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In our church's bible study group we watched these DVD's, and recently I ask if I could borrow them to watch at home.
The first of the DVD's  is called On The Promised Land, with teacher & historian Ray Vander Laan, in and about places in Israel.
#1 Tel Gezer----Standing at the Crossroads
#2 Jordan River---Wet Feet
#3 Tel Jericho---First Fruits
#4 Tel Beth Shemesh---Confronting Evil
#5 Tel Azekah----Iron of Culture
Each place is show in living color with maps of the area and most importantly a lesson to be learned. I have found these DVD's to be most informative both in learning the terrain of Israel, as well as, back ground information on the bible history and scriptures. I would guess the best source of theses DVD's would be your local library. I have only seen the first DVD of many in this series, but I will add to this post as I watch more of them. Mr Laan, does an excellent job of making the Bible and the land in Israel easily understood.

I wanted to mention that this series of faith lessons has a study guide that can be used with or without the DVD's, although, watching them brings the message home in a personal way. The title name of one of the study guide books  is Walk as Jesus Walked, making disciples. This series is from "Focus On The Family, and is known in That The World May Know, Ray Vander Laan & Stephen & Amanda Sorenson.
I will add to this topic as I watch the dvd's and use this study guide. I might add I am a person who understand things and places better by visiting or by seeing pictures of the topic in question. I am really excited about this series as I feel it will give me better insight into the Bible, as well as, our countries foreign affairs. The old saying of not really understanding another until you have walked in their shoes, applies here. If I pay attention I may learn something worth sharing with you.

When the idea of first sharing this series with you came about, I thought there was one study guide for the whole series of DVD's. Then when the topic's did not match the study book guide I had, I asked questions and found out that for each DVD, there was a study guide book. And the church had run out of them. I had considered borrowing them from another member, but changed my mind after discovering a little booklet in the front of each DVD. So I am lucky and so are you, for even if you cannot see the DVD's you can study right along with me by reading Bible verses and answering the questions, and adding your comments as a forum discussion in what you have learned by this Bible study lesson.

FAITH  LESSON  # 1 :  Standing At The Crossroads

Read Bible verses:
Genesis 19: 1           Genesis 28: 10-22    Deuteronomy 21: 18-21   Joshua 4: 1-9   

Answer The Following Questions:

1. Why did God choose Israel as the land where the plan of salvation would unfold ?  How is God's intent for believers today similar to God's choice of the land of Israel ?
2. In what ways does God want His people to influence the world ?
3. The "standing stones" that the Israelites erected are testimonies to God's actions in their lives. What specific events did the children of Israel mark with standing stones ?
4. How is your life like a standing stone ?  How does it tell others what God has done for you ?  Who has been a standing stone for you ?  How?
5. The city gate was important in biblical times because it protected a city against invasion. It was also a place where the judges and rulers of the city sat. Give some biblical examples of judges who sat in the gate.
6. How might a Christian "sit in the gate" in our culture?

I will be posting the Bible verses and things I have learned from watching the DVD, and my own answers to these questions. However, I invite you all who want to follow along with this study to do your homework and share with the forum your answers to these questions.

I had hoped someone would join in with me on this study, if not the answers with be put up sometime during this week or next.
Wishing you all a very MERRY  CHRISTMAS !!!!!     ::) ::) ::)

Gen 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;


Gen 28:10  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
Gen 28:11  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Gen 28:16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Gen 28:18  And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
Gen 28:19  And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21  So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
Gen 28:22  And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.


Deu 21:18  If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Deu 21:19  Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
Deu 21:20  And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Deu 21:21  And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.




Jos 4:1  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Jos 4:2  Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
Jos 4:3  And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
Jos 4:4  Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
Jos 4:5  And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
Jos 4:6  That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Jos 4:7  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
Jos 4:8  And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
Jos 4:9  And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

In order that you understand this Bible study I have make a map so that as we go along you can understand this region of Israel better.

    EGYPT                                              ISRAEL                                                     MESOPOTAMIA  (Persia,Babylon,Assyria)

                       

                                                             *Mediterranean Sea   
__________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________

  Egypt (west)                                                                * Israel (middle)                                                                   Mesopotamia  (East)

                                                                COASTAL           PLAIN

__________________________________________________________________________ ___________    *Gezer
                                               *VIA MARIS (main international trade route)
                                                 Via Maris also called "way of the sea"




                                                             FLAT      PLAIN                       * Jerusalem                                                                   *Gideon





                                                           LOW-FOOT   HILLS
__________________________________________________________________________ _____________


                                                           JUDAH      MOUNTAINS

__________________________________________________________________________ ______________


                                                                 DEAD      SEA

__________________________________________________________________________ ______________   *JERICHO
                                                        KINGS          HIGHWAY


On the map if you can imagine a straight line from GEZER to JERICHO, that is where the JERICHO  ROAD is located.

Now we come to the first question:

1. a.   Why did God choose Israel as the land where the plan of salvation would unfold?
 By looking at the map outline you can see that Israel, is at the center. The main road Via Maris runs along the coastal plain to Gezer and beyond, and the Jericho Road, meets it at Gezer, goes from Gezer to Jericho, and then through the mountains to meet the Kings Highway.
In a sense God placed the children of Israel at the crossroads of the world, and they were to live there on the coastal plains, in plain view, front and center, so they would control the trade routes and maintain influence on the world. But the Israelites chose not to live where God intended them to be, but gave over the land and control to the Canaanites, and moved into the mountains.

1. b.   How is God's intent for believers today similar to God's choice of the land of Israel?
 My thought on this is that as Christian's we need to live our lives in the front and center, so that through us people may see God. We tend to hide away and on occasion take pot shots at others, but not confront the important issues that are dragging down our country.
We in hide and live as others do and often seem to forget our Christan duties of spreading the gospel of our Lord.

Would you like to share your thoughts on these questions:

First of all I would like to mention that an excellent source for maps as a study guide can be obtained through a free Bible software program called e-Sword by Rick Meyers. It is totally free and is very extensive. It is compatible with almost all computer software and can even be obtained for hand held devices. The maps available cover ancient times as well as current times and it is easy to compare the two. The older maps list a lot of the cities and locations that cannot be found on modern day maps.


To add to what you said on the first question. God has given us all His directions on what He wants us to do. Just like the Israelites, many of us ignore God and do what we want even though it is against His will. It is the human trait that we all have that got Israel into the many troubles that they have endured through the years. We must step up and step out as God has told us to do or we also will suffer the consequences of not doing so.

We see a lot of this here in the U.S. today. The nation as a whole is pulling away from following God and turning more secular. Individual Christians are pulling back into their churches and/or homes being afraid to offend others, keeping our beliefs to ourselves. As a result we are experiencing more and more persecution. We are losing more and more God given freedoms. We will also lose the rewards that the Bible tells us will be ours for doing as He has told us to do.

Next:

2. In what ways does God want His people to influence the world?
The answer given in one of the study guides is a good example in answering this question.
Our Lord, has asked us to be his disciples, his " talmidim". And in order that we be able to do that, we must learn the Scriptures and know them as He did. We need to have commitment and passion and the desire to be like Him. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commanded His disciples to go out into the world and make more disciples. One of the places they went was Asia Minor, a sophisticated, prosperous, immoral, perverted, educated, and religious (but pagan) region in the Roman Empire. And through their lives in living out the word and kingdom of God, the disciples made more disciples in Asia Minor. And in a little more than a century that region became predominantly Christian.
In many ways our world is just like Asia Minor was, and God wants us to strife to become like Jesus, and show the world through the way we live, do business, and practice our faith that He is Lord. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, so that through us the world may know that our God is the one true God.

Would you like to add anything?

Next:


3. The "standing stones" that the Israelites erected are testimonies to God's action in their lives. What specific events did the children of Israel mark with standing stones?
Two events are mentioned in the above Bible verses. In Genesis 28: 10--22, Jacob had a dream of ladder extending from the earth up into the heavens with angels coming and going, and the Almighty God standing at the top of the ladder. Jacob had used a stone as his pillow, and when he awoke in the morning, he took that stone and stood it upright, as a testament to God.
In the book of Joshua 4: 1--18, Joshua and the children of Israel were returned to their homelands with priests carrying the ark of the covenant. In order to do so they needed to cross the Jordan River. As soon as the priests stepped into the Jordan River, the water stopped flowing downstream and the priests who were carrying the ark stood in the middle of the river on dry land, so that all of the Israelites crossed the river on dry ground. Then 12 men (1 man out of every tribe), picked out 1 stones from the middle of the river where the priests stood, and carried them across the river to the place they were to stay for the night. The stones were set upright as a message to all  that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, " What mean ye by these stones?" The answer you give them will be " That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters were cut off." And Joshua also laid 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan to mark the place where the priests  had stood. (Joshua 4: 9)  As the feet of the priests stepped out of the bed of the river and onto the bank, the waters of the Jordan began flowing again. (Joshua 4: 18)

Would any care to add other verses from the Bible in reference to "Standing Stones"  ?

Gilgal literally means circle of standing stones. We see this word mentioned in Deuteronomy 11:29-30 as having Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal in front of it. Another place named Gilgal is mentioned by the Books of Samuel as having been included in Samuel's annual circuit, and as the location where he offered sacrifices after Saul was anointed as king, and where he renewed Saul's kingship together with the people (1 Samuel chapters 7 and 11).

Other places we see this word used are Neh 12:29, Hos 4:15; 9:15; 12:11, Amo 4:4; 5:5, and Mic 6:5. It is argued amongst many theologians as to whether these are referencing the same place or not.

At Rachel's grave near Bethlehem (Gen. 35), Jacob set up a standing stone. Jacob erected a standing stone as a monument to the presence and power of God (also in Gen. 35).

God's covenant with Israel through Moses was represented by 12 standing stones or pillars (masseboth) at the foot of Mount Sinai (Ex. 24).

Near the end of his life, Joshua challenged the Israelites to serve the only real God. Their spontaneous response of "we will serve the LORD" (Josh. 24:21) was the occasion for another standing stone: "Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD" (Josh. 24:26).

There are mentions of evil standing stones in the Bible. The Canaanites standing stones were abominations to God, and his covenant with Moses demanded that the Israelites tear down these monuments to evil (Ex. 23:24; Deut. 7:5).

Another standing stone mentioned in the Bible was called a "Stele". The difference between these and the other standing stones was that these would have an inscription on them such as those marking graves.

 

Something else that you may find interesting. To date, 142 independent masseboth sites have been documented in the southern Negev and eastern Sinai ( the deserts the early Israelites traveled ), and the number found continues to increase. Usually these are accompanied by a crude altar of stones and sometimes a stone covered grave is located nearby. These sites contain any where from one to 9 standing stones that are anywhere from twelve inches to 6 feet high. Pairs and triads are most common.

Next:


4. (a) How is your life like a standing stone?
 My life has had many rocky moments, but God has kept me safe during those times, and I never  lost faith in God. I have tried to live my life following His commandments and believing in the power of prayer. Other's around me have at times become stronger in their faith because of this. I have not been perfect and when younger made some bad choices, but I have always tried to remember to confessed my sins and tried to be a better person because of it.


    (b) How does it tell others what God has done for you?
It tells others that in order for me to still have faith in an unseen, almighty God, throughtout my most trying times, that worship and belief in God must be worth the effort and He must be something special.


    (c) Who has been a standing stone for you?
One of my best friends, who has never let me down, always supportive, kind, and helpful. And a very strong Christan.

Also, the members of this forum.

    (d) How?
She has always given me good advice and been a good listener. I know what she believes and by her life she sets a good example.
By giving me good advice and Bible scriptures, and caring words when I have been worried or depressed by life or other people.

This forum:  Gentle reminders of the testament and love the Lord has for each one of us. In that I was able to pull myself up and continue holding up my life and looking up to God at all times.


Now it is your turn to answer the questions:

Hi Islandboy!  I have been reading and learning from this study,  I haven't posted here yet because I need more time to re-read and absorb the information.

It is an interesting study for me because just before Christmas I was teaching 10-and 11-year olds about the main characters in Genesis.  Jacob is a difficult one to explain due to his duplicity, but while the children had no problem with the story of his dream and the setting up of the stone, I found it difficult to explain to them the meaning of his struggle with the angel.  They couldn't understand why Jacob 'won' and was able to demand a blessing. Do you have any ideas on how I can explain this to them?

Carlolta,
You pose a very interesting question. For the sake of this faith lesson I am going to ask that you put this question in the Bible Study section starting a new topic. That way it will not confuse others here and give me time to do more research on this question you have ask, because I do not have an answer at this time.  :) :)

I would very much like you to answer the questions in the above post.

OK, will do.

If anyone is interested in having me continue this Bible faith lesson please let me know. It seems really strange for me to be the only one who is willing to answer the questions. I can only conclude that you all consider this to be boring. And I do not want to waste your time if this is so. I will await your answer before I continue on...

I have found it most difficult to get others to be active participants in Bible studies. Frequently though many people will read your posts without them posting. I will gladly join in with you on this study if it will help you to continue presenting as i would very much like you to do so. Even if no one else will join in we still know that God's word will not return void.

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

First let's take a much closer look at the first question.



God chose this land for more reasons than just the place where the plan of Salvation would unfold. Although we don't have a clear answer to this question given in scripture we can see it there. The following is an excellent article on this.

__________


ISRAEL’S AMAZING UNIQUENESS

How can a little country some fifty miles wide and a mere one-hundred-fifty miles long keep the world in an uproar all the time?

How can tiny Israel be the constant focus of world news reports, and why should such a small place have the second largest concentration of news bureaus in the world? (1) Why should the little mountain town of Jerusalem always get a lion’s share of world publicity?

How can the Israeli people, numbering about six million, be considered such a mortal threat to the some 200 million heavily- armed Muslims in the Middle East? And why would such an august body as the United Nations spend a third of its time dealing with little Israel? (2)

These things all seem preposterous, but they certainly attest to Israel’s amazing uniqueness as a nation.

For instance, just "down the road" from Jerusalem is the great city of Cairo and the country of Egypt. Cairo, the largest city in Africa, has over ten million people, yet it is rarely mentioned on the evening news. However, almost daily we hear of Jerusalem, whose population is scarcely over a half million. The world’s news bureaus do not jostle each other for space in Cairo or in Egypt. The city and country have been of little concern to the United Nations.

ISRAEL, AN INCREDIBLY TINY PLACE

The nation of Israel and its capital city of Jerusalem are minuscule in comparison with other nations and cities of the world. When compared to the US, Israel is about the size of the little state of New Jersey. The nation of France could hold twenty-six Israels.

Of course, Israel should rightly be compared with countries in her own neighborhood, the Middle East. It is shocking when we realize that the Middle East nations of the Arab League are spread over five million square miles, while Israel consists of less than 8,000 square miles. (3)

Israel is so small that one can easily drive from the biblical border cities of Dan in the north, to Beersheba in the south, in half a day. We have cause to pity the Israeli jet pilots, who in a few careless moments of maneuvers could find themselves flying over hostile Syria or Saudi Arabia.

Israel is tiny, but the nation possesses a geographic and political importance far out of proportion to its size.

CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD

Israel not only commands a disproportionate amount of media coverage, but the land is a veritable crossroads of the world, connecting the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.

In ancient times, people and armies traveled over the roads situated in what is known as the Fertile Crescent. This strip of fertile land ran from Egypt to the other great centers of Assyria and Babylonia. This ancient super-highway system ran directly through Israel. Thus the great nations of the Middle East always struggled between themselves for this passageway.

One famous ancient route was the Way of the Sea (Via Maris) mentioned in Isaiah 9:1-2, and also in Matthew 4:15-16. This ancient road ran through Capernaum where Jesus established a base for his ministry. The prophet Isaiah, who lived in the eighth century BC, prophesied that a bright light would shine along this highway.

Israel was not only a land bridge from north to south, but also from east to west. Many ancient caravans bearing spices and other items from the east, traveled through the general area. Also, from

the time of Solomon, Israel had periodic access to the Far East via the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.

Even today, Israel is still a world crossroads. People from almost every nation live in the country and millions more visit it. The Jews themselves have returned home from more than one hundred nations. On a bus ride, or a stroll through the park, one may see people reading newspapers from virtually every corner of the world.

The Jerusalem taxi drivers have the very difficult task of communicating with people from every language background. It often seems that as soon as passengers open their mouths, the drivers are able to communicate in the necessary tongues.

Israel is not just a crossroads for people, but one for birds as well. For instance, twice each year, in spring and again in the fall, millions of birds pass over Israel, as they make their trips to and from Europe, Asia and Africa. In all, there are 121 species of migratory birds, plus another 94 species that come to spend the winter in Israel. There are honeybuzzards, storks, pelicans and many more winged visitors. (4) Some of these birds love Israel so much that they decide to stay, much to the chagrin of fish farmers.

LAND OF AMAZING BEAUTY AND DIVERSITY

The Bible assures us that Israel is the most beautiful land in all the earth. In Ezekiel 20:6 we read:

On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out

of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land

flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all

lands.

The physical setting of Israel is not just beautiful, but it is also extremely interesting and diversified, as we read in Deuteronomy 8:7-9:

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a

land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in

the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and

fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread

will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the

rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

Israel has a vast diversity in its terrain. There is cool, snow-capped Mount Hermon in the north, reaching to an altitude of 9,232 ft. (2,841 m.), and there are the blistering semi-deserts of the Negev in the south. Also, in contrast with the heights of Hermon are the depths of the Jordan Rift and the Dead Sea. This body of water marks the lowest habitable spot on earth, at 1,312 ft. (404 m.) below sea level.

cont'd

Israel also enjoys a great variety in climate. When Jerusalemites are shivering in the winter cold, they can take comfort in the fact that they are a mere thirty-minute drive from semi-tropical Jericho, and the warm resorts at the Dead Sea.

Since Israel borders on three deserts, much of the area to the east of its central chain of mountains is desert of some type. This desert runs from the areas around Jericho to the Dead Sea, on to The Wilderness of Zin and then to Eilat.

The amount of rainfall in the country ranges from about 60 inches per year on Mt. Hermon in the north, to less than an inch for Eilat in the south. (5) The central mountains of Israel may be blasted with snow and cold in the winter months, and yet may swelter with an early spring heat wave. The heat wave, or sharav, blowing in from the desert can quickly drive temperatures into the 90 degree F. range ( 32 C.).

In Deuteronomy 6:18, Israel is referred to as ha-eretz ha-tovah, or "the good land." Then again in Psalm 106:24, the Psalmist refers to Israel as "the pleasant land." Even in the hot summer, there are cool, pleasant breezes that come up from the Mediterranean in the afternoon. In the winter, even cities with the highest altitudes like Jerusalem and Zefat, seldom see temperatures drop below freezing. Roses usually bloom all winter in Jerusalem. There are no tornadoes or hurricanes.

DIVERSITY OF FLORA AND FAUNA

The uniqueness of Israel really becomes apparent when we look at the country’s flora and fauna. Because of Israel’s geographic position, linking three continents, there is an amazing variety of plant and animal life. For instance, within the tiny land of Israel there are five distinct vegetation zones. This great variety of life has perplexed naturalists as they have labored to make the proper classifications.

Lambert states, "The rich variety of vegetation zones, make it the meeting ground of plants native to widely differing parts of the earth, plants with such differing origins as Siberia, Western Europe, Inner Asia, North Africa and East Africa." (6)

Israel at present has some 2500 plant types. For the sake of comparison, Egypt with its rich Nile Delta has only 1500. Britain has 1700, and Norway has 1335. "No other place in the world has such floral wealth concentrated within such a comparatively small area." (7)

For instance, in the Hula swampland one might find the tropical papyrus plant flourishing. Papyrus is an African plant and Israel is as far north as it grows. (8) Or at Ein Gedi on the Dead Sea one might see the Moringa tree, which is a native of Sudan. In the Jordan Valley alone there are some forty varieties of tropical flora.

In the southernmost tip of Israel at Eilat, the visitor is treated to a magnificent desert climate with its special vegetation. For instance, the Doum Palm (Dome Mitzri - Hyphaene thebaica), normally found in Sudan, grows around Eilat. (9) The Doum Palm has a distinguished look with a trunk that forks out about mid-way up giving it the appearance of having two horns.

Numerous animals have ventured in from Africa in the south, or from Syria and points further in the north and have made Israel their home. For instance, the land of Israel marks the southernmost limit in the range of the Siberian wolf. The little coney has come up to Israel from Africa, and Israel and Syria mark its northernmost limits. Israel also has about twenty-five species of bat, from the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. (10)

At Eilat, the visitor will see what has been called "one of the three richest coral reefs in the world." (11) From Eilat’s underwater observatory one can see a vast array of colorful tropical fish in their natural habitat. A trip to Eilat is a thrilling and unforgettable experience.

SPIRITUAL UNIQUENESS

Israel is certainly unique in the natural sense, because of its size, location and diversity of climate and wild life. However, its greatest uniqueness is in the spiritual realm. We see this clearly reflected in the pages of the Bible. The Bible, after all, is our guide and authority, not only in matters of theology, but in matters of our everyday lives.

For centuries, preachers and biblical expositors have realized that the frequency of words found in the scripture gives us some indication as to the importance of the subjects. As an example, Christianity rests upon three pillars, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13. The pillars are faith, hope and love. When we check out the frequency of these words in the Authorized Version of the Bible, we find that faith appears 257 times, and hope appears 129 times. Love, being the most important of the three, appears 310 times. This is a respectable amount of appearances.

However when we check out the occurrence of "Jerusalem" in scripture we may be amazed to learn that it appears 811 times - more than faith, hope and love combined. Jerusalem is just one of the many names the city is called in scripture. Also, when we search under the subject of "Israel," we may be shocked to find that it appears 2566 times. We should realize by this that "Jerusalem" and "Israel" are subjects very close to the heart of God.

In the scripture, the expression "God of Israel" appears over 200 times. This is only one of several expressions like "God of Jacob," and "God of Abraham," which connect the God of the universe closely with the Jewish people and the land of Israel. These are names by which God wishes to be known. However, these names are deemed "not politically correct" by many in our day.

In the Bible, we read about God’s great attachment to the land of Israel. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we learn that "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end."

We learn in the Bible that Israel is central in God’s plan for the earth. In Ezekiel 38:12, it is mentioned that the land of Israel is at the very center of the earth. The Hebrew word used here is tabbuwr, and in modern Hebrew it means "navel" or "bellybutton." The earth does have a navel, a place where the umbilical cord between heaven and earth was once attached. In Revelation 21:1-4, the Bible indicates that it will someday be re-attached as this world undergoes a re-creation.

In Psalm 76:1 we read, "...In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel." For thousands of years, God has been busy building a salvation infrastructure in the land of Israel. He has done this so that peoples and nations the world over may fully know him.

In a real sense, "...He has set his foundation on the holy mountain..." (Psa. 87:1). God had to establish the patterns, types, and pictures that would help us understand his great salvation. For instance, the Tabernacle and Temple with all their rites help us understand the sacrifice of Jesus. Without these pictures we would be at a total loss to understand.

Jerusalem, being the very center or hub of God’s redemptive activity, is extremely important to him. We read in Isaiah 49:16, "See, I have engraved you [Jerusalem] on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."

Israel, and its capital city of Jerusalem, are certain to be the focus of last-day activity. This will transpire as sinful man and his systems collide head-on with God and his coming kingdom. We are assured in scripture that God will gather all nations to Jerusalem for battle (Zech. 14:2). At that time the Lord will fight for Israel and afterward the nations of the earth will know that the Lord is God.

God knew that these events would take place so He chose Israel for all of these reasons.

WOW!!  Thank you Pastor Roger, for all that wonderful information, as well as, joining in on the study. So we will continue. In my last group of questions the focus was on standing stones and how they relate to Christianity both then and now. In the reference listed within the DVD, another verse containing  "Standing Stones", is mentioned in 1 Peter 2: 4-17

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
6 As the scriptures say,
"I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem," chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced."
7 Yes, you who will trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone."
8 And "He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
10  "Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy, now you have received God's mercy."
11  Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
12  Be careful to live propertly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
13  For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority--whether the king or head of state,
14  or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right.
15  It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.
16  For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
17  respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the King.

Note: Remember that Peter, was speaking to the Roman Empire under Nero, who was a cruel tyrant. He is not telling believers to compromise their consciences; "We must obey God rather than any human authority", as stated in (Acts 5:29).
But in most aspects of daily life, it is desirable for Christians to live according to the law of their land. Today, some Christians live in freedom and others live under repressive governments. All are commanded to cooperate with rulers as far as conscience will allow. we do this for the Lord's sake so that his message and his people will be respected. If we are persecuted, it should be for obeying God, not for breaking moral or civil laws.

5. The city gate was important in biblical times because it protected a city against invasion. It was also the place where the judges and rulers of the city sat. The city gate at Tel Gezer, was shown in the fact of the room inside the city gate that had compartments on either side, showing three rooms on one side and three on the other side. These rooms or compartments played a important role in the protection, as well as, the administrative running of the city. In this way the ruling body could meet visitors right inside the city gate and conduct their business there, as well as, this area being the second line of defence for the city should the city gate be broken through.
The city gate with it's six compartment room at Tel Gezer, was said to be from King Solomon's time. So the term used "To sit in the gate", was "To be a Judge".

Give some biblical examples of judges and others who sat in the gate.

In Genesis 19: 1
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

The gate, generally an arched entrance with deep recesses and seats on either side, was a place of meeting in the ancient towns of the East, where the inhabitants assembled either for social intercourse or to transact public business, it is the market, the seat of justice, of social intercourse and amusement, especially a favorite lounge in the evenings and a place to obtain news.

Those sitting in this place were not always those that judged, the city magistrates, but sometimes those conducting personal business with each other or just visiting for social reasons. There are some that think that Lot was a magistrate but this conflicts with what we are told in:

Gen 19:9  And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

This gives us an account that Lot had taken the angels to his home bypassing the judges at the gate.


Just a few of the many other places where we see the mention of those sitting in the city gate:

Gen 34:20  And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,

Gen 34:24  And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

Deu 21:19  Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

Deu 22:15  Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:

Rth 4:1  Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

2Sa 18:24  And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

2Sa 19:8  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

2Ch 18:9  And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

Hi Islandboy!  Please don't think that I am not reading and appreciating this study.  I haven't been aswering the questions because I haven't had a lot of time to really think about the study, I just read it when I can.  I don't want to just throw in an answer when I might be saying something not very intelligent.  Plus,  I am a terrible typist, I never typed in my life until recently, so it is laborious and tiring for me.  I love outdoor activities, and I would much rather weed an acre than type a page!  That's why my posts are short and (i hope) succint.

But your Bible study is very interesting , and I hope you and Pastor Roger carry on with it, I will read every word.

Carlotta,
I am glad you are enjoying this Bible study, and I am glad that you are reading along. It is ok that you don't feel up to answering the questions. I am not a great typist either, and I am not sure if I always make perfect sense, but I keep plugging along.  I have found an answer to your question, and so I decided to put it here so that you will read it.  :)
Your question involved the verse in Gensis 32: 25.  The preceding passages concern Jacob who had a dream about a ladder extending from the earth into heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it and with the Lord standing at the top of the ladder. Then Jacob who had used a stone for a pillow, took that stone setting it upright as a witness to God that something had happened in that spot.  Verses (1-8) speak about the vision as well as Jacob's fear of his brother Esau. In verses (9-23) Jacob is in fear of his life and calls out to God in earnest prayer for the Lord for deliverance. He also prepared a present for Esau of livestock and servants. He did these things to pacify Esau. In verses (24-32) is where most verses of Scripture speak of Jacob wrestling with a angel or a man.

I looked through all the Bible's I had on hand and found they all spoke of the event the same with no explanation of why Jacob was wrestling and why he won and deserved a blessing. Then at long last I came to Christiansunite, and went into the Bible Study Aids, listed on the left hand side of the page. There I read the Commentaries, and found this under Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible.  Genesis 32: 1-32   Here it is as printed:

Verses 1-8, The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts. While Jacob, to whom the promise belonged, had been in hard service, Esau had become a prince. Jacob sent a message, showing that he did not insist upon the birth-right. Yielding pacifies great offences. We must not refuse to speak respectfully, even to those unjustly angry with us. Jacob received an account of Esau's warlike preparations against him and was greatly afraid. A lively sense of danger, and quickening fear arising from it, may be found united with humble confidence in God's power and promise.

Verses 9-23,  Times of fear should be times of prayer: whatever causes fear, should drive us to our knees, to our God. Jacob had lately seen his guards of angels, but in this distress he applied to God, not to them; he knew they were his fellow-servants. There cannot be a better pattern for true prayer than this. Here is a thankful acknowledgement of former undeserved favours; a humble confession of unworthiness; a plain statement of his fears and distress; a full reference of the whole affair to the Lord, and resting all his hopes on him. The best we can say to God in prayer is what he has said to us. Thus he made the name of the Lord his strong tower, and could not but be safe. Jacob's fear did not make him sink into dispair, nor did his prayer make him presume upon God's mercy, without use of means. God answers prayers by teaching us to order our affairs aright. To pacify Esau, Jacob sent him a present. We must not despair of reconciling ourselves to those most angry against us.

Verses 24-32,  A great while before day, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helpeth our infirmities, and our earnest and vast desires can scarcely find words to utter them, and we still mean more than we can express, then prayer is indeed wrestling with God. However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bone put out of joint than go away without one. Those who would have the blessing of Christ, must resolve to take no denial. The fervent prayer is the effectual prayer. The Angel puts a lasting mark of honor upon him, by changing his name. Jacob signifies a supplanter. From henceforth he shall be celebrated, not for craft and artful management, but for true valor. Thou shall be called Israel, a prince with God, a name greater than those of the great men of the earth. He is a prince indeed that is a prince with God; those are truly honorable that are mighty in prayer. Having power with God, he shall have power with men too; he shall prevail, and gain Esau's favour. Jacob gives a new name to the place. He calls it Peniel, the face of God, because there he had seen the appearance of God, and obtained the favor of God. It becomes those whom God honors, to admire his grace toward them. The Angel who wrestled with Jacob was the second Person in the sacred Trinity, who was afterwards God manifested in the flesh, and who, dwelling in human nature, is called Immanuel. Jacob halted on his thigh. It might serve to keep him from being lifted up with the abundance of the revelations. The sun rose on Jacob; it is sun-rise with that soul, which has had communion with God.

6. How might a Christian "sit in the gate" in our culture?
In thinking about the answer to this question, I thought about all the things we are not doing. We have become good at looking the other way when things threaten our morality. We don't speak up and defend our faith in Christianity or in Jesus. We are so afraid of the politically correctness  that we let perversions happen in our streets and on our TV's and in teaching in our schools. We have become a passive people. So how might we "sit in the gate"? By doing all the things that we don't do now and more. Defend the faith and stand up for our Lord and Saviour. Keep your feet on solid ground.

FAITH  LESSON  2 :  WET  FEET

Read Joshua 3: 1-17       and     Matthew 3: 13-17

Jos 3:1  And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from gotcha2tim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
Jos 3:2  And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
Jos 3:3  And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Jos 3:4  Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
Jos 3:5  And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
Jos 3:6  And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
Jos 3:7  And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
Jos 3:8  And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
Jos 3:9  And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
Jos 3:10  And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgagotcha2es, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
Jos 3:11  Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
Jos 3:12  Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
Jos 3:13  And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
Jos 3:14  And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
Jos 3:15  And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
Jos 3:16  That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
Jos 3:17  And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.


Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Question:

1. a. In the Bible, the Jordan River represents a barrier to be crossed, both literally and figuratively. What barriers are preventing you from working toward God's purpose in your life?
   
         The barriers in my life are:
   
     Where I live (very isolated)
     Being disabled
     Unable to drive
     Neighbors who do not want to hear about God.

   
    b. What barriers has God helped you overcome?
     
God has show me how I can be affective on-line in telling and teaching others about Him.
     
Opened  the door to a new Church family and a place that I feel welcome and needed.
     
Most of all He has shown me how being humble and poor, is better than being rich and unaware,  of the needs of others.

Hi Islandboy!  I have been without a computer for nearly a week - ours crashed when my son installed some new software -so I haven't been able to thank you for answering my questions, about Jacob wrestling with the angel, until now.  The explanations you gave were very helpful, Thanks!
I'm still puzzled about the identity of the angel.  Genesis 32: 24 says 'a man', but Hosea 12:4 says   'the angel'.   And in Genesis, Jacob says that he has 'seen God face-to-face'. Where is the evidence that the angel was the second person of the Trinity?  This is a very difficult passage, isn't it?

Hi Carlotta,

If you look at Gen 32:30 you see that Jacob called the place Peniel which means "face of God". He did so because he was face to face with God not an Angel.

You mention Hos 12:4, read on to verse 5 and it tells you "Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial."

Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Here we see "the messenger of the covenant" (Jesus) also being called a messenger (angel). This is because He was not yet revealed as Jesus, the son of God.

QUESTION:


2. The Jordan River parted for God's people only after they made the first move and stepped out in faith.

     In what ways has the Christian community today failed to step out in faith on important issues?

  By not saying or doing anything to prevent or defend against the evil and immoral things and actions done in our country. We close our eyes and ears to it half hoping it will not last or will soon be forgotten. However, each step of immorality, is a step in the wrong direction and by not protesting against it we are condoning that type of behavior. And in a way we are accepting it as the norm which is far from following the laws of our Lord and Savior. We must speak out against evil, stay away from evil, and tell others of the danger of such evils.

Read  Joshua 2: 1-21     Joshua  6: 22-25              Matthew 1: 1-7

Faith Lesson 3 :  Firstfruits

Jos 2:1  And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of gotcha2tim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Jos 2:2  And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
Jos 2:3  And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
Jos 2:4  And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
Jos 2:5  And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
Jos 2:6  But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
Jos 2:7  And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
Jos 2:8  And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
Jos 2:9  And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
Jos 2:10  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
Jos 2:11  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Jos 2:12  Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
Jos 2:13  And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
Jos 2:14  And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
Jos 2:15  Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
Jos 2:16  And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
Jos 2:17  And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
Jos 2:18  Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
Jos 2:19  And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
Jos 2:20  And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
Jos 2:21  And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.



Jos 6:22  But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
Jos 6:23  And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
Jos 6:24  And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
Jos 6:25  And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.


Mat 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Mat 1:2  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Mat 1:3  And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
Mat 1:4  And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
Mat 1:5  And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Mat 1:6  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
Mat 1:7  And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

In every way that can be imagined. The majority of my posts on here are on this very subject.

It has become politically correct for Christians to fall back into the walls of their homes and churches so that we do not "offend" anyone.

FAITH LESSONS FIRSTFRUITS  QUESTIONS:

1. a. Who and what was Rehab?

     Rehab was a person that God knew had faith and belief in Him.
     Rehab was also a prostitute, a pagan, and a Canaanite, but she didn't allow her past sin to keep her from the task God laid before her.

   

    b. Why do you think the spies went to her house?
     
     1. It was a good place to gather information and have no questions asked in return.
     2. Rahab's house was in a ideal location for a quick escape because it was built into the city wall.
     3. God directed the spies to Rahab's house because he knew her heart was open to him and she would be an instrumental in the Israelite
         victory over Jericho.

   

    c. Why did Rehab risk so much to protect these spies?

      Because of fear and respect of the all-powerful God. And she made them promise that her family would be kept safe in the fall of Jericho.



2. a. What does it mean to you that God used Rehab to save His people and even included her----a prostitute---in the ancestral line of the Messiah?

      It shows me that God will use people of simple faith to accomplish his purposes, no matter what their past was like or how insignificant they
      may seem to be.

   

      b. What does it show about God's view of your past sin?
       
       That it is forgiven when I repented of my sins and turned my life over to God.



3. a. What other people in the Bible did God use despite their pasts?

   

    b. Have you ever felt inadequate because of a sinful past?
     
       Yes, many times.




4. a. Why did God order Jericho not to be rebuilt?

As with many things in the Old Testament they are a "shadow of things to come". There are many lessons to be learned from the Old Testament. Here we see the might and power of God, the condemnation of those who reject Him and His word. We also see His wonderful mercy towards those, even sinners as Rahab, that accept Him and His word as Lord and Saviour. Rahab had faith that she would be saved and it is through faith that we receive salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

The walls of Jericho was to be a testament to all this. Those that wish to build any other foundation will be condemned as well. The curse placed on the rebuilder is also a testament to God's promises to do as He says He will. We see this through Hiel the Bethelite in 1Ki 16:34 and the demise of his sons.

       

   

     b. What did the ruins of Jericho symbolize?

The power and promises of God against those that reject Him (see #3 above)

FACTS  ON  ISRAEL: Quoted from the book " The Last Two Million Years", by Readers Digest

With the proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948, an ancient Jewish dream became a reality. For almost 2000 years after they were displaced by the Romans from their homeland, the dream of a return to the "Promised Land" of Palestine  never ceased to burn in the minds of the Jewish people. The dream was sustained by their religion, which spoke of a Messiah who would lead them back from exile, and intensified by cruel  persecution.
Not all Jews suffered during the long centuries of the Diaspora (dispersion). Some groups merged successfully into the life of their adoptive countries, becoming leaders of commerce and industry, and making contributions to thought, science and the arts which were out of all proportion to their numbers. But for most Jews of the Diaspora, living precariously in ghettos, persecution was a more usual fate.
Since independence, Israel has been in constant conflict with its encircling Arab neighbors, who deny that the Israelis have any right to the soil of Palestine; four times the dispute has erupted into war. By the end of the six-day war of 1967 the Israelis had gained over 25,000 square miles of territory, stretching across the Sinai Peninsula to the banks of the Suez Canal, and including the West Bank of the River Jordan and Syria's Golan Heights. War broke out again in 1973, when Egypt and Syria attacked the Israelis in a bid to win back their lost territory.

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL:

The first Jews to reach Canaan ( present-day Israel) were wandering migrants who, under the leadership of Abraham, moved there from northern Mesopotamia. They later settled in Egypt, where they were victims of persecution until 1200 BC when another leader, Moses, led them out of bondage.
Their long arduous journey back to Canaan took the Hebrews 40 years. But, thoughout their trials, they were fortified by their religious faith. They were unique in their belief in one God, Jehovah, who would lead his people to their " Promised Land". The basic principles of their faith were laid down in the Ten Commandments which, according to the Bible, were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
After their return to Canaan, the Hebrews preserved their ancient tribal structure until they were united in 1025 BC by a warrior-king, Saul, to meet the challenge of the Philistines, a seafaring race who were pressing in from the north. Saul defeated the Philistines in several battles, and his successor, David, went on to complete his work, establishing a Hebrew kingdom with its capital at Jerusalem in 1005 BC.
The rule of David's son, Solomon, saw Jewish power reach its height. But after Soloman's death in 928 BC, his kingdom divided into two states, Israel and Judah, the latter ruled by the House of David, with its capital at Jerusalem. The two kingdoms quarrelled and their disputes opened the way to foreign invasion.

CONQUEST  AND  DISPERSION:

Israel was the first of the two Jewish states to fall to an outside power, when it was conquered by Assyria in 722 BC. After Assyria's fall, Judah was conquered by Babylon. This Babylonian captivity lasted for 50 years. When the Persians under Cyrus the Great destroyed Babylon in 539 BC, the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland and rebuild Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem; but they did not regain full Independence.
Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, and after his death two Greek dynasties battled for the division of his conquests. The Ptolemies controlled Israel until 200 BC, when they were driven out by the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus III. A Jewish revolt in 141 BC, led by Judas Maccabeus, ousted the Greeks. The Maccabee dynasty held power for 70 years before it was overthrown by the Romans.
Rome ruled Israel through a series of puppet kings. under one of these kings, Herod Antipas, Jesus Christ embarked on his mission. The Jews could never reconcile themselves to Roman rule and in AD 66 revolt broke out, fomented by a group called the Zealots.
Rome's reaction was harsh and brutal. Jerusalem fell to the Roman legions in AD 70 and the city's temple was again destroyed. The remnants of the rebel forces held out at Masada until AD 73, when they took their own lives rather than fall into Roman hands.
The Jewish spirit was not yet crushed. The Jews rose again in AD 132-5. Roman reaction was even more severe. Many Jews were forcibly deported and their lands laid to waste. Thus began the great Diaspora of the Jews. Millions of them settled in what were to become Christian countries of Europe--in lands such as Russia, Poland, Germany, Spain and England.
In many places the Jews were resented, for most Christians held them responsible for the death of Christ. They were confined to ghettos and forbidden to own land or practise a trade. Many of them could only earn a living by lending money, a practice which further alienated them from Christians who, in medieval times, were forbidden to do so. Pogroms (persecutions) were commonplace.
In nearly 1900 years Palestine, as the Romans had renamed Israel, was ruled and fought over by foreigners. Romans, Byzantines, Sasanid Persians, Arabs, Crusaders and Turks all controlled it at various times. The few Jews who remained there were a subject people.

BIRTH  OF  ZIONISM:

In the 19th century, the Zionist movement was founded by the Hungarian Jew Theodor  Herzl to press for the restoration of Palestine to the Jews. This movement grew rapidly, and increasing numbers of European Jews began to emigrate to Palestine.
Financial aid came from American Zionists, as well as, from Jewish philanthropists in Britain, such as Sir Moses Montefiore and Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
Toward the end of the First World War, Palestine, which since 1516 had been ruled by Turkey, was conquered by Britain. Anxious for Jewish support, the British foreign secretary, Arthur Balfour, pledged British support for the Zionists in making Palestine a national home for the Jewish people.
But this pledge contradicted one given to the Arabs, who thought that Palestine was to become an independent Arab state after the war. When the war ended, the British, in fact, continued to rule Palestine under a League of Nations mandate.
Increasing Jewish immigration under the pressure of Nazi persecution in the 1930's alarmed the Arabs, who began to attack Jewish areas.
The British then proposed to divide the country between the two groups. The Jews were prepared to discuss this plan, but the Arabs demanded full independence.

FOUNDATION  OF  MODERN  ISRAEL:

After the Second World War, Britain decided to admit only 2000 Jewish immigrants a month. This decision alienated world opinion, which remembered the 6 million Jews that the Nazis had slaughtered in concentration camps. In Palestine itself, groups of Palestinian Jews - notably the Irgun Zvai Leumi and the "Stern Gang' - began a terrorist campaign against British troops.
In 1947 the UN proposed that Palestine should be divided into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as a neutral zone. This plan was rejected by the Arabs but accepted by the Jews who, on May 14, 1948, proclaimed the independent state of Israel. Chaim Weizmann was its first president, and David Ben-Gurion its first prime minister. On the same day, the new state was attacked by Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. Israel emerged victorious from months of bitter fighting.

YEARS  OF  CONFLICT  AND  CRISIS:

In spite of their defeat in 1948, the Arabs declared that they would never recognise Israel's right to exist. In 1956, Israel was again confronted by a hostile Arab military alliance, whose professed aim was the destruction of Israel. Israeli troops struck at Egypt. At the same time an Anglo-French invasion force was sent to safeguard the Suez Canal, which Egypt had just nationalised. United Nation's pressure forced Israel to give up most of its conquests. But the Israelis secured access to the Red Sea through the port of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba.
It was the Egyptian blockade of Eilat which again led to war in 1967. Israel struck at Egypt, Syria and Jordan on June 5; six days later, its forces, under General Moshe Dayan, had captured the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the west bank of Jordan and the Golan Heights. The battle-torn Egyptian army now faced the victorious Israelis along the bank of the Suez Canal.
On October 6, 1973 the fourth Arab-Israeli war began. Massive Egyptian and Syrian armies attacked Israel along the defence lines it had established after the 1967 war; within days the Israelis counter-attacked, and when an inconclusive ceasefire was agreed later in October their forces were on the whole in an even stronger position. But the war proved the costliest and potentially the most dangerous of the four that Israel had fought in the generation since it was founded.

FAITH  LESSON  4: CONFRONTING  EVIL

Read  JUDGES 13--14      Numbers 6: 1--21

1. What is the significance, both cultural and spiritual, of the region known as the Shephelah?
 Shephelah is a Hebrew word meaning low and is usually translated as lowlands or the foothills. The word refers to a 12 to 15 mile wide
 region in Judea, comprised of foothills that are located between the mountains, where the Israelities lived, and the coastal plain
 dominated by the Philistines. In each of the Shephelah valleys, cities developed. The Aijalon, in the northern most valley, guarded  by  Tel Gezer. The Sorek and Elah valleys were guarded by Beth Shemesh and Azekah. And to the south, the city of Lachish, in the
 Lachish valley. these valleys, and the cities that overlooked them, were the location of many of the Old Testament battles. In the
 Shephelah, a godly culture and a pagan culture met, and those who won control over the area were able to shape the culture of the
 region.

2. What is the Shephelah of our culture?
 The Shephelah in our culture symbolizes the areas where God's values meet and mingle with the pagan practices of the world. Like the
 Israelites, we have that same choice, as to withdraw or be on the front line, defending our faith. So should we confront the secular
 values of the world, and gain control of the places in our neighbors and cities, towns and country, and the world, or just sit back and do
 nothing as evil continues to steal and rob our Lord's values and commandments from us ??

FAITH  LESSON 5: IRON  OF CULTURE

Read 1 Samuel 17: 1--54       1 Samuel 13: 19--22

1. What was the superior technology of the Philistines?
  They had the knowledge and trade of working with iron.

2. How did this impact the culture at large?
 Having learned and mastered the trade of working with iron, they became the dominant culture in the region. However, later  after the
 Israelites  learned the trade of working with iron,  the Philistines lost the power and influence over the land.

NEXT  SECTION:

FAITH  LESSON 1:  INNOCENT  BLOOD

Read   1 Kings 9: 15-17    Revelation 16: 16     2 Kings 17: 7--21   Jeremiah 7: 31-33. 32-35     Ezekiel  16: 15--25

The City of Megiddo:

The great city of Megiddo stood high above the Plain of Jezreel. It was located along the Via Maris, which was the primary trade route of that day, making this city strong in regards to economical concerns, as well as, cultural issues. Traders from Egypt and Babylon, Assyria and Persia all had to pass through the mountain pass at Megiddo. So controlling this city meant having enormous influence over the ancient world. Many battles were fought over control of this city. Archaeologists have discovered seven layers in Tel Megiddo, each respresting a time when the city was battled for, then destroyed, and then rebuilt.
Megiddo as it was, also stands as a symbol of the spiritual battleground between good and evil, a battle for the souls of people around the world.

1. What was it about Megiddo that represented the modern societies or institutions that shape culture?
    Megiddo served as a prominent place where Canaanites worshiped fertility gods. The Canaanites believed that the rains and the fertile soil of the coast came from a god named Baal. Baal lived in an underground world during the dry winter season, and when spring arrives Baal  would return to earth to sleep with his mistress, Asherah, so that the rains would return to the land. To encourage Baal's return, the Canaanites sacrificed their firstborn sons, by burning the infants alive. The priests and priestesses of Baal publicly engaged in sexual relations with each other and with the people, hoping to entice Baal and Asherah to mate. The pagans committed these abominable acts for the single most purpose: to gain personal and material prosperity.
    Canaanite worship distorted two of the most beautiful gifts God gave humans: life and the sexual relationship of husband and wife. God placed his people in Canaan so they could confront the evil practices of pagans with God's truth and love.
    The Israelities being nomadic desert people, trusted God as the God of wilderness. But when they settled in the fertile valleys of Jezreel Valley, they were attracted to the promises of Canaanite fertility cults. They gradually made Baal worship a part of their lives. Seeking self-satisfaction and personal success and fertile land, they participated in the temple prostitution and Baal worship. Both King Ahab and Manassah were so involved in pagan religion that they too sacrificed their children to Baal.  And even as they committed these detestable acts, the Israelites still worshiped God in the Temple.  God hated to see innocence and purity destroyed by his very own people: Instead of fighting against evil, they were participating in it: The Israelites eventually paid the consequences of their actions when foreign armies invaded and took Israel into captivity.

2. In what ways does our culture destroy human life or devalue its sacredness ?
    Movies, lifestyles, promotion of homosexuality, abortion, sexual relationships before marriage, government politics, greed, personal selfishness, waste and ruin of planet earth by pollution, worshiping false gods.

THE  APPEAL  OF  IDOLS
Quoted from  Life Application Study Bible



The Appeal of  Idols

Power   
The people wanted freedom from the authority of both God and the priests. they wanted their religion to fit their life-style, not their life-style to fit their religion.

Modern  Parallel
People do not want to answer to a greater authority. Instead of having power over others, God wants us to have the Holy Spirit's power to help others.

Pleasure
Idol worship exalted sensuality without responsibility or guilt. People acted out the vicious and sensuous personalities of the gods they worshiped, thus gaining approval for their degraded lives.

Modern Parallel
People deify pleasure, seeking it at the expense of everything else. Instead of seeking pleasure that leads to long-range disaster, God calls us to seek the kind of pleasure that leads to long-range rewards.

Passion
Humanity was reduced to little more than animals. The people did not have to be viewed as unique individuals but could be exploited sexually, politically, and economically.

Modern Parallel
Like animals, people let physical drives and passion rule them. Instead of seeking passion that exploits others. God calls us to redirect our passions to areas that build others up.

Praise and Popularity
The high and holy nature of God was replaced by gods who were more a reflection of human nature, thus more culturally suitable to the people. These gods no longer required sacrifice, just a token appeasement.

Modern Parallel
Sacrifice is seen as self inflicted punishment, making no sense. Success is to be sought at all costs. Instead of seeking praise for ourselves, God calls us to praise him and those who honor him.

FAITH  LESSON  2: WHO  IS  GOD

Read        1 Kings 16: 29        Joshua 24: 14--18

1. What does the name " Elijah " mean?
His name meant  Yahweh is God.


2. What does Mount Carmel mean?
The name stands  for "God's  Vineyard."   It is one of the most fertile and heavily forested areas in the whole country of Israel.


3. Who brought Baal worship into such prominence in Israel?
King Ahab's wife Jezebel, a Phoenician woman, who practiced one of the most extreme forms of Baal worship.


4. What are the ways that people today "waver" between devotion to God and honoring the gods  of modern society?
People today are lead astray not only by cultural attractions, but also by the many cult religions. Instead of listening to our own hearts and minds, we listen to and follow the whims and ways of rich and powerful actors, politicans and media, and talk show hosts. We are told that we are more important than anyone else and we are to chase after wealth and various entertainments and different kinds of romantic love, no matter whether we are married or not.  Doing so only makes us self-centered people who rarely think of anyone else but our own self interests. We are being taught by a wide group of religions that it is okay to blend eastern religions in with Christianity. Many of our own ministers have been miss-lead by the Purpose Driven Life books.  We as Christians should stand out because of our commitment to God. Sure it is easier to blend in with the crowd and say nothing, but as we look around our world what stands out most?  Do not waver between false gods, believe in only the one true God, and stand up and defend Him, in thought and word and deed.

To those following this study, I now have a way that will greatly help you understand these Faith lessons. I plan to continue to put up on the forum the Bible verses references and answer a question or two from the study guide. I hope you continue to follow along as we explore Bible history, and how that history is still relvent today.

The following link will take you to the Focus on the Family website, with the words and teachings of Ray Vander Laan.  There are maps and articles to read and also the complete study of Israel and how it relates to the Bible.

http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1705


The following link goes to the Bible lessons about Irseal's history and its meaning in our lives today.

http://www.mainstreetbaptist.org/lessons-from-israels-history-/

FAITH  LESSON 3:  WAGES OF SIN

Read:   2 Chronicles 29--32     Isaiah 36--37    2 Kings 17: 1--20


1. What did Hezekiah do before the Assyrian army arrived that restored Judah's relationship to God?

King Hezekiah worked hard in removing the high places used in idol worship, he cut down the Asherah poles, and destroyed the idols.


2. What was Hezekiah's response when the Assyrian commander threatened Jerusalem?

When he received the letter from King Sennacherib, King Hezekiah prayed to God to deliever Jerusalem, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.       2 Kings 19: 19

3. What efforts did Hezekiah make to do his part as king?

He showed great wisdom in preparing Jerusalem against King Sennacherib's attack through his strong faith in God, and through prayer to God, that his prayer be heard by God. And indeed it was. An Angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers thus defeating King Sennacherib, who returned to Assyria, leaving the city of Jerusalem untouched.

FAITH  LESSON: 4     THE  LORD  IS  MY  SHEPHERD

Read:       Psalm 23         John 10: 1--18     


1. How would you describe the "green pastures" of the shepherd?

God challenges believers to trust Him day by day. And if we trust Him he will always be near when we need Him.

2. How does the shepherd led the sheep?

By his voice. The sheep learn the sound of his voice and we follow no other.

3. How does this help to understand the need to listen for the voice of Jesus the Shepherd?

If we listen to His words and listen for His instruction we will come to know His voice and never follow another that tempts us to follow them which take us away from God.



4. Why do sheep need a shepherd?

For protection, guidance, and to find food and drink.


5. What does it mean that God is your Shepherd?

That we are under His care and protection.


6. Where are the quiet waters located in the lands of the Bible?

Hidden mountain springs in areas that are not dangerous to visit.


7. How can there be floods in the desert?

The limestone mountains in the desert cannot absorb water and so in a rainstorm the water rushes down the hills into canyons called "wadis", where as the flow of water builds up they become rushing flood waters. After the rainfall stops the canyons become dry again except in quiet areas where wildlife and sheep can safely drink.


8. What can you learn from the fact that only the shepherd can determine which waters are quiet?

That the Shepherd is wise and knows what is best for His sheep. He knows where the dangers are and knows how to avoid them. If we commit to following Him he will aways led us to quiet waters where we can safely quench our thirst.


9. How can we learn when the water we seek will quench our thirst?

If we follow our Shepherd, the way to the safe waters is a clear safe straight path. Only the Shepherd knows which waters are safe. We learn by reading our Bibles and studying His Word, and listening for His voice. My trusting God, we will be on the path of righteousness and that path leads straight to God. If we follow other voices or take our own detours on the trail, we are not truly His sheep.


10. If Jesus is the Shepherd, who are His "under--shepherds" ?
We are. In spreading the word of God, we are doing the work of God.

Here is another link to help you understand the above questions and how they relate to you personally. The link takes you to an on-line book catalog, that will allow you to read the book there or download it. The name of the book is  "The Song of our Syrian Guest" and it was written by, William  Allen  Knight. This book tells about the details of the 23rd Psalm, in way that describes the life of the shepherd in caring for his sheep. Once you have read it the meaning of this most beloved verse will have a richer impact on your life. A better understanding of what our dear Lord does for us in being our Shepherd.

Go to:  http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12615

At the top of the page click where it says to read on-line. Or at the bottom of the page click to download. If you read on-line, at the bottom of each page you click to go on to the next page of story.

FAITH  LESSON 5:  GOD  WITH  US

Read:   Genesis 15      Exodus 20: 1-21, 25-30      1Corinthians 6: 19


1. Why was the temple at Arad preserved?

The worshiper's who were devoted to God could not bear tearing down the Temple as ordered by King Hezekiah. So they buried the Temple under the soil. Thousands of years later the Temple remains were found by archaeologists.




2. What was the significance of the altar of sacrifice?

Israel's sacrifice system was built on the covenant between God and Abram. (Genesis 15). God told Abram that if he was obedient, Abram would have land and descendants, and all nations would be blessed through him. In forming a covenant in those days, animals would be killed and cut in two parts and placed on the ground so that the blood would run in a v-shaped ditch, where each party would walk through the blood, symbolizing they would pay with their life if either of them broke the terms of the covenant.
God made his covenant with Abram in this way. Abram made a bloodpath using a goat, heifer, ram, pigeon and dove. God, in the form of a smoking firepot walked through the path and affirmed his promises to Abram. Abram was terrified as he knew he could not keep from sinning. But God, in the form of a blazing torch, walked the bloodpath for Abram, knowing Abram couldn't keep the covenant. God's actions said, " If either you or I break this covenant, I will pay for it with my own blood."

3. What was the purpose of the altar of incense?

The alter of incense was the place where the priest would say prayers to God for his congregation. As the priest prayed he poured incense over the hot coals and as the smoke rose in the air the people imaged their prayers going up to heaven.

4. What was written on each of the tablets Moses received from God on Mount Sinai?

The Ten Commandments.


5. What were the purposes of the tablets?

The words on the tablets were the laws God set for His people, as well as, being a covenant between God and His people that He would live among them.




6. Where was God's earthly presence symbolized in the Old Testament, in the Gospels, and after Pentecost?

God commanded Moses to build the ark of the covenant. The ark was kept in Israel, in the Holy of Holies Temple. On the lid of the ark, between the wings of the cherubim, which were  craved there, God lived among His people. When the ark of the covenant and Temple were destroyed, God's faithfulness to the covenant did not end. He once again chose to live among His people in the form of a human being. God also showed His people that priests were no longer needed as mediators before God. He would continue to live with them.




7. Why did God walk the "path of blood"?
To build a covenant with His people declaring that for the sins of His people He would sacrifice His own blood to pay for their sins.

I hope and pray this Bible Study has been exciting and interesting. I hope the links I provided have given you a look  into the land of Israel, its people, and its history.  if you took the time to go and read the story of the life of a shepherd and how it explains the 23 rd Psalm, I pray that it opened your mind to greater understanding of the Bible.


I plan to continue to look for and provide more ways that lead you to your Bible.  As you search out answers to questions in your Bible that  will fill your heart with hope and love, peace and joy, through the reading of God's Words.

Remember as you follow along with this Bible study the  following link is the site that brings the knowledge and answers for you to read along and study this  Bible history and God's words of faithfulness to you.

http://www.followtherabbi.com

I have aways been a firm believer in that the more one knows about a subject, the better one is equipped to make firm solid informed decisions in the future. Before we continue on with the Faith Lessons I want to give you a few more links to follow that will give you more insight into Israel.

This first link takes you to the Israel Science and Technology Website. Here you will find maps, satellite pictures, history of Israel, as well as, history of Holidays, their Flag, and by clicking on (home) a host of more topics.

http://www.science.co.il/Israel-history.asp

The second link goes to a site that provides more history in greater detail along with drawings and maps. This history begins at the begining and goes up to present day 2008.  It is titled " Brief History of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict."

http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm

Now we move on to Volume 5, titled  "Faith Lessons of the Early Church."

This lesson will explore the methods Jesus used to prepare his disciples for the task he would lay before them; that of carrying the message of his kingdom beyond the boundaries of Galilee. The region where this message spread the most quickly was Asia Minor, the most pagan area of the Roman Empire. You will be taken to three different locations and examine three different but related themes. At Korazin, Jesus as rabbi and his followers as disciples were prepared for their mission to the world. At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus there demonstrated to the pagan world the news of His kingdom. And the last stop is at the Mount of Olives, where the final commission of Jesus is placed in context as the disciples became witnesses to the truth; Jesus seated at God's right hand as His Divine Son. We will read and hear and see as those disciples did. Then we too, by God's grace, will be able to face the pagan "Asia Minors" of our world.

To understand the call of Jesus to be his disciples, we need to understand the relationship between rabbi (teacher) and disciple.
Read:
Luke 7: 40,  12: 13, 19: 39, and 20: 27--28

!. Who called Jesus "Rabbi" ?


Read:
Matthew 5: 1--2, 13: 1--3, Mark 6: 4--6, and Luke 4: 14--16, 8: 1---18.


2. What are the activities of a first-century rabbi that each of these Scripture passages describes ?





Read:
Matthew 10: 24--25  and Luke 6: 40


3. The Hebrew word for "disciple" is talmid (plural: talmidim) and means "someone who wants to be like his teacher. How did the
disciples become like their Teacher?





Read:
Mark 8: 27--38.



4. Caesarea Philippi was known as a center for pagan worship. How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus called to the crowd. What would a pagen have to do to deny himself? 


a. Do you think the disciples felt ashamed as they heard Jesus proclaim his message ?




Read:
Matthew 28: 16--20, Luke 24: 44--53, and Acts 1: 1--12


5. What did the disciples witness ?


a. How would the Gentiles receive this message ?


b. Why did this make the mission and the message of the disciples so countercultural ?


c. How does this affect our mission and message ?

If you are trying to follow this study and have gone to the above link for "followtherabbii" and not found the information on the study, this is because the site has been updated. If you go to the bottom of the main page click on site index. This will give you more choices in finding the information that you seek.

http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1705