You are here: Home / Archives for Bible Reading Notes

Notes: Genesis 36-37

Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece

English Language Bible Study Guide for February 9, 2008

 

The account of the death of Isaac (chapter 35) is followed by the genealogy of Esau; and then the narrative of Jacob’s family continues to the end of the book of Genesis.

Genesis 36

 

I. Esau, who is Edom (1-19:)

1, 8, 19, 43: The point is this: Esau is Edom. So when we later find the nation of Edom opposing the nation of Israel, we understand the root of the turmoil.

6-7: Both Esau and Jacob were wealthy, and the land could not sustain both households. Hence they amicably parted ways, as did their grandfather Abraham separate from his nephew Lot.

 

II. Dukes and Kings of Seir/Edom (20-42:)

20-42: Some of these names are found elsewhere in scripture; but many are never mentioned again outside of this list.

24: In the midst of the names there are a couple of additional comments. In this verse one Anah is noted as the one who found the mules in the wilderness.

31: Edom had kings before the nation of Israel did.

 

Genesis 37

 

I. Joseph, more beloved of his father than the other sons, relates his dreams (1-11:)

2: If Joseph was 17, and he was son #11, then how old must the others have been? This was not just another teenage prank.

3-4: Favoritism should cautiously be guarded against. You would think that Jacob would have learned that lesson from observing his father’s affection for Esau.

5: Joseph’s dreams portraying his advancement above his brothers didn’t help ingratiate him to them either.

11: But Isaac paid attention.

 

II. Joseph is thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers (12-24:)

18: The brothers conspire to kill Joseph

21: Reuben intends to help Joseph

22: Joseph is cast into a dry pit, without his colorful coat, to await the brothers’ determination on what to do with him

 

III. Joseph is sold to Ishmaelites/Midianite merchants (25-30:)

26-27: Judah suggests selling Joseph to a passing caravan headed to Egypt; and the brothers agree.

28: Twenty pieces of silver (split 10 ways?)

29: Reuben returns to help Joseph but finds him missing

 

IV. Joseph is sold to an Egyptian captain; but his brothers pretend not to know anything about his disappearance (31-36:)

31-32: Joseph’s colorful coat is dipped in animal blood and sent to Jacob for identification

33-35: Jacob mourns Joseph’s all-too-apparent demise by wild animals; and his whole family (including the guilty brothers) join him

36: Meanwhile, the Midianite caravan arrives in Egypt and Joseph, who had announced his dream of being a leader, becomes a slave in the house of Potiphar.

 

Meditation Points:

  1. Were not these the same people who would avenge the honor of their sister? And now they would kill their little brother?
  2. Who would expect complete harmony among siblings who share a father but not his affection?
  3. And who would expect men with such sin in their hearts to understand, let alone agree with, one whom God Himself favored highly?
  4. That Reuben would save Joseph is admirable and unexpected.
  5. Humanly speaking, it was the greed of the older brothers which saved Joseph.
  6. Twenty pieces of silver.  What is your life worth?
  7. As Jacob deceived his father, so now his sons deceive him.
  8. God had prevented Joseph’s grandfather from going to Egypt.
  9. From sovereign to slave; from a hole in the ground to the great city.

 

[print_link]

Notes: Genesis 34-35

English Language Bible Study Guide for February 8, 2008

Jacob and his family blend in with their neighbors. Or not.

Genesis 34

 

I.  The prince’s Di (1-5:)

1: “Going out” is not a crime is it? Wanting to “see” what’s going on around you is not a crime is it?

2: A significant point is that Shechem “defiled” Dinah. (Compare “defiled”/”humbled” in verses 5 & 13, “folly” in verse 7, “as with a harlot” in verse 31.)

3: Is this affection a turn of events?

 

II. The pre-wedding proposal (6-17:)

6, 8-12: Negotiating for a bride

9-10: Why can’t we just get along with one another?

11-12: Shechem speaks with Dinah’s father

14-17: Using religion as an excuse for sin

 

III. Love and greed can make a man do the most painful things (18-24:)

19: At least Shechem wasn’t thinking about the money as were his neighbors

23: It’s like a big corporate takeover–we give a little with this circumcision thing, but then we get a lot when we have our people in place.

 

IV. Slaying the innocent with the guilty (25-31:)

25: How much boldness does it take to charge the enemy when his pants are down?

26: Dinah was in the house? Voluntarily?

27-29: Spoiling the enemy. Or were they?

30: Sons #2 and #3 disgrace themselves, dishonor their father and endanger their families.

31: Yes, Shechem had done wrong. But that doesn’t justify Simeon and Levi’s conduct.

 

Meditation Points:

  1. Innocent amusement often leads us into trouble, whether we ask for it or not.
  2. It may not be possible, at this late date, to determine Dinah’s part, if any, in encouraging Shechem; but surely her brothers thought that she had been mistreated.
  3. Laban said that custom forbad Rachel’s marrying before Leah’s; Jacob’s sons go one better and plead that religious custom requires all in-laws to be circumcised.
  4. Greedily the men consented to circumcision, not suspecting what would occur 3 days later
  5. Can anyone justify the mass murder that took place?
  6. Simeon and Levi remove themselves from the line of Messiah’s descent.

 

Genesis 35

 

I. Out with the images once for all (1-5:)

2: Jacob knew that people in his household were holding (and using) idols/images

4: But all false religion must be put away if he and they were to walk with God

4: Earrings?

5: Fear of God in the hearts of would-be attackers kept Jacob’s family safe

 

II. The covenant confirmed (again) (6-15:)

6: As instructed, Jacob journeyed back to Bethel

10: The name change revisited

11: El-Shaddai. The God of Abraham

14: The drink offering is poured out–not drunk.

 

III. The twelfth son (16-20:)

18: With her dying breath Rachel named him “Benoni”, but Jacob called him “Benjamin.”

20: Jacob erected another pillar

 

IV. Jacob visits his father before Isaac dies (21-29:)

22. Reuben, the firstborn, removes himself from the line of descent

23-26: Jacob’s 12 sons listed

27: Finally back home

28-29: Isaac died at age 180.

 

Meditation Points:

  1. Do you have any idols or images which you should bury?
  2. Are your father and grandfather believers?
  3. Pillars, reminders of having met God. Do you carry any reminders of precious seasons of fellowship with God?
  4. Often, when we are trying hardest to please God, others close to us jump into sin.
  5. Isaac was old and weak-eyed at the time of Jacob’s departure. But God graciously granted that Jacob could see his father again after more than 20 years apart.

 

[print_link]

Notes: Genesis 32-33

Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece

English Language Bible Study Guide for February 7, 2008

 

Jacob returns home

Genesis 32

I.  Jacob sees angels (1-2:)

1: Angels are messenger-servants of God (Hebrews 1:14) who go where God sends them

2: Jacob recognized them for what they were

 

II. Jacob sends messengers to Esau (3-8:)

3: Jacob had his own “angels” whom he sent to prepare the way for a reunion with his estranged brother Esau.

6: Abraham had victory with 300 men against armies; what will Esau do with 400 men against Jacob’s household?

7-8: Jacob determines to divide his group into two companies

 

III. Jacob asks God to protect him (9-12:)

9: Jacob reminds God that He has been faithful to Jacob’s Grandfather and Father

10: Unworthy

12: Jacob relies on God’s faithfulness to His promises

 

IV. Jacob sends peace offerings to Esau (13-23:)

14-19: The gifts are sent in waves, one after the other

20: Jacob’s goal was to buy Esau’s favor

 

V. Jacob wrestles with God (24-32:)

24: A restless night wrestling with God

25: Can Man win a contest like this?

26: Determination to receive God’s blessing

27-28: Name changed from “Jacob” to “Israel”. Jacob’s grandmother was named “Princess” by God; now Jacob is named “Prince”.

29: Jacob wanted to know God’s name. Did he learn it?

30: Is it possible to see God face to face?

31: Jacob’s limp

32: A dietary custom

 

Meditation Points:

When we pray and mention God’s specific promises we are praying in faith, asking and believing that God will do all that He promised.

Why would someone who knows God have to fight with God?

 

Genesis 33

I. Jacob meets Esau (1-4:)

1-2: Jacob sends the handmaids and their children first, followed by Leah and her children and then Rachel and Joseph.

3: He runs ahead of the women and children to meet Esau

4: Esau greets Jacob like the long-lost prodigal brother that he was

 

II. Jacob introduces his family (5-7:)

5-7: Jacob gives God credit for such a large family

6-8: The women in turn present themselves and their children before Esau

 

III. Jacob insists that Esau keep the gifts (8-13:)

8: Esau asks the meaning of the groups of animals that had preceded Jacob and his family; and Jacob personally declares them to be a gift intended to allay Esau’s wrath

9-11: Jacob insists that Esau accept the gifts which Jacob has received from God.

11-12: Esau agrees to keep the animals, and suggests that Jacob and his family go home together

13: Jacob asks to be excuse from the journey for the sake of the women and children

 

Meditation Points:

Should we attempt to buy someone’s affections?

 

[print_link]

Notes: Genesis 31

Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece

English language Bible study guide for February 6, 2008

 

Genesis 31: Jacob and his family leave the house of Laban

I.  Jacob discusses leaving with his wives (1-16:)

3: It is the Lord who tells Jacob that it’s time to leave

4-13: Jacob tells Rachel and Leah what’s on his mind

5: His relationship with Laban is not what it used to be

6: He has served Laban faithfully

7: He has had his wages changed ten times

7, 9, 11, 13: God has protected, provided and prophesied to him

13: God remembers Jacob’s vow

14-16: Rachel and Leah bemoan the fact that their father has treated them like slaves

16: The wives agree that Jacob should do what God has told him to do

 

II. Jacob leaves, and Laban catches up a week later (17-24:)

17-20: Jacob leaves with his wives and children, his servants and his flocks–without telling Laban

19: Rachel steal’s her father’s images. More on this later

22. Jacob had a three-day lead, and Laban caught up with him after seven days’ journey

24: God strictly warned Laban not to badger Jacob

 

III. Jacob is accuses of having stolen Laban’s idols (25-35:)

26: Laban requires an explanation for Jacob’s sudden departure

27: He suggests that there should have been a grand farewell party first

28: He regrets not having kissed his family before their departure

29: Laban boasts of his power to hurt Jacob, but concedes that God forbids it

30: He understands that Jacob might be homesick; but Laban wonders why Jacob would steal Laban’s gods (cp. "images" of verse 19).

31: Jacob says he was afraid of what Laban might have done to prevent his family from traveling with Jacob

32: And, denying any knowledge of the missing idols, Jacob allows Laban to search the camp

34-35: Rachel claims to be unable to get up from her seat (over the idols) when Laban walks in, and thus successfully keeps the idols hidden

 

IV. Jacob defends himself against Laban’s accusations (36-42:)

36: When Laban cannot find the missing teraphim (idols, images), Jacob lashes out at such offensive false accusations

38: Jacob was supposed to visit Laban only a brief time, until Esau calmed down; but instead, Jacob stayed with Laban for 20 years.

42: Even now, Jacob says, if God were not on his side Laban would be stealing from him.

 

V. Jacob covenants with Laban never to harm him (43-55:)

44: A formal covenant of peace is made between Jacob and Laban

49: The Mizpah blessing. But was it that?

 

Meditation Points:

  1. Jacob stuck at his job for 20 years; and God miraculously provided for his retirement.
  2. Rachel and Leah felt that their father "sold" them.  That is what happened, isn’t it?
  3. Jacob had vowed to serve God if God would protect him all the time in the foreign land; and now God is calling Jacob to be true to his word.
  4. Good advice: do whatever God says to do.
  5. Leaving without saying goodbye.
  6. God stops Laban from hurting Jacob. Can God overrule the so-called free will of sinful man?
  7. Do you see that these household images/idols/gods are VERY important to Laban? And Rachel knew it to be so! Man is so carnal that he thinks God must be carnal, too; and man makes images of God.
  8. Rachel stole and then lied to cover it up. One sin often leads to another.
  9. Setting up markers to remind us of our promises to others.

 

[print_link]