The secret door! Ah, what might be hidden behind it?
I hope you got the email we sent out concerning this coming week's journey. Although I am a couple hours later that I'd hoped in getting this posted, I have made sure that you got this challenge in plenty of time. This week I felt it may be helpful to prompt you to look at the obscure pieces of information that are often in our text. We have a tendency to look at the well known facts and often miss the little tidbits that are explosive with insight when the Spirit breathes on them.
As I wrote in the email I sent out, I have put together 15 questions for you to use on your treasure hunt this week. I want to give you some time to consider them and see what insights you have before I share anything I have seen. I will not be at all surprise if you don't see the greater picture long before I shed any light on the subjects. Each question is asked in reference to our readings for this week, so you won't need to go to other Scripture references for the answers.
Are you ready? Here's the questions you've been waiting for!
1. Who does God call a prophet?
And what can I learn about a prophet from this event?
2. What was the reason Abimelech came to Abraham when Abraham confronts him with the well his servants dug and Abimelech's men took over? Is there anything significant about this?
3. Who of major importance in our reading this week is a Philistine?
4. Who of major importance in our reading this week is a Hittite?
5. What two things did Eliezer, Abraham's servant, pray for? What can I learn about Abraham's servant from this?
6. What prompted Laban to run out and meet Eliezer? What does that tell me about his character?
7. Eliezer tells Rebekah's family something important about Isaac. What was it? (This insight will help us know why Abraham felt free to take another wife.)
8. As a husband, what does Isaac do differently than Abraham or Jacob? There are two results. One is quite obvious, the second is a bit more subtle, but very important.
9. What area was Isaac living in when God confirms His covenant with him?
10 What challenge does Isaac face with the Philistines that his father also faced?
11. What was the first piece of land God gave Jacob?
12. What attitude changed in Leah at the birth of Judah?
13. What attitude changed in Leah at the birth of Zebulun?
14. Where was Jacob when Laban caught up with him?
15. What is the name given to the place Jacob and Laban made their peace treaty?
As I mentioned in my earlier email, some of these questions are given to make you aware of pieces of information that may be helpful later on. I know how easy it is to read something and fail to connect the dots with something I've read earlier. Hopefully, we will be a bit more mindful of the significance of these events as we, again, pass through some of these places later on in our journey.
Happy treasure hunting! Enjoy the journey!!!!
9 comments:
The questions are really great - thank you so much! I'm actually concentrating on what's being said instead of just reading and not absorbing much!!!
Am quite fascinated by Isaac. There's no recorded protest from him when Abraham bound him to be sacrificed...
I pondered that too Mandy! Thanks for your posting! Has anyone gotten stumped on any of the questions?
Yes, the qestions were great and I looked them over and answered them for the most part. Since I had company last week I was a little behind and did a lot of reading today. The question I have is: It says in Gen. 16:15 Hagar bore Abram a son and Gen. 17:25 his son Ishmael and in Gen. 22:2,12,and 16 relating to Abraham his only son (three different times)Was it because Ishmael was born to Abram and Issac was born to Abraham?
I wasn't sure of the answer to Q13 re:Leah's attitude change after the birth of Zebulun. Didn't quite get Zebulun (Honour) had to do with a change. What changed? As a result, Jacob honoured her as his wife and slept/lived with her thus Dinah. She felt honoured to be his wife??
Hey Mandy. I was not only fascinated with the fact that Isaac didn't let out a peep, I was flabbergasted. My kids protested taking out the garbage let alone being tied to an alter that was going to be lit! I thought that the reason Isaac was called his only son was because he was born to Sarah and was the promised son that the lineage would emanate from. Am I close? I answered all the questions but to post them here would let you guys know I don't answer in a sentence but in paragraphs! I will however post my questions. The questions about attitude change were the hardest for me as well. I put that at birth of Judah, Leah began to praise the Lord. It seemed to give the idea of praise done with outstretched hands. But I think I probably missed the deeper meaning. With Zebulun it moved to expressing that God have given her a good reward but I think it carried with it the idea that now Abraham might think more highly of her than before and give her the position she deserved? Also Mandy's point on the birth of Dinah I think is significant because of the trouble that happened later on when Shechem, a Hittite prince defiled Dinah and Simeon and Levi then slew all the men after deceiving them into getting circumcised.
Question 8 gave me some questions as well. I know two things he did differently than Abraham or Jacob but I don't know if this is just the obvious. One was that he took only one wife? He took her into his mother's tent? I remember Shirley teaching something on this but I forget what it was. Would this have something to do with Abraham now feeling free to take another wife?
Unlike you Jacqueline my answers were mainly few word answers!!!! That's interesting what you said about Leah and praise and outstretched hands. I just had she started to focus on God instead of Jacob!
I didn't understand the significance re: Dinah and Simeon and Levi.
Had problems with Q8 as well. Besides the obvious that Isaac had one wife only and must have been significant (whatever it is) to take her into his mother's tent, I have no clue re: second subtle result.
I think the questions are great as well. I had trouble with question 8 as well. One of the things that Issac did was plead with the Lord for Rebekah to become pregnant. The other was he had only one wife. I think I missed the subtle point.
At the birth of Judah Leah's attitude change from trying to win Jacobs love by having sons to looking and praising the Lord. I think that after the birth of Zebulun she no longer longed for Jacobs love but wanted his respect and honor. She know that Rachael was his real love.
You guys are doing GREAT!!! Let me address each question you've all brought up.
Q: Why does God call Isaac Abraham's only son when we all know that Abraham not only had Ishmael, but also the sons of Keturah?
A: Because Isaac is the only son God ordained to receive the promise. When God is speaking to Abraham, He is speaking in regard to His promise. God was reiterating that He hadn't changed His mind. Isaac was the only one God would recognize when it came to His promise and blessing on Abraham.
Q: Leah's attitude change?
A: Marge, you hit that one on the nail! With Leah's first three sons, she had her hopes that through their birth she would obtain Jacob's love. When Judah was born, she quit focusing on her lack of Jacob's love and started focusing on the goodness of God. "This time I will praise the Lord!" By the time Zebulun came along, she was content if she just had his respect.
Q: What did Isaac do differently in regards to his wife than Abraham and Jacob and what was the result.
A: You all had a piece of the puzzle on this one. All three of their wives were barren. All three women were frustrated. Only one husband took on his wife's problem as the true priest of his house. Isaac interceded for his wife and as a result, God answered his prayers. He didn't just pray; he plead with God!!! Both Abraham and Jacob ended up with concubines in their lives. (Leah was not a concubine!) Isaac didn't have any concubines to muddy the waters and make his life more difficult. He had enough difficulties without them!
Good job folks!!!!!!
Sorry being so late as I was helping in a free medical clinic.
1. Correction / punishment and Water earth / show his love
#2. Limit in knowledge, areas of Creation, Physical world, Animal world.
Limits in power, two animals of creation. Behemoth and Leviathan.
#3. Behemoth Beast, the king of all animals on dry land. Hippopotamus
Leviathan, large sea monster whale or crocodiles
#4. Reuel Shepherd, Friend of God. Jethro, Friend of God. Hebrew – eminent, a priest of Median.
#5. This is my first born son. Let my son go, to worship me.
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