Thursday

10-Jan-2019

Genesis 32-34; Psalm 5; Matt 9

Genesis 32: What was Jacob ‘greatly afraid’? What was his first reaction?  What resulted from the wrestling match that Jacob had?

Genesis 33: How did Esau receive Jacob? Where did Jacob settle? (erect his tents). Consider Genesis 31:13.

Genesis 34: Who were Simeon and Levi (sons of which wife)?  Why and when did they attack the inhabitants of Shechem?

Matt 9: What did the scribes say to Jesus. (v. 1-4)? Why did the Pharisees condemn Jesus in verse 11? What other miracles took place in this chapter?

Journal Prompt:  What is your perspective on fasting? Consider Matthew 9:15

Answers:

Genesis 33:  ” Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (v. 4) Quite a difference from what you and Jacob might have expected.

Jacob stopped in Succoth and then settled in Shechem.

Genesis 34: Simeon and Levi (and Dinah) were sons of Leah.  They attacked and killed the inhabitants of Shechem because the son of the king of Shechem raped Dinah, their sister.

Matt 9:  This is a trick question.  The scribes didn’t actually say anything to Jesus, but He knew what they were saying amongst themselves. They condemned him for forgiving the paralytic’s sins.

The Pharisees condemned Jesus for eating with tax collectors who were considered sinners. Jesus healed a woman who had been bleeding and unclean for twelve years and He brought the daughter of a ruler back to life.  He also healed two blind men and a deaf man.