Tag: bsf questions answers lesson 9 day 5

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 9, Day 5: 2 Kings 5:1-6:7

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

SUMMARY OF 2 KINGS 5:1-6:7

Naaman was a well regarded commander of the army of the king of Aram. However, he had leprosy. A captive girl from Israel told Naaman’s wife about Elisha who could heal him. Naaman asked the king for permission to go and see Elisha, which the king granted and he gave him a letter, too. The king of Israel couldn’t help him, but Elisha could.

Elisha told Naaman to go wash himself 7 times in the Jordan River and he would be cured. But Naaman was mad. He thought Elisha would cure him in a big hoopla and display of God’s power. Naaman’s servants told him to follow Elisha’s orders, which he did. Naaman was cured. Naaman converts to worshipping God. He offers Elisha gifts, but he refuses.

Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, got greedy. He followed Naaman to ask for some money and he kept it for himself. Elisha cursed him with leprosy for this.

Elisha then retrieves an axhead from the Jordan River using God’s power.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 9, Day 5: 2 Kings 5:1-6:7

11) Naaman was a well regarded commander of the army of the king of Aram. However, he had leprosy.

12a) A captive girl from Israel told Naaman’s wife about Elisha who could heal him. Naaman asked the king for permission to go and see Elisha and he went.

b) He thought Elisha would cure him in a big hoopla and display of God’s power. Naaman’s servants told him to follow Elisha’s orders, which he did. Washing in the River was the same as being told to do great things, they reasoned.

c) I’m super bad at admitting when I’m wrong and apologizing.

13) He converted him and, odds are, his family, too.

14) God ultimately wants everyone to come to him. He reveals himself as a testimony to others to follow Him, too.

15) First, he was greedy. Second, he lied about it instead of confessing and asking for forgiveness.

16) Elisha knew that the man would have to pay for the axhead that he lost since it wasn’t his, so he took compassion on the man and retrieve it for him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 9, Day 5: 2 Kings 5:1-6:7

My favorite part was the captive girl. I’m unsure if I would have done the same due to my anger at being a slave. Here, God uses a girl’s tragedy to convert her enemy. Powerful stuff!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 9, Day 5: 2 Kings 5:1-6:7

Aram or Syria was a bitter enemy of Israel and Judah. (1 Kings 22:35-36).

Note that the title “man of valor” is used with Gideon (Judges 6:12), Jephthah (Judges 11:1), David (1 Samuel 16:18), Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:28), and Eliada (2 Chronicles 17:17). In fact, Naaman is the only Gentile in the Bible referred to with this title.

Leprosy in the ancient world was a death sentence. It also was a cause for ostracism, as people didn’t understand and didn’t want to catch it.

The servant girl cared and had faith. That is all God requires of us, too. God used her to accomplish a greater good.

Many Bible scholars believe this story is out of order since the letter sent by the king of Syria to the king of Israel would likely not have happened during intense hostilities.

Ten talents of gold would be equivalent to $1.2 million today.

Elisha rebukes the king of Israel for having no faith in God or him.

Note Elisha did not see Naaman, only sent him a message. He had the wrong expectations of God, like many of us do.

When Naaman’s servants pointed out that his reasoning was inconsistent about washing in the river and that he was only refusing because it was humbling, Naaman agreed. Only God could heal, especially since Elisha was not there. God gets all the credit here unequivocally.

Naaman was like the leper who came back to thank Jesus after he was healed (Luke 17:12-19).

The taking of the soil with him was common in the ancient world. He also asked to be pardoned when he pretended to worship the gods of Syria, as he would be expected to do as an official.

Gehazi hid the talents because he knew Elisha would not approve. The judgement is more severe for believers who know better. It was his selfish desire to gain from God’s blessings.

2 Kings 6

Elisha’s following had grown so much that he needed a new building.

Iron was precious and uncommon in ancient times. The way Elisha retrieved it left no doubt that God retrieved it.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 9, Day 5: Matthew 8:28-34

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 8:28-34

Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men in the region of Gadarenes or Gergesenes. They would not let anyone pass. The demons recognized Jesus and asked him why he has come.

They then asked Jesus if he would drive them out into the herd of pigs. Jesus granted their request. The herd of pigs then rushed off a bank into a lake and drowned. This scene scared the shepherds. They ran off to tell everyone what they had seen. The whole town became scared. They told Jesus to leave their region.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 9, Day 5: Matthew 8:28-34

13a) They two demonized men recognized Jesus and asked him why he has come and if he would torture them before the appointed time. They then asked Jesus if he would drive them out into the herd of pigs, which Jesus did.

b) They recognized that Jesus was the Son of God. James 2:19 tells us that even demons know that there is only One God — and they are afraid. They know they are doomed.

14) He took pity on the men.

15) Jesus’s actions scared the townspeople. Perhaps they thought he’d do the same to them. Jesus left because he knew they would not listen to him (Matthew 10:14).

16) It’s truly awe-inspiring and hard to put into words. It gives me hope to trudge along each and every day as I continually seek His purpose for my life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 9, Day 5: Matthew 8:28-34

I love how Matthew throws in so many varied stories. We go from Jesus healing many people to him rebuking a storm and helping those who are demon-possessed. Great stuff.

I love Tomie de Paola!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 9, Day 5: Matthew 8:28-34

map of region of Gergesenes or Gadarenes bsf matthew matthew 8 www.atozmomm.com
By By Nichalp – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=460339

The exact location of the region of Gergesenes (or Gadarenes) is unknown. Bible scholars believe it is located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galiee and was a small town where the larger city of Gadara was lcoated. Here, many Gentiles lived.

Do note the other Gospels tell this story, but only mention one of the demon-possessed men.

Any contact with dead bodies made Jews unclean. So these men who were coming out of tombs (presumably they were living there) were terrifying to the Jewish people.

Seeing Jesus, the demons knew their time was up. They knew they would be cast out and would suffer in hell forever.

Pigs are unclean to the Jewish people. Why they were there, no one knows. But it is the perfect place to cast out demons at that time. The demons wanted to possess the pigs rather than be left without something to terrorize. Note they had to get permission from Jesus in order to take over the bodies of swines.

Note that this is the only example of casting out demons into the bodies of animals. This may be where stories have come from of humans possessing animal bodies.

The demons were bent on killing, which is why they killed the pigs immediately. This proved, too, that the demons were now inside the pigs and not the men. Jesus wanted to ensure everyone knew this miracle had occurred.

One could say that the people could easily have been pleased that Jesus had driven the demons out of the men. Truthfully, it could have gone either way here. However, fear ruled, so the townspeople asked Jesus to leave. Plus, the destruction of the pigs cast doubt into the minds of those who saw. Would Jesus destroy them, too? This is exactly what Satan wants you to think. This is a message to us to be wary always.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 9, Day 5: Genesis 14:17-24

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 14:17-24:

Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him. The king of Sodom came out to meet him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem (or Jerusalem) and a priest of God brought out bread and wine. He blessed Abram and Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

The king of Sodom asked Abram for his people back that had been carried away by Kedorlaomer but told Abram he could keep the goods.  Abram said he has sworn to God that he will accept nothing from him so that he could not say he had made Abram rich. He will only accept what they have eaten and what the men who accompanied him want.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 9, Day 5: Genesis 14:17-24

14) Well, first off, the king of Salem is a believer in God.  He brought out food and wine and blessed Abram, so Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom came empty-handing, asking for things back.

15) Isaiah 2:3 says that the word of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem (where Melchizedek is from). Isaiah 9:6-7 says

Hebrews 2:17-18: Jesus had to be made like his brothers (flesh and blood) so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and to be able to make atonement for man’s sins.

Hebrews 4:14-5:10:  Jesus is our great high priest who has gone through the heavens who can sympathize with our weaknesses for he has been tempted in every way just as we are–and remain without sin.  Let us hold firmly to our faith, approach God with confidence so we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.

Every high priest is selected among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for our sins.  He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray and offer sacrifices for our sins.

Priests must be called by God.  Jesus was called to be a High Priest by God in the order of Melchizedek.  Jesus prayed to God and he was heard because of his submission.  He was obedient and made perfect for our eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Hebrews 6:18-7:28:  God swore promises to us by Himself so that we may have hope and encouragement.  This hope anchors our soul and enters the inner sanctuary where Jesus has entered on our behalf.  Jesus is a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews Chapter 7:  This Melchizedek was king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the God Most High.  He met and blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.  His name means “king of righteousness” and king of Salem means “king of peace”.  He remains a priest forever without the proper lineage.

Just think how great he must have been for Abraham to give him a tenth of the plunder!  The law requires the descendants of Levi to collect a tenth from the people.  Melchizedek was not a Levite.  One could deduce that Levi collects the tenth through Abraham because Levi (who is Abraham’s descendant) hadn’t been born yet when Melchizedek collected.  Hence we have Levites paying tithes to Melchizedek, making Melchizedek greater than the Levites (or Abraham in this instance since the Levites are through Abraham).  Since the lesser is blessed by the greater, Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.

Perfection could not be attained through the Levites so there was need for a priest in the order of Melchizedek (the mere fact that a priest in the order of Melchizedek shows up should be a clue that there is a need for something better than the Levites).  If the priests change, then so must the law.  The old law was weak and useless for it made nothing perfect and a better hope was introduced by God (Jesus!).

Through an oath Jesus became a priest and the author of a better covenant.  Jesus lives forever so his priesthood is forever; therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.

Jesus meets our needs as holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens with one sacrifice of himself who has been made perfect forever.

16a) “Creator of heaven and earth and who delivered your enemies into Abram’s hands.”

b) Personal Question. My answer: My former and present pastors. My BSF leader who prays and anyone else who prays for me. I will pray and thank God and do my best to live a Godly-life as called in thanks.

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Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 9, Day 5: Genesis 14:17-24

A difficult passage, indeed, with Melchizedek. We spent one whole day on this last go around with BSF’s Study of Genesis, including Psalm 110:

Psalm 110:  The Lord told my Lord (David’s Lord who is Jesus) to sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool.  God will extend Jesus’s scepter and rule in the midst of enemies.  On the day of battle your troops will be arrayed in holy majesty.

The Lord calls Jesus a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.  He will crush kings on the day of his wrath, judge the nations, and heap up the dead.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 9, Day 5: Genesis 14:17-24

This Melchizedek appears out of nowhere like a genie in a bottle. He has no history, and Bible scholars know nothing about him. His name means “king of righteousness.”. We are told he was a priest and a king (which Jesus will be). This was highly unusual in the ancient world. In the future, God will forbid this. In 2 Chronicles 26:16-23, King Uzziah tries to do this, and God strikes him with leprosy.

He did worship the One, True God. Many Bible scholars note the bread and wine as symbolic of the Passover and the Lord’s Supper.

Melchizedek blessed Abram and God.

Psalm 110:4 notes that the priesthood of the Messiah is not from Aaron, but from Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. This leads Bible Scholars to think he may have been Jesus.

Other Bible Scholars speculate he was Shem, Noah’s son, Job, or an angel. All of this, even the idea of Jesus, is speculation. We’ll find out when we get to heaven.

Abram refuses the plunder because he wants all of the credit of his wealth to go to God. The rest of the kings could divide up the spoils. Abram also uses “God Most High” after our pal, Melchizedek, uses it.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 9, Day 5: Genesis 10

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  Genealogy of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Noah’s sons).

The sons of Japheth were maritime peoples and spread out with their own language.

Cush was the son of Ham who was the father of Nimrod who grew to be a mighty warrior and hunter on earth.  The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in Shinar.  Then Cush went to Assyria to build Ninevah, Rehoboth, Ir, Calah, and Resen.

Later, the Canaanites scattered, pushing out the borders from Sidon to Gaza and Lasha.

Shem’s ancestors lived in the eastern hill country from Mesha to Sephar.

Questions:

10a)  Cush was Nimrod’s father and Nimrod’s grandfather was Ham.  He was a mighty warrior and hunter on earth.  He ruled a kingdom that included Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh.  He then conquered Assyria and established more cities.

Fun fact:  Nimrod’s name means “let us rebel”.

b)  Bad.  “The mighty hunter before the Lord” is not a hunter of animals but of humans.  This is not a compliment.  This is also the first use of the word “kingdom” in the bible, which implies he consolidated the peoples and probably in a ruthless manner.  Ultimately, he relied on his own strength instead of God’s.

11) “because in his time the earth was divided”

12)  Uz and Jobab.  Job came from the region of Uz and Jobab may be the one we know as Job.

13)  Like most lists of names and genealogies in the Bible, it is used to chronicle the line of Jesus and collaborate God’s words to man (who always seems to need evidence).  Also, it explains how the world was re-populated after the flood and who and how founded the nations of the earth.

Conclusions:  Keep in mind the distribution of peoples:  Japheth was the father of the western Europeans, the Medes, and the Greeks.  Ham was the father of Africans (Egypt and Ethiopia) and the far East (including Babylon and Canaan).  Shem was the father of the Persians, the Assyrians, the Hebrews (Abram), and Asia Minor.

Best map I could find on the Internet of the table of nations:  http://www.bible-history.com/maps/2-table-of-nations.html

In general:

Japheth-Europe

Ham-Africa

Shem-Asia

Good map of Fertile Crescent, showing Nimrod’s kingdom:  http://bibleatlas.org/full/nimrod.htm