Tag: Discipleship

Reflections on Genesis 37-39

On By BrianIn OT Reflections1 Comment

In our reading today we see the glaring difference between living with God in mind and living with self in mind:

  • Joseph’s godly example – Joseph lived with God in mind. When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, his response is clear – “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” When pressed, he runs lest he sin against God. How are you being tempted to sin against God? How will you respond? How might you grow in living with God in view?
  • Judah’s selfish example – While Joseph flees temptation, Judah seeks it out by approaching Tamar. Rather than living with God in mind, he is thinking only of himself. Earlier Judah suggested to his brothers that they sell Joseph to the traders. He says, “What profit is it….” For twenty shekels of silver he sells his brother. In what ways are you living selfishly for your own gain?

Reflections on Genesis 34-36

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God commands Jacob to go to Bethel (meaning the house of God) and built an altar to God. In preparation, Jacob commands his family to put away all foreign gods. Note:

  • Faithfulness to God – You cannot serve God and foreign gods – you must make a choice. If you serve God, you must put away all other gods. Anything that you honor or trust can be a god to you. Are there gods you need to put away today?
  • God answers – Jacob testifies that God is a God who answers prayer. False gods can’t answer prayer, but the true God does! How have you seen God answer prayer? Do you pray with expectation that he will answer?
  • God’s presence – Jacob testifies that God has always been with him. God is always with you too. When has God’s presence been a comfort to you?
  • God’s protection – As chapter 34 ends, Jacob is afraid the cities in the area will attack him, but God fills the cities with terror so they will not pursue Jacob as he travels to Bethel. False gods can’t protect us, but God can. When have you seen God’s hand of protection in your life?

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?

Reflections on Genesis 31-33

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God faithfully brings Jacob back home, and Jacob finally comes home to God.

  • God’s faithfulness – God had promised to safely bring Jacob back home, and God keeps his promise. How has God been faithful to you this week?
  • Jacob’s prayer – Afraid of his brother Esau, Jacob cries out to God in prayer. Notice that Jacob approaches humbly, claims God’s promises, and makes his request. How might you incorporate these three elements in your prayers?
  • Jacob’s humility – Jacob shows an amazing character change from when he left several years ago. He humbly acknowledges his unworthiness to God. And he treats his brother with utmost humility and respect that undoubtedly helps to end a family quarrel. How do you relate to God and the people around you?
  • Jacob’s God – Our passage ends with a most striking verse. Until now, Jacob (renamed Israel in the wrestling match) always refers to God as the God of Abraham or Isaac. Now he builds an altar to God and calls it El-Elohe-Israel, meaning God, the God of Israel. Finally, Jacob (or Israel) has come to serve the God of his fathers. Have you come to the place where you can fill in the blank with your name? God, the God of _______

Reflections on Genesis 28-30

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God is at work in Jacob’s life. God’s purpose will stand:

  • Abrahamic Covenant – The covenant God made with Abraham continues to go forward. Having passed through Isaac, it now continues to Jacob. Land, descendants, and all nations blessed through him is the continued promise. God’s purpose will stand.
  • Jacob’s lack of commitment – Interestingly, it appears that Jacob is not yet a follower of God. Jacob says that if God will bring him back, then he will serve God. God has promised to bring him back, and God will be working in Jacob’s life to bring him back a changed man. God’s purpose will stand. How have you seen God at work in your life – even before you came to follow him?
  • More lies and deceit – Laban, like his sister Rebekah, is a deceiver. Jacob, also a deceiver, works seven years for Rachel, and receives Leah instead. Jacob the deceiver is deceived by another! But in the midst of this dishonest mess, God’s plan continues. He takes the bad and uses it for good. God’s purpose will stand. How have you seen God take your bad to bring about good?

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?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

John Calvin’s 4 Rules of Prayer – Joel Beeke (Ligonier)
For John Calvin, prayer cannot be accomplished without discipline. He writes, “Unless we fix certain hours in the day for prayer, it easily slips from our memory.” He goes on to prescribe several rules to guide believers in offering effectual, fervent prayer.

The Character of the Christian: Sound Judgment – Tim Challies
When we put these traits together we see a person who has mastered his thinking and behavior so he is now capable of making wise judgments. His own life is a showcase of such wisdom.

Helping One Another Forsake Sin and Follow Jesus – Randy Alcorn
We should share the truth with humility, as an act of grace, reminding ourselves and each other that we desperately need God’s grace every bit as much as do those we’re offering it to.

How to Have Intimacy with God– Jon Bloom (DG)
The secret to drawing near to God and having him draw near to us is revealed clearly in the Bible: we draw near to God through faith in Christ who alone gives us access to him…

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Use Every Means of Grace

On By BrianIn Classic Quotes

Would you like to possess more faith? Do you find believing so pleasant, that you would like to believe more? Then take heed that you are diligent in the use of every means of grace—diligent in your private communion with God—diligent in your daily watchfulness over time, temper, and tongue—diligent in your private Bible reading—diligent in your own private prayers. It is vain to expect spiritual prosperity, when we are careless about these things. Let those who will, call it excessively precise and legal to be particular about these things. I only reply, that there never was an eminent saint who neglected them.

– J.C. Ryle