Assignment for July 3, 2019

1.  Read Genesis 10 & 11
2.  Here are some maps to help you with the table of nations and the spread of man.






This focuses on the descendants of Canaan:


                         


3.  How many descendants do you count for each family line in chapter 10? Shem? Ham? Japheth?  What is the total?


4.  Read:
     Exodus 1:1-5
     Numbers 11:16-25
     Luke 10:1-20

Assignment for June 26, 2019

1.  Read Genesis 9 and 10
2.  We have been examining a very complex part of Scripture in Genesis 9:18-28. This passage has been debated for centuries and the conclusions drawn have been varied. So we picked a Bible Study principle to use. 
- This principle was to 1st look ONLY to this portion of Scripture and it's immediate context to see what we can learn.  Now, there is nothing wrong with using outside information as we study the Bible. However, I have found with these difficult passages that other sources can be confusing to use at 1st. This principle is ALWAYS the safest way to begin a study, no matter how difficult the passage.

We began looking through this portion last week.  Here are some things that we learned:
- There was special mention of Canaan in verse 18. Why?
- 1st mention of vineyard, wine and drunk.  Did Noah know about fermentation?
- Ham wasn't cursed. Canaan was. Why?
- Ham "saw" something (vs. 22) and "did" something (vs. 24)
- Question came up: Was Ham cursed worse by not being cursed directly?
- Canaan was to serve his brothers. His brothers are listed in 10:6.
- So, continue to look closely at these verses and see what else you notice.  

3. Here are a few things I have noticed by using a few Bible Study language tools:

- In vs 21-22 we find the words "uncovered" and "nakedness."  These exact same words show up in the book of Leviticus 18 & 20.  Look at Leviticus 20:11. The NIV says "he has dishonored his father." More literal translations (KJV, etc.) say, "he has uncovered his father's nakedness." What does this phrase speak about? What conclusions can you draw?
- Noah said, "Cursed be Canaan!" (vs. 25) He said this to his "youngest son." (vs. 24)  But Ham was not the youngest son. He was the middle son. The word "son" in verse 24 can also refer to "grandson." Was Canaan the youngest grandson (10:6)?

4. This should be enough to get us started.

5.  Be sure and attend a church.

Assignment for June 12, 2019

1.  Read Genesis 9

2.  A review of some "1st mention" items from last week.
   
      - "fear and dread" put upon animals toward man, vs. 2
      - permission to eat meat, vs. 3
      - the uniqueness of the blood of animals and humans, vs. 4-5
      - the first hint of the need for a human government. The need expressed here is to be able to carry out the death penalty, vs. 6

3.  A Bible study principle:  Be careful not to read into the Scripture what is not there.
First of all, it is important to take the time to notice what is not there. Our example was the fact that there is no record of man eating meat before the flood, nor is there mention that there was a fear of man in the animals.  Did they eat meat between the Fall and the Flood? Were the animals afraid?  We do not know. The Bible is silent on these matters.  A better question to ask when these type of things are noticed is this, "Why did Holy Spirit choose this particular chapter to introduce these ideas?"

4.  Another principle is that the Bible will speak for itself.  The best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible.

5.  What does the Bible say about itself? Look up these verses and jot down some notes.
     Exodus 24:4
     2 Kings 17:13
     Matthew 5:17-18
     Luke 24:25-27
     2 Timothy 3:16-17
     2 Peter 1:20-21, 3:2, 15-16
     Revelation 22:18-19

6.  Be sure to attend a church this week.