Search The Scriptures — Study 38 — Genesis 46:1-47:12

Study 38 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 46:1-47:12

    1.     In what way would the fulfillment of the promise in 46:3 be easier in Egypt than in the nomadic conditions of Canaan? What may we learn from this of God’s providence?

    2.     What trait in Joseph is revealed by his management of Jacob’s arrival? Cf. Is. 11:2

3.     How does this passage illustrate, typically or otherwise, (a) Jn. 14:6; (b)

2 Cor. 4:17, 18?

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STUDY 37

Search The Scriptures — Study 37 — Genesis 45

Study 37 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 45

     1.     What were the reasons for Joseph’s intensity of feeling in verses 1-15? What was his attitude to the sufferings that preceded the reconciliation? What can we learn from this of God’s longing to reconcile His sinful creatures, at whatever cost?

    2.   What blessings did the restoration of family harmony bring with it?

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STUDY 36

Search The Scriptures — Study 36 — Genesis 44

Study 36 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 44

     1.     How do the actions of Joseph’s brothers in this chapter show a real change in them?  Contrast their behavior toward their father and another beloved son in 37:18-31.

    2.     Observe how in this second visit to Egypt Judah takes the lead; see 43:3, 8; 44:14, 16, 18.  What qualities are revealed in his speech in verses 18:34? How does this teach us that we should not despair of anyone? See 37:26, 27; 38:1; Ps. 119:59.

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STUDY 35

Search The Scriptures — Study 35 — Genesis 43

Study 35 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 43

    1.     Why Jacob yield to Judah’s appeal when he had refused the earlier appeal of Reuben in 42: 37, 38?

    2.     Why do you think Joseph gave to Benjamin a portion five times as large as to the others? Was it affection for Benjamin or a further test for his brothers? See 37:4.

  

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STUDY 34

Search The Scriptures — Study 34 — Genesis 42

Study 34 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 42

     1.     What was the motive of Joseph’s apparent harshness towards his brethren? For his real feelings see verses 24, 25.  Have we here an illustration of the methods which God also uses? Cf. Heb.12:6, 11; Je. 31:18, 19.

    2.     What brought the brothers to the recognition of their guilt? See verse 21.

3.     How mistaken was the attitude of Jacob in verse 36! What may we learn from this about our own attitude when everything seems against us? Cf. Ps. 43:5; Phil.4:6-7.

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STUDY 33

Search The Scriptures — Study 33 — Genesis 41:14-57

Study 33 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 41:14-57

    1.     What in Joseph so impressed Pharaoh and his court that he was made ruler of Egypt? Compare your own character and consistency with his, and consider where you fall short.

    2.     If we have found in Christ the Bread of life, and men around us are perishing, what spiritual lesson may we draw from verses 54-57?

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STUDY 32

Search The Scriptures — Study 32 — Genesis 40:1-41:13

Study 32 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 40:1-41:13

    1.     What qualities in Joseph are shown in this passage? Try to find at least five.

    2.     How did God make Joseph’s prison experiences work together for good? Why were victory over temptation, and use of opportunities to prove God and help others, so important at this stage?

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STUDY 31

Search The Scriptures — Study 31 — Genesis 38 and 39

Study 31 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 38 and 39

    1.     Chapter 38. From what initial false step did all the events of sin and shame originate? What can we learn from this? Cf. Gn. 24:3; 26: 34, 35; 27:46-28:4.

    2.     Chapter 39.  How did Joseph exemplify the best qualities of his ancestors: the faith and faithfulness of Abraham, the meekness of Isaac, the energy and ability of Jacob, the beauty of Rachel?

3.     Over what temptations did Joseph win the victory? What was the key to his success?

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STUDY 30

Search The Scriptures — Study 40 — Luke 16:1-13

Study 40 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 16:1-13

The point of this parable lies not in the dishonesty of the steward’s plan, but in his prudent provision for the future.

     1.     Verses 1-9.  For what did the steward’s master commend him? What ought Christian disciples to learn from the wisdom of the world? How can money be used to provide spiritual capital’ for the future? Cf. 1 Tim. 6:18-19.

      2.     Verses 10-13. How do these verses show that Jesus was not condoning the steward’s dishonesty? How ought material possessions to be seen in perspective?

Note.  Verses 9, 11, 13. ‘Mammom’ means ‘money’. It is called ‘unrighteous’ because of the way it easily leads men to dishonesty.  Cf. 1 Tim. 6:10.

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STUDY 39

Search The Scriptures — Study 39 — Luke 15:1-32

Study 39 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 15:1-32

     1.     Show how these three parables answer the Pharisees’ objections (verse 2). What are the Son, the Spirit and the Father all eager to see happen and to bring about?

     2.     What does the story of the prodigal son teach about sin, repentance and the love of God?

    3.     Verses 25-32.  What were the Pharisees meant to learn from this episode? Can you see the same tendency in yourself?

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STUDY 38

Search The Scriptures — Study 31 — Luke 11:37-52

Study 31 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 11:37-52

    1.     Verses 37-44. How would you summarize the faults of the Pharisees? Translate them into terms of modern life.  What attitude and action does Jesus recommend?

    2.     Verses 45-52. What three charges does Jesus level against the lawyers? Translate these, too, into modern terms. Who may still be guilty in this way? How may such sins be avoided?

Notes

1.     Verse 44.  Contact with a grave caused defilement (Nu.19:16).

2.     Verse 51. For Abel, see Gn. 4:8; for Zechariah, see 2 Ch. 24:20-22. As Chronicle was the last book in the Hebrew Old Testament, the whole range of Old Testament history is thus indicated. 

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STUDY 30

Search The Scriptures — Study 30 — Luke 11:14-36

Study 30 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 11:14-36

In verses 15 and 16 are recorded two attacks on Jesus: a charge of collusion with Satan, and demand for a sign to authenticate His mission. The first is answered in verses 17-26, the second in verses 29-32.

    1.     How does Jesus show the falsity of the charge that He cast out demons by demonic power? What, on the contrary, do His exorcisms prove about Him?

    2.     What is the sign of Jonah? Cf. Mt. 12:40. Why should the generation to whom Jesus preached stand condemned at the judgment? What was their sin?

Notes

1.       Verse 19. ‘Your sons’: Jewish exorcists. Verses 20-22 show Jesus’ complete mastery over Satan in comparison with the imperfect cures of the exorcists. (Verses 24-26).  

2.       Verses 34-36. The function of the eye, as the organ by which the body makes use of the light which shines on it, is taken as an analogy for the faculty of spiritual perception, which must be in good order to receive the lights of revelation.  The allusion is to the spiritual blindness of ‘its generation’. 

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STUDY 29

Search The Scriptures — Study 27 — Luke 10:13-24

Study 27 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 10:13-24

     1.     What do these verse show of the greatness of our privileges in Christ? In how many of them are you sharing?

     2.     Verses 21, 22. What caused this outburst of joy? What does this prayer teach us of (a) the Father’s method of working, (b) Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father?

Notes

      1.       Verses 13-15. Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum: towns of Galilee.

      2.       Verses 18, 19.  The language is symbolic of triumph over Satan and all evil.

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       STUDY 26

Search The Scriptures — Study 26 — Luke 9:57-10:12

Today we are going back to studying Luke's book and we will pick up where we left off. 

Study 26 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 9:57-10:12

     1.     9:57-62.  How would you describe the three different types referred to here? Why was Jesus not satisfied with their response to His summons to follow Him? Contrast Jesus’s own attitude (verse 51)

    2.      10:1-12. How do these verses show the urgency both in Jesus’ own concern for evangelism, and in the work He gives to His disciples? What is the reason for this urgency? In what activities ought it to make us engage?

Note.  9:59, 60 The man wants to delay until after his father’s death, which may be imminent.  In Jesus’s reply ‘the dead’ are those who have no spiritual life. 

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STUDY 19 

LESSON 25 - HERE IS THE LAST LESSON WE DID ON LUKE 

Search The Scriptures — Study 19 — Genesis 26

Study 19 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 26

     1.     Why did Isaac fail so badly after receiving striking promises from God? What was different about his reaction when the promises were repeated?

     2.     What can we learn from the quarrel over the wells concerning the way to behave in the face of opposition or hostility?  Cf. 1 Pet. 2:23

This is the end of the first part of the study of Genesis.  Tomorrow we will continue with the second part of Luke study.

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STUDY 18

Search The Scriptures — Study 18 — Genesis 24:61—25-34

Study 18 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 24:61-25:34

1.     What light do we get from this portion on the kind of man Isaac was? See 24:63-67; 25:28.

2.     Contrast Jacob and Esau, as described in 25:27-34. In their habits, character and spiritual outlook. What lesson is drawn in Heb.12:14-17 from Esau‘s conduct in regard to his birthright?

3.     Review Abraham’s life. What gives him an outstanding place in world history and makes him a conspicuous example to us all? Cf. Is. 41:8; Gal.3:9, 29.

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STUDY 17

Search The Scriptures — Study 17 — Genesis 24:1-60

Study 17 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 24:1-60

      1.  What can we learn from the attitude of Abraham’s servant in his relation to (a) his master, and (b) the task given to him? What were his confidence and concern? Cf. Col. 3:22-24.

     2.   Examine the manner in which the servant made his choice, and the test he employed. Of what did he become particularly conscious? Can we learn from this about choosing a life-partner?

     3. What picture do we get of Rebekah? 

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STUDY 16

Search The Scriptures — Study 13 — Genesis 19

Study 13 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 19

     1.     What is revealed in this chapter about (a) the evil latent in the heart of man, (b) the certainty of divine judgement, (c) the priority of divine mercy, and (d) the urgency of immediate action while there is time to escape? Cf. Lk. 17:23-32; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7.

     2.     What is Lot gain for himself and his family by his association with Sodom? In what ways should he be a warning to us?

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STUDY 12

Search The Scriptures — Study 7 — Genesis 10:1—11:9

Study 7 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 10:1—11:9

    1.     What does Gn. 10 teach about the origins of the nations and about their relationship to one another and to God? Cf. Acts 17:26; Rom 3:29.

    2.     See 11:1-9. What was wrong with the attitude and activity of these men? What kind of judgement does God bring on those who seek supposed success in their way rather than in His way? See Ps. 2:1-4; Lk. 11:23; cf. Gn. 3:22-24; Is. 14:12-15; contrast Jn. 11:49-52, especially verse 52.

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LESSON 6 

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LESSON 5 

Search The Scriptures — Study 6— Genesis 8:20-9:29

Study 6 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 8:20-9:29

      1.     What did Noah’s altar and burnt offerings signify? To what would they correspond in our lives today? Cf. Rom. 12:I; Heb. 13:15,16.

     2.     Reflect on Noah’s position after the deluge.  In what ways did God encourage him?

     3.     What makes human life supremely precious? What kind of penalty is here ordained for the murderer?

4.     What may we learn here concerning the place and manner of covenant making? Can you think of other visible tokens and pledges which seal covenants?

Note. 9:13. This does not imply that the rainbow was now seen for the first time, but that God now made it a token of His covenant of promise to Noah.

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LESSON 5