Nina

Jacob set up the stone as a way to honor God and remember what God had promised him. At that time, anointing was a way of cleansing and consecrating something to God. Jacob promises God that if God will watch over him, Bring him safely to his father's land, provide food and clothing then Yahweh will be his God, the pillar will be God's house and he would give a tenth of everything to God.

Many things in life cannot be reversed or re-done. That is why we must seek God and not quickly jump into things as Isaac did. When we doubt, we need to check things out. The blessing given to Jacob was God's will.

One of Isaac's flaws was to be too trusting. With the time involved, Jacob's voice, etc., he had doubt that it was really Esau but he dropped his doubt and accepted Jacob as Esau without pressing the issue. Sometimes, this is a flaw with Christians. Doubt is there but it is easier to go with the flow than to question and cause a rift. One of Rebekah's flaws was discriminate love. Jacob and Esau should each have been loved for who they were and not their birth position. Another flaw was deceit. I think all Christians have this from time to time. Esau's self gratitude was his main flaw and Jacob evidentally learned deceit from his mother. From time to time, we are guilty of each of these character flaws. We can pray to overcome them.

I believe it causes tension and strife when children sense you love one child more than another. I believe this is one of the biggest mistakes a parent can make. It can make a child feel worthless or give a false sense of superiority. It is the cause of a lot of domestic violence. I am thankful this was not the case in my family. To love our children equally but differently means we have to consider their capabilities and treat each child as an individual. Children do not have the same strengths and weaknesses even in the same family. We have to show love, concern, and appreciation for each unique quality a child possesses.

Q3. (Genesis 27:6-29) God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:23). To what extent does this excuse her plan to deceive her husband Isaac? How much responsibility does Jacob bear in the deception? I don't believe Rebekah's plan to deceive Issac was all right even though God told her that Jacob is to rule over Esau. Did Rebekah do this because of God's plan or because she loved Jacob more than Esau? Many times we sin and try to excuse it as being part of God's plan. God would have taken care of the situation without the human deceit. As always, God used human imperfection to work out his plan. Jacob was a willing partner in the deceit. He cannot be excused just for doing what his mother told him to do. He was a grown man, he easily could have said this is wrong, I'm sorry, I cannot be a part of this deception.

Q2. Was Rebekah a spiritual woman, that is, interested in spiritual things? Was Isaac a spiritual man? Which do you think was the more spiritually sensitive? What evidence of spirituality do you see in Jacob? In Esau? I believe Rebekah was a spiritual woman. She was willing to leave her family and become Issac's wife because she believed Abraham's servant and that her reactions to him were what he had prayed for. Another indication of her spirituality was praying for a child and after becoming pregnant asking why the struggle in her womb. God spoke to her and she accepted his word that there were two nations struggling in her womb. Issac was also a spiritual man. He had the upbringing of Abraham and saw what God did for him. He prayed for his barren wife and she became pregnant. I believe Issac probably was more spiritual only because it was Rebekah who plotted with Jacob to obtain the blessing from Issac. Both Jacob and Esau had evidence of spirituality, however, Esau turned from his family and God after Jacob obtained his birthright and blessing. He became bitter and took wives from foreigners although later he forgave Jacob.. Even though Jacob sinned by deceiving Issac, he turned to God and was richly blessed in obtaining his wives, growing a large herd of animals, and becoming a part of the lineage of Jesus. He prayed, set up memorials to God, and was greatly blessed by God.

Q1. Why does the New Testament condemn Esau for selling his birthright? (Hebrews 12:16-17) What did selling the birthright represent? What does this transaction say about Esau's character and values? What does it reveal about Jacob's character and values? Esau was only concerned with satisfying his hunger immediately. His birthright did not have meaning to him. He could not wait for physical gratification in order to receive his rights as the first born in the family. Selling his birthright represented unconcern for his rights and legal aspects of their culture. It clearly represents someone who does not think about the future or the consequences of his actions. Jacob's part in obtaining the birthright does not represent a man of character. You would think a man would gladly give a bowl of lentils to his hungry brother. Obtaining the birthright as Jacob did is not a show of good character. His name meaning deceiver fits the situation. He shows no love for his brother and seems only concerned about what he can get for himself.

Q2. (Romans 5:2-5) According to this passage why should we rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations? One by one, what is the importance to our lives of: perseverance, tried character, and hope? We should rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations because God uses them to develop his character in us. Perseverance is important because it gives us the ability to hold out until the end in the face of difficulties. Tried character is going through a test or ordeal and having the ability to stand it or come through it. It is experience that we as Christians gain from. Hope is built in us through these experiences and gives us the assurance that through the resurrection of Jesus, we will be resurrected and be prepared to go to heaven.

Q1. (Romans 5:1-2) According to verses 1-2, faith is a key to salvation. For Abraham (4:3), what was the relationship between faith and justification? For us (5:1-2), what is the relationship between faith and justification? In your own words, just what does it mean to be justified? Abraham's faith, simply believing God, brought him righteousness. For us, we have peace with God because of our faith that brings justification for us. Without faith, there is no justification. Faith is the substance that allows us to receive God's forgiveness or justification. To be justified means to be forgiven and counted as righteous.

Q9. (3:21) How can God receive more glory in your local congregation? How can you help this happen? God will receive more glory in our church when we learn to praise Him. We have to get to the point of putting ourselves to the back of our thoughts and focusing on God. When we are free to praise God, it encourages others to praise Him as well. We must strive to increase our prayer life, our faith, our study of the Bible and learn to give God the glory by prayer and songs of worship to Him. I can help this happen by being an example and encouraging others to worship Him.

Q8. (3:20) How should verse 3:20 of the doxology energize your prayers? What happens when we limit God by our own ability to comprehend? How can we get past this failing? The verse should energize our prayers because it tells us that we ourselves are what limits what God will do for us. God is all powerful and we are the reason things do not happen. There is no limit to what God can do for us except the limits we set ourselves. We limit God by the power that is working in us. When we limit God by our ability to understand, we cannot expect great things. There is a lot that we don't understand. We don't have to understand everything, we just have to believe and accept the blessings given to us. We can improve and get past limiting God and our ability to comprehend by studying God's word and applying it to our own lives. We can learn of the faith of others in the Bible and pray for faith like theirs. The limits may not be instantly broken but will gradually come as we pray and draw near to God. Prayer and studying God's work increases our faith and breaks the binds that we have that limit God.

Q7. (3:19) Have you ever prayed for a fellow believer that he or she might be "filled with all the fullness of God"? What would you be praying for with that kind of prayer? How does this prayer relate to Ephesians 5:27 and Colossians 1:28? I don't know if I have actually used those words in praying for a fellow believer but I have prayed that fellow believers be filled with God's presence and knowledge that he will provide in every way. In praying for a believer to be "filled with all the fullness of God" I would be praying for total submission to God's will and that God would fill every need and expectation. Ephesians 5:27 relates to the fullness of God in that the scripture tells us to present ourselves are a believer without spot or wrinkle - without sin. God can help us strive for that if we pray for the fullness of God. Colossians 1:28 relates to the fullness of God in that we must teach and tell everyone that they may be presented perfect in Christ.

Q6. (3:17-19) Why does Paul pray that the believers grasp the fullest extent of Christ's love for them? How does comprehending this love change a person's spiritual life? Is there any end to Christ's love for a person? As believers we know of God's love. Paul is praying that believers will come to more of a knowledge of the greatness and vastness of God's love. Getting a better grasp or understanding of the greatness of God's love will help us grow in the riches of Christ. Paul is praying for them to have power to grasp, faith to grasp the fullness of Christ's love for us. The fullness of his love surpasses our knowledge. Getting a better understanding of this love changes our spiritual lives by leading us closer to God. It increases our faith and gives us more power to receive, believe, and share with others. We cannot grasp the greatness of God's love. I believe it is like a circle that totally encompasses us with no beginning or end.