by God’s grace, so when He decides to end life, there is nothing we can do about it and should be grateful for what life God has given us.
12) Personal Question. My answer: Unsure. We are about to move again. I’m homeschooling my son again. I’m working, living life the best I can. Praying as I go along.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 4: Genesis 6-7
I love the story of Noah. Here’s a guy of faith who is told to build a big boat and save his entire family by God. How awesome and scary is that! Yet, he does it without fail, without question, showing us what a walk with God truly is.
Last go around, we had a lot of other Bible passage readings with Genesis 6 & 7: Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:4-9; 3:1-10; Jude 5-7; Matthew 24:36-42; Luke 17:26-27. Matthew and Luke talk specifically how the people were eating, drinking, and marrying up until the day of the flood. This tells us that no one had a clue what God was doing, and if they were Godless, they didn’t care. They lived their lives day-by-day, which is how we are supposed to live, expect with an eye towards Jesus.
These are the extra readings I wish BSF would still include for those of us who crave more of God.
1 Peter 3:20 is a gem, describing how God waited patiently for His people to come to Him, like he does today. Instead of millions being saved, it was only 8.
One of the saddest parts of life is how all of Creation has to suffer the consequences of our sin, including animals, plants, and our beloved pets. If you’ve been alive long enough, you’ve experienced the death of a pet. Along with the death of loved ones, it’s one of lives’ hardest moments, especially once you know that it’s all your fault.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 4: Genesis 6-7
Genesis 6:
Who Were the Sons of God and the Daughters of Men?
Many have believed the sons of God were those from the line of Seth, and the daughters of men were from the line of Cain, and this describes an intermarriage between the godly and the ungodly, something God specifically prohibits (Deuteronomy 7:1-4, 2 Corinthians 6:14).
Some believe that sons of God are either demons (angels in rebellion against God) or uniquely demon-possessed men, and the daughters of men are human women.
The phrase sons of God clearly refers to angelic creatures when it is used the three other times in the Old Testament (Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7). The translators of the Septuagint translated sons of God as angels. Those ancient translators clearly thought sons of God referred to angelic beings, not to people descended from Seth.
Jude 6 tells us of the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation. Jude goes on (Jude 7) to tell us they sinned in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh. Here in Genesis 6, as in Sodom and Gomorrah, there was an unnatural sexual union. Jude 6 also makes it clear what God did with these wicked angels. They are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day for not keeping their proper place. Their sinful pursuit of freedom has put them in bondage.
In Matthew 22:30, we see where Jesus said angels neither marry nor are given in marriage; but Jesus never said angels were sexless, and He was also speaking about faithful angelic beings (angels of God in heaven), not rebellious ones.
In sum, no one knows exactly who the sons of God and the daughters of men are referring to.
Satan could have sent his angels to intermarry in an effort to ensure the promised seed of Jesus was never born. And Satan almost succeeded. The race was so polluted that God found it necessary to start again with Noah and his sons, and to imprison the demons that did this so they could never do this again.
Take away from the flood: there is a point of sin where God will say “enough is enough.” Turn to God now because no other days are promised to us.
God said He would flood the earth 120 years before He did. Perhaps He is hoping some will turn to Him.
Giants on earth refers to the unnatural offspring of the union between the sons of God and the daughters of men, though there were people of unusual size on the earth both before and after the flood (and also afterward). These ones before the flood were unique because of the demonic element of their parentage. They were the mighty men of old, men of renown.
Jesus said, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37). In other words, the conditions of the world before the coming of Jesus will be like the conditions of the world before the flood:
Widespread corruption and violence (Genesis 6:11).
Even though God knew He would destroy mankind, He still felt grieved.
Noah
Noah found grace; he did not earn it. Noah had the righteousness that is of faith because as soon as the floodwaters had dried up and he left the ark, he offered sacrifices (Genesis 8:20). Noah’s three sons will figure into the account in a significant way. God will use them as a foundation for the rest of the human race.
Since the fall in Genesis 3, every human being has a death sentence. The timing and method of that death are completely in the hands of God.
Instead of wiping out the entire race, God preserved a remnant.
The Ark
The ark was as long as a 30-story building is high (about 450 feet or 150 meters)
75 feet (25 meters) wide
45 feet (15 meters) high.
The ark is meant to float, like a barge, not sail.
Was the shape of a shoebox, was plenty large enough (about the size of the Titanic)
Had a cubit-wide opening (18 inches, one-half meter) all the way around the top.
It was not until 1858 that a boat bigger than the ark was built. The ark was certainly big enough to do the job. If the ark carried two of every family of animals, there were around 700 pairs of animals; but if the ark carried two of every species of animals, there were around 35,000 pairs of animals.
The average size of a land animal is smaller than a sheep. The ark could carry 136,560 sheep in half of its capacity, leaving plenty of room for people, food, water, and whatever other provisions were needed.
Noah was not told why he was making this ark in the beginning; just to make it.
Throughout history, many people have reported seeing the ark and/or finding the ark. The pitch worked to waterproof the wood. God told Noah to cover it with pitch inside and outside, which makes it possible that the ark was preserved for a long time. It is possible God still has a purpose for the ark, to use it to remind the world of a past judgment shortly before a future judgment.
Fun Fact: Because of this mention of pitch (a petroleum product) in what most people think is the Middle East, it is said that John D. Rockefeller looked for (and found) oil in that region based on this verse.
Despite the dramatic judgment coming, God will make a covenant with Noah, and he and his family will be saved. God will also use Noah to save a remnant of each animal so the earth could be populated with people and animals after the flood.
The Bible presents Noah as a great hero of God. He was an outstanding example of righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14), a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), and Noah condemned the world by offering salvation in the ark that the whole world rejected (Hebrews 11:7).
Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), yet in his 120-year ministry, it seems that no one was saved.
Genesis 7:
God was in the ark and would be with Noah in the ark, so He called Noah to come into the ark with Him.
“Notice that the Lord did not say to Noah, ‘Go into the ark,’ but ‘Come,”
In Genesis 6:20 God said the animals would come to Noah by migration.
Noah, the animals, and his family had to wait in the ark seven days for the rain to come. They had never seen rain up to this time. This was a real test of faith – to wait a week after more than 100 years of preparation.
The heavens containing the great waters that were above the firmament (Genesis 1:7) opened up. These waters formed the huge so-called blanket of water in the upper part of the earth’s atmosphere since creation. Waters came up from under the earth, too.
The Number 40 in the Bible
Here we see the first use of the number 40 in the Bible. It has become associated with testing and purification, especially before entering into something new and significant.
Note that God shuts the door. God has the final say in judgement. God shuts people out.
God kept the door open until the last possible minute, but there came a time when the door had to shut. Jesus is He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (Revelation 3:7).
Of the more than 200 cultures that have their own account of the flood the following aspects of the story are common:
88% describe a favored family.
70% attribute survival to a boat.
95% say the sole cause of the catastrophe is a flood.
66% say that the disaster is due to man’s wickedness.
67% record that animals are also saved.
57% describe that the survivors end up on a mountain.
Many of the accounts also specifically mention birds being sent out, a rainbow, and eight persons being saved.
The water from the flood is collected in oceans today.
The Bible says that only the animals that had the breath of the spirit of life. The fish did not die in the flood; only animals with the breath of life in them died, the animals on dry land.
God may have put some or many of these animals into a period of hibernation for this period, meaning that less food, space, and supervision was be needed.
God provides many animals today with an amazing instinct for hibernation. It would be no difficulty for Him to miraculously impart a unique instinct for these particular animals.
The sons of God married any daughters they chose. The Lord said His Spirit will not contend with (be with) man forever for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years. The Nephilim were the heroes of old, men of renown and were on earth during this time when the sons of God were as well.
God saw how men’s hearts had become only evil and He was filled with pain. God said he would wipe mankind from the face of the earth for He is grieved (regretted) He created them. Except for Noah who was a righteous man and walked with God. Noah had 3 sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
The earth was corrupt and the people were violent.
God tells Noah He is going to destroy the world, and he needs to build an ark. God enters a covenant with Noah. He tells Noah he will need to bring in two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive and every kind of food for him and for the animals.
Noah did everything God commanded.
Summary of Genesis 7:
God tells Noah to enter the ark with the animals for in seven days He will send rain for 40 days and nights. Noah obeys. Noah was 600 years old when the flood happened. All the animals came to him. Then the Lord shut them in and the waters came. Everything perished. After the rain stopped, the earth remained flooded for 150 days.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 3: Genesis 6-7
7) Man’s wickedness was great, and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart were only evil. The Lord was grieved that he had made man, and his heart was filled with pain. God decides to wipe his entire creation out because He is so grieved He made them.
8 ) Noah was righteous, blameless among the people, and he walked faithfully with God.
9a) Noah obeyed every command given to him from God without question. He 100% trusted God when He spoke to him although the request probably seemed outlandish at the time.
b) Personal Question. My answer: Too many things to list! Serving God unquestionably is challenging, even in the little things, let alone the big things.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 3: Genesis 6-7
I love the story of Noah. Here’s a guy of faith who is told to build a big boat and save his entire family by God. How awesome and scary is that! Yet, he does it without fail, without question, showing us what a walk with God truly is.
Last go around in the study of Genesis, we were asked who the sons of God and the daughters of men were. Nehilim is explained HERE
We were also asked what we do to cause God grief and have we found favor in God’s eyes.
God could just have snapped His fingers, and Noah and his family could have been saved. Instead, He had Noah build an ark. God does the same thing to us. He doesn’t wave His magic wand and make our problems go away, but He does provide a way out and through that is most likely not our way.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 5, Day 3: Genesis 6-7
Genesis 6:
Who Were the Sons of God and the Daughters of Men?
Many have believed the sons of God were those from the line of Seth, and the daughters of men were from the line of Cain, and this describes an intermarriage between the godly and the ungodly, something God specifically prohibits (Deuteronomy 7:1-4, 2 Corinthians 6:14).
Some believe that sons of God are either demons (angels in rebellion against God) or uniquely demon-possessed men, and the daughters of men are human women.
The phrase sons of God clearly refers to angelic creatures when it is used the three other times in the Old Testament (Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7). The translators of the Septuagint translated sons of God as angels. Those ancient translators clearly thought sons of God referred to angelic beings, not to people descended from Seth.
Jude 6 tells us of the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation. Jude goes on (Jude 7) to tell us they sinned in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh. Here in Genesis 6, as in Sodom and Gomorrah, there was an unnatural sexual union. Jude 6 also makes it clear what God did with these wicked angels. They are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day for not keeping their proper place. Their sinful pursuit of freedom has put them in bondage.
In Matthew 22:30, we see where Jesus said angels neither marry nor are given in marriage; but Jesus never said angels were sexless, and He was also speaking about faithful angelic beings (angels of God in heaven), not rebellious ones.
In sum, no one knows exactly who the sons of God and the daughters of men are referring to.
Satan could have sent his angels to intermarry in an effort to ensure the promised seed of Jesus was never born. And Satan almost succeeded. The race was so polluted that God found it necessary to start again with Noah and his sons, and to imprison the demons that did this so they could never do this again.
Take away from the flood: there is a point of sin where God will say “enough is enough.” Turn to God now because no other days are promised to us.
God said He would flood the earth 120 years before He did. Perhaps He is hoping some will turn to Him.
Giants on earth refers to the unnatural offspring of the union between the sons of God and the daughters of men, though there were people of unusual size on the earth both before and after the flood (and also afterward). These ones before the flood were unique because of the demonic element of their parentage. They were the mighty men of old, men of renown.
Jesus said, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37). In other words, the conditions of the world before the coming of Jesus will be like the conditions of the world before the flood:
Widespread corruption and violence (Genesis 6:11).
Even though God knew He would destroy mankind, He still felt grieved.
Noah
Noah found grace; he did not earn it. Noah had the righteousness that is of faith because as soon as the floodwaters had dried up and he left the ark, he offered sacrifices (Genesis 8:20). Noah’s three sons will figure into the account in a significant way. God will use them as a foundation for the rest of the human race.
Since the fall in Genesis 3, every human being has a death sentence. The timing and method of that death are completely in the hands of God.
Instead of wiping out the entire race, God preserved a remnant.
The Ark
The ark was as long as a 30-story building is high (about 450 feet or 150 meters)
75 feet (25 meters) wide
45 feet (15 meters) high.
The ark is meant to float, like a barge, not sail.
Was the shape of a shoebox, was plenty large enough (about the size of the Titanic)
Had a cubit-wide opening (18 inches, one-half meter) all the way around the top.
It was not until 1858 that a boat bigger than the ark was built. The ark was certainly big enough to do the job. If the ark carried two of every family of animals, there were around 700 pairs of animals; but if the ark carried two of every species of animals, there were around 35,000 pairs of animals.
The average size of a land animal is smaller than a sheep. The ark could carry 136,560 sheep in half of its capacity, leaving plenty of room for people, food, water, and whatever other provisions were needed.
Noah was not told why he was making this ark in the beginning; just to make it.
Throughout history, many people have reported seeing the ark and/or finding the ark. The pitch worked to waterproof the wood. God told Noah to cover it with pitch inside and outside, which makes it possible that the ark was preserved for a long time. It is possible God still has a purpose for the ark, to use it to remind the world of a past judgment shortly before a future judgment.
Fun Fact: Because of this mention of pitch (a petroleum product) in what most people think is the Middle East, it is said that John D. Rockefeller looked for (and found) oil in that region based on this verse.
Despite the dramatic judgment coming, God will make a covenant with Noah, and he and his family will be saved. God will also use Noah to save a remnant of each animal so the earth could be populated with people and animals after the flood.
The Bible presents Noah as a great hero of God. He was an outstanding example of righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14), a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), and Noah condemned the world by offering salvation in the ark that the whole world rejected (Hebrews 11:7).
Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), yet in his 120-year ministry, it seems that no one was saved.
Genesis 7:
God was in the ark and would be with Noah in the ark, so He called Noah to come into the ark with Him.
“Notice that the Lord did not say to Noah, ‘Go into the ark,’ but ‘Come,”
In Genesis 6:20 God said the animals would come to Noah by migration.
Noah, the animals, and his family had to wait in the ark seven days for the rain to come. They had never seen rain up to this time. This was a real test of faith – to wait a week after more than 100 years of preparation.
The heavens containing the great waters that were above the firmament (Genesis 1:7) opened up. These waters formed the huge so-called blanket of water in the upper part of the earth’s atmosphere since creation. Waters came up from under the earth, too.
The Number 40 in the Bible
Here we see the first use of the number 40 in the Bible. It has become associated with testing and purification, especially before entering into something new and significant.
Note that God shuts the door. God has the final say in judgement. God shuts people out.
God kept the door open until the last possible minute, but there came a time when the door had to shut. Jesus is He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (Revelation 3:7).
Of the more than 200 cultures that have their own account of the flood the following aspects of the story are common:
88% describe a favored family.
70% attribute survival to a boat.
95% say the sole cause of the catastrophe is a flood.
66% say that the disaster is due to man’s wickedness.
67% record that animals are also saved.
57% describe that the survivors end up on a mountain.
Many of the accounts also specifically mention birds being sent out, a rainbow, and eight persons being saved.
The water from the flood is collected in oceans today.
The Bible says that only the animals that had the breath of the spirit of life. The fish did not die in the flood; only animals with the breath of life in them died, the animals on dry land.
God may have put some or many of these animals into a period of hibernation for this period, meaning that less food, space, and supervision was be needed.
God provides many animals today with an amazing instinct for hibernation. It would be no difficulty for Him to miraculously impart a unique instinct for these particular animals.
