Read Genesis 40
1. For Chapter 40, answer the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
2. Copy Genesis 40:23 here.
3. Copy Job 19:14 here. Ever feel like that? Joseph probably had is doubts by the end of Chapter 40. But God is not finished yet.
4. Copy Isaiah 40:31 here.
5. God has promised to never forget us – to never leave us. Copy Deuteronomy 31:6 here. Meditate on this awesome promise of God.
Posted in Genesis | Tagged Biblical Literacy, Genesis 40, God will never leave you, Joseph in Prison |
Read Genesis 39
1. What happened to Joseph after his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelite traders?
2. What happened to Joseph’s master when Joseph became the overseer?
3. What does Joseph say/do when Potiphar’s wife propositions him?
4. What happens to Joseph based on her false accusations?
5. What do you learn from Genesis 39:21? How was this played out in Joseph’s life?
6. Copy Psalm 1:1-3 below. How do you see Joseph in these verses? Do you see yourself? Explain.
7. What do you learn from the following verses?
a. Joshua 1:8
b. Jeremiah 17:5-8
Posted in Genesis | Tagged bible literacy, bible study Genesis, Genesis 39, Joseph |
Between Genesis 37 and 39 which both talk about Joseph, is a chapter about Judah (Chapter 38). Judah is the son of Jacob from which the Messiah (Deliverer) is promised, so we will want to pay attention to his story. The story returns to Joseph in Genesis 39
Read Chapter 38
1. What do you learn about Judah from the opening verses of this Chapter?
2. Who are Judah’s son’s and how are they described?
3. Who is Tamar? What happens to her? Why does she return to her father’s house?
4. Read verses 12-30. Answer the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
5. Copy Deuteronomy 25:5 here. What does it tell you about the story of Judah and Tamar?
6. What do you learn about Tamar and her son Perez from Matthew 1:3?
7. Consider the story of Tamar. What does the story teach you about the heart of God?
Posted in Genesis | Tagged Biblical Literacy, Genesis 38, Judah |
Daughter
I was alone, broken-hearted
But Your word washed over me, cleansing me
And Your word healed all my wounds
I was starving; sorrow had taken my appetite
But Your words I found, and I ate them
And Your word became the joy and rejoicing of my heart
I was thirsty; in the wasteland of despair, I forgot to drink
But Your word was my refreshing
and Your word welled up in my heart like riparian springs
I was unloved; my beloved’s affection stolen through deceit
But Your word spoke truth over me
And Your word reminded me that I was precious, loved, accepted
I was imprisoned; my own desires had bound me
But Your word was the key to the locks that held me
And Your word – Your truth – set me free
I was destined for torment, my sin had earned me death
But Your word was my hope
And it led me to the blood of redemption
Your word sustains me
Your promises are my life blood
Your voice alone I hear, and I hear You call me Daughter
Copyright MaryBeth Mullin
7/2016
Posted in Poem | Tagged Christian Poem, daugther | 1 Comment »
The saga continues with the descendants of Abraham and Sarah. We are now moving on to the story of Joseph which begins in Genesis 37 and continues through the end of the book of Genesis. Joseph is the older of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel, Jacob’s second and most beloved wife.
Read Genesis 37
1. What do you learn about Joseph from Genesis 37:3?
2. Describe Joseph’s first dream.
3. Describe Joseph’s second dream.
4. What happens to Joseph at the hands of his brothers?
5. Which brother comes up with the idea to sell Joseph?
6. What do Jacob’s sons tell him about Joseph’s disappearance? What proof do they provide?
7. What do the following scriptures teach?
□ Proverbs 27:4
□ Proverbs 14:30
□ James 3:16
8. What happens to Joseph at the end of Chapter 37?
Posted in Genesis | Tagged Biblical Literacy, Genesis 37, Joseph, Joseph's dreams |
WHAT IF?
What if God wasn’t God?
We would still serve something or someone.
What if God was not the creator?
We would never have emerged from the goo.
What if God never made any promises or covenants?
We’d have no assurance of coming good.
What if God had no power to save?
We’d have no salvation.
What if God had the power but no desire to save?
We’d be left in despair.
What if there were no miracles?
We’d have no hope.
What if God wasn’t with us, present in our midst?
We’d be profoundly alone.
What if He were not a refuge, a high tower, fortification, strength, or a hiding place?
We’d be exposed, vulnerable to everyone and everything.
What if God didn’t respond to worship?
We’d have no music, no poetry, no art.
What if God did not offer forgiveness, mercy, or redemption?
We’d be eternally damned and dead.
What if He delighted in our failures?
We’d be a source of never ending delight.
What if He remembered our sin?
We’d be wretched in His sight.
What if our God were made in our image?
He’d be selfish, self-serving, unforgiving, lawless, perverted, wicked and depraved.
WHAT IF?
BUT GOD . . .
God is Holy, Almighty, the Great I AM.
(Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:13; John 8:24, 28, 58; Revelation 1:8)
God is the creator of the ends of the earth and everything in it.
(Colossians 1:16-17)
God has made covenants with His people.
(2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 7:22, 8:6, 9:15, 12:24)
God is our salvation. It is His desire that all are saved.
(Luke 9:56; John 3:16, 17; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10, 14)
He is the God of miracles.
(Exodus 3:3, 4:3, 14:21, 15:25; 1 Kings 17:12-23; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 11:14; John 2:1-11 and more)
He is ever-present in our midst.
(Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Matthew 18:20)
He is my refuge, my high tower, my fortification, my strength, my hiding place.
(Psalm 46:1, 7, 11; Psalm 91:2, Psalm 94:22; Jeremiah 16:19)
God offers forgiveness, mercy and redemption.
(Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 130:4, 7; Jeremiah 33:8; Daniel 9:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14)
God remembers not our sin.
(Jeremiah 3:34)
We are made in the image of our God.
(Genesis 1:2 ,7; 1 Corinthians 11:7)
Sometimes when the heart grows cold or the sin nature seems to be gaining a foothold, we may forget what we know or should know about our God. He is not like the cold, lifeless idols of the pagans. He does not leave His people, his followers to go on without him.
The Bible teaches that everyone will serve something or someone. It teaches that we will become like the god we serve, based on the how we understand our god and interact with him/it. If we view him as cold and standoffish, harshly judging us or disinterested in us, we will become like him. If we know our God (the Almighty One, the Great I Am, the true and living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), if we see His face and seek after Him with all of our heart, mind and strength, we will be like Him. That is the miracle of a serving a loving and merciful God.
Thank you, God, for Your abundant mercy.
Copyright MaryBeth Mullin
Posted in Devotional | Tagged Character of God, Devotional, What if? |
Read Genesis 35
1. Where does God tell Jacob to go in Genesis 35? Why?
2. What does Jacob tell is household to do in preparation?
3. What does Jacob do when he arrives in Bethel (Luz)? Why?
4. What happens in Genesis 35:9-15?
5. What happens to Rachel in Genesis 35:16-20?
6. What does Jacob’s son, Reuben, do in Genesis 35:22?
7. What do you learn about this event from 1 Chronicles 5:1?
8. What does Leviticus 20:11 have to say about this type of activity?
9. What do we learn about Isaac at the end of Genesis 35?
10. What do the following verses say on the subject of raising godly children and grandchildren?
□ Deuteronomy 6:7-9
□ Psalm 78:4-6
□ Ephesians 6:4
□ Proverbs 22:6
Read Chapter 36 (skim)
11. This chapter is a genealogy of Esau. Sometimes there can be little tidbits of important information in such genealogies. What do you learn from Genesis 36:43?
12. Record any other things you find interesting in this genealogy.
Posted in Genesis, Uncategorized | Tagged Biblical Literacy, Genesis 35, Jacob, Reuben |
A lone tree
clings to the banks of the raging river,
leaves tossed,
boughs bent,
daily tested by the elements.
Its roots dig deeper,
holding the tree to the shore.
security sought in the deep rich soil
How barren is the tree during the storm,
its leaves blown off.
How stark is the tree,
its bark patched,
its branches twisted.
But the clouds disperse
and the sun greets the lonesome tree,
coaxing it heavenward.
By the time the warmth of Spring arrives,
the tree is filled with green buds,
promising a host of leaves,
and abundant fruit.
References:
Psalm 1:3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Copyright 2016 MaryBeth Mullin
Posted in Poem | Tagged Christian Poetry, Job 23, Lone Tree, Psalm 1 |
Read Genesis 34
1. Who is Dinah? What happens to her in the opening of Genesis 34?
2. What does Shechem tell his father that he wants to do with Dinah?
3. What does his father, Hamor, do?
4. What is the response of the sons of Jacob in Genesis 34:7 to what has happened?
5. What to they propose in Genesis 34:13-17?
6. How does the story end?
7. What do you learn about the spiritual condition of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi?
8. What is Jacob’s reaction to what Simeon and Levi did? How do they respond?
Posted in Genesis | Tagged Biblical Literacy, C, Dinah, Genesis 34, Jacob |
Who Pays?
He should pay for what he’s done
Jesus paid it all.
I want to exact a price
He hurt me
He stole from me
He betrayed me
He broke my heart
Jesus paid it all.
I want him to pay
Pay for what he did
Pay for what he didn’t do
Pay for what he said
Pay for what he didn’t say
Jesus paid it all.
He’s getting away
He’s not being accountable
He’s not doing his part
He’s not stopping
He’s not sorry
But…
Jesus paid it all.
Oh, praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
Oh, praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!
Copyright MaryBeth Mullin 7/2016
Posted in Jesus, Poem, Uncategorized | Tagged Christian Poetry, Jesus Paid it All, Who Pays? | 2 Comments »
Rooted and Grounded 