Bible Study for the Biblically Challenged Anyone?

LuAnnH

Sorry guys, I went away for the weekend and admit I am way off track.  Then had children issues (boyfriend crisis, 17 year old with migriane who thought he would die, must I go on....LOL) but I have a quiet house alone tomorrow most of the day I hope.  I plan on picking this up to read some more.

As I have read and reading Rock's post I cannot imagine giving up all my creature comforts to run off with my looney husband to live in the deserts and then allow him to give me to a pharoh.  Although, at least you get the nicest of things again in life.  But in her case I don't suppose it was about that.  I would have to think she had some clue what her life was to be or some strong trust in God or the belief her husband had in God to go on this quest.

I do have to question if I would have the trust and faith to make such bold moves.  Although my position in bc puts me in a position that I must look into that fait and accept or deny it.  Do I accept it and prepare and open myself up to what I believe is Gods love and care in an afterworld or deny him and figure my body is destine to decompose in the earth over the years and the only legacy my time on earth will leave is what I make of it with no afterlife.

I may be jumping the gun and not be on track here but that is a scary thought for me. We are to live in Gods light and grace for eternity, but trying to imagine no begininning and no ending (particularly the ending) it so scary?  You put your trust in this one thing that this loving being will be there to welcome you to a kindgom when pain, sickness, and terrible things no longer exist.  I'm not saying I don't believe because I do and always have but it is amazing the hold religion has had on people over time and the lengths they are willing to go to serve their God.

badboob67

I've been away from the boards for a couple of weeks, but I must tell you this thread encourages me so much! Thank you so much for starting it. I am excited to join in (just let me catch up...LOL!)

A couple of pages back, someone posted a link to Desiring God Ministries/Jon Piper's "Don't Waste Your Cancer". That article holds special meaning for me. I was dx'ed on the date it was posted (Feb 15, 2006). I had spoken to my brother on the phone, telling him of my dx. He suggested I visit the website as it is one of his favorites. Imagine my (pleasant!) surprise to find that day's entry to be "Don't Waste Your Cancer"!!! God always makes sure I have what I need when I need it! )

I'll be back with you later after I have a chance to catch up. I do have a request for future study:  the book of Job. I feel it is very relevant to us with bc and find it very encouraging.

((((HUGS)))

Diane

LuAnnH

Just so you all remember I am truly biblically challenged!!!!  LOL and it takes a little pushing but yes Diane this is a pretty cool thread.

moodyk13

Diane: Oh my I LOVE the book of Job.  Read it through 2 full times and refer to it often.  This first time I read it, I HATED it. Depressing.  But 2nd time I read it, God spoke to me differently. This time I saw a man with unwavering faith!  I would Love toget into Job.  I might start a seperate thread on that Book.....I'll let you know.

LuannH: My pastor once told a story that I am going to tell you now, it won't be the last time you see it here on this thread, or any other thread I might get myself involved in.

Here it goes:

"If I spend my life believing the bible, believing that Jesus came and died for my sins and I accept Him, I have the promise of the afterlife.  When I die, if NONE of it was true, well I lost NOTHING. 

BUT, If I live my life refusing to believe in Jesus, and I follow a man made god, or have NO God, and I die and see that Jesus was true..........I LOSE EVERYTHING!!!!!! 

See a lot of people I know have this idea they can live how they want to live, never giving 2nd thoughts to God's Word, they think that when they die, God will say "well, you were pretty good, you never killed anybody, you were nice to people, just come on in here to heaven."  WELL GUESS WHAT..........that "ain't goona happen". 

So, I choose to beleive in The Promise, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I have NOTHING to lose and everything to gain.  I wouldnt want to go around thinking that when I died, I would rot in the ground and never see, my family again.   

Estepp

Ladies, I have a question,

Psalm 91 14-16.  When I read it, is talking of man. Another lady I know reads it as woman.

She read it like this...

"Because SHE loves me, says the Lord I will rescue her........ ...................... I will deliver and honor her with long life"

Anyone's bible refer to He as She?

I have used the Psalm as SHE for 6 months with great peace.. THEN while reading the psalms I just looked over those verses and in my Bible.. it says HE ...

Any ideas

Love,

Laura

Anonymous

Very very sad, I remember when he 1st posted it ...

moodyk13

Estepp what a great question.  It is one of those where I know the answer, or I should say, what I think the answer is, and yet have to figure out how to verbalize it.  So I am "plagiarizing" the experts.

Gen 5:2 "Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called them Mankind, in the day when they were created"  NKJV

God called both male and female, "Mankind" the day they were created. Adam means "man." Adam and Eve were created with God-ordained differences from each other, but together they made a full "man," or a complete picture of God Himself. Their differences were not a source of discord or inequality, but a beautiful compliment to each other. 

Both men and women are to become like Him as we are conformed to His image.  Even though "kings" is a masculine term, this is the ultimate destination He desires for all of His people. The Lord often uses both male and female terms to refer to both sexes.

Both men and women in the church are referred to as "the bride of Christ." God has both a masculine and feminine nature. The mother heart of Jesus was evident as he prayed over Jerusalem.  

With this said, it is my opinion, that all blessings, words of comfort, words of correction, etc are meant for "Mankind" which is all of us. My NKJV Bible does use "he" and "him" in the scripture you quoted, but I absolutely draw comfort from it, and that is what God wants us to do. 

Hope this helps!

And Welcome!! 

Estepp

Thank you Moody, so it is ok to change the words.. when you quote it? I love it with the word she, but I hate to quote it with the wrong word. My friend said she changed the word because it spoke to her, and comforted her. It does me to, I just do not want to do something wrong...LOL

Laura

moodyk13

I personally would not "change" the word.  I would quote it just as it is written in the bible.  If someone wants "clarification" regarding the use of the "masculine" word, then you will know how to explain it. 

To me this gets into a "gray" area.  While I know that terms like "the Bride of Christ" is feminine for "all who are saved" It is easy to understand "general" terms like that.  Unfortunately, the use of "she" is more likely to be associated with females, where as the term "he" is more likely to be attributed to "everyone" depending on the context in which it is used.

Here is an example:  "Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness"  wil be more likely "interpreted" as "they", "everyone", etc.

Where as " You shall bear a son, you will call him Isaac" is a certain "masculine" being associated with the word "son".

It is all about the context of what is going on before and after. 

So in reference to the scripture you are quoting, if you just qouted it here as it is written, I would find great comfort in it because I know it pertains to all of us will to except God's grace and mercy.

Does this make sense?

EWB

But isn't the Bible about interpretation? How it speaks to you?

moodyk13

Yes it is about interpretation, and that is why I would not change the words because I will get what God is saying to "me" and it will be different to many people.  God will use the SAME verse to say different things to different people. 

I personally beleive that is why we shouldn't change the words. 

I am not referring to changing things like "it was freezing" to "it was extremely cold". 

Just remember- this is MY opinion, and others will differ, and in the end we are probably all a little right, and all a little wrong.........

EWB

Question- who wrote the bible and when we read these words do we need to take into account the time when they were written, how words were used, what they meant, that these were translated over time after being passed down by word of mouth, culture of the time etc.  Literal, figurative etc reading and understanding of words

Estepp

Thanks for your input Moody!  I read your thread everyday... just don't have many questions..:)

Catholic here who did grow up reading the bible and  still do...LOL

I follow the thread and enjoy it!

So, when I had a question about something I thought.." I bet those gals might know something about the changing of the words.. even if it is their opinion".... which is what I wanted!!

Thank you !

Reader,

Laura

moodyk13

Estepp, thanks for the kind words.  I ALWAYS have an opinion!  LOL

EWB Moses wrote the first 5 books- We call this the "Pentateuch"- Jewish call it the "Torah".

Joshua wrote Joshua

It is believed that Samuel wrote Judges- or at least most of it & Ruth- Although Jewish tradition credits Naomi for the Book of Ruth.  And Samuel wrote the first part of 1 Samuel.  Nathan and Gad wrote the rest of 1 Samuel and all of 2 Samuel

1 & 2 Kings are traditionally credited to Jeremiah, although final determination of authorship is uncertain.

1 & 2 Chronicles are credited to Ezra and so are Ezra and Nehemiah

Esther is unknown

Job appears to be written by Job, Elihu, Solomon and Moses

Psalms also had several authors:  Moses, David, Solomon, Ethan, Heman, Asaph, and some are anonymous.

Proverbs was mostly Solomon, but Agur wrote chapter 30 and Lemuel wrote chapt 31 and King Hezekiah's assistances wrote some chapters.

Ecclesiastes is also credited to Solomon a is Song of Solomon

Duty calls so I will pick up with Isaiah later tonight.  It is really cool how the Bible was "put together" and how it was 99.5% accurately translated as compared to original scrolls found in 1947. 

It is

mommacope21

Hey MoodyK13

Just wanted you to know that I was doing a little "catching-up" on you girls!

Keep up the Lord's work.....no suffering is ever in vain!

I am excited for how God is using you and all who are sharing in this experience.. together!

I have asked our Lord to keep a watch over you and your girls as you learn and love each other thru these studies. You, dear lady, are precious and I love you!

His Peace I leave with you all

Anonymous

Moody, what's next on Sarah ?  Sarah and Hagar??

moodyk13

Thanks mommacope21!  My biggest "problem" I have to work on is remembering to pray before each post. Most of the time I do remember, but sometimes I forget. It is the times I forget, that will be when I say something that someone finds offensive. 

I just pray for God to use me to do His work, and it not be "my" work but of Him!

Love, hugs, and prayers all over the board!

moodyk13

Rocktober- oops!  Thanks for reminding me!  LOL-chemo fog heavy this week-LOL

STUDY #4: Continuing with the "promised son"

Gen 18:12 "So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I grown old, shall I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?"

Gen 18:13 - 14   "And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?'  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Gen 18:15 "Then Sarah lied, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. But the Lord said, "No, but you did laugh!"

Oooh Sarah lies to the Lord!!!!  Like He wouldn't know.

Well, as always, God hears our words and knows our hearts and He knew what Sarah's response was.  And as always, His response was perfect!

Feedback?

vivre

Hi to all. I am really enjoying following along. Moody, you are truly doing God's work. What a powerful healing force you have started here.

My 27 year ol son has asked me to buy him "Origin of the Species" by Darwin for  Christmas. You have inspired me to get him a Bible too so he can learn the other side of the story. In deference to my husband, we raised him catholic. The problem that I have always had with that is that he knows nothing of the Bible. Hopefully, I can inspire him to learn the Word.

moodyk13

vivre thanks!

please check this out as it will help you with Darwin and God.  It is good stuff and interesting!

http://www.gotquestions.org/creation-evolution.html

moodyk13

I am gonna go ahead and jump to study # 5 because there isnt a ton to discuss from #4

STUDY #5

Here is where it gets interesting.  Remember back in chapter 12 when Abraham asked Sarah to tell Pharaoh she is his sister so he won't be killed?  It is like a soap opera keep reading!

Because of Sarah's beauty, she attracted lots of attention every where they went, especially from kings.  When they traveled to Gerar, King Abimelech set his sights on her too.

Gen 20:2 "And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah."

But God won't allow anyone to interfere with His plans, this includes kings!

Gen 20:3 "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, ‘Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."

God had not allowed Abimelech to touch her either.

Gen 20:6 - 7 "Then in the dream God replied to him, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not allow you to touch her. But now give back the man's wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don't give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you."

And here is where we learn the truth about Abraham and Sarah's family connection:  Abimelech confronts Abraham about lying to him regarding Sarah being his sister.  Abimelech obviously had a relationship with God.  I say this because of 3 things, 1- he hears God, 2 - he fears God, and 3 - he obeys God.    

Gen 20:9 "Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds that ought not be done."

Abraham responds Gen 20:12 "And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife."

Now remember, Sarah LAUGHED at God when He told her she would have a son at 90 years old, I wonder if she laughed when God saved her from Abimelech?

Do you think that she then realized God's promise of her bearing a child was more than real?

Do you think she ever even realized that God would HAVE to save her or the child could be Abimelech's and the promise was to Abraham?

Since Abimelech was obviously "tuned into" God, that his "quickness" to obey God was a witness to Sarah to trust God?

Okay Rock - tag your it! 

Anonymous

Moody, I can't study here at work... gotta wait til I have time to be at home ... and I get off work late tonight ..

LuAnnH

I have to admit I have been so busy the past few days because of my weekend trip I haven't read anything.  I realized today I needed to sit and read my bible, so see you are making progress with me Moody.  Alhtough I did not get that far I was immersed in a project of sorting medical bills with EOB and writing notes that they must adjust their balances......I know there are no excuses for the Lord, but I did think about it and read your posts.  Tomrorrow my big plans of the day are to sit and read more on Sarah.  As you all said, this becomes quite the soap opera and I'd like to see where it is going.

Thanks for being patient and going a little slower for me but it is so nice to be able to read the old testament and actually get something out of the reading.  Everyone always says skip the old testament or you will never get anywhere reading the bible and boy are they wrong!

LuAnnH

Ok, moody I am getting caught up to you all and starting to understand.  My question may be too soon as I am finding I must read further for something to make sense but since you all keep mentioning this I must ask.  What is the fuss about Sarah laughing about bearing a child?  And why is it important that she lied about it?  if I need to read further to find the answer then let me know, otherwise enlighten me on what I have missed in my reading.

 Although I will make one observation, is the problem because the Lord has done and given them everything that was promised if Abraham follows the rules set out for him?  In this she is 2nd guessing what the Lord has said?

If I am on the right track them tell me and I will continue my reading and see if I can get it.  If I am not on the right track give me a nudge on what I am missing.

moodyk13

Okay "miss thang", you are making me earn my money aren't you!  LOL-- And I LOVE it!!!!

Please remember though, my responses to your questions are MY OPINION.  Anyone with different opinions PLEASE POST!!!!  LOL

"Significance of Sarah laughing":  It humanizes Sarah in the Bible.  If Moses had left this part out, or if had been told to us that Sarah didn't even "flinch" at such a profound promise, it would be very easy to say "okay---this must be made up"  almost a "fairytale" sense about it.  But Sarah is real and she had believed for years in God's promise.  But now she found her faith stretched to the limit, and God used Moses to convey this to us.  And perhaps as a comfort to us that EVEN Sarah doubted God.

"Significance of her lying":  Okay if you go back and read the passage of where she laughs you will see something VERY, VERY important-it is easy to overlook- it is one of those things that God reveals to us when we are ready to see it. 

In Gen 18:10 "...And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him."  This verse establishes the fact that Sarah was not in the room with them, she was eavesdropping!

In Gen 18:12 "Therefore Sarah laughed within herself......."  The key here is "within herself".  This means she DIDN'T laugh out loud, she did so in her mind only.

Why are these things significant?  It establishes that one of the "three men" is God because He knew what her thoughts were right when she thought them.  Notice that the LORD asks Abraham why she laughed, not Sarah herself.  In addition, He calls her on her lie right away, because He knew she laughed!

AND I BELIEVE that the "three men" are representative of the Trinity:  God in 3 persons.  It doesnt say this, I just think the correlation of "three men", one is obviously the Lord.....I believe that all 3 are the Lord........makes since to me!

Does this make sense?

LuAnnH

at least you know I am reading LOL  I guess I need to go a little further so I can get the correlation.  I actually was making notes on what wasn't making sense but as I got further I figured it out.  I can't believe how much I am getting into this.  Thanks moody!

LuAnnH

by the way, it took you long enough to get back here to answer this question.....I've been  waiting all day for you  LOL

moodyk13

Im sorry Lu!  I was busy this morning at work (finally) and didnt get to even log in till after 11:00!

now i feel bad and have been laying in bed since I got home at 5:00!  i GOTTA be well tomorrow, I have choir practice at 9:30 am, choir party tomorrow night, christmas program sunday night, and revision for reconstruction surgery wednesday!!!!!  I am popping vitamin C like it's going out of style!  LOL

I am soooo glad your reading and getting lots out of it.  The bible is such a wealth of info!!!!!!

LuAnnH

You are having recon done again?  That stinks!  I never had recon so I know nothing about it.  I'll try not to have too many questions over the weekend and hopefully rock will be around to help.  In the meantime I will just to some reading and see what I can grasp on my own while you are busy.

badboob67

I just wanted to add a link to a Christian message board here:  http://bibleforums.org/forum/index.php  I visit much more than I post, but there are some good threads over there that can keep us busy while moody's busy with choir and surgery. They are extremely well moderated and also have very specific rules posted for each section of the boards, so be sure to read them before posting. Nothing quite like getting spanked for breaking a rule! LOL

Now, I just need to get my part of the reading on Sara done so I can join in here. It's been a loooong week.

Moody, when exactly is your surgery so we can all be sending up prayers for you?

(((HUGS)))
Diane