Introduction to Genesis

Transcription

1 Introduction to Genesis 1. What is the book of Genesis? Genesis means beginnings or origins. This book was scripted to explain many beginnings: The galaxy and the earth Sin and death Languages The human race Cities and Nations Obedience Life away from the Tools and musical Using animals for assisting in Garden of Eden (the fall) instruments labor The plants and animals Life after the worldwide flood God s covenants (or promises) Religious worship Hebrews The nation of Israel God chose his servant Abraham (2091 BC) to give an everlasting covenant of land and the promise of his seed, meaning Christ, who would eventually bless the nations. 2. Who was the Author? Moses, who spoke with and was inspired by God. Moses is also credited the following books of the Pentateuch ( Five Books (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) also called The Torah (Law). Moses spent 80 days with God on Mount Sinai, which may have been when much of the material was revealed to him. There also appear to be family records and genealogies that were documented by Adam, Enoch, Noah and Abraham, who also received revelations from God. The genealogies specifically focus on the characters that are in the line of the Hebrews. For example, the next son of Adam and Eve listed (Seth) is approximately 120 years after Cain and Abel were born (5:3). Without birth control and near perfect bodies, it is likely that many sons and daughters were born during this time. 3. When was it written? Between BC 4. What was the historical time span? Creation 1800 BC (there is debate as to when the earth was originally formed. Some say about 6,000 B.C. while others say millions or billions of years). o Chapters 1-11 cover ½ of the entire historical timespan of the Old and New Testament (Covenant) scriptures. This includes the history prior to Abraham, including Adam and Eve and the story of Noah. o The life of Abraham is covered between chapters o Chapters cover Isaac and his sons. o Chapters focus on the life of Joseph 5. What other religions use part or all of Genesis? Judaism, Islam 6. The names of God found in Genesis: Elohim (1:1) Generic for God or Gods also used as a We form for God speaking. YHWH (4:26) or JHVH (the tetragrammaton) also translated as: o I AM, The Self Existent One, Yahweh, Jehovah, The LORD Adonai My Lord El-Elyon Most High God. El-Roi God who sees me YHWH-El-Olam (21:33) Eternal God El-Elohe-Israel (33:20) God, the God of Jacob/Israel El-Shaddai (35:11) Almighty God

2 Genesis Chapter 1 1. Who was in the beginning? a. Why is this fact important? 2. How does John 1:1-14 tie in Jesus as the creator of the universe? a. How does Colossians 1:15-18 also convey the same message 3. According to the first 3 verses what was the earth originally like before everything was created? 4. God called the light good. How is God like the physical light that we see? 5. Some critics of Genesis indicate that God s creation story is flawed because He created Light and then later created the sun and stars. Read Revelation 21:23 and 22:5. How do these verses correct the critics? 6. How was the human race to be created differently than the animals and the plant life? What differences are significant? 7. How do the combined natures of male and female help to define who God is? 8. How many days did it take God to create the earth, heavens, creatures, plant life and the human race? a. Though we can t know for certain, what phrases in the first chapter of Genesis appear to emphasize a 24 hour period for each section of creation? 9. What was the first command God gave humans? 10. What level of authority are humans given on earth?

3 Genesis Chapter 2 1. God is all powerful and omnipresent. What was the purpose of Moses writing that God rested or ceased from his work? What can we learn from his example? Read Matthew 12:1-8. Who is LORD of the Sabbath? In reading Paul s letter to the Colossians (read: Colossians 2:11-17), what does Paul make reference to that Christ is regarding the Sabbath? Read Romans 14:1-9. The Body of Christ (those who follow Him) may have many doctrinal differences, but one LORD and Master. How should we not allow the Sabbath and the various convictions concerning it be dividing issue among believers? 2. Since God didn t bring rain on the land. How was the ground first watered? Skipping forward to Noah s time, since the Bible record any occurrence of rain until the flood, it is possible that the flood was the first sight of rain. How might this have created even doubters during Noah s time of an impending flood? 3. Where was the Garden of Eden located? How was this a prime location for any living creature? What was Adam s responsibilities with Eden? 4. What was the consequence of eating the fruit of the tree of good and evil?

4 Why would God create a tree that he commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of? What does this say about Adam and Eve s free will? What does this, possibly, say about man s mortality prior to eating the fruit? 5. How did the animals and birds first receive their names? 6. What does woman mean? How is man not independent of woman? How does the process of marriage complete the oneness of body and spirit? Read Matthew 19:1-6. What does For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh, mean? 7. Knowing that there are many people that our contemporaries call races, can you explain, from genetics, how all the races could come from Adam and Eve?

5 Genesis Chapter 3 1. How did the serpent begin his deception? 2. How do we know that the serpent in Genesis is actually the devil or Satan? (Read Revelation 12:7-9). a. Was the Devil ever good according to scripture? i. Read John 8: b. When was the Devil cast down out of the presence of Heaven? (Read Revelation 12:1-9) c. Are the following passages scriptures really about the Devil? i. Read Isaiah 14:3-17 (who was God really speaking to, in context?) ii. Ezekiel 28:1-19 (who was God really speaking to?) iii. How does imagery of those previously mentioned passages cause us to jump to conclusions without looking at the scripture in context? iv. Look at the following passages and explain how God using imagery in the context of what is being said? 1. John 1: Revelation 5: Peter 2: Matthew 16:5-12

6 3. How did the serpent effectively mix in a little truth with the lie? 4. How did the Adam and Eve respond when they were confronted with their transgression? 5. What prophetic significance does verse 15 have and what does it mean? 6. This chapter tells of the story of the fall of man. Read Romans 5: How does Jesus fix what Adam and Eve broke? 7. Read 1 Corinthians 15: What will be placed under Jesus feet? a. What did man bring and what did Christ bring? 8. Read verse 21. What did God make for Adam and Eve to wear? a. What sacrifice had to take place in order for this to happen? 9. Read Revelation 22:1-2. What will God restore that was kept from Adam and Eve?

7 Genesis Chapter 4 1. Proverbs 21:27 states: The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable- how much more so when brought with evil intent! How might this verse apply to the first part of Chapter 4? 2. Genesis 4:7 states: If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." James 1:15 states: 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown, gives birth to death. How are these 2 verses similar and what should we learn from them? a. Read, also, Isaiah 1:1-17. i. How does this passage of scripture relate to Genesis chapter 4? 3. How did God both discipline and protect Cain for his actions? 4. How did Cain get his wife? 5. How might Lamech s concern for retribution be a different circumstance than Cain s? a. Why might he have asked for seven times or a sevenfold retribution if he was to be harmed? b. What was Lamech s son Jabal known for? c. What was Lamech s son Tubol Cain known for? 6. Since Seth was born after the death of Cain, and Cain and Abel were both grown men, what can we assume about other siblings? 7. Read Genesis 5:3-5. What does this tell us about how much time had, potentially, passed prior to Seth s birth?

8 Genesis Chapter 5 1. Before the worldwide flood occurred, what was evident about the lifespan of the human race? 2. How old was Adam when Seth was born? a. Since Adam was a man when he was created, and Eve was a lady when she was created, let s consider the following: i. Based on having a child every 18 months, how many children would Adam and Eve have had at that time? ii. If their children began having children after they were 20 and ½ of them were women and this process repeated, how many children would there be? 3. Who walked with God for 300 years? How did his days on earth end? Read Hebrews 11:5 and also Read Jude 1: What else do we learn about this person? 4. Out of all of the children that Adam and Even had, why was it important to list the genealogy of Seth? i. In looking at each father listed (when identifying the specific sons that they had) and the age they were when having the son listed, what is likely when these men were probably married many years earlier? 5. According to those on record, who is the oldest man to ever live and how long did he live? 6. Who was the only one in the ancestry listed in chapter 5 that didn t die a natural death? 7. According to scholars, Methuselah means his death will bring it. Since he was 187 years old when his son Lamech was born and Lamech was 182 years old when he had Noah, Methuselah died 600 years after Noah was born. What happened when Noah was 600 (reference Genesis 7:11)? 8. Nach or nuach means to rest or to settle. Nacham means to comfort. Based on chapter 5, what name do scholars believe is derivative of one of these words?

9 Genesis Chapter 6 1. Is it possible to know that your child is going to do wrong and still grieve when it occurs? a. What situation does this present a good analogy for, according to this passage in scripture? 2. One of the most disputed subjects of the Bible has been on the identity of the sons of God noted in Genesis chapter 6. There are 2 primary views: a. One view is that angels (most say fallen but some not) desired to be with women and through these relations, the giants or Nephilim were created (in essence, they spawned from human and angelic or demonic combinations. Here are the primary points of evidence for this position: i. The strongest support comes from this text in Genesis being compared to Job 1:6 and Job 2:1. ii. The mention of Giants or Nephilim are explained by the scholars that agree with this view as making sense that mere humans would be unable to produce Giants while a combination of a more powerful being and human would produce a greater and more powerful offspring. b. The second view is that sons of God refer to humans that are of the male gender. There are a few reasons for this view: i. The first comes from reading the context of how Genesis 6:1 ties into 6:2. ii. The second comes from Jesus words in the context of the synoptic gospels in Matthew 22:29-30, Mark 12:24-25, and Luke 20: iii. The third comes from multiple texts in the New Testament that call humans sons of God : Matthew 5:9, Romans 8 :14, Galatians 3:26 c. In reviewing the evidence for both views, what are your thoughts on what makes the most sense according to scripture? 3. What did God say were the thoughts of man during this time? 4. Because the ark was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high, it had as much space as 522 modern railroad boxcars. What does this confirm about the time it took to build the ark? 5. How does the flood on the earth symbolize water baptism? a. Read 1 Peter 3: What does this passage convey about this subject? i. What is the only group in Biblical record that received a chance, after death, to respond to the message of Christ? 6. Judging from the amount of time it took to build the ark, how may have Noah s neighbor s responded to his building project?

10 Genesis Chapter 7 1. What type of animals and creatures did Noah take more than just one male and female? a. How many did he take of those animals? b. Read Job 40: Think of ALL the creatures that God created. What does this sound like God is describing (this was obviously on the ark)? c. Read Job 41:1-10. Think of ALL the creatures that God has created. What does this sound like God is describing (this may have been swimming around the ark)? 2. Why was Noah chosen to go on the ark? a. How old was Noah when the flood came? 3. How did the flood occur so rapidly? 4. Who were the humans on the ark? 5. See 1 Peter 3: What is the only group in Biblical record that received a chance, after death, to respond to the message of Christ? 6. How high did the floods go above the highest mountain? a. How long did the flood waters cover the entire earth? 7. How many days did the rains fall? a. How many days was Jesus tempted in the desert by Satan? b. How many years old was Isaac when he married Rebecca? c. How many years did the Israelites eat manna? d. How many days did Moses remain on Mount Sinai when he received the Ten Commandments from THE LORD? e. How many days did the Israelites scout out the Promised Land? f. How many years old was Caleb when he explored the Land of Canaan? g. How many days did Jonah give Nineveh to repent from their wickedness? How many years did David rule over Israel? h. How many years old was Moses when he fled Egypt? i. How many years later did the Angel appear to Moses in the burning bush? j. How many years after this did Moses end up passing away? k. How many years passed after Jesus said that Jerusalem would be destroyed? l. How many Days did Goliath taunt the Israelite army? m. How many years passed after Jesus prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem? n. Are you seeing a pattern here that God likes? 8. How long did the water cover the entire earth?

11 Genesis Chapter 8 1. What occurrences did God allow to happen that caused the water to recede? a. How long did it take before the waters began to recede? 2. Following the timeline given to us in chapter 8, how long was Noah, his family and the animals actually on the ark (see Genesis 7:11-13, Genesis 8:3-18 for reference)? 3. Where did the ark finally come to rest? a. Can we be certain this is the same location of the region that currently goes by the same name? 4. What process did Noah go through to determine the water had receded? 5. What was the first commandment that God gave Noah when he exited the ark? a. What was the first command given to Adam and Eve? 6. What did God say would never again occur? a. Yet what did he say about man s heart? 7. How did Noah make use of some of the clean animals and birds after exiting the ark? a. Why was this NOT going to cause those species to be extinct? 8. In addition, what did say would continue to occur as long as the earth was still in existence? 9. As believers in Jesus, it is tempting to believe the lie, that is preached, that coming to Christ alleviates all problems. What is the difference between not having problems and having troubles but knowing that The LORD will never leave or forsake us?

12 Genesis Chapter 9 1. In the context of verse 5, what does God mean by And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting? a. Who is held responsible humans, animals or both and why? i. Why is there such a severe penalty? b. If an animal kills an animal, does the same rule apply? Why or why not? 2. What was given to Noah and his descendants as food that wasn t previously on the menu? 3. What command is give twice to Noah in the first 7 verses of this chapter? a. Why was that command so important? 4. What was God s covenant to Noah? a. What is the sign of the covenant? b. Why might this be scientific evidence that this was the first time it had rained? 5. When Noah became drunk, what were Ham s actions? a. What did Noah do when he found out? 6. Which is the only grandson of Noah who is mentioned in this chapter multiple times? 7. Which of the other 2 brothers received the highest blessing? Reference Genesis 9:25-27 (with the focus on verse 27). 8. What does Antisemitism mean? a. Which of Noah s son is the term Antisemitism taken from?

13 Genesis Chapter Who became a mighty hunter or warrior on the earth? a. According to ancient history, how does this chapter indicate that he was the first monarch? b. How is his name used now? 2. Where did this mighty hunter set up the centers of his kingdom? a. In looking at these regions, how would these regions bring destruction to both northern and southern Israel in the centuries to come? 3. In the NKJV and NASB Bibles, verse six indicates that Ham had other sons (besides Canaan) that included Cush, Mizraim and Put. Mizraim is the Hebrew translation of the word Egypt. How would this son of Ham first cause the Israelites sorrow before they battled with the Canaanites? 4. Who were Canaan s descendants? 5. In reading Genesis 10:21-31 you will find where the Hebrews came from. See if you can guess which name they came from. 6. Read Genesis 9: Why were the words of Noah prophetic here? Genesis Chapter When the men moved eastward where did they settle? a. What did they intend to do as they gathered together? 2. Read verse 5. How did Yahweh (The LORD) respond that indicated that they were not even close to the heavens? 3. How did the work the world was completing come to a stop? 4. In reviewing the genealogies in chapter 11 and comparing them to genealogies in previous chapters, what is apparent about timelines after the flood? 5. Which one of Noah s sons was Abram s descendent?

14 Genesis Chapter What was the condition that Abram had to uphold in order for The LORD to make him into a great nation? 2. How would all nations on the earth be blessed through Abram? 3. Read verse 7 and note that offspring should be rendered seed. Read Galatians 3: What is the significance of this promise and how should we understand it in the light of Christ s work? a. Read also Romans 9:1-8. What is the apostle Paul teaching us to learn regarding Abraham s seed and who the real Israel is? 4. How old was Abram when he left Haran? 5. How did Abram show that he did not trust in The LORD s protection? 6. What happened to Pharaoh s household as a result of Sarai? 7. Reference Genesis 20:12. How does Abraham justify his own actions? 8. What did Abram have to do as a result of lying to Pharaoh? Genesis Chapter How was Abram doing financially? 2. What was the reason there were quarrels between the followers of Lot and the followers of Abram? a. How did Abram resolve the quarrels that demonstrated his maturity? 3. Although Lot made first choice of where he wished to go, how did God honor Abram? 4. Where did Abram settle? a. What did he do once he was there and why was it important? 5. After Lot decided, what did the LORD say he give to Abram? a. What did the LORD say he would do regarding Abram s descendants?

15 Genesis Chapter Why did the kings of Ellasar, Elam and Goiim go to war against the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela? 2. What happened to Lot and his family as a result of the battles of these kings? a. How did Abram respond to the news? 3. Jesus is called Prophet, Priest, and King. Who else in the chapter appears to fit those qualities? a. Read Hebrews 7:1-4. What does this person s name mean? 4. Read Psalm 110:1-4. Who do these verses apply to? a. Read Hebrews 7:1-28. What do we learn is the significance of Melchizedek and His priesthood? i. In reading this passage, what do we learn about there being a change in the law? 1. What does this mean? ii. Why was there always a continuous change in the Levitical priesthood? 1. Why is there never again going to be a change in the priesthood? b. Why was the Levitical priesthood not sufficient? 5. Read Hebrews 8:1-13. a. Read Hebrews 8:3. What was offered for the new covenant? b. In reading verse 9 again, how did Israel respond to the old covenant? c. What was the purpose of the new covenant? d. In this passage, how is the old covenant spoken of? i. What does it mean that the old covenant is obsolete and passing away? 1. Since many scholars believe that Hebrews was written only a few years before the destruction of Jerusalem, how might the meaning of passing away make even more sense? 6. What did Abram do with a tenth of the plunder? a. How did Abram respond to the King of Sodom s request to keep the remaining plunder?

16 Genesis Chapter What did the LORD say he was to Abram? a. How did Abram respond that showed he wasn t certain about God s previous promise? b. How did The LORD reassure Abram? 2. What actions of Abram were credited as righteousness? a. How does this correspond to our salvation? 3. Read Romans 4:1-8. What is the point the Apostle Paul is making concerning this passage? 4. Read Romans 4:9-12. What point regarding the covenant of circumcision is the Apostle Paul making? 5. Romans 4: In reading this passage, what are you able to conclude if there was no law? a. Who was this passage written for, according to Paul s words? 6. Read Galatians 3:1-9. What does the Apostle Paul teach the Galatian church about the law? a. What does Paul teach the Galatians about faith? b. How do we become true children of Abraham? c. Read John 8: How do we become children of the Devil? 7. What did the LORD prophecy would happen to Abram s descendants? a. How did the LORD say Abram would die? b. In order to ratify an oath, during Abram s time, men would make a sacrifice and walk between it. How did the LORD meet Abram to confirm His oath? i. The LORD waited before confirming His oath. How did this make His oath that much more visible? 8. Read verse 18. Now read 1 Kings 4:20-21 and Joshua 21: a. Did The LORD make good on His Promises?

17 Genesis Chapter Although it was common in this culture, in what way did Sarai display her disbelief in the LORD s promise to Abram? 2. Sarai s decision to distrust God and Abram s agreement to go along with the idea created additional tension in the family. How so? a. What did Abram give Sarai permission to do? i. What happened as a result? ii. How did The LORD intervene and what was His command? 3. In Hebrew culture, the firstborn son was granted the inheritance of his father. Why wasn t Ishmael granted his father s inheritance? 4. What was prophesied about Ishmael s life and the lives of his descendants? 5. Based on the fact that Abram was 100 years old when Isaac was born, what does this tell you about the, additional, waiting process between the birth of Ishmael and the birth of Isaac)? a. Read also Genesis 12:1-4. How many years did Abram wait before God s promised child was born? 6. Read Galatians 4: In reading this passage, what is Paul indicating the Galatians are wishing to be? a. According to this passage, what does Ishmael represent? i. What does Isaac represent? 7. What does it mean to be Children of the Promise and how do we become part of the promise?

18 Genesis Chapter What did Abram s name change to? a. Why did his name change? 2. What land did the Lord give to Abram as an everlasting covenant? 3. What was the covenant that the Lord commanded Abram to take action on? 4. How do the covenants in questions 2 and 3 differ? 5. For the ongoing circumcisions, when were sons supposed to have them? a. Why was that time chosen (apologetic reason)? 6. Read Romans 2: What was the point the Apostle Paul made concerning circumcision? a. Read Galatians 5:1-6. In looking at verse 1 of Galatians 5, what does Paul mean by the yoke of slavery? i. What were they told if they were to become circumcised? 1. What does this mean? ii. How do we obtain the hope of righteousness according to Paul s words? iii. Read Galatians 5:6 again. What does this mean? b. Read Jeremiah 31: How did Jesus fulfill this new covenant and how does the Holy Spirit relate to this passage? 7. How does the Apostle Paul explain Abraham s justification? a. Did it correspond to his circumcision? Why or why not? 8. What did Sarai s name change to? a. Why did it change? 9. Why did Abram doubt God s promise of a son? a. How did Sarai react to the news? How did God respond? 10. Read Hebrews 11:8-12. What points are made concerning Abraham in this text? 11. Read Galatians 3: How can we become children of Abraham?

19 Genesis Chapter Who did the three visitors appear to be? a. How did Abraham respond to seeing them? 2. What promise did the three visitors bring to Abraham? a. How did Sarah respond to this promise and why did she react in this way? 3. When The LORD asked about Sarah s reaction, how was her reaction like that of one of us? a. How did The LORD s rhetorical question indicate His power? 4. Verse 22 reads: The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before The LORD. In chapter 19, we find that the two angels visit Lot in the land of Sodom. What does this tell us about the three visitors and how one differs from the others? 5. Abraham and God dialogue about the potential destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. What does this discussion teach us about the nature of THE LORD? a. What did The LORD indicate was the reason that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? b. Read 2 Peter 3:9. How does this verse relate to the present passage? c. Read Ezekiel 33:11. How does this relate to this present passage?

20 Genesis Chapter Who came out looking for Lot s guests? a. From where did they come? 2. The eastern etiquette of Abraham s time emphasized the importance of caring for the needs of strangers. How did Lot display his regard for the strangers took a far too high priority? 3. Lot and his family hesitated in leaving. Then Lot s wife deliberately disobeyed the angels orders and looked back at the city. Why does it appear they did this? What can be learned from this? 4. Lot s daughters did not have faith that God would help them find husbands since they relocated to a land foreign to them. What did their unfortunate assumptions drive them to do? 5. The offspring of both of Lot s daughters became the ancestors of Moabites and the Ammonites. Based on how much grief the future Israelites would experience from those two nations, what does this tell us about the consequences of one transgression? 6. Read Matthew 11: What territory is told that they are more wicked than Sodom and why? 7. Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. What categories of sin are lumped in with homosexual offenders? What does this tell us about sins in general and how we should be careful not to put too much emphasis on one sin versus another? How does this passage also point to the fact that we all have different areas where we may be prone to sin? 8. Read 2 Peter 2:4-10. How was Sodom used as an example for us?

21 Genesis There were two primary reasons that foreigners would want women in their harem: 1. The beauty of the woman and #2 the wealth of the woman (knowing that when a woman becomes a wife, that a dowry (a bridal financial gift) accompanies the woman. At this time, which do feel was on Abimelech s mind (explain why)? a. Read Romans 2: Explain how Abimelech instinctively knew what was the right thing to do in the situation with Sarah: b. How did Abimelech remedy the situation? 2. God chose to place his favor on Abraham and his family. a. How is this demonstrated in this chapter? 3. Read verse 11. What did Abraham think and how was he completely wrong in his perception of this community? 4. How does chapter 20 demonstrate that the actions of one man can result in the consequences for a community? 5. Read Genesis 12: How did things turn out differently in the case of Egypt as compared to Abimelech s instructions after Abraham deceived him?

22 Genesis Verse 1 indicates that God was gracious to Sarah. Explain how God extended his grace: 2. The name Isaacel means God laughs and Isaac just means laugh or laughter. How is name appropriate? 3. Read Joshua 21:45. Joshua, the leader who followed Moses, made this statement. How does this statement relate to the present chapter? How does the verse apply to the hope of future promises? 4. Read Sarah s statement in verse 10. Now read Roman s 9:6-16. Read also, Galatians 4: What do these passages confirm about God s plan? 5. Abraham s originally thought that Abimelech and his people had no fear of God. How is he proven wrong in this chapter? Chapter What did God state about Isaac that seemed to be untrue? What did God mean? 2. After reading the account of Abraham and Isaac, how does the story of God the Father and Jesus relate in the following areas: Obedience: Death: Resurrection: Promise: 3. When Abraham spoke to his young servants, what, in his communication, indicated that he was confident that all would be well? 4. When Isaac questioned Abraham about what was going to be sacrificed, how did Abraham respond? What significance did his response have regarding the later escape from Egypt and the eternal escape from death? 5. Read Hebrews 11: What did the author of Hebrews indicate was behind the actions of Abraham? 6. Abraham had more than one son, but what is God clarifying in this chapter concerning this?

23 Chapter After Sarah s death, Abraham sought a burial cave for her. What did he get coaxed into purchasing (in addition to the cave)? (Note: In Hittite customs, even if someone purchased a cave from you, you would still be required to pay the taxes on the surrounding field). 2. What demonstrated Abraham s integrity and willingness to agree to the terms? Chapter In Hebrew culture, an oath would be considered binding when you swore to the other party with your hand underneath their thigh. What did Abraham demand his servant to swear? a. What was the only way the servant would be free from the oath? 2. What was the process the servant followed to confirm that he would choose the right woman for Isaac? What can be learned from his actions? a. How did these actions demonstrate that Rebecca was a woman of strong values? 3. When the servant confirmed that Rebekah was provided by the LORD, what did he do next? 4. Although this was, in some ways, an arranged marriage, how was it also consensual? 5. How is respect for Yahweh (the LORD) demonstrated by Rebecca s family at this moment? 6. What was Isaac doing when Rebecca arrived?

24 Chapter It indicates that Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. This is clearly hyperbole. How do we know this, based on the text in the chapter? Where did Abraham s other sons get sent to? 2. Who buried Abraham and what does this say about their relationship later in life? Where was Abraham buried? 3. What evidence, in this chapter, demonstrates that Ishmael s entire family appeared to be close to him? 4. Although the LORD knows the future, what evidence in this chapter proves prayer is so important? 5. Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40. How much time elapsed before they had children? 6. What was prophesied about Isaac and Rebekah s sons? What, regarding the prophecy, had more to do with Jacob s offspring than with the man Jacob? 7. One of the most debated section of verses with cross-references in the Bible, is Romans 9:1-13. This is also used as a proof text for the Calvinistic view stating that Esau the man served Jacob his brother and that God hated Esau but loved Jacob. What can we learn, from this context of what Paul is (and God from the Malachi reference) speaking of when he mentions Jacob and Esau? Read Genesis 25:23 closely and clarify what God is speaking of with this prophecy to Rebecca. 8. Esau had the right of a double share in the inheritance. How did he lose this right?

25 Chapter The LORD has a specific plan for everyone s life. What guidance did God specifically give Isaac? a. Where did he tell him NOT to go? b. What was promised to Isaac if he followed God s instructions? c. How does part of this promise, again, relate to Christ? 2. What evidence in chapter 26 shows that some bad habits can be learned from your parents? a. What part of this passage demonstrates a lack of trust in God s promise from Isaac? 3. Many scholars believe that Abimelech is a leadership title such as Pharaoh or Caesar. So, this is likely not the same Abimelech as in Abraham s meeting. What demonstrates that Abimelech and his people did have some type of a moral code? 4. Why did the Philistines become jealous of Isaac and fill up his wells? a. What did Abimelech ask Isaac to do? 5. Read 2 Timothy 3: How does this apply to Isaac s frustrations over digging and keeping wells? 6. Read verse 24. Now read Exodus 3:3-6 and Luke 20: What is the point Jesus is making in this passage in Luke? 7. What was the purpose of Abimelech s later visit to Isaac?

26 Genesis Chapter What were Isaac s intentions for Esau? a. How was this contrary to the prophecy that was given to Rebekah when the twins were in her womb? b. How did Rebekah intervene? 2. How did Jacob react to his mother s plan? a. How did his mother respond? 3. How did the plan cause the deception success? 4. What was the extent of the blessing that Jacob received? a. How come Isaac could not revoke the blessing and transfer it to Esau? 5. How did Esau respond to the news of his stolen blessing? a. How did Rebekah orchestrate Jacob s escape? 6. What was the prophecy about the twins before they were born? a. How did Isaac ignore the prophecy and try to take fate into his own hands?

27 Genesis Chapter How did Isaac treat Jacob prior to sending him away? a. What might this confirm about what Isaac had realized in his heart? b. What were the blessings that Isaac gave Jacob? 2. What did Esau do in reaction to the news of Jacob leaving? a. How did he prove his was still seeking the approval of his parents? 3. What did Jacob dream? a. What did the LORD promise to Jacob? b. How did the LORD identify Himself? 4. Read verse 14. Now read Galatians 3: How does this correspond to the present age? 5. Beth, in Hebrew means house and El in Hebrew means God. What does this have to do with this chapter? a. Read John 1: How does this passage correspond to chapter 28 of Genesis? 6. God s love is unconditional. How did Jacob prove that his own love was conditional? 7. What did Jacob say he would do with his possessions with respect to The LORD?

28 Chapter Where was Jacob led to and how does this demonstrate about divine guidance? 2. What actions of Jacob may have impressed Rachel? a. How did Rachel impress Jacob? 3. How did Rachel respond to the news of Jacob s relation to her? 4. How did Laban and Jacob determine Jacob s wages? 5. In previous chapters we ve witnessed Jacob s plans of deception. How was he deceived by Laban? a. How did Laban justify his actions in spite of his promise to Jacob? 6. Based on the culture of the time, how did the women derive their self-esteem? a. Based on this, what assumptions did Leah make?

29 Chapter Based on this chapter, how is it evident that more than one wife can present a variety of challenges? 2. Read Genesis 2: Read Matthew 19:3-6. What is evident about God s original plan for marriage? 3. What assumption did Rachel make regarding God rewarding her? a. What assumption did Leah make regarding God? b. How can it be dangerous for us to make assumptions regarding God s intentions? 4. How was Laban deceiving Jacob and how was Jacob involved in deceiving Laban? a. Read Romans 9: Why did God continue to bless him? b. Why didn t Laban want Jacob to leave? 5. Based on what we can learn from the previous question, what does this confirm about God s promises?

30 Chapter What was taking place with the possessions of Laban? a. How was Laban and his family reacting to these circumstances? b. How did Jacob and his family react to Laban s attitude? c. What did the LORD instruct Jacob to do? 2. What was Laban warned about in his dream? a. Why do you think he may have been warned this? 3. How many days lead time did Jacob have on Laban? a. How long did it take Laban and those with him to catch up to Jacob? 4. How did Laban speak of how he would have reacted if Jacob would have simply asked him to leave? a. Read Genesis 30: Do you think Laban was speaking the truth? 5. The gods or idols ( teraphim from the original Hebrew) of Laban s time were small talisman deities for superstitions and some scholars ascertain that they were the talisman used as a guarantee for fertility. a. Who took Laban s household gods and what might have been the motivation? 6. How long did Jacob remain with Laban? a. How did Jacob describe his actions during this time?

31 Chapter Who met Jacob at the beginning of this chapter and what did he call the place where he met? 2. What was Jacob s first message to Esau? a. How did Esau respond? 3. How did Jacob prepare a strategic defense for what appeared could be a battle with his older brother? a. What spiritual preparation did he take? b. How did this strategy display the varying levels of his care for his family? c. How did Jacob identify himself to demonstrate humility before his brother? 4. After Jacob struggled with the supernatural being, God named him Israel (which means One who struggles with God ). What had Jacob struggled with all his life? a. Read Hosea 12:3-4. What insight does this give us regarding who Jacob was struggling with? 5. Why didn t the people of later generations of Israelites eat the meat near the hip of animals?

32 Genesis Jacob always made it clear, from his actions, which of his family he valued the most. What negativity can result from such actions? 2. How did Esau react when he first met Jacob? a. What was Jacob s demeanor during their reunion? 3. What did Jacob freely give to Esau? a. Why did he give it? b. How did Esau respond to these gifts? 4. Instead of returning to where Esau resided, where did Jacob and his family settle? a. What did Jacob name the land that means The God of Israel and what is the significance of this? Genesis What happened to Dinah, Jacob s daughter? a. What were the plans of Shechem and his father Hamor and what benefit did they think they d receive from their plans? 2. The covenant of circumcision was given to Abraham. How did the sons of Jacob take this God-given covenant and use it for destruction? a. Read Jude 1:3-4. how do many treat the gift of salvation from Jesus sacrifice? 3. Deuteronomy 32:35 states the LORD s words as It is mine to avenge; I will repay. To what extent did Simeon and Levi take vengeance into their own hands? a. What would have been the appropriate way to deal with Shechem s actions? b. Read Genesis 49:1-10. Due to Reuben s sin, the firstborn blessing would have passed to Simeon or then to Levi. Why did it not? 4. As a result of Simeon and Levi s actions, what did Jacob s family end up having to do?

33 Genesis Where did Jacob travel to? a. What was he instructed to do there? i. All of the surrounding nations believed in regional gods. How did The LORD reaffirm that He was the one who originally appeared to him and why was this important? 2. In the culture of that time, earrings were worn as good luck charms. Once Jacob received his instruction, what did he tell his clan to do? a. Why were these instructions important and how could they be applied today? 3. How was Jacob able to travel to Bethel without being harmed by the surrounding peoples? 4. God identified himself as El-Shaddai (God Almighty) and once again made his promises to Jacob s descendants. Read Luke 1:1-2. What promise did God make to Jacob? a. What name, that means House of God did Jacob call the place where God spoke to him? 5. Based on the actions of Simeon and Levi and the fact that Jacob s family was still relatively small, how was it that the surrounding towns did not pursue or attack them? 6. What happened to Rachel before they reached Ephrath? a. What did Rachel call her last son and what does it mean? b. What did Jacob call the child and what does it mean? c. What did Jacob do after this that was still visible over a couple hundred years later? 7. What did Jacob s firstborn son do? a. When did he realize his father s consequences of his actions (reference Genesis 49:1-3)? 8. When may have been the last time Jacob saw Esau?

34 Genesis What was the reason that Jacob s family and Esau s family moved some distance from each other? a. What does appear to show regarding the respect that the brothers had for one another? 2. Read verse 35. Since Moab was the son of Lot, what does this tells about the future relations between Esau s and Lot s descendants? 3. Who was the father of the Edomites? Genesis How old was Joseph when his situation with his brothers turned sour? a. Why did his situation turn sour and what lesson can we learn from this? 2. What were the 2 dreams that Joseph had? a. How did his family react when Joseph relayed the dreams to them? 1. Based on Jacob s obvious treatment of Joseph how might his dreams have struck home a little too much? 3. Read Revelation 12:1-9. How can Genesis 37 help provide interpretation to part of this passage in Revelation? 4. When Joseph later came to his brothers, what did they plot to do? a. What was Reuben s plan to thwart them? b. What was Judah s involvement in adjusting the evil they planned to do to Joseph? 5. What was eventually done with Joseph? a. What deceit did his brothers use with their father? 6. After his brothers had disposed of him, where did Joseph end up?

35 Genesis If a married man had brothers and he died before his wife, what law was required? 2. Why didn t Tamar have any children with Er? Why didn t she have any children with Onan? Why did Onan take the actions that he did? 3. After Judah s wife passed away, what did Tamar discover? How did she react to this discovery? 4. Based on Tamar s actions, what does this tell us about one of the weaknesses she recognized in Judah? 5. Once Judah discovered that Tamar was pregnant, how did he react? How was his plan thwarted? 6. Once all was revealed, how did Judah react? What lessons can be learned from his actions? Genesis What did Potiphar notice about Joseph? i. What actions did Potiphar take upon recognizing this? ii. After taking these actions, what was the only thing that Potiphar had to worry about? 2. What temptation was Joseph repeatedly faced with? How did his actions contrast with Judah in the previous chapter? i. Read James 1: Describe how we are misled or successful in dealing with temptation: 3. How did Joseph end up in jail? How was Joseph treated by the chief jailer? 4. What was the key to Joseph s success, even in the midst of significant adversity?

36 Genesis Who was placed in the same prison Joseph was in? a. What was the stated time that they were placed in the prison? 2. How did Joseph get to ask the two men about their dreams? a. What trait did this portray in Joseph? 3. The LORD uses dreams in many different ways in the Bible. Read the following passages and explain how a dream was used in each: a. Matthew 1:18-21 b. Matthew 2:12-22 c. 1 Kings 3:5-15 d. Judges 7:9-15 e. Daniel 2:1-49 f. Genesis Chapter What were the dreams of the two men? a. What were the interpretations? 5. What was Joseph s request to the Cup-bearer? a. What did the Cup-bearer do?

37 Genesis How much time had passed since Joseph had given the interpretations to the cup bearer/ butler and the chief baker? a. How does this indicate that God s timing is not always our timing? 2. How did Pharaoh realize that Joseph may have the ability to interpret his dream? 3. What were the two dreams that Pharaoh had? a. Who did Joseph give credit for the dream s interpretation? b. What were their interpretations? c. Why was it a definitive prophecy? 4. The Prophet Daniel lived during the 6 th Century B.C. Read Daniel Chapter 2. i. How were Daniel s circumstances similar to that of Joseph? ii. How were Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar requests similar? 1. How were they different? iii. How were the dreams of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar similar but unique? 5. What were Joseph s recommendations to Pharaoh after he learned the interpretation of the dream? a. How did Pharaoh and his officials respond to this recommendation? 6. Since Joseph was 17 when he was sold into slavery, how much time did he spend in Egypt before rising to become a ruler? 7. Before the years of famine began, in what additional ways did God bless Joseph? 8. What did the surrounding countries do when they experienced the famine?

38 Genesis What was the circumstance that Jacob and his family was in? a. Who did he send to Egypt? b. Who did he NOT send and why? 2. (Read Genesis 37:5-11) How were Joseph dreams of his youth fulfilled through his brothers? 3. How did Joseph react when he heard his brothers discussing how they treated him in the past? a. What did Joseph accuse his brothers of? b. How was Joseph able to effectively keep up the illusion that he did not recognize them? 4. What demand did he place upon them prior to sending them back to their home? a. What dilemma did this present to the brothers and how was this a test? 5. Why did Joseph weep? 6. What did Joseph command his servants to do? a. Why did he command this and how was he testing his brothers? 7. How did Jacob react to the request to send Benjamin with the brothers back to Egypt? a. What was Reuben s irrational response to change Jacob s mind?