Category: OT Studies

Joshua 1-7: Follow God’s Plan

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) God is going to use Joshua to bring the people of Israel into the Promised Land, but Joshua must follow God’s plan.  What specific instructions is Joshua given in v8?

How might we apply this to our own lives?

(1) Joshua will face much conflict as he follows God’s plan. What assurances and instructions does God give to him in v5-9?

How might those assurances help you as you face conflict?

In what situations do you need to be strong and courageous?

(2, 6) What has Rahab heard about God and His plan?  Does she believe it?  How does she act on her belief (see Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25)?  What blessing befalls her (see Matthew 1:5)?

What significance does her story have for us today?

(5) Who appears to Joshua in v13-15?  Whose side is he on?  What lessons can we learn from this?

(3-6) What instructions does God give for crossing the Jordan River?  Is this a typical plan for crossing a river?  What happens?

What instructions does God give AFTER they cross the river (5:1-9)?  Does this seem like good military strategy?

What instructions does God give for taking Jericho?  Do you think this is a typical battle plan?  What happens?

When might obedience to God’s instructions seem a bit unusual or even crazy today?  What is required of us to obey God in those situations?  (What was required of Israel?)

(7) Achan failed to follow God’s instructions.  Why?  What were the results?  Who was affected by his sin?

Exodus-Deuteronomy: Four Themes

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(Exodus 11-13, 14-15, 20) Describe the final plague.  How do the people of Israel escape?  How does this point to Jesus (I Corinthians 5:7)?

Every year, the people of Israel were to re-enact the Passover event.  How does Jesus adapt the Passover festival for the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20)?

Through the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea, God frees his people from slavery in Egypt.  How does this point to Jesus (John 8:34-36)?

How did the people respond to their salvation (14:31, 15:1-21)?  How should we respond to our salvation (see I Peter 1:3-9, 17-19)?

What further response did God expect the people to have in 20:1-21?  What does God expect of us (see I Peter 1:14-16)?

(Leviticus 1-9, 17) What arrangement did God make for when the people failed to obey God’s commands?

How does this point to Jesus (Hebrews 9:24-26)?

(Exodus 19-24, Deuteronomy 5-32) These passages present to the people of Israel what we call the Mosaic Covenant.  It was first given at Mt. Sinai (Exodus) and renewed as the people prepared to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy).  How does this covenant begin (Exodus 20:2, Deuteronomy 5:6)?

What then follows (Exodus 20-23, Deuteronomy 5-26)?

Notice then the condition.  What will happen if they obey (Exodus 19:5-6, 23:22; Deuteronomy 28:1-14)?

What will happen if they disobey (Deuteronomy 27:15-26, 28:15-68)?

How does this play out in the history of Israel?

How does Jesus address the Mosiac Covenant for us?

  • Matthew 5:17, I Peter 2:22 –
  • Galatians 3:10-14 –
  • Hebrews 7:22 & 8:6, 13 –

(Exodus 25-29) What was the main purpose of the tabernacle (25:8, 29:45-46)?

How does the tabernacle point forward to Jesus (John 1:14)?

To the church (Ephesians 2:19-22)?

To the Christian (I Corinthians 6:19-20)?

To the future kingdom (Revelation 21:3, 22)?

How should we respond to these truths?

Genesis 1-50: Major Themes

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(Genesis 1-2) The Bible begins with God creating the world.  What do you learn about God from these two chapters?

How do you think we should respond toward Him?

In what special way did God make people (1:26-27)?

Because of this, we have great value.  How should this affect the way we think about ourselves?  How we treat others?

(Genesis 3) Describe the first temptation in v1-6.  What similarities do you find today?

What are the consequences of their sin (v8-24)?

What hope does God give them in v15?

(Genesis 6-8) Describe humanity’s fallen condition (6:5, 11-13; 8:21)?

What did God do in response to man’s wickedness?  What does this tell you about God’s view of sin?

What is our only hope of escape (6:8)?

(Genesis 12-36) What promises did God make to Abraham in 12:1-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:1-6, 18-20; 17:4-8?

How do the following verses relate to these promises which we call the Abrahamic Covenant?

  • 21:1-5 –
  • 26:1-5 –
  • 28:10-17 –

How does God begin to fulfill these promises in Exodus through Deuteronomy?

How do these promises relate to you (Galatians 3:7-9, 16, 29)?

How did Abraham respond to God’s promises, and what was the result (15:6)?

How does this pattern relate to us (Romans 4:1-5, 23-25)?

(Genesis 37-50) What examples do you see of God’s sovereignty (reign, control) in the life of Joseph?

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 (see Acts 4:24-28)?

 

Deuteronomy 27-34: Two Paths

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(27-32) Moses presents two paths to the people of Israel.  One path is the road of disobedience.  Describe the heart of the person who takes this path (29:4, 18-19; 30:17).

What would be the results according to 28:15-68?  Be specific.

 (27-32) The second path is the road of obedience.  Describe the heart of the person who takes this path (28:47, 30:6, 14, 32:46).

How does a person get this kind of heart?

What would be the results according to 28:1-14?  Be specific.  Compare with the results of disobedience.

(29-31) What part does the Word play in in choosing the path of obedience (29:29, 30:11-14, 31:10-13, see Hebrews 2:1)?

How might we apply these principles to our lives today?

(31-32) Moses wrote a song to encourage the people to follow the path of obedience.  What part have songs played in your life to encourage you to follow one of the two paths?

(31) The path of obedience places us on a path of conflict.  Israel was going to follow God into the Promised Land.  What instructions and assurances does God give the people (v1-8, 23)?

How do these instructions and assurances apply to our conflicts today (see also Matthew 28:19-20)?

(27) What happens when we fail to obey (v26)?  How does Jesus address this need in our lives (Galatians 3:10-14)?

(34) The book closes by stating that there has never been another prophet like Moses. But we know another prophet is coming (18:15-19) who will be greater (Hebrews 3:1-5).  In what ways?  How must we respond?

Deuteronomy 18-26: Laws, Laws, Laws!

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(19-21) Our passage this week is filled with laws – and many are further explanations and applications of the Ten Commandments.  Let’s consider just one – the sixth commandment – you shall not murder.  How do you see this commandment explained and applied to Israel in these chapters?

Are these explanations and applications directly applicable for us today?  Why or why not?

Are there principles we might learn from these explanations and applications that would be applicable for us today?  What might they be?

(25) That we are right to take principles from the Law of Moses and apply those principles to our lives today is demonstrated by Paul.  What principle does Paul take from verse 4 that he applies to the church today in I Corinthians 9:7-11?

(18, 22-25) The context of the passage suggests some laws are universal laws by calling the breaking of that law an “abomination to the Lord.”  How might we need to specifically apply each of these laws to our world today?

  • 18:9-14 –
  • 22:5 –
  • 23:17-18 –
  • 24:1-4 –
  • 25:13-16 –

(13, 18) Moses predicts the coming of another prophet who will give God’s commands.  What must God’s people do in response to this prophet (8:15, 18-19)?

What tests must a true prophet pass (13:1-5, 18:20-22)?

Who is this prophet (John 6:14, 7:40, Acts 3:18-24, 7:37)?

(21, 27) Who is cursed by God according to 21:23 and 27:26?  How did Jesus address our curse (Galatians 3:10-14)?

Deuteronomy 9-17: Our Relationship with God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(9-11) Who is this God with whom we have a relationship?  What do you learn about him from this passage?

What do these attributes suggest about how we should relate to God?

(14) Who are we in relationship to God according to v1-2?

What does this suggest about how we should relate to God?

(10-11, 13) What words are used in these verses to describe how we should relate to God (10:12-13, 11:1, 11:13, 13:4)?

How do these words relate to each other?

What part does the heart play (see also 10:16, 11:18)?  Why is that important to recognize?

(12-13) Israel’s relationship to God was to be exclusive.  No other gods were permitted.  What specific steps was Israel to take to keep from following other gods?

How might we be vigilant today to guard our hearts from idols and remain wholly faithful to our God?

(12, 14) As part of their relationship with God, the people were to bring their sacrifices and tithes before the Lord in order to eat and rejoice before the Lord (12:12, 12:18, 14:26).  When do we gather to rejoice before the Lord?  Why is this so important?

(15-17) An important part of their relationship with God was to be generous to the poor and just in their dealings.  If we love God, we must love people. Give examples of how we might live this out.

Deuteronomy 1-8: Fear Our Great God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1-8) What do you learn about God from this passage?  List His attributes and actions.

Taken all together, what picture of God does this passage paint?

(7) And this God is our God.  What does 7:6 tell us about being his people (see also I Peter 2:9)?

How does this encourage you?  Challenge you?

(1-8) As God’s people, we should fear our great God (5:29, 6:2, 6:13, 6:24, 8:6).  We need to take God seriously.  What does that look like according to the following verses?

  • 5:29, 6:2, 6:24, 8:6 –
  • 6:5 –
  • 4:15-19, 5:7-10, 7:3-5, 7:16 –
  • 4:9, 4:23, 6:6-12, 8:2, 8:11-14, 8:19 –

What are some practical things that we can do to apply these verses?

  • 1:21, 1:29-30, 3:2, 3:22, 7:17-21 –

In what situations in your life do you need to apply these verses?

Numbers 30-36: The Land

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(30) God promised Abraham that his descendants would receive the land of Canaan.  Now in Numbers, his descendants are preparing to enter the land.  God is faithful to keep his promises.  In that context, what does God expect his people to do (v1-2)?  Practically, how should this effect our words and actions?

When might someone be excused from keeping their vow (v3-16)?  Do you think this principle applies today?  Explain.

(33) As they prepare to enter the land, Moses reviews their journey.  Again, God has been faithful.  Have you ever reviewed your life journey?  Give one example of God’s faithfulness.

(33) As they enter the land, they are to drive out its inhabitants and all their pagan influences.  Why would this be important?

How does chapter 25 point to the urgency of this command?  What did God have Israel do in response (chapter 31)?  What does that tell you about God and sin?

We can’t drive pagan influences from our land today, but we can seek to drive pagan influences from our church and homes.  What might that look like?

(35) Scattered throughout the land, there were to be six cities of refuge.  What were they for?  How do they point to Jesus (Hebrews 6:16)?

What principles were used to determine if someone committed murder or not?  How does this relate to teaching in the New Testament (Matthew 5:21-22, I John 3:15)?

If a person killed another by accident, how long was he required to stay in the city of refuge to escape the avenger?  How might this point to Jesus?

What did murder do to the land?  What does that tell us about our own land?

Numbers 22-29: Our Sovereign King

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(22-24) God is sovereign even over pagan prophets and nations.  Trace His sovereign control through the story of Balak and Balaam.  What examples do you see in 22:1-21, 22:22-41, 23:1-24:25?

How do these examples encourage you as you see pagan opposition to the church around the world?

(22-24) God is also sovereign over time, as he makes promises that he then fulfills.  In what ways do Balaam’s oracles restate the Abrahamic Covenant’s promise of many people, land, a great nation, and blessing?

Who do you think Balaam’s oracle in 24:17-19 refers, and why?

God is able and faithful to keep his promises.  Why is that important to you today?

(25) In what ways does Israel rebel against their King in this passage?  How does God respond?

What did Phineas do?  How do his actions point to Jesus?

(26-27) After 40 years, they prepare again to enter the land.  God calls them to take another census. What purposes does the census have (26:2, 52-56, 63-65)?  How do these purposes point to God as their sovereign king?

(28-29) As their King, God determines how they are to use their time, keeping regular Sabbaths and festivals.  What would it look like for us to apply this principle to our own lives – how does God expect us to use our time?

Consider how many animals and how much grain would be required for the daily, weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices.  How is Jesus a better sacrifice (Hebrews 10:11-14)?

Numbers 15-21: Who Will You Follow?

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(15) What were the tassels for (v37-41)?  What might you use for the same purpose?

When are you tempted to follow your own heart and eyes?

(16) What was the nature of Korah’s rebellion – who did they want to follow?  Describe what happened.

How did the people respond to God’s punishment of Korah and company?  What does their response tell us about who they were following?

What did God do?  How does Aaron’s actions point to Jesus?

(17) What did God do to confirm his choice of Moses and Aaron as leaders?  How does following God’s chosen leaders relate to following God?  How might Aaron’s budding staff point to Jesus?

(18) What was the priest’s portion and inheritance (v20)?

David picks up on this idea in Psalm 16:5-6.   David wasn’t a priest, so what did he mean?  What does this tell us about David’s heart?  What does the heart have to do with following?

(20) How did the people fail to follow God in v2-13?  What were they following?  When are we tempted to do the same?

How did Moses fail to follow God?  Describe Moses’ attitude.  What were the consequences of his sin?

How does the rock and water point to Jesus (I Corinthians 10:4, John 4:13-1)?

(21) The people rebelled again in v4-9.  What happened?

What did God do to save them?  How does this point to Jesus who saves us when we fail to follow (John 3:14-16)?