The scarlet road to redemption by newim

A Topical Study on Sarai/Sarah To do a topical study on Sarai/Sarah, write out what you have been told about Sarai/Sarah and what your preconceived notions about her are. Then, look up each name in a concordance like Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Read each Scripture listed. Summarize what the Bible says and what your thoughts are now after reading the Scriptures. For your convenience, the Scriptures on Sarai/Sarah have been listed for you below. My thoughts about Sarai/Sarah before reading the Scriptures: ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Genesis 11:29 - 31 (NIV) 29Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Genesis 12:4 - 20 (NIV) 4So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 6Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. 10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” 14When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. 17But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. Genesis 16:1 - 6 (NIV) 1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was

pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” 6“Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. Genesis 17:15 - 22 (NIV) 15God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” 19Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. Genesis 18:1 - 15 (NIV) 1The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” 15Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Genesis 20:1 - 18 (NIV) 1Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” 4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” 6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die.” 8Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?” 11Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the

daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” 14Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15And Abimelech said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” 16To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, 18for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah. Genesis 21:1 - 14 (NIV) 1Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. 2Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 4When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” 8The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 11The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” 14Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. Genesis 23:1 - 20 (NIV) 1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. 2She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. 3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4“I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” 5The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6“Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” 7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. 8He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf 9so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” 10Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. 11“No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” 12Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land 13and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.” 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” 16Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. 17So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded 18to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. Genesis 24:62 - 67 (NIV) 62Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64Rebekah

also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. 66Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. Genesis 25:7 - 11 (NIV) 7Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, 10the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi. 29Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. 31There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites. Isaiah 51:1 - 2 (NIV) 1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; 2 look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many. Romans 9:6 - 9 (NIV) 6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” Hebrews 11:11 - 12 (NIV) 11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 1 Peter 3:1 - 6 (NIV) 1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. My thoughts about Sarai/Sarah after reading the Scriptures:

Lesson 1 Genesis 1-11

Creation, Fall, Cain and Abel, Flood and Babel: The Gate to the Scarlet Road

lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: So the Lord God said to the serpent, “...I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:15 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What impressed you most in the introduction of our study? 2.

Where will you do your Bible Study? When will you do it? How much time will you allot to it?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Genesis 1 and 2 – Creation 4. Day # List what God did on each day.

How does God evaluate His work? List the verses you find.

Challenge. What do you think God meant in Chapter 1, verse 26 when He told man to “rule over” His creation?

How did God bless man and woman? List all the blessings you can find. Identify the verses that support your answer.

From Chapter 2, how did God form man?

What did God give to man for his use? What did He forbid?

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10. What was the consequence of disobedience?

11. Why did God make woman? How did He form her?

12. What did the man say when he saw the woman?

13. Personal. What does verse 24 mean to you?

Day 3 – Read: Genesis 3-4 – The Fall Additional Study–Read: Genesis 12:1-3; Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1John 3:8; Revelation 12 14. Describe the fall. What was Eve’s part? What was Adam’s part? What was the serpent’s part?

15. What did the serpent do to the Word of God?

16. What were the consequences of Adam’s and Eve’s sin?

17. What promise did God give along with the consequences?

18. How did sin begin its downward spiral with Adam’s and Eve’s sons?

19. Challenge. Find additional cross references that refer to the fall and redemption from the fall.

Day 4 – Read: Genesis 5-7 – The Flood 20. How did God make man?

21. Who is Seth? What is his importance to today’s story of the flood?

22. In Chapter 6, why does God decide to “wipe mankind...from the face of the earth?”

23. Who else reaps the consequences of man’s sin?

24. Why did God choose Noah to build an ark?

25. How did Noah know how to build the ark? How did his neighbors respond to his building?

26. How many animals was Noah to take into the ark? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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27. What humans were aboard the ark?

Day 5 – Read: Genesis 8-9 – The Flood, continued 28. How many days did the waters flood the earth?

29. How did Noah know when to come out of the ark?

30. What did Noah do after coming from the ark? And, what did God promise?

31. How did God bless Noah and his sons? What did God forbid? What was the consequence for disobedience?

32. What was the covenant that God made with Noah?

33. What caused Canaan to be cursed by his father? Challenge. Can you think of any long term effects for Canaan?

Day 6 – Read: Genesis 11 – The Tower of Babel 34. What was the problem in Babel?

35. How did God resolve the problem?

36. What did you learn that was new to you this week?

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Lesson 2 Genesis 12-20

The Scarlet Road Turns and Abram is Set Apart by God P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verses: I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:2-3 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. Write one idea you gained in discussion group today. 2.

Write one way you could use what you learned this week.

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Genesis 12 4. What command did the Lord give Abram? 5.

How old was Abram when “Abram left as the Lord had told him?”

Did he obey what the Lord told him to do? Explain your answer.

What did the Lord promise Abram and what did Abram do at “the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem?”

What do you think this says about the Lord? About Abram?

Explain what happened in Egypt. Was there a problem with what Abram did? Explain.

Day 3 – Read: Genesis 13-14 10. What did you learn about Lot from this narrative? 11. What did you learn about Abram? 12. What did Melchizedek offer Abram? What was Abram’s response? 13. What did the King of Sodom offer Abram? What was his response? Why do you think he responded in this way?

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Day 4 – Read: Genesis 15 14. What came to Abram in a dream? 15. What was said to Abram? 16. How did he respond? 17. What did the Lord ask Abram asked to bring in verse 9? 18. What did Abram do with them? 19. What prophecies did the Lord give Abram in verses 13-16? 20. Reviewing the chapter, what promises did the Lord give to Abram in Chapter 15? List all the promises in chapter 12 and 15. 21. Challenge. Which of these promises have been fulfilled? Cite Scripture to prove your points. Day 5 – Read: Genesis 16 -17 22. How did Sarai “help” God fulfill His promise? 23. How did Abram handle the problem? 24. How did God handle the problem? 25. How old was Abram when Ishmael was born? 26. How many years passed before God appeared to him again? 27. What did God command of Abram in verse 1? 28. What did God do in verse 5? In verse 15? 29. Of what was circumcision to be a sign?

30. Challenge. How does Abraham’s circumcision relate to believers today? Cite Scripture.

31. What does Abraham plead with God to do for Ishmael? 32. What answer does God give Abraham? 33. What does God say He will do for Isaac that He won’t do for Ishmael?

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34. How did Abraham respond to his God? Day 6 – Read: Genesis 18-20 35. Who lived in Sodom? 36. What did Abraham plead for regarding Sodom? 37. What was the Lord’s response? 38. Did you find something new or forgotten in the narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah? 39. In chapter 20, what weakness did Abraham re-visit? 40. How did Abimelech respond to the revelation God gave him? 41. What excuse did Abraham give? 42. Personal. Is there a sin in your life that keeps rearing its ugly head? What excuses do you give for it? What will you do about it? If you don’t know what to do about it or are stuck and unable to break the cycle, is there someone you could go to for help?

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Lesson 3 Genesis 21-25 Abraham and The Promise P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verse: ...it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Genesis 21:12b Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. Write down your best time of day for getting alone with God. 2.

Write down one thing you would like God to do in your life this week.

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Genesis 21:1-21; Genesis 17:17-21; Galatians 4:28-31 4. Look up the word “gracious” in the dictionary and write its definition. 5.

List the ways the Lord has been gracious to you.

What did the Lord do for Sarah?

At what time did He do it?

What did they name the baby? Why did they give him that name?

What happened in Abraham’s home that caused Ishmael and Hagar to be sent away?

10. What was Abraham’s response? 11. What was God’s response? 12. What are your thoughts on Ishmael and Hagar being sent away? Sad, angry, righteous indignation, pragmatic, trusting? Explain. 13. What does the Galatians passage have to say about it? Day 3 – Read: Genesis 22 and 23 14. When God called Abraham, what was his immediate answer? 15. What did God ask him to do? 16. Why do you think God would ask Abraham to do such a thing? 17. What did Abraham do about it? 18. What was Isaac’s response? And, how did Abraham answer him? 19. What blessings were promised Abraham as a result of his obedience? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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20. What did Abraham call the place where the angel of the Lord called out to him? 21. Personal. Have you had an experience that God proved Himself to you as the “Lord Will Provide?” Would you share it with your group? 22. Challenge. What picture is being given to the Jewish nation (and you and me) of a future “only son?” Explain. Day 4 – Read: Attached Topical Study on Sarai/Sarah 23. What were your thoughts about Sarai/Sarah before the topical study? 24. After? 25. What difference does the change in her name make? 26. What name would you choose for yourself? Day 5 – Read: Genesis 24 27. What are the main points of Chapter 24? 28. What did Abraham ask of his servant? 29. What were the concerns of the servant? 30. Do you think the servant was a man of faith? Why or why not? 31. How did Abraham’s family receive the servant? 32. What was the outcome of the servant’s task? 33. What are your thoughts on verse 67? Day 6 – Read: Genesis 25 34. Abraham remarried after the death of Sarah. How many children did his new wife, Keturah, bear him? 35. Challenge. Who were Abraham’s concubines? 36. How many children does the Bible record that Abraham had? (Usually only the male children are listed so there may be female children who are left unnamed.) 37. Who buried him? Where did they bury him? 38. Name one encouragement you get from studying the life of Abraham. Name a warning. 39. What happened to Ishmael and his descendants? 40. What happened to Isaac and his descendants? 41. Tell the story of Jacob and Esau. Who should have been the heir to the promise? Who was and why?

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Lesson 4 Genesis 27-50 Title: Jacob’s Sons travel the Scarlet Road P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verse: But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:19-20 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What thought most impressed you as you studied Abraham? 2.

What most impressed you about Sarah?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Genesis 27- 29 (Read quickly, mentally recording the major themes.) 4. Write down the major thoughts and events in these passages. 5.

Who should have been Isaac’s heir? Why?

Who ended up as Isaac’s heir? Why?

Who is Laban?

Describe what happened to Jacob at Bethel. What was Jacob’s response? What did he do there?

Whom did Jacob love?

10. Whom did he marry? Day 3 – Read: Genesis 30 - 33 (Read quickly, mentally recording the major themes.) 11. List the major ideas and happenings in these passages. 12. Challenge. Was running from Laban the right thing to do? What do you think and why? 13. What dishonorable thing did Rachel do? 14. Describe the relationship between Laban and Jacob. How did it end up? 15. How did God prepare Jacob to meet Esau? How did Jacob change before meeting Esau?

16. To what did God change his name? 17. How did the relationship between Jacob and Esau end up? 18. Personal. What relationships would you ask God to heal in your family? Would you be willing to © Ellery Deaton 2006

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be the one changed in the process?

Day 4 – Read: Genesis 34-36 (Read quickly, mentally recording the major themes.) 19. List the major occurrences in these passages. 20. What happened to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter? 21. How did Hamor try to make it right? 22. What did Shechem agree to do? Who else went along with him? 23. What did Simeon and Levi do out of vengeance? 24. How did Jacob feel about what his sons had done? 25. Name each of Jacob’s wives and name the sons each wife bore to Jacob. Day 5 – Read: Genesis 37, 39-41 (Read quickly, mentally recording the major themes.) 26. List the major ideas and incidents in these passages. 27. What reasons could you give for Joseph’s brothers hating him? 28. What were the circumstances that stacked against Joseph? 29. How did he react to these misadventures? 30. How did God use them? Day 6 – Read: Genesis 42-50 (Read quickly, mentally recording the major themes.) 31. List the main events in these chapters. 32. Challenge. Why do you think that Joseph did not reveal himself to his brothers right away? 33. How does Joseph explain God’s provision through all these circumstances? (Genesis 45 and 50) 34. What gracious thing(s) did God do for Jacob at the end of his life? Cite your references. 35. Challenge. Explain the process God used in Joseph’s life to equip him to forgive his brothers. What Scriptures could you list that show Joseph’s progression in forgiving his brothers?

36. Personal. Is there someone you need to forgive? What do you think forgiving this person will cost you? What will you gain? What process do you need to go through in order to forgive this person?

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Lesson 5 Genesis 38 and 49 Judah and Tamar Meet Along the Scarlet Road P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references,

concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. Genesis 49:8-10 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What new thoughts do you have on forgiveness? 2.

Personal. Has the Holy Spirit brought a relationship to your mind to work on? How will you do it?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Genesis 38:1-11; Deuteronomy 25:5-6; Matthew 22:24; Genesis 24 and 28. 4. These Scriptures describe the Levirate Marriage Custom. It was in practice before the giving of the law; Moses outlined its use in the Deuteronomy passage and the Matthew passage shows the Jews of Jesus’ day were well accustomed with it. Why do you think this was an important marriage custom in Old Testament times? 5.

Whom did Judah marry?

How did this violate the principle Abraham had clearly set out for Isaac and Isaac set out for Jacob?

What happened to Judah’s sons in these verses?

What did Judah do with his daughter-in-law? What do you think was going through his mind?

Day 3 – Read: Genesis 38:12-19 9. Where did Judah go and what did he do after his wife died? 10. What did Tamar do? What was her motivation? 11. What “bait” did Judah fall for? 12. Challenge. Do you think this was a moral issue for Judah? Cite Scriptures to prove your point. 13. What did Tamar ask for in return? Why? 14. What did Tamar do after Judah left?

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Day 4 – Read: Genesis 38:20-25 15. Did Judah follow through on his promise to the prostitute? 16. What promise had he not followed through with Tamar? 17. What was his friend told when he went to find the prostitute? 18. What was Judah’s response to the missing prostitute? What was he concerned about? 19. What was Judah told about Tamar? What was his response? 20. Do you think God upholds a “double standard” of behavior, one for men and another for women? Do you think Judah did? Cite your Scriptures. 21. How did Tamar save herself from sure death? Day 5 – Read: Genesis 38:26-30; Matthew 1:1-3 22. How did God use the Judah and Tamar incident for His eternal purposes? 23. Challenge. Does God’s use of man’s sin for His purposes indicate His approval of those deeds? Does God allow humankind “to get away” with sin by working evil for good? Explain and cite Scriptures to prove your position. 24. Personal. Has God ever used your past sin to further His good purposes in your life? Perhaps you would be willing to share God’s faithfulness to your group. Day 6 – Read: Genesis 49:1-28 25. List each of Jacob’s sons. Write Jacob’s “blessing/prophecy” next to each son’s name. Name Blessing/Prophecy

26. Challenge. Read Genesis 49:1-28. Why were the three eldest sons not given the leadership of the family? Who was? How does this relate to Jesus and the Scarlet Road to Redemption? Cite proof.

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Lesson 6 Exodus 1 - 14 Moses and Pharaoh Face-Off on the Scarlet Road: The Sons of Jacob leave Egypt P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verse: Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Exodus 8:1b (NASB) Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What attribute of God impressed you most in this week’s study? 2.

What did you enjoy most about the study?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Exodus 1 and 2 4. Looking back over last week’s study, how many Israelites settled in Egypt? How many are there now? 5.

Challenge. What promise is God fulfilling in multiplying the Israelites? To whom was it made?

What were the living conditions of the Israelites in Egypt? List as many specifics as you can and cite the Scriptures.

Thinking back to previous weeks, where was this foretold?

Challenge. Why do you think the Egyptians treated the Israelites the way they did?

As you read the familiar Moses story, write down the sequence of events.

10. Did you find anything new in the story? 11. Why did Moses flee to Midian? 12. Where is Midian located? 13. Who are Zipporah and Gershom? What does the text imply that the name Gershom means? 14. Challenge. How could you verify if your implication is correct? Day 3 – Read: Exodus 3 and 4, John 8:58 and 18:5-6 15. Write out the sequence of events in Chapter 3 and 4. 16. What name does God give Himself as a sign for the Israelites? 17. Challenge. Why you think the Jews and the soldiers had such overwhelming reactions to Jesus’ statements in the John passages? Can you cite other similar passages in Scripture?

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18. What did God give Moses as a sign for the Egyptians?

Day 4 – Read: Exodus 3 and 4 19. What did Moses ask of the Lord that made the Lord angry? 20. Did God pull Moses from service because of it? 21. What did God in response? 22. From Exodus 4:20-26, explain what Zipporah did. 23. Challenge. What can you infer from these verses? Day 5 – Read: Exodus 5 through 11 24. What does the Lord tell Moses and Aaron to ask Pharaoh to do? How many times do they request this of Pharaoh? 25. How did Pharaoh receive Moses and Aaron’s plea? 26. List the plagues in order. 27. Challenge. Explain verse 27 of Exodus 10. Cite other Scriptures you may know the underline the same principle. What application can be made from this Scripture? Day 6 – Read: Exodus 12 - 14; Matthew 26:1-32; Luke 22:1-22; Exodus 40:34-38 28. Itemize the instructions the Lord gave to Moses and Aaron regarding the Passover.

29. Why is it called the Passover? 30. What did God tell them to do with the blood of the lamb? 31. What explanation did God give for doing this with the blood? 32. Using the New Testament Scriptures listed, what is Jesus saying about the blood of the lamb? 33. Challenge. What connections can be made between the freedom given the Israelites through the blood of the lamb and freedom given a Christian through the Blood of the Lamb? Explain.

34. What oath made by the sons of Israel to Joseph did Moses fulfill? What does this tell you about Joseph? About Moses? 35. How does the Bible explain the parting of the Red Sea? 36. What was the final consequence for Pharaoh and Egyptians? 37. How did the Israelites come to trust in God and His servant Moses? 38. From the Exodus 14 and 40 passages, describe how the Israelites were led by God. 39. How does today’s Key Verse apply to you and me? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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ÂŠ Ellery Deaton 2006

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Lesson 7 The Scarlet Road Lead’s God’s People Through the Wilderness Please do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. How did God teach the children of Israel to trust in Him? 2.

How is God teaching you to trust in Him?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Exodus 15 – 20, 4. Using the Scriptures we have already studied this year along with today’s reading, list the ways God blessed His people Israel. 5.

How has God redeemed Israel? Challenge. Compare and contrast to how God redeems us.

Challenge. The “Ten Commandments” are also known as The Decalogue. How does Jesus sum them up? Cite Scripture as proof. (Try looking up the word “commandment” in your Concordance.)

Personal. Review the commandments prayerfully before the Lord in prayer today. Is there something to confess? Is there an action to take? Worship the Lord in obedience.

Day 3 – Read: Exodus 16, 17, 32, 33 and Numbers 11and 12 8. How did the people of Israel show they did NOT trust God after all He’d done for them? 9.

What happened among the leadership of the Israelites?

10. How did the people follow their example?

Day 4 – Read: Numbers 13 and 14 11. What did God tell Moses to do? 12. List what the men were to do. 13. What did Moses ask them to bring back?

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14. What did the men do? How long were they gone? 15. What account did they give to Moses when they returned? 16. How did Caleb stand out as different from the rest? 17. What did the other men say in response to Caleb’s optimism? Day 5 – Read: Numbers 13 and 14 18. How did the people react to the news the men brought back? 19. Where did they want to go back? To what living conditions were they willing to return? 20. Who stood with Caleb in wanting to take possession of the land? 21. How did they believe they would be able to conquer the peoples of this land? 22. After coming to trust the Lord, the Israelites have allowed circumstances to cloud their faith. What does the Lord say to Moses about this? 23. How does Moses intervene on behalf of the Israelites? 24. How does Moses describe the Lord in verse 18? 25. How many times have the people God delivered tested His patience? What is the price they had to pay? 26. Who are the only two exempted from the consequences of the sin of Israel? Why were they exempt? 27. What further act of disobedience did the men of Israel commit? What was the result? 28. Personal. After coming to faith in Jesus, have you returned to disbelief in His power and to the slavery of the world? If so, will you pray and ask for forgiveness right now for letting your eyes slide from the face of God to the things of the world? Day 6 – Read: Deuteronomy 1:37-40,3:21-29; Numbers 33-34, Deuteronomy 31:1-8; Deuteronomy 30 and 34 29. What sad news did Moses receive in Chapter 27 and Deuteronomy 3? How did he take the news? 30. Has they Lord ever given you sad news? How did you take it? 31. Who was to succeed Moses? Why was he chosen?

32. What hope does God give Israel in Deuteronomy 30? What offer does He make to them? What warnings does He give?

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33. How would you describe life in the Wilderness? 34. Challenge. Outline on a map the boundaries of the land God gave Israel. What do they look like on a modern map? 35. Personal. What parallels can you find between your own spiritual walk and that of Israel?

*** Challenge. If you have time this week, read chapters 28 and 29. List each offering the Israelites were to make. List the feasts. Describe the “Day of Atonement.” We don’t have time in this survey to look at all the feasts, the temple, the offerings and laws set out in the Old Testament. Perhaps you would like to study those on your own.

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Lesson 8 The Scarlet Road Leads Joshua into the Promised Land P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verse: Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them–to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:2-3 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What impressed you most about the time the Israelites spent in the wilderness? 2.

Is there a time you recall you felt you, too were wandering in the wilderness? What was it? What caused it? How did you get out of it? Are you in it now? Do you know what to do with Spiritual wilderness times? Could you help someone else who may be experiencing a wilderness experience?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Joshua 1 4. What charge did God give Joshua after Moses’ death? 5.

What territory did God mark out for Israel?

Looking at current events, what is going on in those areas today?

What warning did Joshua receive from God? (Vs. 7-8)

What promise does God give him?

What orders did Joshua give the Israelite men?

10. How did they respond? Day 3 – Read: Joshua 2, 6:17-25, Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:3, James 2:25 11. What did Joshua secretly do? 12. Who is Rahab? 13. What did she do? 14. What did she ask of the spies? 15. What did the spies promise her? Was there a caveat or conditions placed on this promise? 16. List the ways God rewarded Rahab. In what way is she important to the Scarlet Road of Redemption?

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17. Challenge. How would you explain God’s grace to a prostitute? Does He condone sin or judge it? Explain your position citing Scripture for support.

Day 4 – Read: Joshua 3, 4, 5:1-12, Exodus 25, Exodus 26:31-37, Matthew 27:51-54 18. What is the Ark of the Covenant? (Exodus 25) Look up in a dictionary or Bible dictionary for further help. 19. Challenge. What did it represent? Where was it placed in the temple? 20. Challenge. How does the Matthew passage relate to the Ark of the Covenant? 21. What process did Joshua lay out for the Israelites to cross the Jordan? What role did the Ark play in the crossing? 22. After the whole nation of Israel had finished crossing the Jordan, what did the Lord request happen next? 23. What did the stones represent? 24. What happened when the priests stepped out of the water onto the other side of the Jordan? 25. What reaction did the kings of the area have to the crossing? 26. What does Chapter 5 record as being done again? Why? 27. What did the Israelites celebrate in Gilgal? Day 5 – Read: Joshua 5:13-15, 6 28. Who appeared to Joshua and what news did he bring? 29. What was the state of Jericho? 30. What did the Lord say about Jericho? 31. What was the Lord’s battle plan? Did Joshua follow it? Did it “make sense?” 32. Who was saved when Jericho fell? 33. What happened to the rest of Jericho? Day 6 – Read: Joshua 7, 8:30-35, Joshua 23 34. What was Achan’s sin? 35. What happened as a consequence to his sin? 36. Did it affect himself only, or did he take innocent people down with him? 37. Did he own-up to his sin? 38. What happened to him? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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39. What do you think about his punishment? Why do you think such drastic measures were taken against Achan? 40. Describe what happened at Mount Ebal? 41. Why was it important? 42. What did God require of the Israelites if He was to be their God? 43. Had all the land been conquered by Joshua’s death? If not, what remained? 44. What were Joshua’s last words to the Israelites? What promises did he leave them; what warnings did he give them?

Challenge. If you have more time this week, read about another miracle did for Israel when He made the Sun stand still. Read Joshua 10.

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Lesson 9 During the time of the Judges, Ruth Chose the God of Israel and His Scarlet Road of Redemption P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verse: In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Judges 21:24 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What is the most troubling Scripture you encountered this week? 2.

Why? Will you take it before the Lord and talk to Him about it?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Judges 2, 3, 4:1-3, 6:1, 8:28-35,13:1, 17:5-6, 19:1, 21:24 4. What cycle is repeated in Judges? 5.

What does God do to get Israel to return to Him?

What do you think the significance of the repeated sentence, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit?” Could this comment be applied to our society today?

What happened as a result of having no king?

Challenge. Who should have been their king?

Personal. Do you do whatever you see fit to do? Who is your king?

Day 3 – Read: Judges 13 - 16 10. How did deal with Israel’s sin? 11. How did He provide for their deliverance? 12. What was Samson’s strength? 13. What was his weakness? Who exploited it? What happened? 14. How was it that more enemies were killed through Samson’s death than his life? Day 4 – Read: Ruth 1, Matthew 2:1 15. What is the setting for the book of Ruth? Place? Time? 16. Describe the circumstances that surround Elimelech and Naom. 17. What did they choose to do about their circumstances? 18. Locate Moab on your Bible map. Where is it located? 19. What happened to the family while in Moab? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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20. What did Naomi urge her daughter-in-laws to do? 21. About whom was Naomi concerned? 22. What was Ruth’s answer to Naomi? 23. About whom was Ruth concerned? 24. What conclusion can you come to regarding Naomi’s witness to Ruth about her God? 25. When did the women arrive back in Bethlehem? 26. What city was Jesus born in? Day 5 – Read: Ruth 2, Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Leviticus 25:25-28 and 47-49 27. List what the Scripture tells us about Boaz. 28. How did Boaz treat the “Moabitess?” How should she have expected to be treated? 29. What orders did Boaz give to his men? 30. What was Ruth able to give her mother-in-law from her day’s work? 31. Why, in light of the other Scriptures, is his being a relative important to Naomi? Day 6 – Read: Ruth 3-4 32. What instructions did Naomi give Ruth? 33. What do you think her motivation was? 34. What happened that night between Boaz and Ruth? 35. What did she bring back to Naomi and what was Naomi’s advice? 36. What process did Boaz need to go through in order to marry Ruth? 37. Who was born to Ruth and Boaz? 38. How did God honor both Ruth and Boaz? 39. In what way does the Book of Ruth give a different insight into God’s people during the time of the Judges? 40. Challenge. The book of Ruth shows us a beautiful picture of a Kinsman-Redeemer. In ways did Boaz presage or foreshadow the work of his future progeny, Jesus? 41. Would Boaz have been able to redeem Ruth if she had not accepted his offer of redemption? 42. When did you intentionally and deliberately accept Jesus’ offer of eternal redemption? If you have not done so, will you pray and ask Him to be your personal king and kinsmanredeemer today? Tell Him of your need of Him, confess your sins, and thank Him for covering you with His garment of salvation. © Ellery Deaton 2006

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Lesson 10 The Scarlet Road leads Samuel to Anoint Israel’s First Kings Please do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, crossreferences, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verses: So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” 1 Samuel 8:4-7 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. How would you summarize Israel’s spiritual walk during the time of the Judges? 2.

Personal. How would you summarize your spiritual walk today?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: 1 Samuel 1-4 4. What did Hannah ask of the Lord? What did she promise Him? 5.

What command did Samuel give her? Realizing his error, how did he bless her?

How did God answer Hannah’s prayer?

How did Hannah fulfill her promise to the Lord?

How do you think Hannah felt about fulfilling her promise?

What impresses you most about Hannah’s prayer in Chapter 2? How could you use this prayer in your own prayer time?

10. What was the problem with Eli’s sons? What did God tell him to do? Did he do it? 11. Contrast Samuel with Eli’s sons. 12. How did she continue to minister to her first born? How did God bless Hannah for her sacrifice? 13. What did “a man of God” prophesy about the “House of Eli?” 14. How did it all turn out for the “House of Eli?” 15. How can we apply these passages to the raising up of our own children? Day 3 – Read: 1 Samuel 8-10, 12-13, 15 16. What did Israel ask of Samuel? 17. When Samuel was displeased with Israel, what did God say to him? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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18. Who did Samuel appoint as king? What were his qualifications? 19. How did God bless Saul? 20. Of what did Samuel admonish Israel in Chapter 12? What was his advice to them? 21. How old was Saul when he was appointed king? For how many years did he reign? 22. Refer to I Samuel 10:8 and chapter 13. What did Saul do wrong? Why was it wrong? 23. What was the consequence of Saul’s disobedience? Day 4 – Read: 1 Samuel 16-17 24. Why was Samuel mourning? 25. What did God call him to do? Where did the Lord send him? What instructions was Samuel given? 26. Contrast David’s qualifications with Saul’s. 27. In what condition was Saul? What did his attendants think would be good therapy for Saul? Who did they find? 28. Who were the Philistines? Who was Goliath? 29. Describe the events that led up to David’s fight with Goliath. What was his brother’s reaction? How did Saul try to prepare David for the fight? With what did David finally go out to battle? 30. What was the outcome? How do you explain the outcome Day 5 – Read: 1 Samuel 18-20 31. With whom did David become close friends? 32. List the reasons Saul became jealous of David. 33. How did this jealousy cause Saul to act toward David? 34. What was Jonathon’s role in the problems between David and Saul? 35. What promise did David and Jonathon make to each other? (See 1 Samuel 20:42) 36. Challenge. Can you find a time in the Scriptures that David made good on this promise? Day 6 – Read: 1 Samuel 23-28, 31 37. Of whom were David’s forces afraid? (Chapter 23) 38. What David do in response?

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39. God had given the Israelites the command to take the promised land and clear it for themselves. What was their king, Saul busy doing? 40. Tell Abigail’s story. What did she do that was honorable? How was she rewarded? (Chapter 25) 41. Who was David’s first wife? What happened to her? (See 1 Samuel 18:20-30, 19:11-17, 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:12-15, 6:20-23.) 42. Why do you think she “despised” David as he danced before the Lord? 43. How many times could David have killed Saul had he wanted to? 44. How did David escape from Saul? (Chapter 27) 45. What final gross sin did Saul commit? (Chapter 28) 46. How did Saul die?

(Chapter 31)

47. From this weeks readings, list the ways David has shown that he is ready to be leader of God’s people. 48. From your list, what could be used to determine if you and I are ready for leadership of God’s people?

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Lesson 11 David’s Eternal Throne: a Prophecy about the Scarlet Road P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: : “...The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:11-16 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What did you find most useful from the discussion group this morning? 2.

From the lecture?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: 2 Samuel 1, 2 and 5 4. What terrible news was brought to David? 5.

Compare with 1 Chronicles 10:1-12. How are the stories different? How do you account for the differences?

What sentence did David pronounce on the Amalekite? What are your thoughts on this decision?

Chapter 2, verse 1 tells us that David again _____________ of the Lord. What does that tell you about David’s relationship with his God? (Extra Credit: How many times do you think this phrase is repeated about David in the Scriptures?)

After Saul’s death, where was David crowned king first?

After Saul’s death, what war broke out between Saul’s house and David’s? Why?

10. How many year’s later was it before David was anointed king over Israel? 11. Challenge. Explain the differences between Judah and Israel? Are they not all Israel? Why the division?

12. What important city did David conquer and set up as his residence?

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Day 3 – Read: 2 Samuel 6-7, 9 The Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4, 5 and 7) had been captured during war by the Philistines after the Israelites had taken it to war with them as a kind of amulet. The Lord judged Israel in losing the battle and He judged the Philistines with pestilence while they possessed the ark. After 7 months of pestilence, the Philistines returned it to Israel and now David has defeated the Philistines and wants the Ark of the Covenant (the symbol of God’s covenant and presence with Israel) to reside with him in Jerusalem. 13. What went wrong? 14. How do you explain the severe punishment God meted out? 15. What was David’s emotional response to the punishment? What is yours? 16. Personal. Review the story of Saul’s daughter, Michal. Have you ever felt as Michal felt? What is the proper way to handle those emotions? If you have some strategies that might help another, would you share them? 17. Who is Nathan? 18. What news was he given for David? 19. After reading David’s prayer in response to this news, what stands out most clearly from his prayer? What phrases could you borrow to create a prayer of your own? 20. Tell the story of Mephibosheth. Who was he? What was wrong with him? What mercy was he given from David? Why? Day 4 – Read: 2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51 21. Where was David while the Israelite army was off to war? 22. What temptation came David’s way? 23. What do you think? Did Bathsheba have any fault in the adultery? If so, what? If not, why not? 24. What message did Bathsheba later send to David? 25. How did he propose to cover up the sin? 26. What did he do next? 27. What does the Scripture say that God thought about all this? 28. What did Nathan do about the problem? 29. Reading 2 Samuel 12 with Psalm 51, summarize David’s response to Nathan. 30. What lesson can we learn about sin, consequences, repentance and forgiveness from this story?

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Days 5 and 6 – Read: 2 Samuel 13-24 (Take the challenge below. If it is too frustrating, then just read the passages and summarize what you have read into a paragraph or two.) Challenge. 31. Outline 2 Samuel 13-18 into two to four main sections or headings. 32. Write out any important details under your main sections or headings. 33. Create a short, sentence/title that encompasses all the main ideas of the sections. This should act as an umbrella idea that all the concepts in the passage can fit under. 34. Write out an aim for the whole passage. What one action would you or your audience do to put this section of God’s Word into action? Use an active verb! Begin with, “This passage of Scripture should cause me (or my audience) to ________________________ _________________ .” 35. Write out 2 or three applications (ways you or your audience could live out the action) you’ve chosen for your aim. Ex. If the aim were: “This passage of Scripture should cause me to respect my parents”, then my applications might be, 1. To call my mother this week. 2. Stop fighting with my siblings at holiday time. 3. Tell my father of the love Jesus has for him. The aim, while active in what it calls me to do, is general. The applications are both active and specific.

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ÂŠ Ellery Deaton 2006

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Lesson 12 Along the Scarlet Road, King Solomon Builds the First Temple P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: “Nevertheless, you (David) are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood–he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.” 1 Kings 8:19 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What hope did you receive from studying the life of David? 2.

What warning did you get from studying his life?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: 1 Kings 1-2 4. When David was old, who set himself up in David’s place? 5.

Who supported this king? Who did not give him support? Besides those who did not support this self-appointed king, who else was not invited to celebrate with the new king?

How did Bathsheba find out about David’s being replaced?

What did she do about it?

What did Nathan report to David?

What action did David take?

10. What charge did David give to Solomon? 11. To whom did Adonijah go to intercede for him with Solomon? 12. What was Solomon’s reaction to the request? 13. Challenge. Why do you (not Bible commentary or notes) think Solomon had such a violent reaction to the request? 14. Write down any new thoughts you may have about Bathsheba and her influence in the court of King David. 15. Personal. What influence do you have in your home? Is your influence self promoting or does your influence lead those in your family toward God? Day 3 – Read: 1 Kings 3-4 16. With whom did Solomon make an alliance? And who did he marry? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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17. What do you think? Was this a God-honoring thing to do? Why or why not?

18. What was wrong with the worship of Solomon and his people? 19. What gift does Solomon ask God for? How was it answered? 20. What story illustrates his use of the gift? Day 4 – Read: 1 Kings 5-7, 2 Samuel 7:13 21. Why did Solomon write to the king of Tyre? 22. Why did the king of Tyre rejoice? 23. What was it that Solomon was commissioned to do that God had not allowed David to do? 24. How did Solomon prepare to execute the commission? 25. How many years after the Israelites had left Egypt did the construction of the first temple begin? 26. Write out the promise the Lord gave to Solomon in 1 Kings 6:11-13. 27. In addition to building the temple, what else did Solomon build? Day 5 – Read: 1 Kings 8-11 28. Where did they place the Ark of the Covenant? 29. What was in the Ark? 30. Describe what happened in I Kings 8:10-13. 31. Summarize Solomon’s prayer in 3 or 4 bullet points. • • • • 31. How did the Lord answer Solomon’s prayer? 32. Challenge. What prophecy did the Lord give Solomon that has been fulfilled? 33. What do you think? Is God finished with Israel? 34. What was the social structure in Solomon’s day? Who built, who fought, etc. 35. Why did the Queen of Sheba come to see Solomon? What did she find? 36. What was the condition of the Nation of Israel under King Solomon? 37. Challenge. How much of the land God had given to Abraham/Moses/Joshua did Israel possess under King Solomon?

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38. What is recorded as the big “however” in 1 Kings 11:1-8? What was the outcome of this “however?” What new prophecy does the Lord give in 1 Kings 11:9-13?

39. For how long did Solomon reign? From where did he reign? Where is he buried? Who succeeded him as king?

Day 6 – Read: Ecclesiastes 1-12 40. Who is the author of Ecclesiastes? 41. What is the tone of this book? 42. What is meaningless to the author? Chapters 1-5? 43. What is the solution to the meaninglessness of life? Chapter 12. 44. From the life of Solomon, write down one thing you could put into practice from his life, one warning you get from his life, one new thing you learned from studying his life. • • •

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Lesson 13 The Kings and Prophets of Israel P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verses: “Since...you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates...I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:11-13 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What were/are the consequences for the Jewish people because of Solomon’s disobedience? 2.

Who suffers when you choose to go your own way rather than God’s?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: 1 Kings 11:26-43, 12, 13, 14:1-19 4. Who was Jeroboam? How did he fulfil a prophecy God gave to Solomon? 5.

After reading about Jeroboam, would you rate him as a good king, bad king, a little of both? Explain your answer giving support from the Bible.

Explain how the house of Israel was divided into two kingdoms rather than one.

Challenge. What name was given to the kingdom of the north? What name to the south?

Who was the king of Judah after Solomon died?

Would you rate him as a good king, bad king, a little of both? Explain your answer giving support from the Scripture.

10. What was the message “the man of God” brought to Jeroboam? 11. What happened to this “man of God?” 12. What lesson could we extract from what happened to the “man of God?” 13. What news did the prophet Ahijah have for Jeroboam? 14. Who succeeded Jeroboam?

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Day 3 – Read: 1 Kings 15:25-34, 16 and 20 through 22 (Read through the chapters quickly and then answer the questions. It is easy reading.) After Jeroboam came Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni and then Omri. Jeroboam died about 910 BC and Omri began to rule about 885 BC. Only 25 years have passed. 15. List each king of Israel and summarize how the Scripture rates each of their characters.

16. Who did Ahab marry? Who was her god? What did Ahab do as a result? 17. Write down the main points in the story of Naboth’s vineyard. 18. What are your thoughts about Jezebel? What lessons can we learn from her? 19. How did Ahab die? What final words does Chapter 22 say about him? 20. According to 2 Kings 9-37 and 10:17, what happened to Ahab’s family? Day 4 – Read: 1 Kings 17-19 21. Who was Elijah? 22. What did he ask the widow at Zarephath to do? Why do you think she obeyed? 23. What did he do in return for the widow? 24. What was going on in Samaria at this time? (Samaria is in northern Israel.) 25. What did God tell Elijah to do? 26. If Obadiah was a man of the Lord, why was he afraid to do what Elijah asked? 27. What happened on Mount Carmel? 28. Now it is Elijah’s turn to be afraid for his life. Why? 29. How does God take care of him? 30. Who is Elijah to anoint? Day 5 – Read: 2 Kings 2, 6, 13:14-25 31. Who succeeded Elijah as prophet to the kings of Israel? 32. List his works that are recorded in the above Scriptures. (There are many more. If you have time to read more about Elisha, read chapters 2 through 13 of 2 Kings.) 33. What did Elisha know that his servant needed to know in chapter 6 verse 15? 34. How did he find out? 35. Do you and I need to be reminded of the same lesson?

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36. Personal. What situation are you facing that putting your faith in God’s army would help? 37. What did Elisha prophesy at the end of his life? Did it come to pass? Day 6 – Read: 2 Kings 15:30, 2 Kings 17 38. Who was the last King of Israel? 39. What repeated phrase about the kings of Israel does verse 17:2 say of Hosea? 40. For what was the king placed in prison? 41. What happened to the Israelites? 42. Site two or three verses in Chapter 17 that tell why this occurred. 43. What happened to the land that God had given to the Israelites? 44. In what ways did God give the Israelites a chance to repent? What/who did He send to lead them in godly ways? 45. Challenge. Can you connect what happened to the land with the New Testament? If so, explain.

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Lesson 14 The Fork in the Road--The Kings and Prophets of Judah P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verses:...Nebuzaradan, commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) ...set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem ...(and)... carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon. 2 Kings 8, 9, and 11 (These are partial verses and the parenthesis and italics are my words for clarification. ED)

Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. If it was covered in the lecture or came out in class discussion, how many “good” kings were there in Israel from the time of Solomon until the northern kingdom was dispersed? 2.

Do you think all the people of the northern kingdom were bad? Or could it have been that there were many people who worshiped the true God who suffered the consequences of others bad behavior?

Is this a danger for us today?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: 1 Kings 14:21-31, 15:1-24 The kingdom of Solomon was split in two after his death, as the Lord had foretold. Last lesson we studied the Kings and Prophets of the northern kingdom, Israel. This lesson explores the Kings and Prophets of the southern kingdom, Judah. 5. List each king of Judah in these passages and summarize how the Scripture rates each of their characters. 6.

What was different about Asa?

What did he do to honor the Lord?

With whom was he at war throughout his reign?

Who succeeded him as king of Judah.

Day 3 – Read: 1 Kings 22:41-50 10. With what problem did the king of Israel (Ahab) ask the king of Judah (Jehoshaphat) for help? 11. What advice did Jehoshaphat give the king of Israel before agreeing to help him? 12. What did Ahab do? What was wrong with what he did? 13. What did Ahab say about the only prophet of the Lord he could call upon? 14. What did Ahab’s prophets prophesy? 15. What did the prophet of the Lord, Micaiah, prophesy? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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16. What did Ahab do in response to Micaiah’s prophecy? 17. How did the battle go? 18. How would you summarize the reign of Jehoshaphat? 19. Personal. How do you feel toward people who bring you truth you don’t want to hear? Day 4 – Read: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 11:1-21, 12:1-21, 14:1-22, 15:1-7, 15:32-38, 16:1-20 (Read through the chapters quickly and then answer the questions. It is easy reading.) 20. List each king of Judah in these passages and summarize how the Scripture rates each of their characters. If there is something that stands out to you about one of them, include it. Name of King/Queen Scripture’s Something that stands out of Judah Rating about the reign

21. Did Jehoshaphat’s son follow in his ways? What do you think his marriage had to do with his behavior? 22. Personal. How do you influence those in your home? Do you allow those in your home to draw you away from your walk with the Lord? 23. Why was the Lord not willing to destroy Judah? Cite your reference. 24. How did Ahab’s sin continue to plague future generations? 25. Do we see the influence of sin passed on in generations today? 26. Personal. Have you ever prayed to be freed from sins of past generations? Have you ever prayed, thanking God for godly generations in your family? 27. What royal intrigue occurred in the reign of Queen Athaliah? 28. If Queen Athaliah had been successful, what would have happened to the “house of David?” 29. What did Jehoiada, the priest do? What did he give to the king’s son? 30. What happened to the Queen? 31. What covenants did Jehoiada make? 32. What was it that the Scriptures repeat were never removed during the reign of good kings as well as bad? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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Day 5 – Read: 2 Kings 18:1 through 2 Kings 20:21 33. What did Hezekiah do that no other king had done...including Solomon? 34. What was Hezekiah’s reaction to the threat from Sennacherib? 35. What was the name of the prophet God gave to Hezekiah? 36. What positive step did Hezekiah take in response to the word of the prophet? (Chapter 19) 37. Summarize Isaiah’s prophecy about Sennacherib. 38. What happened when Hezekiah became ill? 39. What did Isaiah prophesy in response to what Hezekiah showed the envoys from Babylon? 40. Was what Hezekiah did right or wrong? Why? Day 6 – Read: 2 Kings 21 through 25 41. Who succeeded Hezekiah? How old was he when he took the throne? 42. Summarize what the Scriptures tell us of his reign? 43. Who became the next king of Judah and how old was he when he took the throne? 44. What had been lost until his reign? 45. What did Josiah do when it was found? 46. Who was Huldah? What did she have to say? 47. What did Josiah do in response? 48. List the rest of the kings of Judah and how the Bible evaluates their character. 49. As prophesied by Isaiah to Hezekiah, what happened to Jerusalem? 50. What happened to the temple? 51. What happened to the people? 52. Who was left in the land and what was their station in life?

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Lesson 15 The Scarlet Service Road: Jonah, Prophesies to the Gentiles P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: When God saw what they (the Ninevites) did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” Jonah 3:10 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. How was the history of the southern kingdom different from that of the northern? 2.

What application did you find for your own life for this week?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Jonah 1 4. What do you think? Meditate on “the word of the Lord.” What do you think the Bible means by the phrase? 5.

What did the Lord ask Jonah to do? Why?

What did Jonah do? Why?

What happened in response to Jonah’s action?

How did the sailors respond to the crisis?

How did Jonah respond?

10. Was Jonah a man of faith? Cite references to prove your answer. 11. How did God use Jonah’s rebellion for the good of the sailors? 12. What happened to Jonah? 13. Do you think this story is accurate as told or just a “fish tale?” Why? 14. What lesson is there in the first chapter of Jonah that we could apply to ourselves? Day 3 – Read: Jonah 2 15. What did Jonah do inside the whale? 16. Complete the progression of Jonah’s repentance. Use as many points as you need. Everyone will have a little different answer. a. He called to the Lord. b. He heard God’s answer. c. He accepted the consequences of his sin d. e. 17. What was Jonah’s final resolve? © Ellery Deaton 2006

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18. How did the Lord answer Jonah’s plea?

Day 4 – Read: Jonah 3 19. What did the Lord ask Jonah to do? 20. What did Jonah do? 21. What was the reaction of the Ninevites? 22. What was the reaction of the king of Nineveh? 23. What decree did he send out? 24. What did God do when he saw what the Ninevites did? 25. What lesson is there here for us? Day 5 – Read: Jonah 4 26. After Jonah had obeyed the Lord, how did he feel about the outcome? 27. What do you think? What would cause a person to have this reaction? 28. Was Jonah honest with God about his feelings? 29. How did God respond to him? 30. What visual lesson did God give Jonah? 31. Personal. Has God ever taught you this personally and intimately? If so, would you share it with your group? 32. Challenge. What purpose does the Book of Jonah serve in the Scarlet Road to Redemption? Day 6 – Read: Jonah 1 – 4 Challenge. Today’s exercise is a challenge exercise. Do what you can and leave the rest. (But, surely you can do some.) First: Read the passage. Write down each scene important detail. Note changes in thought or changes in scene or changes in action. Example: 1. God spoke to Jonah of the wickedness of Nineveh and asked him to go and preach against it. Jonah 1:1-2 2. But instead Jonah went to Joppa and boarded a ship sailing for Tarshish to run away from the Lord. Jonah 1:3 3. The Lord sent a big storm that threatened the ship and all in it. Jonah 1:4 Continue on.... © Ellery Deaton 2006

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Next: Put together those items that work together to make about three or four outline points. Example: I. Jonah Runs from God II. Jonah and others suffer the consequence of his disobedience. III. Jonah finally obeys. IV. Jonah is angry with God for His grace to the Gentiles. Then: Make a sentence title that will embrace all the concepts in your outline. Example: Despite Jonah’s disobedience, God’s will was done. Next: What one principle stands out to you as what should be done (active verb) in response to reading the book of Jonah? Example: Say yes to God the moment He speaks. Finally: Write out one way you could accomplish the aim for each of your outline points. Example: I. Jonah runs from God. Application: What is God asking me to do today that I’m putting off?

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Lesson 16 The Road to Redemption Takes Israel and Judah into Exile P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: The joy of our heart has ceased; Our dance has turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Lamentations 5:15-16 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What was the cause of the dispersion of the Israelites? 2.

Was there a personal warning or promise for you this week as you studied?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Ezekiel 23 4. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in an allegory (a story, poem or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.) Who were the adulterous sisters? 5.

In what way were they “prostitutes?”

What is the point of the allegory?

Why would a loving God allow this to happen to His beloved? Cite Scripture.

Day 3 – Read: Lamentations 1, 3 and 5 (Lamentations is ascribed to Jeremiah who personally saw the destruction of Jerusalem and what was done to her people.) 8. Describe what has become of Judah from your reading in Chapter 1. 9.

Has Judah forgotten her God?

10. From your reading in Chapter 3, what is the hope of the writer? 11. Do you recognize some famous passages made into a hymn in this chapter? If so, which? 12. In Chapter 5 who has the writer turned to? 13. What is the writer asking for? Day 4 – Read: Daniel 1 and 2 (Daniel and friends went into exile and yet maintained their faithfulness to God in the foreign country.) 14. Who was the king of Babylon who sacked Judah? 15. Who was the king of Judah at the time? 16. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were selected to serve in the king’s palace. What criteria were used to select these young men?

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17. What did these young men do, in faith, which may have had dire consequences had the king found out? 18. How did God honor their faith? 19. What happened to Nebuchadnezzar in Chapter 2? 20. Who did he call on first for help? Were they able to help? 21. What happened to all the wise men? 22. What did Daniel do first before trying to help the king? 23. When Daniel interpreted the dream, to whom did he give credit? 24. What did Daniel tell the king? 25. How did the king respond? 26. What lessons are there to be learned from these chapters that we could put in practice today? Day 5 – Read: Daniel 3 - 4 27. After professing God as “God of gods and the Lord of kings”, what did he then do? 28. Why were the Jews denounced by the Babylonian astrologers? 29. Why were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego singled out for questioning? 30. What was their response to the questioning by King Nebuchadnezzar? 31. What happened as a result? 32. What pattern of faith and the results of faith have we seen in Daniel? 33. Explain Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a tree. What did Daniel tell him it meant? 34. What happened to Nebuchadnezzar? 35. Looking back through Chapters 1 through 4, how many times did Nebuchadnezzar bow to the one true God of Daniel’s? Was the last time different from the others? Day 6 – Read: Daniel 6 Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by Belshazzar. 36. What happened at King Belshazzar’s banquet? 37. Daniel was called to explain the writing. What did he tell the king? 38. What happened that very night? 39. Read 5:30-31. Who took over the Babylonian kingdom?

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40. What appointment did he give Daniel? 41. Who was jealous of Daniel and why? 42. What did they conspire to do? 43. Did Darias fall for it? 44. Explain the events following the decree of Darias. 45. What was Dariasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; response when Daniel was saved?

ÂŠ Ellery Deaton 2006

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Lesson 17 Esther and the Jews in Exile P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.”

Key Verse: For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who know’s but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:4 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What aspect of Daniel’s story impressed you most? 2.

Is his life’s story applicable to our lives today? If so, how?

Using the index in your Chronological Bible, take a moment to locate the passages for this week’s study. Write the page numbers or dates below.

Day 2 – Read: Esther 1 - 2 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar sacked the city of Jerusalem and took its people into captivity in Babylon in the year. We next read of his son or grandson Belshazzar who began his reign 6 years after Nebuchadnezzar’s death. As Daniel prophesied, the Persians then defeated the Babylonians. The Persian King, Cyrus, in 538 allowed the Jews to return to their own land. This return, however, took years and many Jews never returned. Esther and the Jews in the capital city of Susa, Persia were Jews who had not returned. Xerxes was the king of the Persian Empire from 485-465 B.C. 4. Describe the situation in Chapter 1. 5.

Why do you think Queen Vashti refused the King?

What was her penalty for doing so?

What rational did the advisors give for the punishment?

How did the advisors suggest finding a new queen?

Who was Mordecai? Who was Esther? How were they related?

10. Why did Esther not reveal her nationality? 11. How were the women prepared before they were presented to the King? 12. Who did Xerxes choose for his queen? 13. What plot did Morcecai uncover? 14. What do you think? How do you think this plays into the rest of the story? Day 3 – Read: Esther 3 - 4 15. What honor had been bestowed upon Haman?

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16. What did Mordecai do that infuriated Haman? 17. What did Haman decide to do to end his rebellion? 18. Did the King go along with plan? What was he unknowingly doing as a result? 19. What did the king’s order require? 20. What does 3:15 say about the people of Susa? About the king and Haman? 21. What was Mordecai’s response when he heard of the decree? What was the reaction of the Jews? 22. Contrast the reaction of the Jews with the reaction of the king and Haman in verse 3:15. 23. To whom does Mordecai come for help? List the plan she lays out. What are her final words in Chapter 4? 24. Personal. Have you ever been asked to do something that was very difficult and you did it anyway? Would you share it with your group? Day 4 – Read: Esther 5 - 6 25. Describe what dangerous thing Esther did. What consequences could she have paid? How did the king accept her? 26. What was Esther’s plan? 27. What did the king repeatedly offer Esther? 28. Of what did Haman brag? Was he satisfied with all he had? What one thing did he want? Why? 29. What solution did Haman’s wife propose that “delighted” Haman? 30. What “co-incidence” happened to Xerxes that night? 31. How was Haman outwitted by himself? 32. What did Haman’s wife and advisors now advise? Day 5 – Read: Esther 7 - 8 33. What does Esther ask of the king at the 3rd banquet? How did she cleverly couch her request? 34. How did Haman react to being exposed? How did this further enrage the king? 35. How did he meet his end? 36. Challenge. How can you see God’s hand at work in this book? Explain.

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37. List the qualities you find in Esther that made an excellent queen to Xerxes. List the qualities that made her an excellent representative of God’s people? 38. List the qualities you find in Mordecai that made him the right man for the times he lived. Day 6 – Read: Esther 9 - 10 39. Why was there war in Chapter 10? 40. What happened to Haman’s sons? What happened to his estate? 41. What was the outcome of the war? 42. What do you think? Why do you think the Jews took none of the plunder? 43. Describe the celebration after the victory. 44. What is the name of this feast? How was it celebrated? 45. What was the final end for Mordecai? 46. What role did faith in God play in this account of Esther and Mordecai? Cite Scripture. 47. List the applications for modern life you find in the Book of Esther.

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Lesson 18 The Road Leads God’s People Back to the Promised Land P lease do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, cross-references, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Key Verse: “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’” Nehemiah 1:8-9 Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What “ah-ha” did you get today in discussion group or from the lecture? 2.

How are you doing at fitting your Bible Study in a little bit each day?

Day 2 – Read: Ezekiel 39:21-29, Ezra 1-3 (Ezekiel was taken into captivity 11 years before the fall of Jerusalem. His ministry was one of edification and hope to those in captivity. Ezra records the first return of the people to their land.) 3. What does the Lord say He will display in verse 21? 4.

What does the word “glory” mean to you in a secular sense?

What does the term “the glory of the Lord” mean in a Biblical sense? Use the following Scriptures to help you formulate your definition: Exodus 33:18-22; 16:7, 10; John 1:14; 2:11; 2 Peter 1:17 for help.

Challenge. From this passage, what was God’s purpose for Israel? Why did He set them apart?

What do you think the phrase, “hid My face from them” means?

What purpose did the Exile serve? What does God promise His people through Ezekiel?

Personal. Can you think of a time that God hid His face from you? What purpose did it serve? Did He give you a promise through it? (Did you search the Scriptures to find His promise for you?)

10. What decree did Cyrus make as recorded in Ezra? Why did he make it? 11. Challenge. Why did the Israelites take account of all the temple goods and the people who returned? Had this been done in the past? Cite Scripture for your answer. 12. Challenge. When did the record keeping of the Jews come to an end? Why? Day 3 – Read: Ezra 4- 6 13. After the building had begun, the Israelites ran into opposition. What was it?

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15. What was the result? 16. What did King Darius do? Day 4 – Ezra 7– 10 17. Describe Ezra as the Scripture portrays him. 18. What impresses you most about King Artaxerxes’ letter? Cite the Scripture. 19. How do you explain the graciousness of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes? 20. What is the purpose of registering those who went with Ezra? Chapter 8. 21. What did Ezra proclaim at Ahava Canal? Why? 22. Describe their arrival into Jerusalem. To Whom does Ezra give credit for their arrival? 23. What did Ezra find in Jerusalem in Chapter 9? What did he do about it? 24. How did the people respond in Chapter 10?

Day 5 – Haggai 1-2 (16 years after the first return of Jews to Jerusalem) 25. What problem is evident in the first few verses of Haggai? 26. Challenge. Reconcile Haggai’s explanation for the delay in the building of the temple with Ezra’s account. 27. What did the Lord request them to do? 28. How did the Israelites respond? 29. What word of encouragement did God give them through the prophet Haggai? 30. Challenge. Haggai 2 talks of the new temple being lesser than the former, yet it will be greater than the former because...”the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD Almighty.” Has this been fulfilled or has it yet to be fulfilled or could it be both? Explain. Day 6 – Read: Malachi 1-4 (Malachi wrote after the temple had been rebuilt.) 31. Explain Malachi 1:2-5. What do you think Malachi means by the word, hate? Compare with Luke 14:26. For help, look up the word in Strong’s concordance and read the various meanings for the Hebrew word sané (#8130 in Strong’s Hebrew Concordance.) Lifeway has an online Bible with Strong’s available for your use. Go to www.lifeway.com and in the right hand column click on Online Bible. Then in the left column, click on KJV with Strong’s. Then at the top of the page type in Malachi 1 in the space provided and click on go. Now you will notice that there are blue links all through the text. Each of these is a link to Strong’s. So click on the word hate and it will take you to #8130. Now you are ready to do any other word searches you are interested in. Oh yes, what do you think Malachi means by the word, hate? © Ellery Deaton 2007

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32. What is wrong with the sacrifices Judah is making before the Lord? 33. How could our offerings be considered “blemished?” 34. What problem does the Lord have with the Priests? 35. Is there a corollary to our religious leadership today? 36. How was Judah unfaithful to the Lord in Chapter 2? 37. What does the Lord have to say about divorce? 38. What do you think the is meant by verse 16? 39. What remedy does the Lord give in Chapter 3? 40. Write out Malachi 3:7b. 41. How was Judah robbing God? 42. How could we be guilty of the same? 43. What is the final remedy in Chapter 4? 44. Challenge. How much of Malachi has already been fulfilled and how much has yet to be fulfilled?

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Lesson 19 The Promised One Arrives Please do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, crossreferences, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Mark 1:2-4a It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” And so John came...

Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. Write down one thing you have learned and applied through studying the Old Testament this year. Day 2 – Read: Matthew 1-2 2. List the people we have studied this year who appear in Jesus’ lineage. 3.

How many wise men came to find Jesus? Cite Scripture for your answer.

King Herod was disturbed “and all Jerusalem with him.” What answer did the chief priests and teachers of the law give to Herod’s question, “where was the Christ to be born?”

What did Herod order when the wise men did not return to Jerusalem?

Think about the fact that the wise men knew about the Promised One and came to Jerusalem for answers on how to find Him. Think about the keepers of God’s Word and how they told the wise men where to look, but never went to see for themselves. What are your thoughts? Is there a warning for you and me?

Day 3 – Read: Mark 1-2 with John, Matthew and Luke passages in the questions 7. Read the key Scripture in the box above. It is a compilation of two Scriptures: Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. How does John fulfill these Scriptures? 8.

What did John say about Jesus? About himself? (See also John 1:15-34 and 3:22-36)

To read more in depth on the temptation of Jesus, read Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. What lesson is there for us to learn and apply from these selections?

10. Describe some of Jesus’ miracles. Day 4 – Read: John 3:1-21 11. Who was Nicodemus? 12. Why did he come to Jesus at night? 13. What did Jesus tell him? 14. What does Jesus’ statement, “You must be born again” mean? What does it mean to you personally? 15. Write out John 3:16 and 17, putting your own name in the verses where possible. © Ellery Deaton 2007

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Day 5 – Read: Matthew 5 16. Summarize the teaching on the mountainside. 17. What is Jesus’ point about salt and light? 18. What does He say about the fulfillment of the law? 19. Summarize in a few words His teachings on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths and revenge. 20. What does Jesus teach on how we are to treat those who mistreat us? 21. How can we follow such a perfect teaching? Day 6 – Read: John 7 22. What caused Jesus to eventually stay away from Judea? 23. How did His brothers misunderstand His purpose? 24. When Jesus did go to the feast, He began to teach. What was the response from the Jews? 25. Did Jesus draw back in the face of opposition? 26. In verse 25 the people began to speak publically. What were they wondering? 27. How did the Jewish leadership respond to the crowd’s whisperings? 28. What decisions did people make about Who Jesus is? About what were they ignorant? 29. What did the temple guard report to the chief priests and Pharisees? What was their response? 30. What did Nicodemus have to say? 31. About what were the chief priests and Pharisees also ignorant?

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Lesson 20 Jesus Takes Away the Sins of the World Please do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, crossreferences, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What “ah-ha” did you get this week? From your own study, from discussion or from the lecture? Day 2 – Read: John 10:22-11:57 2. Challenge. What is the Feast of Dedication? What do we call it today? 3.

Why did the Jews try to stone Jesus?

As the Jewish leadership chose not to believe, who believed?

Who was Lazarus?

What was Jesus’ response in hearing of Lazarus’ death?

When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ home, was Martha expecting a miracle? Was Mary?

How did Jesus react to their grief?

Describe the resurrection of Lazarus.

10.

What response did the chief priests and Pharisees have to his resurrection?

11.

What effect did that have on Jesus’ ministry?

Day 3 – Read: Mark 11:1-33, Matthew 21:1-27, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19, Luke 20:1-8 (pages 1402 -1406 in the Chronological Bible.) 12. Look up the word, hosanna in the dictionary. Write its various meanings. 13.

Following the cross references in your Bible, what prophecies were fulfilled with the “triumphal entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem?

14.

What do you think? What kind of king did the Jews want and expect? How do you explain the prophecies yet to be fulfilled?

15.

Describe what Jesus did in the temple the day after the “triumphal entry.”

16.

What was the reaction of the chief priests and teachers? Cite Scripture.

17.

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toward Jesus. Cite Scripture to support your answer. Day 4 – Read: John 14:1-17:26, Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46 (pages 1431-1436 in the Chronological Bible) 18. Summarize John 14:1-15:17 in a short sentence. (Try for 10 words or less to make it really sharp and to the point.) 19.

What lesson is Jesus teaching in John 15:1-16? How is it to be accomplished?

20.

Make a list of the important points in John 15:18-33.

21.

Write a short sentence summarizing Jesus’ prayer for Himself. (Again, try for 10 words or less and you will remember what you learned!)

22.

What do find most poignant about Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Day 5 – Read: John 18:1-11, Luke 22:54-71, John 18:28-38, Matthew 27:1-26, Mark 15:16-41 (pages 1438-1447 in the Chronological Bible) 23. How did Jesus treat those who had come to arrest Him? 24.

Why do you think Peter denied Jesus?

25.

What do you think you would have done had you been there?

26.

What did Peter do as a result of denying Jesus? What did Judas do as a result of betraying Jesus?

27.

Was one sin greater than the other? Were the attitudes afterward the same or different? What do you think was the essential character difference between Peter and Judas?

28.

Summarize in 10 words or less the trial of Jesus.

29.

How was He treated as a prisoner?

30.

What was written on His cross?

31.

Challenge. What is the significance of the tearing of the temple curtain?

32.

Challenge. List the prophecies that were fulfilled in Mark 15:16-41.

Day 6 – Read: Mark 15:42-16:8, Matthew 27:57-28:10, Luke 23:50-24:12, John 19:38-20:18 (pages 1450-1453 in the Chronological Bible.) 33. Write one sentence to summarize the burial of Jesus. Use who, what, where, when and how to describe His burial. 34.

Who guarded the tomb of Jesus? At whose request? Why?

35.

Read the Chronological Bible account of the Resurrection through a couple of times. (Pages 1451 to 1453.) Write down any new observations you have. List the questions you still have. Will you offer the questions up to the Lord and ask Him to answer your questions?

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Lesson 21 Followers Forever Changed by Jesus’ Resurrection Please do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, crossreferences, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.. He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’” Acts 4:8-11

Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. Summarize the life of Jesus in a short sentence. 2.

What difference does His life make in your life?

Day 2 – Read: John 21:1-25, Acts 1:1-11 3. How did Jesus restore Peter and their relationship? What did Peter do? 4.

Has intimacy between you and the Lord been broken? How does the example above encourage you?

How many days did Jesus remain on earth after His resurrection?

What did He do during that time?

Day 3 – Read: Luke 11:13, John 14:26, 16:13-16, Acts 2, 3:1-9, 4:1-22 7. Jesus told the disciples to expect the Holy Spirit. What is the purpose of the Spirit’s coming? 8.

Describe what happened on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came for the first time.

Describe the changes evident in Peter and the other disciples and Apostles.

10. How do you account for such a bold difference? Day 4 – Read: Acts 6, 7 and 8:1 11. Who was Steven? What position did he hold in the new church? 12. Why was he arrested? On what grounds or basis was he condemned? 13. Steven summarizes the “Scarlet Road to Redemption” before the high priest. What impresses you the most about what he has to say in chapter 7? 14. Describe the stoning of Steven. 15. In Acts 8:1, who gave approval to Steven’s death and what happened on that day? 16. How do you think God used the stoning of Steven for His glory?

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17. Who was Saul and what did he want? 18. What happened to him on the way to persecute the believers in Jesus? 19. What did Saul perceive was happening? What did the men with him perceive? 20. Who was Ananias and what role did he play in Saul’s conversion? 21. What were Ananias’ misgivings? How did the Lord allay his fears? What prophecy was Ananias given regarding Saul? 22. What was Saul like after conversion? 23. Describe Peter’s vision in chapter 10 and its significance to the new church. Day 6 – Titus 24. Read this small sampling of Paul’s writings. Challenge. Do the exercise listed in b through e. a. Read the letter or Epistle as it is called. b. List the major points. c. Summarize all these points into a short sentence. d. List the “so-whats” of Titus. The “so-whats” are those things you find which could make a difference in your life or the lives of people you know—today. Be specific! (Ex. Make dinner for my sick neighbor.) e. From the things that could make a difference, write a short sentence encompassing a few of these specific ideas into one general application. Use an active verb. (Ex. Show the compassion of Jesus in my neighborhood.)

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Lesson 22 The Plan All Comes Together: Jesus Rules in Victory Please do NOT read any commentary-type notes or footnotes at this time. Use any maps, crossreferences, concordances, or dictionaries that you wish. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to speak directly to you. After discussion and lecture, then go back and read whatever you’d like on the subject. In the meantime, if you don’t know an answer and can’t find it, simply write down, “I don’t know.” For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 Behold, I am coming soon...The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:7a and 17.

Day 1 – Thursday after Class 1. What do you consider to be the most dramatic change that occurred in the disciples after the coming of the Holy Spirit? Why? 2.

What did you get most out of coming today?

Day 2 – Read: 1 Thessalonians 4-5 3. What instructions does Paul give on how to live to please God? Use all of chapters 4 and 5. 4.

Why does Paul we should not grieve like the rest of men? Cite Scripture.

Describe the coming of the Lord as Paul relates it.

When will this happen?

What difference should this knowledge make in the way we live?

Day 3 – Read: 2 Thessalonians 2 8. What does Paul clarify about the coming of the Lord in his second writing? 9.

What does Paul have to say about “good and evil” in this chapter?

10. Why are there those who are perishing? 11. What feelings are stirred as you read these passages? Will you talk about them in prayer before the Lord? Day 4 – Read: Revelation 21 12. What is missing in the new earth? 13. To what does John compare the New Jerusalem? 14. Where will the dwelling of God be? 15. Paint a picture in your mind of the New Jerusalem.

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one who is the Alpha and Omega? 17. Why is there no temple in the New Jerusalem? Day 5 – Read: Revelation 22 18. From where did the River of Life come? 19. What stood on either side of the road? Where else did we read about this? 20. What will happen to the curse? Challenge. What curse do you think is meant? 21. What did the angel tell John to do with the prophecy of this book? Why? 22. Read verses 12 through 16 two or three times. Challenge. Answer the following questions. a. What does “soon” mean to you? b. What does “wash their robes” mean? c. Who are the dogs and what happens to them? d. Who is the speaker? e. How does he describe himself? 23. What warning does John give in verses 18 and 19? 24. What keeps you from declaring with John, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”? Day 6 – Draw a picture of the Scarlet Road to Redemption and mark the important stops or events along the way to victory.

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