Reading: Genesis 22:13-18
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
What is the context of the incident?
Abraham had just gone up onto the mountaintop to sacrifice his only son, as the LORD had instructed him to. Just before he did, however, the angel of the LORD stopped him. In thanks to God, Abraham found a ram caught in a thicket and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Why was the name appropriate?
Abraham called that place Jehova-Jireh, The LORD Will Provide, because the LORD had provided Abraham with another sacrifice (the ram) in place of his son.
Is obedience important in the account? In what way?
Absolutely!! The LORD saw that Abraham truly feared Him and was willing to give back the only son that He had blessed them with. God had provided them with a son that was nothing short of a miracle, and then provided Abraham with a sacrifice to praise Him up on the mountaintop as well. Had Abraham not been obedient to God and had he tried to hide or run away with his only son, the LORD would not have provided him with another sacrifice, and he would have likely lost his son. (because, we all know that running and hiding from the LORD just doesn’t work. Go ask Jonah!)
Summarize what the incident teaches of God’s character and the way he showed his nature to humankind before we had the example of Jesus.
God shows us that He is our Jehova-Jireh by providing for us everything that we need. He gave Abraham a son with his wife, Sarah, and He gave Abraham a suitable sacrifice in place of that son upon the mountain top. Even in our times of greatest turmoil (and you know that Abraham wasn’t exactly excited about the thought of sacrificing his son!), God provides us with a way out. We just have to be obedient to Him so that He can show us that way out.
Reading: Judges 6:19-24
19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
What is the context of the incident?
Gideon had looked upon the face of the angel of the LORD, which is pretty much a death sentence for a sinful man. But the LORD said to Gideon, “Peace! Do not be afraid”. Gideon recognized the LORD there as Jehovah Shalom, The Lord Is Peace.
Why was the name appropriate?
The LORD is the bringer of peace. Without Him, lives are filled with turmoil, devoid of the peace and grace that only God can give us. Gideon knew that without that Peace, he would have been dead. Without that same peace, we are dead in our sins as well.
Is obedience important in the account? In what way?
Gideon had not quite been sure that it was the LORD that he was talking with (after all, he had just been told that he, being of the weakest clan in Manasseh and the least in his family, would save Israel from the Midianites). After bringing a sacrifice of food and unleavened bread to the LORD (which the LORD burned with the touch of His staff), Gideon knew that he was in the presence of the LORD. He was a God fearing man, and knew that it could mean death to him for looking upon the LORD as he had. But the LORD gave Gideon peace and strength to save Israel in return for his obedience.
Reading: Exodus 15:23-27
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
What is the context of the incident?
The Israelites, while wandering in the desert, had come to Marah where the water was bitter and undrinkable. The Israelites, being the God fearing and trusting people that they were, asked Moses what he (Moses) was going to do for them, since there was no water to drink. Moses, being the one who actually knew that the LORD would take care of them, called upon Him for direction. The LORD showed Moses a piece of wood and told him to throw it into the water. After Moses did this, the waters became sweet and the people were able to drink.
Why was the name appropriate?
God showed himself to the Israelites as Jehova-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals. He took the poisonous water and made it drinkable for His people; He promised not to bring the diseases upon them that He had brought upon the Egyptians.
Is obedience important in the account? In what way?
When the LORD had told Moses what he needed to do to cleanse the waters, Moses was obedient to the LORD, there would have been no water to drink. On top of that, the decree that the LORD had made with them came with a catch – The LORD would keep the diseases that He brought upon the Egyptians away if Israel pays attention to His commands and keeps all of His decrees. So, unless they wanted some pretty nasty stuff to happen to them, obedience is of the essence here!
Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. 5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.
What is the context of the incident?
The LORD is warning the nations who have scattered Israel and have not cared for them while under their “care” (or, more likely, their oppression) that He will punish them for what they have done. The LORD promises that He will gather his flock together, giving them a King who will reign over them and be the savior of Judah and Israel. He will call him Jehovah Tsidkenu, The LORD Our Righteousness.
Why was the name appropriate?
Righteousness was stripped away from man with The Fall. Our sins keep us from reaching that righteousness that is necessary for us to be in a relationship with God. Jehovah Tsidkenu would once again restore that righteousness to His people.
Is obedience important in the account? In what way?
Obedience, and in this case, more-so faith and believe in our Jehovah-Tsidkenu is of utmost importance. It is critical to our salvation that our faith is strong and our believe is firm in our savior!
Summarize what the incident teaches of God’s character and the way he showed his nature to humankind before we had the example of Jesus.
God was telling us that He was sending Jehovah-Tsidkenu to reign wisely and do what is right and just in the land. He would save Judah and let Israel to live in safety. This is the messiah that the Jews were looking for, and unfortunately missed when He (Jesus) came to be that savior for them.
Reading: Exodus 17:8-15
8The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.
What is the context of the incident?
Israel, lead by Joshua, is fighting the Amalekites while Moses, Aaron and Hur watched from atop a hill. So long as Moses raised the staff of the LORD, the Israelites were winning. When he lowered his arms, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses arms got tired, Aaron and Hur held them up for him. The Israelites overcame the Amalakites. The LORD then told Moses to record this on a scroll and remember that He will blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. With that, Moses built an alter to the LORD, calling it Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord is my Banner.
Why was the name appropriate?
Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord is my Banner, was a reminder to all that as long as we keep the LORD in front of us, if He is the banner that we carry, we will prevail. In older times, the banner carriers in a war were the ones who troops could rally around. Seeing that banner held high would rejuvenate them and fill them with the energy and determination that they would prevail. By keeping the LORD as our banner, He becomes our rally point, the one that we can run to and know that we are surrounded by fellow believers, to reside in the safety and security that only the LORD can bring. Hold your banner high!
Is obedience important in the account? In what way?
Had Moses not been obedient to the LORD by holding the staff of God in his arms, the Israelites would have fallen to the Amalekites.
Summarize what the incident teaches of God’s character and the way he showed his nature to humankind before we had the example of Jesus.
I studied these names over the summer, so tonight’s reading really wraps up much of what I have learned about God over the past 12 (or so) weeks. I very clearly remember studying about Jehova-Nissi during my reading and group discussions. I remember talking with the other women about how Jesus is our banner that we hold high in order to assure ourselves victory over our enemies. God is, was and always will be Jehova-Nissi, the banner that we hold high. With Him in front of us, with Him as our rally point, with Him leading us, we are assured of His victory!
Reading: Ezekiel 48:15-35
15 “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it 16 and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits. 17 The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. 18 What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city. 19 The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. 20 The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city. 21 “What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the city property will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them. 22 So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin. 23 “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side. 24 “Simeon will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west. 25 “Issachar will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west. 26 “Zebulun will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west. 27 “Gad will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west. 28 “The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. 29 “This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord. 30 “These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long, 31 the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi. 32 “On the east side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin and the gate of Dan. 33 “On the south side, which measures 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar and the gate of Zebulun. 34 “On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher and the gate of Naphtali. 35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. “And the name of the city from that time on will be: ~the Lord is there.”
What is the context of the incident?
Why was the name appropriate?
Is obedience important in the account? In what way?
Summarize what the incident teaches of God’s character and the way he showed his nature to humankind before we had the example of Jesus.