She Laughs. She Prays.
Week 2 January 13-19
Abraham's Servants
Atypical describes the servant of Abraham in the Genesis chapter 24 account. Although no one is named, we can presume that it is the servant spoken of by Abraham in Genesis 15:2. He calls him the "steward of my house," or the one who will inherit his estate. The word "steward," as used here, means literally "Son of Acquisition."
Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the death of Christ on the cross, we are also
"sons and daughters of acquisition." Redeemed or adopted also describe our position before Christ. Our inheritance is eternal life.
Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Generally speaking, the Jews believe that every Jew is a Son of God. They also believe that every Gentile convert to Judaism is a Servant of God.
Christianity eliminates this distinction, making all who believe no longer mere servants, but inheritors of eternal life or sons and daughters of God.
Jews also believe that in order to set an example for their young converts, they must themselves become like servants. Christ continually calls all Christians to servitude,
In Matthew 23:8-11, Christ says not to distinguish one among you as Rabbi or Master, for you, our brothers and sisters. Only one Rabbi and Master exists — Christ. Instead, let he who is the greatest be the servant.
John 12:26 describes a servant as one who's
willing to give up his own life to follow Christ--who is willing to follow wherever Christ leads.
If we are truly servants, we walk in the authority of one who sends us. Abraham ‘s servant stood before Rebekah's family on the authority of Abraham. Luke 7:8 describes the Centurion
Soldier as one who has authority. “I say unto one, go; and he goeth: and to another, come; and he cometh: and to my servant, do this, and he does it ." From whom did the servant’s authority come? From the ruler who appointed him.
Jesus has appointed us and gives us authority through the power of the Holy Spirit. The word
for authority, as used by the Centurion Soldier, is "exousia" in Greek. The same word also translates to power.
In Matthew10: l. He gave them power (exousia) against unclean Spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease." In order to receive this power or authority, Christ clearly teaches us that we must. be willing servants, and that, through him, so we have authority.
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says says "All power •1s
given unto me in heaven and in earth."
In the next verse, he commissions the disciples to go in his authority. He repeats this giving of authority when sending out the 70
disciples. (Luke 10:17-19) Here Christ says, Behold, I give you power (exousia) to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means will hurt you."
In Christ, we walk humbly as servants, but boldly as those given authority. Knowing that we have inherited eternal life and desiring that others come with us, we exemplify a servant lifestyle. We do all of this through the power of the Holy Spirit, as described in Acts 2:18, which will be poured out
on Christ's servants.
Nine Weeks or 63 Days of Reading Remaining!
Our One Year Bibles finally arrived at Bristol Bay Church, Dillingham, AK. We have decided to start on March 17, 2024, which means it will take until next March 17, 2025, to finish reading all the way through. If you asked for a soft cover copy or would like one, please see me any time this week or on Sunday. You can also purchase the electronic copy on Christianbook.com The One Year Chronological Bible NLT - eBook: 9781414361628 - Christianbook.com I will have a few journals and notebooks as well in case you want one to keep your answers in to the questions below in a notebook. And/or send them to me and we can stay in contact: pastorval@bristolbay.church
For those who want to read along in your own Bible, I will publish the passages for the week in a special column to check off. I look forward to reading with you. Each week I will also send some study questions to go with your reading if you choose to use them. Reply with questions and answers. I look forward to reading God's Word with you daily.
Chronological Bible Daily Reading Schedule
January 13
Genesis 36:1-43
I Chronicles 1:35-2:2
January 14
Genesis 37:1-39:23
I Chronicles 2:3-8
January 15
Genesis 40:1-41:57
Genesis 35:28-29
January 16
Genesis 42:1-45:15
January 17
Genesis 45:16-47:27
January 18
Genesis 47:28-50
January 19
Job 1-4
January 13
Genesis 36:1-43
1) Where did Esau take his wives from?
2) Why is this an issue in the Bible?
I Chronicles 1:35-2:2
1) Which son of Noah is Abraham related to?
2) How is this related to the lineage of Jesus?
January 14
Genesis 37:1-39:23
Genesis 37 begins with the stories of Jacob's family. The lineage of Jacob, Israel's son and Isaac's grandson, includes the life of Joseph. Israel had 12 sons. Joseph was one of two younger and favored.
1) One of the more memorable stories children are taught is "Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors." The KJV says "he made him a court of many colors." The NIV says "he made an ornate robe for him." NLT says, "Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe."
When using the BlueLetterBible.org, Strongs suggests ideas for the Hebrew meaning of the word describing coat. Is it beautiful, ornate, or coat of many colors? Decide by taking a little time
to study the definitions on the Blue Letter Bible website as listed here: H6446 - pas - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). What do you think?
2) I like studying the Blue Letter Bible and Strong's Lexicon. To use these tools, it means being willing to read the KJV. Carefully consider reading Genesis chapters 37-39. Then compare the different Bible versions of these chapters KJV with NLT or NIV. Do you notice any differences you would like to investigate with the Blue Letter Bible?
I Chronicles 2:3-8
1) As we move through the lineages from Adam to Christ, who is considered to be part of Christ's lineage in these verses?
2) The male names are the most straightforward to find. Consider the only woman listed here. Why would she be listed?
January 15
Genesis 40:1-41:57
1) Joseph worked for Potiphar in Genesis Chapter 39. Potiphar is Joseph's boss and called the captain of the guard, "Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard." Genesis 37:36
Again in Genesis 41, it says that Joseph served the captain of the guard. Think about the possibilities of Potiphar's being the captain of the guard in each of these situations? Is it possible? KJV Search Results for "captain" AND "of" AND "the" AND "guard"
Genesis 35:28-29
2) What is the significance of these verses?
January 16
Genesis 42:1-45:15
1) Genesis 45:7 speaks of the preservation of a remnant. This is a theme throughout the Bible when speaking of God's people-Jew or Christian. Find one additional reference about this theme.
2) What is the story between Benjamin and Joseph?
January 17
Genesis 45:16-47:27
1) Genesis 46:1-4 shows God speaking to Israel. How does God speak?
2) How does Israel answer? Find one other incidence in the Bible where someone answers God or his angels with the same words.
January 18
Genesis 47:28-50:26
1) Explain the words of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 regarding Joseph's life and Israel.
2) How does it apply to your life as well? Do you have a story that relates to Genesis 50:20?
January 19
Job 1-4
1) What did Satan say he was doing in Job 1:7?
2) Job 2:4 gives a claim from Satan. How does Job 2:10 show Satan wrong?
Answers to Questions to Ponder, January 6-12
January 6
Genesis 18:1-21:7
1) Consider Genesis 18:1-15. Have you ever laughed at something impossible in your way? Has someone else laughed at your thoughts or dreams? Too often, like Sarah, our minds are too small for God’s plans. Pray that God will enlarge your perspective. (Consider using this as a personal prayer challenge for the year.)
2) In Genesis 19, what stands out to you in this story? (Your choice)
January 7
Genesis 21:8-24
1) Who was Sarah, and who are her descendants? Sarah is the wife of Abraham, the mother of Issac, and the grandmother of Israel. (Genesis 21:3; Genesis 32:28). Abraham is considered the father of the Jewish people.
2) Who was Hagar, and who are her descendants? God promised Abraham to take care of Hagar and Ishmael. The Bible says Ishmael would become a great nation (Genesis 21:17–18). Ishmael married an Egyptian woman, and they had twelve sons who became a nation of people. (Genesis 21:21). The Muslims consider themselves descendants of Ishmael.
3) How do Sarah and Hagar part ways? Abraham sends Hagar away.
January 8
I Chronicles 1:28-34
1) What does I Chronicles 1:32-33 tell us? I Chronicles 1:32-33 tells us that Abraham had other children and descendants from his concubines. One definition of a concubine is as follows: "In the Bible, a concubine was a woman acquired by a man as a secondary wife. Her purpose was to provide a male heir in the case of a barren wife, to provide more children in general to enhance the family’s workforce and wealth, and to satisfy the man’s sexual desires. A concubine was endowed with rights and protections by Hebrew law but was not equal in status to a wife."
Genesis 25:1-26
2) Describe what happens in Genesis 25:9. The two boys, Isaac and Ishmael, come together to bury their dad, Abraham.
3) How does this seem to change in Genesis 25:18. The boys parted ways and went in different directions. The Bible says God blessed Isaac.
January 9
Genesis 25:7-28:5
1) Genesis 25:8 describes Abraham as “giving up the ghost” according to the KJV. Have you heard this metaphoric phrase before? What does it mean? How do the NLT and the NIV describe his death? What Hebrew verb does Strong’s Lexicon use, and is this a hint perhaps as to why the KJV used this term? "Giving up the ghost" is an old term for the spirit of a person leaving or departing. It means the person died. Strong's Lexicon tells us that the Hebrew word is gāva meaning to die. NiV says he breathed his last breath. NLT says something similar.
January 10
Genesis 28:6-30:24
1) How many years did Jacob serve to get Rachel? He served seven years, and his father-in-law gave him Rachel's sister. So he served seven years more for Rachel. A total of 14 years.
2) Who is the only daughter of Jacob named in the Bible? Dinah.
January 11
Genesis 30:25-31:55
1) Why does Jacob leave Padanaram in the middle of the night? Because he feared his father-in-law stopping him.
2) What does Laban claim about Jacob in Genesis 31:31-35? That one of his people stole his idols.
January 12
Genesis 32-35
1) What happened in Genesis 32:1-2? What does this story remind you of? Angels appeared in several stories in the Bible, so perhaps this could remind you of one of these:
- Hagar: The angel of the Lord spoke to her in the wilderness (Genesis 16:7).
- Abraham: Angels visited him to announce the birth of Isaac (Genesis 18:1-2).
- Jacob: He encountered angels during his journey (Genesis 32:1-2).
- Mary: The angel Gabriel announced to her that she would conceive Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).
- Joseph: An angel appeared to him in a dream to guide him regarding Mary (Matthew 1:20-24).
- Peter: An angel freed him from prison (Acts 12:7).
- Paul: An angel encouraged him during a storm at sea (Acts 27:23-24
2) What happens in Genesis 32:28? Jacob wrestles with God and his name is changed to Israel.
Praying for Bristol Bay.
Questions? Call Pastor Val at 907-952-3317 or email pastorval@bristolbay.church
Past Issues
Volume 1, Issue 24, August 26-September 1, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/kpbn8
Volume 1, Issue 23, August 19-25, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/zux4f3
Volume 1, Issue 22, August 12-18, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/e27bn
Volume 1, Issue 21, August 5-11, 2024, https://secure.smore.com/n/9zfkd
Volume 1, Issue 20, July 29-August 4. 2024, https://secure.smore.com/n/8egq9
Volume 1, Issue 19, July 22-28, 2024, https://secure.smore.com/n/8egq9
Volume 1, Issue 18, July 15-21, 2024, https://secure.smore.com/n/p52sx
Volume 1, Issue 17, July 8-14, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/p52sx
Volume 1, Issue 16, June 30-July 7,2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/3s1gzf
Volume 1, Issue 15, June 24-30, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/wv5d1
Volume 1, Issue 14, June 17-24, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/zp2hm
Volume 1, Issue 13, June 10-16, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/wp1t4
Volume 1, Issue 12, June 3-9, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/b1g3h
Volume 1, Issue 11, May 27-June 2, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/7hnf6
Volume 1, Issue 10, May 20-26, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/w9dsya
Volume 1, Issue 9, May 13-19, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/y690wr
Volume 1, Issue 8, May 6-12, 2024, https://secure.smore.com/n/x4n6zd
Volume 1, Issue 7, April 29-May 5, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/rvg50
Volume 1, Issue 6, April 22-28, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ke6mfb
Volume 1, Issue 5, April 15-21, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ht0j9
Volume 1, Issue 4, April 8-14, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ehqns
Volume 1, Issue 3, April 1-7, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ehqns
Volume 1, Issue 2, March 25-31, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/buyf6
Volume 1, Issue 1, March 17-24, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/buyf6