Genesis Bible Study CH. 47-

Chapter 47: My study book for Genesis says that after the reunion, Joseph escorted his father's caravan to Pharaoh and presented his brothers and father to Egypt's ruler. In keeping with Pharaoh's suggestion, Joseph then provided land and food for the Hebrew immigrants. Joseph himself, continued in his government position, saving lives while at the same time enriching Pharaoh.
Chapter 48: Jacob (Joseph's father) blesses Manasseh and Ephraim. It was custom that the oldest son got double the inheritance as the younger son. In this case Jacob blesses both of Joseph's sons but gives the superior blessing to Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph.
Chapter 49: At the age of 147 years old Jacob dies. VERSE 33: When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.
Chapter 50: Joseph has to reassure his brothers that they should not fear him.
VERSES 19-20: Joseph said (to his brothers), "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for the good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
VERSES 26: Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

That ends my study of Genesis. I hope you will continue to spend time daily in the Word of God. I am already reading through Exodus and plan to just put in special verses throughout my study that are very convicting, encouraging, or very profound and fitting to me in this seaon of my life. It may not be something I post each day as I have been......that actually is very labor intensive for me to read it all then write on it also......

BLESSING TO YOU AS YOU GROW IN YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD!!

Genesis Bible Study CH. 42-46

CHAPTER 42: Joseph's earlier dream of his brothers bowing down to him comes true. Joseph brother's (except Benjamin) come to Egypt to buy some grain, because they had no food because of the famine in the land. Joseph is harsh with them calling them "spies". He tells them to return home and bring back their youngest brother and then he will know that they are telling the truth about their family.

CHAPTER 43-46: Now the brothers all return and Joseph ends up telling his brothers who he is. He then invites them to come live with their father in a region near him. Jacob and 70 others return to Egypt. VERSE 29: Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.

Genesis Bible Study CH. 39-41

Chapter 39 : Talks about Potiphar's (who was Joseph's master) wife pursuing Joseph. She tried day after day to get him to go to bed with her, and each day he refused. One day she grapped a hold of him by the cloak and tried to persuade Joseph again and he took off running away from her leaving his cloak behind in her hand. Then Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of "trying to make sport of her" and then Joseph's master burned with anger and sent Joseph to prison.

Chapter 40: While in prison Joseph was clearly seen as a righteous man because he was again put in charge. While there he came into contact with two men who also had worked for the Pharaoh. They each had a dream one night and wanted someone to interpret them. VERSE 8 (second part) Joseph said to them "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.
Each of them did and Joesph told them what they meant, but he told the cupbearer when he had been restored in the palace to remember him. He did not he forgot, and Joseph remained in prison.

Chapter 41: Now in this chapter 2 years had passed when the Pharaoh had a dream and no could interpret it...he has tired many times to find someone. Now the cupbearer remembers Joseph and tells the Pharaoh what had happened to him in prison and how what Joseph said had happened exactly how he had said it would. Joseph explains the meaning of Pharaoh's dream ......7 good years of plenty followed by 7 years of extreme famine. So the Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt, the only person with more power than Joseph, was the Pharaoh himself. So Joseph was to prepare the people for the 7 bad years by storing up food during the 7 good years, and Joseph did just that.

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 37 & 38

CHAPTER 37: Joseph had a dream and then reveals it to his brothers.
VERSE 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.

Joseph's brother hated him even more after he told them about his dream and then he had another dream with a similar implications as the first. Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him but one brother objected so they threw him into a pit. Then they decided to sell him as a slave to the Ishmaelites.

CHAPTER 38: Judah, Joseph's brother wanted to try to accumulate wealth by marrying a Canaanite woman. Judah's firstborn was married and then he died, so it was customary for the brother to then sleep with his brother's wife to continue the family line. So Onan was the brother who was told to sleep with his brother's wife. He did this and then he died. So Judah told his daughter-in-law to go back to her father's house until his last son would be old enough for her. ( Judah was being deceitful because he never intended to give his youngest son to Tamar.

Tamar was told that Judah was coming to shear his sheep she changed out of her morning clothes and covered her face with a veil then she waited. When Judah saw her he thought she was a prostitute....and Judah asked for her to come sleep with him. He said he would give her a goat for sleeping with him. She also asked for something to have until the sheep was provided. He gave her his seal and its cord. Later when Judah servants tried to deliver the sheep to "a prostitute" the towns people said there was no such woman here. When people discovered Tamar was pregnant with no husband they said she was a prostitute, Judah said bring her and she will be burned to death. VERSE 25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her Father-in-law. "I am pregnant by the man who owns these," she said. And she added, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are."
She was not killed and gave birth to two sons.

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 35 & 36

CHAPTER 35: Rachael dies after she gives birth to yet another son, Benjamin is the name Isaac gave him...and then Isaac dies at the age of 170 years.

CHAPTER 36: This chapter list the decendants of Esau.....Need any baby names????? Look in this chapter for some original names...if you prefer originals over traditional name!!!!

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 33 & 34

CHAPTER 33: Jacob and Esau reunite...As Jacob approached Esau he could see he (Esau) had with him 400 men..So Jacob split up the children of Leah and Rachael. As Jacob got closer to Esau he bowed down SEVEN times ( my footnote said this was an act of total submission). Esau ran to meet Jacob they hugged and wept!! Esau said he didn't need the gifts Jacob had sent ahead of his arrival because he already had what he needed....but Jacob insisted for Esau to accept them so he did.
CHAPTER 34: Dinah the daughter of Leah and Jacob decided to go and visit some of the women in this new land. VERSE 2 When Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area saw her, he took her and violated her.
VERSE 3 His (Shechem) heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her.
When Jacob and his sons heard of about what had happened they were filled with grief, and fury it says in verse 7. This man had brought disgrace to Jacob's daughter.
VERSE 11-12 Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask. Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I'll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the girl as my wife."
VERSE15 We will give you our consent to you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. ( This answer was out of the deceit of Jacob's sons...they didn't really intend to follow through with giving away Dinah.)
VERSE 25 Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the inspecting city, killing every male.

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 31 & 32

CHAPTER 31: Verse 17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
When Laban discovers that Jacob has left in secret he chases after him. When he catches up to Jacob he asked why he just up and left. VERSE 31"I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force."
After a little confrontation, Laban sent Jacob and his family off to return to home.
CHAPTER 32: Jacob was a bit nervous about returning home, he knew Esau would be there waiting. As they got closer to home Jacob sent some herdmans ahead of him and told them that when they met up with Esau to say this VERSE 20 "Your servant Jacob is coming behind us."
Next we read about Jacob wrestling with GOD. VERSE 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, " I will not let you go unless you bless me."

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 29 & 30

CHAPTER 29: Jacob makes it to his uncle Laban's and meets up with him and Racheal as they graze the sheep. He notices Racheal's beauty right away and was taken with her. After talking to Laban ,Jacob agrees to work for 7 years for him in exchange for "his daughters hand in marriage", thinking it would be Rachael. When the 7 years was complete Laban gave Jacob his oldest daughter Leah, saying he could not give away his youngest daughter before the oldest. Upon discovering the deceit he went to Laban and asked for Racheal to be his wife also and Laban agreed to give him Rachael as well after the "honeymoon" week was over. So he took Rachael as his wife and then worked for 7 more years for Laban. As you can imagine, two sisters being married to the same man causes more than its fair share of problems....read the chapter is you want all the juicy details...there are many :)
CHAPTER 30: Jacob completed his second round of servanthood to Laban and asked to be sent on his way. Laban convinced Jacob to stay and told Jacob he could "name his own wages". Jacob said he would take every imperfect animal ( with spots or blemishes) of Laban's. Laban agreed to Jacob's request. Jacob once again was not honest with his intentions....though the Lord chose to bless him and increase in flocks and his wealth.

Genesis Bible Study ch. 27 & 28

CHAPTER 27: Jacob already conned Esau into goving him his birthright and in this chapter he steals Esau's blessing as well. Prompted by Rebekah, his mother, to decieve his father he went to get two young goats. Rebekah prepared them just like Isaac would want and Jacob took it to him. He was dressed in Esau's clothes so he smelled like him and put the wool of the neck of a sheep on his hands to be hairy like Esau. Isaac gave Jacob the blessing, thinking he was Esau.
When Esau returned with his game that he had prepared and went to his father to get the blessing Isaac said he had already given his blessing. Esau was furious!!! Esau was even more heartbroken when he discovered his father could not bless him with anything.

CHAPTER 28: Isaac calls Jacob and commanded him "Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 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 bother."
On Jacob's journey he had a dream and when he awakes and ponders the dream this is his reaction. VERSE 20: Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my GOD and this stone ( he had under his pillow the night before) that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.

Genesis Bible Study 25 & 26

CHAPTER 25: Abraham dies at the age of 175 years old, and leaves everything he owns to Isaac. But before he dies he gave gifts to all the sons of his concubines and sent them away. In verse 21 it says Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.** Then she gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. VERSE 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. VERSE 28 Isaac, who has a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
At the end of the chapter Esau gives away his birthright (which would be his inheritance) to Jacob in exchange for food because he has just returned from the open country and he is starving.
CHAPTER 26: Isaac pulled the "she's not my wife" scheme, just like his father had done (twice). Again it did not work, but Isaac did earn more wealth and livestock. The Philistines envied him, and stopped up all his wells so they had no water. Isaac decided to move away to the Valley of Gerer.

Genesis Bible Study 23 & 24

CHAPTER 23: Sarah lived to the age of 127, then died at Hebron, in the land of Canaan. So Abraham wanted to bury Sarah, and the Hittites told him he could bury her anywhere he wished. Ephron , the man who owned the cave, refused payment for the land and said for Abraham to bury his dead. After debating over buying the land, Abraham paid 400 shekels of silver to Ephron.
CHAPTER 24: Abraham was concerned over Isaac marrying a Canaanite woman. Canaanite's had no clear knowledge of the true and living God. Abraham did not want his people ruined by idolatry. So he made his servant take an oath to find a wife for Isaac in Abraham's country, Nahor. Abraham was very clear on the fact that he did not want Isaac to leave the Promise Land. The Lord had promised him "To your offspring I will give this land."
When the servant arrived he asked God to bless with success. He asked for a sign of a maiden who would freely give water to him and his camels. Rebekah did exactly that and the servant asked to stay at her parents home for the night. He explained the whole situation to her family and they said, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed. 23:50
When the servant and Rebekah returned home she and Isaac married.

Have a blessed day!!!

Genesis Bible Study CH 21 & 22

Chapter 21: Well the long awaited promise arrives!!! At the age of 90, which sounds old to us but in Bible times was not old considering people lived 300 years or more, Sarah have birth to a son. I am sure Isaac brought such joy to their hearts...they had waited SOOOO long for him. Sarah catches Ishmael, Isaac's 1/2 brother, mocking Isaac and demands that Ishmael and his mother be banished....Abraham allowed it.
After being sent away they almost died of thirst, then the Lord provided them water. He, the Lord, promised to make Ishmael into a great nation. (Just as he had promised to make Isaac into a great nation.)

Chapter 22: Verse 2 is striking to me as a parent.......Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22:2
I just can't even imagine being asked to do such a thing after waiting a life time to have a child. I understand God was testing Abraham's faith, but I don't think I would have been able to obey like Abraham. I also am struck by Abraham's immediate obedience as a response to what God was calling him to do. I think that is so key in our walk with Lord. We demand immediate obedience from our children, so why wouldn't our Heavenly Father expect it from His children.
This whole situation ends well in verse 11-12: But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." What great reminder to us how God rewards us when we obey him which such a willing heart.

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 19 & 20

CHAPTER 19: The beginning of the chapter is talking of Lot and his visit from the angels. Lot sat at the city gate (indicating he must have held some authority in the city). He offered them everything Abraham had...he convinced them to stay at his house that night because he feared what the men of Sodom would do. When a crowd gathered outside Lot's door that night demanding the men be sent out for sexual abuse, Lot refused (as a host it was his job to protect the men). I guess he took that pretty seriously because he offered the crowd his two virgin daughters instead...CAN YOU IMAGINE????? WHAT WAS HE THINKING????? What were his two daughters thinking when they heard him say this????



The angel informed Lot of the upcoming disaster...Lot tried to convince his future sons-in-laws, but they didn't believe him....no one did. So he left with only his wife and two daughters. The angels had also given the family orders, they were to flee without stopping and not look back. When Lot reached the city of Zoar (the fifth city of the plain, and the only city spared from the disaster) God destroyed the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. Burning sulfur fell on the cities.

The part we all usually remember most of this story is Lot's wife being turned to a pillar of salt. Her disobedience and curiosity should be a warning to us that we need to separate ourselves from the world with obedience to God.



The end of the chapter is a bit disturbing for me to think about...Lot laying with his daughters in order to preserve their family line...they both had sons.



CHAPTER 20: Again Abraham claims Sarah is his sister...again he is found out...again he is asked why he lied....again they leave the city with more wealth.......



NOW THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE LORD TO PROVIDE ISAAC, THE PROMISED AND LONG AWAITED COVENANT!!!

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 17 & 18

Chapter 17: Thirteen years had now passed since the birth of Ishmael, and Abram was 99 years old, and still no baby.....The Lord appeared again to Abram confirming His , telling Abram he should walk before Him and "be blameless". Then God required a covenant sign (covenant literally mean "to cut"). In 17:11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between you and me.

In this chapter Abram's name in now changed to Abraham "father of many". Sarai's name was changed to Sarah "a princess", because of her role in mothering all those to come.

My study book had some great things to say............Sometimes we take a wrong turn in life, as Abraham did when he decided to produce an heir on his own. But once we learn about our mistake, we cannot be too quick to reverse direction and begin obeying God with a better understanding. He is always pleased to accept those who repent and turn toward Him.

Chapter 18:This chapter tells us about when three "figures" appeared to Abraham "in the heat of the day". My study book says traditionally people rested during this time and waited for the sun to go down. These "men" left us some clues that they were not ordinary men.
#1 They called Sarah by her name yet Abraham had no mentioned her in conversation at that point.
#2 When the Lord (which they (scholars) think was one of these "men") told of the upcoming birth to a son. Sarah was about 99 years old at this time.
#3 The Lord revealed that He knew what was going on in Sarah's mind.

After the three visited with Abraham they had one more thing to take care of...judgement on some wicked cities.
The Lord said, " The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see of what they have done is as bad as the outcry that had reached me. If not, I will know. Genesis 18: 20-21

God shared with Abraham what his plan was. Then God allowed Abraham's relatives to escape. Abraham begs for the innocent to be spared.....Interceding for them.
Ezekiel 33:11 says "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live."

Any thoughts from you all???

Genesis Bible Study Ch. 15 & 16

Chapter 15: Lots of great DRAMA going on in this chapter!!! First Abram has a vision where the Lord speaks to him and says "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Can you even begin to imagine this happening to you???!!! The Lord promising you in person that he will protect and that HE is your reward!!!! WOW!! I guess the whole vastness of that promise is not totally understood by Abram.
The Lord once again affirms his promise to Abram that his offspring will number many. I think Abram's patience must have been running out.....can you blame the man??? The first promise of children was made when you was 75 years old. Now we see in chapter 16 that he is 85 when Hagar becomes pregnant and 86 when she delivers Ishmael.
I think of what an interesting conversation that must have been when Sarai was insisting that he sleep with another woman so that he would have children of his own. I also think it's funny how this was his wife's, Sarai's idea yet she then turned on Hagar and treated he badly once she was pregnant.

Sounds like some of the drama you can find on pretty much any TV station during the day....bad comparison I know, but things sure weren't boring :)

Genesis Bible Study Ch 13 &14

Chapter 13 talks about Abram and Lot separating because the land and water supply could no longer support the herds of cattle from both men. So Abram let Lot choose whatever direction he wanted to go first. Then Abram waited for the Lord's leading on which direction he should go. Abram was a very wealthy man at this point, but still a nomad.

After Lot parted, God repeated the promise he had already made Abram. "Abram decedents would one day claim the whole land of Canaan. His offspring would be like the dust of the earth in number."

Chapter 14: Shows us the first consequence of Lot choosing to settle so close to Sodom (the men of Sodom were very wicked). He was taken captive as the Kings in the area went to war with each other. After Abram got word that Lot had been captured Abram organized his 318 trained men and went looking for Lot. When they found them they took at the goods, Lot, and all the women and children and other people. After returning Abram had two different offers from Kings to receive goods as a thank you for what he had done. Abram would only accept the food his men had already eaten and then offered a tithe of 10%. He didn't want anyone to be able to take credit for providing him his great wealth. He only wanted God to get the glory, for the things which he had been blessed.

Bible Study

I wanted to let you know that I will not be posting on Genesis the rest of this week. Justin and I have been asked to share our Testimonies at church on Sunday. (We have know since October) I have my testimony mainly wrote, but the rest of this week I want to add in my scripture references and just keep re-reading it to make sure it conveys the message I think the Lord has put on my heart to share. I also want to spend extra time in the Word just having my own personal time with the Lord. So I will be posting again on Genesis starting next Monday :)

I would ask you to pray for us while we finish preparing to speak. We are pretty nervous!! I know the Lord will bless us through sharing what He has done in our life.

Bible Study Ch. 11 &12

CHAPTER 11: Well after the flood the Lord made a promise to never again destroy the earth and all life by water. However, he did not say that he would never again deal with with human sin. The building of the Tower of Babel was an attempt for the people to "make a name for themselves". The Lord confused there language so that each group spoke a different language and the people were scattered.

CHAPTER 12: ALL THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM MY STUDY BOOK!! Now God began to devote special attention to one family. Then, from out of this nation, He would raise up the Messiah, who would achieve salvation for all who would believe in Him.

We can't be sure why God called Abram, we do know from later events in his life that he had many fine qualities. God's call to Abram was demanding. Abram was to leave his country, his people, and his father's household, and he was to go to a land he did not know. This must have seemed painful and risky to him. God's call may scare us. But when we are as certain of the Lord's will as we can be, we must respond in faith. He will give us strength to do what He asks.

Along with Abram's call came a blessings. (seven was the symbolic number of perfection)
GOD PROMISED:

1. "I will make you into a great nation"
2. "I will bless you"
3. "I will make you name great"
4. "you will be a blessing"
5. "I will bless those who bless you"
6. "whoever curses you I will curse"
7. "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

The Lord fulfilled these:
1. Abram became the father of the Hebrew nation
2. In his day we was rich
3. He has been famous ever since
4-7. His decedent Jesus Christ spread God's blessings to people from all nations

Abram didn't know about these fulfillments of course, he had to accept the blessings, and obey the call by faith.

NOW IN VERSES 10-20 God shows us Abram failure in character. He thought that he and his wife would be safer is they lied and said his wife, Sarai, was his sister. He should have trusted God to protect them and see them through, but he made a mistake.

I am guilty of doing this same thing...taking matters into my own hands and thinking "I HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER MY CONTROL." Sometimes I think being a person who likes order and organization sometimes is a curse...I like to have a plan and a goal for our house. As I get older and my walk with the Lord continues to grow I understand that I DAILY have to seek His will and plan for my life and my household. I have to DAILY surrender to his calling on my life and trust Him by faith.

Bible Study Genesis Ch. 9 & 10

Chapter 9: My study book notes: Through the flood God did not merely detroy; He also re-created. Noah was a kind of new Adam. His family and the animals were given a renewed command to multiply. Also, Noah's family members were given renewed dominion over the rest of creation. The image of God in humans was reaffirmed.

I guess I have never thought of Noah as a new "Adam". Have you??? Good point though I totally get the comparision.

Chapter 10: Genealogies on Noah's son's begins. Chapter 10 shares some historical, linguiistic, and geographical associations.

For the next few days I will not be posting my Bible Study because of the obvious uncoming holiday. We will pick up next Monday December 29th. Be ready to cover chapters 11 & 12!!

Bible Study ch. 7 & 8

Chapter 7: verse two caught my eye it reads "Take with you SEVEN of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, male and its mate, and also SEVEN of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their varieties alive throughout the earth.

WAIT A MINUTE doesn't the song go "TWO BY TWO" get in the ark???? Here is what my footnote reads in my Bible. The ceremonially unclean animals would only have to reproduce themselves after the flood, but the ceremonially clean animals would be needed also for the burnt offerings that Noah would sacrifice and for food. I have never even noticed that detail before while reading through Genesis, have you???? I will jump now to verse 5 in chapter 7.

"And Noah did all the Lord commanded him." Boy I wish I could say the samewas true for me!! I don't let that fact of my constant failing to meet the standards that GOD has set discourage me, nor do I let it be my excuse to say that it is okay to not even try. I just keep on trying to be consisent in my walk with the Lord and keep in his word so I know what His standards are and how I can reach them.

Chapter 8: Know how we become anxious to get out of the house when we are stuck inside when bad patches of weather come through ( not hard to image since we are having such yucky weather as we speak...with more to come). Can you imagine how ready Noah and his family we in the ark for the 40 days and nights of rain...but also wait for the waters to receed and the land to be try enough to inhabit it. They were in that ark for more than a YEAR...dry land must have been a site!!!!