Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 38

2/7/12

Genesis 38

-The line of Judah is depicted here in this chapter. This has immense importance due to the fact that Perez is the forefather of both David and Jesus Christ. Perez was the son of Judah through Tamar (one of four women in the ancestral line of Jesus mentioned along with Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba in the book of Matthew, Matthew 1:1-6).

-Tamar was married to Judah’s sons Er and Onan, but the LORD took them because they were evil and did displeasing things before the LORD. Tamar was promised Judah’s third son, Shelah, when he came of age as a husband.

-However, Judah did not follow through with his word, and Tamar posed as a prostitute at the gateway to the city named Enaim on the road to Timnah in order to bear children by Judah. She must have known that Judah was susceptible to this type of sin, which is a sign of questionable character on the part of Judah. We saw in chapter 37 that he also was the one who had the idea of selling his brother Joseph into slavery. Therefore, we can see that although Judah has greatness in his family line, he is a man of flesh and depravity like anyone else. *Application* He needed God’s grace just like we do.

-Judah goes into Tamar thinking she was a temple prostitute and they bear a son. He is angry when he finds out she is pregnant, but she has his seal and chord and staff that he had pledged to her upon payment of a young goat for her service. Therefore, Judah knows that she is more righteous than he because he lied about giving her his son and has now been caught in his sexual sin. Perez is born as the first of twins, and Judah never has relations with her again.

Verse to memorize: Genesis 38:26

Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 37

2/6/12

Genesis 37

-Jacob’s generations now begin their life in Canaan where his father had lived. In fact he spent some years with his father and brother Esau in fairly close proximity.

-The story now focuses on Joseph in his seventeenth year of life. He rats out his brothers bringing a bad report to his father of them provoking them to despise him and hate him. These feelings are certainly exacerbated by the fact that Israel loved Joseph more than the rest of his sons. *Application* Favoritism will breed problems in any situation. God is impartial (2 Chronicles 19:7, Job 34:19, Acts 10:34, Rom. 2:11, Gal. 2:6, Eph. 6:9, Col. 3:25, 1 Pet. 1:17). We need to love well and equally.

-The sibling rivalry got to the point where they could not speak on friendly terms with Joseph on friendly terms. He had been given a multi-colored tunic (full length robe) by his father as a sign of his favored position. The Scripture relates that Israel loved Joseph because he was a boy of his old age, and one can easily read between the lines here to note that Joseph was his first son of his favored wife Rachel. The LORD uses this all for His good pleasure in the salvation of the Abrahamic line, but certainly we can see some major problems within the family here at this point.

-Joseph is given the ability of prophecy and interpretation of dreams. He has his first recorded dream here in this chapter and relates it to his brothers regarding shaves in a field with his rising above his brothers and standing erect. His brothers hated him even more for his supposed arrogance. Joseph has yet another dream where the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to him. Even his father rebuked him for this dream, yet he kept this saying in his mind.

-The time came when Joseph was called upon to go check on his brothers who were out tending the flock in what was supposed to be Shechem. Shechem was probably a good 5 day journey through the hill country to the north. When Joseph could not find them there he got word that they had gone even further north to Dothan, so Joseph went there.

-As the brothers saw him coming in all his glory of the colored tunic they made snide comments about him being a dreamer and plotted to kill him. They were going to lie about his death to his father telling him a wild beast devoured him. Deceptions persist in this family as a sin pattern.

-Reuben is used of God to save Joseph at this crucial point. He tells them to shed no blood and just throw him into a pit. He had designs on rescuing him later and restoring him to his father. This could have been good will and genuine concern, but it may have been motivated by selfish desires. It could have been that he was thinking of his future blessing and knew that he would be held responsible for younger brother’s well being ultimately. I believe it was more than likely his good will that prevailed and saved his brother. *Application* Here is another instance in Scripture that is intriguing as to the sovereignty of God in free will matters. Joseph gives us some insight into this later on in Genesis 50:20. What is meant for evil actually can be God at work in order to bring a desired result in the whole economy of things. Never forget this is tough situations! Rest in Christ and let His plan develop.

-Judah has the idea of selling their boisterous and annoying brother as a slave as some Ishmaelite traders come by. Dothan was apparently on a very busy trade route during this time. The Ishmaelites do not get to purchase Joseph, but soon some Midianite traders come by. The brothers, unbeknownst to Reuben, sell him as a slave to these Midianites who were going to Egypt on business for twenty shekels of silver. Reuben is distraught with finding out about his brother’s disappearance and they devise a lie that indeed a wild animal devoured him by revealing his bloody colored tunic from goat’s blood.

-At the sight of this tunic and the news of the lying brothers, Jacob is distraught tearing his clothes and putting on sackcloth and mourned for many days. Again Jacob pays consequences for his deceptions as a young man by having to endure the pain of others deceiving him later in his life. Jacob encounters grief in a powerful way here needlessly. *Application* Sin always has consequences further and deeper than we can ever imagine.

-Interesting textual note- Israel is again referred to as Jacob denoting how deception is interwoven to the saga.

-Joseph now is in custody as a slave facing a month long or so trip south through the desert into Egypt. He was probably chained and walked the whole way. His charmed life certainly appeared to be over and his brothers could have never expected to see him again. He would be treated like baggage and sold as a piece of merchandise, but God was in total control of his life. He is sold to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard in the most advanced civilization of the region and probably the world. He would observe the great pyramids, live in beautifully constructed homes, and deal with sophisticated people. He would have to learn a new language and probably was keenly aware of their spiritual blindness in this polytheistic culture.

Verse to memorize: Genesis 37:4-5

Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 36

2/5/12

Genesis 36

-The generations of Esau are listed with his wives of Canaan.

-He parted ways from Isaac and Jacob with their property and livestock because the land could not sustain them because they had grown too large to stay close together. Therefore, Esau and his people settled in the hill country of Seir, east and south of the Dead Sea area in what became known as Edom.

-Many princes and chiefs came from his line.

-In the days of David and Solomon the Edomites were a source of contention and rebellion. They stayed in the area, whereas, the sons of Israel went to Egypt during the severe famine during Joseph’s time. David sets up garrisons to hold them captive in his day and Solomon has uprisings from them. During the attacks from the Assyrians, the Edomites would help Israel’s enemy with raids. Obviously there was constant contention between these people groups.

-*Application* Esau is said by the prophets of later times to be hated by God (Malachi 1:2-3, Romans 9:13) This hate was because he despised his birthright (Hebrews 12:16). This denotes the seriousness of our responsibilities to God. Don’t waste what the LORD intends for your life because of expediency and impulse.

Verse to memorize: Genesis 36:1

Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 35

2/4/12

Genesis 35

-Jacob is told by God to move southward to Bethel (House of God) and build to Him an alter for worship. Jacob commands that all in his household put away their foreign gods and purify themselves and change their garments. *Application* This is symbolic of the change we should experience as we come to Christ as a new creature, holy and pure before the Living God.

-These idols were buried there in Shechem before they take off under an oak tree (common marker of territory in these parts and later places of idol worship, Ezekiel 6:13). This is an important event in the family of Jacob and demonstrates his complete devotion now to Yahweh God. *Application* We also need to bury every idol that hinders us from following the One-True Living God.

-They journey to Bethel and build the alter as the LORD had commanded. Then God appeared to Jacob again and blessed him with his new name, Israel. He stated that He is the God Almighty. He commanded Israel to be fruitful and multiply and that nations would come from him and kings (Even the King of kings, Jesus). God gave him all the land promised to Abraham and Isaac for his descendants after him. Then God went up from him in the place where He’d spoken with him. *Application* Are we so close to God that we hear His voice and know Him?

-Jacob set up a pillar in this place and anointed it with oil and named it Bethel.

-They now journeyed toward Ephrath (that is Bethlehem, where David was from and Jesus was born). On the way Rachel went into severe labor with her son Benjamin and passed away as she delivered him. How sad must Israel have been to lose his true love near the end of his long journey back home. He builds her a memorial pillar there at that place, which stills stands to this day according to tradition just on the outskirts of Bethlehem.

-Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. It happened here that Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, lay with his dad’s concubine, Bilhah (mother of Dan and Naphtali, Genesis 35:25). This is a sin that Israel takes note of and takes away Reuben’s double blessing far down the road near the time of his death in Egypt (Genesis 49:4). *Application* We now have the first three sons of Israel with serious marks on their record. Incest by Reuben, and murder lead by Simeon and Levi in the town of Shechem. Therefore, it is the fourth son, Judah, who is eventually given the blessing of the Messianic line (Jesus’ forefather and father of David, Genesis 49:9-10). Not much is said about Reuben’s sin here, but serious sin always has serious consequences even when it is realized far down the line of time. We may think we can escape God’s judgment, but He has a way of keeping everything in account when we don’t repent of it.

-The twelve sons of Israel are now recounted for genealogical purposes. He finally comes to Mamre where Abraham and Isaac had lived and is with his father once again. Isaac lives until the ripe old age of 180 years and is finally gathered to his people. His sons Esau and Jacob bury him. Interesting to note the order here and that Israel is once again called Jacob. Wonder why???

Verse to memorize: Genesis 35:4

Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 34

2/3/12

Genesis 34

-Dinah, the daughter of Jacob by Leah, is raped (lay with her by force) by Shechem, prince of the land where they were living. He was the son of Hamor. Shechem loved Dinah, spoke tenderly to her, and desired to marry her.

-Jacob hears of the defilement and speaks with Hamor about the situation before telling his sons what had happened. When they come in from the field tending their livestock, the news grieved them deeply and brought them to intense anger. This thing that had been done was a disgraceful thing that should have never happened.

-But Hamor spoke with them to ask for an agreement to intermarry with each other’s people. The sons of Jacob answered deceitfully in this request by stating to them that the only way they would consent to this agreement would be for the son’s of Hamor to become circumcised as they were. This, in the words of Jacob’s sons, would make them one people.

-These words seemed reasonable to Hamor and Shechem so they had all their men get circumcised. Shechem did not delay in the matter at all because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter and had great influence over his region.

-So on the third day when all the men were circumcised and in pain, Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, came upon them with the sword and killed Hamor, Shechem, and every male of the city. They rescued their sister Dinah and looted the city because they had defiled their sister. They took the little ones and the wives of the men they’d killed and all that was in their houses.

-Jacob’s response was severe. He knew that this action would make him a stench in the nostrils of all who inhabited the land (Canaanites and Perizzites), and it would bring trouble on him and his household for destruction.

-But they replied, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot (Genesis 34:31)?”

-*Application* It certainly is a horrific crime to take a sexual partner by force. It has no place in any society and is a degradation to any human. With that said the sons of Jacob acted impetuously and deceitfully and committed great sin as well. There absolutely would have been a better way to handle the situation. First, they should have been up front with Hamor and Shechem and given them no chance of intermarrying with their people so long as they were Godless and out of His will and plan. God is His sovereignty could have grafted this people group into a right relationship with Him and Jacob’s family had there been repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I truly believe that. As it was there was much bloodshed and carnage and grief and anger. Second, Jacob was rightly troubled with the news of what his sons had done. He modeled Jesus’ exhortation to “turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39).” His wisdom was that retaliation only causes more harm and strife, and the cycle is bound to continue as long as that is the practice. We seek should seek peace with all men as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14-15). Let the LORD fight the battles, vengeance is His (Romans 12:19).

Verse to memorize: Genesis 34:13

Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 33

2/1/12

Genesis 33

-Jacob lifts up his eyes and sees his older brother, Esau, coming towards him with 400 of his men. The tension must have been excruciating with the unknown. Jacob separates his group into divisions with the maids and their children up front, Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph last. Jacob passed them by and went ahead of them and bowed before Esau seven times in respect and reverence and no doubt fear.

-Esau shows graciousness toward his deceptive younger brother by running to him. As they met up Esau embraced him warmly and fell upon his neck and kissed him. Together they wept tears of joy and remorse for all the lost years (it had been 20 years or so). *Application* Skillet has a song “The Older I Get.” Some lines from that song apply here…

It's been way too long for the times we missed
I didn't know then it would hurt like this

But I think the older I get
Maybe I'll get over it
It's been way too long for the times we missed
(for the entire song lyrics go to http://www.christian-lyrics.net/skillet/the-older-i-get-lyrics.html#axzz1l8qIBB1e)

Our common rage can take its toll in any relationship. We must seek reconciliation with all our heart whether it is in the short term, which is certainly preferred, or after many days or years.

-The reunion is sweet and the favor Esau shows his brother demonstrates his heart of forgiveness and reconciliation. They catch up with each other’s families and are amazed at how the LORD has blessed each of them. Jacob insists that his brother take the gifts he desired to give him, but reluctantly and graciously Esau finally accepts them.

-Esau wants Jacob and his family to journey with them to Seir, but the children and the livestock are weak and frail from their journeys and Jacob knows that they need to pace themselves a bit more and rest. Esau offers to leave some of his people with his younger brother, but Jacob told him there was no need for that. It was again a gracious offer, but the two separate ways. Esau returned that day towards Seir, and Jacob journeyed to Succoth (booths), where he built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock. *Application* Jacob shows care and concern here for the weaker vessels, namely the children and the livestock. God wants us to be sensitive to the needs of any who are weak among us (1 Thessalonians 5:14). The Lord also wants us to take good care of our animals (Proverbs 12:10).

-Now Jacob came safely into the land of Canaan to the city of Shechem (about 60 miles north of Jerusalem in the hill country) from Paddan-aram. His family camped before the city and he bought a piece of land here from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem for 100 piece of money. It is here he erects an alter much like his fathers’ before him, worshipping the covenant God who has brought him back to his homeland as promised. Jacob calls the place El-Elohe-Israel (God, the God of Israel). *Application* We would tend to pass over this important verse of Scripture at the end of chapter 33, but that would be a huge mistake. Jacob’s thanksgiving worship is essential for us to meditate on as we consider the long-hard twenty year journey he had come through to get to this place where God had made Himself known to the heir of promise. This is a promised return and it had great implications in the life of Jacob. He was now bought and paid for by the LORD completely. He was back in the land as the LORD had said. Not one of God’s good promises ever fails, even though we do in our flesh (Joshua 21:45). He is faithful!

Verses to memorize: Genesis 33:4, 20

Genesis Bible Study notes- Chapter 32

2/1/12

Genesis 32

-Jacob now comes to Edom and knows that he will be encountering his older brother Esau very soon. The angels of God met him prompting Jacob to call this place Mahanaim, “Two camps, two companies.” It is here that he will break his group into two parties out of fear of an attack from his brother, who may still be upset with him for deceitfully gaining the blessing of his father Isaac (Genesis 27).

-Jacob’s idea is first to pray to His LORD for deliverance for the fulfillment of His promises. *Application* This is important for us to remember when we face uncertainty and terrible fear. God is in control despite our circumstances and can rescue us from danger according to His will and His plan. Go to Him first!

-Secondly, Jacob sends his servants ahead in droves of overwhelming amounts of livestock as presents for his brother in order to appease him and get on his good side. I personally have to think God gave him this idea because he had committed his way to the LORD. It certainly made rational sense too, when you think about it. Butter ‘em up was his philosophy.

-His wives and children crossed the ford of the Jabbok in the separation of parties away from Jacob. I believe Jacob was preparing for the worst here and wanted to make sure his posterity remained even if his brother wanted to still kill him (Genesis 27:41).

-Jacob was then left alone that night, and he wrestled with a man until daybreak. The man could not prevail against him, so he dislocated the socket of his thigh. Jacob would still not let him go until he blessed him even as the dawn was beginning to break. It is at this point that the man asked what his name was and Jacob responded with his name, Jacob. Then the LORD said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel (he who strives with God, or God strives); for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed (Genesis 32:28).” Jacob wanted to know his name, but it was not revealed. However, the man blessed Israel. So Jacob named the place Peniel and said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved (Genesis 32:30).” *Application* What are we to take from this saga? Jacob goes from the deceiver to Israel, the one who strives with God and prevails. How persistent are we in our struggles with God. Are we willing to let go in the fight or do we hold on until daybreak for the blessing that the LORD wants to give us. We can be honest with God about any situation. He is the One who has allowed the circumstance and He is the only One that can truly deliver you from the mess that you find yourself in. Cry out to Him, tell Him your every concern, cast all of your anxiety on Him, He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Verse to memorize: Genesis 32:28