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Q2. (Colossians 1:9-12a) What are the elements of Paul's prayer for the Colossian believers? What are the seven or eight specific results that he prays will be produced in their lives? Which of these are most important in a Christian disciple? Which, you think, are least important? What happens when some are missing? Paul prays that

Q1. (Colossians 1:5-6) Paul glorifies the gospel, the good news. What words does he use to describe the action of the gospel in verses 5 and 6? Given the temptation the recipients have to adopt another religious philosophy, why do you think he reminds them of the world scope of the gospel's influence? What happens in our day when a church becomes embarrassed or unimpressed with the gospel message? How does this affect the church? Paul says that the gospel is the word of truth, and what we may safely venture our immortal souls upon: it proceeds from the God of truth and the Spirit of truth, and is a faithful saying. He calls it the grace of God in truth, Col 1:6. . It is a great mercy to hear this word of truth; for the great thing we learn from it is the happiness of heaven All who hear the word of the gospel ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, that is, be obedient to it, and have their principles and lives formed according to it. Wherever the gospel comes, it will bring forth fruit to the honour and glory of God: It bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you. We mistake, if we think to monopolize the comforts and benefits of the gospel to ourselves. Does the gospel bring forth fruit in us? So it does in others.

Q4. (Genesis 48:15) How did God act as a Shepherd to Jacob? How does God act as a Shepherd to you? Do you trust him or rebel against his shepherding? Jacob spoke of God as his shepherd throughout his life. In his old age, he could clearly see his dependence upon God. This marks a total attitude change from that of his scheming and dishonest youth. To develop an attitude like Jacob

Q3. Why do we equate blessing with a lack of crisis in our lives? What are the effects of crises on our faith? How do they help us grow in our faith? Why do they sometimes destroy our faith? The Key to God

Q2. (Genesis 48) Why does Jacob cross his hands when blessing Ephraim and Manasseh? Why does Joseph try to stop him? In what sense are Jacob's blessings an actual prophecy from God? What was done was no accident, for God had revealed this to Jacob. Joseph thought it was a mistake by Jacob, probably due to Jacob's failing eyesight (see vs. 10). However, what Joseph could not see with his good eyes, Jacob could see with his prophetic eyes. The Holy Spirit guided Jacob to cross his hands in an act of prophecy concerning the two tribes that would descend from Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob refused to change his hands, saying: "[Manasseh] too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations" (vs. 19). Jacob, of course, was right. Ephraim became the chief tribe of the ten tribes in northern Israel. In fact, when the ten tribes in the north split from the two tribes in the south, the northern tribes were sometimes collectively called Ephraim. I am sure that Jacob himself did not mind giving this prophecy concerning the younger son of Joseph. Recall that Jacob himself was in the same position: he was the chosen of God to be a patriarch, but he was not the eldest son in his family. "This passing over the firstborn is one of the most striking features of the book of Genesis. So it was with Seth instead of Cain, Shem instead of Japheth, Abraham instead of Haran, Isaac instead of Ishmael, Jacob instead of Esau. God chooses whom He will, and often not as the world chooses. "Lest any one should glory in the flesh, He designedly illustrates His own free mercy, in choosing those who had no worthiness of their own.

Q1. (Genesis 47:9) In what sense is life on earth like a "pilgrimage" or a journey with no permanent home? What happens to us when we settle down and get too comfortable with our lives? How do we retain a "journeying spirit" in our faith? We are strangers in this world, and a travellers towards another world: this earth is our inn, not a permanent home. We should not be attached to this world, because all that we are and have here is temporary. Only our relationship with God and our service to him will last. Jesus told us not store up our treasures here; store them in heaven. The things that are not seen, are eternal. The treasures of heaven are involable, incorruptible, and everlasting. Now we may know whether we have chosen these things for our treasure, by our high estimation of the worth of them, by our sensible apprehension of the want of them, by the torrent and tendency of our affection towards them, and by our laborious diligence and endeavours in the pursuit of them. Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.

Q4. (Genesis 46:2-4) Faith is what quiets our fears. What in God's word to Jacob at Beersheba quiets his fears? God had brought the same assurance to Jacob before (28:15; 31:3). Why do you think he had stopped believing it? What is the relationship between faith and God's words? God reassured Jacob by promising to go with him and take care of him. Those that go where God sends them shall certainly have God with them. In undertaking a journey, or entering upon any new plan, we should feel our dependence upon God, seek his blessing, and commit ourselves to hsi guidance and care

Q3. (Genesis 45:4-8) Contrast Jacob and Joseph. Jacob has suffered great loss. Joseph has suffered great injustice. Why is Jacob's vision so bleak, but Joseph's so broad? What have been their differing responses to fear? What insight has kept Joseph from being bitter towards his brothers? Jacob feels God forsaken, pessimistic, and in despair, Joseph has an all season God. He is a God you can trust even when life is not easy Although Joseph

Q2. (Genesis 42:35-43:14) What is Jacob's state of mind after the first trip to Egypt? If you were a psychologist, how would you diagnose him? What factors have paralyzed Jacob mentally and spiritually? Why do you think Jacob changed his mind about going again to secure grain? He was still thinking that his son Joseph was dead and it was only hunger that made him to allow is sons to go Egypt to buy grain. Jacob and his sons had no relief from the famine. They could not see God

Q1. (Genesis 37:31-35) What does bringing the blood-stained robe to Jacob say about these sons' attitude toward their father? How does this loss affect Jacob? How do you think it affects his future behavior? To cover their evil action, Jacob

Q5. (Genesis 35:22) What is the significance of Reuben's sin? In what way does it go beyond a sexual sin? We're not told, but how do you think this affected the family dynamics? Extra credit: Reuben has acted dishonorably here. In what ways does Reuben act honorably in the future? (37:21-29; 42:22, 37) Reuben

Q4. (Genesis 35:9-15) Why do you think God appears to Jacob yet another time? What are the primary promises that God renews to Jacob? God appeared to Jacob yet another time to encouraged against the fear of the Canaanites. The first time it was to encourage him against the fear of Esau. Two things are promised him. 1. That he should be the father of a great nation: great in number, a company of nations shall be of thee-Every tribe of Israel was a nation, and all the twelve, a company of nations: great in honour and power, kings shall come out of thy loins. 2. That he should be master of a good land, Ge 35:12. The land that was given to Abraham and Isaac is here entailed on Jacob and his seed. These two promises had also a spiritual signification, which we may suppose Jacob himself had some notion of: for without doubt Christ is the promised seed, and heaven is the promised land; the former is the foundation, and the latter the top-stone of all God's favours.

Q3. (Genesis 35:1-5) Why does Jacob's household need spiritual renewal? Why is it important to get rid of foreign gods? What do washing and putting on clean clothes represent? What "foreign gods" do you need to throw away? In what ways do you need to repent and lead a new, clean life? Jacob needed Spiritual renewal because of the crime his son had done, so he wanted to focus on God again. It is important to get rid of foreign gods because they ruin our faith to true God and divert our spiritual focus. Washing and putting clean clothes represent repenting and accepting Jesus as a personal savior to our lives. An idol is anything we put before God. Idols don

Q3. (Genesis 35:1-5) Why does Jacob's household need spiritual renewal? Why is it important to get rid of foreign gods? What do washing and putting on clean clothes represent? What "foreign gods" do you need to throw away? In what ways do you need to repent and lead a new, clean life? Jacob needed Spiritual renewal because of the crime his son had done, so he wanted to focus on God again. It is important to get rid of foreign gods because they ruin our faith to true God and divert our spiritual focus. Washing and putting clean clothes represent repenting and accepting Jesus as a personal savior to our lives. An idol is anything we put before God. Idols don

Q2. What happened when the Israelites disobeyed God and intermarried with the Canaanites? Why do you think God commanded them not to intermarry? Was this racial or spiritual or both? Why are Christians to marry "in the Lord"? When Israelites disobeyed God and intermarried the Canaanites they lost track of God

Q1. (Genesis 34) Why do you think Jacob is so silent after the rape of his daughter? What should he have done instead of being silent? What was right about the sons' reaction? What was wrong? What threat does the family now face if they stay in Shechem? I think the main reason could be because his sons were not at home at that time, or he wanted the full brothers to protect their sister because Jacob had many wives. The best he could have done was to have talked to the father of Shechem and two fathers would have probably brought about an amicable arrangement of the affair. The right thing about the sons

Q4. (Genesis 33:1-16) How has Esau changed since Jacob had gone to Haran? How has Jacob changed? How does the encounter demonstrate Jacob's "craftiness"? How does it demonstrate his faith? Can Jacob be humble and "crafty" at the same time? Esau was changed in that the bitterness over losing his birthright and blessing seems gone. Instead, Esau was content with what he had. He also greeted his brother, Jacob, with a great hug. Imagine how difficult this must have been for a man who once had actually plotted his brother

Q3. (Genesis 32:24-30) Who was the "man" Jacob wrestled with? What does the wrestling represent? Was it spiritual or physical? Why does the "man" wound Jacob permanently? What do you think the limp means to him? Jacob wrestled with God because he said himself that I saw God face to face, and my life was spared. . ." (Genesis 32. Wrestling represents prayer. It was both Spiritual and Physical. The man wounded Jacob permanently so that he will reminder the rest of his life that he met God. The limp mend that God crippled Jacob and broke him of his being a supplanter, deceiver, and attacker from the rear. Every time Jacob limped, it was a constant reminder that God won at last.

Q2. (Genesis 32.9-12) What does Jacob's prayer tell us about his fears? About his faith? About his pride? What are the signs of spiritual growth you see in Jacob since he left Canaan to go to Haran years before? Jacob had taken Esau

Q1. (Genesis 32:1-2) Why does God reveal the angel army to Jacob? What is the significance of the presence of this army? Why do you think he calls the place Mahanaim ("two camps")? It is because Jacob was afraid of his brother Esau and God was giving him comfort and assurance that He will protect him from danger. The significance of the presence of this army is that God was with Jacob Has He had promised earlier. He called the place Mahanaim either because the angels divided themselves into two companies, and placed themselves some before, others behind him, or some on each side of him, for his greater comfort and security; or because the angels made one host, and his family another.

Q5. Why do we often fail to see God's blessings during the everyday conflicts of our lives? Why do blessings and conflicts so often come at the same time? What hope do we have in the midst of our struggles? Conflict is a natural part of life. Although many people think conflict means open controversy, a truer definition might be the absence of peace-which can be obtained in its most complete sense only from God. God made everything perfect. When man sinned, that perfection was spoiled and all of our environment was tainted. The fact is, we live in a world where evil abounds. It is rampant throughout every aspect of creation. We are subject to the evil actions of sinful people around us. God can and does intervene in some events, but why not others? Only He knows that answer, but the Bible teaches that there will be a time when He will end this world as we know it. In heaven, there will be no more death, sadness, pain, sickness, or suffering of any kind.

Q4. (Genesis 31:44-55) What are the terms of the Mizpah Covenant? Of what is the Mizpah monument supposed to remind Jacob and Laban? To be binding, an agreement had to be witnessed by a third party. In this case, Jacob and Laban used God as their witness that they would keep their word.

Q3. (Genesis 31:17-36) Why did Jacob and his family leave without saying good-bye to Laban? In what sense did they "deceive" Laban? (31:20, 27). Was anything they did unjust or unrighteous? If so, how? They left without saying goodbye because Laban could not have allowed them to leave, it is through Jacob that Laban was getting rich and he could have not just left him to go. Am not sure in what sence they deceived Laban. What Jabob did was just since God told him that He was going to bless him and it was time for him to go to God

Q2. (Genesis 30:25-43) At what point do you think Jacob realizes that his breeding techniques are not the cause of his growing wealth? According to Deuteronomy 8:17-18, what danger are we in when our income and assets begin to increase? Jacob realized that is God who gave him wisdom, understanding, skill, bodily strength and health in the technique he used during breeding time. In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich. It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to manage it for him.

Q1. (Genesis 29) Why do you think God allows Jacob to be tricked into 14 years of labor for two wives? What purposes do you think God is working out through these circumstances? Those who wickedly deceive others should not wonder if others deceive them, and they experience the evils of it through life. Jacob had deceived his father, and now his wife's father deceived him.