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 16 — Genesis 23

Study 16 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 23

     1.     What features in Abraham’s character does the story of this chapter bring out?  With verse 4 Cf. Heb. 11: 9, 10, 13-16. What may we learn from his example concerning the right way to face both life and death?

    2.     What is Sarah’s character as shown in Genesis? Cf. Heb. 11:11; 1 Pet. 3:5, 6. How many wives today become what the Bible calls her children?

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STUDY 15

Search The Scriptures — Study 15 —Genesis 21:22—22:24

Study 15 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 21:22—22:24

1.     Gn. 22. In what ways was the command of verse 2 a most severe test of Abraham’s faith in God?  Note the significance of the comment in Heb. 11:17, 18. Whence did Abraham expect to get, and where did he expect to find, the answer to the questions which he could not answer? How did his faith express itself? Cf. Jas. 2:20-24.

2.     Gn. 21:22-24. What was it about Abraham that made Abimelech believe that a covenant between them which would be kept was a serious possibility? Do we covert similar evidences in our lives which will make others trust us and reverence our God? Cf. Mt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12.

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STUDY 14

Are You Listening to God? - Oswald Chambers

Today’s Oswald chambers post radiates with truths. Every line, every idea and almost every word are true to us, today’s Christians.  If you have never been to a point in your life where you can see with your heart how much you do not love Him and how much you have been disrespectful to a God who deserves your full reverence, you are either PERFECT or you are knee deep in your lies as a Christian.

Through my walk with Him I learned that there is nothing wrong with listening to God’s servants. As the matter of fact, it is extremely important to listen to your leaders, and to one another. But, before we choose to listen to them, we have to learn to listen to God first. Otherwise, we follow after man and the end result is exactly what you see happened to the Israelites. Centuries after centuries, they have never learned to make God ‘personal’.  They have never learned to take ownership of their faith, their spiritual responsibilities vis a vis Him and their love for Him. These things cannot be found in traditions and rituals and we are left empty without a personal relationship.

Another thing that I have learned is that God will take all of us to a point where we realize we are TERRIFIED of Him. When this happens, He does not force you to go forward and come closer. Because, as much as He craves for intimacy with us which is the ultimate reason He put forward His plan of salvation, He will sit there, waiting for us to make the decision to choose Him too, in the same way He chose us first.  Remember, all this will be happening at the level of your heart, your spirit and your soul, so we have to be in tune with this life we have with Him, not to miss the cues. You might think it is impossible to miss those cues, but I tell you it is not.  Casing point, the Israelites missed out on God coming down to talk to them. (He did not have to come down)

When this happens to you, you are paralyzed because in your mind you keep thinking that He will throw a ball of fire at you or something to that effect if you go closer.  It will take all your strength, it takes an embrace of your fear and all that you are goes into embracing the fact that you have to go meet with Him face to face because of three main reasons: HE IS GOD! HE IS YOUR FATHER! AND YOU WOULD RATHER DIE THAN LIVING THIS LIFE WITHOUT KNOWING HIM PERSONALLY AND INTIMATELY! But, if you dare to make the decision to go closer in spite of what might happen to you, as you lift up your feet to move forward He takes over and you find yourselves in His arms of love. Some of you would say, well, if you have to do all that, it is no longer grace at work. Of course it is His grace at work changing you and me. Without His grace, you and I we have no interest whatsoever in Him.  WE COULD NOT CARE LESS!

As much as I was ecstatic to be in His arms of love, when all this experience was over, I was sad to see how much I did not love Him and most of all, I totally misjudged Him, even though I was repeating like a parrot that “God is love”. I also knew in my heart that I did not do it deliberately and I would never have known the difference if…..

Are You Listening to God? - Oswald Chambers

They said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." — Exodus 20:19

We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God— we simply don’t listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them— not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.

“You speak with us,…but let not God speak with us….” We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don’t want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, “Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.”

Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, “Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?” This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.

Search The Scriptures — Study 14 — Genesis 20:1-21:21

Study 14 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 20:1-21:21

     1.     What may we learn from Gn. 20 of the weakness of human nature, even in a believer; and of God’s protecting care and saving grace? Cf. Ps. 94:18; Mk. 14:38; 1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Tim. 2:13.

     2.     Gn. 21:1-7. Isaac’s means ‘laughter’.  What is the difference between Sarah’s laughter in 18:12 and in 21:6?  How was the change brought about?  See also 17:17-19. To what two complementary truths did the name Isaac thus bear witness? Cf. Mt. 19:26.

    3.     Gn. 21:8-21. From what was Ismael cast out, and why? Cf. Rom. 9:6-9; Gal. 4:28-30.  Why did God nevertheless hear Ismael’s voice and grant him His blessing and His presence?

Notes

1.     20:18. The use here of God’s covenant name ‘Lord’ or “Jehovah” is significant. It was He who intervened to preserve Sarah as the intended mother of the promises son.  Contrast 21:17-20, where we read that ‘God’, not the ‘Lord’, heard Ismael’s voice, etc.

2.     21:9 ‘Playing with’ the same is probably better conveyed by the Av and Av ‘mocking’. Ishmael did not laugh like Sarah; he made fun. Thus Isaac, the object of holy laughter, was made the butt of unholy mockery.

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STUDY 13

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 12 — Genesis 18

Study 12 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 18

     1.     Let us learn from Abraham’s example how it is possible to receive the Lord as our guest, to enjoy fellowship with Him, to become those whom He calls His friends. Cf. Heb. 13:2; Rev. 3: 20; Jas. 2:23; Jn. 15:13-15. What were the fruits of this fellowship in Abraham’s experience? What enrichment, in consequence, did Abraham gain for himself, and was able to bring to others?

    2.     Verses 22-33. What are the chief characteristics of Abraham’s intercession? Make a list of those which should also mark our praying. Note the effect of Abraham’s intercession. Cf. Gn. 19:29.

Note.  Verses 23-25. Note that in praying for Lot and for Sodom Abraham appealed not to God’s special covenant mercy or faithfulness, but to His universal righteous judgement.

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STUDY 11

Search The Scriptures — Study 11 — Genesis 16 and 17

Study 11 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 16 and 17

1.     Gn. 16:1-6. In what ways did Abraham act wrongly in having a son by Hagar?  How was he misled? Was Sarah right to blame Abram for the wrong done to her? What ought Abram to have thought, said and done in the face of such a situation?

2.     Gn. 17. Note the characteristics of covenant-making which are mentioned here. What were the blessings of which Abraham was thereby assured? What did Abraham have to do to embrace the assurance which the covenant afforded?

3.     Gn. 16:7-15; 17:18-21. What do we learn here of God’s character and purposes from His dealings with Hagar and Ishmael? What Christian truths are here prefigured?

Notes

1.      16:13. Hagar not only realized that God is One by whose all-seeing eye none are unseen or overlooked; but also that He had personally manifested Himself to her, and that she had seen God without dying. Mention of ‘the angel of the Lord’ (verse 7) occurs here for the first time in the Bible. In verse 13 he is described as ‘the Lord who spoke to her’. This suggests an anticipation of the incarnation, an appearance in person of God the Son.

2.      Chapter 17. The covenant was pledged by God in His Name. In witness of the benefits which they were to receive under it, Abraham and Sarai were both given significant new names. Abraham and every male of his house were circumcised as ‘a sign of the covenant’ between God and him.

3.      17:18-21. Note that Abraham’s suggestion that Ishmael might be accepted by God, as the don concerning whom God’s special covenant promises were made, was not accepted by God.

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Study 10

Search The Scriptures — Study 10 — Genesis 15

Study 10 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Genesis 15

    1.     How are God’s words in verse 1 exactly related to Abram’s circumstances and condition?

    2.     In utterly hopeless human circumstances (see Gen.11:30; 15:3) how did Abram obtain hope of having descendants? What else did he gain by such response? What principle of the Gospel of Christ does this illustrate? Cf. Rom. 4:2-5, 13-25.

    3.     What grounds for his faith did God give to Abram? Why did God also make a covenant with Abram? Note the use of a visible token and pledge. Cf. Heb. 6:13-18

Note. Verses 9, 10, 17 describe an ancient ritual used to seal a contract. Cf. Je. 34:18, 19. The smoking pot and flaming torch represent the Lord passing between the divided carcasses, and thus ratifying the covenant.

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LESSON 9