Follow-up notes: Was this a normal snake? Why didn t Eve seem surprised by a talking snake?

Transcription

1 9/28/16 Genesis 3 Genesis 1 and 2 tell the beautiful story of how God created the universe and breathed life into his ultimate creation: humans. Just as those chapters act as a foundational introduction to God s love and care for people, chapter 3 gives an almost-immediate introduction to our rebellious, sinful state. Genesis 3 is OUR story of putting our own desires above our trust in and submission to God. Before you tackle Genesis 3, make sure to read Genesis 2:15-17 (God s command to Adam NOT to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and 2:25 (how Adam and Eve s original nakedness was a sign of their openness and safety). Observation notes: Questions:

2 Was this a normal snake? Why didn t Eve seem surprised by a talking snake? Why did God NOT want them to eat the fruit and gain knowledge? What s the connection between nakedness and shame? Is being naked or sexual bad? While it is not expressly explained here, the rest of the Bible makes it clear that this is God s enemy, Satan, in the form of a snake (Revelation 12:9). Eve was used to interacting with the supernatural God, so a speaking serpant may not have been the shock it would be to us. God allows animals to speak at other places in the Bible as well (Numbers 22:28). Humans were created NOT to be God and know everything. Instead, we were created to trust God and follow his truth. Avoiding the tree was a symbol of Adam and Eve s reliance on God to lead them. Adam and Eve s feelings of shame and desire to hide from God are a direct result of sin breaking the original created intention. God s design for sexuality was pure and good and we can still experience that original design through marriage. Sex and nakedness aren t the Why does God ask so many questions? Doesn t he know everything? Why was God s punishment so severe for such a small act? What did God s punishments represent? God wants us to follow him and when we don t, he wants us to openly come to him to repent and find forgiveness. Instead, Adam and Eve shift blame and live inside their guilt. Adam and Even didn t just eat a piece of forbidden fruit they disobeyed their creator, put their self-interest above following him, decided to trust a lie instead of believing that he had the best plan for them, and even spread disobedience to others (Eve to a willing Adam). Through the first sin, the whole creation reentered a state of brokenness childbearing, pain, even growing crops are all affected in a negative way. However, there is the VITAL promise in verse 15, the first foreshadowing of God s rescue plan through Jesus (the woman s offspring). Suggested: We are all drawn to sin especially self-reliance, pride, and self-indulgence. Our sin leads to the punishment of brokenness and separation. But God had a plan for our rescue from the very beginning. Follow-up notes:

3 10/5/16 Genesis 6:9-9:17 This story is one of the most famous, but also one of the most under-studied by Christians after elementary school age. Overall, it is easy to see the flood narrative as a disastrous, terrible act by an angry God. However, the actual message of the story is one of just punishment (for an entirely evil human race) and unmerited mercy (for Noah and his family). This is a story of God s incredible love and ability to rescue, despite our sin. This may also be the most challenging passage you lead through this year at Rev it s a long passage and contains many details that are odd or confusing when read through a critical lens. When studying this passage together, be willing to let the story and message stand at face value and focus on the overall themes. Observation notes: Questions:

4 Was Noah really the ONLY good person on earth? Did God destroy even innocent children in the flood? How should we interpret all of the numbers in this passage? Why did God choose to use a water-based judgement? Was this the first time it rained? Was this the first rainbow? The Bible makes it clear that God can see the hearts of every person on earth, and his judgement was that they were all, indeed, prone to wickedness except for Noah. He knew that their ultimate punishment was eternal separation from him, and he chose to begin that separation in one dramatic move, rather than letting their wickedness get even worse. Noah was not a PERFECT person, though we see some of his sin later in the Bible. However, his righteousness was based on his reliance on and trust in God. It s clear that God did destroy all living people except for Noah and his family. This makes us VERY uncomfortable, but God was able to know that even the children would grow up to foster wickedness and sin. The timing of their demise was based on sin, just like everyone else s. Noah s extreme age is very foreign to us, but many Old Testament figures lived extremely long lives (though that started to decrease after the flood). The other numbers (2 animals, 7 of other animals, 40 days/nights, etc) become frequent symbols throughout the Bible of God s sovereignty, completeness, and power. The picture of the water-covered earth purposefully mimics the unshaped, void state of the earth before God began creating in Genesis 1. The punishment for sin is to return to an empty, water-covered, meaningless state, so that God can create again through Noah s family. Some readers take the text to mean that several elements of Noah s experience appeared for the first time in connection with the flood. However, it s entirely possible that, rather than this being their first appearance, that God only used them in new ways, or assigned them new meaning. Suggested: God is able to punish sin in dramatic ways. However, he remembers those that trust in him and can rescue them in even more dramatic ways. Follow-up notes:

5 10/12/16 Genesis 18:1-15 God had already promised Abraham several times that he would be the founder of a nation and that God would bless ALL people through him. However, his chance at having actual heirs seemed like it had certainly passed. But then God gives him a glimpse of his power to fulfill his promises and makes a specific prediction, through his messengers: Abraham and Sarah would have their first son. God asks us to trust his plans, and then often reveals that plan slowly or in pieces. This is Abraham and Sarah s first chance to see part of God s plan for them unfold, and they respond with disbelief and laughter. However, we know from Genesis 21 that God turns that unbelieving laughter into the laugher of joy as their son, Isaac, is born in their old age. Observation notes: Questions:

6 Who were the three men? Are they actual people, or angels, or God himself? At several points in the Old Testament, God reveals his plans through messengers. These are normally interpreted to be angels in human form. Surprisingly, these angels don t just give messages from God, but speak DIRECTLY for him verses 13 and 15 both say that THE LORD spoke through these men. Why didn t Abraham or Sarah believe God right away? Why did God give Abraham and Sarah a son so late in life? What is the significance to God calling Sarah out for her laughter? Despite believing God s overall promise, Abraham and Sarah were surprised by the specific way that God would fulfill his plan. It s often the case that we generally believe God, but have a more difficult time with the specifics. God seems to want to show, over and over, that his plan for his people is his plan alone that only he could bring it to pass. Abraham and Sarah would only be able to credit God for a healthy child born when they were around 100 years old! Sarah originally laughs out of disbelief in God s message and timing. However, her disbelieving laugher later turns to laughter of joy as God fulfills his promise. The name Sarah gives to her son, Isaac, means laughter - an ongoing reminder that God brings joy. Suggested: God fulfills his promises in surprising ways. These promises, if we believe them, result in joy. Follow-up notes:

7 10/26/16 Exodus 1:8-2:10 In the last story we read, we saw the beginnings of God s promise to make Abraham s offspring his own chosen people. Abraham s son Isaac has a son Jacob, who is also named Israel (which is why God s people are called Israel or the Israelites). The sons of Israel plot against their youngest brother, Joseph, because of their jealously. However, instead of their plans leading to Joseph s death, God uses their plan for good and Joseph ends up being second in command in Egypt, the strongest and wealthiest nation of the day. During Joseph s tenure, he brings his whole family to Egypt to escape a famine and they settle there and flourish. Exodus 1 begins with the death of Joseph and his brothers and then jumps about 200 years forward, setting up a very different situation for the growing Israelites under the new Egyptian leadership. Observation notes: Questions:

8 Why were the Egyptians so afraid of the Israelites? The Israelites were not just ethnically different from the Egyptians, but they also followed one single God, rather than the many gods of Egypt. As with all people, significant differences led to the Egyptians fearing what they didn t understand. How did the smaller Egyptian group force the bigger Israelite group into slavery? Did the Hebrew women really give birth more quickly than Egyptian women? Why did Moses mom abandon him in the Nile river? Why did Pharaoh's daughter show pity to Moses, an Israelite? Despite the fact that the Israelites had just begun to outnumber the Egyptians, the Egyptians still held the political and financial power. The Egyptians acted quickly enough to suppress and persecute the Israelites. No, probably not. Instead, the midwives were protecting the babies by using this cover story. In this case, their choice to disobey human authority in order to obey God s love of life led to direct blessing from God, in the form of families of their own. Moses mother was desperate, and the image here is supposed to remind us of another time that God rescued his people while they floated on water in a basket - Noah s Ark. So, this is a reflection of that story, and a foreshadowing, showing that God would save all Israel. We don t know the exact reason (though babies are always cute), but this is another part of the ongoing pattern of having Pharaoh s plans thwarted by strong women in this passage. God is using people who are given lower social standing in their culture to accomplish his Did Moses sister know that this plan would all work out? It seems like this entire ordeal was completely orchestrated by God for the future rescue of his people from Egypt none of the people involved seemed to know the big picture plan. The fact that Moses own mother, despairing to the point of complete hopelessness a few verses earlier, was able to not only to raise her son, but get PAID BY PHARAOH to do so was an unbelievable miracle. This sets up Moses life-long faith in God s providence and guid- Suggested: God WILL rescue his people using extremely unlikely plans and extremely unlikely people. Follow-up notes:

9 11/2/16 Exodus 20:1-21 Moses leads the people out of Egypt, set free by God s miraculous power over Pharaoh. They cross the Red Sea and are finally free and ready to reestablish themselves as God s people. They head into the wilderness and experience God s con nued provision, as he sends Manna and Quail for ea ng and even supplies water from a rock. Finally, God calls Moses from Mount Sinai and tells him that it s me for the Israelites to be consecrated - set apart as his chosen family. This se ng apart entails a specific treaty or covenant that God will make with them, summarized in the famous 10 Commandments. These are more than universal moral codes they are intended to be dis nc ves that allow the whole world to recognize God s people. Observa on notes: Ques ons:

10 Why is God, if he s so powerful, so worried about other gods, idols, or using his name in vain? Why does God promise to hold the sins of Israel against their children for four genera ons? Why does he move straight from commandments about himself to a commandment about parents? Why is cove ng so bad? It doesn t seem as dangerous to just WANT something. Why were the people afraid of God? Was that what he wanted? Would the people die if God spoke directly to them? God isn t worried for his own sake, although he makes it clear that he deserves all of the focus and praise, and is even jealous God (meaning that any worship of other gods/items will be cause for nega- ve ac on on his part). God is adamant about worshiping and respec ng him because he knows how easily Israel (and all people) are able to have divided love. God is making the case for how dangerous and disastrous a lack of commitment to him will be it will have repercussions for hundreds of years (which we see come true). However, me and me again he proves that his mercy trumps this statement, and he is willing to forgive and reconnect with anyone who calls out for forgiveness. Parents are intended to be the authorita ve representa on of God for children, meaning that they should reflect his love, care, discipline, and devo on. Respec ng parents led to a strong social structure for the new na on, and showed a respect for God s own authority. God knows that the biggest problem isn t people s ac ons it s their damaged hearts that are prone to evil. By forbidding the act of cove ng, God is helping to protect his people from the first traces of powerful tempta on. Moses tells us right in vs. 20, The fear of [God] will keep you from sinning! We aren t always comfortable with the idea of fearing God, but in this context it s as important as a student fearing the punishment their parent might hand down for breaking a family rule or behavioral expecta on at a job. Moses is allowed to speak to God without dying, but his encounters with God always leave him greatly affected, even to the point where his face GLOWS a erward. The people were wise to stay farther away from God, because God s awesomeness can be too much for human beings. Someday, however, we are promised that we ll be directly in God s presence without fear. Suggested: God isn t messing around. His promises should be met with full devo on to his commands. God has a standard of right and wrong that, though possibly different from cultural expecta ons, would set us apart as his people. Follow-up notes:

11 11/9/16 Joshua 16:1-27 After Joshua succeeds Moses as the leader of God s people, he is tasked with the long-awaited mission to conquer the Promised Land, which was occupied and controlled by many different groups of people. The first and biggest challenge to this conquest was Jericho subduing the strategically fortified city would have seemed an impossible feat to the nation that had just recently ended 40 years of desert wandering. So, God himself comes up with a plan for the battle, just as God himself had made the promise of a homeland for his followers. This battle didn t just represent a military victory, it was an act of God reclaiming and purifying the land that rightfully belonged to him. Observation notes: Questions:

12 Why are there so many references to SEVEN things? (seven days, seven priests, seven times around, etc.) What is the Ark of the Lord? Is this Noah s Ark? Was this good military strategy? Why did God order the destruction of EVERYONE and EVERY- THING? Why was Rahab the prostitute spared with her family? Why does Joshua curse anyone who wants to rebuild Jericho? The number 7 signified God and his completeness, beginning from Genesis 1, when God creates in 6 days and rests (his work completed) on the 7th. By performing strange military acts in sets of 7, the army was signifying that its strategy belonged to God, not to its military might. This is NOT Noah s ark. The term ark can refer to any container that protects its contents. In this case, the Ark was a wooden box, overlaid with ornamental gold, that Moses had built to carry symbolic objects (the 10 commandments, for instance). It represented God s presence with his people, which is why it has a prominent place in this story and in the army parade around Jericho. (This is the Ark that Indiana Jones was trying to find, by the way.) NO. This was not a normal way to attach a military stronghold which is exactly why God prescribed this attack method. It was an strategy that required complete obedience because of how little sense it makes. Jericho was not only a military stronghold, it was also the symbolic center of a land that had rejected God and served and worshiped idols. The complete cleansing of the city is symbolic of the purification of sin and rebellion in the lives of God s people Earlies, Rahab had helped two Israelite spies stake out the city protecting and hiding them. She trusted the one true God to save her, despite her questionable profession. Rahab becomes a famous example to God s forgiveness he will forgive ANYONE who follows him. Again, the destruction of Jericho didn t just represent a military victory it was a symbol of God s people claiming their promised homeland. Leaving Jericho destroyed should have served as a constant reminder of God s plan coming to pass. Suggested: By obeying God, no matter how odd his directions might seem, we can experience victory. Follow-up notes: