Thursday January 3, 2018  Gen 10-14; Ps 2; Matt 3

Genesis 11: Why was the tower of Babel built?

Genesis 12: what was Abram’s ultimate purpose? How many alters to God did he erect? How old was Abraham when he set out canaan and how many were in his entourage?

Genesis 13 where did Abram go after leaving Egypt? Why did Abraham and Lot separate? What was the last thing he did in this chapter?

Genesis 14 what do you learn about Abram?

Matthew 3: What does it mean to ‘bear fruit worthy of repentance’? According to John, what is the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism?

Journal Prompt: What is the importance of baptism?

Answers:

Genesis 11: The tower was built because of a desire for human independence and self-sufficiency apart from God.

Genesis 12:  Abram’s ultimate purpose was to be a blessing to all famlies of the earth.  He erected two altars: at Shechem, at the oak of Moreh and another between Bethel and Ai.

Genesis 13:  Abram went to the Negev.  He and Lot separated because “the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great and their respective herdsmen quarelled.  The last thing Abram did in this chapter was to build an altar to the Lord “by the oaks^[f] of Mamre, which are at Hebron.”

Genesis 14: It’s obvious that Abram had forged an alliance with some of the Canaanite tribes and that he must have been an astute comander as he had 318 trained soldiers and led an attack that successfully rescued Lot from the enemy. 

Matthew 3: ‘Bearing fruit worthy of repentance’ means to live a life that shows that you are repentant – not merely saying it.  If we are truly repentant, truly sorry for our sins, then we would live a life of humility, recognizing God’s grace and showing that same grace to others.   John seems to be telling these Pharisees and scribes that they are claiming to be repentant, but their lives do not reflect a true repentance.  They are not practicing what they are preaching.