Sunday, June 30, 2019


BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday June 30, 2019

LIVING IN THE LIGHT
1 John 1-2:5

   Jewish tradition tells us that, after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, the Apostle John and a core group of followers moved to Asia Minor. They settled in Ephesus and went on to influence many churches in several major cities there. It was sometime around A.D. 75 to 80, that John wrote down his, now famous, Gospel account. It was first circulated around Asia Minor as both, a missionary tract, and, as a report on JESUS’ life and teachings.
    As the Christian Church began to become firmly established in the hearts and minds of the people who believed, many destructive heresies began to take shape and manifest themselves in and around it, due to the work of false teachers and prophets. Paul and Peter, who had both been killed by then, had also written letters to the churches about twenty years earlier, warning the people of such teachings and false prophets. Also, Jude,     JESUS’ half-brother, had gone on record, defending the Gospel with a similar letter.
    It was around this same time period that John wrote the first of his three known letters to the Church. In this first letter, he stresses the basic truths of the Christian Faith, in an effort to comfort and encourage the believers, and, to keep them from falling prey to those false teachers who had already infiltrated the Church at that time.
    In 1 John 1, verses 1-4, (which constitutes the prologue of this famous epistle), the longest living original disciple, the Apostle John, affirms the tangible reality of the incarnation of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOR. Here he lays the foundation of faith for his readers, as he personally testifies of his own eyewitness account, as well as those of the other apostles who were a part of JESUS’ inner circle of disciples. He tells of the personal experience of actually seeing and hearing CHRIST speak during their times of fellowship together with HIM. He also attempts to show how GOD’s plan of salvation is also rooted in eternity, and is attainable to all men, through JESUS, WHO is the WORD of life.
John’s first letter is perhaps the most difficult book to outline in all of scripture. In fact, many scholars argue that there is no outline, and, that John really doesn’t have any logical plan in mind at all when he writes this letter. He is simply writing a very personal letter that shifts themes as one thought leads to another. This is evidenced quite clearly, as, starting in verse 5, John shifts his train of thought to the message that he and the other disciples received from JESUS, the SON of GOD.
    In this letter, at first we see the message that “GOD is light” and that, in HIM, there is no darkness at all. Such a statement ideates the impossibility of one being near to GOD, and yet, continuing to live in spiritual darkness. When we walk in the light of CHRIST, which is the light of GOD HIMSELF, we begin to see our lives clearly for the very first time. There are no more illusions or imagined fears, and we can see every obstacle in life for what it really is, an obstacle, and a stumbling block from satan. It is only when we walk in the light emitted by GOD, through CHRIST JESUS the WORD, can we see how to respond to life’s problems appropriately.
    In the New Testament Greek, the word used for “truth” is “aletheia” (al-ay-thi-a), and it is, “in full harmony with reality”. In verse 6 of this passage, John suggests that we are lying to ourselves when we say we have fellowship with GOD, but go on living in spiritual darkness. When we live by “double standards” we are not living in the truth, and, are not “in full harmony with the reality of GOD”.
    If we are to have fellowship with GOD, we must not only see things as they are presented to us by GOD, but, we must also live by the reality that the LIGHT and TRUTH of our fellowship with GOD reveals to us, for our own greater good. Such a lifestyle change consists of accepting the reality of our sins, so that GOD will be faithful and just to forgive us, and cleanse us from every wrong.
    JESUS is the only “human being” WHO ever pleased GOD completely, and no other person in the history of the world has ever been able to do the same. When HE overcame the world to defeat death and sin, HE became the only man qualified to be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of this world.
    Because CHRIST died for us, we inherit an obligation to live for HIM. We can be sure that we belong to HIM, by making right choices, and by making an earnest effort to obey HIS FATHER GOD’s commands. Then, when we say we are a “child of GOD”, and are “living in the light”, we will indeed be “in full harmony with reality, and really are, “living in the TRUTH, that is CHRIST JESUS.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander






Friday, June 21, 2019


BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday June 23, 2019

JOSEPH RE-ASSURES HIS BROTHERS
Genesis 50:14-21

   After Joseph and those who accompanied him returned to Egypt from Jacob’s funeral, the residual guilt of his brothers began to haunt them again. They started to think that now that their father was dead, Joseph would seek to exact revenge on them for all the misery they had caused him years earlier. And so they sent Joseph a message telling him that, before Jacob died, he instructed us to say to you, “Forgive your brothers for the great evil they did to you, so we, the servants of the GOD of your father, beg you to forgive us” (v.17) NLT.
    When Joseph received their message he began to weep once more. Then his brothers came in and humbly bowed low before him, proclaiming, “We are your servants”. Joseph then re-assured them that they didn’t have to be concerned about him trying to seek revenge on them. He iterated his feelings that GOD had turned into good, that which they intended for evil, and that, only GOD, not him, can ultimately judge them. It is because of what they did to him, that he was installed into the lofty position of power that he now enjoyed. He told them not to be afraid, and he spoke very kindly to them.
    Through Joseph’s ordeal caused by his brothers, he had experienced the grace of GOD, and as a result, he was able to be gracious to his brothers, despite what they had done to him. When we know and experience GOD’s grace for ourselves, we must not only be able to forgive others, but we must also be able to do good deeds for those whom we forgive, whenever we can. 
  
THE DEATH OF JOSEPH
Genesis 50:22-26

   After Jacob’s death, Joseph and his brothers continued to live in peace, in Egypt, for the remainder of their lives. And Jacob’s family remained separated from the worldly atmosphere of Egypt, in Goshen, until after Joseph’s death at the age of 110. Joseph lived to see three generations of his offspring, the children and grandchildren of Ephraim and Manasseh, and he treated them as his own. Before he died, he reminded his brothers, that, “GOD will surely come for you, to lead you out of this land of Egypt. HE will bring you back to the land HE vowed to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (v.24) NLT.
    Then Joseph made his brothers swear to take his bones back to Canaan with them when the LORD comes to lead them back. After his death, they embalmed his body as they had done with Jacob, and they placed his body in a coffin, and it remained in Egypt until the great exodus about 300 years later. The Israelites, however, in total, lived in Egypt for 400 years.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website





Friday, June 14, 2019


BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday June 16, 2019

JACOB’S DEATH AND BURIAL
Genesis 49:29-50:13

   After Jacob died, Joseph threw himself upon him and kissed him and wept bitterly (Genesis 50:1). Then he instructed his morticians to embalm his father’s body, a process that, in those days, and by their method, took forty days. In addition, Joseph called for a seventy day period of national mourning, which was only two days short of the mourning period reserved for the Pharaohs of Egypt.
    When the mourning period was over, Joseph went to Pharaoh’s advisers and asked them to speak to the Pharaoh on his behalf. He told them that his father had made him swear to take his body back to Canaan for burial in his family plot that had been purchased by his great-grandfather Abraham. He told them to ask Pharaoh for permission to take his father’s body back immediately.
    The Pharaoh granted Joseph’s request and a great funeral procession was put together which included many of the top officials in Egypt. The whole family of Jacob, with the exception of the small children, went back to Canaan for the seven day event, which was held at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River. After the funeral, the local Canaanites re-named the place “Abel-mizraim”, which means “Mourning of Egyptians” because it was a place of very deep mourning for these Egyptians.

JOSEPH RE-ASSURES HIS BROTHERS
Genesis 50:14-21

   After Joseph and those who accompanied him returned to Egypt from Jacob’s funeral, the residual guilt of his brothers began to haunt them again. They started to think that now that their father was dead, Joseph would seek to exact revenge on them for all the misery they had caused him years earlier. And so they sent Joseph a message telling him that, before Jacob died, he instructed us to say to you, “Forgive your brothers for the great evil they did to you, so we, the servants of the GOD of your father, beg you to forgive us” (v.17) NLT.
    When Joseph received their message he began to weep once more. Then his brothers came in and humbly bowed low before him, proclaiming, “We are your servants”. Joseph then re-assured them that they didn’t have to be concerned about him trying to seek revenge on them. He iterated his feelings that GOD had turned into good, that which they intended for evil, and that, only GOD, not him, can ultimately judge them. It is because of what they did to him, that he was installed into the lofty position of power that he now enjoyed. He told them not to be afraid, and he spoke very kindly to them.
    Through Joseph’s ordeal caused by his brothers, he had experienced the grace of GOD, and as a result, he was able to be gracious to his brothers, despite what they had done to him. When we know and experience GOD’s grace for ourselves, we must not only be able to forgive others, but we must also be able to do good deeds for those whom we forgive, whenever we can. 
  
THE DEATH OF JOSEPH
Genesis 50:22-26

   After Jacob’s death, Joseph and his brothers continued to live in peace, in Egypt, for the remainder of their lives. And Jacob’s family remained separated from the worldly atmosphere of Egypt, in Goshen, until after Joseph’s death at the age of 110. Joseph lived to see three generations of his offspring, the children and grandchildren of Ephraim and Manasseh, and he treated them as his own. Before he died, he reminded his brothers, that, “GOD will surely come for you, to lead you out of this land of Egypt. HE will bring you back to the land HE vowed to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (v.24) NLT.
    Then Joseph made his brothers swear to take his bones back to Canaan with them when the LORD comes to lead them back. After his death, they embalmed his body as they had done with Jacob, and they placed his body in a coffin, and it remained in Egypt until the great exodus about 300 years later. The Israelites, however, in total, lived in Egypt for 400 years.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website







Friday, June 7, 2019


BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday June 9, 2019

JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS
Genesis 49:1-28

   In Genesis 49 Jacob continues to pass down his legacy of faith, this time, to his remaining sons. He starts by demoting his firstborn son by Leah, Reuben, for his adulterous act with Bilhah, one of his wives (Genesis 35:22). Then he denounces Simeon and Levi for their violent ways, such as when they murdered the entire town of Shechem, killing even those who were not responsible for, and had nothing to do with their sister Dinah’s rape (Genesis 34).
    Jacob then gives Judah perhaps the brightness forecast of all his sons in this extensive oracle. He tells Judah, in essence, that he would be the son whose line leads directly to the MESSIAH. He tells him in verse 8 that all his brothers will praise him, he will defeat all of his enemies, and all of his other relatives will bow down before him.
    In verse 9 Jacob describes Judah as a young lion who has finished eating its prey and then lies down in peaceful sleep, daring anyone to awake him. Jacob assures Judah that “the scepter will not depart from him” until the coming of the MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST WHO owns it, the ONE WHOM all nations will obey.
    Jacob also blessed the remainder of his sons with blessings that were appropriate to each of them respectively (Vs.13-27). Zebulun’s descendants would be enriched by the sea trade. The descendants of Issachar would be strong workers, but unfortunately they would, for the most part, always be forced to work for others, including many invading armies.
    The descendants of “Dan”, which means “judge”, would be called to provide justice for the people, but instead, they will choose, and gain a reputation for treachery. They will become like poisonous vipers by the side of the road, who look to bite the heels of the rider’s horses as they pass by.
    The descendants of Gad will often be attacked by marauders, but they too, will also occasionally play the role of the attacker, as border raids would often be experienced by the tribes who dwell east of the Jordan River.
    The descendants of Asher will be known for their production of rich crops due to their location along the fertile northern coast of Canaan. And the descendants of Naphtali will be a free-spirited bunch who will settle in the mountains northwest of the Sea of Galilee.
    Joseph, who was, quite literally, a prince among his brothers, will be blessed with fruitfulness and life, protection and strength, blessings while on earth (wells and springs of abundant waters) and from Heaven (rain and sunshine vital for crop growth). Jacob gave like blessings to Joseph’s direct descendants, Ephraim and Manasseh, and this is later evidenced in the lives of people like Joshua, Deborah, and Samuel who were all from the tribe of Ephraim, and in the lives of Gideon and Jephthah, who were from the tribe of Manasseh.
    And finally, in his prophecy regarding his youngest son, Benjamin, Jacob says that his descendants would be a tribe that is violent in spirit “like ravenous wolves on the prowl”. They went on to gain a reputation of being cruel people, not unlike the Apostle Paul (Saul) was, before his conversion by CHRIST JESUS along the Damascus Road (Acts 9).
    In closing, although Jacob had obtained his own birthright and blessing through bribery and trickery, over the years it had been perfected through trials and strong faith. And here at the end of his life, he is able to pass on a legacy that consisted of “an anointing faith” that would empower an heir (Joseph) to become the keeper of the Abrahamic Covenant.
    The legacy we leave behind will always depend on how we live our lives. And even though we ourselves may have inherited a life that may leave something to be desired, we can still take on the attitude, that, someone in the family must eventually take the responsibility of breaking the downward cycle, and drawing a line in the sand. And if we want to leave a legacy of faith that will truly honor the Almighty GOD, we must begin to exercise and apply that faith in ways that are pleasing to HIM. And, we must remember also, that, it is equally imperative that our faith be evident to our children, and to others, who experience our presence, if we are to succeed.    

JACOB’S DEATH AND BURIAL
Genesis 49:29-50:13

   As we close out this chapter of Genesis, Jacob tells his sons that he will soon die, and he requested specifically, and in detail, that they bury him with his father and grandfather in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a permanent burial place. It is where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and his wife, Leah, are buried. When Jacob had finished his charge to his sons, he lay back on his bed, and breathed his last breath.
   After Jacob died, Joseph threw himself upon him and kissed him and wept bitterly (Genesis 50:1). Then he instructed his morticians to embalm his father’s body, a process that, in those days, and by their method, took forty days. In addition, Joseph called for a seventy day period of national mourning, which was only two days short of the mourning period reserved for the Pharaohs of Egypt.
    When the mourning period was over, Joseph went to Pharaoh’s advisers and asked them to speak to the Pharaoh on his behalf. He told them that his father had made him swear to take his body back to Canaan for burial in his family plot that had been purchased by his great-grandfather Abraham. He told them to ask Pharaoh for permission to take his father’s body back immediately.
    The Pharaoh granted Joseph’s request and a great funeral procession was put together which included many of the top officials in Egypt. The whole family of Jacob, with the exception of the small children, went back to Canaan for the seven day event, which was held at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River. After the funeral, the local Canaanites re-named the place “Abel-mizraim”, which means “Mourning of Egyptians” because it was a place of very deep mourning for these Egyptians.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

Friday, May 31, 2019


BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday June 2, 2019

JACOB BLESSES MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM
Genesis 48

   William E. Channing wrote in his essay, “Means of promoting Christianity”, that, “The first laborers do little more than teach those who come after them, what to avoid, and how to labor more effectually than themselves”. For whatever we are in life, so are we in death. Those who seek righteousness will be counted as righteous in the eyes of GOD, and those who don’t, will continue on living in an unrighteous state, never realizing their specific purpose, or “creation role” from GOD.
    Furthermore, those who are righteous, leave behind “a legacy of faith”, and a GODly heir whose life is made richer by their witness and testimony concerning the only wise, eternal GOD in Heaven. The unrighteous, by contrast, leave behind a sad commentary of a life that was incomplete and void of purpose, never coming to know the true reason that they came into the world, and only leaving their heirs with questions of “what ifs”.
    In Genesis chapters 48-49, as Jacob’s life on earth winds down to a close, he is still able to keep his focus on the promise of the GOD of his ancestors, and the fulfillment of the “Abrahamic Covenant” through his seed. Here in Genesis 48, verses 1-4, an ailing Jacob gathers his strength and begins to disclose to Joseph how the Almighty GOD had appeared to him at Bethel near Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed him with the Covenant Promise.
    Then, in a rather surprising turn of events, Jacob passes the birthright blessing on to Joseph, usurping Reuben through the adopting of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to be his own sons (v.5). By doing so, he elevates the two boys to the rank of “firstborn sons” of his, instead of being firstborn sons of Joseph’s. Thus Joseph was not only given a double portion of Jacob’s inheritance through them, but also, in effect, the boys replaced Reuben and Simeon, his eldest sons by his least favorite wife, Leah, on the birthright chart.
    Jacob’s elevation of Joseph’s sons was apparently prompted by his sad reminiscence of having to bury “his favorite wife”, Rachel, on the side of the road, between Bethel and Bethlehem (v.7 and Genesis 35:16-20), while Leah, “his least favorite wife”, was buried in the cave of his fathers at Machpelah, where, if he had his way, Rachel would be entombed. And so, this became sort of a “make-up maneuver” by which he could restore some honor to Rachel’s remembrance.
    And so Jacob’s adopting of Manasseh and Ephraim had a lasting effect upon biblical history, and GOD would, later on, uses Jacob’s flawed “human effort”, to promote HIS OWN purpose and planning, as HE always does. GOD, throughout Scripture, has always made it HIS pleasure to take “a crooked stick” (human ingenuity), and use it to hit a “straight lick” (take that which was meant for evil, and use it for good).
     First of all, this crooked move by Jacob, unbeknownst to him, would later allow GOD to set aside the tribe of Levi to serve HIM in a priestly manner, and still maintain “the twelve tribe division” of the future “Promised Land” that HE originally intended. Secondly, it changed the structure of tribal authority, as Reuben had long ago, already forfeited his birthright by sleeping with his father’s wife, Bilhah, shortly after Rachel’s death (Genesis 35:22).
    In another twist to this account, when Joseph presented his two sons to Jacob for his blessing, he placed his eldest son, Manasseh, on Jacob’s right knee, and his youngest son, Ephraim, on his left knee. Jacob, who by now suffered with failing eyesight, through divine intervention from GOD, crossed his arms and placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, thus elevating Ephraim, the younger son, over Manasseh, the older son.
    Joseph was upset when he saw what his father had done, and he lifted up Jacob’s arm in an attempt to correct him, thinking that his failing eyesight was the reason for what he had done. However, Jacob refused to uncross his arm, telling Joseph, “I know what I’m doing, my son”. Manasseh too, will become a great people, but his younger brother, Ephraim, will become even greater. His descendants will become a multitude of nations!
    And so Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing: “The people of Israel will use your names to bless each other. They will say, ‘May GOD make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Then Jacob told Joseph that GOD would again bring him into Canaan (Joseph’s bones would be carried out of Egypt long after his death, back into Canaan for burial). And he gave Joseph an extra portion of land, beyond the amount of what he gave to his brothers (this extra portion is believed to be the plot which “Jacob’s Well” is located on) (John 4:4 and Joshua 24:22).
    This account of Scripture serves to show us that GOD is pleased to perform HIS work differently and unconventionally from time to time. It had taken Jacob himself a lifetime to recognize that fact. However, in truth, even faith recognizes that the ways of GOD and man are most often adverse and different.
    In verse 11 Jacob had already expressed “the goodness of GOD” and how GOD had, not only, allowed him to see his son Joseph again, after all those years, but, HE had also allowed him the privilege of seeing Joseph’s children before he passed away, which was an, extra, unexpected blessing.
    GOD often showers us with blessings that we never expected, and most certainly, will never deserve. And HE continues to replace the darkness of our existence with the eternal light of HIS presence, as a result of the vicarious sacrifice of the risen LORD, our SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. And this becomes especially true, when we remain faithful to HIS Word.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website




Friday, May 24, 2019


BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday May 26, 2019

JACOB BLESSES PHAROAH
Genesis 47:1-12

   In Genesis 47 Joseph went to see Pharaoh Sesostris III, and told him that his father and brothers had arrived there from Canaan. He told him that they had brought with them, all of their possessions, including their flocks and livestock, and they were prepared to settle in the district of Goshen, which the Egyptians called “Rameses”, that was located at the eastern edge of the fertile Nile delta.
    Joseph had brought five of his brothers with him and he introduced them to the Pharaoh. Telling the Pharaoh that they were generational shepherds and livestock breeders, as Joseph had suggested, the brothers requested formal permission to reside in the land of Goshen. The Pharaoh granted them permission, and also put them in charge of his own livestock as well.
    Later Joseph brought his father, Jacob and presented him to the Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed the Pharaoh upon coming into his presence. After a brief conversation Jacob blessed the Pharaoh once more before departing the room. And Joseph formally assigned to them the land of Goshen, and he furnished his family (his father and brothers) with an ample food supply, according to the number of each of their dependents.


JOSEPH’S LEADERSHIP IN THE FAMINE
Genesis 47:13-31

   Meanwhile the famine worsened and no crops could be produced in Egypt or Canaan. And when the people had exhausted all of their funds buying grain from Egypt, they came again to Joseph for help, asking him to give them food “so that they can live, and not die of starvation”. Joseph offered to give them food in exchange for their livestock, since they could no longer feed them anyway, and that way, both the people and the livestock would live.
    So the people traded Joseph their livestock in exchange for food, and before long, all of the horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys in Egypt belonged to the Pharaoh, but the people, and all of the animals and livestock, were saved from starvation due to the famine, for yet another year, because of the wisdom shown by Joseph in his dealings with them.
    However, the following year the famine persisted, and the people were in need of food once again. They had no more money and no more livestock to trade. Then they came to Joseph and offered themselves (their bodies) up as indentured servants to Egypt, and/or their land, in exchange for food. Joseph agreed to their proposition and the people were again saved from starvation, and the land itself, was saved from desolation.
    Eventually, Joseph bought all the land of Egypt, and it all became the possession of the Pharaoh. And all of the people eventually became indentured servants to Pharaoh. The only land Joseph didn’t buy was the land that belonged to “the priests of Ra the sun god”, who resided in the worship center of Heliopolis, just north of Cairo. They had always received their food directly from the Pharaoh, and thus, they were never impoverished by the famine (Vs.20-22). In fact, none of the people on the Pharaoh’s personal staff were affected by the famine because of Joseph’s wisdom and superior planning and management.
    In the final year of the famine Joseph gave the people seeds to plant the following year’s crops. However, he stipulated to them that they must give one fifth of their harvest to the Pharaoh, and keep four fifths for themselves, so that they can plant again the following year, and also have plenty of food for themselves and their families, ongoing. He also made it a permanent law throughout all the land of Egypt that all the people, excluding the priests of course, must give one fifth of all their crops to the Pharaoh of Egypt.
    And as for the Israelites, they settled in the land of Goshen and began to prosper greatly in just a short period of time. Jacob lived his final seventeen years in Egypt and died at the ripe old age of 147. And before he died he made Joseph swear to take his body back to Canaan and bury him with his fathers, in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, which was purchased by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander