Introduction: This week we begin at the beginning! Not only do we start a new quarter, but we start a new series of lessons on Genesis - the first book of the Bible. Followers of Darwin reject the Genesis account of the Creation. Worse, it is my impression that many Christians take the Biblical account of Creation with more than a little skepticism. As with many other things, if you start out on the wrong track, you are unlikely to get to the right destination. The Biblical account of Creation is critical to a correct belief regarding the nature and power of God, the nature of sin and the importance of the Sabbath. It also a mirror to determine your level of confidence in God's Word. Let's dig into our study of whether the Creation account should be believed!

1. The Beginning
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:1. Pretend that you have never read these words before. What does this text tell us about God? (That He was here in the beginning. He is the Creator.)
      
      
      1. The Hebrew word translated "God" in the first verse, "'Elohiym," is plural. Who (or what) do you think this means created the heavens and the earth?
         
         
      2. What does Genesis 1:1 tell us about the timing of the creation of the earth? (The heavens and the earth were created at the same time - the beginning.)
         
         
      3. What do you think is meant by the "heavens?" (Read Psalms 19:1-2. The same Hebrew word is used to describe "heavens." Thus, the earth was made at the same time as the visible universe.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 1:2. In what condition was the earth when it was created? (It needed a lot of additional work. It was a "fixer-upper.")
      
      
      1. One of the potential conflicts between those who believe in the Creation account and Darwinians(followers of Darwin)is the age of the earth. What age of the earth can Christians point to with confidence? (None. If you just look at the account, it says that the earth and the planets were created at the same "beginning" time. However, the additional creation work (Genesis 1:3 and following)on the "formless and empty" earth could have taken place at a much later time. A "young earth" for the human story is possible along side "old earth" elements.)
         
         
      2. Genesis 1:2 mentions "the Spirit of God." Is this a different God? Is this the reason why we have a plural word used to describe God? How does the Spirit fit in?
         
         
   3. Read John 1:1-3. This text tells us that someone was with God "in the beginning." It also tells us that this someone made "all things!" What is the clue we get about this someone? (The "Word.")
      
      
      1. Who is "the Word?" (If you look down in this chapter to John 1:14-15 we find that the "Word" became flesh and dwelled with us. We also learn that John the Baptist identified this person. Skip down to John 1:29-30 where John identifies this person as Jesus.)
         
         
   4. Who have we discovered is the plural God(s) who created the earth? (Jesus ("The Word"), the Spirit of God and God the Father. It was a joint project of the Trinity.)
      
      
   5. I have a Jewish friend whose most effective argument against Jesus is the popular refrain (the "Shema") "the Lord our God, the Lord is one." (See Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29) How would you "stuff" Jesus into the Shema?
      
      
      1. Try getting into a concert with the logic we have just discussed! Consider the line: "Our family is one, therefore please accept one ticket." Think that will work? What if it is a Christian concert?
         
         
      2. Doesn't it defy logic to say that the plural is one? (Actually, no. If you again look at the Hebrew word for "our God" in Deuteronomy 6:4 we again have the plural "Elohiym." This is no mistake in word usage. The Shema is really saying "The Lord our Gods" is one. It means our plural is a single entity.)
         
         
   6. A casual reader of the Bible would notice God the Father as being the first to show up in the Old Testament. Jesus comes later in the gospels, and the Holy Spirit arrives last on the scene in Acts. Does it change your thinking about God to realize that all three Members of the Godhead, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were working together in the Creation? (To deny the Creation account is to deny the combined power of the Trinity.)
      
      
   7. Read Genesis 1:3. What is your reaction to the fact that God spoke ("and God said") matters into existence?
      
      
      1. Contemplate this: Jesus is called (John 1:1) "the Word." What does this suggest was Jesus' role in creation? (It suggests that He was the One who was speaking the creation into existence. This is consistent with John 1:3 which says "all things" were made through Jesus.)
         
         
2. The Beginning a Metaphor?
   
   
   1. We have this picture of the Trinity engaged in the work of transforming a featureless world into the perfect world. Darwinians argue that the evolutionary theory is the only intelligent account for the origin of the species. Read 2 Peter 3:3-7. What problem does Peter predict? (Scoffers and skeptics who have an evil "me first" attitude.)
      
      
      1. On what logic do they base their evil behavior and their scoffing? (They do not acknowledge the authority of God in their lives because He has not come the second time as promised. Nothing has changed-so why should they believe in God or His power and authority?)
         
         
      2. What did the scoffers forget? (They "forgot" the Creation. If we came about by chance and not by God, then what authority has God over our life? Evil behavior based on "what is best for me" (or other standards outside of God's order) is the logical result of "forgetting" Creation.)
         
         
      3. What "evidence" does Peter give for God's coming judgment? (God's word controlled the water both in the Creation and in the Flood. His word will bring the fire of judgment at the Second Coming. Peter is saying that if God's power can create and destroy the world through water, then He can certainly destroy it again through fire.)
         
         
         1. Do you agree with Peter's logic?
            
            
         2. If a Christian does not believe in a literal Creation or a literal flood, does that Christian have any reasonable basis to believe in the Second Coming of Christ? (No, according to Peter. To deny these is to deny the power of God.)
            
            
   2. Do you remember the story in Numbers 13 & 14 of the spies who "checked out" the promised land for Moses and the Israelites?
      
      
      1. What attitude did the people have towards God after they heard the spies report? (Read Numbers 13:32-14:3. They did not believe in the power of God.)
         
         
         1. Is this the same attitude as Peter's "scoffers?"(Read Numbers 14:11, 21-23. God tells us that if we do not trust Him and His power we "treat [Him] with contempt.")
            
            
         2. Is it a fair conclusion that those who do not believe the Creation account are treating God with contempt?
            
            
            1. God would not let those who did not trust Him, those who treated Him with contempt, enter the promised land. Why should we think that He will allow those who do not trust Him enter heaven at His Second Coming? (One difference is that those who were doubting in Numbers had actually seen the miracles. We did not see the Creation or the Flood.)
               
               
   3. Let's look at the word of someone who did see both the Creation and the Flood. Read Matthew 19:3-6 and Luke 17:26-27. When you listen to Jesus refer to these events, does He make them sound like metaphors? (Jesus treats them as literal accounts. Notice that in Luke 17:22-25 Jesus also ties the Flood to His Second Coming.)
      
      
   4. Friend, the Bible is internally consistent on the Creation account. If you accept the Bible as God's word, then you should accept how He tells us that He created the world and us. Next week we will continue with the actual account.
      
      
3. Next week: "In the Beginning..."

Introduction: Last week we studied whether the Creation account is reliable. This week we look at the account itself. How did we come to exist? How was our world created? Let's dive in and find out!

1. Time and Light
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:3-5. We speak of "sun-worshipers" and people have (and probably still do) worship the sun. Why do you think they do that? (Because the light of the sun provides power and warmth.)
      
      
   2. When was the sun created? (You say, "I just read it - according to the Creation account it was created on the "first day.")
      
      
      1. Read Genesis 1:16-19. Do you see the sun was not created until the fourth day?)
         
         
   3. How did God create the light without the sun? (Read Revelation 21:23. God Himself is a light source. When we are in the New Jerusalem in the earth made new (see Revelation 21:1-2)we will have no need of the sun.)
      
      
      1. Alright, we have seen that God is light without the need for a sun. The question then is, "Why didn't God just create the sun on the first day since He was going to use it for light ultimately?" (Could God be present without light? It seems natural to me that when God is present, then light is present. Consider another idea, perhaps this is God's way of showing that He, and not the sun, is the true God.)
         
         
   4. Let's return to Genesis 1:3-5. The Hebrew word translated "day" in verse 5 is "yowm." Yowm comes from a root meaning "hot" and it can literally mean twenty-four hours or even longer periods of time.
      
      
      1. What does the context suggest: twenty-four hours or an age? (The "evening and morning" of verse 5 clearly point to our present experience of a twenty-four hour period. Even the root meaning of yowm, referring to heat, reflects our experience that the day is warmer than the night.)
         
         
   5. What if I told you that my business had been making a ton of money over the last year, and I explained it by saying "every dog has his day." To celebrate, I told you "I'll come to see you in two days." When would you think I was coming?
      
      
      1. Am I referring to a literal day when I talk about a dog having "his day?" (No. I would mean a period of time - not necessarily bounded by twenty-four hours.)
         
         
      2. Would you have no idea when I was coming, because I previously mentioned dogs and days? (I said in "two days," which conveys the idea that I am talking about a precise period of time. Genesis 1:5 says "first day," thus, indicating a precise period of time.)
         
         
      3. What argument is there for saying that each "day" was really an age (a period longer than 24 hours)? (Any argument for a longer period of time is related in some way to a belief that God lacks sufficient power to do what He said He did.)
         
         
   6. Read Exodus 20:8-11. What does this tell us about whether the Creation took place in six literal days?
      
      
      1. If God spent longer than a 24-hour period in each creation day, could He have set up a celebration for that? (Sure. For example, we see a longer period of time based on the "seven series" in the celebration of the jubilee year. See Leviticus 25:8-10. God knew how to celebrate longer spans of time. The fact that God marked time by the seven-day week and sanctified the seventh-day Sabbath is powerful evidence that the Creation week was composed of literal 24-hour days.)
         
         
         
         
2. The Expanse
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:6-8. What kind of picture comes to your mind when reading these verses? (I have a picture of sitting in a little boat with water everywhere and a cloudy sky. God has just popped the sky up so that I can see things.)
      
      
      1. What does it mean that there was water below and above the expanse? (Water below and a watery atmosphere above.)
         
         
3. The Earth
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:9-10. Were there oceans before the flood?
      
      
      1. How can the water be gathered (v.9) "to one place" and at the same time have (v.10) "seas?" (The "one place" is probably compared to "everywhere." The water was now not constantly shifting over the surface of the earth. Even today the oceans are in "one place" in the sense that they are all connected.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 1:11-13. Notice these verses specifically mention that the plants and trees bear seeds. Why do you think the text mentions seeds? (God created a master plan for reproduction and continued life. God did not, as evolution postulates, leave reproduction to chance.)
      
      
4. Sun, Moon and Stars
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:14-19. What are the "two lights" of verse 16? (The sun (as we discussed before) and the moon.)
      
      
   2. Light has a finite speed. How could God create the galaxy and have it provide light to the earth in one day? Wouldn't it take more time than that for the light to get here? (Remember that God created the light on the first day? The light from these celestial bodies could have merely joined the light stream coming from the glory of God.)
      
      
   3. Other than light, what other purpose do the sun, moon and stars serve? (Mark time.)
      
      
      1. We see a reference to "day" (yowm) again. What clues do we have about the kind of time period referred to here? (This is unambiguous about a 24 hour period. The day/night rotational cycle of the sun and earth "govern" and are called "days.")
         
         
      2. How could you have "evening and morning" before the sun and moon were created? (If God can create the sun and the moon, He has no problem creating a temporary substitute.)
         
         
5. Animals
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:20-23. What significance do you find in the use of the word "every" in these verses? For example, (v.21) "every living and moving thing" "every winged bird." (Once again, God states that He made all the varieties.)
      
      
      1. Notice that we are told that each was created "according to their kinds." What does this suggest about God? (He organized the animals. Many animals have similar bone structures. Darwinians point to this as "proof" of a common ancestor. I see it as proof of a common design showing an organized, intelligent Designer. God made the argument against evolution long before anyone thought of it.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 1:24-25. We have three classes of land animals mentioned. What are they? (Wild animals, livestock and "creatures that move along the ground.")
      
      
      1. Are you surprised that livestock were always livestock?
         
         
      2. Why do you think God made some animals to be livestock?
         
         
         1. If there was no death, no meat-eating, why have livestock animals? (Domestic animals have more than one purpose.)
            
            
      3. What does verse 24 mean when it says, "Let the land produce" living creatures? How did the land produce anything? Could this be a reference to evolution? (This is probably a reference to God making animals out of dirt. See Genesis 2:19. Note also the parallel between Genesis 1:20 ("Let the water teem with living creatures") and Genesis 1:24. ("Let the land produce living creatures"). This may just be a way of saying that these creatures live in these respective environments.)
         
         
6. Humans
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 1:26-28. Why was man created last?
      
      
      1. What does it mean to be created in God's image?
         
         
         1. Notice the plural - "made in our image." Are we made in the image of the entire Godhead?
            
            
      2. I read about "species discrimination" these days. Species discrimination occurs when we test medicine or makeup on animals instead of humans. It occurs when we eat animals and wear them for gloves, shoes and coats. What would you think is God's view of "species discrimination?" (Verse 28 creates a clear hierarchy. Man is to "subdue" and "rule" over the animals. Animals are not the functional equivalent of humans.)
         
         
         1. What does this teach about cruelty to animals? (Since we are made in the "image" of God, love, not cruelty to animals is expected.)
            
            
   2. Read Genesis 1:29-31. What diet did God originally intend for man? (Vegetables and fruits.)
      
      
      1. What was the original diet for the animals? (The same.)
         
         
   3. Friend, you are made in the image of God! Does your life reflect that fact?
      
      
7. Next week: The Early Earth.

Introduction: When we studied Genesis chapter 1, the Creation account seemed very clear and straightforward. Genesis 2 raises the issue of whether there is more than one story here. Is God less than clear? What lessons for life can we learn from the Creation account? Let's dive in and find out!

1. Creation Memorial
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 2:1-3. Why does the Bible say that God rested on the seventh day and made it holy? Was it fatigue? (The rest is keyed to His creation! The Sabbath is God's memorial to His creation of the "heavens and the earth" -- including the creation of us!)
      
      
      1. Normally, memorials are "things" that we look at to remind us of something in the past. Do you know of any "time" memorials like the Sabbath? (Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays.)
         
         
      2. How important is it that others remember your birthday on the exact day that you were born?
         
         
      3. Assume that you married for the second time. Your spouse has a hard time remembering things - but he remembers perfectly the birthday of his first spouse. Since it is a real pain to try to remember your actual birthday, would it be okay with you to celebrate your birthday on the birthday of his first spouse?
         
         
         1. To make life easier for your spouse, what if she just started calling you by the name of the first spouse?
            
            
         2. Are birthdays and names a fair comparison to the Creation Sabbath?
            
            
         3. Do you think it makes a difference if God's position as Creator is heavily under attack?
            
            
      4. What do you think should be the practical consequence to us of God making the seventh day holy and blessed?
         
         
2. Two Creation Accounts?
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 2:4-6. How can verse 5 say that no shrub or plant had appeared when this is after the Creation week?
      
      
      1. Is this a conflicting account of the Creation?
      2. Does this indicate that creation continued after the first week?
         
         
   2. It gets worse. Read Genesis 2:7-8. Is this a different version of the creation of man? A conflicting account?
      
      
   3. Now move down in this chapter and read Genesis 2:18, 21-23. Is this a third version of the creation of man (woman)?
      
      
   4. Do we have two creation stories for the plants and three creation stories for humans? How do you explain two accounts about creating the plants and three accounts about creating man?
      
      
3. Details, details!
   
   
   1. When you tell a story, do you tell all the details at once?
      
      
      1. What do you do with the added details? When do you give them?
         
         
      2. Have you ever had someone tell you the general outlines of a story and then later fill in some of the details?
         
         
      3. Is that what God is doing here in describing His creation?
         
         
         1. What problems do you see, if any, with the idea that the Genesis 2:4-8 account of the creation of plants and humans merely provides more details about the Genesis 1:11-12, 26-27 account?
            
            
         2. Is there anything in Genesis 2:4-8 that contradicts the account in Genesis chapter 1? (No.)
            
            
         3. What additional details do you find in Genesis 2:5-6 about the plants? (Genesis 1:11-12 simply indicates the creation of plants and trees. Genesis 2:5-6 tells us how God prepared the ground by setting up a watering system for the plants.)
            
            
         4. Assume someone told you that they just planted a tree in their front yard last weekend. A few minutes later they tell you how they dug the hole, how they amended the soil and put in a drip irrigation system for the tree. Would you assume they planted two different trees?
            
            
   2. Does the Genesis 2:7 account of the creation of man contain more detail than the Genesis 1:27 account?
      
      
   3. Last week we discussed whether we evolved from slugs. Do you like the Genesis 2:7 account better?
      
      
      1. Tell me what you like and do not like about the account of your creation? (I like the fact that I was "hand made" by God. I like the fact that it is His breath that is in me. I would have preferred to have been made out of gold or at least a nice hardwood.)
         
         
      2. Do you think there is a reason man was formed out of dirt as opposed to gold? (Yes. I think God is making the point that we are nothing without Him.)
         
         
   4. Does the Genesis 2:21-23 account contain more detail than the Genesis 2:7 account?
      
      
   5. If you don't like my "detail" explanation, consider another explanation. The Chumash (Stone Ed.), a Jewish commentary, has a very simple and quaint approach to the origin of plants and Genesis 2:5-6. It says that when God created the plants in Genesis 1 they were waiting under the surface of the earth. They were waiting for man. When Adam came and prayed for food, and was ready to work the ground, God sent water and the plants sprung up.)
      
      
4. Woman!
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 2:18. What was wrong with man being "alone?" (God does not explain this, except to say that two can help each other. See Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 2:19-20. Are we to understand that Adam looked for a "helper" among the animals? Do you remember your parents discussing their boyfriends or girlfriends and then teasing you about what it would be like if someone else had been your father or mother? Consider the stories Adam could have told to his children!
      
      
   3. Re-read Genesis 2:21-24. I believe God provides details in the Bible when He has an important reason to do so. What reason can you find for God adding the great detail of the creation of Eve? (Verse 24 gives us one reason - the very method of creation speaks to us about the nature of marriage.)
      
      
      1. Last week someone told me after the class about another detail to be gained: "Man, when he loses the breath of life, becomes dirt. Woman, when she loses the breath of life becomes man." Is the joker's gender in doubt?
         
         
   4. Let's look at this more seriously. What do you like about the way Eve was made? (Not made of dirt like Adam.)
      
      
      1. What do you think about Eve being made from a rib as opposed to a toe, hand or brain? (Suggests an equality.)
         
         
      2. Does the derivative nature of woman (that she was made from man) negate the equality idea? (Adam's comment (v.23) is interesting. He argues for identity, not just equality.)
         
         
   5. What part of God's Creation account is not under attack by Satan today? (The Sabbath, the Creation account, God's marriage instruction are all under attack.)
      
      
5. The Trees
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 2:9. What are God's reasons for making trees?
      
      
   2. Let's assume that you were the architect for the Garden of Eden. Would you place the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil close to each other?
      
      
      1. Isn't this a bit like driving your well for drinking water next to your septic tank?
         
         
      2. Why do you think God placed them as He did; life and death next to each other?
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 2:15-17. Did God explain why Adam should not eat of the tree of knowledge? (No. God just stated the penalty for eating it.)
      
      
      1. Why not explain? (I think this is related to the issue of God making us from dirt. We need to accept that we are mere humans and He is God. When He tells us to do something, He does not have to explain it to us to get our intellectual approval.)
         
         
   4. Did you notice Eve missed the meeting about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? (Genesis 2:16-17) If this is a third version of creation, instead of blaming the serpent for her sin in eating the fruit, Genesis 3:13, Eve should simply have said, "I missed that meeting!" (Since she did not raise that excuse, it is clear she knew.)
      
      
   5. Friend, God started out with a simple explanation for how He created everything. He set out a simple way to honor His work, and He set out a simple test of allegiance. Although we may want to blur right and wrong by trying to make them more complicated, God's approach to us is pretty simple. Will you obey God, or will you cloud the issues?
      
      
6. Next week: Paradise Lost.

Introduction: There is an old saying: "You get one shot at the king; either you kill him or he kills you." Imagine the thinking of Satan: if you were given one opportunity to test the loyalty of Adam and Eve, wouldn't you bring your best argument, your best temptation? Everything was riding on that "one shot." Let's jump into our lesson and consider Satan's decision on how to test the loyalty of God's newly minted humans!

1. The Shot
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 3:1. So far, I've been arguing that the Biblical account of the Creation is literal. Is this text also literal? Is a snake really speaking to Eve?
      
      
      1. Why does the Bible tell us that the snake was the smartest animal around? (It suggests that if any animal could speak, this one could.)
         
         
      2. Is this just a very smart snake? (A New Testament story gives us a strong clue. Mark 5 contains the story of the demons "Legion" who possessed first a man and later a herd of pigs. The demons spoke through the man, according to the Biblical account, and they could have spoken through the pigs. I think that is what is happening here. Satan takes control of a snake. Because snakes are so smart, Eve is not shocked to hear a snake talk.)
         
         
      3. Why does Satan ask about eating from trees? (Remember, this is the "test," the "one shot." You don't want anyone arguing later that Eve "missed the meeting" about eating from the trees. Satan did not want a dispute about whether she understood God's command.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 3:2-3. Think back to last week. Does Eve answer correctly? (She is both wrong and ambiguous. Review Genesis 2:16-17. God did not say anything about "touching" the fruit. According to the Bible He merely said "Don't eat." Plus, there were two trees in the middle of the garden: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. (Genesis 2:9))
      
      
      1. Was refraining from touching the fruit a good idea? (If you are going to avoid eating it, it helps if you avoid touching it.)
         
         
      2. Was Eve doing the right thing in saying that if she touched the fruit she would die? (Read Deuteronomy 4:1-2. I think it is a serious mistake to confuse what is a "good idea" with what God actually said. When you teach your children about sin, do not confuse in their minds what is actually sin and what are good ideas to avoid sin. Otherwise, when they violate your "good idea" and find no harm, they will think that the same is true with sin.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 3:4-5. This is Satan's "shot" to obtain the loyalty of humans. Analyze Satan's approach. What does he do? (First, he flatly contradicts God. Second, Satan suggests that God has lied to Eve so that she will remain inferior. She can be like God.)
      
      
      1. How would you characterize Satan's temptation to Eve? Is it appetite? Is it trust? Is it greed? Is it vanity? Is it pride?
         
         
      2. Compare Genesis 3:22 with Genesis 3:5. Was Satan telling the truth? (In part.)
         
         
      3. Did God hide the fact that He did not want humans to know about evil? (Review Genesis 2:17. God gives the tree the label "knowledge of good and evil." He does not explain why they should not eat it. He just tells them the penalty.)
         
         
         1. What lesson is there in this for you today? (We laugh at parents who answer the "Why?" of their children with "Because I told you so!" I determined that I would always give my children a reason for my rules. Perhaps that was the wrong approach. On some things we need to learn that God does not need to explain His rules to humans other than to say, "I'm God and you are not.")
            
            
         2. Is the mere retelling of the fall of humans an explanation of God's rules?
            
            
2. The Fall
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 3:6. Why did Eve eat the fruit when she knew what God said? (The text says that the fruit was desirable to look at. It looked like good food. It would give her wisdom.)
      
      
      1. Why would the appearance of the fruit be a major factor in Eve's decision? (What she saw contradicted what she expected from a tree that God said would cause death. Surely a "death tree" would have ugly, or at least suspicious-looking fruit.)
         
         
      2. Was Eve's sin a gradual one? (I think a major problem was that Eve misstated the law of God (Genesis 3:3). She touched the fruit before she ate it. Because she did not die when she touched the fruit, she was led to believe that God was not trustworthy and she would gain wisdom by eating it.)
         
         
      3. How many times have you thought that God was untrustworthy when the real problem was your failure to read and understand God's word?
         
         
   2. Why did Adam eat the fruit in violation of God's command? (Read 1 Timothy 2:14. Paul tells us that Adam was not deceived.)
      
      
      1. Paul seems to conclude that Adam is entitled to some credit because he was not deceived and Eve was deceived. How do you look at this? (All sin is sin, but I look at deliberate disobedience in a far worse light. Consider how you compare the two when your children disobey you.)
         
         
   3. If you were giving advice to Eve, what would it be? (She should have been on full alert when the serpent contradicted God (Genesis 3:4). She should have been more familiar with God's word. She should have trusted God and not her own intellect. She should have been satisfied with the knowledge God had given her.)
      
      
   4. What advice would you give Adam? (With Eve, it seems there is room to get this right "next time." With Adam, he just seemed to flatly disobey God.)
      
      
3. The Promise
   
   
   1. Let's read the ultimate results of this story. Read Genesis 3:14-15. Is God speaking literally, or figuratively?
      
      
      1. If you say "literally," what "offspring" does Satan have?
         
         
      2. Does this just mean that we won't like snakes, that they will bite us down low and we will stomp on their heads when we see them?
         
         
      3. If you say "figuratively," explain to me:
         
         
         1. What is meant by striking the "heel" versus "crushing the head?"
            
            
         2. What is meant by enmity with the serpent and his offspring?
            
            
         3. We say, "love the sinner and hate the sin." If you said that "offspring" figuratively means the followers of Satan, then are we not expected to have enmity against "those people?" (Revelation 12:17 clearly states that we are at war with Satan. Logically, that includes his followers.)
            
            
            1. How do you reconcile Luke 6:35 ("love your enemies" or Romans 5:8 ("while we were still sinners, Christ died for us") with the idea of enmity against the offspring? (Love towards our enemies is a weapon of war against them (Romans 12:20).)
               
               
      4. What does the "crushing the head" tell us about the outcome of the war with Satan? (We will win. He will lose.)
         
         
4. Results of the Fall
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 4:1-2. What is Eve's attitude towards her sons?
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 4:3-7. What is Cain's problem? (He was not "doing right" when it came to his choice of offerings.)
      
      
      1. Look deeper. Why is this such a serious matter? (The sacrifice of a lamb looked forward to Jesus' death on our behalf. Bringing to God what is logical - given your line of work - is the "works" approach to salvation. Like his mother, Cain decided that he could make his own judgment on how to obey God.)

1. Read Genesis 4:8. What motive does Cain have to kill Abel?
   
   
   1. What does this tell us about Satan? What is his attitude towards humans? His attitude towards you?
      
      
   2. Imagine the thoughts of Eve and Adam about this murder. Would they blame themselves?
      
      
2. Friend, consider the nature of sin. We go from simple deception, distrust and a desire to be like God, to pre-meditated murder in a single generation. Consider what Satan has in mind for you! Whose side will you choose?
   
   
1. Next week: Destruction and Renewal.

Introduction: Have you ever regretted something you have done? That seems to be a normal part of the human condition. Does God ever regret anything that He has done? Is it possible that God regrets creating us? Let's dive into our lesson and find out!

1. The Condition of Humans
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 6:1-4. Is this a bad thing? (We have the comment that God is so unhappy that He pronounces judgment - or at least a 120 year probation - on humans.)
      
      
      1. What, exactly, do you think it means for the "sons of God" to forcibly marry the "daughters of men?" Are these the descendants of Seth (Adam and Eve's next son - Genesis 5:3) marrying the daughters of Cain?)
         
         
      2. Read Job 1:6. The Hebrew phrase translated "the angels" (ben elohiym) is the identical Hebrew phrase translated "sons of God" in Genesis 6:2 and Genesis 6:4. This suggests that evil angels had sexual relationship with human women and began a super race of giants. Is there any reason to doubt this conclusion? (Read Matthew 22:30. Jesus tells us that angels do not marry. In addition, God pronounces a judgment on humans, not angels. Evil angels probably already had judgment entered against them.)
         
         
         1. Is Jesus saying in Matthew 22:30 that our resurrected body will be neutered? (You knew there had to be a catch somewhere to this promise of eternal life in glory, right? Imagine the distress of those who think that "72 virgins" are waiting for them - only to find out that is what they remain - virgins!)
            
            
            1. Enough of the teasing - what do you think Jesus is saying?
               
               
            2. Is it possible that with the decision of the evil angels to reject God, they also rejected God's asexual plan for them?
               
               
            3. If the sons of God were merely the sons of Adam and Seth, why would they create a super race - as opposed to the children who were the product of the sons and daughters of Adam and Seth marrying? (The commentaries that reject the "evil angels" theory point out that the text may not be talking about size, but rather character. These were "warriors.")
               
               
2. God Repents
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 6:5-7. What is the primary problem with humans? (They became very wicked.)
      
      
      1. What kind of wickedness was the problem? ("Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.")
         
         
         1. How do you explain that when God describes very great wickedness, He does not point to any specific acts - like killing - He points to the thoughts?
            
            
         2. How are your thoughts in the eyes of God?
            
            
      2. Has God made a mistake in the Creation?
         
         
      3. Was God inclined to "reverse" or "take back" His creation?
         
         
   2. We have discussed in the past God's reason for allowing free choice, allowing sin and the continuing conflict between good and evil. Is Satan winning at this point? Is God's plan to kill those who have rejected Him unfair? Is it contrary to the rules of the "engagement?"
      
      
   3. What is your reaction to these last verses we read? Do they make you worried about the fairness of your God? Does He change the rules when Satan starts winning? Or, are these verses cause for hope? (This reveals that we are not the only ones looking for Jesus' Second Coming and the earth made new. Sin pains God and He wants to bring it to an end. God told Adam and Eve at the very beginning that sin resulted in death. That was the rule of engagement. They were warned and we are warned(Genesis 2:15-17). God is not being unfair, He is simply showing us that the judgment side of His character will not tolerate evil forever.)
      
      
3. Noah
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 6:8-10. What about Noah did God like? (He walked with God.)
      
      
      1. What do you think it means to "walk" with God? (The direction of Noah's life was right. He had progressive character development.)
         
         
      2. We always say, "Don't compare yourself to others, compare yourself to Jesus." Why does this verse compare Noah to "the people of his time?" (It appears that the general wickedness around him made him the more remarkable.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 6:13-17. Pagans call this a fable. Many Christians consider this story an allegory about sin. Do these verses make the account sound more like an allegory or more like a historical account? (This is clearly a real problem with a physical solution. God specifies how Noah is to be saved and gives detailed directions down to the type of wood to use and the specific dimensions!)
      
      
      1. What does verse 13 state is going to happen to the earth?
         
         
      2. Since the earth is still here, what do you think God meant? (We cannot comprehend how great a place God originally created for us. Remember, when sin entered, God cursed the ground (Genesis 3:17), thus indicating that the earth was going to become a lot less hospitable. Now, God says He is going to "destroy" the earth. This reveals that the earth is now going to get much less pleasant. It is fair to believe that substantial damage was done to the earth by the flood.)
         
         
      3. What do you think is God's purpose in destroying the earth? What does this have to do with our sin? (Too much leisure time encourages sin. A very favorable land and climate gives more leisure time.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 6:18. What hope does God give in the time of judgment? (God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him.)
      
      
      1. This chapter makes no comment upon the character of Noah's wife, his sons or his daughters-in-law? Why were they saved from the flood? (It appears their relationship to Noah saved them.)
         
         
      2. Is this a fluke, or can you think of any other examples where a family was spared disaster because of a righteous father? (Lot - 2 Peter 2:5-8.)
         
         
      3. Does this provide another motive to be righteous - that your righteous life can help protect your family?
         
         
   4. Read Matthew 24:36-40. What lesson does Jesus say we can learn from the Flood?
      
      
      1. Notice that Matthew 24:39 says that the wicked knew nothing about what would happen. What does Jesus mean?
         
         
      2. How do you reconcile this with Hebrews 11:7 which says that Noah "condemned the world" and with 2 Peter 2:5 which calls Noah a "preacher of righteousness?" (Nelson's Bible Dictionary tells us (see Genesis 6:3)that Noah preached for 120 years, warning about the Flood, without any converts. Jesus is telling us that we can close our ears to His messengers and be destroyed or open our ears, obey and live.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 7:1-4. What comfort do you get from these verses? (That God instructed His people step by step. He made preparation for their survival.)
      
      
4. Details of the Disaster
   
   
   1. One of the best arguments against the Flood account being meant as a fable or metaphor is the detail of the disaster found in the story. Let's look at a few of these.
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 7:11-12. Is this the kind of rain we see all the time?
      
      
      1. What do you see that strikes you as unusual about this deluge? (It looks like it came from above and below. Notice "the springs of the deep burst forth.")
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 2:6. Does this, together with Genesis 7:11 suggest that God created a watering system for the earth that was different than what we have now? (Genesis 2:5 talks about God sending rain in connection with the appearance of shrubs and man, thus suggesting that rain was a method of watering before the flood. However, the statement in verse 6 that streams came up from below the surface of the earth and "watered the whole surface of the earth" certainly indicates a fundamentally different way of providing water to the earth.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 7:17-20. Is this the story of a local flood? What detail in these verses sounds like an actual account and not a metaphor? (It tells us the water was more than 20 feet over the top of the highest mountain.)
      
      
      1. What is the significance of 20 feet? (Twenty feet would do the trick if you were out to destroy everything. Read Genesis 7:22.)
         
         
   5. Did Jesus believe in a literal flood? (Yes. We previously read Matthew 24:36-40.)
      
      
5. Grace and Gratitude
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 8:15-21. What do you see as an important part of Noah's walk with God? (That he is grateful!)
      
      
   2. Friend, God loves those who walk with Him. He is pained by evil thoughts and evil actions and is determined to destroy them. If we purpose to walk with Him, He will reveal His judgment to us and He will save us.
      
      
6. Next week: The Earth After the Flood.

Introduction: The Flood is over, God has saved His faithful. How do they react? Is the earth now one glorious "near heaven" experience? Is all at peace and harmony? Is God lifted up? Or, have humans learned nothing? Let's dive into the Bible and find out!

1. Meat and Drink
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 9:1-3. What post-Flood instructions does God give to humans? (1. Reproduce; 2. Fill the earth; 3. Master the animal kingdom; and, 4. Eat animals.)
      
      
      1. Is it difficult to obey these instructions?
         
         
   2. Let's skip ahead a couple of chapters. Read Genesis 11:1-4. How does that compare with God's commands? (God told them to fill the earth. They decide to do just the opposite - to build a city and tower and stay in one place ("not be scattered over the face of the whole earth").
      
      
      1. What is the motivation for disobeying God? (Pride! "That we may make a name for ourselves.")
         
         
      2. Do you allow your pride to get in the way of your obedience?
         
         
   3. Look again at Genesis 9:2-3. Do humans have reason to be self-confident? (Yes. God has put them at the top of the chain of creation. But, they want more!)
      
      
      1. Would it be a violation of God's order for humans to want less? For example, not to take charge of the animals? (We have this philosophy today in the "species discrimination" crowd. They say we should not eat or wear animals because they are on the same "level" of importance as humans. According to them, the fight against abortion is hypocrisy because of the way we treat animals. This philosophy is directly at odds with the order set up by our Creator and it denigrates the status of humans.)
         
         
   4. Read Genesis 9:4-6. We just discussed "species discrimination." Why, according to God, is this an false philosophy? (Humans were made in the image of God!)
      
      
      1. What does this say about the theory of evolution? (If you start out on the wrong track, you are going to end up in the wrong place. Believing in the Creation is fundamental to the philosophy of life given to us by God. God says "Humans are made in My image," and all sorts of logical conclusions flow from that. One of those is that you can kill animals to eat without any problem - but neither humans or animals can kill humans.)
         
         
      2. What is God's penalty for killing a human? (Death.)
         
         
         1. Why didn't God apply that penalty to Cain?
            
            
      3. Considering our discussion, why do you think God was particularly interested in the "lifeblood," so much that He told us not to ingest it? (I've mentioned before that my study of the Bible causes me to believe that there are certain "things" that have special significance to God. Without explaining it, light, wine (grape products)and blood are three examples. With blood, what seems to make it special is its connection to life - which we see later in the sanctuary service which foretells Jesus' blood being shed on our behalf to give us life.)
         
         
   5. Are all of God's gifts good? For example, I've been a vegetarian for more than 40 years, not because I have any particular regard for animals, but because I have particular regard for myself. I note that after God gave humans animals for food, their life span started radically diminishing. Would it be consistent with God's character to give us a gift that might be good for His overall plan, but not so good in the specific application?
      
      
2. The Promise
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 9:7-17. God sets out a covenant, a "contract" or promise to humans. What is the obligation of each under this contract?

1. What are humans to do? (Increase life - reproduce and fill the earth.)
   
   
2. What will God do? (He, in turn, promises not to destroy the life they are creating by another flood.)
   
   
3. What is the "sign" of this contract? (The rainbow.)
   
   
4. At least in the United States, the sign and colors of the rainbow have been co-opted by the homosexual movement as its symbol. What is particularly ironic about that? (Homosexuals do not reproduce. Perhaps it isn't the "create life" part of the contract in which they are most interested.)
   
   
1. God speaks as if He would have trouble remembering His promise. How do you explain this? What insight into God's character do we get from the rainbow? (We see over and over in the Bible that God uses physical things to remind us of the spiritual. God doesn't want idols in our life, but He does seem to promote memorials.)
   
   
1. Man of the Soil
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 9:18-21. Can you think of some reasons why Noah might drink excessively? (Some might call out "three sons!" Remember our discussion about God's promise to destroy the earth?(Genesis 6:13) All of humanity is gone. The earth is likely an ugly place compared to its pre-flood days. It is reasonable that Noah might become depressed.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 9:22-24. How would you lay the blame here? Why is it that Canaan gets cursed? (Being drunk is not in accord with God's will for His leaders(Titus 1:7). Apparently, that is a lesser problem then failing to show respect for your parents (Exodus 20:12). I can only imagine that Canaan saw his grandfather Noah laying naked in the tent and he told his father Ham about it. Ham then said to his brothers, "Hey, Dad's naked! Want to see?" To which his brothers replied, "No!" They then took steps to preserve dad's dignity.)
      
      
      1. What is the lesson today for children? (Respect is due your parents even when they may fail in doing God's will. Of course, Noah was in general a father who was worthy of great respect - indeed, he had saved his sons' lives from the flood.)

1. Rebellion
   
   
   1. We briefly touched on the tower being built on the plain of Shinar. Read Genesis 11:3-4. What allows them to build a high tower? (Technological advances in construction materials.)
      
      
      1. What is the goal? (To have the tower reach into heaven.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 11:5. Did the tower reach heaven? (I think the writer of Genesis is making a point by saying "God came down" to see the tower. They did not bring their tower to God's level. He couldn't even see it without "coming down.")
      
      
   3. How does rebellion begin so fast after the flood? What is at the bottom of this problem? (Pride of intelligence and achievement. A desire for a reputation. Resisting God's directions. It seems related to the reasons why Eve chose to sin.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 11:6-7. Is God unhappy with the progress of humans? Is God more comfortable with stupid people? (God is uncomfortable with people using their intelligence to oppose Him.)
      
      
   5. Read Genesis 11:8-9. Is this fair for God to do? (A Christian lawyer with whom I have worked in the past on religious liberty litigation told me that before he went to court he prayed that his litigation opponents would be confused. This caught my attention because I had always prayed in the past for "our side," but I never prayed for something "bad" for our opponents.)
      
      
      1. What do you think - is it God's will to confuse the enemies of His program? (Apparently so. After I thought it through, and decided that this was a proper prayer, I recall in a different case making that prayer and finding that the opposition was, indeed, confused in the litigation.)
         
         
      2. What is the result of God's confusion of the languages? (The people did exactly what God wanted - they spread out on the earth.)
         
         
   6. Friend, what is your attitude towards God? Do you find that you are often rebelling against what He has written in the Bible? Is pride a problem? Does you life seem confused? Things not going well? How about deciding right now that you will determine to follow God?

1. Next week: The Man Abram.

Introduction: Has God called you to serve Him? Have you let God down? If you have felt the call, but found that you have failed God by being unworthy, this study is for you! Abram shows us what it means to fail God and what God will do for those who learn from their past mistakes. Let's jump into our study!

1. The Call
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 11:31-32. Who does it appear initiated this trip? (Terah)
      
      
      1. What was the destination? (Canaan).
         
         
         1. Did they make it? (No. They settled in Haran.)
            
            
         2. If you can, look at a map and tell me how Haran is on the road from Ur to Canaan?
            
            
   2. Read Acts 7:2-4. What points in our story does Acts clarify? (The call was to Abram, not the father Terah. The implication is that Terah might have been an obstacle to obedience because they settled in Haran and did not complete their journey until after he had died.)
      
      
   3. Have you experienced God's call to change something in your life and you did it by degrees and not all at once?
      
      
   4. Look again at Acts 7:3. How difficult a call would this be for you? (God calls Abram to leave his country and his people to go to somewhere Abram has never seen.)
      
      
   5. Read Genesis 12:1-3. What does God promise Abram?
      
      
      1. Read Genesis 11:29-30. What problem would Abram have in believing God's promise? (God promised to make him a "great nation," but his wife could not (or did not) have children.)
         
         
      2. Read Genesis 11:4. What other problem would Abram have in believing God? (The philosophy of the day was that sticking together, building a city and tower, were the way to make a name for yourself.)
         
         
      3. I've been hammering away about the problem of pride in Eve's sin and the tower of Babel. Is God encouraging pride in Abram? (God promises him honor and greatness if he will obey. The problem with Eve and the tower builders is that they wanted to grasp greater honor by going contrary to the commands of God.)
         
         
2. Wavering
   
   
   1. Genesis chapter 12 continues by telling us that Abram moves to Canaan. Let's continue on with our story by reading Genesis 12:10-13. What has happened to Abram's faith? (If God was telling him the truth about becoming a great nation, he certainly could not be killed by the Egyptians.)
      
      
      1. What impact might the famine had on Abram's faith in God?
         
         
      2. What does this suggest about the way that Sarai dressed? (Given variations on the way women in that part of the world dress, it makes me wonder how Sarai dressed. This tells us that Sarai must have dressed in a way that at least showed her face.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 12:14-16. Is Abram's lie turning out well for him? Was his prediction correct? (Abram's prediction is correct. He is "making money" from his lie.)
      
      
      1. Guess where Abram acquired Hagar (a subject we will deal with later) who was an "Egyptian maidservant?"
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 12:17-20. Why did God do what He did? Why not just let Abram continue on his path and find someone else to be a great nation? (This shows several sides of God. First, he disciplines (lightly, I might add) Abram for his lie. Innocent Pharaoh seems to suffer the most. Second, God is more faithful than Abram. (For which we can all be thankful.) Third, God intervenes to be sure His will is followed.)
      
      
      1. Abram has gotten "off track." How does he get back on the track? Is it based on repentance and voluntarily turning back to God's way? (He gets tossed out of the country under a cloud of scandal.)
         
         
3. Conflict Resolution
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 13:1-7. Abram has a good problem in many ways. Abram left this area years before because of a famine. He returns wealthy. Lot has also been blessed. The two of them have more grazing animals than the land can support, and that creates a serious problem. Assume they come to you, as a judge, to decide how this should be resolved. How would you resolve it? (I would say that Abram had been the benefactor of Lot. Abram was also senior. He was no doubt more wealthy. Lot should be the one to leave the area and find his own grazing land. Plus, Abram had been given this place by God! Genesis 12:7.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 13:8-9. Does Abram follow my "wisdom" in resolving the problem? (No. He lets Lot decide.)
      
      
      1. What does this show about Abram's character? (Unselfish. Doesn't claim rights which are his.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 13:10-12. On what basis does Lot make his choice?
      
      
      1. Is this the choice you would make? Or, would you "divide" the plain of Jordan so your Uncle Abram could have a part of the best land?
         
         
      2. What other advantage does the plain of Jordan have for Lot? (It has cities. That would mean that entertainment and trade were near at hand.)
         
         
   4. Read Genesis 13:13. What does Lot not take into account when he moves to Sodom?
      
      
      1. Is this an issue for us today?
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 13:14-17. I thought we just had a property division and Abram "lost." What is this? (God negates the decision of Lot. He tells Abram that he has not given up any land. It will all be his.)
      
      
      1. Is there a connection between Abram's decision with regard to Lot and God's announcement to Abram? (I think so. As we show unselfishness, God is generous to us.)
         
         
      2. What life lesson is there for us in this part of the story? (Humans can decide whatever they want. It is God who orders the course of humans. Abram depended on God.)
         
         
4. The Rescue
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 14:8-12. What other result comes to Lot from living among the cities? (He gets caught up in local politics which end up in war. Lot's decision causes him to lose everything he has acquired - including losing his own freedom.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 14:13-14. What do you think it means to have "318 trained men born in his household?" (Abram had a "standing army." When it says, "trained," I understand this to mean trained to fight.)
      
      
      1. We just got through looking at a story where Abram's complete dependence on God gets him all of the land - notwithstanding the decision of Lot. Would you say that Abram having a trained army shows a lack of faith in God?
         
         
      2. When I was growing up, I knew of a pastor who did not have any insurance on his house because he trusted God to protect his home and furnishings. What does Abram's example suggest about the wisdom of going without insurance?
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 14:15-16. What new skills do we see in Abram? (He understands the art of war.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 14:18-20. What entitled Abram to give a tenth of what he had captured? Did all of the booty belong to Abram?
      
      
      1. What message does giving a tenth of the booty to Melchizedek send? (I've been talking about the human wisdom of a standing army and Abram's military skill. This act shows that Abram credits God with the victory.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 14:21-24. Is the King of Sodom being generous? (I don't think he is in a position to bargain. This is pure bluster.)
      
      
      1. Even though Abram could keep the plunder, why does he refuse it? Why care about what the King of Sodom will say? (We see "growth" in Abram. God has blessed him. He does not want the King of Sodom taking credit for what God has done for him.)

1. Friend, what lesson do you learn from our study of Abram? God was faithful to Abram, even when he was not faithful to God. However, God's patience with Abram resulted in a generous attitude and a trust in God. God blessed him for that.
   
   
1. Next week: Faith and Frailty.

Introduction: Have you ever unexpectedly found yourself in a "tough spot" and wondered how you got there? Our study this week reveals how making a series of small, but poor, decisions can create serious problems in our life. Let's jump into our study and learn more!

1. Hagar
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 16:1-2. Set to one side your thoughts about "marriage = one man and one woman," has Sarai made a reasonable proposal?
      
      
      1. Is Sarai acting against God, or is she co-operating with God? (Sarai says God has prevented her from having children, so she is stepping aside to allow the will of God to be done. I can perfectly understand her thinking.)
         
         
   2. Let's go back and pick up some verses from Genesis 15. Abram has a servant in his household named Eliezer who he has been named the primary beneficiary in Abram's will. Read Genesis 15:3-6. What did Abram believe?
      
      
      1. Is the faith of Abram contrary to the plan of action suggested by Sarai? (I can clearly see myself saying, "God closed one door and has opened another. Praise to God. After all, the promise was to Abram, and not Sarai.)
         
         
   3. Let's continue with our story. Read Genesis 16:3-4. Would you say the plan has worked? God blessed and it worked!
      
      
      1. What problem arises? (Hagar "began to despise" Sarai.)
         
         
         1. Why would she do this? (Pride.)
            
            
         2. Do you remember that little rule ("marriage = one man and one woman") from Genesis 2:24 that I asked you to set aside? How much of a factor is it here? (Protection against issues of self-worth, pride and jealousy are all wrapped up in this rule.)
            
            
   4. Read Genesis 16:5. What do you say about these charges? (Sarai is running on emotion, not logic. On the other hand, no one likes to be despised.)
      
      
   5. Read Genesis 16:6. What do you think about the character of Abram and Sarai now? (He is weak. She is rich, proud and spoiled.)
      
      
      1. How did they get into this tough situation? (Remember, Abram had been weak when he lied about Sarai being his sister. No doubt this was where they obtained Hagar. He was weak when he agreed to take Hagar as his wife. He is certainly weak now in letting his second wife be abused. Sarai is ruled by her emotions of jealousy and pride. Logic flew out the door a long time ago and now she is abusive.)
         
         
   6. Read Genesis 16:7-10, 15. Explain this to me? We just concluded that none of this - taking Hagar as his second wife, and Abram, Sarai and Hagar's conduct towards each other - was what God had in mind. Why does God continue with His promise to Abram (and now to Hagar)? (God is faithful even when we are not faithful. There may come a time when God throws in the towel on us (i.e. the flood example), but God shows that He is very patient with those who seek Him.)
      
      
   7. Has God overruled all the wrong and made it all right? (Read Genesis 37:28. Joseph, Sarah and Abraham's great-grandson, is taken into slavery by the descendants of Ishmael. Commentators point out that the current middle-east problem stems from conflicts between the heirs of Isaac and Ishmael.)
      
      
2. Isaac
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 17:1-6. We just discussed how faithful God is to us. What do you think Abram's opinion was about the faithfulness of God? (He is now 99 years old, has one son, and God gives him the (slightly embarrassing) name of Abraham which means the "father of many nations.")
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 17:15-18. What kind of faith does Abraham show?
      
      
      1. Wiersbe's Expository Outlines says Abraham's laughter "was that of joyful faith." Is that how you see it?
         
         
      2. How much faith is shown by Abraham in Genesis 17:18? (Wiersbe is not the only commentary that argues that Abraham's laugh was that of faith. Verse 18 makes that unlikely. Abraham is still arguing for the "works" son, not the faith son. See Galatians 4:24-31.)
         
         
   3. Let's skip ahead and read Genesis 18:10-15. How does Sarah react?
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 17:19-21. One commentary says that the root word in Hebrew "to laugh" is the verb from which the name "Isaac" is taken. Does our God have a sense of humor?
      
      
      1. How do you react when people laugh at your words because they do not believe you?
         
         
3. Sodom
   
   
   1. Three travelers are invited by Abraham to stop and be refreshed. Read Genesis 18:16-21. Why did God reveal to Abraham His plan to destroy Sodom? (God shares His plans with His human friend.)
      
      
      1. What does that teach us today? (God reveals His will to his friends.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 18:22-26. Recall that God said He would check to see if things were as bad as He had heard. What is Abraham's opinion of the state of Sodom? (Abraham is of the opinion that when God checks it out, He will vote for destruction.)
      
      
      1. Is Abraham bargaining with God based on God's mercy? (No. In Genesis 18:25 he mentions saving the righteous.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 18:27-33. Explain for me the logic of Abraham's plea. Why does Abraham want the entire city saved? (I cannot understand his logic. It is not necessary, as we will see, to spare the entire city to save those who are righteous.)
      
      
      1. If Abraham's argument is so illogical, should we conclude that he is really arguing to spare the wicked? (I think so. How is your heart towards the unsaved? How is your heart toward homosexuals? What are you doing to save them?)
         
         
   4. Do you think that Abraham thought the city would be spared? (Yes. Just the members of Lot's family and closest friends might number ten.)
      
      
   5. Read Genesis 19:1-2. Where is God, the third member of the group? (God makes a personal visit to His friend, but not to Lot.)
      
      
   6. Read Genesis 19:3. Why did Lot insist on the travelers staying with him rather in the public square?
      
      
   7. Read Genesis 19:4-7. Lot calls the men of the city his "friends." Do you think that they are?
      
      
      1. Notice that Lot has moved from a tent near the city (Genesis 13:12) to a house in the city. Why is that? (He must have been friends with those who lived in Sodom.)
         
         
      2. What kind of men live in Sodom? (They are not just homosexuals, they are rapists. Not just some of them, but Genesis 19:4 says "all the men" of the city.)
         
         
   8. Read Genesis 19:8. Why didn't the men accept Lot's offer? (Such an offer seems so beyond my comprehension (strangers come under the "protection of his roof," but his daughters do not) that I would like to think that Lot knew these homosexuals would not be interested in his daughters.)
      
      
   9. Read Genesis 19:9-11. What do you think would have happened if the two men had not been angels? (The men of Sodom would have broken down the door and raped Lot and his guests. We see that Lot has made a series of small, but poor, decisions.)
      
      
      1. Why blind the men as opposed to killing them?
         
         
   10. Read Genesis 19:12-14. Recall that God said He was going to check out Sodom to see if it was as wicked as He had heard. What is the answer?
       
       
       1. What is the answer to the question about finding ten righteous people in the city?
          
          
       2. Is God keeping His promise to Abraham? (God, as usual, is more than keeping His promise. The deal was that God could destroy the whole place if less than 10 righteous people could be found. Instead, God saves the (fewer than ten) "righteous" people that He finds.)
          
          
   11. Read Genesis 19:15-17. Why does Lot hesitate? (He loves his stuff and this sinful place.)
       
       
       1. Notice that the angels literally pull Lot and his family out of the city. Why? (Again, God is more than kind and generous. He not only goes beyond His promise to Abraham, He literally has his angels pull reluctant Lot and his family out of the doomed city for Abraham's sake. See Genesis 19:29.)
          
          
   12. Read Genesis 19:24-26. Did the inhabitants of Sodom deserve to die? Who destroyed them?
       
       
   13. Friend, we see that God shows great kindness and love to those who have an interest in Him. On the other hand, small steps in the wrong direction can take us away from God's will. When we get too far out His will, destruction awaits us. In which direction are your steps going these days?
       
       
4. Next week: The Triumph of Faith.

Introduction: Years ago, I had a man ask me a question that I clearly remember even now: how can I know what God has in mind for my life? What direction should I take? I'm sure many students of these studies have the same question. How can we trust or even know the leading of God in our life? Our study this week gives us examples of God's leading which may give us some answers. Let's jump into our study!

1. One Gained, One Lost
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 21:1-7. Remember last week we learned that Isaac's name comes from the root of the Hebrew word meaning "to laugh?" What kind of laughing do we see now about this boy? (The laughter of disbelief turns to the laughter of joy!)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 21:8-9. Ishmael is at least 15 years old now. Put yourself in his place, why would Ishmael make fun of Isaac? (Ishmael is the first born son. By tradition, he holds a special position. However, a big party is being given for Isaac, and I am sure Ishmael is feeling more than a little jealous. Making fun of Isaac helps to make Ishmael feel better.)
      
      
   3. Read Genesis 21:9-11. Why is Sarah making such a demand? (Now that she has a son, Hagar and Ishmael are unneeded and a threat to her and her son.)
      
      
      1. According to Sarah, Ishmael is whose son? (The son of a slave woman.)
         
         
         1. Is this true? (Not exactly. Hagar is also Abraham's wife. Genesis 16:3. Sarah also neglects to mention that Ishmael is Abraham's son.)
            
            
      2. Abraham, showing weakness, let Sarah mistreat Hagar before. What do you think is going through his mind now? (Abraham is angry and upset. He loves his son. In addition, what Sarah proposes is contrary to the law.)
         
         
   4. Read Genesis 21:12-13. How does God refer to Ishmael? (God says essentially what Sarah said!)
      
      
      1. How can God ask Abraham not to be upset about losing his first born son? (God says that He will bless Ishmael.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 21:14-16. Abraham is rich. What do you think about Abraham sending his first born son and his second wife away with only food and water strapped to Hagar's back?
      
      
      1. Where is the caravan of animals and soldiers that should accompany them and protect them? (The best spin I can put on this is that Abraham believed that God would protect Ishmael. Otherwise, this seems totally outrageous to me, totally inconsistent with a love for Ishmael and Hagar.)
         
         
   6. Read Genesis 21:17-19. Things turn out badly, as you might expect they would. Hagar thinks her son is going to die, and she begins to cry. Is Hagar praying to God for help? How about the boy - he is old enough to know to pray?
      
      
      1. Any reasons why they might not be praying? (Abraham, as a representative of God in their eyes, has treated them terribly.)
         
         
      2. Who initiates the help to Hagar and her son? (God does, just as He promised.)
         
         
      3. Consider how God "fixes" the problem. What lesson can you learn from this for your life? (The Bible Reader's Companion points out that God opens Hagar's eyes to an existing solution. He does not create a miracle, He just helps her to see the way out based on the resources already available to her.)
         
         
   7. Read Genesis 21:20. Is God trustworthy even when your whole world is coming apart? (Yes.)
      
      
2. Two Lost
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 22:1-2. Put yourself in Abraham's place. What reasons would you have to disobey this command from God?
      
      
      1. Notice how God describes Isaac in these verses. Is this supposed to increase the odds that Abraham will obey? (God emphasizes that this is (now) Abraham's "only son" whom he "loves." Talk about making things worse!)
         
         
      2. Read Leviticus 20:1-2 and Jeremiah 32:35. What is God's view of sacrificing children?
         
         
         1. Why would God instruct Abraham to do just the opposite of His character?
            
            
      3. Read Genesis 21:12. What had God said would be the future of Isaac?
         
         
         1. What would this text trigger in your mind if you were Abraham? (That God had sent off my first-born son when he was a teen. I didn't want that. I didn't expect that. It broke my heart. And, God sending Ishmael away seemed contrary to the promise God made to me in Genesis 17:20. Is God now breaking His promise to me again? Depriving me of my only remaining son when he is very young?)
            
            
      4. Abraham is 120 years old, he is rich and he is honored. His son is about to take charge of his fortune. Everything is going as planned. Could God really mean this now?
         
         
      5. Notice that Genesis 22:1 says that God tested Abraham. Read James 1:13-14. How do you reconcile these two texts? (The commentary on Genesis, Be Obedient, distinguishes between trials and temptations. Trials come from God for special reasons, temptations come from Satan to bring out the worst in us. It says temptations seem reasonable, but trials seem unreasonable.)
         
         
         1. If this commentary is right, what special reason would God have put Abraham through a trial? (Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. Abraham's faith had not been perfect so far.)
            
            
   2. Read Genesis 22:3-5. Do you think Abraham told Sarah before he left?
      
      
      1. What would he say when he returned and had killed her only son?
         
         
      2. Why does Abraham do this right away?
         
         
      3. How would you like a three day journey just to think about sacrificing your only, beloved, son?
         
         
      4. Why does Abraham tell his servants that "we will come back to you?"
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 22:6-8. Do you think that Abraham believes what he told Isaac? Or, is Abraham lying to give comfort to his son? (Read Genesis 18:14. I feel confident that a terrible struggle took place in Abraham's mind. Bottom line, I think Abraham just decided that God would work things out - nothing was too hard for God.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 22:9-10. At some point Abraham has to tell Isaac about God's instructions. What can we believe was Isaac's reaction? (He obviously agreed to this. He could have overpowered dad. He believed that his father knew the voice of God and he shared the faith of his father.)
      
      
      1. Had Abraham committed to do the terrible deed that violated all logic except the logic of obedience to God? (Yes. Unbelievable!)
         
         
      2. Was there any shred of logic to this? Was it pure trust in God? (Read Hebrews 11:17-19. Abraham had worked out the logic of reconciling the promises of God with this current command.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 22:11-12. Abraham passes the most intense test of faith. How can God say "Now I know," when God knows the future? (A fascinating commentary, Patriarchs and Prophets (chapter 13), compares this story to Job. In Job we find that the entire universe is watching the test of Job's faithfulness to God. Patriarchs and Prophets suggests the very same thing is happening here. Where Adam and Eve failed, Abraham proved to be faithful (with a much more terrible test). Thus, the "I know" might be a reference to the watching universe.)
      
      
   6. Read Genesis 22:13-14. Remember when I asked you whether Abraham was telling the truth to Isaac in Genesis 22:8 when he said "the Lord will provide?" Did God provide? (Yes!)
      
      
      1. Would you compare the ram to Jesus? (Just as this ram took the place of Isaac, and spared his life, so Jesus takes the place of our children, our parents and ourselves, and spares us from eternal death.)
         
         
   7. What does Abraham's story teach us about our heavenly Father who had no one to stay His hand when His Son, Jesus, died in our place?
      
      
   8. This story reveals God's love for us. Job is a lesson for us. So is this story. How many of our trials are in large part a blessing to others if we are faithful?
      
      
   9. What does this story teach us about the importance of works in our salvation by faith? What if Abraham had refused to do this? Failed this test? (Compare James 2:20-22 with Romans 4:1-3.)
      
      
   10. Friend, God's leading is sometimes difficult. Abraham lost his first born son, and then was told to kill his second son, the son through which the promise of his future greatness has been given. Will you determine to obey God wherever He leads? Will you be a shining example to others of obedience and blessing?
       
       
3. Next week: The Price of Duplicity.

Introduction: How many times does it seem like God needs a little help to get those things done which you know He needs to do right now? So far in the story of Abraham and his descendants, we have seen what kind of trouble that kind of attitude can create. This week we study two different approaches to "assisting" the will of God. Let's dive into our study and learn more!

1. Twins!
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 25:19-21. God had made a promise to Abraham that his descendants would be a great nation. God led in the selection of Rebekah to be Isaac's wife (Genesis 24). Why should Isaac face the problem of a childless wife?
      
      
      1. How did Isaac face this problem? (He prayed to God to fulfill His promise.)
         
         
         1. Is the "family" making progress in trusting God? (The solution his mother had for the problem was for his father to take another wife. Isaac does not do that, he goes to God and asks for his help.)
            
            
   2. Read Genesis 25:22-23. What tempers the joy of this pregnancy for Rebekah? (It seems that something is wrong.)
      
      
      1. To whom does she turn for help? (God.)
         
         
      2. Notice what God told Rebekah about the future of these two boys. How does this compare with the normal order of things? (It is the opposite, as we will see. Normally, the first-born is the one entrusted with leadership.)
         
         
      3. Why do you think Rebekah had two sons? (If you read Genesis 25:26 you will see that Isaac was married for twenty years before he had a son. He spent twenty years praying. God is making up for a lost time.)
         
         
      4. What does Genesis 25:22-23 suggest about abortion? (God knows the unborn child.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 25:24-28. As people get older, food seems to be more important to them. Do you think it is just food that causes Isaac to prefer Esau? (He has a "rough and ready" son who accepts the challenge of the hunt and is successful. His other son hangs around the house with mom. Isaac's preference is not so difficult to understand. Neither is Rebekah's preference.)
      
      
      1. Should parents prefer one child over the other? (My parents made it a high priority not to show a preference between my brother and me. My father had not been the favored child and my mother thought her father favored his dog over her! When they married they determined they would show no preference.)
         
         
         1. Did Rebekah have an excuse for her preference because of what God had told her about the future of the two boys?
            
            
2. Birthright
   
   
   1. What is the birthright? (Read Genesis 27:28-29. This is the blessing normally given to the son born first. Read also Deuteronomy 21:15-17.)
      
      
      1. How much importance would you attach to such a blessing?
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 25:29-34. Which son shows a greater character defect? (I vote for Jacob as having the greater character defect. He was not kind, he was not generous, and he was overreaching to obtain something that was not his. Esau's defect was not valuing what he had.)
      
      
      1. What do you think the Bible means when it says Esau "despised" his birthright? (Read Hebrews 12:16. Hebrews reveals that I understated the defect in Esau's character. He doesn't care about the birthright because he doesn't care about God.)
         
         
         1. Does the birthright have a spiritual dimension?
            
            
3. More Conniving
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 27:1-4. Why didn't Isaac just give the blessing right there? Why is a meal involved? (When you think about religious ceremonies in the Bible, they often have a connection to eating and drinking. For example, consider communion.)
      
      
      1. Re-read Genesis 25:23. Do you think Isaac was unaware of what God had said?
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 27:5-10. Is this the way you would have reacted? If not, what would you have done? (They could have had a family meeting where they reviewed what God had told Rebekah and the "deal" that Jacob and Esau had reached on the birthright. Read Genesis 26:34-35. I would have thrown into the argument the problem with Esau having irritating Hittite wives.)
      
      
      1. Was it possible to give the younger son the birthright? Was this something that could be discussed? (Read 1 Chronicles 5:1 and Genesis 48:17-19. This, plus what had happened to Ishmael, shows that giving the blessing to the first born was not an inflexible rule.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 27:11-13. What concerns Jacob the most? (Being caught.)
      
      
      1. How about you? Is that your greatest concern about sin?
         
         
      2. Is there any way that this scheme will not be found out? (This is what amazes me. There was no way this would not be found out - and soon!)
         
         
   4. Read Genesis 27:14-20. How many lies do you find in these verses?
      
      
      1. Which lie troubles you the most? (It is one thing to lie, but I think it is worse to knowingly take God's name to bolster your lie. He did not need to mention God in this lie. Notice that he refers to his father's God, not his.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 27:21-25. Isaac has doubts: the timing is wrong, the voice is wrong, things are just not right. Why didn't Isaac call in some third person to confirm who was about to be blessed?
      
      
   6. Read Genesis 27:26-27. What convinced Isaac that this was Esau? (He smelled like Esau because of the clothes.)
      
      
      1. What comes to mind when you think about this kiss? (Judas.)
         
         
   7. Read Genesis 27:28-29. How much authority does Isaac have in giving this blessing? Would God provide Jacob the blessing even if it was procured by fraud?
      
      
   8. Read Genesis 27:30-37. The fraud is almost immediately discovered. What is the answer to the question about whether a blessing procured by fraud will be honored?
      
      
      1. Does this show that crime pays? We should help God by all means necessary? (The New Bible Commentary points out the terrible consequences that flow from the trait of dishonesty. Jacob left and he never saw his mother again. (Genesis 27:13 was thus fulfilled in part.) Later, Jacob's father-in-law, Laban, cheated Jacob out of seven years of labor and gave him a wife he did not want. This deception caused a life-long problem for Jacob and resulted, in part, in Jacob being deceived about the fate of his son, Joseph. Just as Jacob used a goat to fool his father, so his sons used goat's blood to fool him about Joseph. Life is better and easier if you are honest.)
         
         
      2. Look more closely at Genesis 27:36. Are Esau's charges true? (Just the opposite, his knowing "trade" of his birthright arguably entitles Jacob to the blessing.)
         
         
   9. Read Genesis 27:41-46. Who is Rebekah referring to when she speaks of losing "both of you in one day?" (Isaac and Jacob.)
      
      
      1. What kind of life does Rebekah have in the future? (No doubt Isaac and Esau know she was part of this deception. Esau's Hittite wives, who are already a problem, will be even worse when they think they are poorer because of the deception.)
         
         
      2. Is Rebekah still misleading Isaac? (She tells him Jacob needs to leave to get a wife, not to avoid being killed by his brother.)
         
         
   10. Read Genesis 28:1-5. Isaac is not deceived now. Why does he repeat the blessing? (Two things. I think he realizes that God had in mind for Jacob to have the birthright blessing. He also believes the blessing to be irrevocable.)
       
       
   11. Friend, our study this week confirms again that when God promises us something, we do not need to "assist" Him in getting the job done with dishonest acts. God calls on us to trust and obey Him. Will you answer that call?
       
       
4. Next week: Jacob Becomes Israel.

Introduction: Last week, we left our story with Jacob fleeing his home to avoid being murdered by his brother Esau over defrauding him of the birthright. Jacob's cover story for his flight is that he is going to find a wife. Let's dive into our study and see what Jacob finds!

1. Jacob Arrives
   
   
   1. Genesis 29 records that Jacob finds Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban. Let's pick up the story by reading Genesis 29:11-13. Why do you think Jacob weeps when he meets Rachel? Does this make him appear to be "husband material?"(Jacob has a lot of stress over his fraud, the threat to his life, leaving home and hoping to be able to find his relatives. He has now found them and their warm greeting is a huge relief.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 29:14-15. Based on Laban's statement, what kind of businessman would you judge him to be? (He sounds very fair and honest. He will not take advantage of a relative.)
      
      
      1. Look closer. Is it appropriate to treat your nephew like an ordinary servant?
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 29:16-18. How long did it take for Jacob to fall in love with Rachel? (A month!)
      
      
      1. Why did Jacob fall for Rachel? (She had a great body and a beautiful face.)
         
         
         1. Why do you think the Bible mentions this?
            
            
         2. Is this an appropriate basis on which to fall in love?
            
            
      2. What do you think of the "deal" which Jacob offered Laban?
         
         
         1. Read Genesis 31:14-15. What did Rachel and Leah think of the "deal?"
            
            
         2. Read Genesis 29:19. What did Laban think of the "deal?"
            
            
2. The Marriages
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 29:20-25. What about this reminds you of Jacob's past life? (He fooled his father by substituting himself for his sibling. Laban now fools him by substituting a sibling.)
      
      
      1. Were Leah and Rachel part of this fraud?
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 29:26. What do you think of Laban's legal defense?
      
      
      1. What would you have said in response if you were Jacob? (I've been here seven years and you never disclosed your "custom" to me or mentioned that it made our contract impossible.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 29:27-29. What kind of wedding feast is given to Rachel? (It seems she got none.)
      
      
   4. Consider the impact of Laban's fraud:
      
      
      1. On Rachel;
         
         
      2. On Leah; and,
         
         
      3. On Jacob.
         
         
   5. What is God's view of all of this? (Read Leviticus 18:18.)
      
      
      1. What does this text suggest is the problem? (Rivalry!)
         
         
   6. What kind of a guy is Laban? (He thinks only of himself.)
      
      
      1. Can you put together a justification for Laban's actions? (Arranged marriages were probably normal. Jacob plans to marry for love, but Laban decides to "arrange" a marriage for him. He is going to give Jacob what he wants, but he will squeeze a little more work out of him (because Leah is worth it). If daughters are like possessions, you cannot be too concerned about their feelings.)
         
         
   7. What would have happened if Jacob had not chosen Rachel based on her looks and her body?
      
      
3. Married Life with Rival Wives
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 29:30-35. What kind of attitude does Leah have about her situation?
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 30:1-2. Beautiful body, beautiful face, what kind of personality does Rachel possess?
   3. Read Genesis 30:3-6. Do you think God vindicated Rachel? (Rachel vindicated Rachel.)
      
      
      1. What should she have done? (Review Genesis 28:13-14; Genesis 25:21; Genesis 16:1-2. Both Jacob and Rachel are forgetting history. God made promises to Jacob about his descendants. Jacob should have followed the good example of his father and mother rather than the poor example of Abraham and Sarah.)
         
         
   4. Read Genesis 30:14-18. Mandrakes, which look like little yellow apples, were considered to be a fertility drug. What does this little story reveal about the relationship between the two women?
      
      
      1. Had God rewarded Leah? (We need to be careful what we attribute to God.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 30:22-24. Is Rachel satisfied? (She wants more sons.)
      
      
4. Work Life

1. Read Genesis 30:25-28. Is Jacob ready to quit? (His 14 years of service are at an end.)
   
   
   1. Why does Laban want Jacob to stay? Is he concerned about losing his daughters and their children?
      
      
   2. Does Laban sound generous? (Yes: "Name your wages and I will pay them!")
      
      
2. Read Genesis 30:29-34. Describe the "deal" for Jacob's wages and tell me what you think about it? (Several commentaries say that oriental sheep were normally white and the goats normally black or brown. Jacob was asking for the few rejects.)
   
   
3. Read Genesis 30:35-36. What does "Mr. Honesty" do to ensure that Jacob gets the wages promised to him? (Laban removes all of the animals that should belong to Jacob and he separates them from the rest of the flock tended by Jacob so that when they reproduce, they will be owned by Laban.)
   
   
4. Read Genesis 30:37-43. Do you agree with Genesis 30:43? Did Jacob become wealthy because of his ingenious plan to show the flocks pieces of wood which looked something like the offspring they should have? (Pregnant women: be sure to look only at handsome men and beautiful women!)
   
   
   1. What is wrong with Jacob's plan? (He has a scheme instead of trusting God.)
      
      
5. Let's skip ahead for a moment. Read Genesis 31:10-12. What does this reveal was God's part in this plan? (God revealed to Jacob his "business plan.")
   
   
   1. Is there a lesson in this for us?
      
      
1. The Trip Home
   
   
   1. God comes to Jacob and tells him it is time to return home. Jacob summons Rachel and Leah and discusses leaving their father and their home. Read Genesis 31:14-16. On what basis do Jacob's wives confirm his decision? (Financial considerations!)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 31:17-21. What time does Jacob chose to leave? (When his father-in-law is too busy to notice because he is off shearing sheep.)
      
      
      1. Why did he choose that time? (He would not have to deal with Laban when he left.)
         
         
      2. What do we learn about the spiritual side of Rachel? (This shows that she was not wholly devoted to God.)
         
         
2. Meeting Esau
   
   
   1. If you were Jacob, what would go through your mind when thinking of meeting your brother Esau?
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 32:3-6. How would you react to this message if you were Jacob? (Read Genesis 32:7-8. Jacob is fearful and he takes steps to preserve part of his possessions.)
      
      
   3. Read Genesis 32:9-12. Compare the Jacob who left his home with the Jacob who returns many years later? (He now turns to God, not himself, when he is in trouble.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 33:1-4. What is the result of trusting God?
      
      
   5. Friend, Jacob's deceit and lack of trust in God causes him heartache in his home and in his work. Years later, he learns his lesson. How about you? Will you trust God now or will you have to learn the hard way to trust Him?
      
      
3. Next week: From Prison Cell to Palace.

Introduction: Time passes, father Isaac dies and his sons Jacob and Esau bury him. The two sons, now at peace, decide that they have too many possessions to live in the same area. Esau moves to the hill country and prospers. Jacob remains in Canaan, the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and now him. Let's plunge into our continuing saga in Genesis!

1. Joseph and His Brothers
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 37:1-2. Notice with whose sons Joseph is working. What do you think is their outlook on life? (They are the sons of the "lesser" wives. Worse, their older brother, Reuben, had slept with one of these mothers (Genesis 35:22 - Bilhah) and Isaac knew it. I've got to believe with all of the jealousy in this family they felt inferior.)
      
      
      1. What does the son of the favored wife do to these "disfavored" sons? (He gave his father a bad report about them.)
         
         
      2. Why is this fact in the Bible? How would you react to this is you were a "disfavored" son?
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 37:3-4. We previously discussed this idea of parents who have favorites and the problems favoritism causes. Why does Jacob favor Joseph? (The Bible tells us it is because he was born in Joseph's old age. I have to believe that the favored status of his mother Rachel also had something to do with this. The coat was that of the son of a nobleman.)
      
      
      1. What kind of life does this create for Joseph? (They were mean to him.)
         
         
      2. Is Isaac being wise? (No. Instead of helping Joseph, he makes him a pariah.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 37:5-9. Do you like Joseph?
      
      
      1. How many of Joseph's problems are created by Joseph? (It is bad enough that Dad favors him, it is worse because Joseph has no common sense. He gives his brothers bad reports and he brags that he will rule over them.)
         
         
      2. How do you think Joseph answered the questions in Genesis 37:8? (Notice the text: they hated him for the dreams "and what he had said.")
         
         
   4. Read Genesis 37:10-11. Was Jacob insulted by the dream? (Yes, but he took it seriously.)
      
      
      1. Who do you think gave Joseph the dream?

1. If you say, "God," is it appropriate to keep God's message to yourself?
   
   
2. If not, is God part of Joseph's popularity problem? (Romans 14, especially Romans 14:22-23, tells us that when it comes to "disputable" matters we do not have to be telling others about every truth God has revealed to us. We need to use common sense so that we do not insult our fellow Christians. I think this is one truth Paul would tell Joseph to keep to himself.)
   
   
1. Joseph and Betrayal
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 37:12-14. When Jacob asked Joseph to "bring word back to me," do you think he was sending Joseph to report on the quality of the work of his brothers?
      
      
      1. Was this situation similar to Genesis 37:2.
         
         
      2. If Jacob knew about the problems between Joseph and his older brothers, why would he send Joseph on such a mission?
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 37:18-20. This is the family from which God's chosen people will arise. What kind of men are these?
      
      
      1. What is the direct cause of their decision to kill Joseph? (His dreams.)
         
         
      2. Do you think consideration of the birthright had anything to do with this?
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 37:21-22. Would you expect Reuben to be the one to intervene for Joseph? (Reuben had serious character problems, he was the one who slept with his father's wife (Genesis 35:22).)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 37:23-24. Why did they take Joseph's robe from him? (It was the mark that made him special - and apparently superior to them.)
      
      
      1. Could Joseph live in this cistern? (No. He would eventually die.)
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 37:25-30. How many of the older brothers are against killing Joseph? (Two.)
      
      
      1. The Bible notes the names of the two who were against killing Joseph, but do you think they get any credit for their actions? (They should have stood up against any harm to Joseph, but by preserving his life, they preserved their lives in the future when the famine came.)
         
         
      2. Tell me your feelings if you are Joseph and you are riding off as a slave away from your home and your father?
         
         
         1. What do you think about your dreams?
            
            
   6. Read Genesis 37:31-35. The text says that all of Jacob's sons comforted him. What impact do you think that had upon the sons who had sold him into slavery?

1. Joseph and Potiphar.
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 39:1-6. Joseph is a slave, but God is with him. What kind of life do you think Joseph enjoyed at this point? (It was probably pretty pleasant considering that he was in charge of everything in the household of an important man.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 39:6-10. Again (remember Rachel) we have the Bible describing the body and looks of one of its characters. Why does Joseph refuse to sleep with his master's wife. (He makes reference to the trust his master has placed in him, but he pins his refusal on the requirements of God.)
      
      
      1. Why does Joseph refuse to even be with her? Certainly he trusts himself! (Getting close to sin is a bad idea.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 39:11-15. If Potiphar's wife wants to sleep with Joseph, why does she do this? (She feels rejected and scorned by a slave. That is reflected in her "make sport of us" claim.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 39:16-20. Keil and Delitzsche Commentary on the Old Testament suggests that this was a very light punishment. What does this suggest? (That Potiphar liked Joseph and was not certain about his wife's allegations. Her heavy reliance on Joseph's coat in her story suggests that she thinks she needs it for credibility.)
      
      
   5. Read Genesis 39:20-23. Notice that these verses repeatedly say that "God was with" Joseph. Is that how it seems to you?
      
      
      1. Would it seem that way to Joseph?
         
         
      2. What has obedience gotten Joseph? (On the surface, it got him tossed into prison.)
         
         
      3. How "safe" do you think it would have been to sleep with Potiphar's wife? (Leaving God's requirements to one side, it would no doubt have been very dangerous because she was spoiled and would have tired of him - and probably turned him in then. By that time, there would likely be other evidence of the affair and Potiphar would have put him to death.)
         
         
2. Joseph and Vindication
   
   
   1. In prison Joseph comes in contact with a couple of ex-officials of Pharaoh's court. They have dreams, and Joseph correctly interprets their dreams. The interpretation for one is that he will be restored to his former position. Read Genesis 40:14-15 to see what Joseph asks of this official. How would you describe this? Is it trust in God? (I don't think there is anything wrong with Joseph's request. It does not show a lack of trust in God.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 40:23. How reliable are humans in getting you out of trouble?
      
      
   3. Read Genesis 41:1-13. How much longer has Joseph been languishing in a dungeon? (Two years! There is a test of faith.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 41:14-16. How is Joseph's faith? (Still strong. He gives credit to God!)
      
      
   5. Read Genesis 41:25-32. What decision must Pharaoh make? (Will he stake the future of his kingdom on a foreigner he just dragged out of the dungeon?)
      
      
      1. If you were in Pharaoh's place, what would you do?
         
         
   6. Read Genesis 41:33-36. What is Joseph doing? This is not part of dream interpretation - it is nation-leading advice from the "dungeon crew!"
      
      
   7. Read Genesis 41:37-40. I consider this to be an astonishing decision by Pharaoh. On what basis does he make it? (Joseph gave credit to God, not himself. As a result, Pharaoh believed he was turning the job over to God, not a man.)
      
      
   8. Friend, how about you? When things are going poorly, do you hold on to your trust in God? Do you give Him credit for every good thing in your life?
      
      
3. Next week: The End of the Beginning.

Introduction: Joseph's life has been steadily going downhill despite his faithfulness to God. He now has his big break. Will God "fix" his problems forever? If God is with Joseph, can he expect rewards for his faithfulness here on earth? Was the entire thing part of God's plan for Joseph and his family? Let's dive into our lesson and find out how things worked out in Joseph's life!

1. Joseph the Master
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 41:41-44. When God decided the time was right to save Joseph from the dungeon, how long did it take Him to completely reverse Joseph's situation? (Less than one day.)
      
      
      1. It had been 13 years since Joseph had been sold into slavery. Why did God wait 13 years?
         
         
      2. During those 13 years did it appear to Joseph that he was making progress towards the throne? (From a human point of view, things were only getting worse. It you knew that God was going to give Joseph the kingdom, it would seem Joseph was making no progress towards that goal. The answer has to be (at least in part) that God had some character development for this young man who told his brother and parents that he would rule them.)
         
         
   2. Read Genesis 41:45. The Priest of On. On means "light" or the "sun." The city of On was the center of sun-worship in Egypt. Commentaries I read referred to the sun-god "Re." In popular reading, however, I have seen the Egyptian sun-god referred to as "Ra." Notice that Potiphera ends with "Ra," which connects him to the sun-god. Why would Pharoah direct that Joseph be married to the daughter of the Priest of On? (It makes sense to put all of those "god" genes together. They might have super "god-aware" children.)
      
      
      1. What is the problem for Joseph?
         
         
      2. Read 1 Kings 11:1-2. Why did Joseph resist sleeping with Potiphar's wife, but not resist marrying the daughter of the priest of the sun-god? (I doubt he had any say in the matter. He was not in the position of King Solomon where this was a voluntary choice.)
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 41:50-52. Does Joseph think he is ever going back home? (His son's name indicates that God has helped him to forget his father's household. He is not going back.)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 41:53-57. How secure is Joseph's position in Egypt?
      
      
      1. What is God doing through Joseph? (Saving the world from starvation. Making the Egyptian government even richer and more powerful.)
         
         
      2. Could God have done this through Joseph if Joseph had never left home?
         
         
         1. Was God manipulating world weather conditions for the benefit of Joseph?
            
            
2. Joseph and His Brothers
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 42:1-2. Jacob is a man of vast wealth. How can he speak of dying when he has so much cattle? (These few words tell us volumes. The sons are so shocked by their sudden change of fortune that they listlessly sit there staring, not knowing what to do.)
      
      
   2. Read Genesis 42:3-5. What was the source of harm that Jacob feared for Benjamin?
      
      
      1. Do you think Jacob has his suspicions about Joseph's death?
         
         
   3. Read Genesis 42:6. Does this remind you of any prior dreams? (See Genesis 37:5-8. Now who do you say gave Joseph this dream?)
      
      
   4. Read Genesis 42:7-11. Notice that verse 9 connects Joseph's dreams to his allegation that they are spies. What sense can you make of this? (The dreams are not yet fulfilled. The second dream has his entire family bowing down. Thus, Joseph may be thinking about how he can get his entire family to Egypt.)
      
      
      1. What did Joseph's older brothers do to keep his dreams from being fulfilled? (The very thing they did to keep his dreams from being fulfilled is the cause of the fulfillment of his dreams!)
         
         
      2. Are they, as they say in verse 11, "honest men?"
         
         
   5. Read Genesis 42:12-17. What do you think about this method of proof? How difficult will it be for them to prove they are not spies? (I'm not sure what this test proves. If they were lying, they could bring any young person as their "younger brother." This test only makes sense because Joseph knows the truth.)
      
      
      1. Why does Joseph pick this test? (He wants to know their relationship with his younger brother.)
         
         
      2. Why is Joseph lying about his brothers, swearing by Pharaoh ("as surely as Pharaoh lives") and jailing them? (He is giving them a taste of his past life in Egypt.)
         
         
   6. Read Genesis 42:18-22. Why would the brothers connect their treatment of Joseph to their current situation? (They were reminded of Joseph because of the command to bring Benjamin to Egypt. This shows that their guilty consciences had not abated.)
      
      
   7. Read Genesis 42:23-24. Are the brothers making progress? Now, only one son is in prison. Why did Joseph take Simeon? (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says tradition holds that he was the most cruel of the brothers. See Genesis 49:5-7 for further proof of this tradition.)
      
      
   8. Read Genesis 42:25-28. What is wrong with getting your money back? Shopping in Egypt is a real bargain! (They were already accused of dishonesty. This might be taken as evidence of it.)
      
      
      1. Why would the brothers attribute their problems to God?
         
         
   9. The brothers go home, explain the situation to their father Jacob. He does not want to let them take Benjamin and they do not return until their food situation is desperate. Read Genesis 43:15-18. What do you think about their fears? (They fear happening to them what they did to Joseph!)
      
      
   10. Read Genesis 43:26-34. Why did Joseph give directions that Benjamin should have more food? (He wanted to see how the brothers now reacted to favoritism.)
       
       
   11. Joseph instructs his steward to give the brothers their grain, return their money again, and put his royal cup in Benjamin's sack of grain. After they leave, Joseph sends the steward to catch them and accuse them of theft. The cup is found in Benjamin's sack, and they are forced to return. It looks like Benjamin may be put to death for theft and the rest enslaved, but the sentence is reduced to slavery for just Benjamin. Roll the clock back, if this had been Joseph and his brothers when Joseph was 17, what would the brothers have said? (Great! Take him off our hands.)
       
       
   12. Read Genesis 44:30-33 to see what Judah says about leaving Benjamin. How have things changed?
       
       
       1. What do you think would have happened if the brothers had been content to leave Benjamin?
          
          
3. Joseph the Savior
   
   
   1. Read Genesis 45:1-7. Notice what Joseph says about God's plan for his life and the lives of his family. Is Joseph bitter about the 13 years he spent in slavery and prison?
      
      
      1. How about you? Have you reached the point Joseph has reached? Can you see the hand of God working out for your benefit the bad things in your life?
         
         
      2. What parallel do you see in Genesis 45:7 between Joseph and Jesus?
         
         
   2. Joseph invites his family to Egypt, the brothers go home and tell Jacob the amazing news that Joseph is the ruler of Egypt. Read Genesis 45:25-46:4. Why does God allow this when He knows that Jacob's descendants will become slaves in Egypt?
      
      
   3. Jacob dies and Joseph's brothers are afraid. Read Genesis 50:15-21. What kind of attitude does Joseph show towards his brothers?
      
      
   4. Friend, sometimes life does not go the way we want it to go. The lesson from the life of Joseph is that we need to simply trust God. Others may intend to hurt us, but God can overrule every evil intent. Will you agree to trust God?

1. Next week we begin the study of the book of Ecclesiastes.