Mr. Ellis' Bible 7 Class

Tue, Jan 31 - Deuteronomy Rules

2012-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 7b: Proverbs 21:23, 29-31 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Friday, Feb 3, to retake Unit 6 Test

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- APU: Monday, Feb 6 is your next APU! Make sure your grades are where you want them to be.
- Service Hours: There are three ♦things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12
Journal 7-6: Warning! These verses get into some rather odd things. God wants to keep his people from becoming like the evil ones they are chasing out of the land, so he gives some laws to prevent that... laws that address rather evil & odd things.
- Open your Unit Handout to page 35
- Read each set of verses from Deuteronomy (in ‘()’ after the question)
- Answer questions 1-7

Handout p35 Responses:
- Q1) Why was Israel not to fear when going into battle?
- - The LORD, their God, will be with them!
- - Why do you think there’s a full chapter laws for war?
- - - They’re about to enter the Promised Land, which will involve a lot of war--they need to know what is good or bad about how they do this
- Q2) What is our responsibility when we find a lost item?
- - Return it!
- Q3) What does God find detestable here? (Deut. 22:5)
- - Cross-dressing!
- - Why?
- - - We discussed many things (e.g. It is deceptive & could trick people)
- - - One I emphasized is that it shows a lack of commitment and trust in God.
- - - - God made you who you are, boy or girl, for a reason!
- - - - To pretend to be something else is to suggest to God that He made a mistake
- - - - It shows you are not satisfied with what He gave you
- Q4) How were ‘promiscuous’ young women disciplined?
- - Stoned to death! (Like the rebellious son)
- Q5) Who is accountable for a child’s sin? (Deut. 24:16)
- - Each individual—not the whole family!
- - This shows that each of us are individually responsible for our own sins!
- - We can't blame others, but must accept the consequences.
- Q6) Why have hands cut off? (D 25:11-12)
- - …no comment…
- Q7) How severe will things get when the people keep disobeying God? (D -28:53-57)
- - Even the most sensitive person (the loving father!) will eat his own children!
- - Yikes! That is severe!

Consequences: Students created a table with two sides in their notes
- Column 1: Obeying God, From verses Deuteronomy 28:1-14
- - What did Israel receive for carefully & fully obeying God—
- - - In general? They will be blessed!
- - - Specifically? The following things would be blessed, their... cities, country, children, crops, livestock, travels, battles, work, fame, prosperity, and more!
- Column 2: Disobeying God, From verses Deuteronomy 28:15-29 & 64-68
- - What did Israel receive for not obeying God—
- - - In general? They will be cursed!
- - - Specifically? All the things above would be cursed! Also they would be confused, rebuked, destroyed, come to ruin, suffer plagues & diseases, lose their land, be oppressed & robbed daily, lose their wives and children, have evil kings rule them, and more!
- - What was the biggest way Israel could ‘turn aside’ from the commands God gave them? (v14)
- - - Following other gods & serving them

Mon, Jan 30 - Memory Quiz 7b Preparation

2012-01-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 7b: Proverbs 21:23, 29-31 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Friday, Feb 3, to retake Unit 6 Test

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- APU: Monday, Feb 6 is your next APU! Make sure your grades are where you want them to be.
- Service Hours: There are three ♦things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12
Journal 7-5:
- On your Unit Handout, page 34:
- - Read all the verses for Proverbs 21
- - Then answer questions 5-12 on the right
- More time?
- - Read Proverbs 24:1-4 & answer Qs 13 & 14
- - Work on Devotion 3
- - Work on page 33 of your unit handout

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Proverbs 21:23, 29-31
- Your Questions: Based upon class discussion & your personal reflection of these verses, use complete sentences & your own words to specifically answer:
- - Explain how guarding what we say keeps us from trouble? Explain and also give one example.
- - - Some general ideas we talked about include...
- - - - When we get mad and want to just say what's on our mind, we can insult people and tear them down--we needed to guard our mouths!
- - - - When we don't think about what we say we can just say something stupid, insult people, or even lie!
- - - - When we need to be quiet and we're loud we can get in trouble, too
- - - There are more things you could add here, show me you personally thought this through.
- - - Be specific in what you describe! I'd give at least two, since it is a 2-point question.
- - What does verse 31 teach about our responsibility & the Lord's responsibility in the hard times we face?
- - - Check out the verse, "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD"
- - - Our responsibility is to do our best to prepare for what is happening, to 'make the horse ready for battle,' so to speak
- - - But, we have to realize that ultimately God is responsible for what happens! "Victory rests with the LORD"

Discussing p34 Responses:
- 4) What is ‘self-righteousness?’ (v2)
- - To think you are always right in what you do/think/say
- - For instance, when you always defend yourself when you are told you are wrong.
- 5) What are our ‘sacrifices’ today? (v3)
- - Tithes, 'going to church,' etc...
- 6) List three ‘pleasures’ that will lead to poverty. (v17)
- - Loving wine, oil, & pleasures
- 7) Write a third proverb to match v9 and v19.
- - Various answers...
- 8) List three ways we can ‘store’ for our future. (v20)
- - Various answers...
- 9) What is the best way to stay out of trouble? (v23)
- - Guard what you say! (well, 'one' of the best ways to stay out of trouble)
- 10) Is man able to outsmart or fool God?
- - Nope! No wisdom or insight or plan can go against Him!
- 11) What are we responsible to do? (v31)
- - 'Prepare the horse for battle' - Do the best we can for the hard time
- 12) However, who is ultimately in control? (v31)
- - God! Victory will come from Him
- 13) List three ways the company of ‘wicked’ men will harm you. (vv1-2)
- - Violence, bad talk, etc...
- 14) How are we to plan or ‘build’ our lives? (vv3-4)
- - Wisdom, understanding, & knowledge!

Fri, Jan 27 - Quiz

2012-01-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Today was Memory Quiz 7a: Proverbs 8:10-11, 13-15
- Next Friday will be Memory Quiz 7b: Proverbs 21:23, 29-31 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Friday, Feb 3, to retake Unit 6 Test

Handouts: Unit 6 Test

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three ♦things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12
Journal: None given, students reviewed for the quiz.

After the quiz, students worked on blank handout pages and we watched a video.

Thu, Jan 26 - Deuteronomy, Prophet like Moses

2012-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 7a: Proverbs 8:10-11, 13-15
- Students have until Friday, Jan 27 to make up Memory Quiz 6b

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three ♦things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12
Journal 7-4: Read Deuteronomy 18:15-19 & answer:
- These verses mention a Prophet like Moses coming—who do you think, from the Bible, this prophesy is talking about? List a few ideas.
- Read Acts 3:19-26 (Peter) & Acts 7:37 (Stephen) & answer—Of whom do these men refer?

Period 6: Review these notes from yesterday: The Shema: Deuteronomy 6:6-9

A Prophet like Moses:
- See your handout p33, the middle section (Part 2 )
- Read Deuteronomy 18:15-22) Who else in the Bible was like Moses?
- Read Acts 3:19-26 (Peter speaking) & Acts 7:37 (Stephen speaking)
- Of whom do these men refer that fulfills this prophesy?
- - The greatest fulfillment of Moses prophesy is found in Jesus!
- - Think of all their similarities…
- - - An evil king tried to kill them
- - - Came from Egypt
- - - Led slaves to freedom (Jesus did it spiritually)
- - - Performed miracles
- - - Suffered at hands of those they loved; etc...

Why Israel Got this Land: Your Handout, page 33, Part 1,
- Read Deuteronomy 9:4-6
- Q1) Why was Israel allowed to drive out the Canaanites?
- - The nations were wicked & being judged by God!
- - This is much like what God did with the flood in Noah's time, or Sodom & Gomorrah in Abraham's time; He has some entire cities wiped out, man, woman, & child! But instead of a flood, or 'fire & brimstone' doing it, He is using military battles.
- - Is it fair for God to judge?
- - - Absolutely!
- - - He is the one who best & completely knows what happened.
- - - Thus He can most judge us rightly.
- Q2) What did God not want them to think?
- - He didn't want Israel to think were 'righteous enough' or ‘good enough’ to get the land
- - They didn’t deserve it!
- Q3) Who was the land promised to?
- - Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
- Q4) How are the Israelites described?
- - ‘Stiff-necked’ – (Meaning Stubborn)

The Rebellious Son:
- Look at your Unit Handout, page 33
- Read Deuteronomy 21:18-21 as a class
- Individually, answer the bottom questions (#5-9)
- Group discussion:
- - Why do you think God allowed this punishment?
- - Do you think it really helped? Why or why not?
- Handout, p33, answers
- - Q5) What 2 things does a rebellious son do?
- - - Does not obey or listen to parents
- - Q6) What are the parent’s 1st action?
- - - Discipline Him: Words or Actions
- - Q7) What are the parent’s second action?
- - - Bring before elders
- - Q8) What is the purpose of including the elders?
- - - Keeps balanced! If they know the parents are bad…
- - Q9) How was a truly rebellious son punished?
- - - Stone him to death!
- - - Why did they do this?
- - - - To purge the evil from among them!
- - - - How do we do this today? Prisons, Detentions, etc...

Wed, Jan 25 - The Shema

2012-01-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 7a: Proverbs 8:10-11, 13-15
- Students have until Friday, Jan 27 to make up Memory Quiz 6b

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12
Journal 7-3: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, then answer…
- What titles/names are used for God?
- - The Lord, our God
- How is God described?
- - Being one God
- - Being our God
- Summarize how are we supposed to love God?
- - With all of who we are!
- Give examples of how you can love God with your…
- - Heart (Your mind, will, ‘inner person’)
- - Soul (Your passions, desires, emotions)
- - Strength (Your might, force, power)
- What specific, different things is Israel supposed to do with these commands?
- What ways do we use now days to remind ourselves of God’s commands?
- - They were told to talk about them regularaly with their children, tie them as symbols to their hands, bind them to their foreheads, & write them on the door frames of their houses/gates
- - Today we can remind ourselves of God's Word by...

The Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4-5
- We heard an audio clip of the Hebrew being read for Deut 6:4
- This is called 'The Shema’
- It is a major verse in Deuteronomy frequently used by Jewish worshipers today!
- Jesus quotes this in Mark 12:29-30 & Matthew 22:37 & Luke 10:27!
- - It is also known as The Greatest Commandment
- Some key parts:
- - Shema: "Hear, O Israel:" Meaning both ‘Hear & Obey’
- - Elohim: "The LORD our God/Elohim" Literally this word means 'gods', a plural word!
- - - This could be for two reasons; sometimes a plural word would be used to recognize the majesty & greatness of the one being referred to.
- - - Some also think it could be a hint or foreshadowing of the Trinity (God the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit--three persons of our one God)!
- - The LORD is One: This truth is vital for Old Testament & New Testament! Especially after referring to God as 'Elohim,' it is emphasized that there is only one God.
- - Heart, Soul, & Might: This means we are to love God with all of who we are!

The Shema: Deuteronomy 6:6-9
- These verses explain what Israel is to do w/the words of Deuteronomy (those just said & those to come)
- They are to...
- - Keep them on their heart
- - Diligently teach to sons
- - Frequently talk of them
- - Bind them on hands & forehead (These are called ‘phylacteries’)
- - Write them on doorposts & gates (These are called ‘mezuzahs’)
- The 'Big Idea’ God wants to communicate is that, concerning God's Word:
- - It should be in our heart & thoughts
- - It should be seen through our actions
- - We should put reminders of it all around us

Tue, Jan 24 - Deuteronomy

2012-01-24T07:34:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 7a: Proverbs 8:10-11, 13-15
- Students have until Friday, Jan 27 to make up Memory Quiz 6b

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12
Journal 7-2: Deuteronomy is Moses’ last words to Israel before he dies and they entered the promised land. Here, much of Israel’s laws & history with God (from the Pentateuch) is re-visited—
- Tell of a time that someone ‘repeated the rules’ for you. Why do you think they did it? How do you think they wanted it to help?
- Tell of a time that someone reminded you of what you did in the past and it wasn’t to ‘rub it in.’ Why do you think they did this? How do you think they wanted this to help?
- Why do you think Moses did this? Below are some important reasons I gave
- - The Law & their history are both very important! (describing how they can have a relationship with God & explaining where they came from)
- - This is a new group of adults, many were not even born when the first Law was given & they hadn't lived through some of the history explained.
- - Moses wants to leave them with what’s most important before he dies—how to keep a strong relationship with God
- - They are just about to enter the Promised Land, if they don't follow the Law they will lose the land—Moses doesn't want this to happen!

Map of Where They Are: I showed a map of where Israel is at this point, east of the Jordan River, in the wilderness

Deuteronomy: Its Introduction
- 1:5 - 3:29) Moses surveys their recent history
- Deut. 4) Israel urged to obey God!
- - 4:24) How is God described?
- - - A Consuming Fire: Think of the imagery Israel has had these past 40 years that show this, the 250 tribe leaders that supported Korah being consumed by fire, Aaron's disobedient sons offering 'strange incense' to God & being consumed by fire, Mt. Sinai appearing to be being consumed with fire when Moses was in it, the pillar of fire that led them at night---such imagery would make them see God as powerful, holy, righteous, and awe-inspiring!
- - - A Jealous God: A 'healthy jealousy,' similar to how a man does not want his wife to sleep with other men, God does not want His children/followers to follow after other gods! That's not what we were designed for, it ruins our lives!
- - 4:25-31) A Key Verse!
- - - What do you see emphasized here?
- - - - A Warning: Disobey & bad things will happen!
- - - - - Remember this! In 8th grade we see this start to happen!
- - - - A Comfort: V29; In repentance they will be restored

Something to Ponder:
- Deut. 5) What is the heading?
- - Why repeat the Law? Why take this time?
- - - One reason may be that they are quick to forget, they need some reminders!
- - - But also, similar to today's journal…
- - - - The key reason is that this is a new generation!
- - - - This generation needs to personally hear & respond to God’s covenant
- - - - Just like our own relationship with God!
- - - - - My parents were strong Christians & I've been to church ever since I was a baby--but that does not cause me to have a relationship with God!
- - - - - I must personally respond to God's invitation to have a relationship with Himself. We can't get it because our family was.

Mon, Jan 23 - Memory Quiz 7a Prep & Deuteronomy Introduced

2012-01-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 7a: Proverbs 8:10-11, 13-15
- Students have until Friday, Jan 27 to make up Memory Quiz 6b

Handouts:
- Unit 7 Handout
- Friday I returned Memory Quiz 6b

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 7: Deuteronomy - Joshua 12

Friday: No notes were posted, we simply took a test.

Journal 7-1:
- Read Proverbs 8:10-16 & answer Questions 1-3 on your new unit handout (pg 34)
- Then answer the following questions:
- - List two things you desire & then explain why wisdom is better than each.
- - Explain why, in general wisdom is better than most things people desire.
- - “To fear the Lord is to hate evil” – Describe what you think this means.
- More time? Write a short story (1-2 paragraphs) that demonstrates the value of wisdom & knowledge over what most people value.

Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Proverbs 8:10-11,13-15
- Your Questions: Based upon class discussion & your personal reflection of these verses, use complete sentences & your own words to specifically answer:
- - List two things you desire & then explain why wisdom is better than each.
- - - These verses bring up three things people desire, gold, silver, & rubies
- - - It points out that wisdom, knowledge, & understanding are far better than these!
- - - Think about it...
- - - - What is the long term benefit of wisdom vs. wealth?
- - - - How does wisdom help you in a greater way in more areas of your than mere wealth?
- - - - What would you rather have, a gift of $100 dollars, or...
- - - - - The ability to gain $100 on your own, or even
- - - - - The wisdom on how to wisely use $100
- - - Please use your own example!
- - - You need to think of two different Jr. High examples that show this same principle--things that you personally desire, but where getting wisdom would be far better.
- - “To fear the LORD is to hate evil” – Describe what this means.
- - - We know that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge; here we know more about what it means to fear the LORD
- - - On contrast to just being frightened by God, fearing God means that we honor & respect Him.
- - - Think, if you honor and respect your parents, what does that mean you will do?
- - - - You'll obey them
- - - - You'll listen to them
- - - - You'll do what they ask.
- - - It's similar with God, when we fear Him, we will do these same things
- - - Along with that, and most related to this verse, we'll begin to love what He loves & hate what He hates.
- - - - Therefore, since God hates evil, we too will begin to hate evil!
- - - - Evil won't look good to us
- - - - We'll try to avoid evil in our own lives & even stop it in the world around us!
- - - If we truly 'Fear the LORD,' it will be demonstrated through our hating of evil

The Pentateuch Table: Deuteronomy
- Key Idea: Renewed Covenant (38 years ago their parents were told the 1st one!)
- The Nation: Made Ready (To enter the Promised Land)
- The People: Re-Taught (What it means and what it is to be God's people)
- God’s Character: Loving Lord (Seeking a real relationship with them and wanting to bless them!)
- God’s Role: Rewarder (What God will do if they follow Him)
- God’s Command: “Obey!”

Deuteronomy: Its Introduction
- The final book of the ‘Pentateuch’ (Meaning... 'Five books')
- Read Deut. 1:1-5 (pg 125)
- - Who? Moses is getting ready to speak
- - What? He is going to go over the law of God (Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers) again with the people
- - Where? In the wilderness, east of the Jordan River
- - When? In the 40th year since leaving Egypt, the 11th month, the 1st day.
- - Why? To remind the new generation of what God said & how they can draw near to Him and be blessed in the Promised Land.
- The book's name:
- - In Hebrew the name is different than Deuteronomy, they call it “These are the Words” (or “Words” for short), because that is the first line of this book.
- - The Greek's started calling it Deuteronomy, which we use in English; it means “Second Law” (because they are 'repeating' the law)
- Format:
- - These are Moses’ final words to Israel (he will soon die)
- - This is not just law, nor is it just history! The book combines these two things with more!
- - It is like a sermon, encouraging Israel to obey & commit in a real relationship with God.

Thur, Jan 19 - Unit 6 Test Review

2012-01-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: TOMORROW is your Unit 6 Test! Study guide is already posted
- You have until Friday, 1/20, to retake Memory Quiz 6a

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal: Students had their notebook check.

Unit 6 Review:
1. Because they didn’t have farms, Israel couldn’t celebrate most feasts God gave them—but which one did they still celebrate?
The Passover & feast of Unleavened Bread
2. God warned that the people would be cursed for disobedience, yet what hope did He also give them?
They can be restored through confession & repentance!
3. How often was land returned to its original owners in Israel? What was this called?
Every 49-50 years, the “Year of Jubilee”
4. In general, who did God tell Moses to pick for spying out the land?
One leader from each of the tribes
5. What did Moses do in the wilderness that was a sin?
Hit the rock
6. The Civil New Year was celebrated in what festival?
Feast of Trumpets
7. What amazing quality is Moses described as having?
Most Humble man
8. What are two of the three reasons we gave for having the Year of Jubilee?
(1) Prohibited oppressing each other [no slavery]; (2) Gave every one a chance for a ‘New Start’; (3) Discouraged excessive buildup of wealth
9. What declares the glory of God (according to the Psalm from this unit)?
The heavens!
10. What did Balak first try to do in order to defeat Israel?
Hire Balaam to curse them
11. What did Caleb and Joshua do that was so admirable?
Stood up for God, even when hard, to enter Promised Land
12. What did the Firstfruits festival celebrate?
Barley Harvest
13. What do people do when they call on God to have someone ‘filled with benefits’?
They ‘Bless’ someone
14. What do the Amorites, Bashan, Arad, & Midian all have in common?
They were defeated by Israel in battle
15. What does Kibroth-hattavah mean?
Graves of craving
16. What feast remembered God’s provision for Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness?
Feast of Tabernacles
17. What happened to Korah & his household?
The ground swallowed them up
18. What happened to the 250 leaders who supported Korah?
Consumed by fire (God’s justice!)
19. What is God’s Character in Numbers (from the Pentateuch Table)?
Just
20. What is Korah known for doing?
Leading a rebellion right after Israel left the Promised Land (the first time)
21. What is Numbers’ ‘Key Idea’ (from the Pentateuch Table)?
Wandering
22. What two things were celebrated in the Feast of Weeks?
When God gave Moses the Law on Mt. Sinai & the wheat harvest
23. What word means ‘Burning’?
Taberah
24. When God told the people to leave the Promised Land, what did they do?
Try to take it over! [and were defeated militarily!]
25. When was Israel not supposed to sow and reap for more than just one day?
The Sabbath Year
26. Who asked God if he could curse Israel?
Balaam
27. Who became a leper for not supporting Moses?
Miriam (worked w/Aaron)
28. Why were farmers supposed to leave behind grain in their fields?
To care for the poor

Wed, Jan 18 - Number's End

2012-01-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is your Unit 6 Test! Study guide is already posted
- You have until Friday, 1/20, to retake Memory Quiz 6a

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Notebook Check: Happening tomorrow.,
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-10: On your Unit Handout—
- Work on page 30
- Fill out all of the bottom portion 1st
- Then find the words above.
- Done? Finish any other blank handout pages

Review the notes posted yesterday:
- Numbers 23-24:
- Numbers 24-26:
- Skimming Over Numbers 28-36:

Tue, Jan 17 - Israel vs. Moab

2012-01-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is your Unit 6 Test! Study guide is already posted
- You have until Friday, 1/20, to retake Memory Quiz 6a

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-9: Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in which we celebrate a key movement in our nation that brought about right justice and equality in our country.
- Read the following verses, then reflect on the Qs below: Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Deuteronomy 24:19-21, Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 1:17, & James 1:27
- What do these verses teach about our role in caring for those who are most vulnerable to be treated without justice and equality?
- - You can see that God cares for those who are in great need (foreigners, widows, orphans, the poor, etc...), see Psalm 146:7-10 to see His heart on this!
- - In Deuteronomy 24 it explains their thing that is similar to modern 'soup kitchens;' when a farmer went through his field & harvested the grain--they were supposed to leave some back for the widows, foreigners, & orphans to pick up. That way those who had no steady job could still have food!
- - Prov 31:8 & Isaiah 1:17 point out how we're supposed to speak up for and defend the afflicted & needy, such as widows & orphans.
- - Therefore, He calls us to live out our religion by caring for those in need!
- Give two examples of how you can do this: Various answers given by students
- Extra time? Read & reflect on Psalm 146:7-10

Period 6: Review these notes from last Wednesday: A Loss, A Victory, Complaints, & A Snake:

Numbers 23-24:
- Balak asks Balaam to curse Israel
- Num 22:41) Baal is 1st introduced, this is the name of one of the main false gods in the region Israel was moving to & it becomes a MAJOR problem for them!
- Num 23-24) Each curse becomes a blessing!
- - Balaam blesses Israel when asked to curse them: (Num 23:7-10, 23:18-24, 24:3-9 & 24:15-20)
- - Balak complains every time because Balaam is doing the opposite of what he wants! (Num 23:11-12, 23:25-26 & 24:10-14)
- - Each time Balak asks Balaam to move to a new place & tries again to have Balaam curse them (Num 23:13 & 23:27)
- Summarizing the blessings Balaam gave:
- - Israel’s great growth
- - God’s faithfulness to them
- - Prosperity & success
- - Rise of a conquering military ruler

Numbers 24-26:
- Numbers 25) Balaam’s other counsel (Num 31:16)…
- - Have Midianite women (from Moab) seduce the men of Israelite to sin with them
- - Some Israelites even sacrifice to their false gods!
- - This happened at Peor (meaning, 'a gap')
- Numbers 26) The second census of Numbers is taken; there are 601,730 men
- Numbers 27:15-23)
- - What is going on here? Moses is seeking a successor!
- - God appoints Joshua, so…Moses commissions Joshua

Skimming Over Numbers 28-36:
- Numbers 28-30) Various Laws on holy days & vows
- Numbers 31) Midian’s Destruction
- Numbers 32) The tribes of Reuben & Gad settle in Gilead (it's good for their livestock!)
- - Yet their men continue into the Promised Land because...
- - It wouldn't be fair if they got to stay behind and enjoy the benefits of the land 'all Israel' conquered, unless they went forth with the all rest of Israel to help conquer their land.
- Numbers 33) Reviewing their desert journey
- Numbers 34) Canaan’s boundaries are describe
- Numbers 35) Cities of Refuge set
- - These were cities people could flee to if they committed unintentional murder/manslaughter (1st degree, pre-meditated murder did not count)
- - Once in this city, the family of whoever was killed could not attack the murder to take vengeance.
- - A Judge would rule the case and solve the problem, though.
- Numbers 36) Zelophehad’s daughters
- - These girls' father died & left them no brothers.
- - Thus there was a question, since sons usually inherited land, who would inherit their father's land?
- - Moses brought this problem to God who said that the daughters can keep it--as long as they marry someone within their tribe.
- - Basic lesson from this is that each tribe was meant to keep their land-inheritance, land wasn't to go from one tribe to another.

Fri, Jan 13 - Mem Quiz 6b & Numbers Catch-Up

2012-01-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Today was Memory Quiz 6b: Psalm 15:1-4 (NIV, 1984)
- Next Friday is your Unit 6 Test! Study guide is already posted
- You have until Friday, 1/20, to retake Memory Quiz 6a

Handouts: Memory Quiz 6a

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal: None given, students studied for their quiz

Settling Korah's Rebellion:
- A cause of Korah’s rebellion was this complaint:
Why does Aaron get to lead the priests?
- Read Numbers 17:1-11
- - How did God show who He choose? He will cause his staff to bud
- - - Who did He choose? Aaron!
- - - Describe what happened. Aaron’s Staff sprouted, budded, blossomed, & produced almonds!
- - - Why is this odd? Old dead pieces of wood don't have this happen...

- Note: Chapters 18-19 are more rules for the Levites & Priests

Numbers 20:
- 20:1-5) Miriam Dies & …
- - Lacking water, the people again complain because they don't have water
- 20:6-8) God commands Moses is to speak to the rock & water will come!
- 20:9-13) But Moses sins by striking the rock instead! (see handout, p28)
- - Moses lets his anger & pride get the better of him.
- - God disciplines Moses for this by not allowing him to enter the Promised Land
- 20:14-21) Edom denies Israel passage through their land, so Israel must go around.
- 20:23-29) Aaron Dies

A Loss, A Victory, Complaints, & A Snake:
- 21:1-3) Israel loses to & then wins against Arad

- 21:4-9) Israel is impatient, hating manna, & speaking against God & Moses
- - God sent poisonous snakes
- - Moses creates a Bronze Snake, put on a pole
- - - Looking to it will save you!
- - - How is the Bronze Snake like Jesus?
- - - - See John 3:14-15 (NIV), "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.a]">"
- - - - By believing in God & physically looking at the Bronze Snake, one would be healed & saved from death
- - - - By believing in God & spiritually looking at Jesus (following Him in faith), one is spiritually healed & saved from spiritual death!

- Israel defeats the Amorites & Bashan

- Moab begins to fear...

Numbers 23-24:
- Balak asks Balaam to curse Israel
- Num 22:41) Baal is 1st introduced, this is the name of one of the main false gods in the region Israel was moving to & it becomes a MAJOR problem for them!
- Num 23-24) Each curse becomes a blessing!
- - Balaam blesses Israel when asked to curse them: (Num 23:7-10, 23:18-24, 24:3-9 & 24:15-20)
- - Balak complains every time because Balaam is doing the opposite of what he wants! (Num 23:11-12, 23:25-26 & 24:10-14)
- - Each time Balak asks Balaam to move to a new place & tries again to have Balaam curse them (Num 23:13 & 23:27)
- Summarizing the blessings Balaam gave:
- - Israel’s great growth
- - God’s faithfulness to them
- - Prosperity & success
- - Rise of a conquering military ruler

Numbers 24-26:
- Numbers 25) Balaam’s other counsel (Num 31:16)…
- - Have Midianite women (from Moab) seduce the men of Israelite to sin with them
- - Some Israelites even sacrifice to their false gods!
- - This happened at Peor (meaning, 'a gap')
- Numbers 26) The second census of Numbers is taken; there are 601,730 men
- Numbers 27:15-23)
- - What is going on here? Moses is seeking a successor!
- - God appoints Joshua, so…Moses commissions Joshua

Thu, Jan 12 - Wilderness Wandering

2012-01-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 6b: Psalm 15:1-4 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)

Note: Yesterday had some blog things missing, I corrected that post this morning.

Journal 6-8: Read Numbers 22; then answer...
- What territory…? Moab
- Who was the terrified king…? Balak
- What did this king try to hire Balaam for? Cursing Israel, to win in battle
- What clear answer did God give…? Don't go [very clear!]
- In 2nd attempt, what does the king promise…? More rewards than before!
- Does Balaam hold to what God first said…? Explain. Nope! He lets greed get the better of him
- Why do you think God is angry with Balaam? See previous & Balaam doubted God's first word
- What saved … life? How … treat this? Why? Balaam's donkey saved his life; yet he beats it because he doesn't see the angel waiting to kill him
- What odd thing happened the 3rd time …? Balaam's donkey talks to him! Explaining how he saved him...
- Summarize the angel’s message… Go to Balak, but only speak what God says

Rebellion! Review these notes from yesterday

Wed, Jan 11 - Israel's Sin

2012-01-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 6b: Psalm 15:1-4 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-7: On your new handout, work on: “Psalm 19 Word Search”
- First) Fill out the heading
- Second) Find the answers for #s 1-30
- Third) Find the words in the box!

Disobedience x2!:
- Numbers 13-15) Departure from the Promised Land!
- - 14:39-45) Israel changes their mind...
- - - They choose to enter after all!
- - - Moses says, ‘Don't do it!'
- - - They ignore him & are viciously attacked when they try to enter!

Rebellion!
- Chapter 16) Rebellion! Led by Korah (a Levite) w/250 tribe leaders!
- - 20-24, 29-35) The Lord brings discipline
- - - The ground ‘swallows up’ Korah & his direct followers
- - - The 250 others are consumed by fire!
- - 41-50) The people blame Moses for these deaths…
- - - A new plague strikes! 14,700 more die
- - - Moses & Aaron again save the people

Review these notes from yesterday:
- This is the video that we watched (click on 'the video)
- Check out this discussion from the notes, "Video & Discussion"

Settling Korah's Rebellion:
- A cause of Korah’s rebellion was this complaint:
Why does Aaron get to lead the priests?
- Read Numbers 17:1-11
- - How did God show who He choose? He will cause his staff to bud
- - - Who did He choose? Aaron!
- - - Describe what happened. Aaron’s Staff sprouted, budded, blossomed, & produced almonds!
- - - Why is this odd? Old dead pieces of wood don't have this happen...

- Note: Chapters 18-19 are more rules for the Levites & Priests

Numbers 20:
- 20:1-5) Miriam Dies & …
- - Lacking water, the people again complain because they don't have water
- 20:6-8) God commands Moses is to speak to the rock & water will come!
- 20:9-13) But Moses sins by striking the rock instead! (see handout, p28)
- - Moses lets his anger & pride get the better of him.
- - God disciplines Moses for this by not allowing him to enter the Promised Land
- 20:14-21) Edom denies Israel passage through their land, so Israel must go around.
- 20:23-29) Aaron Dies

A Loss, A Victory, Complaints, & A Snake:
- 21:1-3) Israel loses to & then wins against Arad

- 21:4-9) Israel is impatient, hating manna, & speaking against God & Moses
- - God sent poisonous snakes
- - Moses creates a Bronze Snake, put on a pole
- - - Looking to it will save you!
- - - How is the Bronze Snake like Jesus?
- - - - See John 3:14-15 (NIV), "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.a]">"
- - - - By believing in God & physically looking at the Bronze Snake, one would be healed & saved from death
- - - - By believing in God & spiritually looking at Jesus (following Him in faith), one is spiritually healed & saved from spiritual death!

- Israel defeats the Amorites & Bashan

- Moab begins to fear...

Tue, Jan 10 - Complaints, Provision, Not Entering the Land

2012-01-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 6b: Psalm 15:1-4 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form
- Devotion 3: Due TODAY! See RenWeb for further details.

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-6: Read Numbers 12:1-16
- What is Moses’ amazing personality trait?
- - He is the most humble man ever!
- - Give one example from his life when you see this. (Various answers)
- What was unique about how God spoke to Moses?
- - It was direct, 'face-to-face,' not in visions and dreams, or even in riddles!
- Who begins to work against Moses?
- - Miriam & Aaron (his brother & sister)
- How does God help Moses?
- - He calls Miriam, Aaron, & Moses all together, defending Moses to them
- What happens to those who were against Moses?
- - Aaron seems to get off okay, but Miriam picks up a leprosy disease!
- How was God’s mercy still seen here?
- - After Moses prayers for his sister, she is healed, although she has to stay out of the camp for 7 days more.

Period 6: Check these notes out from yesterday: A Burning Anger!

Wails & Quails!
- Num 11:18-20) The last complaint the people had was for meat
- - God now answers this complaint by super-providing!
- - He says He will give them so much meat it will come out of their noses!
- Num 11:31-35) Look at how much quail God sent!
- ~The quail are swarming around, 3 feet deep for an entire day's journey around the camp! Careful what you ask for
- - - This would last for a month.
- - While they were greedily stuffing their faces with this meat God sent a plague among them
- - - They could have repented for their lack of trust & contentment, but they didn't, only feeding their own greedy gluttony.
- - - Therefore God furthered the just discipline
- - That place was named, 'Kibroth-hattaavah,' which means 'Graves of Craving' (or 'Graves of Greediness’)

Numbers 13-15: On your unit handout, page 28
- Israel arrives to the Promised Land!
- We read the summary on the handout.

Video & Discussion: We watched a dramatic presentation of Israel entering the promised land. Some things to remember from this...
- God told Moses to select one leader from each of the tribes to spy out the land, so 12 total people went.
- When the spies returned, they reported that the land really was prosperous ('flowing with milk & honey')! But they also reported that there were 'giants & fortresses' there. The people they saw were fearsome & they didn't want to battle against them!
- Numbers 14:1-4) When Israel heard this, they complained & cried out--staying that they wished they even died in Egypt! They even wanted to return to Egypt! This was a huge insult to God, it was as though they wished God never showed up & set them free!
- - Numbers 14:5-10) Only Joshua & Caleb stood up for God, even when it was VERY unpopular! The people got ready to 'stone' both of these men! At that moment, God revealed His presence in a very powerful way, which stopped the stoning.
- Numbers 14:11-16) Then Moses & God had a conversation that was much like the one they had on Mt. Sinai. God said He was going to destroy the people, yet Moses asks for His mercy & forgiveness.
- Numbers 14:20-24) Indeed God has mercy & forgiveness--but He also shows Justice! He gives the people exactly what they ask for, they won't enter the Promised Land, instead they will die outside of it. Everyone over 20 years old would die outside the Promised Land (with the exception of Joshua & Caleb).

Mon, Jan 9 - Mem Quiz 6b Prep & Numbers Continued

2012-01-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 6b: Psalm 15:1-4 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form
- Devotion 3: Due TOMORROW! See RenWeb for further details.

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-5:
- On your Unit Handout, p25
- - Read Psalm 15:1-5
- - Complete questions 6-9
- Also, describe each of the different ways this verse says to:
- - Use the tongue (your words).
- - Not use the tongue (your words).
- If you get done, re-read the verses and give some more thought & details to your answers.

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Read: Psalm 15:1-5 (NOTE: The quiz is only on vv 1-4); from the handout, p25, your journal
- - What can be a benefit of reading this psalm before coming before God in worship? Below are two main answers we talked about in class...
- - - Sin separates us from God & keeps us from worshiping Him as we should. But reading this psalm can help you recognize your sin, which is needed so you can confess it to God and ask His forgiveness.
- - - This can also help keep you from distractions, focusing you on what is most important and right to do in life
- - - Your heart can be ready/prepared for whatever God has in store for you
- - - Help you be able to worship better with other people, because you're not causing problems
- - In general, who is fit to draw near to God in worship?
- - - Those who do what is right and who are righteous.
- - The Bible tells that all of sinned, so how do you think can one become ‘fit’ for worship?
- - - The Bible shares how it starts with a relationship with Jesus, admitting your sin, believing in Him, confessing Him as Savior & Lord, and then committing your life to Him is the first step
- - - After this, though, even those who are in a relationship with Jesus will sometimes make mistakes & sin--they can become 'fit for worship' by confessing these sins to God, asking His forgiveness, & repenting of them.
- - List three areas (from verses 2-5) that you need to work on this week as you draw closer to God’s presence.
- - - This is a personal reflection & we did not share them in class

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Psalm 15:1-4
- Your Questions: Based upon class discussion & your personal reflection of these verses, use complete sentences & your own words to specifically answer:
- - Describe two or more ways this psalm can be beneficial to read before worshiping God. (2 points)
- - - See the notes above.
- - In your own words, describe two ways this verse tells us to use (or not use) our tongue. Give at least one Jr. High example. (2 points)
- - - There are several possible answers here, read the verses and put two or more of these in your own words & provide an example

A Burning Anger!
- Numbers 11:1-3) More complaining….
- - God sends fire that burns the outskirts of the camp
- - They name the area 'Taberah,' which means “Burning”
- Num 11:4-9, 10-15) More complaints from the people!
- - They want to return to Egypt…
- - - They are not content with what God gave them
- - - Thus they are doubting and rejecting God
- - - And they are being very glutinous & greedy
- - Moses tells God that the constant complaints of the people are too much for him!
- - - He actually asks God to kill him if things don't get better!
- Num 11:16-17) God helps things get better by having Moses select 70 leaders to help him lead the people

Wails & Quails!
- Num 11:18-20) The last complaint the people had was for meat
- - God now answers this complaint by super-providing!
- - He says He will give them so much meat it will come out of their noses!
- Num 11:31-35) Look at how much quail God sent!
- ~The quail are swarming around, 3 feet deep for an entire day's journey around the camp! Careful what you ask for
- - - This would last for a month.
- - While they were greedily stuffing their faces with this meat God sent a plague among them
- - - They could have repented for their lack of trust & contentment, but they didn't, only feeding their own greedy gluttony.
- - - Therefore God furthered the just discipline
- - That place was named, 'Kibroth-hattaavah,' which means 'Graves of Craving' (or 'Graves of Greediness’)

Fri, Jan 6 - Mem Quiz 6a

2012-01-06T07:43:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Today was Memory Quiz 6a: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV, 1984)
- Next Friday is Memory Quiz 6b: Psalm 15:1-4 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: Service Reflection Essay & Community Service Evaluation Form (Golden colored)

Reminders:
- Service Hours: There are three things to turn in for this on April 16: Essay, Record Form, Comm. Service Evaluation Form
- Devotion 3: This is due Jan 10, See RenWeb for further details.

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal: None given, students studied for their quiz.

There were no instructional notes given today. We watched a video and discussed their needed service hours upon completion of the quiz.

Thu, Jan 5 - Leviticus Concluded, Numbers Started

2012-01-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: TOMORROW is Memory Quiz 6a: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!
- Devotion 3: This is due Jan 10, See RenWeb for further details.

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-4:
- Introductory Note: To ‘bless’ meant to fill with benefits. In the Bible, God usually is the one giving blessing. So, ‘blessing someone’ usually meant calling on God to bless them. This means that there should be a good reason to receive the blessing. Consider Proverbs 26:2 (NLT), "Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an unfair curse (…or blessing…) will not land on its intended victim.“ Bearing all that in mind…
- Read Numbers 6:22-27
- - Summarize in your words what you think this blessing means.
- - - Asking for the LORD's face to 'shine upon them' was asking that He would look on them with favor. Think of your parents--if their face 'shined upon you' that is a good thing and you're in a good relationship with them.

- - Why do you think God wants Aaron to bless Israel like this?
- - - To encourage them? Perhaps some! It certainly would encourage me
- - - To remind them? Also possibly true! Reminding them that God wants to bless them & will bless them in their relationship together.

- - Why do you think He uses ‘the LORD’ instead of ‘God’?
- - - This points out that it wasn't any old fake god who was blessing them--it was only 'The LORD' (God's personal name)

- - For this blessing to be ‘fair’ (remember Prov. 26:2), what should be true about Israel?
- - - Just as cursing someone when they don't deserve it means nothing, so also blessing someone when they don't deserve it means nothing.
- - - So, they should be living obediently to 'fairly' receive this blessing.

Leviticus 27: Commitments
- Various rules & laws about
things committed to God…
- - For things like Vows, Animals, Houses, Fields, & The Tithe
- Thus we have the end of Leviticus!

Final Reflections: The Purpose & Relevance of Leviticus
- What does it say about God?
- - He is awesomely holy!
- - He desires a relationship with us (His covenant)
- - He has expectations for how we are to live
- Why is it here for us? Shows how to…
- - Become holy & Continually live as holy
- - Come to Him & Continually worship Him

The Pentateuch Table: Fill in the information for the book of Numbers
- Key Idea: Wandering (in the wilderness)
- The Nation: Directed (By God)
- The People: Tested (By God--Will they really obey?)
- God’s Character: Just (As in, ‘Justice’)
- God’s Role: Sustainer (Of His people)
- God’s Command: “Go in!” (Into the Promised Land)

Numbers: Turn to page 26 in your handout…
- Remember how much time Leviticus covered? One Month
- - How many years does Numbers cover? 38 years!
- Reading the Overview:
- Chapters 1-4) Before leaving Sinai…
- - They take a census
- - They learn how to march (or at least what order to march in...)
- - They learn how to move the Tabernacle (and not treat it disrespectfully)
- Chapters 5-10)
- - They obey God!
- - They are blessed (6:22-27)
- - They Celebrate the Passover (Which is not based on farming)
- - - Realize that most of the feasts & festivals we talked about earlier were things they could only look forward to at this time. Since so many were based on the farming year, they couldn't really celebrate them until they had land to plant crops in!

Turn to page 28 in your handout...
- Chapters 10-12)
God leads their departure from Sinai!
- - But things quickly begin to go wrong…
- - We will look more in detail at these next week.

Wed, Jan 4 - Leviticus Concluded

2012-01-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday is Memory Quiz 6a: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: Devotion 3 Presentation Schedule (yellow)

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!
- Devotion 3: This is due Jan 10, See RenWeb for further details.

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-3: Read Leviticus 26:3-12
- Write down the different areas Israel would be blessed for following God
- - From this list, which do you think is best or most important?
- More time?
- - Read the rest of Leviticus 26
- - Write down the different ways Israel would be punished for disobedience!

Sabbath Year & Year of Jubilee: Leviticus 25
- Sabbath Year: Every 7 years…
- - 25:4) No sowing or pruning
- - Why?
- - - This gave rest for fields & vineyards, thus they would be more productive in future years!
- - - This also gave rest for the farmers
- The Year of Jubilee: Every 7 Sabbath Years
- - 25:23) All land returned to its original owner!
- - 25:40-42) Israelites slaves freed!
- - Why?
- - - Prohibited oppressing each other
- - - Gave every one a chance for a ‘New Start’
- - - Discouraged excessive buildup of wealth

Leviticus 26: The Blessings!
- 26:3-12) Rewards for Obedience
- Blessings for Rain, Crops, Peace, Battles, Family Size!
- Vv11-12) But most importantly, they would be blessed by the very presence of God!

Leviticus 26: The Curses!
- 26:14-46) Punishments for Disobedience
- - God’s face turns against them
- - Things get progressively worse w/no repentance
- - Curses: Health, Enemies, Terror, Rain, Beasts, War, Cannibalism, Cities, Land, Scattered, & Weakness
- Why? Not to take revenge! Instead it was to Breaks down their pride & hostility against God, to lead them back to Himself
- 40-45) But there is hope: They can be restored through confession & repentance

Leviticus 27: Commitments
- Various rules & laws about
things committed to God…
- - For things like Vows, Animals, Houses, Fields, & The Tithe
- Thus we have the end of Leviticus!

Final Reflections: The Purpose & Relevance of Leviticus
- What does it say about God?
- - He is awesomely holy!
- - He desires a relationship with us (His covenant)
- - He has expectations for how we are to live
- Why is it here for us? Shows how to…
- - Become holy & Continually live as holy
- - Come to Him & Continually worship Him

Tue, Jan 3 - Memory Quiz 6a Prep

2012-01-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday = Memory Quiz 6a: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: Unit 6 Handout

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!
- Devotion 3: This is due Jan 10, See RenWeb for further details.

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-2: Open your Unit Handout to page 25
- Work on Questions 1-5
- - Typo: When it says Genesis 26:1-1 it should say Genesis 26:1-10
- - Chaff: The skin of a seed, a worthless part that you can’t do anything with.
- Save the other questions and the bottom section for later
- Work on page 27 if you have more time!

A Story of Peer Pressure:
- See your handout, pg 25
- Break into a groups of 4-6
- - Together, re-read through Psalm 1:1-6
- - Then read through the bottom section, “A Story of Peer Pressure”
- - Then, as a group, discuss how you would answer the reflection questions at the bottom

Psalm 1:1-3 Discussion:
- What do you think it means to avoid walking, standing, & sitting with these people?
- - To avoid focusing and spending a lot of your time with people who do bad things, they may cause you to do it, too!
- What do you think it means to delight & meditate ‘in the law of the Lord’?
- - Instead of spending time with the wrong people, we are supposed to try and spend time getting to know God better!
- - Be delighting in His word, we'll enjoy reading it and thinking about what it means
- - To meditate on it means to consider it's meaning and how it can change your life or your way of thinking.
- Why is it important that he emphasized ‘day & night’?
- - We are supposed to meditate on and delight in the Word of God all the time!
- - This isn't just something to do on Sundays or in Bible class.

Memory Verse Quiz Prep:
- Your Verses: Psalm 1:1-3
- Your Questions: Based upon class discussion & your personal reflection of these verses, use complete sentences & your own words to specifically answer:
- - In your own words, summarize the general idea of the three things this Psalm encourages us to avoid. (1 point)
- - - It encourages us to avoid spending time with people who are going to cause us to do wrong things; to avoid people who usually make choices.
- - - I shared an example from when I was a child--my dad gave me some sound advice, he told me to choose my friends carefully, because they will determine who I become!
- - In your own words, describe the better choice, seen in v2. Then give an example of how Jr. Highers can do this. (2 points)
- - - The better choice is to 'delight in' and 'meditate on' the Word of God.
- - - This means that we should try to 'spend time with God' through knowing His Word more. We could also do such things as go to church and Bible Studies.
- - - Just like how we become like the people we spend most our time around, we will also become more like God if we spend most of our time trying to get to know Him better!
- - Give a Jr. High example of the result of this better choice. (1 point)
- - - If we make this better choice, Psalm 1:3 says that we will prosper.
- - - I want you to think of some ways that we could be more prosperous by... (A) Choosing not to spend time with people who lead us the wrong way, & (B) Choosing instead to spend time getting to know God better through His Word.

Mon, Jan 2 - Feasts & Festivals

2012-01-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

Next Quiz/Test: Friday = Memory Quiz 6a: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV, 1984)

Handouts: Unit 6 Handout

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!

Instructional Time: Unit 6: Laws, Blessings, & Numbers! (Leviticus 23-27 & Numbers)
Journal 6-1: Write about your Christmas Vacation
- What did you enjoy?
- What did you least enjoy?
- What was new &/or different?
- Where did you go?
- What do you hope to be different next time?

Review of Leviticus 1-22: No notes are needed for this.

Feasts, Festivals, & Times of Remembrance: Leviticus 23-25
- Leviticus 23: All except the first of these happened yearly
- - Sabbath: A Day of Rest (a weekly event)
- - Passover: Remembering God’s Deliverance (Somewhat like our 4th of July celebration)
- - Feast of Unleavened Bread: Remembering God’s Deliverance
- - Firstfruits: Giving thanks to God for the Barley Harvest (the 'firstfruit' was the first part of that harvest, offered as a sacrifice to God)
- - - Fruit: This refers to the part of a plant you can eat (not just apples, oranges, etc..., but the seed/head of the grain)
- - - In this feast, the "first fruit" of the barley harvest was offered to God as a sacrifice
- - - This had two means for them:
- - - - 1) It was a way of giving God thanks for what He provided, giving the first & best back to Him
- - - - 2) It was a way of expressing your faith and trust in God; just as He gave you these first fruits, you trust that He will give you more to come--therefore you can sacrifice these to Him.
- - - In the New Testament Jesus is called the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead. This is because, just as the first fruit of the barley harvest proved/showed that more barley was to come, Jesus' resurrection showed/proved that we too would be resurrected--there is more to come! An awesome future hope.
- - Feast of Weeks: Remembering when God gave of Law; Giving thanks to God for the Wheat Harvest
- - Feast of Trumpets: Their Civil New Year! (Like our December 31 to January 1 celebration) The Shofar (a trumpet made of a ram's horn) was blown all throughout the land for this! In modern Hebrew this is called "Rosh Hashanah"
- - Day of Atonement: We know of this from our last unit, Israel’s Sin were 'atoned for.' In modern Hebrew this is called "Yom Kippur"
- - Feast of Tabernacles: A 1-week feast where they lived in tents/tabernacles and remembered how God took care of them during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness
- A picture was shown of the Hebrew calendar & the Shofar (trumpet)

Thu, Dec 15 - Unit 5 Test

2011-12-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was your Unit 5 Test!

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal: None given, students studied for their test.

Merry Christmas to all & to all a Happy New Year!

Wed, Dec 14 - Test Review

2011-12-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: TOMORROW is your Unit 5 Test!
- Students have until Thursday, Dec 15, to make up Memory Quiz 5a
- Students have until Thursday, Dec 15, to make up Memory Quiz 5b

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 5b

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal: For this students had their notebook check.

Grade 7 – Unit 5 – Test Review

1. As you enter the tabernacle, holiness increases and you end at the Holy of Holies--how often could this be entered? By whom?
Once a year; High Priest
2. As you went further inside the Tabernacle, what increased?
Holiness!
3. Give the begining of this sentence, "...For I am holy", also God's command for Leviticus.
"Be Holy!"
4. How did Aaron (the first High Priest) respond when Moses confronted him about building the Golden Calf?
He didn’t accept full responsibility (blaming the people & claiming the shape just popped out of the oven!)
5. How did Moses help prepare the second set of 10 commandments?
He cut/chiseled them out
6. If pregnant woman is attacked & the child dies, the attacker is put to death due to what law? (A law that ensures justice to people who do wrong & limits how one can be punished!)
Life for Life, Eye of Eye & Tooth for Tooth
7. In a joking sense, why is Moses the 'most evil man in the Bible?'
He ‘broke’ all 10 Commandments at once (literally)
8. Tell three things that could be sacrificed.
Herd animals, birds, grains, fruits, spices, & oil!
9. This type of wood was used to make many of the items for the Tabernacle, including the altar.
Acacia
10. What are Bezalel & Oholiab best known for?
God gave these two given craftsmen skill, ability & knowledge to help build the Tabernacle
11. What are Nadab & Abihu best known for?
They were consumed by fire for offering bad sacrifices
12. What did God prohibit priests from drinking before serving in the Tabernacle?
Alcohol/Wine/Fermented Drink
13. What did the Altar of Incense remind Israel of?
Their prayers and how God received them
14. What is God’s Character in Leviticus? (from the Pentateuch Table)
Holy
15. What is the Key Idea in Leviticus? (from the Pentateuch Table)
Worship
16. What nick name was there to describe Israel as 'stubborn'?
Stiff-Necked
17. What three sacrifices were voluntary?
Burnt Offerings, Grain Offerings, Peace Offerings
18. What two sacrifices were mandatory?
Sin Offerings, Guilt Offerings
19. What was a 'Consuming Fire' in this unit?
God's presence on top of Mt. Sinai, something Moses entered!
20. What was symbolically put on the Scapegoat on the Day of Atonement?
Israel's sins
21. What was the Tent of Meeting used for?
Moses came here before the Tabernacle to meet 'face-to-face' with God
22. When first given the covenant with God, Israel’s verbal response was this...
“Everything the Lord has said, we will do!”
23. When the people complained, what would God usually do next (besides discipline)?
Provide for them
24. Where is the Mercy Seat?
Right above the Ark of the Covenant
25. Where was the Covenant made?
Mt. Sinai, Mt. Horeb
26. What three items were in the Ark of the Covenant?
Manna, Staff, Stone Tablets
27. While the Levites helped Moses put down the riot of the Golden Calves, what did God threaten to do when the Israelites made these?
Destroy them!
28. Why did Moses 'glow (in the dark)'?
He reflected God’s glory after meeting with Him; Also note
- God caused His glory & all His goodness to pass before Moses once!
- God doesn’t have to show His mercy/compassion/glory to people, we can’t ‘earn’ it – it is something He chooses to give!

Short Answers: See RenWeb Study Guide

Tue, Dec 13 - Clean Animals, Day of Atonement

2011-12-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: THURSDAY is your Unit 5 Test!
- Students have until Thursday, Dec 15, to make up Memory Quiz 5b (Grade on RenWeb)
- Students have until Thursday, Dec 15, to make up Memory Quiz 5a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early!
- Notebook Check: This is TOMORROW! Check RenWeb & get it in order prior to class.

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-10:
- If you could make the rules….
- - What food do you think is good or bad to eat? Make a list of each, the food to eat and avoid.
- - Explain reasons why you should eat or avoid it (in general or specific)
- Finish your blank handout pages

Period 6: Check out these notes from yesterday:
- High Priest Comparison:

11-22: Food, Health, & Daily Life:
- 11-15: Rules for Holy Living
- - v11:45: “Be holy, because I am holy”
- 16: The Day of Atonement
- - More to come on this shortly!
- 17-22: Practical Holiness

Clean Animals vs. Unclean Animals: God gave laws about what animals were clean (free to be eaten & used) vs. unclean (the opposite of clean)
- Why have these rules?
- - Hygiene: Many of the forbidden animals carried diseases!
- - Holiness: Some association with pagan cults
- Clean Animals:
- - Mammals: Lv 11:3-7, Cloven hoofs & chew cud
- - Birds: See Unclean
- - Reptiles: None!
- - Water Animals: Lv11:9-12, Must have both fins & scales
- - Insects: Lv 11:20-23, Any from the grasshopper family
- Unclean Animals:
- - Mammals: Carnivores & Those not in ‘Clean’
- - Birds: Lv 11:13-19, Bird of Prey, Scavengers
- - Reptiles: All! Lv 11:29-30
- - Water Animals: Those not in ‘Clean’
- - Insects: Winged quadrupeds

Forbidden Marriages: A chart was shown, summarized, it said...
- Israelites were no longer allowed to marry relatives!
- This was likely becoming a medical issue at this point...

The Day of Atonement: Lev. 16
- Meaning: Literally, ‘To Cover’
- - It 'covers' the problem of their sins
- - Another way to look at it is to split apart the word, ‘At - one - ment’ = Puts people ‘at one’ with God
- Frequency: Yearly
- Actions:
- - The day High Priest entered Holy of Holies
- - 1st Offering: For his sins
- - 2nd Offering: For Israel’s sins
- - vv20-22) Scapegoat: A goat that Israel’s sins were symbolically ‘put onto’
- - - Then the goat was released into the wilderness
- - - While the sacrifice shows that the penalty of sin is death, the scapegoat shows how Israel is to remove sin from their presence
- Result: Cleaned all Israel of all their sins

The New Testament's Connection to the Day of Atonement:
- Jesus is related to the High Priest
- - He entered the true Holy of Holies (in heaven)
- - He made a sacrifice once, for all (of Himself)
- Jesus is also related to the offering
- - His death covered the sins of many
- - It cleaned us, that we can be ‘at - one’ w/God

Mon, Dec 12 - Leviticus Offerings & Priests

2011-12-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: THURSDAY is your Unit 5 Test!
- Students have until Thursday, Dec 15, to make up Memory Quiz 5a

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 5a

Reminders:
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-9:
- Work on your Unit Handout, almost the last page: “Some Instructions from Leviticus”
- When done, finish other handout pages..
- When done, draw a picture of something from this unit (Golden calf, Moses’ shining face or veil, the Tabernacle, the 10 Commandments, priestly clothes, Aaron’s sons, etc…)

Period 6: We are still rather behind with our devotion presentation back-ups. Please see the following notes from previous days:
- God’s Threat, Moses’ Response: Wed, Dec 7
- Other Notes: Wed, Dec 7
- Other Notes on Exodus: Thu, Dec 8
- Introducing Leviticus: Fri, Dec 9
- The Pentateuch Table: Fri, Dec 9

Outline of Leviticus: Laws & Instructions for…
- Chapters 1-7: Offerings & Sacrifices
- Chapters 8-10: Priests
- Chapters 11-22: Food, Health, & Daily Life
- Chapters 23-25: Feasts and Festivals
- Chapters 26-27: Blessings & Curses

Lev. 1-7) Offerings & Sacrifices:
- Why have sacrifices? To restore a right relationship w/God
- What could be sacrificed? Herd animals, birds, grains, fruits, spices, & oil!
- Types: (V stands for Voluntary & M stands for Mandatory)
- - Burnt Offerings: V. – For unintentional sins
- - Grain Offerings: V. – Recognizing God’s goodness
- - Peace Offerings: V. – Thanksgiving & Fellowship
- - Sin Offerings: M. – For unintentional sins;
confession, forgiveness, cleansing
- - Guilt Offerings: M. – To make right depriving
someone of rights; Required restitution
- Voluntary Offerings: They are focused on maintaining their fellowship with God
- Mandatory Offerings: They are focused on restoring their broken fellowship with God

Lev. 8-10) Priests:
- 8) The first priests ordained (vv1-4): Aaron & his sons.
- 9-10) Laws for priests’ duties & behavior
- - Including consequences for their disobedience...
- - Remember the journal from last week about Aaron's sons being consumed by fire? That's in here!

High Priest Comparison:
- Aaron was...
- - Called from among men (Ex 28:1)
- - Compassion for wayward (Heb 5:2)
- - Spotless in dress (Lv 16:4)
- - Entered earthly tabernacle (Lv 16:3)
- - Entered once each year (Lv 16:2)
- - Entered beyond veil (Lv 16:12)
- - Offered for his own sins (Lv 16:11)
- - Offered blood of animals (Lv 16:15)

- Christ Jesus was...
- - Called from among men (Heb 5:4, 10)
- - Prayed with tears (Heb 5:7)
- - Spotless in character (Heb 4:15)
- - Entered heavenly temple (Heb 6:19)
- - Entered once for all (Heb 9:25)
- - Tore the veil apart (Heb 10:20)
- - Offered only for our sins (Heb 7:27)
- - Offered His own blood (Heb 9:12)

Fri, Dec 9 - Mem Quiz 5b

2011-12-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 5b: Proverbs 16:4-5, 8-9
- THURSDAY is your Unit 5 Test!
- Students have until Thursday, Dec 15, to make up Memory Quiz 5a

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 5a

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !
- Unit 5's Test: Remember, this is next week on THURSDAY. The Study Guide was posted early for this. Start studying now to get a higher grade, not stress as much next week, & not worry about missing Wednesday Night Activities!

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal: None given, student studied for their quiz.

We did some catch up lectures for notes previous posted and then we did the below.

Introducing Leviticus:
- Basic Details
- - Author: Moses
- - Position in Bible: Part of Pentateuch, 3rd book in Bible
- - Key Verse: Leviticus 11:44-45 (NIV), "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy...I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy as I am Holy"
- - Context: This continues to define the covenant relationship God and Israel had; how did God expect them to act?
- - Timing of Events: The events in Leviticus seem take place in the one month period between where Exodus ends & Numbers begins
- - - This is a pretty short amount of 'time' to cover, considering Exodus (80 yrs) & Genesis (1000s of years!), however the bulk of this book isn't on 'events,' it's on what God is teaching.

The Pentateuch Table:
- Key Idea: Worship (Which I define as our positive response to God, who He is & what He has done)
- The Nation: Set Apart (To be made holy!)
- The People: Taught
- God’s Character: Holy (Which means to be 'set-apart' as something greater & better)
- God’s Role: Sanctifier (To make holy)
- God’s Command: “Be Holy!”

Thu, Dec 8 - Catch-Up Work

2011-12-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 5b: Proverbs 16:4-5, 8-9
- Students have until Friday, Dec 9, to make up Unit 4 Test

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !
- Unit 5's Test: Remember, this is next week on THURSDAY. The Study Guide was posted early for this. Start studying now to get a higher grade, not stress as much next week, & not worry about missing Wednesday Night Activities!

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-8:
- Leviticus 10:1-3
- - 1) Who are Aaron’s sons? Nadab & Abihu --- both of whom are priests.
- - 2) What did they do wrong? Offer unauthorized (strange, un-permitted) incense in the censers (incense carriers)
- - 3) What was God’s judgment? The death penalty! They were consumed by fire from God!
- - 4) What quality did God show in this? His holiness!
- - - When Moses spoke to Aaron about this, Moses said, "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy"
- - - Aaron's sons had treated God with great disrespect by going against His command; this is even worse since they are supposed to teach people what the right way is!
- - 5) What do you think it taught Israel? Various possible answers... Obey & listen to God, only burn certain incense, treat God with respect as His holiness deserves, etc...

- Leviticus 10:8-11
- - 6) What were the priests no longer allowed to have before entering the Tabernacle?
- - - Wine or any other fermented (alcoholic) drink
- - - It doesn't say Nadab & Abihu were drunk, but with this law coming right after their death... It seems to imply they may have been acting 'under the influence' when they did this evil thing.
- - 7) What three reasons are given for not drinking alcoholic drinks?
- - - So they can: Distinguish between holy & common (unholy)
- - - So they can: Distinguish between unclean & clean (not literally dirty, but things that are 'declared clean' by God to use in worship & such---more to come on this later)
- - - So they can: Teach the Israelites all the decrees of God

NOTE: Our classes are off-sync with each other. I tried to use today to get back on track.

Period 4: We finished reviewing the Tabernacle Worksheet answers & then went over these notes from yesterday post:
- Review:
- Seeking Atonement:
- God’s Threat, Moses’ Response:
- Other Notes:

Period 6: We went through the Tabernacle film today & then reviewed the answers.

Other Notes on Exodus:
Exodus 34)
- Vv8-28) The Covenant is Renewed!
- Vv29-35) Moses is the 1st known 'glow in the dark human'...
- - God often represents His glory and holiness on earth as a bright and shining light.
- - When Moses was with God, this light would shine on Moses' face, when he left, Moses' face continued to shine from God’s presence!
- - Israel was frightened by this, so Moses wore a veil over his face afterwards
- Ex 35-36) Tabernacle built
- Ex 37-38:8) Furniture Built (Ark, Table, Lampstands, Altar of Incense, Altar of Burnt Offering, & Basin for Washing)
- Ex 38:9-39:31) Other Details (Courtyard made, Supply List Recorded, & Priestly Garments Made)
- Ex 39:32-40:33) Tabernacle Inspection by Moses & Set-up
- Ex 40:34-48) The LORD’s Glory! (yesterday's journal)
- - As a cloud, God covers & fills the Tabernacle!
- - It is so intense that Moses couldn’t enter it!
- - God actually used this cloud to lead Israel in the wilderness

Wed, Dec 7 - After the Calf

2011-12-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 5b: Proverbs 16:4-5, 8-9
- Students have until Friday, Dec 9, to make up Unit 4 Test

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !
- Unit 5's Test: Remember, this is next week on THURSDAY. The Study Guide was posted early for this. Start studying now to get a higher grade, not stress as much next week, & not worry about missing Wednesday Night Activities!

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-7: Read Exodus 40:34-38, then answer…
- How did God show His glory?
- - In the form of a cloud
- Where did His glory go?
- - In the Tabernacle;
- How did Israel know when to ‘set out’ as they moved around the wilderness?
- - The cloud would pick up from one location & go to another; they followed it each time.

The Tabernacle Film:
- Period 4: We reviewed the answers to this & then collected them for a quick grade.
- Period 6: Due to going through more devotions, we haven't watched the video from yesterday & we jumped right to the things below. The video will come tomorrow!

Review:
- Moses was on the mountain with God & their conversation was interrupted by the people sinning in making the Golden Calf
- The people were partying out of control with their idol
- Moses went down the mountain and killed their party of the idol & false god by having the Levites kill people!
- Then Moses went back up the mountain to seek 'atonement' for the people.

Seeking Atonement:
- Remember the definition from your Unit Handout? “Sampling of Proverbs x3;" atonement is...
- - The method God provided to deal with sin
- - It restored our relationship with Him
- - Usually it involved an animal sacrifice

- Ex 32:30-35) Moses goes to God, seeking atonement
- - He put himself on the line for the Israelites
- - God promises to punish (discipline) whomever needed as a result of the sin with the golden calf
- - He sends a plague (apparently designed to punish these people)
- - Here we see God as...
- - - Merciful because He does not destroy everyone
- - - Just & Holy because He does not let sin go unpunished
- - While Exodus focuses much on the Mercy of God, we are going to see His holiness & justice much more to come!

God’s Threat, Moses’ Response:
- Ex 33:1-3) Because they are stiff-necked (stubborn), God says that He will send them to the Promised Land--but He will not go with them!
- Ex 33:4-6) Moses tells this to Israel, they respond with mourning
- Moses appeals again to God and…
- - Ex 33:14-17) God chooses to send His Presence
- - Ex 33:18-23) Then Moses asks God to show him His glory
- - - God says that He will and causes all His 'goodness' to pass before Him.
- - - v19 is key here, God will show mercy & compassion on whomever He wants to, His mercy & compassion is not owed to anyone, but freely given to whomever He wants.

Other Notes:
- Ex 33:7-11) Before the Tabernacle, Moses met God in "The Tent of Meetings"
- - Here it explains how God met and spoke with Moses 'face to face' -- which doesn't literally mean Moses saw God's face, rather it points out how God spoke to Moses; God spoke to him 'as a friend!' What an awesome blessing!

Exodus 34)
- Vv4-7) The tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written are replaced
- - The first tablets were prepared by God
- - Yet now, God has Moses chisels out stones... (consequence for breaking the earlier ones?) ; however God still writes the the laws with his finger! Pretty cool. :-)

Tue, Dec 6 - The Tabernacle

2011-12-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Mon, Dec 5 - Mem Quiz 5b Prep & Unit Handout

2011-12-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 5b: Proverbs 16:4-5, 8-9
- Students have until Friday, Dec 9, to make up Unit 4 Test

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-5: On your Unit Handout…
- Go to the third page, “A Sampling of the Proverbs x3”
- - Read Proverbs 16:4-9, 12-19
- - Answer Qs 9-18
- - Read the definition of “Atonement” for v6

- If you get done early…
- - Finish Questions 1-8
- - Then work on other pages of this handout.

Reviewing the Handout: The following are answers to these questions on the fourth page of your Unit Handout, “A Sampling of the Proverbs x3”
- 9. How can v4 be encouraging to us in hard times?
- - It reminds us that God is fully in charge, in the good times or bad times
- - God can even use the wicked and days of disaster for His own purposes! (remember the story of Joseph in Genesis)
- 10. How can v4 be a warning to those doing wrong?
- - A day of disaster will come to the wicked!
- 11. From what you know about the Bible, how can v5 be true if one is proud and successful until the day they die?
- - The Bible points out how all will appear before the Judgment seat of Christ to be held accountable for what we have done (Romans 14:10 & 2 Cor. 5:10)
- - - Thankfully as Christians we know that our faith in Jesus Christ will see us through this! See Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
- - - Yet, those who are 'Proud of heart" and have never done this will certainly "not go unpunished"
- 12. How does one avoid evil? What does this mean?
- - v6, "Through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil"
- - The "fear of the LORD" can refer, in part, to a 'fear of punishment' for doing wrong, hence you avoid evil; however, this idea is MUCH bigger than just that!
- - A healthy fear of God is a respect, honoring, and awe of God--who He is & what He does
- 13. When is it better to have a few things than many things?
- - See v8, "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice"
- - It is better to have little when the only way to get more is to do something wrong!
- 14. Does v9 mean we should not make plans? Explain.
- - Nope! We can certainly make plans, but this verse points out that...
- - We must recognize that God's plans don't always match our own!
- - We must be okay with with letting God come in and change our plans
- 15. The ideal ruler is described in vv12-15. What characteristics would you add?
- - Various answers
- 16. What do you think the difference is between wanting to be smart and wanting to be wise?
- - This question was related to v16, "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver"
- - This verse isn't about getting 'smart,' just getting more knowledge!
- - Wisdom is about how to use that knowledge, putting it into action--this is more valuable than gold or silver
- 17. Describe a time when you saw pride come before a fall.
- - Various answers
- 18. Describe a time when you saw someone suffer for choosing humbleness above pride. (v19)
- - Various answers

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Proverbs 16:4-5, 8-9
- Your Questions:
- - What does v4 teach about God that can bring comfort to us? (1 point)
- - - See the above answer for Question 9
- - When is it better to have a few things than to have many things? (1 point)
- - - See the above answer for Question 13
- - Explain what v9 teaches us about making plans? (2 points)
- - - See the above answer for Question 14

Fri, Dec 2 - Memory Quiz 5a

2011-12-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 5a, Proverbs 12:21-23, 25 (NIV, 1984)
- Next Friday is Memory Quiz 5b: Proverbs 16:4-5, 8-9
- Students have until Friday, Dec 9, to make up Unit 4 Test

Handouts Given: Unit 4 Test

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal: None given, student studied for their quiz.

After the quiz student worked on their Unit Handout, we had open questions, & then watched a video.

Thur, Dec 1 - Calf Consequences

2011-12-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 5a, Proverbs 12:21-23, 25 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Friday, Dec 2, to make up Memory Quiz 4b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-4<: Read Ex 32:15-24, then Answer… - Who wrote the 10 Commandments? God! He wrote it with His finger & it seems implied that He even cut it out Himself .
- Other than Moses & God, who didn’t sin? Joshua, as Moses' aide, he came half-way up the mountain with Moses
- What three things does Moses do in his anger?
- - Break the 10 commandments stones (This shows very vividly what the people are doing in their heart! They are 'breaking' God's law by creating an idol & having another G0d).
- - Destroy the golden calf, by burning it up & then grinding up the remains.
- - Throw the ground up calf powder into the Israelites' water.
- Describe how Aaron responds to Moses’ Questions?
- - Like Adam & Eve, he denies full responsibility, blaming the people by saying they made him do it.
- - Secondly, he lies by saying he put in the gold and "out popped this calf!" as though he hadn't fashioned it himself!

Response from Above: Ex 32:7-10
- God knows what is happening down below! So he talks to Moses
- What did the people become? Corrupt, quick to turn away from God
- What are they described as? Stiff-Necked (which means stubborn)
- What does God say He will do? Destroy them and make Moses a great nation!

Appeal from Below: Ex 32:11-14
- Moses appeals to God that He have mercy on the Israelites & not destroy them as He threatened.
- - Moses says that if God destroys them, it will make Him look bad! The Egyptians will say that God only brought them into the wilderness to kill them. (Moses is concerned about what others think about God!)
- - Moses reminds God of His covenant/relationship with Abraham, Isaac, & Israel
- God relents, not destroying the people.
- - 'Relent' literally means 'repented' in Hebrew
- - - Remember that this 'Personification,' using human terms to describe Someone who is not human! expressing how God reveals Himself.
- - - Mr. Ellis believes God didn't really want to wipe out the Israelites but instead was using this as a test for Moses as Israel's leader--would he stand up for them or abandon them?
- - - - This would be similar to how God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, and yet didn't really want his son really sacrificed.
- - - - Notice also how God points out in

Heavy-Hearted Action: Ex 32:25-29
- The people's party became way out of control!
- - It was like a rioting mob.
- - It was not only disgracing them & likely leading to personal harm--it was making them a mockery to the people around, which also means their God would be mocked!
- Because of these things, Moses calls all his supporters to gather around--only the Levites come
- - He then tells them to pass through the camp and start killing the rioting people.
- - That day 3000 die.
- Undoubtedly this broke Moses' heart!
- - After all, he just appealed before God for their lives!
- - But as the police must take violent action to control a mob/riot, so this was a necessity to bring Israel back under contro

Wed, Nov 30 - Laws, Application, & a Golden Calf

2011-11-30T07:42:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 5a, Proverbs 12:21-23, 25 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Friday, Dec 2, to make up Memory Quiz 4b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-3: On the first page of your Unit Handout
- First: Read through the top
- Second: Fill in the bottom, first summarizing the Law (L) & then giving a modern day application (A) for that same law.
- For Example, using Ex 21:12-14
- - L – Those who plan to kill another & then do so should be put to death, but if it was an accident they are not punished.
- - A – Premeditated murder often results in the death penalty; If a court decides the death was accidental they aren’t punished.

Period 6: Due to extra devotion presentations we have not had the same instructional time as the other class. We backtracked a bit for previously posted notes:
- Reviewing the Unit Handout Questions:
- Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Reviewing: What key things happened from Exodus 1-20?
- The Law:

The Covenant Is Confirmed: Backtracking a bit…, From Exodus 24:3-8
- Moses tells the people God’s Word
- The people promise to do everything God says
- 12 stones are set up—each representing a tribe—for an altar
- Sacrifices are given
- An unexpected old tradition: The blood is sprinkled on the altar/people
- - This symbolizing their acceptance of covenant
- - This also symbolizes that just as the animals died, they ‘promise to death’ to keep this

Seeing God: Exodus 24:9-11
- God allowed several people to see him:
- - Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, & 70 Elders!
- - Nadab & Abihu are Aaron’s sons, fellow priests
- Exodus 24:12-18) Then God calls Moses up Mt. Sinai (Joshua comes)
- - Moses tells people to wait, following Aaron & Hur
- - God reveals His presence as a consuming fire! (See Hebrews 12:29, too)
- - Moses entered this!
- - - How would you respond if Israel?
- - - - Perhaps they were afraid Moses would die?
- - - - Perhaps they were happy he was gone?
- - - - Perhaps they were concerned about who would lead?
- - - - We don't really know...
- -Moses stays 40 days/nights--that's over the month!
- - - Exodus 25-31) On the mountain God tells Moses how to build the Tabernacle
- - - We'll talk more about this later...

Israel’s Faithfulness?
- Moses enter the cloud over a month ago…
- Ex 32:1) Israel panics because they haven't seen him for so long, so they go back to what they were use to in their old life in Egypt, since the man who helped them hear God has left, they now want a new god!
- - They ask Aaron to make them an idol for their God
- - Did they know this would displease God?
- - - Yes! God spoke the 10 Commandments to them!!!
- Ex 32:2-6) Aaron’s Response to their request
- - Aaron asks them for their gold jewelry (remember that they had a good amount due to plundering the people in Egypt)
- - Then he melts the gold and carefully & deliberately fashioned an idol with that gold
- - They build an altar & planned a party!

Tue, Nov 29 - Other Commandments

2011-11-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

Mon, Nov 28 - Memory Quiz 5a Prep

2011-11-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 5a, Proverbs 12:21-23, 25 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Friday, Dec 2, to make up Memory Quiz 4b

Handouts Given: Unit 5 Handout

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This happens at the end of this unit, make sure you are ready!
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 5: The Wilderness (Ex. 21-40, Lev. 1-22)
Journal 5-1:
- Notebook Check:
- - Pick up a notebook grading sheet from below
- - Ensure your notebook is in order
- - Put your name on top of your grading sheet
- - Pass your notebook (opened to Bible section) + grading sheet (on top) to the right

- On your new Unit Handout, Go to the fourth page, “A Sampling of the Proverbs x3”
- - Read Proverbs 12:18-28
- - Answer questions 1-8
- If you get done early…
- - Then work on other pages of this handout.
- - Save questions 9-18 for another day.

Reviewing the Unit Handout Questions:
- 1) Example of v18’s truth? Your own reflection
- 2) Time you found joy promoting peace? Your own reflection
- 3) *Is v21 always right? Explain why or why not. (See below Mem Quiz discussion)
- 4) `Why you think God detests lying lips? Your own reflection
- 5) Times it’s prudent to keep knowledge to self: Perhaps when the knowledge will hurt someone, when keeping a secrete, etc...
- 6) Type of people who end up in charge & why: The diligent! Those who are on task & get things done early & on time, ensuring they stay on top of things. These are the type of people that others trust to be in charge because they know they will do well!
- 7) *How to cheer one: (See v25) (put in your own words, give examples!)
- 8) Where righteous leads? (See v28)

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Proverbs 12:21-23, 25
- Your Questions: Based upon class discussion & your personal reflection of these verses, use complete sentences & your own words to specifically answer:
- - 1) Is Proverbs 12:21 always right? Defend your answer.
- - - First, some reminders about how to use proverbs:
- - - - You need wisdom to use them, they are not necessarily meant to be 'always true' in 'every situation'
- - - - They are truths that are correct 'in general,' that you need to know where to apply!
- - - - - Therefore, 'in general' living in righteousness leads to less harm!
- - - - - Also, when considering the affects of wickedness, like addictions to drugs, alcoholism, broken relationships, time in jail, etc... You can clearly see that the wicked usually do have a lot of trouble!
- - - POSSIBLE ANSWER 1) In a very strict and literal sense, though, this verse is not always right! 'Harm' does fall on the righteous. In defending this answer, make sure you give examples as to how or why. Also, hit on that first thing about how to use proverbs.
- - - POSSIBLE ANSWER 2) When looking at things in the 'long run' it is always true. Our harm is very short lived, while we have hardships, the Bible shares how God will wipe every tear from our eye and in the end there will be no more pain and suffering. We will enjoy eternity with God and no harm forever! Be able to defend this idea.
- - - - You could also say it is 'always true' when you 'use it correctly,' which you will also need to defend from the discussion about how to use a proverb.
- - 2) Describe how Proverbs 12:25 tells to cheer someone up. Give one Jr. High example of how you could do this.
- - - In the Bible's words it says, "A kind word" -- you need to reword this in your own way.
- - - Also, you need to give an example of this!

Reviewing: What key things happened from Exodus 1-20?
- The Israelites greatly grow in number!
- Egypt enslaved them
- God hears & sends Moses & Aaron
- Pharaoh’s heart is hard & refuses to let them go
- So God sends 10 Plagues
- Israel exits (The Exodus), crossing through The Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds)
- Israel comes to Mt. Sinai where God gives them the Law (10 Commandments & other ones!)

Tomorrow we'll look at more commandments!

Fri, Nov 18 - Unit 4 Test

2011-11-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was your Unit 4 test!
- Friday, Dec 2 will be Memory Quiz 5a, Proverbs 12:21-23, 25 (NIV, 1984)
- Students have until Monday, Nov 28, to make up Memory Quiz 4a
- Students have until Friday, Dec 2, to make up Memory Quiz 4b

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 4b was returned

Reminders:
- Notebook Check: This is happening on the Monday we return! Take 5 minutes to get it in order before getting to class; according to the RenWeb list. Thanks!
- Semester 1 Ending: This is coming soon! Make sure you're all ready~
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal: None given, students studied for & then took their test.

Thu, Nov 17 - Test Review

2011-11-17T09:44:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: TOMORROW is your Unit 4 test!
- Students have until Monday, Nov 28 to retake Memory Quiz 4a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This is coming soon! Make sure you're all ready~
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal: None given, we jumped right into devotions & our review game

CORRECTION: In the below post I accidentally put in the wrong age for when Moses left Midian, this is how it should read:

Side Notes: Remember that...
- Moses was about 40 years old when he killed the Egyptian & fled to Midian
- Moses was about 80 years old when he left Midian, returned to Egypt, & led Israel out of Egypt

Unit 4 Test Review: Bingo!
1. “They won’t believe You sent me! Please don’t send me! I’m really bad at public speaking!” – These are Moses’ what?
Objections
2. As well as the Israelites, this people group needed to know that God was the Lord
Egypt
3. God showed His awesome power to this people group that kept doubting Him
Israel
4. God used these to introduce Himself to Pharaoh
10 Plagues
5. In Hebrew, Moses sounds like this phrase
To Draw Out
6. In the New Testament Jesus is compared to what from this past unit?
Passover Lamb (know 4!)
7. Moses and Aaron were from this tribe.
Levite
8. Moses approximate age when he left Midian
80 years old
9. Moses started a family by marrying what woman?
Zipporah
10. *What was held over the Red Sea to part it
Moses’ Staff
11. Moses’ mother threw Moses into the Nile, except that he was first put in this
Basket
12. Pharaoh commanded that all the male babies were thrown into this
Nile River
13. Pharaoh gave Israel this to keep Israel from growing
Hard Labor
14. Reuel and Jethro were the name of Moses’ what?
Father-in-Law
15. Since the Egyptians favored Israel and wanted them to go, along with gold, they gave Israel fancy what?
Clothes
16. The Feat of Unleavened Bread was celebrated along with what other feast?
Passover
17. The first plague on Egypt
Blood
18. The magicians couldn’t stand in front of Pharaoh and Moses because this plague was so bad.
Boils
19. The man who served as Moses spokesman
Aaron
20. The ninth plague.
Darkness
21. The only way Moses can succeed in Egypt is that God’s would be what?
With him
22. The Pentateuch Table’s “God’s Character” for Exodus
Merciful
23. The Pentateuch Table’s “God’s Role” for Exodus
Deliverer
24. The Pentateuch Table’s “Key Idea” for Exodus
Redemption
25. The title of someone who was in charge of other Hebrew slaves
Foreman
26. These women saved many Israelite babies, they are like nurse for a mother during pregnancy
Midwife
27. This is what the Magicians said was causing the plagues after they couldn’t copy them
Finger of God
28. This man caused Israel to have more hard work when he first tried to help them.
Moses
29. This person was a musical prophetess
Miriam
30. This second plague could have eaten the forth plague of flies!
Frogs
31. This word means “To Exit”
Exodus
32. This word means “What is it?”
Manna
33. This word means to be ‘Bought Back’ or ‘Saved.’
Redeemed
34. What turned into a snake when Moses met Pharaoh
Aaron’s Staff
35. Moses’ approximate age when he killed the Egyptian
40 years old
36. When Moses first spoke to Israel they had this response, belief & what?
Worship
37. With Moses’ last attempt for God to send someone else instead of him, God responded with what?
Anger

Wed, Nov 16 - Test Help & Project/Report Sharing

2011-11-16T07:35:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is your Unit 4 test!
- Students have until Monday, Nov 28 to retake Memory Quiz 4a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This is coming soon! Make sure you're all ready~
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! !

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal:None given, students prepared to share their Report/Project

See these notes from yesterday:
- The Wilderness: (just period 6 still needed this)
- God’s Covenant: An Overview
- God’s Law: Exodus 20:1-17
- God’s Law:

TEST HELP: And for those who want to study more for the test... Here are some things you can answer in conjunction with what I posted on RenWeb.
1. The Pentateuch Table’s “God’s Character” for Exodus
2. Reuel and Jethro were the name of Moses’ what?
3. This word means “What is it?”
4. Pharaoh gave Israel this to keep Israel from growing
5. The first plague on Egypt
6. *Moses’ approximate age when he killed the Egyptian
7. The Pentateuch Table’s “Key Idea” for Exodus
8. These women saved many Israelite babies, they are like nurse for a mother during pregnancy
9. In Hebrew, Moses sounds like this phrase
10. Moses started a family by marrying what woman?
11. The magicians couldn’t stand in front of Pharaoh and Moses because this plague was so bad.
12. This word means to be ‘Bought Back’ or ‘Saved.’
13. Moses and Aaron were from this tribe.
14. Since the Egyptians favored Israel and wanted them to go, along with gold, they gave Israel fancy what?
15. This person was a musical prophetess
16. The ninth plague.
17. The man who served as Moses spokesman
18. In the New Testament Jesus is compared to what from this past unit?
19. With Moses’ last attempt for God to send someone else instead of him, God responded with what?
20. This word means “To Exit”
21. God showed His awesome power to this people group that kept doubting Him
22. When Moses first spoke to Israel they had this response, belief & what?
23. As well as the Israelites, this people group needed to know that God was the Lord
24. Pharaoh commanded that all the male babies were thrown into this
25. “They won’t believe You sent me!" "I’m really bad at public speaking!” " Please don’t send me!" – These are Moses’ what?
26. Moses approximate age when he left Midian
27. The Feat of Unleavened Bread was celebrated along with what other feast?
28. This man caused Israel to have more hard work when he first tried to help them.
29. This is what the Magicians said was causing the plagues after they couldn’t copy them
30. This second plague could have eaten the forth plague of flies!
31. *What was held over the Red Sea to part it
32. God sued these to introduce Himself to Pharaoh
33. What turned into a snake when Moses met Pharaoh
34. The Pentateuch Table’s “God’s Role” for Exodus
35. The title of someone who was in charge of other Hebrew slaves
36. The only way Moses can succeed in Egypt is that God’s would be what?
37. Moses’ mother threw Moses into the Nile, except that he was first put in this

Tue, Nov 15 - The Exodus & Wilderness

2011-11-15T14:38:00.000-08:00

Mon, Nov 14 - The Passover & Exodus

2011-11-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is your Unit 4 test!
- Students have until Monday, Nov 28 to retake Memory Quiz 4a

Handouts Given: Period 6 received Memory Quiz 4a back

Reminders:
- Semester 1 Ending: This is coming soon! Make sure you're all ready~
- Book Report or Art Project: Due TOMORROW!.
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! There is a lot of need around the holidays that you could likely help with! Food banks, shelters, church service projects, visiting care centers, visiting children's hospitals, and more! Look for these meaningful & helpful things to get your 7 hours of community service in. You also have 3 hours of school service you need to do. I recommend finding a teacher that you can help for 15 minutes a week (cleaning the class, sorting papers, etc...), in just 2-3 months you will have easily finished your 3 hours & greatly helped a teacher!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal 4-8: Read Exodus 15:1-13 & 19-21, then answer:
- What does this tell us about God?
- What does this say on how God treats His people?
- If you were to sing a song to God about some of the great things He did in your life, what would you sing about?
- If you are done early, start working on your Unit Handout’s blank pages. Make sure to bring this for tomorrow’s ‘journal,’ too!

NOTE: I am putting the rest of the notes for the week on here for those who want to start studying early.

Side Notes: Remember that...
- Moses was about 40 years old when he killed the Egyptian & fled to Midian
- Moses was about 80 years old when he left Midian, returned to Egypt, & led Israel out of Egypt

The Passover: Exodus 12
- Ex 12:14) Check this out, this feast was to be a lasting ordinance, passed on from one generation to another!
- Here's what happened in the Passover:
- - Each family chose a lamb, w/o blemish (if you were too small/poor, you joined your neighbor)
- - The Lamb: It was killed, cooked, & eaten!
- - The Lamb's Blood: It was put on door frame of each house
- - The Meal: It was eaten in a hurry
- - God: He would pass through Egypt for final plague (He sent His angel as his representative)
- - ‘The Pass-Over’: Those houses w/blood on door frame, God would 'pass over' them & none would die; hence the name of this feast!

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Exodus 12
- Technically this was a separate feast, but it always happened with the Passover Feast
- Leaven is 'Yeast', so in the Feast of Unleavened Bread they made bread w/o yeast
- Why? Because just as the the Passover meal had to be eaten quickly, so this bread had to be prepared quickly.
- - They had to leave as soon as Pharaoh gave them permission.
- These are two of the Israelite's official 'holidays' or feasts!

The Passover & Jesus:
- Remember, much of the Old Testament hinted toward Jesus, the Passover hints to Jesus in several key ways!
- Consider these Bible Verses:
- - Isaiah 53:7) “Like a lamb that is led to slaughter…”
- - - The Messiah will be as a lamb, led to slaughter, just as the Passover lamb was slaughtered to eat
- - John 1:29) “…The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
- - - This is John the Baptist pointing out Jesus, He is the 'Lamb of God'
- - 1 Peter 1:18-19) “you were not redeemed with perishable things … but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
- - - It was the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, that redeemed & saved us!
- - 1 Cor. 5:7) “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”
- - - Here Christ is nicknamed, 'Our Passover'
- - - - God "passes over" us in His judgment when we come to Him in faith through Jesus Christ!
- - - In the New Testament, sometimes leaven/yeast represented sin
- - - - Since just as a little leaven will affect an entire piece of dough for bread, so a little sin will affect our entire life!
- - - - Here we are encouraged to clean out the old leaven/sin

- Now consider this comparison of Jesus & the Passover Lamb: (great for a test short answer!)
- - For the Passover Lamb:
- - - W/o physical blemish (Ex 12:5)
- - - No bones broken (Ex 12:46)
- - - Sacrificed to save them from physical death
- - - It’s sacrifice didn’t automatically save them, they had to choose to put it over their doors
- - For Jesus in the New Testament:
- - - W/o spiritual blemish, sin
(2 Cor. 5:17)
- - - No bones broken
(Psalm 22:17, Psalm 34:20, John 19:36)
- - - Sacrificed to save us from spiritual death (the worst consequence of Adam & Eve's sin)
- - - His sacrifice didn’t automatically save all, we have to choose to accept it over our lives by coming to Jesus in faith (Rom 10:9-10)

The Exodus (to exit):
- The Final Plague was the death of all firstborns in Egypt
- - From animal to human
- - From the lowest slave or prisoner to the Pharaoh, himself!
- - The only way you were spared was by following what God said to do for the Passover

- Exodus 12
- - 31-32) After this final plague, while it is still night, Pharaoh orders Israel to leave
- - 33-36) Just like Abraham was told (Genesis 15:14), Israel left while plundering Egypt! They asked their Egyptian neighbors/friends for their nice clothes & jewelry, which the Egyptians gave--urging Israel to leave the country!
- - 37-39) Around 600,000 men (not including women/children) left!
- - - Like how we eat junk food on our road trips... Their 'junkfood' was the unleavened bread, baked in a hurry.

- Exodus 13
- - 1-16) God told the Israelites’ to 'consecrate' (set aside as holy) their 1st born
- - - While Egypt was being judged for their hundreds of years of mistreatment to Israel; Israel's own sins could also have merited God's plague of the 1st born!
- - - The fact that he spared them, didn't mean they were better...
- - - So God has them set aside the 1st born children
- - 17-18) God led the Israelites around territories where they would have encountered battles (especially the Philistine's country)
- - - This was a 'longer route' than they needed to take!
- - - God did this because He knew they would 'wimp out' in battle & return to Egypt because it was too hard
- - - So it was that they took the long southern road to come around the back side of the promised land.
- - 19) Moses had Joseph’s bones brought from Egypt with them, just as Joseph had requested in his final words of encouragement to Israel before he died, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place."
- - 20-22) God didn't let the Israelites wonder blindly through the desert, He led them by a Pillar of Cloud and Fire

Escape from Pharaoh: Exodus 14
- 3-4) God’s warning to Israel
- - Who hardens Pharaoh’s heart? God does!
- - Why? To bring Himself glory & to show the Egyptians that He is the LORD
- 5, 9) Pharaoh & the Egyptian leaders have a change of heart and chase Israel
- 10-12) Israel sees Egypt coming and they are very afraid, doubting God will help them!
- - They ask such things as, "Is it because there were not enough graves in Egypt that you brought us here?"
- - They even complain and say that they wished they were still slaves!
- - This is the beginning of a 40-year trend…
- 13-14) Despite their fear & doubts, Moses tries to encourage them through his own faith & words; he tells them...
- - "Do not be afraid!"
- - "Stand firm! => You will see the LORD’s deliverance!"
- - "Be still! => The LORD will fight for you!"
- 15-18) God answers their cries for help by having Moses divide the sea. Through this,
- - What will the Egyptians know? That He is the LORD!
- - What will God gain? Glory!

Escape from Pharaoh : Exodus 14
- 19-20) God slows the Egyptians by moving the cloud of fire behind Israel to cut Egypt off
- 21-25) The sea is then divided
- - What does God use to divide it? A very strong wind!
- - What was the water like? A wall on each side
- - How long did it take to divide? All night!
- - What did God do to the Egyptians? Harden their hearts, Confuse them, Mess up the wheels on their chariots
- 26-29) Israel is saved! They all pass through the water.
- - Egypt is completely defeated—every soldier.
- 30-31) Israel’s response? Now a good one:
- - Fear & trust in God & Moses
- 15:1-21) Israel sings a song of praise to God
- - Miriam is 1st officially introduced; a musical prophetess! Playing the Tambourine

Several Pictures Shown : Of Moses & the Parting of the Red Sea

The Wilderness:
- Exiting the Egyptian region, Israel is brought by God to a desert-like wilderness
- Ex 15:22-27) They travel for 3 days with no water
- - When they finally find water, it is bitter and would make them sick if they drunk it!
- - The people grumble… (v24)
- - God provides!
- - - How is the bitter water turned sweet? (v25) Moses tosses a branch from a tree into it.
- - - What agreement does God make with them? (v26) If they listen to, pay attention to, and follow God's voice, commands, and decrees, doing what is right in His eyes--He will keep the diseases of Egypt away from them, "For I am the LORD, who heals you"

- Ex 16:1-21) Now food is scarce
- - Instead of praying to God in faith, the people grumble… (v3)
- - God provides!
- - - Meat: Quail fly in every twilight (vv12-13)
- - - Bread: Manna each morning
- - - - Rules to gather (vv16-21)
- - - - - Gather only as much as you need for your family, for each day; extra manna gathered will become maggot infested!
- - - - Why do you think God did it this way? (Deut. 8:3 & also, Unit Handout, pg 17, top)
- - - - - To teach them to trust in God for their daily needs
- - - - - To teach them that we don't live by bread alone, but by God's will & word
- - - - - To help them observe the Sabbath

- Ex 16:22-36) Observing the Sabbath
- - When is the Sabbath? The seventh day of the week, Saturday
- - What should be avoided? Work!
- - But what about gathering manna? (vv22-24)
- - - The day before the Sabbath gather twice as much, it will last and not become maggot infested!

- Problems with Manna…
- - V20) People gathered more than a day’s worth (it fills with maggots)
- - V27) People tried to gather on the Sabbath (there is none out there!)
- - V28) God’s merciful response
- - V31) What does ‘manna’ mean? "What is it?"

- Ex 17:1-7) Lacking water, the people grumble again! (v3)
- - Again God provides!
- - This time water comes from rock!

- Ex 17:8-16) Their First Battle
- - Amalek attacks
- - Joshua leads the Israelite army
- - Moses stand with Aaron & Hur on the hill overlooking the battle
- - - As long as his hands are held up with his staff, Israel wins!
- - - When he gets tired and his hands fall, Israel losses.
- - - Aaron & Hur end up helping him hold his hands up! (some great team work!)
- - In the end, Israel has victory

- Ex 18:1-27) Jethro Meets Moses
- - Remember, Jethro is Moses' Father-in-Law, also known as Reuel.
- - Jethro is a priest of Midian, and here he proclaims that God is greater than all other gods!
- - He notices that Moses judges Israelite legal cases all day
- - - Seeing that this wear's Moses out, he gives him some advise
- - - Jethro counsels Moses to select capable men to serve as judges for Moses
- - - These men must fear God, be trustworthy, & hate dishonest gain
- - Moses follows this advice! Moses only judges the hardest cases

God’s Covenant: An Overview
- Where? Mt. Sinai (aka Mt. Horeb)
- Who? God & the Israelites
- What?
- - A Covenant, remember the definition from before? 'An agreement (or promise) between two or more persons that defines their relationship.'
- - This is a lot like a ‘Sovereign-Vassal Treaty’ (Ruler-Servant Treaty) they would have back in this time
- - The Key Parts of this are:
- - - Covenant Maker introduction
- - - Historic, past relationship described (19:3-6)
- - - General rules (20:1-17) The 10 Commandments)
- - - Specific rules (20:21-23:33)
We will discuss this tomorrow, but I'll put it here for you to study from

God’s Covenant: The Details, Exodus 19
- Moses up: The covenant introduced (vv3-6); God shares that He wants Israel to be a Kingdom of priests, a holy nation
- Moses down: The people respond (v8), "We will do everything the LORD has said."
- Moses up: God tells him how to prepare the people to meet God
- Moses down: God meets the people (vv16-20), check out how dramatic this is!
- - Thunder and lightning is all around!
- - A thick cloud of smoke covers the mountain and billows from it!
- - The mountain trembled violently!
- - There was the sound of a trumpet growing louder and louder!
- Moses up: Others were warned to wait
- Moses down: The 10 Commandments were given to all!

God’s Law: Exodus 20:1-17
- The Introduction: Who God is & His relationship with Israel:
- - “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
- General Rules: The 10 Commandments
- - These first four deal with our relationship with God
- - - No other gods before God (video games, computers, cell phones, ourselves... we have many 'gods' today that we could put over Him!)
- - - Make no idols (thus the fight over icons in Christian history!)
- - - Don’t misuse God’s Name (whether a curse word or falsely saying something is His fault)
- - - Remember the Sabbath (no work! Focus on God)
- - These final six deal with our relationship with other people
- - - Honor your parents (The first commandment with a promise, as Jesus points out, -- That you may have a long life; what they teach us we can learn from!)
- - - No murdering (different from 'killing,' God commanded Israel to 'kill' certainly people for crimes and others in war! Murder is always wrong, but sometimes God has permitted killing due to our sinful world)
- - - No adultery (sleeping with someone who is not your spouse) (Also, Jesus points out in the New Testament that people commit adultery and murder in their heart with wrong attitudes, like lust or fury)
- - - No stealing (or 'borrowing without permission'...)
- - - No false testimony (e.g. lying)
- - - No coveting (which is like jealously or enviously wanting what someone else has--the key 'opposite' here is to be content with what God has given you.)

- Jesus gives a succinct summary: Matthew 22:36-40, ""Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.""

God’s Law:
- The People’s Response (Ex 20:18-20)
- - They didn't want God speaking direction to them (as a 'Kingdom of Priests' should actually be!)
- - They were afraid of God and did not trust Him
- - So, instead they asked Moses to speak to and listen to God for them

- Ex 20:21-23:33) Specific Laws are given.
- - These go beyond the basic, broad general rules of the 10 commandments
- - They are more clearly relevant to 'every-day life' issues and rules

- The Covenant is Confirmed (Ex 24:3-5)
- - Moses wrote it down, told all the people God’s words
- - The people’s response: "Everything the LORD has said we will do."
- - An offering is given, to ‘seal the deal’

Side Notes: Remember that...
- Moses was about 40 years old when he killed the Egyptian & fled to Midian
- Moses was about 40 years old when he left Midian, returned to Egypt, & led Israel out of Egypt

Thu, Nov 10 - Mem Quiz 4b

2011-11-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 4b: Proverbs 11:1-4
- Next Friday is your Unit 4 test!
- Students have until Monday, Nov 14 to retake Unit 3 Test

Handouts Given: Period 4 received Memory Quiz 4a back

Reminders:
- APU: On Monday (Next Week!)
- Semester 1 Ending: This is coming soon! Make sure you're all ready~
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday (Next Week!), November 15.
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! There is a lot of need around the holidays that you could likely help with! Food banks, shelters, church service projects, visiting care centers, visiting children's hospitals, and more! Look for these meaningful & helpful things to get your 7 hours of community service in. You also have 3 hours of school service you need to do. I recommend finding a teacher that you can help for 15 minutes a week (cleaning the class, sorting papers, etc...), in just 2-3 months you will have easily finished your 3 hours & greatly helped a teacher!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal: None given, students studied for their quiz.

Afterwards, Period 4 discussed some notes that will be posted on Monday. Period 6 caught up by discussing the 10 plagues (see previous notes).

Wed, Nov 9 - The Plagues & Passover

2011-11-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: THURSDAY this week is Memory Quiz 4b: Proverbs 11:1-4
- Students have until Monday, Nov 14 to retake Unit 3 Test

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- APU: On Monday (Next Week!)
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday (Next Week!), November 15.
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! There is a lot of need around the holidays that you could likely help with! Food banks, shelters, church service projects, visiting care centers, visiting children's hospitals, and more! Look for these meaningful & helpful things to get your 7 hours of community service in. You also have 3 hours of school service you need to do. I recommend finding a teacher that you can help for 15 minutes a week (cleaning the class, sorting papers, etc...), in just 2-3 months you will have easily finished your 3 hours & greatly helped a teacher!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal 4-6: Read Exodus 9:15-19 (we did not go over these answers together)
- How does this show God’s mercy?
- How does this show God’s power?
- How does this show God’s wrath?
- How does this show God’s sovereignty (full control)?
- How does this show God’s care?

Period 4 finished these notes from yesterday:
- Pharaoh is Confronted:
- God Answers Moses:
- The Plagues Prelude:
- The Plagues Beginning:

The Plagues: From your Unit Handout
- Plague 1: Water to Blood: For the Nile River, the streams, canals, ponds, resevoirs, and even water in wooden buckets & stone jars!
- - Magicians copy it
- - Pharaoh's heart is hardened and he won't let them go
- Plague 2: Frogs
- - Magicians copy it
- - Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to the LORD that they go & Pharaoh will then let Israel go; then Pharaoh changed his mind when they were really gone
- Plague 3: Gnats
- - The magicians cannot copy this or any others to come
- - Pharaoh: Hard heart, won't listen.
- Plague 4: Flies
- - Pharaoh: Sacrifice in this land, don't leave it (Moses refused); Next Pharaoh lied like in the 2nd plague
- Plague 5: Livestock Dies
- - Pharaoh: Hard heart, will not let them go
- Plague 6: Boils
- - Pharaoh: Hard heart, won't listen
- Plague 7: Hail & lightening
- - Pharaoh 'Repents,' says they can go when the hail stops--again he changes his mind
- Plague 8: Locust
- - Before the plague, Pharaoh says he can go, but only the men (Moses refuses)
- - After the plague, then Pharaoh 'fake repents' again & then has a hard heart & won't let them go
- Plague 9: Darkness
- - Pharaoh again 'fake repents,' & then has a hard heart & changes his mind
- Plague 10: Firstborn Dies
- - We'll get to the results of this later...

The Plagues Summary:
- Remember, Moses didn't start by asking for complete freedom
- - He only requested a 3-day journey into the wilderness to make sacrifices to God!
- - When Pharaoh said "No" to this, that is when the plagues came, showing Egypt & Israel the power of God

- The Magicians’ Responses to the Plagues:
- - Just as they copied the staff turning into a snake, they could copy the 1st 2 plagues
- - - However, they were never able to 'stop' or 'counteract' the plagues!
- - Ex 8:18-19) Then on the 3rd plague and every one after it, they could no longer copy it!
- - - They recognized to Pharaoh that this was the 'finger of God'
- - 9:11) To make things even worse, on the plague of boils--the boils were so bad on them, that they couldn't even appear before Moses & Aaron!

- Pharaoh’s Response to the Plagues:
- - He continually refused to let Israel go
- - Sometimes he would agree, only to change his mind after the plague was removed
- - Sometimes he tried to compromise, letting only some go (just men, or just people, no animals), yet Moses would not accept this
- - Finally after the 10th plague Pharaoh agrees to let them all go, sort of… (we'll get back to this later)

The Passover: Exodus 12
- Ex 12:14) Check this out, this feast was to be a lasting ordinance, passed on from one generation to another!
- Here's what happened in the Passover:
- - Each family chose a lamb, w/o blemish (if you were too small/poor, you joined your neighbor)
- - The Lamb: It was killed, cooked, & eaten!
- - The Lamb's Blood: It was put on door frame of each house
- - The Meal: It was eaten in a hurry
- - God: He would pass through Egypt for final plague (He sent His angel as his representative)
- - ‘The Pass-Over’: Those houses w/blood on door frame, God would 'pass over' them & none would die; hence the name of this feast!

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Exodus 12
- Technically this was a separate feast, but it always happened with the Passover Feast
- Leaven is 'Yeast', so in the Feast of Unleavened Bread they made bread w/o yeast
- Why? Because just as the the Passover meal had to be eaten quickly, so this bread had to be prepared quickly.
- - They had to leave as soon as Pharaoh gave them permission.
- These are two of the Israelite's official 'holidays' or feasts!

The Passover & Jesus:
- Remember, much of the Old Testament hinted toward Jesus, the Passover hints to Jesus in several key ways!
- Consider these Bible Verses:
- - Isaiah 53:7) “Like a lamb that is led to slaughter…”
- - - The Messiah will be as a lamb, led to slaughter, just as the Passover lamb was slaughtered to eat
- - John 1:29) “…The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
- - - This is John the Baptist pointing out Jesus, He is the 'Lamb of God'
- - 1 Peter 1:18-19) “you were not redeemed with perishable things … but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
- - - It was the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, that redeemed & saved us!
- - 1 Cor. 5:7) “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”
- - - Here Christ is nicknamed, 'Our Passover'
- - - - God "passes over" us in His judgment when we come to Him in faith through Jesus Christ!
- - - In the New Testament, sometimes leaven/yeast represented sin
- - - - Since just as a little leaven will affect an entire piece of dough for bread, so a little sin will affect our entire life!
- - - - Here we are encouraged to clean out the old leaven/sin

- Now consider this comparison of Jesus & the Passover Lamb: (great for a test short answer!)
- - For the Passover Lamb:
- - - W/o physical blemish (Ex 12:5)
- - - No bones broken (Ex 12:46)
- - - Sacrificed to save them from physical death
- - - It’s sacrifice didn’t automatically save them, they had to choose to put it over their doors
- - For Jesus in the New Testament:
- - - W/o spiritual blemish, sin (2 Cor. 5:17)
- - - No bones broken (Psalm 22:17, Psalm 34:20, John 19:36)
- - - Sacrificed to save us from spiritual death (the worst consequence of Adam & Eve's sin)
- - - His sacrifice didn’t automatically save all, we have to choose to accept it over our lives by coming to Jesus in faith (Rom 10:9-10)

The Exodus (to exit):
- The Final Plague was the death of all firstborns in Egypt
- - From animal to human
- - From the lowest slave or prisoner to the Pharaoh, himself!
- - The only way you were spared was by following what God said to do for the Passover

- Exodus 12
- - 31-32) After this final plague, while it is still night, Pharaoh orders Israel to leave
- - 33-36) Just like Abraham was told (Genesis 15:14), Israel left while plundering Egypt! They asked their Egyptian neighbors/friends for their nice clothes & jewelry, which the Egyptians gave--urging Israel to leave the country!
- - 37-39) Around 600,000 men (not including women/children) left!
- - - Like how we eat junk food on our road trips... Their 'junkfood' was the unleavened bread, baked in a hurry.

- Exodus 13
- - 1-16) God told the Israelites’ to 'consecrate' (set aside as holy) their 1st born
- - - While Egypt was being judged for their hundreds of years of mistreatment to Israel; Israel's own sins could also have merited God's plague of the 1st born!
- - - The fact that he spared them, didn't mean they were better...
- - - So God has them set aside the 1st born children
- - 17-18) God led the Israelites around territories where they would have encountered battles (especially the Philistine's country)
- - - This was a 'longer route' than they needed to take!
- - - God did this because He knew they would 'wimp out' in battle & return to Egypt because it was too hard
- - - So it was that they took the long southern road to come around the back side of the promised land.
- - 19) Moses had Joseph’s bones brought from Egypt with them, just as Joseph had requested in his final words of encouragement to Israel before he died, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place."
- - 20-22) God didn't let the Israelites wonder blindly through the desert, He led them by a Pillar of Cloud and Fire

Tue, Nov 8 - God (through Moses) confronts Pharaoh

2011-11-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

- Ex 5:3-9) Moses' 1st attempt to have Pharaoh let the people go
- - He doesn't ask for complete freedom,
- - Instead for freedom to take a 3-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to God
- Ex 5:7-9) As a result of this request, Pharaoh makes them suffer even more!
- - - The Egyptians no longer supply straw for the Israelites to make bricks
- - - But the Israelites are required to make the same number of bricks!
- - - The Foremen are brought in a beaten because they aren't making as many bricks as they made before
- - - - Foremen are Israelite slaves in leadership positions over a larger group of Israelite slaves
- Ex 5:20-23) The foremen complain to Moses about this
- - Moses brings this complaint to God
- - It seems Moses expected Pharaoh to easily let the Israelites go, he really wondered why God wasn't working!

God Answers Moses:
Ex 6:1-9) God encourages Moses & Israel
- Would Pharaoh let them go? Yes!
- What did God remind Moses of? His promises to & care for His people
- What are the Israelites to know? (v7) “That I am the LORD your God”
- How do the people respond? They did not listen
- - A far worse response than before, when they believed & worshipped!

The Plagues Prelude:
Ex 7:1-7) God shares more of His plan
- Moses & Aaron will speak, will Pharaoh listen? Nope!
- What will the Egyptians know? (v5) “That I am the LORD” (notice the missing end, 'your God' -- The Egyptians would not accept Him!)
- And so it was that Moses and Aaron returned to Pharaoh & declared on behalf of God, ”Let my People go!”

The Plagues Beginning:
Ex 7:8-13) Moses & Aaron meet w/Pharaoh
- They have a snake-staff competition!
- - Aaron throws his staff to the ground and it becomes a snake
- - Pharaoh's magicians copy this 'trick' with their staffs!
- - But Aaron's staff swallowed theirs' up (tasty!)
- Nevertheless, Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen

- Remember Pharaoh’s Question?
- - "Who is the LORD that I should obey him & let Israel go?" (5:2)
- - God now introduces Himself through 10 plagues
- - - See the note on the right hand side of your Unit Handout (pg 15)
- - - God shows His power over all creation & over every Egyptian so-called 'god'
- - - The magicians are able to counterfeit some of these miracles, but cannot ever counteract or stop God from sending them!

Mon, Nov 7 - Memory Quiz 4b Prep & Moses-Israel-Pharaoh

2011-11-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

Next Test/Quiz: THURSDAY next week is Memory Quiz 4b: Proverbs 11:1-4
- Students have until Monday, Nov 14 to retake Unit 3 Test

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Operation Christmas Child: Tomorrow is the Packing Party. Nov 10 is the last day to bring pre-packed boxes.
- APU: On Monday (Next Week!)
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday (Next Week!), November 15.
- Service Hours: These are due April 16, but please get them done early! There is a lot of need around the holidays that you could likely help with! Food banks, shelters, church service projects, visiting care centers, visiting children's hospitals, and more! Look for these meaningful & helpful things to get your 7 hours of community service in. You also have 3 hours of school service you need to do. I recommend finding a teacher that you can help for 15 minutes a week (cleaning the class, sorting papers, etc...), in just 2-3 months you will have easily finished your 3 hours & greatly helped a teacher!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal 4-5:
- On the last page of your unit handout…
- - Read Proverbs 11:1-4
- - Answer questions 11-15
- When done: Answer (based on the above verses) the following questions on your own notes:
- - Describe the affect of pride on our life. Give a Jr. High example.
- - Describe the effect of humbleness. Give a Jr. High example.
- If all done with that, answer the remaining Q’s on your handout

Memory Quiz Review:
- Your Verses: Proverbs 11:1-4
- Your Questions: Based upon our classroom discussion and your thoughtful reflection, use complete sentences to answer the following:
- - 1) Describe the affect of pride on our life. Give a Jr. High example.
- - - The verses say, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace."
- - - - Pride is... selfish arrogance, 'thinking you're all that' or thinking you are the absolute best at something, being 'full of yourself'
- - - - The effect of this is disgrace! This is similar to another popular phrase, 'Pride comes before the fall.' Being arrogant and proud causes us to not be careful, not accept or receive help, and in the end we just disgrace ourselves
- - - Provide an example from Jr. High life that shows how pride disgraces people
- - 2) Describe the effect of humbleness. Give a Jr. High example.
- - - The verses say, "With humility comes wisdom."
- - - - Humility is... the same as humbleness, which is the opposite of pride, so in humbleness you recognize you are not the best, you recognize your need for others, and you don't brag about yourself.
- - - - One of the effects of humbleness is that we gain wisdom! Think about it, if you don't think you know everything you'll accept help from others, you'll even ask people for help, you'll research and read to learn more, you'll pay more attention to life (instead of just yourself) and learn from your experiences
- - .- Like before, provide an example from Jr. High life that shows how we can gain wisdom from being humble.

Another good thing to know about this verse:
What are some dishonest ways Jr. Highers are tempted to ‘weigh’ things today?
- The verses say, "The LORD abhors dishonest scales"
- - To 'abhor' is to really hate something.
- - 'Dishonest scales' refers to the scales have two plates, one of the left, one on the right, that balance out equal when nothing is on them.
- - These were used to weigh out money and things that you would buy
- - Being dishonest with these would mean you are mixing two sins together, you are lying to someone and also cheating them of something! This is what God abhors
- Bearing all of that in mind, what are some dishonest ways Jr. Highers are be tempted to both cheat people out of things and lie?
- - Perhaps trading pencils when you have a lousy one and they have a good one?
- - Perhaps saying you cleaned your room when you only shoved stuff out of the way?
- - Perhaps using fake money in a vending machine?
- - There are other ways that such temptations come! You need to have at least one. Remember, these aren't good things! God abhors them!

We went over these tomorrow (though originally the notes were posted today):
- Key Terms:
- Moses & The Israelites: Ex 4:27-31
- Pharaoh is Confronted: Ex 5:1-2

Fri, Nov 4 - Mem Quiz 4a

2011-11-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 4a: Proverbs 6:16-19
- THURSDAY next week is Memory Quiz 4b: Proverbs 11:1-4
- Students have until Monday, Nov 7 to retake Memory Quiz 3b
- Students have until Monday, Nov 14 to retake Unit 3 Test

Handouts Given: Unit 3 Test

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal: None given, students studied for & then took their quiz.

Thu, Nov 3 - Moses' Objections

2011-11-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: TOMORROW Memory Quiz 4a: Proverbs 6:16-19
- Students have until Monday, Nov 7 to retake Memory Quiz 3b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal 4-4: Read Exodus 4:10-12
- What is Moses’ objection to God using him?
- - He can't speak well
- How does God answer this?
- - God made the mouth, He can make Moses to speak well!
- According to these verses, then, when God asks us to do something…
- - Are our weaknesses ultimately a problem? Not at all, He can overcome them with His strengths!
- - What will God do for us? He will provide what we need to accomplish His mission
- - - God will not call us to do something that He won't also enable us to do as He desires.

God Calls Moses: See these previously posted notes

Moses' Objections: When God called Moses to go to Pharaoh and bring his people out of Israel, Moses gives a few reasons for why he can't.
- Moses isn't completely in support of this idea yet, so he gives several reasons why he shouldn't do it
- Moses’ Objection: Ex 4:1
- - “The Israelites won’t believe You (God) sent me”
- God’s Answer: Ex 4:2-5
- “I will give you powers!”
- - A slithering staff -- When Moses throws his staff on the ground, it will become a snake! When he picks it up by the tail, it becomes a staff again.
- - A sickly hand -- When Moses puts his hand in his coat and brings it out, it becomes covered with a skin disease (leprosy), when he puts it in and takes it out again it becomes healed!

- Objection 2
- - Moses’ Objection: Ex 4:10
- - - Moses says, "I’m really bad at public speaking." (Can any of you relate here?)
- - God’s Answer: Ex 4:11-12
- - - God says, "I made the mouth! Go!" (so, God knows Moses can use this mouth as He asks)
- - - God also says, "I will be w/your mouth" (after all, God is with Moses 'in general' so this definitely means his mouth, too!
- - - God also says, "I will teach you what to say"

- Objection 3
- - Moses’ Objection: Ex 4:13
- - - Moses says, "Please don’t send me!!!"
- - - Here he just wants to be disobedient, not doing what God called him to
- - God’s Answer: Ex 4:14-17
- - - God becomes angry! (Generally, you don't want to bring Him to this...)
- - - God sends Aaron, Moses’ brother, to speak for Moses; God will tell Moses what to say, Moses will tell Aaron, Aaron will tell Pharaoh

- In the end, Moses trusts God & submits to what He says, returning to Egypt!

Wed, Nov 2 - Moses' Calling

2011-11-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday Memory Quiz 4a: Proverbs 6:16-19
- Students have until Monday, Nov 7 to retake Memory Quiz 3b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal 4-3: Read Exodus 2:11-22, then answer:
- Did Moses know he was a Hebrew? He seems to!
- - NOTE: Hebrew is an ethnic term for the Jewish people, like 'Japanese' or 'German"
- - How do you know this? He goes out to watch them & then defends them when they are hurt
- What sin does Moses commit? Murder, of the Egyptian who beat a slave
- - Why do you think he did this? Likely he hoped to deliver his people from slavery! Yet instead of doing it God's way, he tried doing it his own way--which led to a 40 year exile.
- Where does he run to? Midian (east of Egypt, at the very north western part of the Arabian Peninsula
- What is the 7 daughters’ father’s name? Reuel
- - What is his job? He is a priest in Midian
- Who does Moses marry? Zipporah, one of Reuel's daughters
- What does he name their first child? Gershom (which sounds like Hebrew for 'An Alien There')
- - Why? Because he has been an alien in a foreign land.

Moses’ Beginnings: Period 6, see these notes from yesterday

Name Meanings: Both periods, see these notes from yesterday

God Calls Moses: After these 40 years as a shepherd, God interrupts Moses...
- Ex 2:23-25)
- - God hears Israel's cries for help, remembers His covenant with them, looks to them (in their suffering) & is concerned
- - In a similar note, in our own suffering, God hears our prayers, looks on our pain, and is concerned!

- Moses is Called
- - Ex 3:1-6) God gets Moses’ attention with a bush that keeps burning (the 'Burning Bush') but doesn't burn up!
- - Ex 3:10-12) Moses’ Mission:
- - - Who does God send him to? Pharaoh
- - - Why? To bring God’s people out of Egypt
- - - How can he succeed? God will be with him

- Ex 3:14-15) Moses asks who he should say sent him, so God gives His personal name
- - God's Personal Name: 'I AM’
- - - The Hebrew letters to represent this are "YHWH"
- - - The English words for this are Jehovah, Yahweh, or ‘the LORD’ (which is what you'll find in the Bible)
- - He isn't limited by a name like 'God of Canaan' or 'God or Rain' His name is 'I AM' Much bigger than how we would want to limit Him!
- Ex 3:19-22) God tells Moses what his strength will be, it isn't Moses, himself...
- - v20 God will stretch out His hand
- - v20 God says that Pharaoh will let them go, this is a promise Moses can take hope in!
- - v21 God also says He will grant the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, so they will 'plunder them' when they go (taking gold & fine clothing)

Moses’ Objections:
- Moses isn't completely in support of this idea yet, so he gives several reasons why he shouldn't do it
- Moses’ Objection: Ex 4:1
- - “The Israelites won’t believe You (God) sent me”
- God’s Answer: Ex 4:2-5
- “I will give you powers!”
- - A slithering staff -- When Moses throws his staff on the ground, it will become a snake! When he picks it up by the tail, it becomes a staff again.
- - A sickly hand -- When Moses puts his hand in his coat and brings it out, it becomes covered with a skin disease (leprosy), when he puts it in and takes it out again it becomes healed!

More objections to come...

Tue, Nov 1 - Israel's & Moses' Beginnings

2011-11-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday Memory Quiz 4a: Proverbs 6:16-19
- Students have until Monday, Nov 7 to retake Memory Quiz 3b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 4: The Exodus
Journal 4-2: Read Exodus 1:1-7
- How many descendants of Jacob/Israel moved to Egypt with Joseph?
- - 70
- v7) How did God bless these people of Israel? Write down the four words/phrases that explain this.
- - They... (See below)
- How could this be a great thing for the people of Israel?
- - They grow in number and are a large group that can now be their own nation!
- How could this be a dangerous thing for the people of Israel?
- - Various answers, but... if you were a natural Egyptian and you saw all these foreigners

The Pentateuch Table: Exodus (which means 'Exit')
- Key Idea: Redemption
- The Nation: Delivered
- The People: Redeemed (which, like Redemption, means 'bought back' or 'saved')
- God's Character: Merciful (time and time again in Exodus God's people do such stupid things that are like spitting in God's face! Yet God has mercy time and time again on them!)
- God's Role: Deliverer (of his people)
- God's Command: "Let my people go!"

Israel’s Beginnings:
- Exodus 1:6-7) The state of Israel, they
- - Were Fruitful!
- - Multiplied Greatly!
- - Became Exceeding Numerous!
- - The land was filled with them!
- - In general... There were a lot of them and they kept on growing!

- Ex 1:8-11) The Egyptians began to fear that Israel would fight against them, so they forced hard labor.
- - It sounds like the Israelites did not 'conform' to the Egyptian culture, so they were still their own distinct people.
- - Ex 1:12) Even though forced to work long and hard days, Israel still grew!

- Ex 1:15-16) Pharaoh gave a new command to keep Israel from growing
- - He told the midwives (who are nurses that delivers babies), "Kill the Israelite male children!"
- - Ex 1:17) The midwives did not do this because they feared God much more than Pharaoh, so God blessed them!
- - Ex 1:20) So... Israel still grew!

- Ex 1:22) Pharaoh gave another command, "Throw every newborn boy in the Nile River!" Which was now carried out by more than just midwives. Perhaps his army would sweep the Israelite houses to see if they were hiding a child? Who knows exactly, but this is where we come to the story of Moses!

Moses’ Beginnings: Read Exodus 2:1-10, then answer:
- What tribe was Moses from? Levite
- How many months did his mother hide him? 3 months
- What did she put Moses in? A Basket
- - Why? To have him 'float' in the Nile River, since having him in the house was now too dangerous
- - Did she follow Pharaoh’s order? (careful…) Kind of... Pharaoh said to throw all the babies int he Nile, she put her baby in the Nile, but had a little basket to help him stay out of the water!
- Who found Moses? Pharaoh's daughter
- What did she look for next? Someone to nurse the baby with milk
- - Who did she get? Since Moses' sister was watching him, she volunteered to find someone for Pharaoh's daughter and actually got his own mother! (We find out later on Moses' sister's name is Miriam)
- What did she end up doing with Moses? Adopting him into her family
- What does ‘Moses’ sound like in Hebrew? 'Draw Out' (because she 'drew him out' of the water)
- How did God show He is in control (‘sovereign’) through this? Many ways! Protecting Moses for 3 months at home, having the Pharaoh's daughter be the one who finds him, having the Pharaoh's daughter look for an Israelite woman to nurse Moses & then even choosing his own mother, and more!

Name Meanings:
- What does Exodus Mean? To exit, because Israel exited Egypt!
- What does Moses Mean? To Draw Out
- - Because Pharaoh’s daughter drew him out of the water
- - Because God used Moses to draw the people of Israel out of Egypt!

Mon, Oct 31 - Memory Quiz 4a Prep & Notebook Check

2011-10-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday Memory Quiz 4a: Proverbs 6:16-19
- Students have until Monday, Nov 7 to retake Memory Quiz 3b

Handouts Given:
- Memory Quiz 3b
- Unit 4 Packet/Handout

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 4:
Journal 4-1:
- First: Pick up a notebook grading sheet from below. Pass your notebook to the left, grade. Return grading sheet below when finished.
- Second: Pick up your new unit handout from below. Work on the last page:
- - Read Proverbs 6:16-19
- - On your journal pages, Label Journal 4-1 & answer all parts of question 10 (a-g)
- - When done, read the first 2 sections & answer questions 1-9 on the handout.

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Introduction:
- - Did you know that God hates some things?
- - - These verses summarize 7 major sins that God hates.
- - - It's important that we know what these are and what they mean so we know to avoid them!
- - Another important thing is for us to remember that God does offer forgiveness!
- - - Sometimes we feel very guilty from sins we have committed, we need to remember that when we confess these to God and repent of (turn away from) them, He will forgive us!
- - - None of these sins are too big that God will not forgive us!
- - - And, God provides will help us grow and become stronger to avoid committing these same sins in the future! Ask Him for this help.
- - - God will always provide a way for us to flee and overcome these temptations when they come.

- Your Verses: Proverbs 6:16-19
- Your Questions: Based on our class discussion & your own personal reflection, use complete sentences & your own words to give specific examples of how Jr. Highers are tempted to commit these sins:
- 1) The first one in verse 17:
- - - 'Haughty Eyes' means being arrogant, having a lot of selfish pride in yourself.
- - - You need to give your own example for how Jr. High students are tempted to sin like this.
- 2) The first one in verse 18:
- - - 'A heart that devises wicked schemes' means someone is planning to do something evil
- - - You need to give your own example for how Jr. High students are tempted to sin like this.
- 3) The second one in verse 18:
- - - 'Feet that are quick to rush into evil' means someone who doesn't necessarily plan evil, but when they see an opportunity to get or do something they want to, even if it is wrong they are quick to do it (maybe without even thinking much about it!)
- - - You need to give your own example for how Jr. High students are tempted to sin like this.
- 4) The last one in verse 19:
- - - 'A man who stirs up dissension among brothers' is someone who tries to cause fights and arguments (Gossip, rumors, & lies are big ways this can happen)
- - - You need to give your own example for how Jr. High students are tempted to sin like this.

The Pentateuch Table: Exodus (which means 'Exit')
- Key Idea: Redemption
- The Nation: Delivered
- The People: Redeemed (which, like Redemption, means 'bought back' or 'saved')
- God's Character: Merciful (time and time again in Exodus God's people do such stupid things that are like spitting in God's face! Yet God has mercy time and time again on them!)
- God's Role: Deliverer (of his people)
- God's Command: "Let my people go!"

Thu, Oct 27 & Fri Oct 28 - Unit 3 Test Review & Test

2011-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is your Unit 3 Test!
- Next week, Nov 4, is Memory Quiz 4a: Proverbs 6:16-19
- Students have until Friday, Oct 28 to retake Memory Quiz 3a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Unit 3 Notebook Check: Due this Monday, Oct 31!
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph

Thursday

Journal: None given, we reviewed for our test. See the notes below

Grade 7 – Unit 3 – Review

1. ‘Esau’ means ‘Hairy,’ but what does his nick-name ‘Edom’ mean?
Red
2. ‘Jacob’ means ‘He Grasps the Heel,’ but what did his new name, ‘Israel’ mean?
He Struggles with God
3. At Bethel, what did Jacob say God needed to do for him to follow Him as God?
Take care of him; he wouldn’t just follow God ‘no matter what’ yet!
4. Benjamin means ‘Son of my Right Hand,’ but what does the name Rachel wanted for him, Ben-Oni, mean?
Son of my Trouble
5. How did Jacob’s family survive the 7 years of famine?
They moved to Egypt
6. How did Rebekah help Jacob succeed in life?
Master-minded how he could deceive his father
7. Shortly before his death, Joseph asked his brothers to return his bones to Canaan when ‘what’ happened?
They returned to Canaan, which he fully believed would happen
8. What and who is Shechem?
A Prince & the city this prince lived in, that Jacob moved outside of. Hamor was the king & father
9. What are three reasons Joseph’s brothers hated him
Favoritism (special coat), Brought back a bad report, Told dreams of them bowing to him
10. What bad thing did Tamar do after Judah wouldn’t marry her to his third son?
Pretend to be a prostitute
11. What beautiful daughter of Jacob does Shechem take advantage of?
Dinah
12. What blessing did Judah (the man recommended selling Jacob into slavery but later stands up for Benjamin) receive that is similar to Jacob’s blessing?
He would rule over his brothers
13. What did Esau sell his birthright for?
Red Food
14. What did marrying Hittite women do to Esau’s parents?
Grieved them
15. What did Simeon & Levi do?
Attacked a Canaanite town for abusing their sister
16. What does Peniel mean? This is the place Jacob wrestled God.
‘Face of God’
17. What is a Birthright?
The double-inheritance for the firstborn son
18. What major sin is Reuben known for?
Sleeping with his father’s concubine; Also known for keeping brothers from killing Joseph
19. What physical characteristic is Leah, Laban’s older daughter, described as having?
Weak eyes
20. What prayer for a family member did Isaac pray that God quickly answered?
That Rebekah’s womb be opened
21. What shrewd business man was Rebekah’s brother & Jacob’s uncle?
Laban! Also Jacob’s father-in-law!
22. What were the angels doing in Jacob’s dream of the ladder/stairs?
Going up/down
23. What word means ‘House of God’?
Bethel
24. When did Joseph’s brothers really know that Joseph forgave them?
After their father died
25. Where was God in Jacob’s dream at Bethel?
At the top of the ladder/stairs
26. Why did Jacob’s parents send him away? (2 reasons)
Save his life, & find a wife
27. Why did Pharaoh call Joseph from prison?
He had a bad dream
28. Why does Jacob want to marry Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter?
She is lovely!

Friday

Journal: None given, students studied for their test.

Students took their test and then quietly did other work.

Remember the Unit 3 Notebook Check on this Monday, Oct 31

Wed, Oct 26 - Joseph's Rise to Power

2011-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is your Unit 3 Test!
- Students have until Friday, Oct 28 to retake Memory Quiz 3a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-10: Explain the role God played in what happened to Joseph, according to these verses: Genesis 39:2, 21, 23 & Genesis 41:15-16, 39, 51-52
- - Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. . . 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. . . 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
- - Genesis 40:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.". . . 16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." . . . 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. . . 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
- God blessed him despite all his hardships!
- It was because of God's work that Joseph rose to power & was always doing so well in his life, despite all the bad things that happened to him.

Check out previously posted notes for:
- Joseph’s Roller-Coaster: A summary of Genesis 39-41
- Joseph’s Brothers: Genesis 42-45:
- The End of ‘The Beginning’: Genesis 48-50

Tue, Oct 25 - Joseph's Story

2011-10-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is your Unit 3 Test!
- Students have until Friday, Oct 28 to retake Memory Quiz 3a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- - I am extending permission for the Art project another 2 weeks to give people time to read more of their book & get a better idea of what type of art you want to do. Make sure to get permission from me by October
- Devotion 2: Due TONIGHT, by 11:59pm
- - Book Options: Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers
- - Check your TurnItIn.com grademarks to see how to improve for this one! If your Devotion has not yet been graded, it will be by Friday, October
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-9: Read Genesis 49:1-12
- Summarize the blessing/prophesy for:
- - Reuben: Was strong, but will not be any longer because he slept with his father's concubine!
- - Simeon & Levi: In their anger the killed many (the city of Shechem), they will be scattered in Israel
- - Judah: His brothers will praise him and bow before him, he will be a ruler, the nations will obey him and he will be greatly blessed
- Can you connect any parts of their blessings to what they did in their lives? Write it down.
- - I did this above
- Like Jacob would ‘rule over his brother,’ who here will have his brothers ‘bow before’ him?
- - I noted this above
- If you get done early, read verses 13-28

Joseph’s Beginnings: Genesis 37
- Period 6 did this today (yesterday Period 4 got through it)

A pause from Joseph: Genesis 38
- Here the author of Genesis tells a story from Jacob's family about how someone made the wrong choice morally for their purity. This will be shown in contrast to what happens next to Jacob, who makes the right moral purity choice!
- To summarize the story...
- - Judah, Jacob's 4th oldest son, has three sons.
- - A woman named Tamar marries his oldest
- - The oldest son dies
- - Tradition back then was that...
- - - If you were a man and your brother died, leaving his wife with no children
- - - You were responsible to sleep with your dead brother's wife so she could have a child
- - - This gave someone to this woman who would look out for and take care of her when older
- - Judah's second oldest son refused to take care of his family like this
- - - God was not pleased and thus put him to death
- - Judah refused to give Tamar to his 3rd son, fearing that he too would die!
- - Tamar realized she would grow old with no one to care for her & made a plan
- - - When Judah left to sheer his sheep, she ran ahead and put on a disguise to look like a prostitute
- - - Jacob, not knowing it was his daughter-in-law, slept with her when he was traveling
- - - Then, as a result Tamar had twins
- Remember, just because the Bible tells a story, it does not mean what happened was right! On the contrary, this is showing the wrong response to moral purity, and in particular, sexual purity.
- - Right after this is a story about Joseph that is a key contrast to this story
- - - Judah walks right into temptation & sin
- - - Joseph runs from temptation & sin, even when it hurts him!

Why the Bible has Odd Sinful Stories:
- An example of what not to do!
- It shows the danger of living in sin
- It teaches other things
- - For instance, this past story specifically shows difference of the sinful way to handle a situation like this,
- - But this also sets up a contrast, while Judah gave into this temptation--Joseph does not… more to come…

Joseph’s Roller-Coaster: A summary of Genesis 39-41
- Joseph is sold into slavery to Potiphar!
- - Then he became the leading & most trusted slave!
- - But... Potiphar's wife tries to make him sleep with her. Joseph refuses, running away in just his 'boxers' as she held to his outer garment. (This is a story shown in contrast to David's story in Genesis 38. Judah made an impure & wrong decision, yet Joseph made the holy and right decision--even though it hurt him...). Potiphar's wife lied to her husband, accusing Joseph of attacking her and showing his coat as evidence. Potiphar believes her and so...
- - Joseph is thrown into prison!
- - - Then Joseph becomes the most trusted & leading prisoner!
- - - All this because God continued to bless Joseph, giving him favor in the eyes of the head jail guard.
- - - One day the Pharaoh's (King of Egypt) Cup Bearer & Baker are thrown into prison. After a while there they each have a terrifying dream. They tell these to Joseph, who God tells the interpretation to. Joseph shares this with them, the Baker will die in three days, the Cub-Bearer will be restored. Joseph asks the Cup-Bearer to remember him and appeal that he be removed from prison. However the Cup-Bearer must have been distracted, because for two years...
- - Joseph is forgotten!
- - - Then Joseph becomes the 2nd most powerful man in all of Egypt!
- - - And here he remains!
- - - How did this happen? Pharaoh had a terrible dream that he knew was a message from God. All his advisers and counselors cannot interpret it. The Cup-Bearer, who was likely in Pharaoh's court most of the time, hears about this and boldly tells Pharaoh about Joseph's correct interpretations of his dream the the old Baker's dream. Pharaoh invites Joseph in. Joseph says he cannot interpret the dream... but God can! Sure enough God does this! There will be 7 years of great abundance, followed by 7 years of sever famine. Pharaoh promotes Joseph to 2nd in command of Egypt, & gives him the responsibility of storing away grain in the first 7 years to prepare for the last 7 years.

Mon, Oct 24 - Jacob's Troubles in Canaan & Joseph's Start

2011-10-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

These notes are for tomorrow & the following days, posted early in case you want to start studying for the test from them.

A pause from Joseph: Genesis 38
- Here the author of Genesis tells a story from Jacob's family about how someone made the wrong choice morally for their purity. This will be shown in contrast to what happens next to Jacob, who makes the right moral purity choice!
- To summarize the story...
- - Judah, Jacob's 4th oldest son, has three sons.
- - A woman named Tamar marries his oldest
- - The oldest son dies
- - Tradition back then was that...
- - - If you were a man and your brother died, leaving his wife with no children
- - - You were responsible to sleep with your dead brother's wife so she could have a child
- - - This gave someone to this woman who would look out for and take care of her when older
- - Judah's second oldest son refused to take care of his family like this
- - - God was not pleased and thus put him to death
- - Judah refused to give Tamar to his 3rd son, fearing that he too would die!
- - Tamar realized she would grow old with no one to care for her & made a plan
- - - When Judah left to sheer his sheep, she ran ahead and put on a disguise to look like a prostitute
- - - Jacob, not knowing it was his daughter-in-law, slept with her when he was traveling
- - - Then, as a result Tamar had twins
- Remember, just because the Bible tells a story, it does not mean what happened was right! On the contrary, this is showing the wrong response to moral purity, and in particular, sexual purity. Tomorrow or Monday we will see how Jacob makes the wiser choice.

Why the Bible has Odd Sinful Stories:
- An example of what not to do!
- It shows the danger of living in sin
- It teaches other things
- - For instance, this past story specifically shows difference of the sinful way to handle a situation like this,
- - But this also sets up a contrast, while Judah gave into this temptation--Joseph does not… more to come…

Joseph’s Roller-Coaster: A summary of Genesis 39-41
- Joseph is sold into slavery to Potiphar!
- - Then he became the leading & most trusted slave!
- - But... Potiphar's wife tries to make him sleep with her. Joseph refuses, running away in just his 'boxers' as she held to his outer garment. (This is a story shown in contrast to David's story in Genesis 38. Judah made an impure & wrong decision, yet Joseph made the holy and right decision--even though it hurt him...). Potiphar's wife lied to her husband, accusing Joseph of attacking her and showing his coat as evidence. Potiphar believes her and so...
- - Joseph is thrown into prison!
- - - Then Joseph becomes the most trusted & leading prisoner!
- - - All this because God continued to bless Joseph, giving him favor in the eyes of the head jail guard.
- - - One day the Pharaoh's (King of Egypt) Cup Bearer & Baker are thrown into prison. After a while there they each have a terrifying dream. They tell these to Joseph, who God tells the interpretation to. Joseph shares this with them, the Baker will die in three days, the Cub-Bearer will be restored. Joseph asks the Cup-Bearer to remember him and appeal that he be removed from prison. However the Cup-Bearer must have been distracted, because for two years...
- - Joseph is forgotten!
- - - Then Joseph becomes the 2nd most powerful man in all of Egypt!
- - - And here he remains!
- - - How did this happen? Pharaoh had a terrible dream that he knew was a message from God. All his advisers and counselors cannot interpret it. The Cup-Bearer, who was likely in Pharaoh's court most of the time, hears about this and boldly tells Pharaoh about Joseph's correct interpretations of his dream the the old Baker's dream. Pharaoh invites Joseph in. Joseph says he cannot interpret the dream... but God can! Sure enough God does this! There will be 7 years of great abundance, followed by 7 years of sever famine. Pharaoh promotes Joseph to 2nd in command of Egypt, & gives him the responsibility of storing away grain in the first 7 years to prepare for the last 7 years.

Why Joseph Really Rose to Power:
- See the following verses...
- - Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. . . 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. . . 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
- - Genesis 40:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.". . . 16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." . . . 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. . . 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
- God blessed him despite all his hardships!

Journal 3-10: Read Genesis 39:2, 21, 23 and Genesis 41:15-16, 39, 51-52
- What do these verses teach about what happened to Joseph? Explain!
- - That the reason Joseph rose to power & survived all his hardships is that God was with him and God was blessing him!

Joseph’s Brothers: Genesis 42-45:
- The 7 years of famine begin
- Jacob’s family suffers from this
- - Jacob sends his 10 oldest boys to Egypt to buy grain, he heard they have it; Benjamin stays home
- Joseph sees his brothers and recognizes them, but they do not recognize him
- - His 1st dream fulfilled, his brothers bow before him
- - Joseph seems to want to see if his brothers have changed, so he tests them in a series of ways
- - - He accuses them of being spies, taking Simeon hostage and demanding they return to their land and come back with their youngest brother (which they told him about) as proof that they are not spies.
- They return to Jacob who will not let them take Benjamin.
- - Reuben says that if they don't return with Benjamin, Jacob can kill Reuben's own two sons in his place
- - Jacob still refuses
- In time Jacob's family ran out of food again
- - This time, Judah comes to Jacob, saying Jacob can hold him personally responsible if Benjamin does not return--but emphasizing that he must come or they will get nothing in Egypt.
- - Jacob relents and lets them take him.

- When they arrive back in Egypt, Joseph accepts them, feeds them a meal, & sends them on their way, slipping his silver goblet into Benjamen's bag of grain.
- - He then pursues them and catches them, accusing them of stealing this goblet
- - They all deny it, saying he can enslave or kill whoever has it.
- - He finds it with Benjamin & thus begins the final test...
- - - Have his brothers changed? Or will they take this 'easy out' to get rid of their dad's new favorite son? Would they lie and abandon Benjamin?
- - - Instead of doing that, Judah actually offers himself in place of Benjamin! This is quite the opposite of what they did with Joseph.

- So, Joseph reveals himself to them and with great tears and weeping they 'make up' and have a family reunion!
- - In Genesis 46-47, Jacob & his family join Joseph in Egypt (per Joseph's invitation)

Journal 3-9: Read Genesis 49:1-12
- Summarize the blessing/prophesy for:
- - Reuben: Was strong, but will not be any longer because he slept with his father's concubine!
- - Simeon & Levi: In their anger the killed many (the city of Shechem), they will be scattered in Israel
- - Judah: His brothers will praise him and bow before him, he will be a ruler, the nations will obey him and he will be greatly blessed
- Can you connect any parts of their blessings to what they did in their lives? Write it down.
- - I did this above
- Like Jacob would ‘rule over his brother,’ who here will have his brothers ‘bow before’ him?
- - I noted this above
- If you get done early, read verses 13-28

The End of ‘The Beginning’: Genesis 48-50
- Jacob’s Family Blessings: See your journal from the previous day...
- - Preparing us for what is to come!
- Jacob’s Death: 147 years
- Joseph’s Final Words & Death: 110 years (knowing the ages of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph will help you)
- - Calming his brothers’ fear (50:19-20)
- - - They thought he would kill them once their dad was dead!
- - - He comforted them by reminding them it that what they meant for evil God used for good!
- - - You see again the continual trust Joseph had in God! What a great example!
- - A hope for the future (50:24-25)
- - - Joseph reminds his brothers that God will take them out of this land and into the land of promise
- - - As a way to remember this, they were to leave his bones in Egypt until they left, then taking it to bury in the promised land.

Journal 3-11: How does Joseph encourage his brothers…
- In Genesis 50:15-21? Sharing that they don't need to be afraid of him, what they intended to harm him with long ago, God intended for good
- In Genesis 50:24-25? God will help them in years ahead & move them from Egypt to the promised land!

Fri, Oct 21 - Mem Quiz 3b

2011-10-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 3b
- Next week is your Unit 3 Test!
- Students have until Monday, Oct 24 to retake Unit 2 Test
- Students have until Friday, Oct 28 to retake Memory Quiz 3a

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 3a

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- - I am extending permission for the Art project another 2 weeks to give people time to read more of their book & get a better idea of what type of art you want to do. Make sure to get permission from me by October
- Devotion 2: Due Tuesday, November 25.
- - Book Options: Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers
- - Check your TurnItIn.com grademarks to see how to improve for this one! If your Devotion has not yet been graded, it will be by Friday, October
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- - Wrapping Party: Tuesday, Oct 25 - Bring a box or role of wrapping paper to join in!
- - Packing Party: Tuesday, Nov 8 - Bring a set of items to help donate to join in!
- National Make a Difference Day: Happening TOMORROW, October 22. This is a great way to get your Community Service done. do a google search for your city + "National Make a Difference Day" to see if there are any projects you can take part in.

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal:None given, students studied for their quiz.

After this we caught up on some lecture notes from yesterday.

Thu, Oct 20 - Jacob & Laban, Jacob's Travels

2011-10-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3b: Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-14
- Students have to Monday, Oct 24 to retake Unit 2 Test

Handouts Given: Devotion Presentation Schedule (Quarter 2) (yellow color)

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- - I am extending permission for the Art project another 2 weeks to give people time to read more of their book & get a better idea of what type of art you want to do. Make sure to get permission from me by October
- Devotion 2: Due Tuesday, November 25.
- - Book Options: Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers
- - Check your TurnItIn.com grademarks to see how to improve for this one! If your Devotion has not yet been graded, it will be by Friday, October
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- National Make a Difference Day: Happening Saturday, October 22. This is a great way to get your Community Service done. do a google search for your city + "National Make a Difference Day" to see if there are any projects you can take part in.

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-8: Read Genesis 37:1-11)
- How would you describe Joseph based upon just this chapter?
- How would you describe his brothers?
- If you get done early, read the rest of the chapter, work on Devotion 2, or work on your Unit Handout.

Jacob Returns: See these notes from yesterday.

Jacob’s Travels:
- Jacob has been blessed by God and now returned to the land he was promised. The big question now for Jacob is, will he assimilate (which means become one) with the culture around him, or will he be set apart as God desires?

- Genesis 34) Troubles in Canaan…
- - Jacob moves outside the city of Shechem
- - - The king of this city is Hamor, he has a son also named Shechem.
- - Shechem sees Dinah, Jacob's daughter, and wants her as a wife.
- - - Instead of waiting and marrying her, he forces himself on her and sleeps with her before marriage -- Dinah is defiled by Shechem
- - Simeon & Levi, Jacob's 2nd & 3rd oldest sons, Dinah's brothers, are furious about this!
- - - They deceive the city of Shechem by saying they will intermarry with them if all the men will be circumcised (which causes extreme pain and weakness).
- - - The men agree to this and all become circumcised.
- - - Three days later, Simeon & Levi attack the city, killing every man as revenge for what they did to her sister
- - Vv30-31) Jacob scolds his sons for this, because it could cause these cities to join each other and attack Jacob and his family!
- - - Because of this, Jacob and his family must leave Shechem

- Genesis 35) Return to Bethel
- - 1-5) God’s Commands Jacob to return to Bethel
- - - Jacob does this, first having his family remove their idols, change clothes, and set themselves apart for God.
- - - - These are three ways Jacob chooses to be set apart for God instead of assimilating to the world around him!
- - - It mentions in v5 that no one chases Jacob (as he feared they would), because the terror of God fell on them (can't imagine why... concerning what just happened at Shechem...)
- - 9-12) God blesses Jacob
- - 16-20) Rachel’s dies, giving birth to a son
- - - Rachel wants to name him, Ben-Oni: Son of my Trouble
- - - Instead Jacob names him Benjamin: Son of my Right Hand
- - - Rachel is buried off the road as they are traveling
- - 21-22) Reuben, Jacob's oldest son, sleeps with Jacob's concubine (wife of lower status), Bilhah---definitely not a good choice!
- - 27-29) Isaac dies at 180 years old; Esau & Jacob bury him
- - - Abraham lived only 175 years

Wed, Oct 19 - Jacob, Rachel, Leah, & Laban

2011-10-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Tue, Oct 18 - Jacob, His Wives, & Laban

2011-10-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3b: Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-14
- Students have to Monday, Oct 24 to retake Unit 2 Test

Handouts Given:

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- - I am extending permission for the Art project another 2 weeks to give people time to read more of their book & get a better idea of what type of art you want to do. Make sure to get permission from me by October
- Devotion 2: Due Tuesday, November 25.
- - Book Options: Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers
- - Check your TurnItIn.com grademarks to see how to improve for this one! If your Devotion has not yet been graded, it will be by Friday, October
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- National Make a Difference Day: Happening Saturday, October 22. This is a great way to get your Community Service done. do a google search for your city + "National Make a Difference Day" to see if there are any projects you can take part in.

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-6: Read Genesis 29:31-32
- Why does God bless Leah? Because He sees that Jacob does not love her
- Write the name each son & what it means.
- - Reuben: He has seen my misery
- - Simeon: One who hears
- - Levi: Attached
- - Judah: Praise
- What does Leah hope to get from Jacob for having these four sons? Love from Jacob!

Jacob Meets His Wife: Part 1) Review these notes from yesterday.

Jacob Meets His Wife: Part 2)
- Genesis 29:21-30
- - After the seven years Jacob requested his wife from Laban
- - Laban almost did this...
- - - Somehow Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah--he didn't know it until the next morning!
- - - Do you see the irony here? Laban deceives the deceiver!
- - Laban was likely doing this for a few reasons,
- - - He said it was their tradition to marry the older one off first
- - - He thought Jacob would be a good husband for both his wives
- - - Also, as a business man, Laban saw how God blessed whatever Jacob did; having him work for him an extra 7 years for the second wife would make Laban more prosperous!
- - And so, after marrying Leah, Jacob then married Rachel & worked another 7 years to 'pay off' his debt.

Jacob’s Children:
- Genesis 29:31-32) Jacob has clear favoritism--he loves Rachel & not Leah
- - So, God has grace on Leah and allows her to give birth! (Originally neither her nor Rachel could)
- - Leah gives birth to: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah (See journal), always hoping to find love from her husband--but he always seems to love Rachel more

- Genesis 30:1-3) Rachel is terribly jealous or Leah and tells Jacob "Give me children or I'll die!" (a bit overly dramatic, perhaps?), and thus the drama begins... Rachel & Leah compete with each other on who can provide the most children for their husband.
- - Since Rachel cannot have any, she gives Jacob her maidservant, Bilhah, who gives birth to)
- - - Dan: He has vindicated
- - - Naphtali: My Struggle
- - Leah can't be outdone, so she gives Jacob her maidservant, Zilpah, who gives birth to)
- - - Gad: Good Fortune
- - - Asher: Happy

- Genesis 30:14-18) This drama and competition continues...
- - One day, Leah's oldest, Reuben, finds some mandrakes (a plant with an edible root & berries)
- - Rachel really wants these, so Leah cuts her a deal--she can have her sons mandrakes if she lets her sleep with Jacob that night. Rachel agrees.
- - When Jacob comes in from the fields that evening, Leah greets him, "You must sleep with me... I have hired you..."
- - - Then Leah starts having more kids)
- - - - Issachar: Reward
- - - - Zebulun: Honor
- - - - Dinah: Justice or Artistically Formed (only daughter named)

- Genesis 30:22-24) In the end, God remembered Rachel, listening to her prayer’s
- - Rachel gives birth to Joseph (meaning May He Add)
- - Several years later she dies giving birth to her second child, Benjamin (meaning Son of My Right Hand)

Jacob & Laban: In Summary...
- Laban sees how God blesses Jacob everywhere, from family to wealth!
- - Since Jacob works for Laban, this blessing also helps Laban, so...
- - Laban makes a deal with Jacob for him to stay around for ~6 more yrs

- Instead of working for wives, now Jacob works for animals to create his own flocks.
- - When a certain type of sheep/goat (spotted or stripped, etc...) was born, those would become Jacob's.
- - Since God kept blessing Jacob, whatever type of goat/sheep he was getting seemed to mostly be was born!
- - Probably for this reason, Laban changed how Jacob was paid 10 times!
- - However, God kept blessing Jacob

- Then God told Jacob to return home
- - Jacob secretly leaves (Rachel steals Laban's household idols when they go)
- - Laban chases & catches up with Jacob
- - - The night before he gets there, God warns him in a dream to be careful with what he says to Jacob
- - - When Laban gets there & accuses Jacob of stealing his houshold idols, Jacob gives him permission to search everything, Rachel lies to cover up her theft & Laban never finds it.
- Jacob & Laban then make a deal & part ways
- - Genesis 31:41-42) Jacob explains that the reasons for his success was that God was with him & helped him in his hardship with Laban
- - Genesis 31:44-47) Jacob & Laban make a covenant, setting up a heap of stones & naming it 'witness heap' as a reminder of the covenant

Mon, Oct 17 - Mem Quiz 3b Prep & Jacob meets his wife

2011-10-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3b: Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-14
- Students have to Monday, Oct 24 to retake Unit 2 Test

Handouts Given: Unit 2 Test

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- - I am extending permission for the Art project another 2 weeks to give people time to read more of their book & get a better idea of what type of art you want to do. Make sure to get permission from me by October
- Devotion 2: Due Tuesday, November 25.
- - Book Options: Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers
- - Check your TurnItIn.com grademarks to see how to improve for this one! If your Devotion has not yet been graded, it will be by Friday, October
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- National Make a Difference Day: Happening Saturday, October 22. This is a great way to get your Community Service done. do a google search for your city + "National Make a Difference Day" to see if there are any projects you can take part in.

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-5: From page 13 of your unit handout, work on Psalm 139, Questions 8-14
- If done with this, make sure Psalm 23 is done
- Then work on other pages of the handout

Psalm 139 Review:
- 8) What does the Lord not know about us?
- - Nothing
- - This points out God's omniscience (all-knowing) quality
- - There is nothing that God doesn't know about us!
- 9) Can we say things that surprise the Lord? (v4)
- - Nope! He knows it before we speak it!
- 10) What are verses 5-7 emphasizing?
- - That God is in all places!
- - He is Omnipresent (All-present)
- 11) How does the Lord “guide” us? (v10)
- - By the hand! Like a parent walking with their loved child
- - This points toward God's omni-benevolence (His 'all-loving' nature)
- 12) When did God begin working on you? (v13)
- - Even in our mother’s womb!
- - How does this relate to abortion? In the womb, we are already unique & special in God's eyes!
- - Already in the womb God had a special plan & purpose for us; we were a unique and marvelous creation of His! If God cared for us so much in the womb, shouldn’t we similarly care for others? How could we not value something that God values so much?
- 13) With what qualities did God make you? (v14)
- - The NLT words v14) “Thank you for making me so marvelously complex! Your workmanship is marvelous, how well I know it.”
- - Wonderfully & marvelously! (Marvelously complex!)
- - You are each a masterpiece of God's creation!
- - - Personally and lovingly created by Him!
- - - Again this emphasizes His omni-benevolence
- 14) Who is really in control of our ‘days’? (v16)
- - God!
- - This points out God's omnipotence (all-powerful) quality!

Memory Verse Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14
- Your Questions:
- - 1) Describe two ways this Psalm teaches that God knows us.
- - - Looking at these verses we see God knows when we... sit, rise, go out, or lay down; He knows our ways, he understands our thoughts
- - - In general you can see that He knows our actions (sit, rise, lay down, ways), our thoughts (thoughts & ways), our location (going out, laying down, rising or sitting), & even our future!
- - - In general he knows everything there is to know about us! But you'll need to pick out at least two things to describe, not too general ('He knows everything') nor too specific ('When I sit').
- - - Make sure you describe it & don't just 'list' it.
- - 2) Give two reasons this psalm gives for why we should value human life, especially focusing on the unborn.
- - - The NLT words v14 as: “Thank you for making me so marvelously complex! Your workmanship is marvelous, how well I know it.”
- - - Some things we talked about...
- - - - We are created and personally known by God, even in the womb! (You can see how a child in the womb is a unique individual already!)
- - - - God cared for us in the womb, shouldn't we care for others similarly?
- - - - God made us marvelously & wonderfully complex!
- - - - Since each of us is uniquely created by God, in His image--how could we not value something that God values so much?

Jacob Meets His Wife:
- Jacob arrives in Paddan Aram, the region where the city of Haran is
- - At a well he meets some people that know Laban
- - They point out Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter, as she is coming out with the sheep (she is a shepherdess)
- - Jacob sees here, waters the sheep, and intimately greets her
- - She brings him home to...
- - Laban: Rachel’s father, Rebekah’s brother, Jacob's uncle

- Genesis 29:14b-20
- - Jacob worked one month for Laban
- - Then Laban asked what he would like for pay--Jacob asked for Rachel in marriage
- - Laban has two daughters:
- - - Leah: His older one; she has ‘weak eyes’ (which probably means she isn't too pretty)
- - - Rachel: His younger one; she is lovely! Jacob loves her and wants to marry her
- - The Bargain: Laban & Jacob agree on a bargain, Jacob will work 7 yrs to marry Rachel
- - - The seven years seemed like only a few days because Jacob loved Rachel
- - - Isn't that romantic?! :-D

Fri, Oct 14 - Mem Quiz & Devotion 2

2011-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 3a: Psalm 23:1-4, 6
- - Next Friday is Memory Quiz 3b: Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-14

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Book Report or Art Project: Due Tuesday, November 15.
- - I am extending permission for the Art project another 2 weeks to give people time to read more of their book & get a better idea of what type of art you want to do. Make sure to get permission from me by October
- Devotion 2: Due Tuesday, November 25.
- - Book Options: Exodus, Leviticus, & Numbers
- - Check your TurnItIn.com grademarks to see how to improve for this one! If your Devotion has not yet been graded, it will be by Friday, October 21
- Box-Tops for Education (& such): Bring these in! See school bulletin. Monday is the last day for this competition!
- Operation Christmas Child: This is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)
- National Make a Difference Day: Happening Saturday, October 22. This is a great way to get your Community Service done. do a google search for your city + "National Make a Difference Day" to see if there are any projects you can take part in.

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal: None given, students studied for their quiz and announcements were shared.

Thu, Oct 13 - Jacob's Dream

2011-10-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3a: Psalm 23:1-4, 6
- You have until Friday, Oct 14, to retake Mem Quiz 2b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Bring in your Box-Tops for education & such! See school bulletin.
- Operation Christmas Child is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-4: See notes below...

Jacob's Dream: This is from today's journal.
- Who took the initiative, the first step to build the relationship, here? God! He visited Jacob
- Describe the vision/dream Jacob has. Jacob sleeps, He sees a stairway (or ladder) going up into heaven with angels ascending and descending from it. God is at the top
- What does God confirm to Jacob here? (v15) Here God confirms that Jacob has received the blessing and covenant promises God made to Abraham and Isaac; Jacob will get the land of Canaan
- Describe Jacob’s response when awakes. He is afraid & amazed!
- What did he name that place? Bethel
- - What does that name mean? (see little a) Beth = house, el = God; Beth-el = House of God
- What is the ‘deal’ Jacob tries to make with God? (vv20-22); If God will keep him safe & give him food & clothes, letting him return to his parents' place--Jacob will make God His God
- So far, how have you seen God as sovereign in Jacob’s life? Many different possible answers. Just keep thinking about this.

We showed some pictures of this, too!

Wed, Oct 12 - Jacob & Esau

2011-10-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3a: Psalm 23:1-4, 6
- You have until Friday, Oct 14, to retake Mem Quiz 2b

Handouts Given: Operation Christmas Child

Reminders:
- Bring in your Box-Tops for education & such! See school bulletin.
- Operation Christmas Child is starting up. Participation is voluntary. I encourage you to take part! :-)

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-3: Favoritism, when someone chooses to show special favor of someone else, can happen in all sorts of settings: Parents to child, teachers to student, or coaches to players.

- How can favoritism hurt a group (families, classrooms, teams, or other…)?

- Explain the difference between someone ‘having a favorite’ vs. ‘showing favoritism.’

Jacob's Deception: Genesis 27
- In this chapter we see the danger of favoritism!
- - Esau was Isaac's favorite child
- - Jacob was Rebekah's favorite child

- Vv1-4) Isaac wants to bless Esau
- - This blessing should have gone to Jacob due to God's promise about him prior to his birth!)
- - We are told that Isaac has very bad eyesight
- - Isaac asks Esau to hunt some game & then kill it and prepare a meal for him; he will then eat and bless him

- 11-17) Rebekah heard what Isaac told Esau
- - She called Jacob in, told him, and worked with him to deceive Isaac into thinking Jacob was Esau. He would wear Esau's clothes and cover his smooth skin with a goat's hairy skin so he felt like Esau, too.

- 27-29) Jacob’s blessing
- - Well, the trick worked! Jacob deceived his father & Isaac blessed him with what Isaac wanted to give to Esau
- - A key to the blessing was: "May nations serve you ...Be lord over your brothers..."
- - This is very much what God told Rebekah Jacob would be when she was still pregnant with him!
- - Though the deception was wrong, God can sometimes use bad situations for His own purposes in the end.

- 30-34…39-40) Esau arrived back just after Jacob got his blessing
- - He is quite upset that he didn't get it and asks his dad for SOMETHING!
- - Esau gives him a 'not-such-a-blessing'
- - - He will live by the sword
- - - He will serve his brother, for a time--but then sometime become free

- 41) Esau held a grudge against Jacob for this and planned to kill him after their father died.

Jacob Flees:
- Genesis 27:42 to 28:4
- - Rebekah hears of Esau's plan to murder Jacob
- - She talks to Isaac and they both agree to send Jacob away
- - There are two reasons for this:
- - - 1) It will save his life from Esau
- - - 2) It will give him the opportunity to get a wife from closer relatives & thus not bring them grief like Esau did!
- - Genesis 28:3-4) Before he left, Isaac prayed for God's covenant blessings to be on Jacob.

- Genesis 28:6-9) When Esau hears that Jacob left to find a wife, he decided he should get another wife, only this time one that's closer to his family (hoping to please his parents through it). He marries an Ishmaelite woman (a much closer relative).

- Genesis 28:10-22) Jacob’s Dream

Tue, Oct 11 - Jacob & Esau

2011-10-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3a: Psalm 23:1-4, 6
- You have until Friday, Oct 14, to retake Mem Quiz 2b

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Notebook Check: This was done today.
- Bring in your Box-Tops for education & such! See school bulletin.

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-2: Read Genesis 25:19-34, then answer:
- What was Rebekah’s 1st unfortunate condition? She was Journal 3-2: Read Genesis 25:19-34, then answer:
- What was Rebekah’s 1st unfortunate condition? She was barren
- - Isaac prayed for her and God allowed her to become pregnant
- - In her womb she had twins and they seemed to be 'fighting'!
- - So, she prayed to God
- When God answered Rebekah, He told her...
- Was in her womb? Two nations!
- Would be their relationship? The older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob)
- What does ‘Esau’ mean? (see little c) Hairy!
- - He was given another nick-name, 'Edom' which means 'red'; He had red hair
- What did Esau become? A man of the country, a skillful hunter
- What does Jacob mean? (see little d) He grasps the heel (figuratively it can mean, 'He deceives')
- What did Jacob become? A quiet man, staying among the tents ( a 'homebody')
- Why did Esau sell Jacob his birthright? For food!
- - He let his hunger control him!
- - - The Hebrews 12:16 refers to Esau as a 'immoral and godless person' because he "sold his own birthright for a single meal" (NAU)
- - - Letting your appetite control your every move, just taking what you want, when you want it--this is not a good idea!
- - The 'Birthright' is the double-inheritance that the firstborn son of a family would get.
- - - Since Isaac had 3 sons, when he died his inheritance would be split into three pieces, Esau would receive two of them, Jacob would receive one---until of course, Esau gave up his because he was hungry

Esau's Marriage: Genesis 26:34-35)
- What type of women does Esau marry? Foreign women, two Hittites
- How does this affect his family? It grieved his parents
- It would have been better that he married someone closer to his family not because they were racist against others but because the Hittites did not at all follow God!

Patriarchal Family Tree: Fill this in on your Unit Handout...
- Terah
- - Haran
- - - Iscah
- - - Milcah
- - - Lot
- - - - Moab
- - - - Ben-Ammi
- - Nahor
- - - Bethuel
- - - - Laban
- - - - - Leah
- - - - - Rachel
- - - - Rebekah
- - Abraham
- - - Of Hagar: Ishmael
- - - Of Sarah: Isaac (Married to Rebekah)
- - - - Esau (Edom)
- - - - Jacob (Israel)
- - - - - Of Leah: R, S, I, Z, L, Judah
- - - - - - Of Levi: K, A, Moses
- - - - - - Of Judah: P, H, R, A, N, S, B, O, J, David
- - - - - Of Zilpah: Gad, A.
- - - - - Of Bilhah: Dan, N.
- - - - - Of Rachel: J, Benjamin
- - - - - - Of Joseph: Manasseh
- - - - - - Of Joseph: Ephraim

Mon, Oct 10 - Mem Quiz 3a Prep

2011-10-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 3a: Psalm 23:1-4, 6
- You have until Friday, Oct 14, to retake Mem Quiz 2b
- You have until Tuesday, Oct 11, to retake Mem Quiz 2a

Handouts Given: Unit 3 Handout (white packet)

Reminders:
- Notebook Check TOMORROW! See RenWeb, it is posted as an assignment on that day. You need to put it in order before class starts.
- Bring in your Box-Tops for education & such! See school bulletin. One more week left!

Instruction Time: Unit 3: Genesis 26-50, From Jacob to Joseph
Journal 3-1: Work on pg 13 of your new unit handout:
- Read Psalm 23 & answer questions 1-7
- - Save Psalm 139 for later
- Next fill in the blanks on Page 12b (The Patriarchal Family Tree)

Book Report Instructions: We read over these together after the journal.

Psalm 23: We reviewed some of these answers as a class. Below are some of those
- 1a. If God is our shepherd, what does that make us?
- - His sheep!
- 5. Why don’t we have to be afraid of the bad things in this world? What removes fear from our lives?
- - If we realize God is our Shepherd we can lose fear because as our Shepherd, he loves, guides, & cares for us.
- - Notice what this verse points out:
- - - He cares for our needs [food, shelter, safety] & gives us rest
- - - - We lie down in green pastures
- - - - He leads us besides quiet waters
- - - He restores our souls (giving us new energy and vigor, spiritually [& mentally/physically])
- - - He guides us in in righteous paths (Showing us the right way to go & right things to do)
- - - He is with us through 'the valley of the shadow of death' (not abandoning us in the hardest and most dangerous of times)
- - - His rod & staff comfort us (by guiding us the right way [e.g. a gentle push in the right direction from the staff/rod] and warding/scaring off dangers [e.g. a wolf being stuck with the rod]
- - - Even before our enemies He prepares a table to care for us
- - - He anoints us (gives us significance & showing how He values us)
- - - His goodness & love will follow us
- - - We have a secure future with Him!
7. What do you think is meant by dwelling in “the house of the LORD”?
- - This points out an afterlife, our time in heaven! A key reward for those who hope in Christ.

Memory Quiz Preparation:
- Your Verses: Psalm 23:1-4, 6
- Your Questions: Based upon our class discussion & your personal reflection, use complete sentences to specifically answer:
- - In your own words, describe two reasons these verses give for why we don’t have to be afraid of the bad things in this world.
- - - Recognize all the bad things mentioned in this Psalm (e.g. Valley of the shadow of death, evil, enemies).
- - - Yet this psalm doesn't include any fear! Why not?
- - - - Look to the verses for some reasons we don't have to be afraid
- - - - Reference the answer to question 5 from the unit handout, posted above
- - - - Put these in your own words, don't just copy the ones above. Show me some good thought!

- - Give two other Jr. High applications on what it means for God to be our Shepherd and we to be His sheep.
- - - Some things you could use for this that you still need to 'put in your own words' or 'put in Jr. High language,' include such things as...
- - - - If one of us leaves God, He comes out searching for us, since we are one of His sheep
- - - - Just as sheep aren't that smart and need the Shepherd to guide them, we need to realize God knows more than us and trust Him to guide us
- - - - We have to realize we can't go through life doing our own thing, we need to look at God as our Shepherd to lead us
- - - There are more than these, this is just an example of things that came up in class

Fri, Oct 5 - Unit 2 Test

2011-10-05T13:20:00.001-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was your Unit 2 Test
- You have until Friday, Oct 14, to retake Mem Quiz 2b
- You have until Tuesday, Oct 11, to retake Mem Quiz 2a

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 2b

Reminders: Notebook Check on Tuesday! See RenWeb, it is posted as an assignment on that day. You need to put it in order before class starts.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal: None given, students studied for their test. After this, students took their test.

Fri, Oct 5 - Unit 2 Test

2011-10-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was your Unit 2 Test
- You have until Wednesday, Oct 12, to retake Mem Quiz 2b
- You have until Tuesday, Oct 11, to retake Mem Quiz 2a

Handouts Given: Memory Quiz 2b

Reminders: None given

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal: None given, students studied for their test. After this, students took their test.

Tue, Oct 4 - Test Review

2011-10-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: TOMORROW is your TEST! )
- You have until Tuesday, Oct 11, to retake Mem Quiz 2a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders: None given

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal: None given, students turned in their Pre-Reading Form and then prepared for their our test review

Period 6: Please review notes from yesterday's blog post, "Briefly"

Bible 7 – Unit 2 – Review Game
1. A quality of God that shows His ‘free will’ to choose whomever He wants to bless
Sovereignty
2. A son and grandson of Lot that has a name meaning, ‘From Father’
Moab
3. A term pointing out how God slowly reveals His plan over time
Progressive Revelation
4. Abraham traveled with Lot to Canaan, but during a famine he fled here
Egypt
5. Abraham’s servant who was from Damascus
Eliezer
6. An agreement (or promise) between two or more persons that establishes their relationship
A Covenant
7. Following God does not mean your life will be ...this...
Easy
8. Ishmael, Abraham’s 1st son, means ‘God Hears,’ but what does Isaac mean?
Laughter
9. Reasons it would take Abram faith to follow God
Dangerous move, Emotionally painful, Uncertain future
10. The ‘proper name’ of God, represented by the letters ‘LORD’ in the Bible
YHWH
11. The meaning of this Hebrew name is ‘God Almighty’
El Shaddai
12. The reason Abram (considered righteous because of his faith) won’t accept gifts from Sodom
So God gets all the glory for his blessings
13. The roles/position of Melchizedek
Priest and King
14. The woman who gave birth to Ishmael
Hagar
15. These can be misused, they are considered wisdom literature, are usually short & compact, using figurative language that highlights how you reap what you sow.
The Proverbs
16. This Cannanite ruler had a name (or title) meaning ‘My Father is King’
Abimelech
17. This city name is also the name of Lot’s deceased father (not Nahor, that was Abraham’s brother, the father of Rebekah [who became Isaac’s wife])
Haran
18. This Hebrew name means ‘God Most High’
El Elyon
19. This king of Salem (meaning ‘Peace’) has a name meaning ‘My King is Righteousness’
Melchizedek
20. This name means ‘The LORD will Provide’
YHWH-Jireh
21. This son and grandson of Lot has a name meaning, ‘Son of My People’
Ben-Ammi
22. This town that Lot fled to was very ‘small’
Zoar
23. This woman’s name means ‘Princess,’ she was barren at first
Sarah
24. Two key & unique attributes of God’s covenant with Abraham
Unconditional & Eternal
25. What demonstrated that Abraham’s faith was real
His actions
26. What God emphasized at the very end of his first covenant with Abram
He was to bless all the earth
27. While Abram means ‘Exalted Father,’ what does Abraham mean?
Father of Many

Mon, Oct 3 - Sarah's death, Isaac's Wife

2011-10-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Wednesday is your TEST! )
- You have until Tuesday, Oct 11, to retake Mem Quiz 2a

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due TOMORROW. Make sure it is signed!

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-9: Read Genesis 23
- How old was Sarah when she died? 127 years old
- Who are the primary two characters? Abraham and Ephron the Hittite
- What are they discussing? Abraham wants to buy a field to bury Sarah in
- - This is the first and only land he and his family own for about 400 years! This becomes the family burial location & also serves as a reminder that they will come back some day to fully inherit this land from God.
- What is the final conclusion? Abraham can buy it for 400 shekels of silver
- Why do you think they go ‘back and forth’ so much? This was a polite form of bartering, or 'making a deal.' Each is showing 'kindness' to the other as they work out the final price. It was quite a different world back then!

Ike's Wife:
- Genesis 24:1-27)
- - From where does Abraham want a wife for Isaac?
- - - His own family (his extended family)
- - Who does the servant find?
- - - Rebekah: Abraham’s niece
- - - Laban is her brother—more to come from him later…
- - So…
- - - Rebekah chooses to go and marry Isaac
- - - V67) Isaac marries her, Loves her, & having recently lost his mother, Isaac is comforted from this through his new wife.

Isn’t that a sweet story?

Briefly:
- Genesis 25) Abraham dies, 175 yrs old!
- - God blesses Isaac, yet…
- - Rebekah is barren! (like Sarah…)
- - vv21-23) So Isaac prays for her
- - - God answers his prayer & opens her womb!
- - - She gives birth to twins! Jacob & Esau
- - - God’s promise about them shows His sovereignty…
- - - - God sovereignly chooses to bless Jacob, the younger of these two, with the blessing He had given to Abraham & Isaac. This was before Isaac or Jacob made any choices. God can bless one person and not another no matter how they act! While we see this as unfair, it represents how God has freedom to act & is not limited to what we think is 'common sense' or the 'best choice.'

- Genesis 26) Isaac & Abimelech
- - As a side note, Abimelech may be a title…
- - - ‘Ab’ is ‘Father’
- - - ‘Melech’ is ‘King’ (Remember Melchezedek?)
- - - Hence, this may be a title, meaning, ‘Father-King’ or ‘My Father is King’
- - Vv V2-6) God keeps Isaac from going to Egypt, makes His covenant with and blesses Isaac. But…
- - Vv 7-10) History is repeated as Isaac has problems with Abimelech, similar to Abraham's problems
- - - Isaac tells his wife to say she is just his sister...
- - - - Abimelech takes her as a wife, only to find out Isaac lied & he gives her back
- - - Then the two of them fight over water
- - - - Isaac's men dig up a new well & Abimelech's men take it away from them.
- - - In the end, they too make a covenant to keep from getting into a war or other significant fight.
- - Abimelech’s men keep taking his wells
- - They too form a covenant

Fri, Sep 30 - Mem Quiz

2011-09-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 2b Proverbs 20:11-15 (NIV, 1984)
- Wednesday is your TEST! )
- You have until Friday, Oct 7, to retake Mem Quiz 2a

Handouts Given: Mem Quiz 2a

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due TUESDAY, October 4. Make sure it is signed!

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal: None given, students prepared for their quiz.

Period 4: With the extra time we watched a Bible video

Period 6: With the extra time we caught up on these notes
- Abimelech & Isaac
- Offering of Isaac: Genesis 22

Thu, Sep 29 - Offering of Isaac

2011-09-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: TOMORROW is Memory Quiz 2b Proverbs 20:11-15 (NIV, 1984)
- Wednesday is your TEST! (It is a short week, the study guide was posted last Tuesday night)
- You have until Friday, September 30 to retake Unit Test 1

Handouts Given: Book 'Report' Instructions (Goldenrod)

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due NEXT Tuesday, October 4. Make sure it is signed!

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-8: Read Genesis 22:1-19
- What do you think this shows about Abraham? Why? Various answers…
- What do you think this shows about God? Why? Various answers…
- What do you think this shows about Isaac? Why? Various answers…

Period 6: Review these previously posted notes posted one or two days ago
- Prelude to the Storm: Genesis 18
- The Aftermath:
- Abimelech & Isaac

Offering of Isaac: Genesis 22
- God promise that, through Isaac, God will bless Abraham and make a great nation
- Vv 1-2: Yet here God says to sacrifice (kill as an offering to God) Isaac (who is referred to as his 'only son' since Ishmael has now been sent off)
- Vv 3-5: Though Abraham could question this or want to spend time with his son before this, instead he acts with immediate obedience--getting up early the next morning to split the wood and head out!
- V5: We see here a great statement of faith
- - Abraham tells his servant that Isaac and he will *both* return
- - Though Abraham plans to sacrifice Isaac, he also plans to return with him!
- - How is this possible? See Hebrews 11:17-19, "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called. He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. "
- - Apparently Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, after all God had promised that his descendants would come through Isaac & God is not one to make fake promises!
- Vv 6-8: Here again we see another statement of faith, Isaac asks Abraham where the lamb for the offering is & Abraham confidently says that God will provide it.
- Vv 9-14: So Abraham goes through with the sacrifice, up to the point of lowering the knife into his son.
- - At that moment an angel of God stops Abraham from this & provides a ram in his place for sacrifice
- - At this occasion Abraham gives a new name to God, "The LORD Will Provide" which means, YHWH-Jireh
- Vv 15-18: Here again God renews His covenant and promise with Abraham, reminding him of what He will do through his family.
- Two key things to learn from this:
- - Abraham had grown remarkably in his faith!
- - Abraham's faith was seen not just as emotions, but as right actions & obedience to God!

Wed, Sep 28 - Abraham & Isaac

2011-09-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

The following notes are posted early
for those who are starting to study early.

Journal 2-8: Read Genesis 22:1-19
- What do you think this shows about Abraham? Why? Various answers…
- What do you think this shows about God? Why? Various answers…
- What do you think this shows about Isaac? Why? Various answers…

Offering of Isaac: Genesis 22
- God promise that, through Isaac, God will bless Abraham and make a great nation
- Vv 1-2: Yet here God says to sacrifice (kill as an offering to God) Isaac (who is referred to as his 'only son' since Ishmael has now been sent off)
- Vv 3-5: Though Abraham could question this or want to spend time with his son before this, instead he acts with immediate obedience--getting up early the next morning to split the wood and head out!
- V5: We see here a great statement of faith
- - Abraham tells his servant that Isaac and he will *both* return
- - Though Abraham plans to sacrifice Isaac, he also plans to return with him!
- - How is this possible? See Hebrews 11:17-19, "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called. He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. "
- - Apparently Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, after all God had promised that his descendants would come through Isaac & God is not one to make fake promises!
- Vv 6-8: Here again we see another statement of faith, Isaac asks Abraham where the lamb for the offering is & Abraham confidently says that God will provide it.
- Vv 9-14: So Abraham goes through with the sacrifice, up to the point of lowering the knife into his son.
- - At that moment an angel of God stops Abraham from this & provides a ram in his place for sacrifice
- - At this occasion Abraham gives a new name to God, "The LORD Will Provide" which means, YHWH-Jireh
- Vv 15-18: Here again God renews His covenant and promise with Abraham, reminding him of what He will do through his family.
- Two key things to learn from this:
- - Abraham had grown remarkably in his faith!
- - Abraham's faith was seen not just as emotions, but as right actions & obedience to God!

Journal 2-9: Read Genesis 23
- How old was Sarah when she died? 127 years old
- Who are the primary two characters? Ephron the Hittite & Abraham
- What are they discussing? The purchase of a field
- What is the final conclusion? Abraham can purchase the field for 400 shekles of silver
- Why do you think they go ‘back and forth’ so much? This is how they would ‘barter’ or ‘make a deal’ back then. Each showing ‘kindness’ to the other as working toward the ‘final offer.’

- Final summary of Genesis 23: Here Abraham barters to buy land in Canaan, the first and only land he and his family own for about 400 years! This becomes the family burial location & also serves as a reminder that they will come back some day to fully inherit this land from God.

Isaac's Wife:
- Genesis 24:1-27)
- - From where does Abraham want a wife for Isaac?
- - - His own family (his extended family)
- - Who does the servant find?
- - - Rebekah: Abraham’s niece
- - - Laban is her brother—more to come from him later…
- - So…
- - - Rebekah chooses to go and marry Isaac
- - - V67) Isaac marries her, Loves her, & having recently lost his mother, Isaac is comforted from this through his new wife.
Isn’t that a sweet story?

Briefly:
- Genesis 25) Abraham dies, 175 yrs old!
- - God blesses Isaac, yet…
- - Rebekah is barren! (like Sarah…)
- - vv21-23) So Isaac prays for her
- - - God answers his prayer & opens her womb!
- - - She gives birth to twins! Jacob & Esau
- - - God’s promise about them shows His sovereignty…
- - - - God sovereignly chooses to bless Jacob, the younger of these two, with the blessing He had given to Abraham & Isaac. This was before Isaac or Jacob made any choices. God can bless one person and not another no matter how they act! While we see this as unfair, it represents how God has freedom to act & is not limited to what we think is 'common sense' or the 'best choice.'

- Genesis 26) Isaac & Abimelech
- - As a side note, Abimelech may be a title…
- - - ‘Ab’ is ‘Father’
- - - ‘Melech’ is ‘King’ (Remember Melchezedek?)
- - - Hence, this may be a title, meaning, ‘Father-King’ or ‘My Father is King’
- - Vv V2-6) God keeps Isaac from going to Egypt, makes His covenant with and blesses Isaac. But…
- - Vv 7-10) History is repeated as Isaac has problems with Abimelech, similar to Abraham's problems
- - - Isaac tells his wife to say she is just his sister...
- - - - Abimelech takes her as a wife, only to find out Isaac lied & he gives her back
- - - Then the two of them fight over water
- - - - Isaac's men dig up a new well & Abimelech's men take it away from them.
- - - In the end, they too make a covenant to keep from getting into a war or other significant fight.
- - Abimelech’s men keep taking his wells
- - They too form a covenant

Tue, Sep 27 - Sodom & Gomorrah

2011-09-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 2b Proverbs 20:11-15 (NIV, 1984)
- Next week is a short week, your TEST will be on WEDNESDAY
- You have until Friday, September 30 to retake Unit Test 1

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-5:
- If someone were to come to your house and say you had to leave forever right away—what would you grab & take with you? Why?
- When done with that: Work on the page 9 crossword puzzle of your Unit Handout

Period 6: We backtracked a little into yesterday's Lesson, see these points:
- God’s Covenant Expands: Some other details to know about this covenant reminder...
- Memory Verse Preparation:

Prelude to the Storm: Genesis 18
- Three visitors come by Abraham's place
- - As was the tradition back then, Abraham showed great hospitality to them and invited them in for a meal.
- - While there, they foretold Isaac’s birth (again), these are more than people--they are messengers from God!
- - This is where Sarah responds with laughter

- Vv 16-22:
- - Two of the visitors leave for the valley where Sodom, Gomorrah, and some other
- - But, 'The LORD' stays & talks w/Abraham
- - - In the Bible, any time you see 'LORD' in all capitals, it stands for YHWH
- - - This is the personal name of God, some call it Jehovah, some call it Yahweh.
- - - Apparently God reveals Himself to Abraham here in the form of a person (or angel) to have this discussion.
- - In Verse 19 God states how Abraham to raise his children: He is to direct them to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just

- Then God tells Abraham how He is about to check on Sodom and Gomorrah to see if their sin is as exceedingly great as He has heard (which He already knows it is, of course...)
- - Abraham understands that God is planning to punish these cities for their sin
- - - Undoubtedly he remembers that Lot lives within them now!
- - - So, Abraham asks if God would actually destroy the city if there were still 50 righteous people in it. God says He would not
- - - - 45? God says He would not.
- - - - 40? 30? 20? 10? God says He would not!
- - Then God departs, but He doesn't find 10 righteous people...

The Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah: Genesis 19
- Warning—a gross chapter…
- - Often the Bible will just 'tell it how it is' not sparing the gross stuff but talking bluntly about the real situation of sin that these people were in!
- - At no time does this mean their sin was good! On the contrary, it helps us see how bad it really was.

- The two visitors (angels) from Abraham's place arrive in Sodom
- - Lot now lives in the city, when the angels arrive, Lot is found sitting at the city gate (which likely represents he had a place of honor & respect with the people)
- - Lot invites these strangers to his house, showing great hospitality as his uncle had previously done
- - After eating, yet before they lay down for the night, the men from Sodom came to Lot's house and demanded

- Then the city men surround it and demand that lot bring his two visitors out so they can... umm... 'sleep with them' (vv 4-6)
- - Lot tries to protect them (yet in a bad way by offering his daughters as a replacement!)
- - - Thankfully the men of Sodom refuse that offer, but they began to push in on Lot and were about to break the door!
- - - Thankfully the angels helped out! They struck the men of Sodom blind & they never could find his door--they had escaped!
- - - Clearly they failed their 'test' from God to see if their sin was 'exceedingly great' or not...

- The angels tell Lot and his family to flee the city & head to the mountains because God was going to destroy this city
- - Lot told his son-in-laws (who were engaged to his daughters), but they thought he was joking and ignored him
- - Finally at dawn, the angels literally dragged Lot, his wife, & his two daughters by the hand out of the city--because the compassion of the Lord was upon them (v16)
- - They were told to escape to the mountains, not looking back
- - - Lot was afraid they couldn't make it to the mountains quick enough and asked if he could go to the town of Zoar (which means "Small") instead
- - - The angels permitted this

- So Lot & his family fled, but his wife made the mistake of looking back.
- - As a consequence she died, becoming a pillar of salt

The Aftermath:
- Lot & his daughters flee from Zoar & go to the mountains
- - They have no husbands; all the people around are probably frightened by them (they are the only ones who survived Sodom, after all)
- - Vv 30-32: Here we see that they get their father drunk so they can sleep with him and get a child
- - - They each give birth to a child; Moab (meaning "From Father") & Ben-Ammi (meaning, "Son of My People")

STOP: Why did God allow these evil things to be in the Bible?:
- These are really gross chapters, why would God even want us to know about this?!?
- Some reasons...
- - So we know what to avoid, true, but more so...
- - So we can see what happens when we live in sin--when we let us control our lives, these are the types of things that happen to us, our families, and our communities!
- - And there are several other things, too! Which ones would you add?

Mon, Sep 26 - Mem Quiz 2b Prep & God's Covenant Expands

2011-09-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 2b Proverbs 20:11-15 (NIV, 1984)
- You have until Friday, September 30 to retake Unit Test 1

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-4: Read Genesis 17:1-8
- How old is Abram? 99 years old!!!
- How do you spell ‘God Almighty’ like the Hebrew sounds? (see little a) El-Shaddai
- What is “Abram” mean? Exalted Father
- - What does “Abraham” mean? "Father of Many"
- - Names are important
- - In the Bible they'll often rename someone based on something significant that happened in their life (e.g. Saul to Paul and Simon to Peter in the New Testament)
- What type of covenant does God establish? (v7) An everlasting covenant! (With Abraham and his descendants)
- - That means, even if Abraham and his descendants make mistakes, God will still fulfill His side of the covenant to the end of time!
- - What was the key to His side? To be their God --- the focus is on their relationship to God.
- - Recognize what happened in the New Testament...
- - - Galatians 3:29, "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."
- - - By God's grace, through our faith in Jesus, we become, spiritually, descendants of Abram! Thus we fall under this promise/covenant!
- What does God give to Abraham & his family? Canaan

God’s Covenant Expands: Genesis 17 (reviewing a journal from last week)
- God revisits Abram (now 99 years old) about his covenant (An agreement (or promise) between two or more persons that establishes their relationship)
- As well as being 'Everlasting' another important quality about this covenant is that...
- - The covenant is Unconditional, it is based on God’s Promises without any 'condition' Abraham has to do.
- - However, for Abraham's family to 'enjoy the fullness' of this covenant, he needs to be obedient and have faith

- Vv15-16) God reveals more to Abraham, the child will come from Sarah's body, just as it would come from Abraham's body.
- - Their plan with Hagar was not God's plan...
- - We always have to be careful about stepping out in front of God & not following His plans!

- Remember the idea of "Progressive Revelation:"
- - It is the gradual unfolding of God’s plan for history
- - God slowly reveals more and more about Himself to us
- - - God does this with Abraham by reminding him of his covenant four times: (12:1-4, 13:14-17, 15:17-21, and here); in these verses He adds more by changing their name, giving the sign of circumcision, announcing Sarah will be the mother, and telling the child will be born in one year.
- - - God does this throughout the Bible by letting His creation know more and more about him!
- - - In our own lives God works the same, letting us more and more about Himself as we grow!

- Some other details to know about this covenant reminder:
- - God Almighty means “El-Shaddai”
- - Abram means “Exalted Father”
- - Abraham means “Father of Many”
- - Sarai & Sarah both basically mean “Princess”
- - V19: What does Isaac mean? Laughter!
- - - This is slightly humorous because Abraham (17:17) and Sarah (18:12) both laughed when God told them this would happen, so God said... "Name him laughter!"
- - - This name also represents how Isaac brought joy (and thus laughter) to his parents
- - The Covenant of Circumcision: I'm not going to go into much detail on this, but what you need to remember is that Circumcision is a physical reminder for Abraham & all his family to come of their relationship w/God

Memory Verse Preparation:
Your Verses: Proverbs 20:11-15
- As a side note, notice how these verses so nicely match the quality of the proverbs! They are short & compact, make generalizations, use figurative language, & the work off the idea that you reap what you sow!
- Your Questions: Based upon our class discussion & your personal reflection, use complete sentences to specifically answer:
- - What does verse 11 says our behavior reveals? How are these more revealing than our words?
- - - Even a child's behavior reveals whether his conduct is pure or right
- - - - If it does so with a child, it does with us!
- - - - Purity & rightness is not a focus on our behavior/actions/conduct, it focuses on our inward character---our behavior/actions reveals our character, whether it is pure or right
- - - Remember the phrase, "actions speak louder than words" --- and it's true! Your job is to explain why this is true. Show me some good thought here!
- - These verses praise speaking with knowledge, from your reflection, explain how you can grow to speak with more knowledge.
- - - This is also based on your own reflection---how can you, personally, as a Jr. Higher learn to speak with more knowledge?
- - - Some things we talked about in class: Reading the Bible, thinking before you speak, studying, learning from others with more knowledge (like our parents), etc...
- - - Give me at least two that you personally think of or relate to.

Fri, Sep 23 - Mem Quiz 2a

2011-09-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Memory Quiz 2a: Proverbs 3:19-23 (NIV, 1984)
- Next week is Memory Quiz 2b Proverbs 20:11-15
- You have until Friday, September 30 to retake Unit Test 1

Handouts Given: Unit 1 Test

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal: None given, student studied for their quiz.

After this, we caught up in our lecture time & watched a Bible video.

Thu, Sep 22 - Abram's faith, God's covenant, Hagar

2011-09-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 2a: Proverbs 3:19-23 (NIV, 1984)
- You have until Friday, September 23 to retake Memory Quiz 1b.

Handouts Given: Student IDs were given out!

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-4: Read Genesis 16:7-16 & on your Unit Handout (not your notes), answer Qs 1-3 on pg 6

War & Abram's Rescue of Lot: Genesis 14
- Lot moved to the fertile plain of the Jordan River
- - He set up his tent outside Sodom, which was noted to be an evil city (Genesis 13:12-13)
- - Being here would cause others to see him as an ally with this city
- 14:1-12) A multi-city war broke out in the valley
- - Sodom & its allies lose
- - - There were 4 cities against 5
- - - Each city had its own king and was like its own miniature country
- Since Sodom lost, their enemies plundered(took all the good stuff from) their city
- - Due to Lot's wealth & possessions and due to his being aligned with Sodom, he was taken as part of this plunder!
- 14:13-17, 21-24) Abram heard of this, formed a small army with his servants & successfully rescued Lot & his possessions from the four previously victorious (now being defeated by Abram) kings
- When Abram returns from this meeting, the King of Sodom greets him & offers him a great reward for rescuing Lot & some of this king's possessions.
- - Abram refuses these gifts!- - Why? Because he doesn't want people to think that the king of Sodom made him rich:
- - - This king was in charge of a very evil city, he didn’t want to be made rich by evil people
- - - Abram wanted people to know it was God who blessed him, not a person! Melchizedek: Genesis 14:17-20
- Two Roles: Melchizedek has two roles: <">Priest & King
- Family? Usually a priest is described in relation to his family, yet no family for Melchizedek is given
- NT Writers saw these two things as foreshadowing Jesus! (Read your Unit Handout, pg 5)
- - They thought Melchizedek was an example of Jesus to come because...
- - Jesus was also a Priest & a King
- - Jesus priesthood was not based on his family, but rather His relationship to God

- Definitions:
- - Salem: Melchizedek is from the city of Salem: meaning 'Peace' (likely the future Jerusalem)
- - - This is connected to the Hebrew greeting, Shalom, which is basically saying. 'Peace be on you,' as a blessing to those you greet

- - Melchizedek: means "My King is Righteousness"
- - - 'Melek' is Hebrew for king
- - - 'Zedek' is Hebrew for right (or righteousness)

- - God Most High: The name of who Melchizedek worships, in Hebrew, this means "El Elyon,"
- - - This shows that Melchizedek worships the same God as Abram, the God who is 'Most high' of any other person or being!
- - - 'El' is Hebrew for 'God'
- - - 'Elyon' is Hebrew for 'most high' or 'supreme'

- When Abram returns from this meeting, the King of Sodom greets him
- - This king offers him a reward for rescuing Lot & some of this king's possessions.
- - But Abram refuses these gifts because he doesn't want people to think that the king of Sodom made him rich -- two likely reasons for this..
- - - This king was in charge of a very evil city
- - - Abram wanted people to know it was God who blessed him!

God’s Covenant Expands:
- Genesis 15:1-5: After this war, God again speaks to Abram to remind him of their covenant
- - Lot was gone, could now be the heir? (v2) Abram thought his servant Eliezer of Damascus would be
- - A New Thing: God corrects him & tells him the son that God would bless Abram through would be from his own body
- Genesis 15:6) Why Abram was righteous?
- - Because Abram believed God and His promises!
- - - This is a HUGE and important idea, even in the New Testament!
- - - Before the Law, we were made right, made righteous, by our faith in who God is and what He said.
- - God 'credited' Abram as righteous---this points out it was something Abram didn't deserve or have on his own (like a credit card 'giving you money,' although really they only let you borrow it...)

- Genesis 15:12-15) God warns Abram of the future!
- - Being in a relationship with God is not always easy, nor safe!
- - The Warning: God warns Abram that for 400 years his descendants will be mistreated & slaves
- - - To give you an idea of the time, America is only ~234 years old...
- - The Hope: Yet God promises to deliver them with great wealth!
- - The Explanation: God would return Abram's family to this land when the 'sin of the Amorites' had 'reached its full measure'
- - - Remember: When the sin of people before Noah reached its full measure, God wiped them out with a world-wide flood---every man, woman, child, & animal!
- - - Same idea here, the sin of the people living in the land, which was to be Israel, was exceedingly great. At the end of the 400 years, it would be at the point where God was ready to wipe them out, yet instead of a flood, he uses the military battles of Abram's descendants.

Sarai & Hagar:
- What had God just told Abram that was new? That he'd have a son from his own body
- Gen 16: Instead of waiting for this to happen, Sarai thinks of a 'great' idea...
- - Sarai had a Egyptian maidservant named Hagar
- - Sarai’s planned to have Hagar be a 'surrogate (replacement) mother' for her, she would have a child with Abram (so it really was 'from his own body'), but the child would be considered Sarai's (like she adopted it)

- The plan works and Hagar becomes pregnant!
- - But then the drama starts... Hagar despises Sarai & Sarai treats her badly
- - Hagar runs away and cries out
- - - God hears her, goes to her, & encourages her--her son will be greatly blessed!
- - Hagar returns to Sarai & gives birth to Ishmael (which means "God Hears")

Journal Review:
- What future did Hagar’s descendants have?
- - God will increase them so much they will be too numerous to count!
- What kind of man would Ishmael be?
- - A wild donkey of a man
- - Against everyone, and everyone against him—living in hostility
- Why was Hagar surprised about a God “who sees me”?
- What did you put? Different answers could be here… Maybe she thought she was insignificant as just a servant, but God cares even for the lowliest of people

Wed, Sep 21 - Lot Conflicts, Covenant Reminder

2011-09-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 2a: Proverbs 3:19-23 (NIV, 1984)
- You have until Friday, September 23 to retake Memory Quiz 1b.

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-3:
- On your Unit Handout, Finish page 7b, answering the other Qs
- Read Genesis 12:10-20, then answer the Qs on your unit handout, pg 5
- When finished, Read pg 7a’s notes on “Fearing the Lord”
- - Write a 3-5 sentence paragraph as your journal, describing what you learned new about ‘Fearing the Lord’

Conflicts with Lot: So Abram & Sarai returned to Canaan...
- Abram & Sarai were blessed by God and basically told they would have a huge family.
- - But there is one problem... They have no children! Sarai is barren.
- - However, remember how Lot (their nephew) traveled with them?
- - Also remember that Lot's father died.
- - Perhaps Abram & Sarai think Lot will be their 'heir' (the one who gets everything from the parents when they die)

- Genesis 13:5-13
- - However, here some problems start up...
- - Abram & Lot have both grown so large that they cannot have all their herds of sheep & such together in the same area!
- - Thus Abram decides it is important for them to separate and go different directions
- - - Even though Abram should choose where to go first, he lets Lot choose.
- - - Lot sees the large valley with many towns in it (including Sodom & Gomorrah); it looks like the best spot to have his herds, so he picks it, leaving Abram the harder territory for flocks & herds.

A Reminder of God's Covenant: Genesis 13:14-18
- Remember: A covenant is an agreement (or promise) between two people (or groups) that defines their relationship with each other
- So, now Lot is gone, God reminds Abram of His covenant
- - Often God would remind Abram of his covenant with him right after some hard times
- - God reminds Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the earth’s dust!
- - - Perhaps Abram thought God would use Lot for this promise.
- - - How would knowing this help Abram
- - - Yet still Abram must wonder, how can he have descendants?

Progressive Revelation: This is seen throughout Scripture
- God does not tell His entire plan for us (or history) right away
- - He reveals His plan bit by bit, over time
- - We especially see this concerning the coming of Jesus, the Messiah

Tue, Sep 20 - Mem Quiz Prep & Abram's Journey Begins

2011-09-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 2a: Proverbs 3:19-23 (NIV, 1984)
- You have until Friday, September 23 to retake Memory Quiz 1b.

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Devotion 1: Due TONIGHT! Let me know right away if you have any questions!
- - Make sure you download the form from RenWeb & submit it to TurnItIn.com.
- - E-mail me if you have any issues.
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-2: Read Genesis 12:1-9 & then answer:
- Why would Abram need to have faith to follow God? Many possible answers here! Leaving his family, moving to a new place, doesn't know what's ahead, etc...
- Summarize God’s promises to Abram
- - God will bless Abram, making him a great nation, making his name great, and through him all peoples on the earth will be blessed!
- - That last part of the blessing is key! It was fulfilled through the work of Jesus, when God offered salvation to all 'peoples on the earth' through their faith in Jesus
- What does Abram do twice here as worship to God?
- - He builds an altar, a pile of rocks, stacked up to make a place to burn sacrifices.
- - These served several purposes:
- - - (1) A time to worship, praise, & thank God for what He has done
- - - (2) A time to get right with God in your relationship by offering sacrifice for sins
- - - (3) Setting up something that will be visible for years to come as a reminder of what God did in your life at that time and place

- Then read Genesis 12:10-20 & on your Unit Handout: Thoughtfully answer questions 1-4

Memory Verse Preparation: Refer to the handout entitled, "A Sampling of Proverbs"
- Your Verses: Proverbs 3:19-23
- Your Questions:
- - 1) In this passage, what does discernment and judgment refer to?
- - - These ideas are a part of the bigger Bible idea of 'wisdom'
- - - Specifically, these look at the ability to make good decisions, especially in life choices
- - - For example, if a friend stole from someone else, what would you do? Tell the friend to give it back? Tell the person who had it taken? Tell the principal? Nothing? Sound judgment and discernment is the ability to make a good decision in this type of situation.

- - 2) How can you, personally grow in these?
- - - Show me you've thought through this. What things can you do or new habits can you pick up that will help you grow in your ability to make wise choices in life?
- - - Some things we talked about include: Self-reflection, Ask a friend/Parent/Guardian, Ask for God’s help, Learn from the Bible, Learn from other people’s experiences (in person or online or in a book)

Period 6: We've fallen behind & haven't spoken about the Abram story much... We'll catch up to it soon!

Setting the Stage--An Introduction to Abram & his Family: Genesis 11:26-32
- - Main Characters:
- - - Terah: Father of the three men below
- - - Abram: Married to Sarai, who had the unfortunate condition of being barren (meaning she couldn't have children)
- - - Nahor: Married to Milcah
- - - Haran: Father of Lot; Haran ends up dying young

MAP: Abraham’s Journey: Genesis 12:4-9, 10-16
- Terah & his family started in 'Ur of the Chaldeans', which is to the southeast (bottom right) of the map we showed
- Terah wanted to go Canaan, right beside the Mediterranean Sea (on the east)
- - However, to travel there they couldn't go straight west, there was a giant desert there (the Syrian Desert)
- - So instead Terah followed the Euphrates River north. He only got halfway to Canaan & then stopped in Haran (at the top center of the map we saw), this city was likely named after his son.
- - Terah never did make it to Canaan.
- When God calls Abram, though, Abram responds in fuller faith to God
- - He leaves his family & journeys from Haran (central, north) to Canaan (west coastal region), settling in the Negev (lower regions of Canaan)
- - Lot, his nephew (the son of Abram's dead brother) comes with him

The Lord’s Calling: Genesis 12:1-3
- This is where God first calls Abram
- Who took the initiative here? God! (In this context 'initiative' means the one who takes the 'first step')
- What does God call Abram to do? Leave his country & people & then go to the land God will show him
- - Do you think this would have been easy? Not at all! Leaving your family was...
- - - Dangerous: the smaller your group, the more likely a larger group will attack you
- - - Emotionally Painful: There weren't phones and a good mail service back then, you also couldn't just drive home for special holidays. It was very likely Abram would never see his family again!
- - - Uncertain: God didn't say 'where' to go, He just said that He would show Abram a place! Talk about stepping into the unknown!
- - To obey God, what would Abram have to have in God? Faith & trust in God
- What does God promise Abram?
- - To make him a great nation: Whoa, hold on! How is this possible when his wife is barren & can't have children?!? Again, some strong faith would be needed to trust God in this!
- - To bless him, to make his name great, to be blessed
- - To have those who bless or curse Abram receive the same on themselves
- - To be a blessing to all the families of the earth!
- What does the final part of God’s calling emphasize?
- - God's promise & calling for Abram was not just to benefit him
- - It was meant to bless the whole world around him!
- - In the New Testament we see the fulfillment of this blessing through the work of Jesus & how the Gospel is brought outside of just Abraham's family to all the world.
- God makes a covenant with Abram—What is a Covenant?
- - "An agreement (or promise) between two or more that defines their relationship"
- - Where else have we seen this so far? After the flood God made a covenant with Noah & all humanity to never again destroy the earth with a flood
- - During Jr. High Bible we will continue to see the importance of God's covenants with us!

A Faith Still Growing: Genesis 12:10-20
- In these verses we see that Abram did not have complete & perfect faith in God!
- - Due to a famine in Canaan, Abram flees to Egypt, it does not say if he asked God about this
- - When in Egypt Abram wants Sarai to say she is his sister because he is afraid Pharaoh (Egypt's king) will kill him to marry his wife
- - You can see how Abram's faith wasn't perfect, he was still growing in it, not yet fully trusting God to protect and guide him
- Nonetheless, God still blesses Abram through this lack of faith!
- - You can really see God's amazing grace here, to bless Abram when he both lacked faith and spoke 'half-truths!'
- - Pharaoh and his family, on the other hand, get diseases & plagues because they took Sarai from Abram, thus Pharaoh somehow learns Sarai was Abram's wife & returned her, kicking Abram and his family out. And Abram returns to Canaan…
- Remember, like Noah had his problem, Abram has his own---God can use us, even with our mistakes, as long as we, in faith, turn back to Him

Mon, Sep 19 - Proverbs Introduced

2011-09-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Memory Quiz 2a: Proverbs 3:19-23 (NIV, 1984)
- You have until Friday, September 23 to retake Memory Quiz 1b.

Handouts Given: Unit 2 Handout

Reminders:
- Devotion 1: Due TOMORROW! Let me know right away if you have any questions!
- - Make sure you download the form from RenWeb & submit it to TurnItIn.com.
- - E-mail me if you have any issues.
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 2: Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
Journal 2-1: Pick up the two papers beneath this board.
- 1st) Take out your notebook (already in order, right?)
- - Put your name on top of the grading sheet.
- - Set the grading sheet on top of the notebook.
- - Pass your notebook to the right
- - Grade your neighbor’s notebook
- 2nd) A Selection of Proverbs: Work on this next
- - Go to page 7b of your new handout
- - Answer questions 1-8
- More time? Finish incomplete Unit 1 Handout pages or read Genesis 12

Proverbs: An Introduction: Fill out on new unit handout, pg 7a!
- What section of the Bible is it in? Poetry & Wisdom, of the Old Testament
- - Proverbs are primarily ‘Wisdom Literature’

- Wisdom Literature provides…
- - Practical advice on living (For instance, Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." --- very practically, if you say something nice, people don't usually get angry with you, but saying something mean makes them mad!)
- - A godly worldview

- A focus on relationships with God & others!

Proverbs: Qualities: Continue to fill this out on page 7a...
- Short, compact statements
- Commonly uses figurative language (e.g. Proverbs 18:4, "The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.")
- Generally operate on principle that ‘You reap what you sow’
- - But, in a sin-fallen world, sometimes God’s justice is delayed and we don't see this lived out
- - For instance, a really bad person who seems to be wealthy and living an easy life until his death
- - But the Bible points out, that after death, each of us will be held accountable for our sins! Even if we think we escaped it in life.

Proverbs: Limitations: Continue to fill this out on page 7a...
- Limitations:
- - Because they are short/compact, not every angle of a situation is covered & thus a proverb might not be true with some situation facts (e.g. a harsh answer may *sometimes* keep anger from coming up!)
- - Some are ‘generalizations’ that are not always true (e.g. like right above)
- - Can be misused!
- - - Read Proverbs 26:7, "Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools."
- - - - One who doesn't have wisdom doesn't know how to rightly used a Proverb)
- - - For Example, consider these 'American proverbs'
- - - - (1) “He who hesitates is lost” verses (2) “Haste makes waste”
- - - - Which is best for...
- - - - - Completing your devotion assignment? The 2nd!
- - - - - A kid playing in the street? The 1st!
- KEY: Proverbs are... Designed to make one wise, but one requires wisdom to use in the right situations!

Proverbs: Self Introduction"
- Proverbs 1:1-6, 7, 8)
- - Vv1-6 say proverbs are designed to teach Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding
- - V7 shows we should ‘Fear of the Lord’
- - - This does not exclusively mean 'being afraid,’ but focuses more on awe, reverence, obedience
- - - See your in-class worksheet for more!
- - V8 shows that these are written like a letter from a father to a son

Fri, Sep 16 - Unit 1 Test

2011-09-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Today was Unit 1 Test.
- Next Friday will be Memory Quiz 2a: Proverbs 3:19-23 (NIV, 1984)
- You have until Friday, September 23 to retake Memory Quiz 1b.

Handouts Given:
- Memory Quiz 1b
- Picture Packages (for those who ordered them)

Reminders:
- Grade 7 Notebook Check: This is on Monday. This is posted on RenWeb: Here are the items & order you should have for them in your 3-ring binder. Have it ready before class!
1. Syllabus: Purple) Name on top
2. Instructions: Written Devotion: Goldenrod) Name on top
3. Delivery of Devotion Instructions: Goldenrod) Name on top
4. Devotion 1 Presentation Schedule: Yellow) Name on top
5. Instructions: Book Selection & Pre-Reading Form: Goldenrod) Name on top
6. Pre-Reading Form: Green) Name on top
7. The Pentateuch Table: Pink) Name on top. Far left line & top line completed
8. Unit Handout: White) Page 1 & 2 completed (We went over answers in class, they were also posted on the blog).
9. Journals & In-Class Notes: At the end of your 3-ring binder section should be your Journals (1-1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) & any notes you took in class
- Devotion 1: Due Tuesday! Let me know right away if you have any questions!
- - Make sure you download the form from RenWeb & submit it to TurnItIn.com.
- - E-mail me if you have any issues.
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 1: Genesis 1-11
Journal: None given, students studied for their test

After this, students took their test.

Thu, Sep 15 - Test Review & Notebook Contents

2011-09-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: TOMORROW is Unit 1 Test!

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Unit 1 Test: The study guide is posted on RenWeb as an 'assignment' for this Friday. Check it out early this week & start studying! Let me know if you have any questions. Short answers are NOT discussed in class unless you ask about them!
- Grade 7 Notebook Check: This is on Monday. This is posted on RenWeb: Here are the items & order you should have for them in your 3-ring binder. Have it ready before class!
1. Syllabus: Purple) Name on top
2. Instructions: Written Devotion: Goldenrod) Name on top
3. Delivery of Devotion Instructions: Goldenrod) Name on top
4. Devotion 1 Presentation Schedule: Yellow) Name on top
5. Instructions: Book Selection & Pre-Reading Form: Goldenrod) Name on top
6. Pre-Reading Form: Green) Name on top
7. The Pentateuch Table: Pink) Name on top. Far left line & top line completed
8. Unit Handout: White) Page 1 & 2 completed (We went over answers in class, they were also posted on the blog).
9. Journals & In-Class Notes: At the end of your 3-ring binder section should be your Journals (1-1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) & any notes you took in class
- Devotion 1: Due next Tuesday, September 20, let me know right away if you have any questions!
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 1: Genesis 1-11
Journal: None given, students prepared for the review game

Test Review: This is for your final review for the tests. Don't rely on this to study from. In the future answers will likely be removed from this...

Bible Facts:
1) The original meaning of the Greek word ‘Bible’
What is “Books?”
2) This word means ‘Set-Apart.’
What is “Holy”?
3) The original meaning of the word ‘Testament’
What is “Covenant?”
4) These are ways that God revealed He was immanent with His creation in Genesis 1-2? (I ran out of general ‘Bible Facts... Good Luck!)
What are “He was very close to us, personally making Adam & Eve”?
5) What God allowed by putting a ‘bad tree’ in the garden
What is a real/loving relationship with God? …Or... What is free will?

Creation 1:
1) The meaning of the word ‘Genesis’
What is “Beginnings?”
2) Two key aspects of God’s character that are seen in the book of Genesis
What are Powerful & Sovereign?
3) That which Eve (which means ‘living’) was made out of
What is Adam's rib (or side)?
4) What God did this to create everything in Genesis 1
What is, ‘to speak?’
5) Three commands God 1st gave to Adam & Eve (before sin)
What are, “Know these three: Fill the Earth, Subdue the Earth, Be Fruitful?”
(Some extras: Tend the Garden, Don't eat of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil)

Creation 2:
1) God’s Role in the book of Genesis
What is “Creator?”
2) The first animals God created
What are the “Water Creatures?”
3) That which God did after working on creation to set a pattern for us
What is “Rest?”
4) The One John 1:1-3 tells was the creator
Who is “Jesus?”
5) Three things that are the result of Adam & Eve being created in God’s image
What are “Different from animals, Able to rule over animals, & Able to have a relationship with God?”

Sin & Its Effects 1:
1) The first murderer
Who is Cain?
2) Though not named in Genesis, other parts in the Bible show he was a key character in the Garden of Eden
Who is Satan?
3) These two misquote God in Eden
Who are Eve & Satan?
4) What God made man with that allowed evil to come into the world
What is the ability to choose (or free will)?
5) The three ways Eve was tempted to eat the forbidden fruit
What are: Looked good to the eyes (Lust of the eyes), Seemed good for food (Lust of the flesh), & Desirable to gain wisdom like God (Boastful Pride of Life)?

Sin & Its Effects 2:
1) The people who committed the first sin
Who are Adam & Eve?
2) The individual who was murdered by his brother
Who is Abel?
3) The way man acted which led to God sending the flood
What is evil?
4) That which was still sinful for man to eat after the flood (remember, fruits & veggies were always okay).
What is ‘meat with blood?’
5) The two ‘hints’ from Genesis 1-11 on how God would save us from sin
What are Satan's curse (an offspring from woman (Jesus) would crush the serpent’s head) and God killing the animal for clothes for Adam & Eve's (to cover their shame & sin, just as Jesus would be killed to ‘cover’ & remove our sin!)

Wed, Sep 14 - Fun Facts of Genesis 1-11

2011-09-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

- - By what pronoun (e.g. me, them, you, etc…) does God refer to Himself in these verses? “Us”

- - Why do you think that is? Two reasons from scholars…

- - - Some think it is a relationship to how some kings may use that phrase for themselves as though they were standing in their court and saying to everyone, “Let us go and do this…”

- - - Others think it is a hint to the Trinity—one God, yet referring to Himself in the plural sense, as though there is multiple persons.

- When done, work on page 4 of your unit handout

Delivery of Devotions Instructions: We read through these & answers questions about this afterwards.

Tue, Sep 13 - Noah's Ark & the Tower of Babel

2011-09-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Unit 1 Test!
- Memory Quiz 1a may be retaken until September 15 -- students who want to do this need to let me know via e-mail so I have a copy for them in the office.

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Unit 1 Test: The study guide is posted on RenWeb as an 'assignment' for this Friday. Check it out early this week & start studying! Let me know if you have any questions. Short answers are NOT discussed in class unless you ask about them!
- Devotion 1: Due next Tuesday, September 20, let me know right away if you have any questions!
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 1: Genesis 1-11
Journal 1-9: Read Genesis 9:1
- - What did God command Noah’s family to do? Be fruitful, increase in number, fill the earth
- Read Genesis 11:1-9
- - How do they disobey what God said in 9:1 here? (Look especially at the 2nd part of God’s command…) They don't fill the earth! They gather in one spot.
- - How did they demonstrate the sin of ‘pride’? They want to 'make a name for themselves' instead of being content with who they are and making a name for God.
- - Why does God say He will confuse their language? Because they are all working together against His simple instructions -- it can only get worse! By confusing their language they will not all be able to work together against Him
- - What does ‘Babel’ mean? (see the little ‘n’) "Confused"
- - Other than confusing language, what is the other thing God does here? He spreads them out!

God’s Grace & Mercy: Another key characteristic of God
- Genesis 8:18-22) After the ground dries up...
- - Noah exits the ark & gives thanks to God by building an alter to Him and offering sacrifices to Him.
- - God’s Promise never again to curse the ground or destroy all living creatures with a flood because of us, even though we evil from our childhood.

- Genesis 9:1-6) God then decides several key things:
- - God Commands that mankind be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth
- - God puts into animals a fear of people, they would now run from us
- - God allows us to eat meat (without the blood still in it)
- - God institutes the death penalty for killing another person---if you remember, Cain & Lamech got to keep living after their murders. Perhaps God did this to help curve the spreading of sin.
- - One interesting thing this points out is that, although "every inclination of our heart is evil from childhood," we are still made in the image of God! While we 'tainted' this, God never removed it from us! That's grace!

- Genesis 9:8-17)
- - God uses the rainbow as a sign of a new Covenant with all mankind, never again will He destroy everything with a flood!
- - We will talk more next unit about what a Covenant is. Here is a basic definition, though, "A promise between two or more that defines their relationship"

Concluding Noah's Ark:
- Genesis 9:20-23: Noah’s problem…
- - Noah plants a vineyard, creates wine, drinks it, becomes drunk, and passes out naked in his tent!
- - His youngest son, Ham, saw him and instead of covering him up he goes outside to his brothers and starts to gossip about it! His brothers, Shem & Japheth, go into Noah's tent backwards (so they don't see their father naked) with a blanket & cover him up. Noah ends up cursing Ham's family (through his son Canaan) due to this embarrassment & attitude.
- - We know Noah as a righteous man, yet here we see him making a mistake by getting drunk!
- - What can we learn from this?
- - - That God can use us no matter what faults we have!
- - - Even though Noah had a problem like this, God still used him in an amazing way
- - - Even though we aren't perfect, when we choose to trust and obey God, He can use us in amazing ways, too!
- Genesis 10: The ‘Table of Nations’
- - This is a list of how Noah's three sons repopulated the earth after the flood (their families and where they moved)

Points to Ponder of Noah: Concerning the flood...
- There are over 250 flood stories from all parts of the world… Perhaps they all come from an actual event? Perhaps all the stories are related to the fact that all people came from Noah & his kids? Then from them this story was passed down through the generations, although changed in some cultures who did not truly remember what God did through this.
- On the Ark...
- - Did the animals have to be full grown? Not at all! They could have been very young, which means they were smaller & ate less! Two things important for the Ark
- - Could they have hibernated? Absolutely! This would mean they ate even less
- - Were every type of an animal (e.g. every type of ‘dog’) needed? Nope! Only the 'type' of dog (or other animal) that all the others could come from, the 'master breed,' so to speak.
- Did Noah have to get every animal on his own? Nope, God sent the animals to Noah (Gen. 6:20)
- How did animals get on every continent if they all started again in just one spot?
- A few ways to answer this...
- - Perhaps God simply put them there when He spread out people after the Tower of Babel
- - Perhaps the continents were not yet divided when the flood ended. See Genesis 10:25, in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided--perhaps this refers to the moving of the continents? (see the Pangaea Theory in modern science)

The Tower of Babel: Genesis 11: The Tower of Babel
- Genesis 11:1-9) Reference your journal for this, too
- God said to fill the earth (9:1), but they disobeyed Him, staying in one spot
- - Then when here they built a city & very high tower!
- As a result…
- - God confused their language
- - God scattered them all over the earth! (v8)

Mon, Sep 12 - Conclusion of Cain & Noah's Start

2011-09-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Next Test/Quiz: Friday is Unit 1 Test!
- Memory Quiz 1a may be retaken until September 15 -- students who want to do this need to let me know via e-mail so I have a copy for them in the office.

Handouts Given: None given

Reminders:
- Unit 1 Test: The study guide is posted on RenWeb as an 'assignment' for this Friday. Check it out early this week & start studying! Let me know if you have any questions. Short answers are NOT discussed in class unless you ask about them!
- Devotion 1: Due Tuesday, September 20, let me know right away if you have any questions!
- Pre-Reading Form: Due Tuesday, October 4. Feel free to turn this in early. Make sure you re-read the instructions before doing so.

Instruction Time: Unit 1: Genesis 1-11
Journal 1-8:
- Read Genesis 6:5-8
- - Describe how bad people had become.
- - - As the Bible says, ""His wickedness as great! Check out what God saw: "... every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time!"" -- that's VERY bad!!
- - Do you think we are any better or worse today? Why?
- - How did God respond to mankind’s evil?
- - - Because of man's evil, God was grieved
- - - His heart was filled with pain, so he chose to wipe them all out!
- - - God brought the flood because of man's evil
- - - But there is a glimmer of hope, in verse 8---But Noah found favor in God’s eyes!

- Read Genesis 6:11-14, 17-19, & 22)
- - Summarize God’s plan
- - - He tells Noah of His plan to destroy the earth
- - - He instructs Noah to make a large boat (called an ark) & stock supplies in it
- - - He promises to make a covenant with Noah & his family
- - - Two (male/female) of every bird/animal/creature will be saved on the Ark
- - Why do you think He saved Noah? God wanted to & see below...
- - Describe some of Noah’s qualities. He is righteous, blameless, and walks with God!
- - How do you think you would have responded if you were in Noah’s family?

Period 6: Also review these posts from the last 1 or 2 blog posts:
- Hints of a Messiah:
- Comparing Genesis 1 & 2:
- The Increase of Sin: Cain & Abel

After Cain:
- Genesis 4:17)
- - Where did Cain’s wife come from? Apparently his sister! (Weird? Yes, to us. But to them they wouldn't think of it that way & genetically it would have been okay since there were no mutations--remember, they were created 'Very Good!")
- - What did Cain do after leaving? Build a city
- Genesis 4:19) What does Lamech (Cain’s descendant) have 1st? 2 wives!
- Genesis 4:23-24) What does Lamech brag about? Killing someone!
- Genesis 5:4-5) What do Adam and Eve have? Many other sons & daughters -- these are where the many people of the world came from. We'll talk later about ages, you can see they lived long enough to have MANY children!

Deadly Effects of Sin:
- Genesis 6:1-2) What are the ‘Sons of God’?
- - Angels? This term sometimes refers to angels, thus some suggest these were 'bad angels' who chose to have a married relationships with people. But the Bible never elsewhere shows this as even being possible.
- - God-Following People: This term sometimes refers to people who follow God. This seems like a more likely interpretations. Those families (likely Seth's descendants) who use to just follow God began to marry into the families who did not ('daughters of men,' e.g. Cain's descendants). Over time this usually leads a family to abandon being faithful to only follow God. The Old & New Testament both warn men not to marry women who do not follow God. Due to this common theme and problem for people, this is the more likely interpretation.

- Genesis 6:3) What is that 120 years for?
- - Some say this is a limit to how old people can get, but many people still lived past 120 years after this point!
- - Instead, this is the 'final countdown' of time until God would send the flood.

- Genesis 6:5-8)
- - How is man’s evil described? "His wickedness as great! Check out what God saw: "... every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time!"
- - How does God respond? (The reason for the flood)
- - - Because of man's evil, God was grieved
- - - His heart was filled with pain, so he chose to wipe them all out!
- - - God brought the flood because of man's evil
- - But there is a glimmer of hope, in verse 8---But Noah found favor in God’s eyes!

God’s Justice Against Sin:
- In Gen. 6-8 we see God's justice (& judgment) against sin. This is a key characteristic of God.
- - Remember, this is the horrible result of sin--death!

- Genesis 6:11-22) God warns, calls, and instructs Noah
- - Note in verse 20 that the animals came to Noah, God likely had a key role in making it easier for Noah to collect them.

- Genesis 7:1, 4-5) Noah continually trusts in & obeys God
- - Can you imagine how hard this must have been?
- - Some think the 120 years God mentioned in 6:3 is the time it took Noah to build this!
- - Imagine the ridicule and hardships he must have faced from his neighbors...
- - v16) In the end, Noah got on the boat & God shut him in
- - - Closing the door as a final sign of His judgment against those who lived in sin
- - Note in verses 2-3 that seven of every 'clean animal' (something we'll talk about later this year) were also brought in the ark--not just two.

- Genesis 7:17-24) The Flood
- - For 40 days the water fell
- -Water covered the *whole earth*!
- - Every high mountain was covered by at least 20 feet
- - Everything else died on earth
- - The water was on the earth for 150 days

- Genesis 8:1-5) And God remembers Noah...
- - He causes the water to recede (evaporate, soak into the earth, etc...)

PICTURES: With extra time I showed a few pictures of the Ark, Cain & Abel, & Adam & Eve (Some were from 'After Eden' a cartoon strip by Dan Leitha, www.answersingenesis.org/aftereden/)