Category: OT Studies

Exodus 14-20: Responding to God’s Deliverance

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(14) God definitively defeated the Egyptians and delivered his people at the Red Sea.  What three things did the people do according to verse 31 (notice the three verbs), and how do these actions relate to each other (see also v10-13)?

(15-17) When faced with a lack of food to eat and water to drink, the people grumbled.  What does that tell you about their faith?

When are we tempted to grumble?  What does that tell us about our faith?

(17) What two things does Moses do when the Amalekites attack?  What does this tell you about the relationship between faith and action?

(19-20) God comes down to the people on Mt Sinai to give them the Ten Commandments.  What motivations are given for their obedience? (see especially 20:2 and 20:18-21).

How might these motivations help you to overcome sin and obey God?

(15) In response to God’s deliverance, the people are to trust God and obey God.  They also break forth in praise.  What do you learn about praising God from the song of Moses?

How might you use Moses’ song in your own life?  What verse or phrase is especially significant to you in your current circumstances?

Exodus 8-13: Battle of the Gods

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(8-12) Describe the battle between God (represented by Moses) and the Egyptian gods (represented by the magicians). What can the magicians do and not do? What is the final result (12:12)?

(8-10) Why does God enter into this battle?

  • 8:10,22; 9:14 –
  • 9:16 –
  • 10:1-2 –

(8-10) There is another battle of the gods taking place in this passage – God vs Pharaoh (who thinks he is a god). What is God demanding (8:1, etc.)? How does Pharaoh respond (9:17, 10:3)?

When are we tempted to act like Pharaoh?

In what ways is Pharaoh forced to humble himself before God? What does this remind us about human rulers (see also 9:16)?

Who hardens Pharaoh’s heart? What do you learn about God’s sovereignty? Man’s choices and responsibility?

(11-13) God clearly wins both battles, forcing Pharaoh to let the people go. Describe the final plague.

How do the people of Israel escape the final plague? How does this point to Jesus (see I Corinthians 5:7)?

What requirements does God give for the resulting annual Passover festival? What reasons are given for keeping the Passover (see especially 13:3-10)?

How does Jesus adapt the Passover for the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20)? How might some of the Passover requirements and reasons apply to this new celebration?

God frees his people from their slavery in Egypt. How does this point to Jesus (see John 8:34-36)?

Exodus 1-7: God Promises Deliverance

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(2-3, 6) God promises deliverance. What motivates God to bring about this deliverance (2:23-25, 3:7-9, 6:2-9)?

What does this tell you about God? Why is this important for you in your life?

(1-2) Though the people weren’t aware of it, God is already at work in chapters 1-2. What preparations for deliverance do you see?

What does this suggest about God and your own trials?

(3) Who is this God who promises to deliver (3:13-17)? What is significant about these names for them? For you?

(3-4) God is going to use Moses as his instrument of deliverance. In what ways does God enable and equip Moses to do the job?

In what similar ways does God enable and equip us to do what he calls us to do?

(6-7) In order to deliver his people, God must be more powerful than the Egyptian gods. How does he show his greater power in chapter 7 as the plagues begin?

What further purpose does God have in mind in these demonstrations of power (6:7, 7:5, 7:17)?

(4-6) When Israel heard that God would deliver them, they believed. But when things got worse, they lost heart. What encouragement does this passage give us to trust God in our own times of waiting for deliverance?

Genesis 45-50: God Is In Control

On By BrianIn OT Studies1 Comment

(12-50) What examples have you seen of God’s sovereignty in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? In Joseph’s life?

(45, 50) Describe the interplay between human actions and God’s sovereignty according to Joseph in 45:5-8 and 50:20. How does that encourage you?

How is the cross the ultimate example of 50:20?

(50) How does Joseph’s belief in God’s sovereignty make it possible for Joseph to forgive his brothers (50:15-21)? How can this belief help you to forgive others?

What else can you learn about forgiveness and reconciliation in this passage?

(48-49) Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons and his own sons based apparently on each son’s character, and yet these blessings are also prophetic. God has a plan for Jacob’s family, and he reveals some of that plan in these blessings. Looking ahead, how do we see God fulfill the following blessings (you may need to consult a study Bible or other Bible resource):

  • Ephraim and Manasseh counted as Jacob’s (48:5) –
  • Ephraim placed before Manasseh (48:17-20) –
  • Ephraim and Manasseh growing into a multitude (48:16) –
  • Reuben and Joseph (49:3-4, 22-26, see I Chronicles 5:1-2) –
  • Simeon and Levi scattered in Israel (49:5-7) –
  • The blessings of Judah (49:8-12) –

(48-49) Jacob twice refers to God as his Shepherd (48:15, 49:24). How does the term “shepherd” convey both God’s care and God’s control? In what circumstances do you need to think of (and turn to) God as your Shepherd this week?

Genesis 40-44: Tale of 3 Men

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(40-41) Joseph’s exaltation: Chapter 39 ended with the idea that God was with Joseph. How do you see that in chapters 40-41?

What part did Joseph’s trials (slavery, prison) play in his eventual exaltation? Can you think of a time when this happened in your life?

Go back to chapter 37. In what ways might Joseph have been tempted with pride?

What part might Joseph’s trials have played in addressing this temptation?

Who does Joseph credit with his ability to interpret dreams? What does that tell you about Joseph?

Describe how Joseph’s life demonstrates the principle found in I Peter 5:6. How do you need to apply this principle in your own life?

(42-44) Jacob’s Reaction: Describe Jacob’s reaction to the idea of sending Benjamin to Egypt (42:36 & 38, 43:6 & 14). What does that tell you about Jacob?

When are you tempted to act like Jacob?

(42-44) Judah’s Transformation: Describe Judah’s part in the brothers selling Joseph into slavery (37:25-28). What do you learn about Judah?

Now compare his past behavior with his actions in 43:8-9 and 44:14-34. What transformation do you see?

In what small ways in your daily life do you need to follow Judah’s transformed example in chapter 44?

Genesis 34-39: God With Us

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(35) Jacob proclaims to his family that God has been with him wherever he has gone (v3). What evidence do you see of that from past chapters?

In this chapter? In your own life?

(34, 37, 38) Despite God being with them to help them, Jacob’s family continues to try to make their own way by resorting back to their old family sin of deception. What examples do you see?

(34, 35, 38, 39) In these six chapters, we see three examples of sexual immorality (Shechem, Reuben, and Judah). Compare Jacob’s approach to temptation in chapter 38 with Joseph’s approach to temptation in chapter 39. What do you learn?

What principles can you learn from Joseph on how to overcome temptations toward sexual immorality, or indeed any sin?

How might we specifically apply these principles to our relationships? Our use of the internet and other media? What our culture tells us?

Reread 39:9b. What specific reason does Joseph give for not giving in to temptation? Review chapters 34 & 38. How many references do you find to God? What conclusions can you make based on this comparison?

(39) Four times in this chapter we read that God was with Joseph. What blessings flowed out of God’s presence with him? (v2-4, 21-23)? How did this blessing relate to God’s promises back in 12:2-3?

At what points was it perhaps less evident that God was with Joseph? When have you questioned if God was with you?

And yet the passage is clear that God was with Joseph even in the bad times (v21). In what situations in your life do you need to cling to the assurance that God is with you?

Genesis 28-33: Jacob’s Journey

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(28) Describe God’s appearance to Jacob (28:10-13). What promises does God make to Jacob (v13-15)?

How does Jacob respond (v16-19)? What bargain does Jacob make with God (28:20-22)?

(29) The family sin of deception comes to bite Jacob. Describe what happens. What irony is found in Laban’s excuse (29:26)?

How does God use even Laban’s sin to accomplish his plan?

What negative consequences result from this deception?

What family sin do you need to overcome?

(29-33) God promised to be with Jacob to keep him. How does God keep his promise throughout Jacob’s journey?

Chapters 29-31 –

Chapters 32-33 –

How has God been with you to keep you on your life’s journey?

(31-33) God tells Jacob to return to the land. How does Jacob respond? In what ways does he acknowledge God’s blessing?

(32-33) Esau comes to meet Jacob with 400 men. In what ways do you see Jacob still scheming to deal with the situation on his own? How do you see him looking to God for help?

What do you do when trials come your way?

(33) How does Jacob conclude his journey (33:20), and why is this significant? When did you come to this point in your life?

Genesis 24-27: God’s Promises Passed Down

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(26) What promises does God make to Isaac in 26:1-5?

(24) In order to fulfill these promises, Isaac needs a good wife. How does God lead Abraham’s servant to Rebekah?

What part does prayer play in this account? In what areas of your life do you need to pray for direction?

What guidelines does Abraham give his servant about finding a wife for Isaac? Why are these guidelines important? What characteristics does the servant look for in Isaac’s future wife? How might young people today learn from these guidelines and characteristics as they look for a spouse?

(25) In order to fulfill God’s promises to Isaac, Isaac needs a son. What problem presents itself, and how does Isaac respond? How do you respond to your problems?

(26) A recurring family sin threatens the fulfillment of God’s promises. What is the sin? How does God protect the family?

In what ways does God provide for the family? How is he providing for you?

(25, 27) In 25:23, God chooses the younger son Jacob to be the heir and receive the Abrahamic promises. How does the birthright and blessing come to Jacob?

What does this tell you about God’s plan and your sin? How does this encourage you?

At the same time, what negative consequences come out of their sins? What warning is found here for us?

Closing Thought: God works through normal (and even dysfunctional!) families to accomplish his purposes.

Genesis 18-23: Trusting God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(18-23) Our God is trustworthy because he keeps his promises. What promises does God make in this passage?

How do you see God keeping his promises in this passage?

(18-23) Our God is trustworthy because he provides for his people. What examples of his provision do you see in this passage?

How have you seen his provision in your life?

(18-23) Our God is trustworthy because he protects his people. What examples of his protection do you see in this passage?

Does that mean we will never be hurt or threatened or die? What does it mean according to the passage? How have you seen his protection in your life?

(20) Genesis 20 records an example of Abraham’s failure to trust God. What do you observe about his failure?

When do you see similar failures in your life? Why?

(22) Genesis 22 records an amazing example of Abraham’s faith in God. Why was the test so hard? Why was it necessary (see v12)?

What are you tempted to put before God?

Why was Abraham’s faith in God essential to pass the test? What did he believe God would do? (v5 & 8; see also Hebrews 11:17-19)

In what situations do you need to trust God right now? From this passage, what do you need to do to trust God in those situations?

Genesis 12-17: Abraham

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(12, 13, 15, 17) What promises does God make to Abraham in these verses?

12:1-3, 7 –

13:14-17 –

15:1-6, 18-20 –

17:4-8 –

How do these promises relate to you? (See Galatians 3:7-9, 16, 23, Psalm 3:3, Hebrews 8:10)

(12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) Abraham is known as a man of faith. What is faith according to Hebrews 11:1? Put it in your own words.

Describe the ups and downs of Abraham’s faith in the Lord. How do you see this in your own life?

When he failed to trust in the Lord, what was he trusting in? What else are you tempted to trust in?

How did his faith in God or other things influence his actions? What were the results? How do you see this in your own life?

In 15:6, Abraham believes God, and it is counted to him as righteousness. How does this pattern relate to us today (see Romans 4:1-5, 13-25)?

How do you need to grow in your faith in the Lord?