Bible Study (3&4) - Isaac and Rebekah & Jacob and Esau - November 3, 2024 (Excellent)

Bible Study (3 & 4) – Isaac and Rebekah & Jacob and Esau – November 3, 2024 (Two Lessons together but worth studying.)

Love should be without favoritism within the family.

Showing humility is critical to restoring a broken relationship.

Our focus scriptures are Genesis 25:24-28; 27:5-13 and Genesis 27:35-37, 41; 33;1-4, 8-11.

Mother of twins – Rebekah – Dad – Isaac

GOD said to Abraham - Genesis 17:19
Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (NIV)

Isaac is the son of Abraham.

Rebeckah - is the daughter of Bethuel, granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham.

Twins – Esau and Jacob or Jacob and Esau. Esau was the first born followed by Jacob grasping for Esau’s heel.

GOD had told Rebeckah that Esau, the first born, would serve his younger brother Jacob as we read in Genesis 25: ¹⁹ These are the family records of Isaac’s son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. ²² But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” ^[k] So she went to inquire of the Lord. ²³ And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will come from you and be separated.
One people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.

Key verse, the older will serve the younger! The two nations are the Edomites and the Israelites.

²⁴ When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first one came out red-looking,^[l] covered with hair^[m] like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. ²⁶ After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob.^[n] Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

Let’s read Genesis 25:27-28:

Esau Sells His Birthright

²⁷ When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman,^[o] but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.^[p] 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. ³⁰ He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom. (Red)

³¹ Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

³² “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

³³ Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So, he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So, Esau despised his birthright.

There were two cherished traditions in the Jewish family – Birthright and Blessings:

The Birthright was conveyed upon the eldest son near the death of the aging father of the Jewish family. It was a double portion of property and possessions because the recipient was to keep the family and household together and to meet the needs of the family.

Generally, the Blessing was conveyed at the same time the birthright was conveyed. The blessing(s) was or were a prophetic statement(s) spoken through the aging father as led by the Holy Spirit.

Yes, The Holy Spirit was very much working in and through the lives of those who sought the will of GOD. After the passion of JESUS, GOD made ready for the Holy Spirit to indwell the human body as a guarantee that person eternally belongs to GOD through faith in JESUS, thus the term “born-again.” Being born again is conception. It is the union of the human spirit (The Egg) and the Holy Spirit (The Sperm). The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity of GOD: GOD, The FATHER, GOD The SON and GOD, The Holy Spirit.

Back to our study:

The twin boys are now young men, and their dad was up in age, and it was time for Isaac to do what the patriarch of the family did as he approached the end of his life. In family life tradition was important. There was a birthright and a blessing to be passed from the father to the eldest son, which would be Esau, since he was the first born. However, GOD had told Rebekah that Jacob would rule the elder brother, in Genesis 25:23.

Let’s read Genesis 27:5-10:

⁵ Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau.

So, we do not have to read far to get our answer, “Isaac said to his son Esau.” Rebekah was eves dropping on a private conversation between Isaac and Esau. Definitely a house divided.

Isn’t it amazing how GOD reveals to us, by example, how we raise our children influences them. GOD’S desire is for us, who are parents to learn from the mistakes of others. This event in the family of Isaac and Rebekah reveals the results of favoring one child over another in the same household.

So, while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, ⁶ Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, ⁷ ‘Bring me game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you in the Lord’s presence before I die.’ ⁸ Now, my son, listen to me and do what I tell you. ⁹ Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father - the kind he loves. ¹⁰ Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies.”

¹¹ Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. 

Jacob heard what his mother had told him, but something just did not add up. Was he attempting to get his mother to reconsider her plans? We do not know but at least Jacob showed some concern regarding what his mother was telling him.

Let’s read Genesis 27:12-13:

¹² Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.”

This was an excellent point that Jacob brought up to his mother. “Mom, let’s think this plan of yours through.”

¹³ His mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.”

“Oh Jacob, let me worry about that, I can handle your dad. After all, he will be so pleased after the meal I fix for him, he will do anything.” Or will he?

So, mama was the source of an evil plot to deceive her husband and to be a negative influence on Isaac.

Where did deception begin? In the Garden of Eden. Satan appealed to the woman, Eve, but apparently Adam was standing next to her and did not open his mouth until after the deed was done.

Isaac at least considered doing the right thing, but his mother wanted Isaac to receive the birthright in place of its rightful recipient, Jacob.

In previous studies I always thought, “Once the deception was revealed, just reverse it and give the birthright to Jacob.” But Esau had given up his birthright for a bowl of lentils. However, Esau had not given up his blessing.

Why was this a problem? The birthright was and is a Spiritual passage and not a physical passage. Once a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his/her sins that person is forgiven and in an instant when that person asks JESUS to come into his/her heart the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place quicker than the twinkle of the eye and cannot be revoked. That birthright is instant, irrevocable, and eternal. That person is immediately GOD’S eternal child, never to be unborn from GOD’S Family. A Spirit-born persons Heavenly rewards can be impacted but not their salvation.

The birthright before JESUS came to earth was a foreshadow of Spiritual birth and GOD’S redemptive plan. What is the birthright of a person who has been Spirit-born? It is eternal life with the indwelling Holy Spirit as the seal and guarantee that person belongs to GOD through faith in JESUS eternally.

Blessings flow through the Spirit-born person to minister to others as led and directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This includes family, friends, and those to whom the Spirit-born person comes into contact.

So, we move into the rest of our scripture as fast forward from what had just taken place to years later in the lives of Jacob and Esau.

Focus scripture: Genesis 27:35-37, 41; 33:1-4,8-11:

Let’s read Genesis 27:30-45:

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting. ³¹ He had also made some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

³² But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am Esau your firstborn son.”

³³ Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably. “Who was it then,” he said, “who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in, and I blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed!”

³⁴ When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!”

³⁵ But he replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

³⁶ So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob?^[b] For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

According to the Bible, Esau willingly gave up his birthright for a bowl of lentils.

³⁷ But Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”

³⁸ Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.^[c]

³⁹ His father Isaac answered him,

Look, your dwelling place will be
away from the richness of the land,
away from the dew of the sky above.
⁴⁰ You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you rebel,^[d]
you will break his yoke from your neck.

Esau’s Anger

⁴¹ Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

⁴² When the words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she summoned her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Listen, your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you. ⁴³ So now, my son, listen to me. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, ⁴⁴ and stay with him for a few days until your brother’s anger subsides— ⁴⁵ until your brother’s rage turns away from you and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?”

So, mom sends Jacob away, which was good to allow time to hopefully mend feelings.

Let’s fast forward to the first meeting of Jacob and Esau, following a long absence from each other.

Let’s read Genesis 33:1-20:

Jacob Meets Esau – Genesis 33:1-20:

33 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. ² He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. ³ He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.

Jacob showed respect to Esau.

⁴ But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. ⁵ When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”

He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” ⁶ Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. ⁷ Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

⁸ So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession^[a] I met?”

“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.

⁹ “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

¹⁰ But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. ¹¹ Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me, and I have everything I need.” So, Jacob urged him until he accepted.

¹² Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

¹³ Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. ¹⁴ Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

¹⁵ Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.”

But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me,^[b] my lord.”

¹⁶ That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, ¹⁷ but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.^[c]

¹⁸ After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. ¹⁹ He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.^[d] 20 And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.^[e]

JESUS is GOD’s Son and HE is also the Savior of all who place their faith in HIM. GOD is eternal and cannot die and neither could HIS only SON, JESUS, until HE willingly came to earth to be born of the virgin Mary.

JESUS became 100% human/yet 100% GOD. As 100% human HE was subject to death. As 100% GOD, HE could have exited HIS appointed mission upon earth, which was to live a 100% sinless life in order for HIM to be the perfect acceptable sacrifice to HIS FATHER (GOD) to pay for all sin. JESUS is and always will be the eldest SON in the Family of GOD. All people are the brother or sister of JESUS through the miracle of Spiritual birth. JESUS was and is the head of the true body of believers. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to satisfy completely the debt for sin, in full, for all who place their faith in HIM.

JESUS is the first fruit of GOD’S redemptive plan, which is eternal life. JESUS is the head of HIS Family of those redeemed by HIS shed blood. JESUS died and HIS death and bodily resurrection opened the door for all who place their faith in HIM to live eternally with HIM. The birthright of eternal life belongs to GOD’S only SON, JESUS, which is passed to those who place their faith in JESUS. Once a person is Spirit-born into GOD’S Family that person receives blessings manifested by the indwelling Holy Spirit to minister in GOD’S vineyard, earth. These blessings are the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are numerous and the fruit of the Spirit. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.^[f] 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

There are many gifts of the Holy Spirit which GOD gives to those who are Spirit-born. 1 Corinthians 12 lists a few of these Gifts. There are many Spiritual Gifts given for the good of those who have been called to minister, to those who need to be ministered.

In last week’s lesson, I mentioned that some people become Spirit-born by simply saying LORD, “I give up.” JESUS, please come into my heart through the miracle of Spiritual birth. I want to be “born-again” into YOUR eternal Family and live for YOU as led by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is not complicated, but it is eternal through faith in JESUS. Yes, once saved, always saved from Hell. Now that is “Good News!” Blessings!!! 

Bible Study – Family (2) – Abraham and Lot – Genesis 13:5-11, 14-18 – October 20, 2024

Bible Study – Family (2) – Abraham and Lot – Genesis 13:5-11, 14-18 – October 20, 2024

Trust GOD when challenged over your rights and possessions.

This is a major topic in today’s society, and it was a major topic in early Biblical times.

Today, when a person dies without will, it can trigger a multitude of issues such as what to do with the deceased’s assets. Often, disputes are caused by greed and jealousy over who gets what.

Our study focuses on the distribution of land between Abram and his nephew, Lot because both had animals that needed to graze and them staying together presented a grazing problem. Simply the land could not support both because their herds had grown so large.

Let’s explore!

Genesis 13:1-18:

Abram and Lot Separate

(Lot is Abraham’s nephew.)

13 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. ² Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. ³ He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, ⁴ to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of the Lord there.

⁵ Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. ⁶ But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together, ⁷ and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (At that time, the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)

[The seven nations are all descendants of Canaan, son of Ham and grandson of Noah, from whom they derive their collective name Canaanites. When enumerated separately, one of the seven nations is called Canaanites, while the others are called the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Jebusites and the Perizzites]

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. ⁹ Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

You may recall in last week’s study regarding Cain and Abel.

GOD told Cain, “Do what is right.” Cain was furious over the fact that Able’s sacrifice was accepted by GOD and his was not.

In Genesis 4: ³ In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? ⁷ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Doing the right thing is the key. That takes courage and trust in GOD that HE will take care of you and your family. Abram trusted GOD and did what was right.

¹⁰ Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain^[a] of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) ¹¹ So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. ¹² Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom. ¹³ (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely^[b] against the Lord.)

¹⁴ After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, ¹⁵ for I will give you and your offspring^[c] forever all the land that you see. ¹⁶ I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. ¹⁷ Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”

¹⁸ So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.

Unity of family is vital as we journey through life. The old saying is “blood is thicker than water” is true when families do the right thing.

Doing the “right thing” takes courage and trust in GOD that GOD will honor and support your decision. Our part is to seek and ask GOD to reveal to us HIS leadership and guidance in matters of the family. Do what is right. Step one is to ask yourself are you in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS? If not, then ask JESUS to come into your heart and forgive you for your sins.

Wisdom comes from GOD through faith in JESUS. When a person has been redeemed from sin, he/she has the Holy Spirit within to lead and guide that person.

Satan is still in the world and he is still the enemy of all people and especially those who have been redeemed from the consequence of sin through faith in JESUS. In John 4, we read that greater is HE, JESUS, WHO is in us, the redeemed, is greater than he (Satan) that is in the world.

Just know that all families become a target of Satan and especially the families of those who have been redeemed. Therefore, be prepared that he attacks whenever it does the most damage.

In our study, we see that Abram took the initiative to bring up a potential serious issue that needed to be resolved before it erupted into an even larger issue.

Satan loves conflict because it often destroys relationships.

Humans can make a mountain out of a mole hill when they let issues fester.

It takes courage to sit down and discuss issues before they become even larger issues. Pray and seek GOD’S help and will as we decide to approach an issue and seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide the process. Remaining calm is vital, listening and staying focused on the issue(s).

GOD’S Word gives us examples for reconciliation. The main concern is have we been reconciled with GOD through faith in JESUS?

Abram was a man of faith in GOD and he trusted GOD. Was he perfect? No! Abram trusted GOD such that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering with the faith that GOD would raise Isaac back to life from the ashes. GOD intervened and provided a substitute sacrifice. That is why JESUS came to earth to be our perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD for our sins. However, we must accept JESUS as our Savior.

JESUS told Nicodemus in John 3:1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

⁹ “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

¹⁰ “Are you a teacher^[b] of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. ¹¹ “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. ¹² If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.^[c]

¹⁴ “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him may^[d] have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it,^[g] so that his deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by^[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

In 1 John 1:9 ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him (JESUS) and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. ⁶ If we say, “We have fellowship with him (GOD),” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. ⁷ If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Romans 3: ²² The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ^[p] to all who believe, since there is no distinction. ²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the^[q] glory of God; ²⁴ they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented him as the mercy seat^[r] by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. ²⁶ God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

The shed blood of JESUS paid, in full, for sin when a person places his/her faith in JESUS.

Hebrews 9:  ²² According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Salvation is not saying the right words. Salvation is about the very core of a person’s being. Some people have said “LORD, I give up. I want to be YOUR Son or Daughter.” Salvation is GOD’S gift to all through the birth, sinless life, death, resurrection, and ascension of JESUS. Salvation is about your heart toward GOD and JESUS.

When you ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart, HE does. All who place their faith in JESUS receive the Holy Spirit, WHO confirms that they have been “born-again.”

As a newborn Christin, you must have nourishment. Read, and study GOD’S Word, the Bible and pray (talk to GOD) and ask HIM to teach you as you study. Apply what you learn as GOD, through the Holy Spirit, gives you opportunity. Keep in mind, you are the enemy of Satan and he will do all he can to discourage you but stay the course, learn, study, and apply.

Blessings!!!

 

 

Bible Study - Family Conflict - Genesis 4:1-12 - October 13, 2024

Bible Study – Family Conflict (1) – Genesis 4:1-12 - October 13, 2024

GOD expects us to look after our family members.

Our focus scripture is Genesis 4:1-12.

Let’s review what is recorded in Genesis 3: The Temptation and the Fall

3 Now the serpent (Satan) was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Satan is a liar and deceiver. His goal is to prevent people from going to Heaven and to destroy them.

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. ³ But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

GOD never told Adam and Eve not to touch it. Just do not eat its fruit.

Here we speculate. A deceiver would say, “Oh! GOD said for you not to touch it. Look, I am touching, and nothing happens. Now you touch it. See, you are still alive. GOD has deceived you.

We get into trouble when we believe something that is not true! What does GOD’S Word really tell us and not what we want GOD’S Word to tell us.

⁴ “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “In fact, God knows that when^[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So, she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Adam was right there with Eve and never opened his mouth, yet GOD had placed him in charge of the Garden. It was Adam’s responsibility to tell Eve, “DO NOT EAT THIS FRUIT!!!” But “NO!” Like a dummy, Adam stood there and did not open his mouth.

Do you think Adam was allowing Eve to evaluate what GOD had told them? We do not know but we do know the result. All humans inherited death. Thanks Adam and Eve.

But we rejoice that GOD had HIS redemptive plan of salvation through faith in JESUS, HIS only SON. JESUS paid in full for all sin for those who place their faith in HIM!

Sin’s Consequences

⁸ Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze,^[b] and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

When we sin, the first thing a person wants to do is to cover it up.

¹⁰ And he said, “I heard you^[c] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

¹¹ Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

First example of transferal of guilt:

¹² The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

¹³ So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Culprit identified!!! Satan!

¹⁴ So the Lord God said to the serpent (Satan):

Because you have done this,
you are cursed more than any livestock
and more than any wild animal.
You will move on your belly
and eat dust all the days of your life.
¹⁵ I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.^[d]
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.

¹⁶ He said to the woman:

I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.

¹⁷ And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:

The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor^[e]
all the days of your life.
¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ You will eat bread^[f] by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”

The dynamics upon earth were radically altered. Sin had entered the earth, even nature was impacted as we read in Romans 8: ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. ²³ Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve^[g] because she was the mother of all the living. ²¹ The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.

This is a critical verse. GOD had to kill an animal or animals to make clothing for Adam and Eve. This was the first blood sacrifice.

Sin always has consequences. Read on ----

²² The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” ²³ So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴ He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.

GOD intended eternal life for humans, but it was thwarted by sin. GOD loved Adam and Eve and HE had to sacrifice an animal or animals to make clothes for them from the skins of the animal or animals.

This set the example that a blood sacrifice was necessary as a place holder for the forgiveness of sin, until the perfect sacrifice came to earth, JESUS, and lived, died, buried, raised from the physically dead, lived 40 days upon earth and then ascended into Heaven.

GOD had the ultimate redemptive plan for all humans who will place their faith in JESUS. GOD plans ahead because HE made us to be free thinkers. We are not robots, but we are accountable for the decisions we make. Therefore, choose wisely.

Now, let’s return to the things taking place upon earth after Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden because of their sin.

GOD was with Adam and Eve after they were banned from the Garden of Eden. Eve would bear the pain of giving birth to children; however, GOD would be with Eve during childbirth. Why? Because sin altered childbirth.

They worshipped GOD.

Let’s read Genesis 4:1-2: Cain Murders Abel

4:1: The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.”^[a] 2 She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. (I believe the propagation of the human race was altered because of sin.)

As you recall childbirth changed after Adam and Eve sinned as we read in verse 16 in our background scripture.

Let’s read Genesis 4:3-7:

³ In the course of time Cain (farmer) presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel (shepherd) also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

Cain was the oldest and Able was the youngest in their family.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? ⁷ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

We notice that GOD had a conversation with Cain and attempted to urge him to make the right decision. The key is that GOD spoke to him but left the final decision up to Cain. The same is for us today, we make our own decisions and have to live with the consequences. (Christian or non-Christian)

The same is true for humans today. Sin crouches at our door and we make the decision. When we do what is right there is victory. When we let sin control us, which manifests itself in so many ways, we pay for its consequence.

When sin rules, terrible things happen. Keep in mind GOD was right there with Cain and Able. Yet, the murder took place.

Keep in mind this is the first family to live outside the Garden of Eden.

Let’s read Genesis 4:8-12:

⁸ Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^[b] And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

¹⁰ Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! ¹¹ So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed.^[c] 12 If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

¹³ But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment^[d] is too great to bear! ¹⁴ Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”

¹⁵ Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case,^[e] whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And he placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. ¹⁶ Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,^[f] east of Eden. (I do not know what the mark was, however, many speculate.)

GOD was present with both Cain and Able, yet Cain killed Able. GOD forewarned Cain but HE did not intervene. The still small voice of GOD still warns people to stop and think before breaking GOD’S Law and to what is right.

Our flesh wants revenge, but GOD tells us to forgive and to restore.

GOD sent HIS only SON JESUS to earth to live a 100% human life. How do we know JESUS was 100% human? HE gave up HIS human life, fully trusting GOD to give HIM eternal life. JESUS willingly left HIS home in Heaven to be the only perfect, sinless acceptable sacrifice to GOD to atone for all sin – past, present, future for those who place their faith in JESUS.

Any person placing his/her faith in JESUS and HIS passion which includes HIS life, death, HIS bodily resurrection, and ascension into Heaven was and is the ONLY way for any person to be forgiven of his/her sin(s) and to receive the miracle of Spiritual Birth. It is a person’s born-again spirit that lives eternally in the new body fashioned by GOD for Heaven and beyond. Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Thrive - Purpose Exemplified (6) - Philippians 1-1-11 - October 13, 2024

 

Bible Study – Thrive – Purpose Exemplified (6) – October 6, 2024

GOD is glorified when we, who have been redeemed from walking in the path of sinners to walking in the path of JESUS.

When a person accepts JESUS as his/her Savior, that person has a change of direction. The person turns around and chooses to walk as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit, WHO is the third person of the Trinity and revelation of GOD to humans.

A person’s faith in JESUS is the beginning of his/her walk as a Spirit-born Christian. Let’s explore as guided by our selected scripture Philippians 1:1-11.

Greetings

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,^[a] 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership (koinonia) in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you^[b] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,^[c] and you are all partners with me in grace (unmerited favor), both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, ¹¹ that filled with the fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

A person must be grafted into the vine, who is JESUS, to produce the “fruit of righteousness.”

Notice, when a person is Spirit-born, he or she produces “fruit” and not “fruits” as often referenced. There is only one fruit that is produced which is defined in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

What must a person do to produce this fruit? JESUS said it best in John 15:1-The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[a] my disciples.

Christlike Love

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

¹¹ “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

¹² “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master^[b] is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

¹⁷ “This is what I command you: Love one another.

In our focus scripture, 1 Philippians 1:5: The Apostle Paul used the word “koinonia” or “fellowship” which carries the idea partnership in the work of the LORD. The term also carries the idea of fellowship as “Spirit-born” or “kindred,” brothers and sisters, reaching out, as a loving family, to those who are in or not in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

The physical birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of JESUS removed forever that which blocked the eternal path to GOD, which is sin. The path to the One True GOD, I AM/YAWEH is open because the sin barrier has been removed. However, every person must accept the Gift of salvation from hell to receive eternal life through faith in JESUS. JESUS knocks upon every person’s heart’s door. Only the person who hears JESUS knocking on his/her heart’s door can open it because the latch is on the inside of that person’s heart.

We find this in Revelation 3:20: ²⁰ See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat (reside) with him/her, and he/she with me.

Sin blocks a person’s relationship with GOD. The Good News of JESUS is that HIS passion of living a sinless life, willingly giving HIS perfect life by the shedding of HIS blood, paid in full for all sin. But there is an important step every person must accept and that is to acknowledge what JESUS did for all people. When JESUS’ lady disciples discovered the stone that had once sealed the entrance to the tomb where JESUS was buried had been rolled away, they looked in and discovered an empty tomb.

JESUS is the first fruit from HIS Passion. Life after bodily death is a fact as proven and guaranteed by the resurrection of JESUS. Over 400 people witnessed the bodily resurrected JESUS before HE ascended into Heaven.

A number of years ago, while driving on Interstate 85, I saw a vision outside my car in the sky accompanied by a booming voice like I had never heard. The voice identified the lady in the vision as Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green was the mother of a lady with whom I worked. We, along with co-workers, had been praying for her healing. I would not have known it was Mrs. Green (I had never met Mrs. Green) if she had not been identified by the clear booming voice. If you care to read about this event in my life, go to actsclass.blogspot.com and look at the top left-hand top corner of the page and there is a search box. Type in the name of Mrs. Green and you should be able to access it.

Yes, there is life after the death of our physical bodies and that is GOOD NEWS for all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS Passion – Physical life – born 100% human/yet GOD – physical death on the cross -proves JESUS was 100% human – physical bodily resurrection from death is proof that JESUS conquered death – physical bodily ascension into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right-hand of HIS FATHER, GOD

As many may know, South Carolina experienced the ravages of hurricane Helene.

We are roughly over 350 miles from the coast where hurricane Helene landed, yet we and cities over 100+ miles further suffered even greater damage.

There is an entourage of people helping – Samaritan’s Purse was one of the first responders I saw serving in North Carolina. The South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief is another organization ministering to the needs of so many people, as well as so many more people, churches, and organizations.

All who have experienced the miracle of Spiritual Birth, the divine sperm of GOD is in them along with the attributes of GOD given via the gifts of the Holy Spirit. All Spirit-born people have the same Father thus Spiritual brothers and sisters.

Spiritual Gifts are given by GOD to those Spirit-born to minister to others and serve the true church. Fellowship or koinonia includes fellow Christians with a heart for those who do not know JESUS as their Savior, as well as meeting their physical needs. Also, to reach out to fellow Spirit-born Christians who may be struggling in their walk with JESUS. We are to come to the aid of each other. The hot coals of a fire gives off heat when together but when separated, they begin to go cold.

It is the same with walking with JESUS, Satan uses every trick to defeat Spirit-born Christians. The ministry of the church is to minister to all: those who are seeking, those who are walking and those who have been gifted to minister. As we approach the second coming of JESUS, the church, the body of true believers, must be united in the bond of love to minister and serve.

When the hurricane went through our area, most, if not all, lost electrical power. Many people who had generators could share electricity with their neighbor and many did so. Neighbors helped neighbors or helped others just out of their desire to help, do good deeds and minister.

We are blessed to have a loving daughter and her family to minister to us along with those out of town checking to see that we were being taken care of. What a blessing!

Some people use the plight of people to take advantage of those with needs. One person I spoke with told me that a truck came through their neighborhood and offered to cut the tree that was on their home for $34,000.

When we see the ravages that the storms of life bring to good and bad people, as Spirit-born people, that is our call to action. We offer comfort, hope, a listening ear, a helping hand and so much more.

JESUS told us in Mark 13:8 “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be earthquakes in different places and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

Folks, JESUS is coming again. Let us who know the truth share the truth and the Gospel Light of JESUS while there is still light.

Blessings!!!