Mark 1:1-13

It is believed that the Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, a member of both Paul’s and later Peter’s ministry teams. Church tradition teaches us that Mark was asked by the church in Rome to write down Peter’s teaching and compile them in a book so that they would not be forgotten after Peter’s death.

Mark is the shortest, simplest gospel, and focused most directly on the actions of Jesus.

Mark quotes two Jewish prophets. Malachi 3:1 in verse 2 and Isaiah 40:3 in verse 3. How is John the Baptist the fulfillment of these prophecies? How is John’s ministry connected to Jesus?

Baptism was not a ritual that was unknown to Judaism. For centuries, non-Jews who wished to convert to the Jewish faith underwent baptism. The ritual symbolized the washing away of the filth of their old pagan life and the start of a new life as a member of God’s people. Baptism was not new, but Jews undergoing baptism was revolutionary. For a Jew to undergo baptism was a public statement that they needed the forgiveness and cleansing of God just as much as a pagan foreigner did. It took extraordinary humility to be baptized. But humility and recognizing your need of forgiveness are essential elements of the repentance needed to prepare yourself for the coming of the Messiah.

If John is preaching a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”, why does Jesus step forward to be baptized? Why get baptized if you are already sinless? The answer to this question gets at the essence of Lent which is summarized for us in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus is identifying with our sin through his baptism. Jesus “became sin”, made himself guilty, took on our sin and was punished for our sins at the cross.

How does the Father feel about his Son and what he is doing? Why do you think Jesus needed to hear this from his Father?

Where does the Holy Spirit drive Jesus immediately after his baptism? The number forty recalls that years that Israel spent wandering in the wilderness. Israel, like Jesus, was tempted in the desert. But Jesus, unlike Israel, overcame that temptation. Jesus became our sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. This means that Jesus’ victory over Satan’s temptations counts for us. We fast not to get on God’s good side, but to remember that Jesus’ righteousness is credited to us. Just as Jesus was punished for our sins, we are also blessed by God because of Jesus’ obedience.

Mark 1:14-28
What event signals the beginning of Jesus’ ministry?  Who fades to the background as Jesus takes center stage?

How does Mark summarize Jesus’ message (sometimes called the gospel or good news) to the world in verse 15?

The Kingdom of God is wherever God’s will is done, a world filled with people who love God and love their neighbor as themselves. Imagine what that world would look like. Jesus declares that this kingdom is now drawing near and breaking into our world through his coming.

How is each person called to respond to the good news in verse 15?

Immediately Jesus begins to his build his kingdom by calling disciples. Disciples and their teachers called rabbis were not an uncommon sight in Israel. To be a rabbi was a position of honor in Israel and to be a disciple was akin to going to Harvard. The privilege of being a disciple was an honor conferred only on those with the sharpest minds and the highest moral integrity. Those who were rejected by rabbis were encouraged to go home and work the family trade. Those who were accepted were told by the rabbi to “come and follow me.”

Disciples ordinarily applied to rabbis. Do the disciples come to Jesus or does Jesus go to them? What do you notice about the men Jesus called? What are they doing when Jesus meets them? What new purpose does Jesus give them?

For Jewish rabbis, and Jesus followed this tradition, all of life was a classroom. These disciples will spend the next three years of their lives following Jesus, watching him with the goal of learning to do what he did and most importantly becoming like him.  The disciples are with Jesus as he enters the synagogue.

What do the people in the synagogue recognize in Jesus; through his teaching AND through the way he healed the demon-possessed man?

Mark 1:29-45

“As soon as they left…” notice the sense of urgency. “He went to her, took her hand and helped her up.” Jesus was willing to heal Peter’s mother in law, he made it a point to go to her. What does this passage say about Jesus’ ability to heal the sick? What does it say about his willingness to heal the sick?

Even though the demons correctly identified Jesus, Jesus silenced them. Wouldn’t he want the world to know who he was? Yes, but not yet. Jesus’ time would come when he would be revealed as the King of the Jews and the Son of God not through a miracle, but through his death on the cross.

“Very early in the morning…” Jesus made time alone with His Father a priority. Prayer always preceded action. “they exclaimed…” shows the importance of the disciples message. Jesus’ reply, “Let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” What is Jesus trying to convey to the disciples? What is his strategy for spreading the good news of God’s kingdom?

“A man with leprosy…” In keeping with the law in Leviticus 13 and 14, Jewish leaders declared people with leprosy unclean. This meant that they were unfit to participate in any religious or social activity. Because the law said that contact with any unclean person made a person unclean also, some people even threw rocks at lepers to keep them at a safe distance. But Jesus touched the man who had leprosy (NIV Life Application Study Bible Notes). The Law taught that to touch an unclean person, made that person unclean. But what happens when Jesus touches an unclean person?

Jesus sends the healed man to the priest because the Law demanded that a leper’s healing be verified by the priest before that person was declared to be “clean” and allowed to re-enter society.

Mark 2:1-12

Word of Jesus’ healing miracles has spread throughout the countryside and crowds mob the home where Jesus is staying. Desperate to get their friend to Jesus, a hole is torn in the roof of the house and a paralyzed man is lowered before Jesus. What did Jesus see that caused him to declare to the paralyzed man, “your sins are forgiven”?

To claim the power to forgive was to claim to be God for only God reserved the right to forgive sins. The Jewish leaders considered Jesus’ words to be blasphemy because they did not accept that he was God and therefore they are enraged

Why does Jesus go ahead and heal the paralytic? What was he proving concerning himself?

Mark 2:13-22

Discipleship was an honor afforded to the brightest minds and those with impeccable integrity. No self-respecting rabbi would dream of calling a tax collector to follow him as a disciple. A tax-collector was a traitor, who collaborated with Roman occupiers.  They were sell outs who enriched themselves by overcharging their own people.

How does Jesus explain his unusual choice of a disciple? What warning does verse 17 have for us religious types?

John the Baptist and his disciples regularly fasted, Jesus and his disciples never did and this puzzled the disciples of John the Baptist. Fasting was considered to be a important part of holiness. Why don’t the guests (the disciples) not fast for now? Who is with them? Why will Jesus’ disciples fast in the future?

Mark 2:23-3:6

The fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) prohibited work on the seventh day of the week called the Sabbath. The question was, “what constituted work?” The teachers of the law spent a lot of time thinking about this and they determined that picking grain to eat constituted work and therefore was prohibited on the Sabbath.

Why does Jesus go out of his way to challenge this interpretation? What is Jesus saying about the Sabbath? What is he saying about himself?

Guess what? The teachers of the law also ruled that healing was work. And notice what Jesus does on the sabbath.

The heart of the Law (think 10 Commandments) was to love God and love your neighbor. The commandments, including the Sabbath Law, was an explanation of what loving God and your neighbor meant. How does Jesus demonstrate that his opponent’s interpretation of the Sabbath violated the heart of the law?

While it was unlawful to heal someone on the Sabbath, apparently it was legal to conspire to kill the Son of God. Imagine.

John 5:19-27

How would you describe Jesus’ relationship with God the Father?  Who takes the lead?  How do they feel about each other?  What do they do for each other?  How do they work together?

The Son of Man is not a generic title for Jesus, but a reference to vision the prophet Daniel received which is recorded in Daniel 7:13-14.  In this vision there are two characters ‘The Ancient of Days’ (God the Father) and ‘one like a son of man’ (Jesus).

In my vision at night I looked and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.   He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away … (Daniel 7:13-14)

How does Daniel 7:13-14 shed light on Jesus’ words?

1 Corinthians 1:1-19

Corinth was located in a commercially strategic location in Greece with ports providing access to Rome in the west and Asia Minor (Turkey) in the east. Consequently, the church in Corinth was among the wealthiest churches in the Roman Empire. See if their struggles mirror the challenges that we face as Christians in America as we are also among the wealthiest churches of our time.

How does Paul identify himself as the author of this letter (along with Sosthenes who was most likely an assistant / missionary intern serving with Paul)? The word ‘apostle’ means ‘one who is sent.’

How does Paul identify the recipients of the letter, the Christians in Corinth? The word sanctified here means to be made holy or set apart by God. So what Paul is saying here is that God has made you holy (sanctified – past tense) now go and be holy. That is a common theme in the Bible. God has made you who you are. Now go and be who you are.

What is it about the Corinthian church that causes Paul to give thanks to God? Why is Paul confident that the Corinthian church will be ‘strong to the end’?

What does Paul see in the Corinthian church that troubles him? What do you think Paul would think of the state of the church today with its many denominations and divisions? Who or what is to be unifying force in the church? How does Paul view the rejection of the gospel by the the wise and the intelligent?

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

What can not know God? How is it that we come to know God? Why does Jewish wisdom reject the gospel? Why do the Greeks? What has God offered in the place of human wisdom and power? Why?What does it take for someone to accept the “foolishness” and “weakness” of God?

The Corinthians’ wealth and power tempted them, as it tempts us, to trust in their strength rather than the power of God. How does Paul undercut their faith in themselves and point them to a faith in Christ?

1 Corinthians 2:1-13

The Greeks valued good communication skills just as a politician today is judged by his ability to connect on camera rather than the substance of the message. How did Paul appear weak to the Greeks? Why was it important for Paul to communicate the gospel in weakness? Whose power was it that opened the eyes of the Corinthians? How is it that any of us comes to know “the secret wisdom of God”?

1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15

What role does the Holy Spirit play in our coming to know God?

Why does Paul consider the Corinthian church to be worldly and infantile?

How does Paul see himself, Apollos, and God working together and not in competition with each other? Think about Paul’s farming analogy. What roles do people play in spreading the message of Jesus? What role does God play?

Think now about Paul’s construction analogy. What is the foundation? Who builds the house? How will we know if our work has been of any value?

1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Keep in mind that the “you” of verse 16 is plural. If we were in the south we could say “y’all are God’s temple.”What is God’s new temple on earth? How highly does God value his new temple?

Apparently there were great divisions in the early church as early Christians identified themselves as followers of Paul, Apollos and Cephas (Peter) not unlike the way Christians today hitch their wagons to Calvin, Wesley or Rick Warren. What does Paul exhort the Corinthian Christians to do instead of boasting and arguing about their great wisdom?

1 Corinthians 4:1-17

Why does Paul ask the Corinthian Christians to follow his and Apollos’ teaching? How were they to determine if Paul and Apollos were true teachers? Why were the Corinthians asked not to “go beyond what was written”?

The Corinthian Christians were not unlike American Christians. We often believe that our economic prosperity is an indicator of our superior wisdom. It is that kind of pride that leads to divisions in the church and stunts our growth as Christians.

Romans 6:3-14

The picture here of baptism is one of immersion. Here the sinner is placed under the water which symbolizes the death or the drowning of our old lives. When the convert is raised out of the water, he is raised from the dead and into a new life.

In what ways does our baptism connect us to the life and death of Jesus Christ? What is the significance for us in Christ’s death? What has died in us as we died with Christ? What difference does Christ’s resurrection make in our own lives?

What is true about sin in our lives now that we have died and risen with Jesus Christ? Why can we never say “I am a sinner and I can not change”?

Genesis 37:1-11        Joseph and His Famous Trouble-making Dreams  

We are told that Joseph is seventeen when he comes on the scene.  The last time we saw Joseph he had just been born of Rachel.  We find Joseph with his brothers “the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah.”  To find out who they are we have to look back; but to save the time let me just tell you: the sons of Bilhah are Dan and Naphtali; the sons of Zilpah are Gad and Asher.

What was the special nature of Joseph’s relationship with his father Jacob?
[“Now Israel {Jacob} loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age.” (Gen. 37:3 NIV)]

How did Jacob (Israel) demonstrate his preference for Joseph?
[He had made him “a richly ornamented robe”.  (Gen. 37:3 NIV)]

How did this action enhance Joseph’s standing with his brothers?
[It didn’t.  Joseph’s brothers hated him because Israel had shown favor to him over the others. v. Gen. 37:4)]

Describe Joseph’s first dream and opine (speculate, or form an opinion) why this was not the best public relations maneuver.  
[Since Joseph was already very unpopular among his brothers, Joseph’s dream about how the brothers’ sheaves bow down to his sheaf will not advance his standing among them.]

Did Joseph learn from this experience?
[Unhappily, no.  Joseph had another dream, far more overreaching than the first, which he also shared with his brothers.  In this dream “the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.  When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, ‘What is this dream you had?  Will your mother {who by this time was dead} and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” (Gen. 37:9-10 NIV)]

Genesis 37:12-24             Things Take a Turn for the Worse

Joseph’s ten brothers (Benjamin could not have been among them – he would have been too young) were in Shechem tending the flocks.  Joseph was in the Valley of Hebron which was roughly thirty miles away.  What does Jacob tell Joseph to do?
[Israel tells Joseph to go to his brothers to find out how they were doing and to bring a report back to him.  Joseph goes to Shechem and there he finds out that his brothers are grazing their sheep twelve miles farther north in Dothan (a total of more than forty-two miles from Jacob).]

What dastardly deed did Joseph’s brothers devise?
[They plotted to kill him, dispose of the body, and then tell Jacob that a wild animal had attacked him.]

Reuben figures highly in this episode.  What did he do and why did he do it?
[Reuben advises against killing Joseph but rather to put him in an empty cistern (well or reservoir) so that later he could return him to Israel.]

What do the brothers settle on?
[They strip Joseph of his ornate robe, dipped it in blood, and threw Joseph in an empty cistern.  They needed the many-colored coat as evidence.)]

Genesis 37:25-36    Joseph Finds Himself in Egypt

What brilliant business option does Judah come up with?  “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?” (Genesis 37:26 NIV)
[Judah’s plan is that they sell Joseph to a band of Ishmaelites (a caravan) which is headed for Egypt.  They get twenty shekels of silver for Joseph.]

For some reason which the bible does not inform us of, Reuben is not among the brothers when this deal is made.  What does he do when he learns what his brothers have done?  Why?
[Reuben tears his robes when he learns that Joseph is missing.  He believes Joseph is dead and his brothers do not disabuse (correct) him of that notion.  Reuben believes the lie which will make it easier to sell to Israel.]

Human nature is rather predictable.  Jacob’s sons present him with the now dipped-in-blood coat.  What is Israel’s reaction?  To what conclusion does Jacob jump?
[Israel sees the blood-stained coat and presumes that Joseph is dead; torn apart by a wild animal.  He dons sackcloth and ashes in mourning for his Joseph.  This is evil because this is exactly what Jacob’s sons hope he concludes saving them from having to lie to him.  This is diabolical because, as in the case of Reuben, they don’t correct the false belief Jacob has embraced.  You can’t accuse them of lying to him, just deceiving him.]

Genesis 39:1-23        Joseph and the Not-so-virtuous Wife of Potiphar

In verse two we see that “the LORD was with Joseph”.  This has to mean something.  According to verses two and three what does this mean?
[Joseph prospered “and that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did.”]

How does Potiphar “tap into” this favor that Joseph enjoyed?
[Potiphar put Joseph in complete charge of his household “and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.  From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.” (Gen. 39:4b-5 NIV)]

What additional “benefit” does Potiphar experience because he had so favored Joseph?
[Potiphar experienced “peace of mind” (“…he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Gen. 39:6); he did not worry about anything Joseph was commissioned to take care of.]

Now things begin to heat up.  What entices Potiphar’s wife to try to seduce Joseph?
[“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome…” (Gen. 39:6 NIV)]

What is Joseph’s response to these attempts?
[“But he refused.  ‘With me in charge', he told her, ‘my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.  My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.  How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’ (Gen. 39:8-9 NIV)]

Mrs. Potiphar does not give up.  She continues to taunt Joseph until one day…  Joseph flees from the wife of Potiphar but she snags his cloak.  Bear in mind: “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, not hell a fury like a woman scorned.” (William Congreve 1670-1929)  So Potiphar’s wife uses the evidence “in hand” and, in essence, screams “rape”.  What is Potiphar’s response to these developments?
[Naturally, (and if he knew what was good for him) he believed his wife and sent Joseph directly to jail. “…he burned with anger.” (Gen. 39:19 NIV)]

Virtue has its own rewards but I doubt jail was one of them.  We saw back in verse two that “the LORD was with Joseph”.  How does this help Joseph now, if it does?
[Again Joseph gains favor in the sight of his superiors – in this case the prison warden.  Joseph, in essence, becomes a trustee and is put in charge of the prisoners.  Now it’s the warden’s turn not to worry about anything put in Joseph’s care.]

Genesis 40:1-23         Happy and Unhappy Dreams

Early in this chapter we learn that the Pharaoh’s chief baker and chief cupbearer are tossed in jail.  The chief baker is probably someone whom Pharaoh wanted to honor for some service rendered or some deed for which should be recognized.  Let’s just say the position was an honorary one.  The chief cupbearer – well that is something else altogether.  The chief cupbearer would have been a man in whom Pharaoh had complete trust – he was, in essence, the food taster.  In other places of scripture we can gather how important this court official was.  {Just a note: Nehemiah is the most notable (to us, that is) cupbearer in the Old Testament. – j.t.}

We saw earlier that Joseph was gifted with having dreams, and perhaps, the interpretation of them, though his method of delivery could be improved upon.  Anyway what do the chief cupbearer and chief baker have in common?
[Both the chief cupbearer and the chief baker “had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.” (Gen. 40:5 NIV)]

Joseph saw that these men were burdened and he asked them, “Why are your faces so sad today?”  (Gen. 40:7b NIV)  He then tries to encourage them by telling them that the interpretation of dreams belongs to God. So they told Joseph their dreams.  What was the cupbearer’s dream?  What was the baker’s dream?
[The cupbearer “said to him, ‘In my dream I saw a vine in front of me and on the vine were three branches.  As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.  Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand. …
The chief baker “said to Joseph, ‘I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.  In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.’” (Gen. 40:9-11 and 16-17 NIV)]

This was a case of “I have some good news and some bad news.”   What were the interpretations of the dreams?
[“‘This is what it means,’ Joseph said to him (the chief cupbearer).  ‘The three branches are three days.  Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.”’  Clearly this is the good news.  Now for the bad news.  “‘This is what it means’ Joseph said (to the chief baker).  ‘The three baskets are three days.  Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree.  And the birds will eat away your flesh.’”  (Genesis 40:13-14 and 18-19 NIV)]

What is the only thing Joseph asks of the chief cupbearer?
[Joseph only wanted the cupbearer to remember him once he was back in Pharaoh’s service.  It was clear that the chief baker would not be of help to Joseph.]

How accurate was Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams?
[The chief cupbearer was restored after three days; the chief baker was hanged after three days.  “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” (Genesis 40:23 NIV)]

Do you really think you would like to know the future?  (I would not.)

Genesis 41:1-13        Pharaoh’s Turn

Dreams were of great significance in ancient times; they were the means by which God could communicate with man.  The dreams of the cupbearer and the baker were of great importance to those individuals, but most of the time the dreams mentioned are intended for a wider audience.  We have not yet seen the realization of the dreams Joseph had while still with his brothers – that will come to pass later in Genesis.  The dreams of Pharaoh will have ramifications for Joseph and his family for hundreds of years to come.

What were the two dreams of Pharaoh?
[“When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.  After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.  And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows.  Then Pharaoh woke up.  He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.  After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted – thin and scorched by the east wind.  The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads.”   (Genesis 41:1-7 NIV)]

Pharaoh has a problem: he cannot interpret these dreams.  What is his course of action?
[He sends for all the magicians and wise men of the land to interpret the dreams but they could not.]

Pharaoh still has a problem.  It is here that we begin to see the influence and importance of the cupbearer.  How can the cupbearer help both Pharaoh and Joseph?
[Well, to use the cupbearer’s words: “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.” (Genesis 41:9 NIV)  Indeed, the only thing Joseph requested of the cupbearer was to be remembered in the court of Pharaoh.  Here it is two years later.  Better late than never!  The chief cupbearer informs Pharaoh that there is a man in the prison who may be able to interpret his dreams.  He then tells Pharaoh about his own experience and the experience of the chief baker while they were both imprisoned and how accurate the interpretation that Joseph rendered turned out to be.]

Genesis 41:14-45                    Joseph Delivers Results

So Joseph is freed and summoned to Pharaoh’s court whereupon Pharaoh recounts both of the dreams which he had.  What is Joseph’s rather succinct assessment?
[“Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same’” (Genesis 41:25)]

But, that is not all.  What is the interpretation of the dreams?
“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.  Seven (!) years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven (!) years of famine will follow them.”  (Genesis 41:28-30a NIV)

What is the significance of the dream being in two forms?
[“The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.”  (Genesis 41:32 NIV)]

The next scene is one of shameless self-promotion.  Who else could Pharaoh have chosen to undertake the management of the country’s resources than Joseph?  So Joseph is chosen by the very wise Pharaoh to take care of Egypt’s food supply.  And more than that!

How high does Pharaoh raise Joseph?
[Joseph is named second only to Pharaoh in power and authority.  He becomes, as it were, like a prince among the people.]

Why, do you suppose, Pharaoh changed Joseph’s name?  (The bible is not helpful with this question.)
[We have seen this several times already.  God changed Abram’s name to Abraham; God changed Jacob’s name to Israel; and we have seen that Daniel and his friends names were changed when they were removed to Nebuchadnezzar’s court in Babylon.  Abram’s name was changed to Abraham after “he believed God” about God’s promises that he would become the father of many nations.  Jacob’s name was changed because he wrestled with God and prevailed – which is what Israel means.  Joseph would have been considered very wise and shrewd – especially, as it turns out, he was right – that Pharaoh would have honored him with a new name.

John 18:15-18; 25-27

Earlier that evening Jesus interrupted his meal with his disciples to deliver some disturbing news. He is leaving and where he is going his disciples cannot follow. You have to admire Peter’s brash resolve. He announces that he will die for Jesus. Jesus, however, sees a different future for Peter and predicts that he will deny him three times that very night.

Following the meal, Jesus takes his disciples out to the Garden of Gethsemane, just outside the city of Jerusalem. While Jesus is praying (and the disciples are sleeping), Judas appears with a crowd of soldiers and to arrest Jesus. Peter tries to play the hero and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant, but Jesus quickly puts a stop to the Peter’s resistance and heals the servant. The disciples scatter, but Peter and one other disciple followed Jesus at a distance.

What wins out that evening, Peter’s resolve or Jesus’ prediction? Why does Peter fail? When Jesus predicted Peter’s failure, Peter offered Jesus his resolve to stay faithful. What do you think Jesus  wanted from Peter instead? Peter is a pillar of the early church. Why is his colossal failure preserved for us? What does it teach us?

John 18:28-38

The Pharisees and teachers of the law believed that entering a non-Jewish home, where Jewish law practices concerning cleanliness were not practiced, would make them unclean.  Jewish law prohibited anyone who was ceremonially unclean from celebrating the Passover. This is why the Jewish officials escorting Jesus refused to enter the palace of the Roman governor. But this only serves to expose the hypocrisy of Jesus’ adversaries. It was unlawful to enter the home of a Gentile, but it is permissable to bring trumped up charges against the Son of God.

Pilate clearly wants this whole thing to go away and commands the Jewish officials to judge Jesus according to their law. Why do Jesus’ enemies reject this suggestion? Who, according to verse 32, is orchestrating the details of Jesus’ death?

The Jewish authorities hoped to present Jesus as a threat to Roman authority, so their charge was that Jesus claimed to be the “King of the Jews”. The penalty for insurrection in the Roman Empire was death by crucifixion. Does Jesus consider himself to be a king? What makes Jesus’ kingdom different from the kingdoms of our world? What does this tell us about following King Jesus today?

Luke 18:9-14

Parables or short stories was a favorite teaching method of Jesus. What problem causes Jesus to tell this parable? Here’s a little background to clarify Jesus’ point. The Pharisees were a sect of Judaism that was well respected by the average person on the street in Israel. Their respect came from their zeal in keeping Jewish law and tradition and protecting the Jewish identity while their nation was occupied by the Romans. Pharisees were national heroes, whereas tax collectors were traitors. Not only did tax collectors work for the occupying Roman Empire, they often became rich by overcharging their own people. So these two men went to the temple to pray …

Which of these men goes home justified (forgiven and declared to be innocent)? Why? What virtue does God value most highly?

John 17:1-8

It’s the dead of night in the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus kneels in the darkness to pray. He is desperate because he knows that the next day he will go to the cross. In a most remarkable chapter, John allows us to listen in on Jesus’ prayer.

What do we learn about Jesus’ relationship with his Father?  What do they do for each other?  How does Jesus bring glory to his Father?  How does Jesus’ obedience to his Father impact us?  

John 17:9-19

John 17 is commonly known as Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer.”  Priests represent the people before God and in this prayer Jesus is representing us before his Father by praying for us.  Imagine.

Verse 9 tells us that Jesus is praying for his disciples, “his own.” How did these disciples come to belong to Jesus? What did Jesus do for his disciples while he was with them?  What does Jesus ask the Father to do for his disciples in his absence?  In case you were wondering, “to sanctify someone” is to make them holy, or to use Christian language, to make someone like Jesus.

John 17:20-26

This is where the prayer gets exciting.  Jesus extends his prayer beyond his disciples to those who will receive the message from the disciples.  That means us!  What is Jesus’ prayer for us?  What is Jesus most concerned about and why?

John 12:44-50
What does it mean for Jesus to be the light of the world? What does his light illuminate? Who does he point us to?

When we believe in Jesus, we also believe in _____________________.

When we see Jesus, we also see _______________________.

Jesus came to save the world. Who judges those who hear Jesus’ words, but do not keep them? Who directs Jesus’ mission and guides his words? What is the purpose of God the Father’s commands?

Philippians 2:1-13

What is the life pattern that Christ left for us to follow? Where did Jesus begin? Where did he go? Where did God the Father take him in the end? What would it would like for you to follow that same life pattern (go back and look at verses 2-4)?

There is a mystery, a paradox, that runs through Paul’s letter to the Philippians concerning how we grow as a follower of Christ. On the one hand, our growth is a work of God …

Philippians 2:13 … it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Yet we also have some hard work to do as we follow Jesus …

Philippians 2:12 … continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

What does it look like for us to work out our salvation as God works in us?  What does God do?  What do we do?

Philippians 3:1-11

The question: “Do followers of Jesus need to be circumcised and follow the Jewish laws and traditions?” was a question that troubled the church in Paul’s day.  Many Jewish Christians argued forcefully that non-Jews who became Christians must also be made to follow Jewish customs. Paul argues against this teaching calling it “confidence in the flesh”.

Why did Paul have more reason that most Jews of his time to have “confidence in the flesh”? What is worth more to Paul than his Jewish identity and all his accomplishments? What is it that is a source of pride for you? What would it look like for you to let go of these things and instead base your self-worth on the fact that you belong to Jesus?

Hebrews 12:1-14

The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish group of followers of Jesus who were undergoing a difficult time of persecution. Life was so hard for them, they were considering abandoning their faith in Jesus and returning to the safety of the Judaism they had been born into. This book was written to encourage them to cling to Jesus and to persevere in their new faith.

In chapter 11, the writer provided examples of persevering faith from their Jewish history and now in chapter 12 the writer starts to point us to Jesus. How can the example of Jesus encourage us to hold on to our faith even when life gets difficult?

How are we called to see the hardships that God allows in our lives? For the writer of Hebrews hardship = _____________? How does hardship mean that God still loves us? What is the purpose of struggle in our lives? What good can come of it?

While we struggle to hold on to our faith in the face of hardship, we are still called to go on the offensive. What are we to put our effort into? Why is living in peace so important?

Philippians 3:12-21

What does Paul do realizing that he is not yet been made perfect? What role does Paul play in his struggle to follow Jesus? What role does Christ play? What is the goal that Paul pursues? What does he let go of in order to pursue that goal?

Christianity is more than a set of beliefs for Paul. It is also a way of life. How does this way of life contrast to the world’s way of life? What is the primary citizenship of a Christian? What is a Christian’s hope? How does this new identity and new hope affect the way a Christian should live today? How would the Philippian Christians know what the Christian life looked like?

Philippians 4:1-9

Chapter 4 begins “therefore …” But therefore what and why? Here is what chapter 4 is responding to.

Philippians 3:20 Our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ … therefore … [chapter 4]

How are we to live on today with this promise as our tomorrow?  What are we to do and not do? List out the commands you see in verses 1-9.

Philippians 4:10-20

Paul is appreciative of the concern the Philippians gave him while he suffered.  Why doesn’t Paul need or demand their support? What has Paul learned as he followed Jesus? Why was the Philippian gift so important even though it wasn’t ‘needed’?

Hebrews 2:10-18

?How is it that we are brothers (that would include women) of Jesus? Why did Jesus become our brother, and share in our humanity “Abraham’s descendants” was a Jewish way of referring to God’s people. Through the coming of Jesus Christ, all those who put their faith in Him are considered to be descendents of Abraham and heirs to the promises that God had given him. For more on these promises see Genesis 12:1-3. What new role has Jesus taken on because he became a human being? In what two ways can Jesus now help us with our struggle with sin?

Genesis 30:1-24        Rachel Advises Jacob

At the time of Jacob, there was not much writing going on. History was probably learned by word of mouth from one generation to the next.  As this story unfolds, it becomes clear that if the history was passed from father to son, there were certain unpleasant details left out which may explain why the same mistakes keep occurring.  Fortunately for us, Moses has left us a written record of the events which happened to Abraham and his offspring not leaving out the unfavorable details.  From these we glean that Isaac appears to be the only one who had managed to avoid certain pitfalls (i.e., temptations to “short cuts”).

We have seen that Sarah thought she could “help” the LORD along with his promise to provide an heir and son to Abraham.  She came up with the scathingly brilliant idea of giving Abraham a concubine who might provide him with a son.  That was fine until the child (Ishmael) was born.  As we have seen, things deteriorate quickly thereafter.  The upshot is that the LORD meant what he said when he promised that Abraham’s heir will be born of Sarah.  All this proved to be very funny to both Abraham and Sarah and so they carried the joke further by naming their child “Isaac” meaning “he laughs”.  (Actually it is the LORD who names Abraham’s son in Genesis Chapter 17 verse 19.)

If this oral history was transmitted to Jacob the details surrounding Ishmael and Isaac may have been omitted.  If Jacob knew that the “maidservant” was used to bring about the LORD’s will, then he paid it no heed.

We saw last week that Jacob was cheated (that in itself, is funny) by Laban into working fourteen years in order to win Rachel’s hand.  Leah, Rachel’s older sister, is given to Jacob as wages for seven (!) years of labor.  She proves to be fertile and bears Jacob quickly four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah).  But Rachel is preferred by Jacob to Leah.  Rachel, to this point, is barren.  Naturally, this does not sit well with her.  What is Rachel’s solution to this problem?
[“Here is Bilhah, my maidservant.  Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and that through her I too can build a family.”  (Genesis 30:3 NIV)]

This plan works as well for Rachel as it did for Sarah.  What happened?
[Jacob slept with Bilhah and she became pregnant and she bore him a son.  “Then Rachel said, ‘God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.’  Because of this she named him Dan.” {meaning “he has vindicated”}. (Gen. 30:6 NIV)]

Again, as “luck” would have it, Bilhah conceives and bares another son.  What does Rachel name him and why?
[Rachel names this boy Naphtali which means my struggle, for she said: “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” (Gen. 30:8 NIV)]

Not to be outdone, and ever unsatisfied with things the way they are, Leah devises a similar scheme using one of her maidservants.  What does she do and why?
[Because Leah appears now to be barren, she sends her servant Zilpah to sleep with Jacob and he, of course, gains a son by her.]

What name is given to this latest member of Jacob’s family?
[He is named “Gad” which can mean “good fortune” or, less romantically, “a troop” – take your pick.]

If Rachel can have two boys by her maidservant, so can Leah.  Thus Zilpah again sleeps with Jacob and bears him yet another son – Asher by name.  What does the bible tell us Asher means?
[“Then Leah said, ‘How happy I am!  The women will call me happy.  So she named him Asher.” (Genesis 30:13 NIV)]

What kind of business deal do Rachel and Leah make that reminds us of a deal between Jacob and Esau?
[Rachel barters for some mandrakes Reuben (Leah’s son) brought home for his mother.  Leah is not favored by Jacob as compared to Rachel.  Rachel agrees to “let” Leah sleep with Jacob if Leah will give the mandrakes to her.  This amounts to prostitution.  A similar business arrangement was made between Jacob and Esau when Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of red stew. (Genesis Chapter 25 verses 29-34)  When Jacob comes in from the fields that night Leah announces to him that she has “hired” him; that he must sleep with her.  The bible does not tell us how Jacob “felt” about being “used” in this fashion.]

What is the end result of this bartering between Leah and Rachel?
[The LORD opens Leah’s womb and she conceives yet another son, this time, Issachar, which means reward. “Then Leah said, ‘God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.’ So she named him Issachar.” (Genesis 30:18 NIV)  I don’t know if Leah is correct in her interpretation of the facts.  The LORD likes to work through people not to be manipulated by them. – j.t.]

How does the LORD continue to favor Leah?
[Leah conceives again (!) and bears Jacob a sixth son: Zebulun.  “Then Leah said, ‘God has presented me with a precious gift.  This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.’  So she named him Zebulun.” (Genesis 30:20 NIV)]

Up to this point Jacob has ten sons:
By Leah –
1. Reuben meaning “see, a son” and sounds like (in Hebrew) “he has seen my misery. (v. 29:32)
2. Simeon meaning “one who hears”.  (v. 29:33)
3. Levi meaning “attached”. (v. 29:34)
4. Judah meaning “praised”. (v. 29:35)

By Bilhah (of Rachel) –
5. Dan meaning “he has vindicated”. (v. 30:6)
6. Naphtali meaning “my struggle” (v. 30:7)

By Zilpah (of Leah) –
7. Gad meaning “good fortune” or “a troop” (v. 30:11)
8. Asher meaning “happy” (v. 30:12)

By Leah (again) –
9. Issachar meaning “reward” (v. 30:18)
10.  Zebulun meaning “honor” (v. 30:30)

We are not done yet.  Leah also gave birth to a girl and named her “Dinah” (v. 30:21).  Dinah will play a pivotal role in Chapter 34.  We are not told here what Dinah actually means.  (She was a girl, after all.)

Finally, what happens to Rachel in verse 22?
[“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.  She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, ‘God has taken away my disgrace.’  She named him Joseph [yes, that one – the dreamer] and said, ‘May the LORD add to me another son.’” (Genesis 30:22-24 NIV)]

Genesis 31:1-24        Jacob Flees From Laban

Laban had acknowledged that because of Jacob he, Laban, had prospered, but now that  Jacob wanted to return to the land of his birth.  Jacob also prospered greatly during that time.  Laban did not want Jacob to leave fearing that his prosperity would then cease.  Laban had tried to cheat (!) Jacob over and over again.  “If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young.  So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.” (Genesis 31:8-9 NIV)

Jacob had a dream once in mating season, how do you interpret it?
[The dream is telling Jacob that the spotted and speckled sheep and goats were made that way by God because Laban tried to cheat Jacob out of his wages.]

What is Rachel’s and Leah’s response to this development?
[They pretty much agree with Jacob that this is the LORD’s doing.  “Then Rachel and Leah replied, ‘Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate?  Does he not regard us as foreigners?  Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.  Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children.’”  (Genesis 31:14-16 NIV)]

So Jacob left with his wife and twelve children (eleven sons and one daughter) and returned to go to his father Isaac in the land Canaan.  What tricky thing did Rachel do?  What was Jacob’s last deceit with respect to Laban?
[Rachel steals Laban’s household gods and Jacob deceives Laban by leaving without telling him.]

While it took three days before Laban found out that Jacob had fled with his family and his flocks, he wasted no time in pursuing Jacob.  He caught up with him after seven (!) days.  How then does God intervene in this matter?
[“Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, whether good or bad.”  (Genesis 31:24 NIV)]

Genesis 31:25-50       Laban Catches Up With Jacob

What song and dance does Laban give Jacob for his indignation at Jacob’s departure without notice?
[Laban {I believe} feigns hurt and outrage at Jacob’s departure; that he did not have any opportunity to say good-bye to his daughters and grandchildren, nor did he have the opportunity to celebrate the departure with a party (or feast).

Then Laban drops a bomb!  What was it?
[He accuses Jacob of stealing his household gods and idols.  “Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.” (Genesis 31:32 NIV)

How does Rachel “dance” around this predicament?
[She “claims” to be having her period and is unable to rise.  Actually, she is sitting on the household gods.   (Genesis 31:34-35)  Please note that deception follows  and pervades this family.]

To say the least, Jacob is righteously indignant.  He then launches into a long tirade of how honest he is and, how he suffered loss without whining for over the twenty years he was with Laban.  He was laying it on pretty thick.  “I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.  If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed.  But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you. {See Gen. 31:24} ” (Genesis 31:41-42 NIV)

How do Laban and Jacob resolve their differences?
[They make a covenant between them.  They pile a bunch of stones in a heap.  “Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between you and me today. That is why it was called Galeed {means “witness heap”}.  It was also called Mizpah {which means “watchtower”}, because he said, ‘May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.  If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.’” (Genesis 31:48-52 NIV)]

Genesis 32:3-21      Jacob Extends to Esau the “Olive Branch” (Peace)

As Jacob approaches Seir in the land of Edom, he sends emissaries to his brother in order to establish peace (or reconciliation) between them.  He informs Esau how rich he has become and how much God has blessed him.  “Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.” (Genesis 32:5)

Of course, Jacob had reason to be fearful of his brother.  When last we saw Esau he was breathing threats against Jacob and just waiting for Isaac to die so that he could carry them out. (Gen. 27:41)  When Jacob’s messengers returned they told him that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men.  A show of force?  What is Jacob’s plan?
[Jacob divides his family and his wealth into two parts so that if Esau had plans for evil and not for good that all would not be lost.]

Jacob reminds the “God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac” of what?
[Jacob reminds God that he told Jacob to return to the land of his birth and that he would prosper his family and begs that God would deliver him and his family from the hand of Esau.  “But you have said, ‘I will surely prosper you and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” (Genesis 32:12 NIV)]

Apparently that was not good enough…

Jacob decides to bribe his brother into peace.  What does he offer?
[“… he selected a gift for his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.” (Genesis 32:14-16 NIV)  “For he thought, ‘I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.” (Genesis 32:20 NIV)]

Genesis 32:22-33:17     Jacob Receives a New Name (Israel)

Jacob has sent everyone else ahead and he is left alone.  What happens that night?
[Jacob wrestles with a man all night long.  Jacob does not over power the man, but the man does not over power Jacob either.]

What does the “man” do to Jacob as they wrestle?
[He touches the socket of Jacob’s hip “so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man”. (Genesis 32:25 NIV)]

What does Jacob require of the “man”?
[Jacob wants him to bless him.]

What does the man do for Jacob?
[The man gives Jacob a new name: Israel which means “he struggles with God”. {NIV footnotes}]

What does Jacob (Israel) name the place of the struggle?
[Jacob calls the place Peniel (which means “face of God”)  It is also called Penuel.]

Why does Jacob name the place Peniel?
[“So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.’” (Genesis 32:30 NIV)]

What physical affliction will Jacob suffer for the rest of his life?
[He will limp because his hip socket is out of place. (Gen. 32:31)]

What was the surprise waiting for Jacob when he meets Esau?
[While Esau had reason enough to kill his brother Jacob, rather he rushes to meet him and kisses him on the neck.  Jesus recounts a similar scene in Luke 15 in the parable of the Prodigal Son.  There are striking similarities as well as contrasts:  in both cases it was the younger son who was the offending party; both went to far countries for a long time; both return home with lowered expectations (Jacob to his brother who probably hates him; the Prodigal to his father who improbably loves him); both are very surprised at the final outcome.  Jacob was prophesied to receive the blessing of Isaac as the firstborn (though he used deception to accomplish it); the prodigal was the second born but only wanted his inheritance; The prodigal wanted his father to treat him as the “hired help” and Jacob only wanted peace with Esau.  Jacob was willing to lavish on Esau all that the father of the Prodigal had heaped on his son.]

How do we know that Jacob was fully reconciled to Esau?
[Jacob insists that the gift he offers to Esau be accepted even though Esau has great wealth of his own.  “But Esau said, ‘I already have plenty, my brother.  Keep what you have for yourself.’  ‘No, please!’ said Jacob.  ‘If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me.  For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.’”  (Genesis 33:9-10 NIV)]

Jacob declines an offer by Esau to escort him to his destination.  Jacob went to Succoth instead and built shelters for himself and his animals.  In fine Hebrew tradition, Succoth means something too: shelters! (Gen. 33:17)

Genesis 34              The Rape of Dinah

This chapter is not part of our reading as outlined in the “Office” of the Book of Common Prayer.

… So let’s take a peek at Chapter 34…

Dinah, Leah’s daughter, went out to visit with the women of the land.  She was spotted by Shechem the son of Hamor and for him, at least, it was love (lust) at first sight.  Shechem takes her and rapes her.  He is quite remorseful and, along with his father Hamor, go to see Jacob to make an honest woman of Dinah.  Jacob is deeply grieved by this and relates it to his sons.  Dinah’s brothers (only the sons of Leah, I believe) devised an evil plan of revenge.  They tell Shechem that their sister cannot marry an uncircumcised man for that would be an abomination.  They agree that all of Shechem’s men be circumcised.  So all of Shechem’s men were circumcised – that indicates to me there was some honor in Shechem’s attempt.  Anyway, while Shechem and his men were healing two of Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, take it upon themselves to enter Shechem’s camp and slaughter all of the men.  Apparently they felt that rape was a capital crime.  “Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, ‘You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the people living in this land.  We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.’  But they replied, ‘Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?’” (Genesis 34:30-31 NIV)

Genesis 35:1-20       Jacob Returns to Bethel

Bethel was the first place where Abraham camped after he left Haran.  He set up an altar there.  Also it was here that Jacob had his famous dream of the angels ascending and descending on a stairway from heaven.  Here it was that God renews his promise to Jacob that “… Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth…” (Genesis 28:14).  Let’s just say that Bethel hold some importance in Hebrew history.

What does Jacob tell all of his people to do upon setting out?
[“So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.’” (Genesis 35:2 NIV)]

What is the first thing Jacob does upon arrival in Bethel?
[The first thing that Jacob does upon arrival in Bethel is to build an altar to the LORD.  “…and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him.”  (Genesis 35:7 NIV)]

What does Jacob remember of his return trip from Paddan Aram?
[“And God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty, be fruitful and increase in number.  A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.  The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.’”  (Genesis 35:11-12 NIV)]  This is a fufillment of a promise that Jacob made to God in Genesis 28:20-22.

Tragedy strikes Jacob.  What was it?
[Rachel dies in childbirth.  She gives birth to a son.]

What does Rachel name her son?  What does Jacob name her son?
[Rachel names her son Ben-Oni {meaning “son of my trouble” NIV Footnotes}.  Jacob renames him Benjamin {meaning “son of my right hand”}.]

Where is Rachel buried?
[She is buried in Ephrath (that is Bethlehem).]

What very devastating thing happens next?
[Reuben took it upon himself to sleep with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid).  This is similar to a declaration of war between father and son.]  NIV Study Bible Notes p. 61:
“35:22 Reuben’s act was an arrogant and premature claim to the rights of the firstborn (see 2 Sam. 3:7; 12:8; 16:21; 1 Kings 2:22).  For this he would lose his legal status as firstborn (see Gen. 49:3-4; 1 Chron. 5:1).”  [Personally, I think it is much worse than this.  I think it is an act of complete disrespect for his father and, in this case, given that Bilhah was Rachel’s handmaid, I’m sure it pained Jacob all the more. – j.t.]

The next few verses recount the sons (and not the daughter) of Jacob and who their mothers were.  Note that all but one of Jacob’s children (including Dinah) were born in Paddan Aram and only Benjamin was born in the land of Canaan.

This chapter closes with the death of Isaac.  Who was there and how old was Isaac when he died?
[Isaac was 180 years old and both of his sons were with him when he died.]

Proverbs 1:20-33         Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

How is wisdom characterized in verses 20-21?
[Wisdom is personified.  “She” takes on the characteristics of a person.  “She calls; she raises her voice; and she makes her speech.]

Do you hear the pleading of the writer in these two verses?

To whom does she pose her rhetorical questions?
[She speaks to the “simple ones” the “mockers” and the “fools”.  Wisdom wants to “sell” the benefits of herself over folly.  Wisdom represents life whereas folly always represents death.  Wisdom is not to be confused with knowledge.]

What is the benefit of positively responding to rebuke?
[“I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.”]

Verses 24 and 25 reiterate the same ideas: reject me; no one gave heed; ignored my advice; not accept my rebuke.  What is the consequence of this?
[“I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you – when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.” (Proverbs 1:26-27 NIV)]

What are the further consequences of rejecting wisdom (truth)?
[“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.”  (Proverbs 1:28 NIV)]

This same theme comes up in Jeremiah in Chapter 29 verses 11-13: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

With what is the hatred of knowledge equated?
[The hatred of knowledge is equal to not choosing “to fear the LORD”.]

What exactly is the “fear of the LORD”?
[That is a good question.  Verse 7 of this chapter tells us “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”  That doesn’t really help.  I got some help from the ESV Study Bible Notes on page 1134: 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.  This is the core maxim of the book: the quest for wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD (cf. 9:10 and Ps. 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”).  “Knowledge” and “wisdom” are closely tied together in Proverbs: “knowledge” tends to focus on correct understanding of the world and oneself as creatures of the magnificent and loving God, while “wisdom” is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge rightly, or “skill in the art of godly living”.  …  The reason that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom is that the moral life begins with reverence and humility before the Maker and Redeemer.  The idea of a quest for knowledge sets biblical wisdom in the broad context of the ancient Near Eastern quest for truth, and this verse also validates such a quest as legitimate and good.  Thus it affirms a kind of “creational revelation,” the idea that one can find moral and theological truth through observing the world.  At the same time, it distinguishes the biblical pursuit of knowledge and wisdom from those of the surrounding cultures, for it asserts that submission to the Lord is foundational to the attainment of real understanding. (cf. Pa. 111:10; Prov. 9:10).  By using the covenant name “the LORD” in preference to the more generic “God,” this verse makes the point that truth is found through Israel’s God.  (For fearing the Lord in Proverbs as the right response to his covenant, see 1:29; 2:5; 3:7; 8:13; 10:27; 14:2, 26-27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17; 24:21; 31:30.)  In addition, the verse asserts that fools despise wisdom and instruction, thus setting up the alternative between the two ways of wisdom and folly.  This contrast dominates the entire book, as the way of wisdom, righteousness, and the fear of the Lord is set against the way of folly, evil, and scoffing.”

The “fear of the LORD” is also seen as a profound respect for the LORD.  It must also be admitted that this fear has in it a sense of terror.  We saw earlier that Jacob had wrestled with God all night and “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” (Gen. 32:30 ESV)  So there is a very real sense of terror when encountering God.  That attitude seems, somehow, to be lost on us today.]

What is the fate of those who will not accept “Wisdom’s” advice?
[“…they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.” (Proverbs 1:31 NIV)]

Waywardness and complacency are somewhat equated with what result?
[Waywardness will kill the simple; complacency will destroy fools.]

What are the benefits of listening to “Wisdom”?
[“… but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease without harm.” (Proverbs 1:33 NIV)  This verse might be especially meaningful given the amount of fear and terror we think we live under.  Most of our fears stem directly from a lack of belief in God and what he is able to do for us.]

I will not deny that Lent is a somber time of year. Take for instance Psalm 95, one of the psalms that is traditionally read on Ash Wednesday, the opening day of Lent.

Psalm 95:8-11 Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day in Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.” So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.”

Psalm 95 is all about human failure and a warning not to repeat it. It recalls the temptation of Israel in the Sinai Desert. Soon after God rescued them from their slavery in Egypt by parting the Red Sea, he led them into the desert where they were tempted. Water was scarce and food rations ran dangerously low. Unbelief rumbled through the camp even though God had miraculously rescued them from the Egyptian army just days before.  Their faith was extinguished with the words: “God  has brought us out of Egypt only to have us die of thirst in the desert.” Their failure to trust condemned an entire generation to wander the desert  for forty years never to enter the promised land. Their failure is held up as a warning to us. “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Lent reminds us that we too are in the desert. Jesus has set us free from our bondage to sin and death, but we live in the desert for we have not yet entered the promised land, heaven. Our wilderness struggle is the same as Israel’s, to hold on to our faith and to trust God. Lent is forty days to remind us of Israel’s forty years of wandering. In Israel we see our sin, our fears and our unbelief. Lent is a time to sober time to examine our hearts and confess these failings to God.

But Lent is 40 days for another reason. Jesus was tempted for forty days in the wilderness. But where we failed,  Jesus triumphed and he did it for us. The Apostle Paul tells us that the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3) made all of us sinners. As sons and daughters of Adam, unbelief is the default setting of our heart.

Romans 5:19 … through the disobedience of the one man, the many [that's us] became sinners …

But Jesus, not content to allow us to die in our sin, entered our world and retraced the steps of our story. He entered the wilderness of our failure and was tempted in every way we were, but he overcame it. And here is the good news:

Romans 5:19 … so also through the obedience of the one man, the many became righteous.

Jesus’ obedience counts for us. His victory over sin means that all who cling to him by faith are considered by God to forgiven, clean, righteous and free. Adam’s sin made us sinners, but Jesus’ obedience has made us right with God. Lent tells me that Jesus succeeded where I failed and he did it for me.

So, I have been learning to see Jesus all through the season of Lent. Take the tradition of fasting or “giving something up for Lent.” I used to believe that it was a “works” thing, something I do in order to get God on my good side. I give up chocolate and somehow God through tears of gratitude gets me a raise at work. But that’s not it all.

I fast, or in my case I am going to give up the news, not so I can impress God, but so that I can have a daily reminder of the suffering and temptation that Jesus underwent for us during those forty days in the wilderness. When I deny myself something I crave, it causes me to remember the hunger pains that Christ that he endured for us. I repent and humbly return to the Father, because I know that I am accepted and forgiven, not for my obedience, but because of the obedience of Christ.

It is easy to see the beauty of the gospel in Christmas and Easter, but I believe that Lent holds out for willing to embrace its dark themes so of the most brilliant vistas of God’s grace. May you see Jesus during this season of Lent.

John 7:37-52

“The Feast” or the Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three major feasts on the Jewish calendar.  This holiday commemorated Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. It was a celebration of God’s faithfulness for he provided “daily bread” or “manna” when the people were hungry and when they were dying of thirst, God caused drinking water to flow from rocks in the desert. Jesus draws on this miracle as he begins to teach in the temple. Central to Jesus’ teaching is the idea that He is the fulfillment of Israel’s story.

In the Old Testament God caused water to flow from rocks in the desert, who or what is the miracle water that Jesus offers? What will this water do? What does it take to receive this water? When would the people receive this water?

Moses spoke this prophecy in his farewell speech to Israel:

Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord will raise up a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

This “prophet like Moses” became known in Israel as the “the prophet.” Some of the people begin to wonder if Jesus just might be the prophet Moses spoke of. Why do some, including the Pharisees, reject the possibility that Jesus is The Prophet? What don’t they know about Jesus’ story? (See Luke 2 – Jesus was raised in Nazareth in Galilee, but he was born in ____________ because _____________.)

Why were the Pharisees unsuccessful in their attempt to arrest Jesus? What do the temple guards see in Jesus?

Notice who comes to the aid of Jesus. Nicodemus (see John 3:1-21), who we met earlier in this gospel, asks the chief priests and the Pharisees why they are not giving Jesus a fair hearing.

John 7:53-8:11

The Feast of Tabernacles has come to a close and the pilgrims who traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast have now returned home. The feast may be over, but the Pharisees continue to see Jesus as a threat to their authority and they seek to trap and destroy him. In the woman caught in the act of adultery, they believe they have found their opportunity.

The idea is put Jesus in the position where he must side either with Old Testament Law or the Roman authorities. The penalty for adultery in the Law of Moses was indeed death, although it is curious as to why only the woman was brought before Jesus, because the Law demanded the lives of both the woman and the man. Already the Pharisees are in violation of the Law.

Here’s the problem. If Jesus says, “yes, stone her” then He would have been in trouble with the Roman authorities, because only the Roman Empire had the right to impose capital punishment. The Pharisees would have been able to portray Jesus to the Romans as someone who was fomenting insurrection. If Jesus says “no” they would portrayed Jesus as someone who did not believe in Jewish Law and Tradition.

How does Jesus stop these men in their tracks and rescue this woman? Who else in this story deserves judgment under the Law of Moses? How is this woman called to respond to Jesus’ gracious act of forgiveness? How are we called to respond?

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions …

John 8:12-20

John has collected a series of “I am …” statements that Jesus made throughout his ministry. In this week’s reading Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.”

What does Jesus promise to those who follow him as the light of the world?

In Jewish law you needed to have two witnesses to bear account of something. Here it seems to the Pharisees that Jesus is bearing witness for himself. Who does Jesus put forward as his 2 witnesses? Why was that such an audacious thing to say? What are the Pharisees missing here?

John 8:21-32

“I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.  Where I go, you cannot come.”
Jesus begins to push back against the Pharisees and speaking as The Prophet that he is, he warns them that they are under God’s judgment if they do not change.

What must the Pharisees do or believe in order to avoid dying in their sin? What are they choosing not to ‘see’ and understand? Origin in Middle Eastern culture is extremely important. No one gets to speak on their own authority. Who you are is based on where you come from and the identity of your family. Notice that Jesus speaks to those same questions. Where is Jesus from? Who is his father?

Some of the Jews listening to Jesus put their faith in him. What advice does Jesus have for them? What must they do to be true disciples or followers of Jesus?

John 8:33-47

When Jesus offers freedom to the Jews who began to follow him, they are deeply offended. As natural born citizens of the nation of Israel they believed, as we say in New England, they were “all set.” To be full-blooded descendents of Abraham securely placed them among God’s people or so they believed.

What are all men and women slaves to whether they be Jewish or not? According to Jesus, what does it take to be a true descendant of Abraham or a child of God? Is it a matter of genetics or something else? What does it take to be a child of the devil?

To be a true child of Abraham, you must do the things Abraham did (verse 39). What did Abraham do? He simply believed the promises of God and lived his life accordingly.

John 8:47-59

How does Jesus explain the unbelief of his hearers? Notice that this explanation further infuriates the crowd. Remember that they believed that they were “all set” because of their status as biological descendants of Abraham. They believed that pagans like the Romans, prostitutes, and tax collectors were the real sinners. But Jesus goes after these religious and moral people and boldly says, “No, the enemy lies within.” That’s why the wild charges start flying. “You are a Samaritan [fighting words for a Jew in those days] and demon-possessed.”

How does Jesus answer the charge of being demon-possessed? What is his mission? What motivates him?

“Are you greater than our father Abraham?” That indeed is the central question. If the answer is “yes” then Jesus is indeed God and must be followed and obeyed. If your answer is “no” then Jesus was either a lunatic or a bold-faced liar. As GK Chesterton and CS Lewis pointed out, there is no middle ground. There is no possibility that he was just a nice teacher. Jesus’ life and ministry does not leave open that possibility.

The phrase “I am” was one of the sacred names of God. What is Jesus claiming when he says, “before Abraham was, I am!”?  The penalty under the Law of Moses for blasphemy (claiming to be God when you are not is a good example) was death by stoning. How did the crowds interpret what Jesus claimed? How does Jesus get away?

Mark 10:23-31

Wealth, especially when it was experienced by those who were outwardly moral, was considered to be a sign of God’s favor. Yet, when a rich young man came to Jesus asking for eternal life, Jesus asks this man to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and come follow him. He goes away sad and the disciples are shocked. It was assumed that wealthy people who had received their riches through virtuous living and hard work would be among the first to receive eternal life. But Jesus declares, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

How does Jesus answer the disciples question, “Who then can be saved?” What promise does Jesus offer to those who leave everything to follow Him? When will the rewards be experienced? Read verse 30 closely.

Hebrews 13:1-16

The letter to the Hebrews was written to a particular church what was made up of converts from Judaism. Because they were members of a what was regarded as new religion, these Christians faced persecution from the Roman authorities and they were ostracized by the Jewish community. Life was hard and they wondered if they had made the right decision. Maybe we should abandon our faith in Jesus?  That is the question that is being addressed.

Hebrews is a letter encouraging these Christians, and ourselves, to keep on keeping on.

What is this church encouraged to do and not do as they endured persecution? List out the commands to you see in verses 1 – 16.

The central theme of this letter is that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law and rituals.. In verse 11 we see yet another example. How is Jesus’ crucifixion compared to the Old Testament sacrifices? Why are they encouraged to share in Jesus’ shame? What hope is held out for them?  (verse 14).

Hebrews 13:17-25

Some final exhortations about leadership in the church as the letter draws to a close. Why should leaders be submitted to and prayed for?

The final prayer and blessing (verses 20-21). It is said that God the Father originates his plans, God the Son carries them out, and God the Holy Spirit supplies the power. How do you see this ‘Trinity’ pattern work itself out in this closing prayer? What is God being asked to do?

Lest we forget that this is a personal letter that has preserved for our benefit, Hebrews ends with some personal greetings.

Romans 12:1-8

After having spent the first half of the letter to the Romans describing the love and grace of God given to us in Jesus Christ, Paul now describes the life of love we are to live in response to God’s love.

What does it mean for us to worship in response to what God has done for us in Christ? What pattern don’t we conform to anymore? How do we live this new life?

In what ways are we called to see ourselves differently?
What image does Paul use to describe the church? Where do we, as individuals, fit into that picture? How is this a change from the way we normally see ourselves?  What determines our role in the church or as Paul describes it, “the body of Christ”?

Romans 12:9-21

If you boiled down Jesus’ way of life or his ethical teaching it would boil down to two commands:  love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. If you reduced it to one word, that word would be ‘love’. Paul in these verses fleshes out for us Jesus’ vision of love.  What does love look like within the church (verses 9-13)? How are we to express love to those outside the church. (verse 14-21)? Which challenges you more?

Romans 13:1-14

How are Christians called to relate to the governments they live under?  Why?  Do you think this includes corrupt and oppressive governments?  Think about the government the Roman Christians lived under.

How does Paul summarize the second half of the Ten Commandments (Romans 13:9-10)?  What are we to do as we wait for the return of Jesus (this is what Paul means by ‘the night is almost over the day is almost here’)?  Should we spend time speculating about when Jesus is coming or is God calling us to do something else?

Romans 14:1-23

In a church there are going to be some people who have stronger faith and others who have weaker faith.  For Paul, strong faith is related to a better understanding of Jesus, the gospel, and how it is lived out. In this chapter, those with stronger faith understood that there is no problem with eating meat or that the special holidays from Judaism no longer needed to be honored. But those of weaker faith had not yet come to that level of wisdom. So what do you do if there is a difference of opinion?  How are those of strong faith to treat those of weak faith?  Why?

What freedom has Paul chosen not to exercise?  Why?  For what purpose are we sometimes called to give up our rights and freedoms?

1 Timothy 3:14-4:10

1 Timothy is a letter from Paul to Timothy, Paul’s “son in the faith”.  Timothy was a young missionary who was personally mentored by Paul.  He traveled with Paul planting churches across the Roman Empire.  At the time this letter was written, Timothy is now on his own.  Paul continues to guide him through letters such as this one. “I am writing these instructions so that … you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household …” (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

What is the foundational truth upon which the church is built? ‘He’ in verse 16 is Jesus. His appearance = Jesus’ birth. His vindication = resurrection. “Taken up in glory” = Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

What challenges will the church face?  In the Roman Empire, the dominant intellectual force was the remnants of Greek philosophy.  The Greeks taught the physical world was evil while the spiritual world was good.  These ideas began to filter their way into the church.  Since the physical world was evil, some Christian teachers taught against marriage and indulging in certain foods.  These pleasures were marked as ‘worldly’ and therefore evil. Does Paul agree with the Greeks?  Is the physical world good or bad?  Why or why not? How does Paul compare being spiritual to physical training? How are they similar? How are they different?

Genesis 25:19-34            Jacob and Esau

While we won’t be discussing it here, the first part of Chapter 25 of Genesis tells us that Abraham got married again after Sarah died.  His second wife’s name was Keturah and she bore to Abraham six more sons.  When Abraham died (at the age of 175 years) he left all that he had to Isaac.  (Abraham had distributed gifts while he lived to the sons of Keturah.)

So, Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah but, alas, she was found to be “barren”.  What does Isaac do about this?  He had to do something to make sure he had children otherwise what happens to the promise the LORD had made?
[He prays “to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren”. (v. 25:21 NIV)]

What is the difference here between Abraham/Sarah, and Isaac/Rebekah?
[The LORD had promised Abraham that he would have a son by Sarah, but the LORD’s timing is woefully slow for us.  We, like Abraham, want things to happen now; we, like Abraham, cannot wait for the LORD.  So Sarah takes matters into her own hands and tells Abraham to get himself a child from her servant Hagar.  That is Sarah’s solution to the problem.  We saw how that worked out.  Isaac’s solution was a much better one: he prayed to the LORD to provide him with a son.]

What was the result of Isaac’s prayer for a son?
[Rebekah conceived of twins: Esau and Jacob.]

Something troubles Rebekah while she is pregnant.  What is it?
[The twins in her womb begin to fight.  I think Rebekah was afraid she would miscarry of her baby.]

What does Rebekah do and what does she find out?
[Rebekah prays to the LORD and the first thing she finds out is that she is going to have twins – boys.  The next thing is a prophecy: “… the older will serve the younger.” (v. 25:23b NIV)  We have to respect both Isaac and Rebekah because it seems that their first recourse to a problem (certainly at this point) is to go the LORD in prayer.  Unhappily, as we shall see, that tendency does not continue.]

Since, as we have seen, names which are given in the Old Testament are meaningful, what is the significance of the names of Esau and Jacob?
[Esau may mean “hairy”; “… and his whole body was like a hairy garment”. (v. 25:25 NIV)  Esau and his descendents will also become known as Edom (a perennial enemy of the Jews [Israel] which may mean “red”: “The first to come out was red.” (v. 25:25 NIV)  Esau was ruddy and hairy; this will play an important role later in Esau’s life.  “His brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel…” (v. 25:26 NIV)  So Jacob actually means “he grasps the heel” [from the footnotes of the NIV], which, because of what happens later, came to mean “deceiver”.]

We know that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born to him; how old was Isaac when his sons were born to him?
[Isaac was sixty years old when Esau and Jacob were born.)]

Now the trouble begins.  It will be important to remember the promise that the LORD made to Rebekah regarding her sons: i.e., “… and the older will serve the younger” (v. 25:23b NIV).  Why, do you suppose, Isaac loves Esau over Jacob?
[I believe that Isaac loves Esau as is first-born son.  To him belongs the inheritance (Isaac’s).  The thing is we don’t know if Isaac was ever aware of the prophecy that Rebekah had received from the LORD regarding Jacob – that he would inherit as a first-born son should.  Esau was the outdoorsman and he became an experienced hunter and Isaac “…had a taste for wild game…” (v. 25:28 NIV)]

“… but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (v. 25:28b NIV)  Why would Rebekah prefer Jacob over Esau?
[In truth, the Scripture does not tell us why Rebekah preferred Jacob, but perhaps her maternal instinct to protect the younger and less-favored son kicked in.  Perhaps she remembered the prophecy of the Lord.  Actually, I doubt she remembered the prophecy regarding her younger son given what happens next.]

Phase One

The next scene is phase one of Jacob’s plan to usurp Esau’s favor with Isaac (through deception).  What is significant about the stew?  (This is a minor detail but it proves of some importance in verse 25:30.)  What does Esau say about himself which sounds rather exaggerated?  What is the cost of that exaggeration?
[The significant thing about the stew is that Esau describes it as being “red”.  In verse 25:30 “That is why he [Esau] is also called Edom.”  Esau claims to be famished unto death.  “Look, I am about to die. … What good is the birthright to me?” (v. 25:32 NIV)  So Jacob requires Esau to surrender his birthright (as the first-born) for a bowl of (red) stew.  In the NIV Study Bible notes p. 46: “25:33 Swear to me first.  A verbal oath was all that was required to make the transaction legal and forever binding.”  Times certainly have changed: today such a notion would be laughable.]

Verse 25:34b sums up Esau’s attitude: “So Esau despised his birthright.”

Genesis 26:1-6 and 12-33       Isaac and Abimelech

In the first six verses of Chapter 26 we learn that Isaac went to see Abimelech of Philistia.  Many of the events of Isaac’s encounter with Abimelech are similar to those of his father Abraham’s dealings with another king of the same name (though unlikely the same man).  Verse two tells us that the LORD appeared to Isaac.  While the bible doesn’t tell us how that appearing happened, I think it was by means of a dream (for that was usually how the LORD met with people in those days).  What are the LORD’s instructions to Isaac?
[The LORD tells Isaac to remain in Gerar and not to go to Egypt.  Further, the LORD promises to increase Isaac’s blessings and then re-confirms the covenant or oath the LORD made to Abraham about his many offspring and that he would give them all the land of Canaan.]

While we can see several similarities between Abraham’s journey among the Philistines and Isaac’s, what is a striking difference?
[Abraham created a ruckus when first he entered the land of the Philistines by telling Sarah to admit that she was Abraham’s sister and not his wife.   Abimelech (I) bribed Abraham to leave his land so that the LORD would not destroy his people.  Isaac, on the other hand, was greatly blessed by the Lord and his flocks and herds multiplied thus making him very rich among the Philistines.  While they drove (and bribed) Abraham to leave, this Abimelech (II) commanded Isaac to leave because he was getting too powerful.  Isaac was not bribed.]

Isaac then digs a couple of wells over which the Philistines dispute.  He abandons them and finally digs a well where there is no dispute.  What does he call this well?  What does it mean?
[“He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it.  He named it Rehoboth, saying, ‘Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.’” (v. 26:22 NIV)  As indicated in the notes in the NIV, Rehoboth means “room”.]

We continue with the parallels in Abraham’s and Isaac’s lives.  Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech (I) at Beersheba (“can mean ‘well of the oath’ or ‘well of seven’” NIV footnotes).  Isaac makes a treaty with Abimelech (II) also at Beersheba.

Genesis 27:1-29                    Jacob and Esau (Phase Two)

We have already seen that it is God’s plan that Jacob receive Isaac’s inheritance. (Gen. 25:23)  Since it appears that God cannot be trusted to keep his word, what do Jacob and Rebekah plan to secure the blessing to Jacob?
[They devise a scheme to deceive the blind Isaac by substituting Jacob for Esau.  Jacob lies to his father (who is on his deathbed!) telling Isaac that he is actually Esau.  Rebekah is complicit in this deception for she told Jacob exactly what he needed to do to get the blessing.  So Isaac blesses Jacob thinking he is Esau.  Keep in mind that the firstborn received a double potion of the inheritance.]

Did you ever wonder how things might have unfolded had everyone believed that God could be trusted to perform what he promised?

Genesis 27:30-45         Esau’s Portion

Esau had been sent on an errand to kill and prepare wild game for a meal for his father.  While he is gone Jacob pulls off his great caper.  Unawares, Esau returns with a hot meal (wild game) and presents it to Isaac who now is suspicious of having been tricked.  Isaac now knows that he has been deceived but he cannot withdraw his blessing from Jacob so Esau has to settle for second best.  What is Esau’s response to these events?
[“Isn’t he rightly named Jacob (deceiver)?  He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright (which Esau actually sold), and now he’s taken my blessing!” {v. 27:36 NIV}

What kind of blessing can Isaac give to Esau?
[None, really.  “Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above.  You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother.  But when you grow restless you will throw his yoke from off your neck.” (v. 27:39-40 NIV)]
What are Esau’s plans for Jacob?
[Very naturally, Esau holds a grudge against Jacob and plans to kill him once their father dies.

What is Rebekah’s advice to Jacob?
[She tells Jacob to go to her brother Laban until Esau’s passion subsides.  Jacob will learn he holds no candle to Laban when it comes to deception.]

Genesis 27:46-28:4                    Rebekah and Isaac’s Marital Plans for Jacob

What is Rebekah’s worry about Jacob’s bride?
[“If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from the Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (v. 27:46 NIV)

What is Isaac’s advice?
[“Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel.  Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.” (v. 28:2 NIV)]

Genesis 29:1-20                        Jacob Meets His Match

Who is one of the first people that Jacob meets in Paddan Aram?  What is the connection?
[Jacob meets Rachel who happens to be his cousin – daughter of his mother’s brother (Laban).  It was love at first sight.]

How was Jacob received by Laban?
[He was embraced with: “You are my own flesh and blood.” (v. 29:14 NIV)]

Now the education begins.  What bargain does Laban make with Jacob for wages?
[Jacob agrees to work for Laban for seven (!) years to win the hand of Rachel.]

Genesis 29:21-35                   Jacob and Leah and Rachel

What goes wrong?
[Laban tricks Jacob.  Jacob had agreed to work for Laban for seven (!) years for the hand of Rachel. Jacob thought he was working for Rachel, but Laban married off his elder daughter Leah to Jacob instead.]

What is the irony of this event?
[Jacob calls Laban a “deceiver”; the very name he was given at birth.  He was tricked by someone who was better at it (deceiving) than he.]

What was Laban’s excuse for the “sleight of hand” played against Jacob?
[“It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.”  (v. 29:27 NIV)]

What is the next bargain Jacob makes?
[Jacob agrees again to work another seven (!) years, this time for Rachel.]

What is the “bridal week” referred to in verse 27?
[It is a seven year period.]

What happened to Leah as a result of Jacob’s dealings with Laban?
[Jacob preferred Rachel to Leah.  “He loved Rachel more than Leah.” (v. 29:30 NIV)]

How did the LORD come to Leah’s rescue?
[“When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” (v. 29:31 NIV)]

How many times had Leah given birth during this time?  What were the names of her children?

[Leah gave birth four times: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.  Reuben is the firstborn who loses his status as firstborn for what amounts to rebellion (or usurpation); Levi will be ancestor of both Moses and Aaron; and Judah is the ancestor of both David and Jesus.]