Genesis 29:31 through Chapter 33

September 11, 2025 //
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Jacob has 12 sons. Today we learn the drama that brought about 11 of these 12 sons in Genesis 29:31-35 through Chapter 30.

List the names of the sons, in order, and who their mother is. What was the situation that surrounded their conception?

Genesis 31 takes us into how Jacob leaves his father in laws town. What do you see happening with Laban and Jacob throughout this chapter? What evil was brought about and by whom? What happened between Jacob and Laban?

Genesis 32-33 has Jacob going back to meet his brother for the first time in many years. Describe how Jacob felt. What did he do to protect himself and his family? Do you believe that the brothers truly reconciled or was it all for show?

What can you deduce about God in this text? How does the life of Jacob and his family resonate with you and how you were raised, how you raised your family or how you understand families? What is God speaking to you about your action from this text today? How can you put into obedience the things you learned?

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 27-29:1-30

September 10, 2025 //
1

Over the next few days we will look into the life of Jacob. The stories (accounts) begin to sound unreal at times. Like these things only happen in the movies. But they are real. There are lessons to learn from these people. Remember this “Even a bad example is a good example”. So as we read about all the crazy things that happen, look for lessons you can walk away with – and then be ready to share those.

Genesis 27 we find the stolen blessing of his father, Isaac. When reading this account – what does it make you think about? How do you feel as you read about what Jacob and his mom did? Are there people in your life that you have taken a blessing from or that they stole a blessing from you? How have you dealt with that?

Genesis 28 the Abrahamic covenant is confirmed to Jacob. Describe Jacobs dream and what that spoke to you. What was Jacob’s response to this dream?

Genesis 29:1-30 we find Jacob meeting his wife. What was the plot twist here? How did he deal with this situation? What would you have done if this happened to you?

Take time to think about the things you have learned today. There are quite a few lessons about who God is, what he has done, and how we as people are. What is your take away from today’s lesson? Share with everyone one thing you saw that was new or any questions this brings up for you.

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 23-26

September 9, 2025 //
3

We begin today reading about Sarah’s death and burial and then move into more of the life of Isaac in chapters 25-26.

Before getting into the life of Isaac in Genesis 23-25 go back and reread Genesis 17:15-19. What did you learn about Isaac here?

Genesis 22:1-8 reminds us that Isaac is the beloved and obedient son

Genesis 24 we find Isaac a bride, Rebekah

Genesis 25:23-26 we learn that Isaac is the father of Esau and Jacob “two nations in a womb”

Write out Hebrews 11:17

The Abrahamic Covenant is confirmed to Isaac in Genesis 26.

What have you learned about God in today’s reading? What have you learned about people? How can you apply this to your life?

Share something you learned for the first time today, What stood out to you that is new, or What spoke to you differently then it ever has before.

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 19-22

September 8, 2025 //
3

Today we finish our deep dive into Abraham’s life specifically and will move on to learn more about His son next. This is where you begin to see that the Bible isn’t full of boring stories. Really read what is happening in these next chapters. What do you see happening in chapter 19:1-11? How does that look in comparison to our society today? What things stand out to you?

Because these actions were not unique to this account but had been happening for some time we see the consequences that occured in verses 12-29. Write down things that stand out to you here. What is happening? Who is involved? What are the commands given? In verses 30-36 we find out how that family line was continued. What do you see happening here?

Chapter 20:1-7 we have a situation occur that has repeated itself. Why do you think Abraham chose to sin in this way again? Read on to hear what Abraham has to say for himself.

Now we have Abrahams first son being born in Genesis 21. What did their son’s name mean? We also see Hagar and Ishmael leave. Why did they leave? Verses 22-32 Abraham makes a covenant with the enemy. What is happening in this text?

We end the day with chapter 22. For many this text is very familiar. Abraham’s faith is confirmed. What is happening? Why is this important? What do we learn about God and about Abraham as we read this text? How quickly did Abraham move? What was Isaac thinking, doing and how did Abraham respond to him?

  1. God is confirming his covenant in these chapters here: Genesis 22:15-18

What is God showing you specifically today about who He is, who you are, and what He wants from you? How are you going to apply what you learned today?

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 15-18

September 7, 2025 //
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As we continue on in Genesis, we find God confirming His covenant with Abram, but we also find Abram and Sarai (his wife) trying to force God’s covenant to fall into place. They lacked the patience and faith in the moment, basing their assumptions on what they could see and understand in their mortal states.

Chapter 15 starts with God confirming His covenant with Abram. Take note of what God told Abram in verse 1. He speaks to Abram, answering his concerns, but we will find out that Abram listens to his wife over God and consequences will be experienced.

Chapter 16 is where Sarai decides how the promise is going to happen. She doesn’t have the faith she needs to wait on the Lord at this point. All she sees is her old age and what has not happened to this point. So she jumps ahead of the Lord and takes action. This action leads to pain for everyone involved. Take note of what the Angel of the Lord said to Hagar in verses 11-12.

In Chapter 17 we see the sign of the covenant God made with Abram. Quite a few things happen in here. Take note of verse 5 – what God is doing here and verse 10-11 the sign of the covenant. Verses 15-16 are key verses for what is happening to Sarai.

We end today in Chapter 18 where we see the Son of promise being born and Abraham interceding for Sodom. He had an important relative living there and didn’t want to see that family perish.

Today we continue on our journey in learning about Abram:

  1. In Genesis 15:4 what does God tell Abram.
  2. Write out Genesis 15:6.
  3. In Genesis 16:5-6 what do we see happening? Who left the scene?
  4. Read Genesis 16:8. What is happening here? What stands out to you? Is there anything special you see after looking at verse 5?
  5. Write out Genesis 16:13. The Hebrew name here is El Roi.
  6. Read Genesis 17:23-27. What do you notice about the timing in which Abraham followed God’s command?
  7. In Genesis 17: 17 we read Abraham laughed and in verses 19-21 we see God respond to that reaction. Contrast that with what is happening in Genesis 18: 10-15.
  8. What do you notice in the conversation between God and Abraham in verses 23-33?

Here are some more verses we find the covenant confirmed again by God: Genesis 15:1-21 & Genesis 17:6-8.

Today what things really spoke to you? What things did you learn or did you see for the first time? That is the fun part of scripture, you can read it over and over and still see things you never saw before or concepts that just make sense all the sudden that you struggled with before. Continue to read the Bible as if you never have read it before. You will find many nuggets of wisdom when you do this.

How will you apply what you have learned to your life today?

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 12-14

September 6, 2025 //
1

We read about Abram (Abraham) from Genesis 12 to 23.

  1. Chapter 12 takes us through the 7 promises to Abram and Abram’s family moving to Egypt.
    • Take note of what Abram says to his wife in verses 11-13.
    • What happens in verses 14-16 because of Abram’s choice?
    • What was the consequences to these actions in verses 17-20?
  2. Chapter 13 tells us how Abram is inheriting Canaan.
    • Do you remember whose blood line the land of Canaan was created from?
  3. Chapter 14 tells the account of how Lot was taken captive and also rescued and Abram’s interaction with Melchizedek.
    • What did you notice in this chapter?

What do we learn about Abram in these chapters?

  1. His Call – Write out Genesis 12:1 & Acts 7:2
  2. The Abrahamic Covenant – Write out Genesis 12:2-3 & Acts 7:3
  3. The seven promises God gives to Him
    • I will make thee a great nation
    • I will bless thee
    • I will make thy name great
    • Thou shalt be a blessing
    • I will bless them that bless thee.
    • I will curse them that curse thee.
    • In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
  4. We see this covenant confirmed many times in the next chapters.
    • Today in Genesis 13:14-18
  5. Abraham was a man of faith
    • Read Hebrews 11:8-19 and write down what made him a man of faith

What stood out in today’s readings? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? How will you apply this to your life today? What can we pray for you today?

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 10-11

September 5, 2025 //
3

As we end the first section of Genesis, seeing where it all started…today, we head into how the nations got separated and the languages became a things. We start in Genesis 10 with a genealogy of Noah’s sons. It is from these three that the whole earth was populated. I find genealogies interesting as we move into who is who later in text. Seeing who did what (good and bad) and how their family lines and towns played the part of the leaders. The first “evil” towns came from the son who did evil in the sight of his father. Also, we find that Canaan (the promised land) actually came through the evil son. Which is why later we will find enemies of the Lord in the land – enemies the Israelite tribes will have to defeat to take over the land.

The Babel Crisis – Chapters 10 & 11

  1. We first see the generations of the sons of Noah – Genesis 10
  2. The confusion at Babel – Genesis 11
    • The reason for the action of God was because the people refused to obey God in spreading abroad to replenish the earth. Note: “Let us make us a name…lest we be scattered” (Genesis 11:4).
      • Write out Genesis 11:7-8. God did this so they would scatter abroad.
    • “Babel” means confusion. It was the capital in Nimrod’s kingdom. (Genesis 10:9-10)

What are curious about after today’s reading? What did you learn about God? What did the Lord speak to you about today? What is something the Lord may be asking you to do, but you are trying to work around doing?

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 5-9

September 4, 2025 //
4

Before we move into reading about why and how the flood began we start with learning about Adam’s family line. First we learn that Adam named all the animals, God named Mankind. Adam names Eve. We were created in the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 5:1-32 we take a look into the key men in Adam’s family line. We have to know he had many other sons and daughters besides the men listed here. And this actually started with Seth – this being after Cain and Abel. Things to note here:

  1. Ages that all the men had their first sons
  2. Ages that all the men died
    • Which man didn’t die?
    • How old was he when he was taken away?
  3. What do we learn about Noah that is very different from the rest in verse 32?

THE FLOOD:

  1. In chapter 6 we see the mixing of the godly and ungodly people.
    • Write out 2 Corinthians 6:14.
  2. Judgment falls in Chapter 7 as a result of Genesis 6:5-7
    • Write out Genesis 6:5-7
  3. One man found grace in the eyes of the Lord – Noah.
    • Write out Genesis 6:8
    • Write out Matthew 24:37-39
  4. How does reading about what God saw in the people in chapter 6 remind you of today’s society?
  5. What do we learn about the Lord in Genesis 7 & 8?
  6. God makes a covenant with Noah in Chapter 9.
    • Read Genesis 9:8-17 and write out the key idea, and any thoughts that arise according to this verse.
      • Seven times God uses the word “covenant” in this passage. Underline that word in your Bible.

What questions come up today as you read this text? What key thoughts stood out to you? What is one thing you discovered about the Lord? How about something you discovered about yourself through this text?

Categories Genesis, Old Testament

Genesis 1-4

September 3, 2025 //
4

As we open up the book of Genesis we start with the History of creation, the start of the nation of Israel. The first few days of reading we are discovering the earliest history of the earth and mankind. We get to learn about how the earth was created, how man came to be, the relationship between God and man, the fall of man, the destruction of the earth as they knew it and how the nations, and different languages began. This is just what we find in the the frist 11 chapters. I have always found Genesis to be an exciting book full of of twists and turns at every flip of the page. We will start today in the first 4 chapters and see what there is to discover there.

  1. Genesis means origin, source, birth. “In the beginning God…”
    • That word beginning means the time of start. So we are reading when time began….this would be our time, not God’s time
  2. Genesis is the “seed plot” of the entire Scripture. It enters the very structure of the New Testament, in which it is quoted about sixty times in seventeen books. Its divine revelation and the fact that Moses is the author is authenticated by the Testimony of Jesus.
    • Read Matthew 5:17-30. Write down any key verses you read here that line up with this thought.
    • Read John 7:21-23. Write down any key verses you read here that line up with this thought.
      • Genesis tells us of the beginning of everything except God:
        • The beginning of the created world – Genesis 1:1-25
        • The beginning of man and woman – Genesis 1:26, Chapter 2
        • The beginning of sin – Genesis 3:1-7
        • The beginning of the promise of redemption – Genesis 3:8-24
        • The beginning of family life – Genesis 4:1-15
        • The beginning of civilization – Genesis 4:16-9:29
        • The beginning of nations – Genesis 10-11
        • The beginning of a chosen people – Genesis 12-50 (and other beginnings we will talk about as we read them).
  3. We are going to talk about the first part of Genesis these next few days: Chapters 1-11
    • The first part covers four major events:
      • Today: Creation – Chapters 1 & 2
      • Today: The fall of man – Chapters 3 & 4
      • Wednesday: The flood – Chapters 5-9
      • Thursday: The Babel crisis – Chapters 10 & 11
  4. The Creation: Chapters 1 & 2
    • This is not a human theory in this Scripture but a divine testimony – verse 1. There is no definition of God, no description of creation, no declaration of date. It is a declaration of divine truth. Accept the first sentence in Scripture and there will be little difficulty in accepting all of God’s Word.
    • The time and space between verse 1 and 2 is unknown. Verse 2 should read “the earth became without form and void…” The same word used here is also used in Genesis 2:7: “Man became a living soul”.
    • During the first four days no creative act is recorded. Only when we come to animals in verse 21 and man in verse 27 is the Hebrew word for “create” used.
    • We are the crown of His creation. Notice Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7. Man was created in the image (representation or resemblance) and likeness (character or model) of God. No words can adequately express this but the fact that God breathed into man “the breath of life; and man became a living soul” is the best expression to be found. We are, then, body, soul, and spirit.
      • Write out 1 Thessalonians 5:23
    • The seventh day God rested – the Sabbath: Genesis 2:2-3.
      • God teaches us that we need to take time to rest and restore our mind, soul, and bodies. It is easy to always find the next thing that needs to be done – but even the God of the universe chose to take time to rest from work. This is important as we grow – rest is healthy.
        • Write out Hebrews 4:9-10
  5. The Fall of Man – Chapters 3 & 4
    • THE TEMPTING – Genesis 3:1-6 (note Satan casting doubt on God’s Word in verse 1, the first lie in verse 4, the appeal to pride in verse 5). Satan captured the ear, eye, and inward desire.
      • Write out 1 John 2:16 – here we see the natural man.
    • THE YIELDING – Genesis 3:6
      • Write out Romans 5:12
    • THE RESULTS – Genesis 3:7-24. Notice, now there is self conscience – verse 7; shame and fear – verse 10; sorrow – verse 17; cursed – verse 17; thorns – verse 18; sweat -verse 19.
    • THE GRACE OF GOD – Genesis 3:9, 15
      • God sought out Adam (verse 9)
      • The promise of a redeemer: Verse 15 – this verse may be translated into layman’s terms as follows:
        • And there will be intense hatred between Satan and Christ. Eventually Christ will crush the head of Satan and Satan will only bruise the heel of Christ.
      • THIS IS THE FIRST DIRECT PROPHECY OF JESUS CHRIST
        • Write out 2 Corinthians 5:21
        • Write out Isaiah 53:5
    • THE FRUIT OF SIN – Genesis 4: the Cain line or “the sons of man” – the first murder, and the birth of Seth, a spiritual seed.
      • Write out Genesis 4:3-5, 8
      • Write out Genesis 4:25

What things stood out to you today? What questions arose? Share what is on your heart and mind today.

Categories Genesis, Old Testament, Uncategorized

The Bible as a Whole

September 1, 2025 //
3

In order to work through this study – have your bible (or bible app to read to you), a notebook, pen and even a highlighter or two. You will want to be taking notes of things that stand out to you in the text we read, questions you have and answering the questions here that I lay out for you. Also, you will be able to respond to any post for 3 weeks, then the ability to chat on that post will end. You will be able to continue to go back and read any post at any time, just the chat option will be turned off. We will go through text a few chapters at a time, just with what makes sense topic wise.

Introduction:

No man’s education is complete if he does not know the Bible. No believer can live the full and effective life without a grasp of the Bible.

Purpose:

Our purpose in this time of study is to give a grounding of the Scriptures. There is no need to study the outlines we will be presenting and notes instead of the Bible. The Bible itself shall be read and searched and researched as you proceed through this time.

Method:

We shall study this year, seeking a grasp of controlling thought, the outstanding meaning and message of each book and strive to see it in relation to the whole of God’s Word. We must not become so engrossed and fascinated with a subject that we lose sight of the objective: to let the big, broad meaning of the wonderful “old book” get hold of us.

Let us enter the study reverently, realizing that the Bible is inbreathed by the Holy Spirit and that He, the Holy Spirit, must be our Teacher (See John 14:26).

The Bible as a Whole:

  1. The Bible is God’s written revelation of His will to man. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)
  2. The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 3:16)
  3. The Bible contains sixty-six books, written by forty authors covering approximately 1,600 years.
  4. The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, with a few short passages in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. Our Bible is a translation from these languages.
  5. The word testament means “covenant” or “agreement”. The Old Testament is the covenant God made with man about his relationship before Christ came. The New Testament is the agreement God made with man about his relationship with the Father after Christ came. In the Old, we have the “Covenant of the Law.” In the new, the “Covenant of Grace” through Jesus Christ.
    • What does Galatians 3:14-15, 19-25 say about this?
  6. The Old Testament: The First Seventeen Books:
    • The first five books
      • Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
        • These are called the Pentateuch and are from the pen of Moses. They are called “The Law” but they are redemptive and historical in nature (Pentateuch means five).
    • The next twelve books:
      • Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
        • These make up the second main group of books in the Old Testament. They are historical
    • So, the first section of the Old Testament includes seventeen books in all, falling into a natural subdivision of:
      • Five: (Pentateuch): THE LAW – REDEMPTIVE – HISTORICAL
      • Twelve: (Joshua through Esther): HISTORICAL
  7. The Old Testament: The Middle Five Books
    • These books include:
      • Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)
        • These five are individual and experiential. While the seventeen previous books were nationalistic, these are more personal in nature, dealing with human problems of the heart. Also, while the first seventeen books were written in prose style, these five books are considered poetry. They are five in number and they are experiential in nature.
  8. The Old Testament: The Last Seventeen Books
    • The final seventeen books are the prophetical books:
      • Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
        • As with the first seventeen books, this group of seventeen books is also divided into two groups:
          • The first five – the major prophets
          • The last twelve – the minor prophets
  9. Summary: The Old Testament:
    • The Old Testament’s thirty-nine books fall into these groups:
      • The First Seventeen: subdivided into 5 (the law) and 12 (historical)
      • The Middle Five: poetry, individual, and experiential
      • The Last Seventeen: prophetical, subdivided into 5 (major) and 12 (minor)
  10. The New Testament: The First Five Books
    • The foundational books are:
      • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
        • These books are foundational to all that has proceeded and all that follows
  11. The New Testament: The Next Twenty-One Books – The Epistles
    • Fourteen are the Epistles of Paul. They are divided as follows:
      • Nine Church Epistles:
        • Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians
      • Five Pastoral, Personal Epistles:
        • 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews
      • Seven are General Epistles. The names all reflect their authors:
        • James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John, Jude
  12. The New Testament: The Last Book – Prophecy
    • Revelation
  13. Summary – New Testament
    • Thus, the New Testament consists of five foundational books, firm on which to build the twenty-one Epistles of instruction, ending in the “glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” in the Revelation.

How Much Do You Remember?

  1. How many books can you remember now?
  2. Can you grasp the divisions I have taught in your own mind?
  3. For example, Old Testament (Historical ______, Personal _______ Prophetic_______)?
  4. New Testament (Foundation ________, Epistles _______, Prophetic________)?
  5. What does “testament” mean?
  6. What does “Pentateuch” mean?
  7. Can you give the Scripture that tells how the revelation (thoughts) of God were written by man?

Conclusion:

The Bible is divine. The thought and revelation is divine but the expression of the communication is human. It is the Word of God.

Write out these verses: 2 Peter 1:21 & 1 Peter 1:24-25.

It is a progressive revelation and one cannot learn it from reading verses or passages at random. it is a step-by-step revelation of one story, one mind (God), the Creator of all things, adn the story is His great purpose moving through the ages and that story was and is to redeem mankind through Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of all who will believe. (See John 3:16-17).

Each book is from God. Read the chapters assigned each day, answering the questions as you go along. Take notes, ask questions, but remembering we are not here to argue text, but to learn from the text – to see the story of Jesus written throughout scripture and to find our own identities in Christ – the author and finisher of our faith.

Here are a few fun facts about the Bible:

  1. The Bible is about:
    • God, man, sin, redemption, justification, sanctification.
      • In two words: grace, glory.
        • In one word: Jesus
  2. Jesus Christ quoted from twenty-two Old Testament books:
    • Matthew – 19 times, Mark – 15 times, Luke – 25 times, John – 11 times
  3. There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible
  4. There are 31,373 verses in the Bible
  5. There 727,969-727,993 words in the NIV Bible
  6. Longest chapter is Psalm 119
  7. Shortest chapter is Psalm 117
  8. Longest book in the Old Testament is Psalms
  9. Longest book in the New Testament is Luke
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