Thursday, October 30, 2014

Joseph

Here my notes from the study of Joseph for my Wed. morning Bible study class. This lesson was taught over a year ago.

Joseph- mother, Rachael. Jacob’s favorite.
Means “may Jehovah add” or “He will add.” Gen. 30:24-faith that God will add another son.
Gen. 30: 22-24- “Then God remembered Rachael, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, ‘God has taken away my reproach.’ So she called his name Joseph, and said, ‘The Lord shall add to me another son.’ ”

Gen 37: 1-11- 17 years old,  tended sheep, gave brothers bad report. V.3- Jacob loved Joseph more than other brothers. Gave Joseph tunic of many colors. Was it a tunic of many colors? (LXX), or a longsleeved robe , or ornamented tunic as might be worn by royalty?
v.4- envy of Joseph leads to hatred from his brothers. Remember Cain.
v.6-11- dreams, the older will serve the younger. Jacob rebukes Joseph, but does not reject Joseph’s dreams out of hand.
Read v.18-28, 29-36.

Gen. 39- God with Joseph.
v.1- sold to captain of Pharaoh’s guard.
v.2-4- Potipher sees God in Joseph.
v. 2-6 (especially 6)- Joseph given highest responsibility. Potipher doesn’t bother to oversee him. There were levels in slavery in ancient world.
v. 6-10- Joseph good looking, resist temptation.
v. 11-20- being righteous leads to prison, the kings prison.
v.21-23- in Joseph’s hands, keeper did not oversee Joseph. The Lord was with him.

Gen. 40- Prisoner’s dreams.
v.7- Joseph not only trustworthy, but sensitive to others.
v. 8- presents self as God’s agent.
v. 14- Joseph wants to be remembered.
v.23- forgotten.

Gen. 41- 13 years between slavery and rise to power.
v. 1- 2 years pass.
v. 1-7- Pharaoh’s dreams, no one could interpret.
v. 9-14- Joseph remembered.
v. 16- attribute gifts to God.
v. 25-32- Joseph interprets.
v. 33-36- Joseph’s solution.
v. 37 on- God with Joseph, Joseph rises to authority again.
v.40- rule over Pharaoh’ s land, 2nd only to Pharaoh.
v.42- signant ring, Joseph spoke for Pharaoh. Fine linen, gold chain, signs of royalty, authority.
v. 43- Pharaoh displays Joseph to the people. People expected to give homage.
v. 44- Pharaoh tells Joseph he has authority over people
Zaph nath-Paaneah- “God speaks and He lives.” Joseph’s authority like a god’s. Marriage to a non- Jew, yet children part of Israel.
v. 56-57- famine over whole world, all had to approach Joseph to live.
Joseph as picture of Christ. Like the ancient world approaching Joseph to live, so we approach the Father through the Son.  As Joseph had all authority, so does Jesus.

Gen. 42
v. 4- Jacob doesn’t send Benjamin, Rachael’s son.
v. 6- bow down, beginning of dreams fulfillment, see v. 9.
v. 16- God wants Israel in Egypt, prophecy to Abraham.
v. 22- Reuben a liar.
v. 24- Joseph weeps for brothers, like Christ wept for us, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Gen. 43:30.

Gen. 43: 33-34- younger given the blessing.

Gen. 44: 14-34- now the brothers put their lives on the line in intercession. Want to please father, no longer careless concerning his wishes.

Gen. 45.
v.3- dismayed in his presence.
v. 4-7- purpose- did brothers act of own accord? God preserved for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob a posterity.
v. 22- younger favored.

Gen. 46
v. 3- the promise of a great nation.
v. 4- God’s promise he will be buried in land promised to Abraham.
v. 27- 70 in all.

Gen. 47: 13-26- Joseph gets power over all land and people. Most of treasure taken from people goes back to the people. Joseph only keeps 1/5. Priests get land allotted to them. Joseph keeps Pharaoh’s word.

Gen. 50-
v. 1-14- promise fulfilled, Jacob buried in Promised Land.
v. 15-21- brothers still fear Joseph, Joseph shows forgiveness.

v. 22-26- Joseph’s faith.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Isaac and Jacob

Here are my notes on Isaac and Jacob from my Wed. morning class taught over a year ago. The notes on Jacob will look incomplete. I remember teaching on Gen.34, but for some reason didn't make written notes.

Isaac:

Isaac means he laughs, the laughing one. Parents laughed at circumstances of birth, Gen. 21:6. God selected the name before he was born, Gen. 17:19. (Other examples- in OT- Ishmael, Solomon, Josiah, Cyrus, and Isaiah’s son Mahe-shal-hash-baz. In NT- John the Baptist, Jesus.)
No record of early life except circumsized at 8 days, and weaned.
At sacrifice, Isaac was not a child. Josephus thought he was 25, others think 33.
God provided the lamb, as He would with his only Son.
Most important issue, Abraham’s faith, Isaac’s obedience.
Similarities with Christ:
both had been promised, Isaac 25 years before, Jesus in Gen. 3:16. Gal. 3:16- the seed is one.
birth announcements unusual- laughter, even Mary questioned.
both named before birth.
both births miraculous.
Gen. 24- Bride for Isaac. Picture of Holy Spirit seeking out disciples for Christ. Christ the groom, the Church the bride.
v.27- servant guided by God.
v.58- Rebekah ready, willing to go as Isaac’s bride.
v. 67- Isaac took her to himself, he loved her. She comforted him in his mourning.
Gen. 25:21- pleaded, even though Isaac knew God’s promise to Abraham.
Gen. 26- God makes promise to Isaac based on Abraham’s obedience. God repeated covenant. God prospers him because he obeys God in not going down to Egypt. Prosperity makes enemies of allies.
Isaac falters in faith. Saw his father do same thing with Abimelech.
Isaac prospers, moves.
v.23-25- God repeats covenant, Isaac builds altar as a memorial. Didn’t build altar the 1st time God appeared to him, learning to express faith.
v.34- Esau brings grief.
Gen. 27- Isaac knew the older will serve the younger, but was going to bypass the promise. Isaac just wanted to eat.
What New Testament says about Isaac:
Heb. 11:20- “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” (Gen. 27: 26-40).
James 2: 21-23- faith perfected by works.

Law v. Grace, Works v. Faith.

Jacob:

Jacob- supplanter, taking the place of another.
Gen. 25:23- two nations, older will serve the younger, that the purpose of God, according to the election will stand.
Predestination- but what kind? Not the arbitrary choosing by God, but those who follow in Jacob’s footsteps.
Gen. 25: 27-34- steals Esau’s birthright. In Haran, could sell birthright to brother.
Birthright- headship of family, double share of inheritance (Dt. 21:17)
Esau- lusted for the tangible, the here and now. Heb. 12: 16-17, we are our brother’s keeper, don’t let anyone become profane like Esau.
Gen. 25: 25-28, Gen. 26: 34-35. The blessing- Gen. 27: 27-29.
Isaac tried to bypass God’s word in blessing Esau, Rebekah schemed to get Jacob the blessing God had already told her was his. Esau cared nothing for the blessing, plotted to kill Jacob, blamed Jacob for losing his birthright. Good thing Abraham sent away all his other children.
Gen. 28: 3-4- Isaac repeats God’s covenant with Abraham. Fruitful nation, assembly of peoples, the land.
Esau- marry daughters of Ishmael, Ishmael and his descendants have no part in God’s salvation plan.
Gen. 28: 10-22- God intervenes in the natural world.
v. 13-15- God reaffirms covenant, will be with Jacob, will bring him back. Not because Jacob was righteous, but because of Abraham’s righteousness.
v.19- Was called Luz, which means separation, now called Bethel- house of God.
v.20- 21- if God be with me, bring me back, provide, THEN the Lord shall be my God. Not until then, not walking by faith yet.
Jacob, Laban, Rachael, Leah- 12 tribes of Israel.
Gen. 31: 1-3, 7-9, 24, 31, 36-42.
Gen. 32: 9-12- remind God of promises, 11-12, still fear.
v. 13-15- gifts to placate Esau.
v. 24-32- wrestle with God (Hos. 12:4)
until the break of day
Man did not prevail
Israel means struggle with God
Penial- seen God face to face, life preserved.
Gen. 33:10- Esau’s face the face of God.
Gen.34
Gen. 48: 12-20, 49: 8-12, by faith.
Gen. 49: 12 -20, Gen 49: 8-12- by faith.
Gen. 49: 1-7- oldest son forfeited blessing, leadership fell to Judah.



Abraham

In my Wed. morning class at church, we studied the life of Abraham over a year ago. I just never got around to posting my notes till now. Notes on Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron will be posted soon. Right now we are studying the life of David.

Abraham:

Abram- high father, Abraham- father of many nations
In the line of Seth, in the line of Christ.
Gen. 11:31-12:1, past tense, Acts 7:2, God spoke to Abram before he went to Haran. Josh 24:2- Terah served other gods. Moon god worshipped in Ur, Haran, a flourishing caravan city.


Gen. 12:3- a command, but more than a command, a covenant-
1.     Great nation
2.     I will bless you
3.     I will make your name great
4.     You will be a blessing
5.     I will bless those who bless you
6.     I will curse those who curse you
7.     All peoples will be blessed through you.
12:4- Abram responded in faith by answering a calling, being a pilgrim.
12:7- 1st promise from God that Israel will possess Canaan
 Built an altar, chronicle history with God
Journey of faith-learn to obey, in Egypt-12: 10-20, restoration-13:3-4
Lot chooses to separate, not be a pilgrim- 13: 10-11- like Eve- sees with eyes of human common sense-not with eyes of faith , Sodom wicked-13:12-13.   
13: 14-17- God gives promise of the land in greater detail once Abram is no longer entangled with Lot.
We are Lot-
2Pet. 2:7-8- “…delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds…)”
Gen. 14:1-17- Lot’s capture and rescue by Abram. King of Sodom wants to do Abram homage. v. 18-20- King of Salem (peace), Melchizedek, blesses Abram, Heb.7- the lesser is blessed by the greater. Abram acknowledges his superior by tithing to Him. Was this meeting directed by God to remind Abram that it was God who won the battle, and not Abram himself? v. 21-24- Abram refuses to take goods, wanted the world to see that it was God who prospered him.
Gen.15:1- shield, great reward
2-4- what was important to one who lived at that time
5. promise of descendants
6. believed in God, counted as righteousness-
reckon- to think, to reckon, put together, calculate, imagine, impute, to lay one’s thoughts together, to form a judgment, to produce something in the mind. A consideration of many factors to produce a conclusion. God  added all that Abram’s belief about Him meant to Him and reckoned Abram righteous. See New Testament passages on Abraham quoted below.
7.     Promise based on God’s prior actions. God’s actions showed we was to be trusted.



9-11- The sacrifice. Covenant made with blood.

v.17- God humbled Himself as if He was the inferior party, Hittite Suzeraign Covenant- inferior walked through, “May the gods do to me (and more also) as I have done to these animals if I do not fulfill the terms of  this covenant!” Prefigure Christ. Smoking oven, burning torch a figure of speech, one noun modifies the other into one single flame.

v.13-14- prophesy of  slavery in Egypt.

Gen. 16:1-4-  Hagar and Ishmael- trying to carry out God’s plan man’s way.
See Rom. 4:19-22 below, Abram never wavered in faith.
v.4- Hagar becomes prideful, looks down on barren Sarai
v.5- Sarai blames Abram for her idea. When we sin, we often blame others.
v.6- Abram weak, lets Sarai be harsh with Hagar.
v. 7-9- Even though Hagar does not have part in God’s plan of salvation, He still hears her in her distress.
v. 10-12- given promises for her descendants, Ishmael father of the Arab people.
v.13- 1st time God given a name by man- “You are the God who sees” –different from all other gods.

Gen. 17:1- walk before Me, and be blameless, be in my presence, after all, God is “You are the God who sees.” Be in God’s presence.
v.2-8- Covenant:
v.2- God will make covenant, already proven He can be trusted to keep covenant.
v.2, 4-  Will multiply Abram’s descendants.
v. 5- name change from Abram to Abraham. To call oneself the father of many nations is an act of faith in the God who made the covenant.
v.6- Kings will come from Abraham, David, the royal line, Christ.
v.7- covenant not just with Abraham, but with his descendants- to be God to them.
v.8- Israel given the land of Canaan.
v. 9-14- covenant to be kept, the sign is circumcision.
v.15-22- Sarai to Sarah (princess).  The promise is through Isaac, through faith.

Gen. 18: 1-8- Even though Abraham a great man, he still  follows customs of hospitality.
v.9-15- God had never done such a thing in human history, so it was understandable that Sarah reacted as she did. God showed He was wthe one who sees, v. 15.
v.16-19- God has chosen Abraham to pass on holiness down through the generations. God decides this honor entitles Abraham to know what He is about to do.
v.20-21- God a different God, knows the affairs of men, hears of injustice when those who suffer cry to Him, God is a God of justice.
v.22-25- there is a standard of right and wrong. By this we know that God is good, because He lives by this standard. He always does because in Him there is no sin. Pagan gods follow no such standard, for they are just super-sized humanity.
v.22-33- God is never angry or weary with our continued intercession.

Gen.19:12-22- Lot righteous, but not completely removed from unholy surroundings. Did he marry a pagan? Did he allow his daughters to do so? His entire family, besides him, was unspiritual. Son-in-laws thought he was joking about judgment. He had to be dragged out of Sodom. He was saved through Abraham’s intercession. Without it, Lot would have perished in the judgment.
v.30-38- Lot’s folly in the way he raised family, not completely separating from paganism, caused daughters to think like pagans, afflict Israel with descendants, Moab and Ammon, which were conceived through unrighteousness. Passed on family character through the generations.

Gen. 21:1-4- God did as He had spoken, given Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. Abraham obedient in circumcising Isaac at 8 days old.
v.8-21- bond woman and son cast out.  Even though have no part in God’s plan of salvation, even though Ishmael mistreated Isaac, God saw and heard Hagar’s anguish and rescued them.
v.22-34- Abimelech saw God was with Abraham, reasoned that God would avenge him against his enemies (see Gen. 20). Knew the value of a covenant, knew if God was with Abraham, Abraham would honor covenant. Abraham planted Tamarask tree is a memorial. Worshipped God there.


Gen. 22- sacrifice of Isaac.
v.12- “…now I know…” God says “I have experienced Abraham’s fear of me.” See Heb. 11:17-19 below.
v.15-18- because Abraham did not withhold only son, God not only repeated earlier promises, not only stated that many nations would come from him, but all nations would be blessed through him because of his faith.
Gen. 25: 1-6- protect Isaac, his seed, from pagan influence, contamination.

New Testament on Abraham:
Jn. 8: 33-59- Only those who live by faith are Abraham’s true descendants.
Rom. 4: 1-4-saved through faith.
              9-12- Father of all who believe.
              See also v.13-25 and Rom 9: 6-8, Gal. 3:29, James 2:21-26.

Hebrews 11:17-19- “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”


Rom. 4:19-22- “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waiver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore, ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ ”