Adult Sunday School Lesson

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025

Zoom Sunday School Classes 

Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09

JUNE 1, 2025

Cain and Abel Offer Sacrifices
Printed Text: Genesis 4:1-16
Devotional Reading: Luke 20:45-21:4
Background: Genesis 4:1-25

JUNE 8, 2025

Noah Builds an Alter
Printed Text: Genesis 8:13-22, 9:11-13
Devotional Reading: Psalm 77:1-2, 7-19
Background: Genesis 6:1-9:17

JUNE 15, 2025

Abraham Makes an Offer
Printed Text: Genesis 22:1-14
Devotional Reading: Romans 4:1-15
Background: Genesis 22:1-19

JUNE 22, 2025

Isaac Calls on the Name of the Lord
Printed Text: Genesis 26:24-33
Devotional Reading: Genesis 26:12-23
Bible Background: Genesis 26:1-33

JUNE 29, 2025

Jacob Sets Up a Sacred Pillar
Printed Text: Genesis 28:10-22
Devotional Reading: John 15:1-8
Bible Background: Genesis 28:1-22; 33:17-20; 35:1-7

Zoom Sunday School Classes – 1 June 2025, 09:00 AM EST

Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09

Cain and Abel Offer Sacrificies
Printed Text: Genesis 4:1-16
Devotional Reading: Luke 20:45-21:4
Background: Genesis 4:1-25

KEEP IN MIND:

“The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."  (Genesis 4:6-7, NRSV)

LESSON AIM:

EXPLORE God's justice in the face of human sinfulness;

REFLECT on the dangers of allowing sin to control us; and
REPENT of thoughts and actions that could harm others and ask for God's mercy and forgiveness.

BACKGROUND

Sons were important to the Hebrew people for a variety of reasons.  The ability to farm and herd animals was vital to their survival, a task well-performed by strong, young men.  Fathers who had sons gained a measure of respect from the community.

The birth of Adam and Eve's sons was the beginning of the fulfillment of God's directive to them that they "be fruitful and multiply" (see Genesis 1:22).  Some Bible scholars believe that the phrase "and she again bare" (v. 2) suggests that Cain and Abel were twins.  The text is not explicit, however, as it is with the birth of later twins (Genesis 25:24; 38:27).

The story of these two brothers is deeper than that of sibling rivalry.  It reflects the willingness and desire of one faithful steward to give his best to please the Lord.  Another steward, his. own brother, wanted God's favor, yet did not want to give his best in order to obtain it.  The jealousy and anger which Cain held for his brother led him to take Abel's life.

Lesson Commentary:

The First Brothers (Genesis 4: I-7, NRSV)

¹Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD."
²Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
³In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,
⁴and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
⁵but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
⁶The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?
⁷If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Eve readily acknowledges that the birth of her first son is the work of the Lord.  She also gives birth to another son, Abel.  The brothers assume occupations vital to their survival and well-being.  These brothers were comparably employed, and each makes an offering of their wares to the Lord.  God looks with favor upon Abel's offering, but not Cain's.

When God does not look upon Cain's offering with favor, Cain becomes very angry.  No different than any of us, Cain wants God to approve of him.  Instead of examining himself to find any hidden sin, however, Cain chose to direct his anger toward Abel.

Not all gifts are equal before God.  He weighs both what we give as well as our attitude about our gift.  Anger, envy, and self-pity can twist our minds and lay the foundation for trouble.  God knew that if Cain did not examine his own shortcomings and try to do right, Cain would fall to sin.  Anger's sinful fruit was perched at Cain's door.  God makes it clear to Cain that he has to master the sin.  When we become angry, we must learn to control and channel it into positive results.

1. What are positive, constructive channels for your anger?

2. How do you react when someone confronts you about your harmful actions?

3. How do you give the first and the best to God in your offerings, including time, talent, and money?

Jealousy Leads to Sin (Genesis 4:8-9, NRSV)

⁸Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.
⁹Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"

The fact that Cain invites Abel to go out into the field indicates possible premeditation of his deed.  However, it is equally possible that Cain led his brother into the field simply to scare or bully him.  Either way, Cain's anger ruled the moment.  Anger can provoke us to do things we would not do normally.  In this case, anger took control of Cain, and in the end, his brother was dead.  Cain refused to feel any sense of responsibility for what happened.  Instead of focusing on doing what was right, as God had told him to do, Cain chose to make his brother the problem.

God questioned the whereabouts of Cain's brother: "Where is Abel thy brother?"  Cain's unrepentant guilt prompted him to answer the Lord's question with a question (v. 9), "Am I my brother's keeper?"  Apparently, God's answer to Cain's question was "Yes" as He continued to query the guilty firstborn about his younger brother.

1. What actions have you taken in jealousy or anger that you regretted later?

God Deals with Cain (Genesis 4:10-16, NRSV)

¹⁰And the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!
¹¹And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
¹²When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
¹³Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear!
¹⁴Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me."
¹⁵Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.
¹⁶Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

The expression used in verse 10 concerning the earth "which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood," is consistent with an Old Testament concern that the depths of the earth (Sheol, hell) have an insatiable appetite for human beings, wanting to devour them at every opportunity.  Sheol is not so deep, however, that God did not hear the cry of Abel's blood.

Cain is punished with a nomadic lifestyle because the earth, now holding his brother's blood, will no longer yield crops for him.  Life as he knew it as a farmer would be no more.  At this point, Cain finally exhibits sorrow, but it is because of his punishment and not for his misdeed, complaining that his punishment was more that he can bear.

In His grace, God places a mark (v. 15) of protection upon Cain to prevent harm from coming to him.  Cain then leaves the presence of the Lord because there was no longer fellowship between him and Yahweh.  His sin was unpardonable because Cain displays no desire to repent or reconcile with the Lord.  The broken bond between Cain and God was the result of Cain's lack of faith, not God's lack of mercy.

1. Is Cain's punishment and protection fair?

2. Why was it easier for Cain to focus on Abel rather than on himself and his own offerings to the Lord?

3. How is it possible that Cain felt no responsibility for Abel's whereabouts, yet he felt Abel had been responsible for the poor reception of his own offerings?

4. Are you your "brother's" keeper?  Look for biblical references to support the fact that believers do bear some responsibility for one another.

Lesson in Our Society:

The term "rageaholic" describes those who appear to be addicted to anger.  Such people have rampant anger that may often be directed at unsuspecting, innocent people.  Anger can lead us to commit acts that we later regret, including acts of violence.  Even though our anger may only last for a moment, like a bomb, anger's momentary explosion can cause widespread damage.  Discuss possible ways that people become addicted to anger.  How can Christians be rageaholics?  How can rage affect a person's ability to be an effective witness for Christ?

NEXT WEEK LESSON: 8 June 2025

Noah Builds an Alter
Printed Text: Genesis 8:13-22, 9:11-13
Devotional Reading: Psalm 77:1-2, 7-19
Background: Genesis 6:1-9:17

Zoom Sunday School Classes – 8 June 2025, 09:00 AM EST
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09

Noah Builds an Alter
Printed Text: Genesis 8:13-22, 9:11-13
Devotional Reading: Psalm 77:1-2, 7-19
Background: Genesis 6:1-9:17

KEEP IN MIND:

“I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”  (Genesis 9:13 21:24, NRSV)

LESSON AIM:

COMPREHEND the rainbow as a sign of God’s grace;

APPRECIATE God’s ability to renew our lives following difficult times; and

WORSHIP God gratefully in light of His continued promises of mercy and grace.

BACKGROUND

Leaving the ark, Noah made a sacrifice to God.  Nor receive God's grace, walked with God and obedience in righteousness, was preserved from judgment, entered a new age with people's wickedness temporarily removed, and responded with worship.  After Noah made the sacrifice, God promised never to curse the ground in this way again.  The continuity of seasons is evidence of God's forbearance.

God instructed Noah what to be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth (vv. 1, 7) just as he told Adam (1:28).  And Noah, like Adam, was to have dominion over animals (9:2; cf. 1:26, 28).  Also, both were given food to eat (9:3; cf. 1:29, 2:16) with one prohibition.

With Noah's new beginning came a covenant.  It was necessary now to have a covenant with obligations for mankind and a promise from God.  Because of the floods destruction of life, people might think that God views life is cheap and assume that taking life is a small matter.  This covenant shows that life is sacred, and that man is not to destroy man, who is made in the image of God.

In essence, then, this covenant was established to ensure the stability of nature.  It helped guarantee the order of the world.  People would also learn that human law was necessary for the stability of life that wickedness should not go unchecked as it had before.  So human government was brought in.

Lesson Commentary:

Waiting Patiently and Obediently For God’s Timing (Genesis 8:13-19, NRSV)

¹³In the six hundred first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and saw that the face of the ground was drying.
¹⁴In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.
¹⁵Then God said to Noah,
¹⁶"Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you.
¹⁷Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
¹⁸So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
¹⁹And every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the ark by families.

In the 601st year of his life, on the first day of the first month, the water was dried up (8:13). Still Noah waited. Finally, on the 27th day of the second month, God told Noah to disembark (8:14-16). Only then did Noah leave the ark.

God had shut Noah in; God must bring Noah out by His command. Noah kept waiting on God even when God was apparently silent. Obedience during the silent times is the best guarantee that you’ll obey God in those critical moments which determine the course of your life. If God has shut you in to some difficulty, wait patiently and obediently upon Him to bring you out in His way and time.

Maybe God has shut you up to being single, but you want to be married. But God doesn’t seem to be listening to your prayers. If you disobey God and take matters into your own hands by dating unbelievers, you will thwart what He is trying to teach you about waiting on Him and you may miss His provision for you later. In the silent times, we must remember the Lord by waiting patiently and obediently for His timing.

The Perpetual Promise (Genesis 8:20-22, NRSV)

²⁰Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
²¹And when the LORD smelled the pleasing odor, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.
²²As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

Noah, his family, and the animals were in the ark of safety while the rest of the earth’s inhabitants perished.  God spoke to Noah directly to let him know that they could safely come out and inhabit the land.  In an act of worship for God’s protection and provision, Noah built an alter to the Lord and offered a sacrifice of burnt offerings using animals approved by Him.  This act of worship was a pleasing delight to God, especially after enduring such wickedness.  God’s response to this sacrifice also displays His desire to be in intimate fellowship with hearts that are aligned with Him.  God makes a promise that He will never curse the ground again because of humanity’s inclination to sin.

Further, God promises that once again the earth will continue its seasonal rhythms because of His power, and that as long as it exists, it will continue to produce from the ground, supply cold and heat, change seasons, and continue the cycle of night and day.  Humanity is still responsible for the earth’s care today and should be wise in using energy resources and seeking sustainable solutions for the health of the environment.

We remember the Lord by offering a sacrifice of gratitude.

Noah got off the ark and offered a sacrifice to the Lord. You may think his action was a matter of course.  But it was hardly a matter of course.  Noah would have been a busy man once he set foot on dry ground again.  He had to build a shelter for his family.  They had to tend to the domestic animals.  They had to move everything off the ark to their new homes.  And yet Noah took time to remember the Lord by building an altar and offering sacrifices.

1. The way in which we respond to life’s ups and downs is the key to not allowing life to control our spirit.  How can God’s covenant give us hope to rebound after a loss?

The Promise Sealed (Genesis 9: 11-13, NRSV)

¹¹I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
¹²God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
¹³I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

God now turns to Noah and makes a personal promise to confirm His covenant through Noah and his sons as well as those who would come after them.  God also includes the animals in this promise.  As a sign of His covenant agreement between Himself and His creation (which includes humanity, the animals, and the earth) for future generations, God placed a bow in the clouds.  The rainbow of colors seen after a rainfall is a symbol of God’s continuing love and mercy.  He continues to keep His promise today that no matter how torrential and destructive storms, hurricanes, or other natural water events might be, they will not destroy the entire earth as happened with the flood.  We live in fallen conditions where the earth’s natural progression produces event that we cannot fully explain, even with science, but God remains faithful to His covenant.  This is how we can maintain hope in the midst of it all. 

DISCUSS THE MEANING:

1. What are some ways to express thanks to God for a deliverance or other special blessing?

2. How can we use Genesis 8:22 to comfort someone after a disastrous weather event?

3. What can we say to a person who has experienced an act of God that resulted in a loss of loved ones or property?

4. How can the fact that we are included in a covenant God made first with Noah encourage us?

5. How would you respond to someone who says that floods today prove that God has not kept His promise?

Lesson in Our Society

So often we hear about natural disasters and hundreds of people dying.  We can't help but feel concern for ourselves and others.  We pray that our families and loved ones remain safe from the destruction.  In the meantime, we must remind each other of the covenant God made to his people and trust that he will never forget.

NEXT WEEK LESSON: 15 June 2025

Abraham Makes an Offer
Printed Text: Genesis 22:1-14
Devotional Reading: Romans 4:1-15
Background: Genesis 22:1-19

Zoom Sunday School Classes – 15 June 2025, 09:00 AM EST
Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09

Abraham Makes an Offer
Printed Text: Genesis 22:1-14
Devotional Reading: Romans 4:1-15
Background: Genesis 22:1-19

KEEP IN MIND:

“So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."  (Genesis 22:14, NRSV)

LESSON AIM:

LEARN of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son to please God;

IMAGINE the unquestioning faith Abraham exhibited; and

COMMIT to increasing faith in God and obedience to Him

BACKGROUND:

God appeared to Abram and Sarai on two more occasions prior to the birth of the promised child as outlined in Scripture.  The Lord appeared to reinforce His covenant to make a great nation from them by giving them a son, He changed their names to Abraham (meaning “father of multitudes”) and Sarah (which means “princess”), and He gave them a sign of His covenant by instilling circumcision of all males (Genesis 17).  Then an angel of the Lord appeared to tell Abraham and Sarah that in due season, approximately one year later, the child would come.  At the age of 100 and 90 respectively, Abraham and Sarah became the proud parents of Isaac.  The impossible had happened, and a child was conceived in their old age (Genesis 17:19-21).  At long last, God’s promise had come to pass, and although Abraham already had a son (Ishmael) born to him from Sarah’s maidservant Hagar, he was not the promise.

Sarah told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away from their household because he was not to share in Isaac’s inheritance.  Abraham was distressed and hurt deeply to have to send Ishmael away because he loved him, but at Sarah’s word, which was in agreement with God’s command, Abraham sent them away.  However, God heard Abraham’s heart and concern for Ishmael and because he, too, was Abraham’s seed, God promised to make a nation of him also (Genesis 21:8-20).  Abraham was obedient to God and remained a loyal friend throughout the years of waiting on the fulfillment of his promise.

LESSON COMMENTARY:

God’s Command for a Sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-5)

¹After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
²He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."
³So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him.
⁴On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away.
⁵Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you."

At the close of the previous chapter, Genesis 21:22-34, Abraham made a covenant with King Abimelech of Gerar, who had an interest in striking a political alliance with Abraham because he could see that God was with him. Upon making an agreement of peace and to dig a well, Abraham staked his claim by planting a grove in Beer-sheba and named it in the Lord’s honor as an outward sign in a pagan and idolatrous world that he served the everlasting God (Genesis 21:22).

Genesis 22 opens with, “After these things God tested Abraham.”  Even after making an outward sign of his dedication in the previous chapter, God put Abraham to the test to prove his loyalty.  God called on him to take his and Sarah’s only son, Isaac, whom he loved, and offer him up as a burnt offering, and God would tell him exactly where to go to do this.  It may appear strange that God would tell Abraham to take the son that he and Sarah waited so long for and offer him up as a sacrifice when God clearly did not want His people to act like the other nations around who offered up child sacrifices (Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 18:10).  God’s command for Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice gave us a picture of God’s release of His own Son Jesus for the redemption of the world.  Abraham had a love relationship with the Lord and once again he listened to the Lord, presented himself ready to obey, and upon instruction, he got up and moved at God’s word.  Out of His love for us, Jesus also presented Himself ready and moved at the Father’s command to be the propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins (1 John 4:10).

Abraham’s Sojourn of Faith (Genesis 22:6-8, NRSV)

⁶Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
⁷Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
⁸Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

Abraham and Isaac traveled to the destination God had designated, leaving behind those who journeyed with them.  Isaac carried the wood for the burnt offering, and Abraham carried fire (a small, lit log, perhaps) and the knife.  What an ominous responsibility it must have been for Abraham to carry the very instruments he would use to kill his son.  Isaac unknowingly was carrying the wood that he would lie upon and in doing so, would lay down his life out of love and obedience to his father and his God.  This is quite a picture prefiguring Jesus carrying the Cross to Calvary for our sins, out of love and obedience.  As they walked along, Isaac made an observation, noticing the wood and fire for the burnt offering, and questioning his father on where the lamb was.  It has been widely believed and portrayed in children’s Bible stories and films that Isaac was a small child.  However, traditional Jewish sources maintain that he was at least over the age of 12, which is considered to be an adult in Jewish custom (The Jewish Study Bible, 44-46).  In light of Isaac’s perceived age, it makes this story even more powerful because his father was now a very old man, and Isaac could have refused to go with him or turned back when he didn’t see the lamb.  Abraham replied to Isaac’s question by prudently stating that God would provide a lamb for the burnt offering (Genesis 22:8, NLT).  Abraham did not lie to his son by not telling him what God commanded or what his pending fate involved.  He trusted God, did not give cause for alarm, and was unwavering in his faith that somehow God was going to take care of His request.  The father and son continued on this journey of faith and sacrifice together.

Abraham’s Willingness to Obey God (Genesis 22:9-10, NRSV)

⁹When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
¹⁰Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son

Abraham already committed in his heart to follow through with what the Lord God commanded, and Isaac was willing to obey his father’s command.  Abraham methodically built an altar, placed the wood his son carried and everything else in order, and bound up his son.  He stretched forth his hand and with the stroke of the knife, he was prepared to offer his son to the Lord as a burnt offering.  One can only imagine the pain in their eyes as they continued to believe God but moved forward with this sacrifice.  After years of waiting and the promise to make him the father of many nations, his seed was lying on the altar prepared to die.

God Keeps His Promise and Provides (Genesis 22:11-14 (NRSV)

¹¹But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
¹²He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
¹³And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
¹⁴So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

God continued to prove Himself faithful, even in the midst of this test.  Abraham demonstrated unyielding loyalty to God by raising his hand to strike his son with what would be a deadly blow.  But an angel of the Lord stopped Abraham; calling out to Abraham from heaven, the angel immediately halted the sacrifice and told him not to kill or hurt Isaac in any way.  Abraham’s obedience revealed that he feared and revered God with his whole heart.  A sacrifice was still needed to bring to pass what Abraham spoke of in verse 8: “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”  Abraham saw a ram in nearby bushes and offered it up to God with thanksgiving instead of his son.  Then in verse 14, Abraham formally named the place of this sacrifice Jehovah-jireh, in honor of God’s provision (in NLT, the place is called “The LORD Will Provide”).  This sacrifice reflects the fact that Jesus was our substitution, taking on the sins of the world.  Mount Moriah, the place of this sacrifice, would later be the site of the temple built by Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:1), and Mount Calvary, where Christ was eventually crucified, was not far off.

DISCUSS THE MEANING:

1. It’s easy to love God at church where it’s safe or when things are going our way, but how might God call on us today to prove or demonstrate our love and devotion for Him?

2. How would you answer the person who claimed that God told him to do something contrary to the Bible and based it on God’s telling Abraham to sacrifice his son?

3. If you have an impression to do something “illogical,” how can you know whether it is God prompting you, the devil tempting you, or just a crazy impression?

4. What would you say to a person who was afraid to yield himself to God for fear that God would require him to do something he didn’t want to do (like go to the mission field)?

5. What is the most difficult area you’ve had to surrender to God?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY:

As Christians, we will all at critical points in our lives face decisions that demonstrate where we stand and what is truly in our hearts. There are brothers and sisters around the world who for have laid down their lives or did not partake in or condone some activity because of their relationship with the Lord. The God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave His very best, and we must resolve as the Body of Christ to do the same for Him. We must take a stand to ensure that we represent the Lord well and that our loyalty to God is not merely lip service, but when the moment of decision comes, He would be pleased with our choices.

NEXT WEEK LESSON: 22 June 2025

Isaac Calls on the Name of the Lord
Printed Text: Genesis 26:24-33
Devotional Reading: Genesis 26:12-23
Bible Background: Genesis 26:1-33

Zoom Sunday School Classes – 22 June 2025, 09:00 AM EST

Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09

Isaac Calls on the Name of the Lord
Printed Text: Genesis 26:24-33
Devotional Reading: Genesis 26:12-23
Bible Background: Genesis 26:1-33

KEEP IN MIND:

“Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well."  (Genesis 26:25, NIV)

LESSON AIM:

PURPOSE to live a godly life.

MAINTAIN proper conduct when faced with life challenges; and

DISPLAY consistent faith in difficult times as well as good times.

BACKGROUND:

This lesson opens in the context of Isaac trying to survive during a time of famine. Isaac was moving throughout the land of Canaan trying to find food and particularly water to supply his household. The Lord instructed him not to go into Egypt, but rather to remain in Gerar where he would be blessed. This command was concerning because the Philistines occupied the region. These people had little interest in the welfare of Isaac and did not serve the Lord. nevertheless, Isaac obeyed God and benefited from the Lord's watchful eye. When Abimelech saw how God was with Isaac, it moved him to form a partnership. Isaac's reverence for God showed how faithfulness can turn an enemy into an ally. Jehovah was there at every juncture of Isaac's sojourn, no matter how bleak the circumstances looked, keeping His covenant promise with Abraham. Isaac acknowledged this reality building an altar and making sacrifices the Lord.

A well differs from a cistern, in that it is the place of running water. What a marvelous hint of the typical meaning of Isaac's well is that found in Genesis 26:19 —"And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water," the margin gives, "of living water"!  This is imperative for the maintenance of the natural life; so, too, is it with the spiritual.  The first need of the believer is the "living water," that is, the Spirit acting through the Word.  "The way that water ministers to life and growth is indeed a beautiful type of the Spirit's action.  Without water a plant will die in the midst of an abundance of food in actual contact with its roots.  Water allows for the plant to absorb nourishment and to give fuel to the system itself to take it up.

LESSON COMMENTARY:

Isaac Digs Wells God Blesses Him (Genesis 26:24-25, NIV)

²⁴That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
²⁵Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

Isaac met with much opposition in digging wells.  Two were called Contention and Hatred.  See the nature of worldly things; they make quarrels, and are occasions of strife; and what is often the lot of the most quiet and peaceable; those who avoid strain, yet cannot avoid being strained with.  It is a blessing to have plenty of water; to have it without striving for it!  The more common this blessing is, the more reason to be thankful for it.  At length Isaac dug a well, for which they did not have to strain.  When men are false and unkind, still God is faithful and gracious; and His time to show Himself so is, when we are most disappointed by men.  The same night that Isaac came weary and uneasy to Beer-sheba, God brought comforts to his soul.  The LORD appeared to him during the night and renewed the promises already given; upon which, Isaac built an altar and performed a solemn service.  Here his servants also dug a well near to the tents.

1. How will you encourage and support younger generations of believers in their walk with the Lord?

Abimelech Makes a Covenant with Isaac (26:26-33, NIV)

²⁶Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces.
²⁷Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?"
²⁸They answered, "We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, 'There ought to be a sworn agreement between us'--between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you
²⁹that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD."
³⁰Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
³¹Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.
³²That day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We've found water!"
³³He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.

When a man's ways please the Lord, he even makes his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16:7.  Kings' hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favor his people.  It’s not wrong to be on our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly with us.  But Isaac did not insist on the returning in nature what they had done to him; he freely entered into friendship with them.  Scripture teaches us to be neighborly, and, as much as lies in us, to live peaceable with all men.  Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labors.

Discussion Questions

1. Where do you feel most inadequate as a Christian?  How can God use you at the point of your inadequacy (2 Cor. 11:30)?
2. Why does God’s blessing not necessarily mean a hassle-free life?  Discuss in light of Gen. 26:12-21.
3. What current hassles or problems in your life could God want to use to help accomplish His purpose through you?
4. How can we achieve the proper balance between accepting our imperfections without excusing them?

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY:

The Scripture reveals how Isaac and his herdsmen dug four wells and named each.  These wells were located where Abraham had dug them.  Isaac seemed to remember his father's activities and used that as a plan for himself.  His father even made an oath to Abimelech in Genesis 21 :22-34.  These wells were business investments.  Isaac was an agriculturalist, and having water for his flock and his crops was essential.  The man of God showed wisdom by building upon what his father had started which helped him to prosper.  Christians should follow suit and make investments to better themselves.  One cannot sit on their hands and hope their personal lives improve.  Instead, the Bible teaches to use the blueprints given by the ancestors and build on it to increase.  Isaac took risks to dig those wells, but they were calculated risks guided by God.  The same principle applies in one's personal affairs.  Sometimes the digging of a well may turn up dry, but do not stop digging because God has promised water.  As you study this lesson, put yourself in it and ask the Lord to reveal places where you can invest.  As those investments produce returns, use them to be a blessing to others.

NEXT WEEK LESSON: 29 June 2025

Jacob Sets Up a Sacred Pillar
Printed Text: Genesis 28:10-22
Devotional Reading: John 15:1-8
Bible Background: Genesis 28:1-22; 33:17-20; 35:1-7

Zoom Sunday School Classes – 29 June 2025, 09:00 AM EST

Meeting ID: 848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09

Jacob Sets Up a Sacred Pillar
Printed Text: Genesis 28:10-22
Devotional Reading: John 15:1-8
Bible Background: Genesis 28:1-22; 33:17-20; 35:1-7

LESSON AIM:

STATE the promise that God made to Jacob in his dream;
TRUST that God keeps His Word; and
RECOGNIZE when God is communicating with us and trust the words we receive.

KEEP IN MIND

"So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.  He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.” (Genesis 28:18-19, NRSV).

BACKGROUND:

In the preceding chapters we are introduced to an aging and frail Isaac.  He is the father of twin sons, Esau and Jacob.  Thinking that his death is imminent, Isaac asked that his older and favorite son, Esau, prepare him a dish made of freshly killed game. Isaac made arrangements with Esau to eat this meal and then bless his son before he died.  However, unbeknownst to Isaac, the plan is overheard by his wife Rebekah, who contrives with the younger son (Jacob: her favorite) to take advantage of Isaac's failing eyesight and trick Esau out of the birthright blessing.

With his mother's assistance, Jacob disguised himself and fooled his father into giving him the blessing that rightly belonged to his brother.  The consequences of this act of deception were terrible.  For her part, Rebekah had dishonored and mocked her husband (Genesis 27:12).  Jacob had deceived his father and earned the bitter hatred of his older brother, who planned in his heart to kill his brother as soon as "the days of mourning for [his] father [were] at hand" (Genesis 27:41).  Fearing for her favorite son's life, Rebekah convinced Isaac that Jacob should be sent away to Haran, to the home of her brother Laban, to find a wife.

LESSON COMMENTARY:

Jacob's Departure (Genesis 28:10, NRSV)

¹⁰Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.

Isaac had given Jacob a second blessing and charged him to leave home: "Go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother" (Genesis 28:2).  As his father Abraham before him had been when he sent his servant to find Isaac a wife, Isaac was old and near death, and he was concerned and wanted to ensure that his son did not marry an idol-worshiping Canaanite woman.  While the two narratives share these similarities, their differences are striking and noteworthy.  First, while Isaac did bless Jacob and instruct him to obtain a wife, the real reason for Jacob's departure was to escape the wrath of his older brother, Esau.  Jacob had tricked his brother into selling him his birthright and, at the urging of his mother, had deceived his father into giving him the blessing that belonged to his older brother.  The theft of the birthright and blessing were no small matters.  Ancient tradition called for the oldest son to become the official head of the family upon the death of the father.  Additionally, the older son received two parts of the father's estate, twice as much as his brothers.

The second point of difference between the two narratives is that Abraham did not send his son to find his own wife; instead he dispatched his servant to find his son's bride.  If one reads Abraham's reluctance to send Isaac away from him as a deep love for Isaac and a genuine concern for his safety as he would be traveling through the desert, then one must question why Isaac did not share the same concern for Jacob's well-being.  The answer may lie in Jacob's treachery in the matter of deceiving his father and stealing his brother Esau's rights as the firstborn son.  This is not to say that Isaac no longer loved Jacob, but it is understandable that he was painfully disappointed in him and his behavior.

Finally, when the servant of Abraham went to find a wife for Isaac, he was dispatched with a caravan of camels laden with many gifts.  When Jacob left his father's tents, he left with no such dowry for the family of his future bride.  We would do well to remember that while our sins are forgivable, we still must live with the consequences of our sins.  When Jacob departed from his father, he was only carrying his walking staff (Genesis 32:10) and the memories of the hurt and pain he had caused his father and his brother.

His solitary journey certainly provided Jacob ample time to consider the consequences of his actions.  He was now estranged from his brother—who hated him.  It was unclear to him when, if ever, he would be able to return home to see his mother who loved him.  Jacob certainly must have wondered what kind of reception he would receive from his uncle Laban.  He would be arriving empty-handed and seeking a bride!

We want to remember that Jacob's grandfather, Abraham, did not die until Jacob was about 15 years old.  In his youth, Jacob had ample opportunities to hear about God's covenant right from the lips of his grandfather.  No doubt Jacob was now coming to the realization that his participation in the fulfillment of God's promises would not come to him as a result of his own schemes.  His attempt to seize the blessing had failed miserably.

Jacob's Dream (Genesis 28:11-12, NRSV)

¹¹He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.
¹²And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

The text implies that Jacob arrived just outside of the Judean hillside city of Luz in the evening.  He had traveled some 62 miles by this point.  It is possible that the gates of the city were closed for the evening, making it impossible for him to gain access.  Like the shepherds, Jacob would have to spend the night sleeping outdoors and under the canopy of stars, with a hard stone for a pillow.

At some point during the night, Jacob dreamed of a ladder that stretched into the heavens.  In his dream he saw angels moving up and down the ladder.

Remember that angels are messengers and that when we encounter them in the Scriptures, they are often delivering messages.  In this vivid dream God was at the top of the ladder.

Jacob's Blessing (Genesis 28:13-15, NRSV)

¹³And the LORD stood beside him and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring;
¹⁴and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.
¹⁵Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

God identified Himself as "LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac" (Genesis 28:13).  There was to be no mistake.  Jacob was in the presence of the God honored and revered by his father and his grandfather.

At this point God confirmed His covenant blessings that He had promised to both Abraham and Isaac.  Here, God promised that the land on which Jacob now was sleeping would be given to him and to his posterity.  God promised to watch over and protect Jacob until the land was his and until his "seed" was like the dust of the earth (v. 14), stretching in all directions, from the west to the east and from the north to the south.  The descendants of Jacob would be everywhere and too numerous to count!  It is interesting to note that Jacob had not experienced the blessing of God until he had arrived in the place that God had promised to bless.  We would do well to remember that for some of us, our blessings will not happen until we get to the place where God wants to bless us.

What a wonderful comfort this covenant renewal must have been for Jacob.  Here he was a fugitive, fleeing from the wrath of his brother.  He was certainly not a likely candidate to be selected by God. Jacob's actions toward his father and brother clearly indicated he was a thief and a deceiver.  Yet God had selected him to be the steward of the great covenant.

Jacob's Recognition of God (Genesis 28:16-17, NRSV)

¹⁶Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!"
¹⁷And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

When Jacob awakened from this dream, he was astonished.  He had not only heard God, but he had seen God.  Jacob did not have to rely on the testimony of his father or grandfather; he now knew without a doubt, "Surely the LORD is in this place" (Genesis 28:16).  Up until this time, Jacob may have believed that the God worshiped by his father and grandfather was only present where they lived.  Now he recognized that God was right there on the spot he was standing on!  Not only was God present, but God had promised him the very blessings he had unsuccessfully tried to steal!  No longer was Jacob alone or running away from his past.  He now had God's promise: "I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of" (v. 15).  Rather than escape his past, Jacob now had the hope of a future that was rightfully his.

It is with this understanding—that Jacob now had divine assurance that God would never leave him—that we understand Jacob's description of this place as "dreadful."  The use of the word "dreadful" implies a reverential awe at what Jacob had experienced.  Jacob understood, perhaps for the first time in his life, how awesome and powerful God was and how weak and ineffective he was.

Jacob's Decision to Honor God (Genesis 28:18-22, NRSV)

¹⁸So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
¹⁹He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
²⁰Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,
²¹so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God,
²²and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that you give me I will surely give one-tenth to you."

Here in the desert, outside of this Canaanite city, God had chosen to reveal His presence.  It is no wonder that Jacob wanted to preserve the memory of this awesome experience and erect a memorial.  He did not have the necessary materials to build a proper altar, and so he went about using the materials at hand: stones.  This act is reminiscent of Jacob's grandfather Abraham, who similarly constructed altars in the places God had appeared to him.  What a wonderful reminder to Christian parents, grandparents, and caregivers.  Our children are always watching us.  It is important that we model godly behavior, and it is also important that we provide them with models of godly worship and thanksgiving.  Our praise and worship and our acts of thanksgiving are not private matters but ought to be demonstrated daily.  God's presence in our lives has to be shown to them. If they see us build altars to God, they will know to build altars.

In memorializing the spot where he had discovered God, Jacob also swore to adopt his grandfather's practice in dedicating to God a tenth of all he received.

DISCUSS THE MEANING:

1. In Genesis 28:15, God promised to be with Jacob and watch over him. In what ways did Jacob's dream affect God's covenant people?

2. Jacob received a great blessing from God at a time when his actions made him the least deserving.  Discuss a time when you were certain that God had confirmed His promises to you.

3. What are some ways we can help a person who doesn’t see his need for Christ to see it?

4. It doesn’t seem fair that God would work with a scoundrel like Jacob but not with a nice guy like Esau.  Your response?

5. How much and what kind of faith does a person need for God to save him?  Give some Scriptural examples.

6. Should a Christian under grace make vows to God?  Defend your answer biblically.

LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY:

God chose Jacob without regard to his past, but with complete regard to the past of his father and his grandfather. God is a covenant-keeping God. His promises to Abraham were eternal. The covenant did not end when Abraham died—the promises included Abraham's seed, Jacob. As Christians, we should rejoice: It is because of our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ that we can be assured God is always with us. Because of Jesus Christ, God chooses to look beyond our faults, forgive our sins, and continue to bless us.

Look at what's happening around the world today.  The nightly news is replete with senseless acts of violence.  Despite this fact, can you point to specific examples where you believe God's presence is at work?

NEXT WEEK LESSON: 1 July 2025

The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Printed Text: Luke 2:41-52
Devotional Reading: Psalm 27
Background: Luke 2:41-52

SOURCES:

Achtemeier, Paul J. Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985.

Biblical Studies Press: The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2006.

Matthews, Kenneth, The New American Commentary Volume 1, Genesis 11:27-50:26: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005

Brown, Raymond E., S. S., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S. J.; Roland E. Murphy, O Carm. The Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.

Dummelow, J. R., M.A. Rev. The One Volume Bible Commentary. New York: The Macmillan Company Publishers, 1961.

Gaebelein, Frank E., Richard D. Patterson, The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Volume 2) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990.

Keck, Leandre, New Interpreter's Bible Volume I: Introduction to the Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, New York: Abingdon Press, 2015.

Morris, William, ed., Dictionary of the English Language, Houghtn Mifflin Company, 1981.

Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Hrsg.): The Pulpit Commentary: Genesis. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2004

Strong, James, Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, Electronic Edition STEP Files, QuickVerse, a division of Findex.com, Inc., Omaha Nebraska. 2003.

Vine, W.E. Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Edited by Merrill F. Unger and William White Jr., Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996.

Wenham, Gordan John, Word Biblical Commentary Volume 2, Genesis 16-50, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2015