1.     Up to this point in the reading, everything has been good.  Things are no longer good.  Do you think the fall of Satan happened between Genesis 2 and 3, or did it happen earlier?

2.     The problem of evil is a point of contention.  Where do you think evil originated from?

3.     Eve explains that she is not supposed to eat from the tree.  What is different in the command she recites and the command that God gave them earlier in Genesis?

4.     Why would the serpent’s claim be so tempting for Adam and Eve?  

5.     How can studying the temptation of Adam and Eve prepare us for the temptations we face?

6.     Is there a blessing in God’s judgment on Adam and Eve?  How is it a blessing?

7.     What is significant about God giving them animal skins to cover themselves?

8.     Why is this account important in the redemption story of our Savior Jesus Christ?

9.     How has our fall affected our relationship with God, marriage, family, friends, and work?

1. Eve becomes pregnant. She gives praise to God for the birth of Cain. What is significant

about her praise?

2. Abel is a shepherd, but Cain works the ground. What does that tell us about the sacrifices

they present to The LORD?

3. Why was Cain’s sacrifice not be accepted? Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice?

4. How is sin described in verse seven? Do you think Cain and Abel had an idea of what

sin was at this point?

5. Cain murders his brother. What was his motivation for doing that?

6. God asks Cain where Abel is. Why would He do that?

7. We are told that Cain is exiled and moves to Nod. He is intimate with his wife and she

gives birth to Enoch. Where did Cain’s wife come from? Why was she not mentioned

earlier in the chapter?

8. Who is Lamech?

9. We are told in verse 26 that people began to call on the name of Yahweh. What is

different between this statement and the statement that Lamech makes to Adah and

Zillah?

1. What is important about the genealogy listed? Why keep record of who was fathered by

who?

2. The people back then seemed to live a very long time compared to how long we live

today. Why do you think that is?

3. Why is the author so intent on telling us that these people died?

4. What is significant about Enoch and his death?

5. Who are the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6:1?

6. Who are the Nephilim?

7. How does God feel about His creation at this point in human history?

8. What in Noah’s heritage may have influenced him to live a life pleasing to God?

9. As Noah is building the ark, how do you think his neighbors reacted?

1. Why would God command Moses to take seven clean animals?

2. Why did God command them to enter the ark seven days before He sends the rain?

3. We read that wildlife according to their kinds enter the ark. Why is that an important

distinction?

4. Who shut the ark?

5. Where did the water come from that flooded the earth?

6. When and where did the ark come to rest? If we know where it landed, why can’t we

retrieve it?

7. How did Noah test for dry land?

8. How long does Noah wait between these tests?

9. From the text, we read that mountains had been formed before the flood. How do you

think the earth might have changed after the flood?

10. There are many cultures that have a flood story in their history. Do you know of any?

How does this refute the idea that the flood was just a localized issue?

1. God blesses Noah and his family. How does their relationship with the rest of creation

change after the flood?

2. What is God’s requirement when it comes to eating meat?

3. Would Noah and his family be hesitant to eat meat? Why or why not?

4. What does chapter ten verse five mean?

5. How does God confirm His covenant with Noah? Is this covenant general, conditional,

or unconditional?

6. Does this covenant mean that God will never destroy the earth?

7. Who populated the whole earth?

8. What was one of the first things that Noah did when he finally went ashore?

9. How do Shem and Japheth respond when they hear about their father from Ham?

10. Why was Ham’s reaction sinful? What was so bad about it? What happens to Ham’s

descendants as a result of his indiscretions?

1. Chapter 10 gives us the descendants of Noah’s sons. Why is this information important?

2. In Genesis 10:5, we are told that the coastland people spread out. Who are the coastland

people? What is significant about the Scripture mentioning that they had their own

language?

3. Ham’s descendants settle in what is now known as Egypt. Does this contradict the

judgment pronounced on them by Noah? Why or why not?

4. Who is Nimrod and what is significant about him?

5. We are told that all the nations had one language and vocabulary. People migrated from

the east and settled. What happened? What does this tell us about highly populated

areas?

6. What did confusing the language accomplish?

7. What materials were used to build the tower? How are these materials different than the

building materials God uses to build His kingdom?

8. Chapter 11 closes out with another genealogy, this time specifically with Shem. Based

on the information provided, why is Shem’s line considered the “chosen” line of Noah?

1. Where is Abram when he is called?

2. What do we know about Abram’s religion before his calling?

3. What does God tell Abram to do?

4. What does God promise Abram? What covenant is this known as?

5. What land is promised to Abram? Why would Abram not settle down at the moment

God promised the land to him? What does Abram do instead?

6. What does Abram do when he pitches his tent in Bethel? Why?

7. What does God’s interaction with Abram tell us about Him? How is He different than

the other gods that the people followed?

8. Abram has an interesting request from his wife when they enter Egypt. Why was he so

scared? What prevented Abram from trusting the promise that God had given him? Was

it okay for Abram to have Sarai lie for him? Why or why not?

9. How does Pharaoh come to know that he has been duped by Abram? This is not the last

time that God’s people will be in Egypt. Why did Pharaoh fail to understand the power

of Yahweh?

10. Would we be willing to break away from our families and follow The LORD’s direction?

What can we do as believers to ensure we are following God the way Abram did?

1. Where does Abram go when he is forced to leave Egypt? Why?

2. Abram and his family travel back in stages. Why would they keep moving from place to

place within Canaan?

3. What problem is presented by Abram’s wealth?

4. Who was still living in Canaan at that time? Why was that a problem?

5. How does Abram resolve this problem? What does that tell us about conflict among

friends and family?

6. The proposed resolution offered requires a choice to be made. Who gets the first choice?

Who should get the first choice? Why is that important?

7. In what direction did Lot travel? Why would he be drawn that direction? Who are other

prominent figures up to this point that have moved in that direction? What does that

indicate about Lot’s future?

8. When Lot separates from Abram, what happens? Why would this happen after Lot

separates from him?

9. What does God command Abram to do? How does Abram respond?

1. What were the main events described in these verses? (13:1–14:24)

2. What happened to Lot while he was living in Sodom? (14:11–12)

3. What did Abram do when he found out what had happened to Lot? (14:13–16)

4. Who came out from Sodom to meet Abram? (14:17–18)

5. What did Melchizedek say when he blessed Abram? (14:19–20)

6. What did Abram give to Melchizedek? (14:20)

7. How do our choices in life reflect our values and character?

8. Why did Abram refuse to take anything from the king of Sodom? (14:22–24)

9. What lessons can be learned from Abram’s rescue of Lot?

10. What lessons can be learned from the way Abram resolved his conflict with Lot?

1. The war is over. What does God promise Abram?

2. What is Abram’s response to God’s promise?

3. Who is Eliezer of Damascus? What does he stand to receive?

4. Abram seems to be having a “pity party”. Is it appropriate to call it a pity party? Can we

relate to how he is feeling? What is God’s response?

5. At God’s direction, what does Abram bring? What does Abram do with the items he

brought?

6. What is revealed to Abram when great terror and darkness falls on Abram? Why would

there be such terror?

7. Abram has faith, but that faith seems to wane. What is the first indication that his faith is

wavering?

8. How old was Sarai at the time? What was her solution to the problem Abram presented?

How should Abram have responded? What happens when he goes along with Sarai’s

plot? What does Abram do to placate Sarai?

9. Who is the Angel of the LORD? What does the Angel of the LORD tell Hagar to do?

10. What prophecy is given about Hagar’s child? How does that relate in today’s current

climate?

1. How much time has passed since the incident with Hagar and Ishmael? What does God

do now? How does Abram respond?

2. Why is Abram’s name changed from Abram to Abraham?

3. How long is the covenant going to be? What does God promise in the covenant?

4. We have seen God make commands regarding His covenant with Abram before. What

does He demand of Abraham now? Who does the requirement apply to?

5. What does Abraham do when God changes Sarai’s name? Why does God change her

name to Sarah?

6. Why is Ishmael not acceptable?

7. What will Sarah’s son be named? What does God promise to do with him?

8. What does God promise Ishmael? Why is that important? What is the difference between

what God is promising Ishmael and what He is promising the child that has been

promised to Sarah?

9. What promise does God make before He withdraws from Abraham?

10. What does Abraham do with all of his people including Ishmael? How old was Ishmael?

What is significant about his age? How do you think Abraham’s people reacted when

they found out their responsibility in the covenant?

1. Abraham is now at Mamre. What is significant about this place? Why would Abraham

have returned there rather than anywhere else in the land promised to him?

2. Abraham is in the entrance of his tent when he sees three men approaching. What does

Abraham do? Does he recognize who these men are when he does it? Why does he only

address one out of the three when greeting them? What does this teach us about the

importance of hospitality?

3. What does Abraham request of these travelers?

4. Does Abraham spare any expense for these three men? What does he provide for them?

What does this say about him as a host?

5. Why would Abraham serve them the meal under the tree rather than bringing them into

his tent?

6. Where is Sarah while the men are talking? What does the LORD say to Abraham? Why

would He repeat it? Did Sarah hear Him when He said it?

7. Why does the author make a point to say the couple is old, and that Sarah is beyond the

age of childbearing? What is her response? Did the LORD here her response? What is

her reaction when He asks her about it?

8. The conversation moves now on what to do with Sodom and Gomorrah. How does

Abraham find out about what God intends to do?

9. What caused God to go and visit these cities? Why does He visit them? Did God

specifically tell Abraham what He intended to do or did Abraham just happen to hear it?

10. What does Abraham do in response? What is God’s answer? What does that tell us

about God and His mercy? How does that relate to what we see today? Why does

Abraham stop at 10? Why not go further?

1. Abraham’s three visitors have departed. How many of them enter Sodom? What time of

day do they enter Sodom? Where is Lot when he sees them? What is his reaction?

2. How is their response different to Lot’s request than to Abraham’s request earlier?

3. Lot has prepared a “feast” for them. How is his offering different than what Abraham

had offered them? What indicates that it was thrown together last minute?

4. What do the men of the city want with Lot’s visitors? Do you suppose things would have

gone differently had they stayed in the square rather than go to Lot’s house? Is sin

rampant in the city? How many of the city’s men were there?

5. What does Lot offer to the crowd to appease them? Why would he offer something like

that?

6. What is the crowd’s reaction to Lot’s offering? What is he labeled as? Why would they

react in such a way?

7. How do the angels rescue Lot? What do they tell him to do? Who is he supposed to tell?

What is their reaction? Why?

8. Do you think that Lot and his family believed the warning when they first received it?

Why or why not?

9. Abraham had asked that if ten righteous people were in the town that God would not

destroy it. How many people were actually rescued?

10. Lot does not want to run to the mountains so he negotiates the ability to relocate to a

nearby town. What is the name of the town? Why would Lot rather go to another town

than head into the mountains like he was told to?

11. What happened to Lot’s wife? Why did she meet such a fate?

12. What does Abraham see? Based on what he sees, do you think he knew that Lot was

safe? Why or why not?

13. How are Moab and Ammon founded? What does that tell us about Lot’s daughters?

Why would they have created such a scheme?

1. Abraham has moved once again. Where has he relocated to? Why would he leave

Mamre?

2. What does Abraham do with Sarah? Why would he do this?

3. God approaches Abimelech. How is his response similar to Abraham’s response when he

finds out that Sodom and Gomorrah are going to be destroyed? How is Abimelech’s

response different from the response of Sodom and Gomorrah’s citizens?

4. Abimelech says that he did this with a clear conscience. Why would he think that? Was

he justified in this thought?

5. Does God spare judgment even though Abimelech’s conscience was clear? What does

that tell us about God’s response to sin?

6. How does God identify Abraham? What does he say Abraham will do? Why is that

important?

7. How does Abimelech confront Abraham about this egregious act?

8. What is Abraham’s initial response? Can we say the same thing about the culture we

currently live in?

9. What does Abraham do to justify his actions? What are his reasonings? Does he ever

apologize to Abimelech?

10. How does that apply in the life of a believer? Can we just shift blame to someone else?

Can we simply justify our actions when we hurt someone else whether it is intentionally

or unintentionally?

11. What does Abimelech give to Abraham? What does he give to Sarah? Why? What is

Abraham’s response? What happens?

1. The first verse of this chapter focuses on Sarah. Why would it not focus on Abraham?

What does this tell us about God and His promises?

2. How old was Abraham when Isaac was born? Are there other instances of people

fathering children at such an advanced age? Why is the birth of Isaac such a remarkable

event?

3. What does Abraham do on the eighth day? Why is this important?

4. What does Isaac’s name mean? What does Sarah do when he is born?

5. When were children weaned back then? What does Ishmael do to Isaac? Why is this so

bad?

6. What does Sarah demand of Abraham? Why is it difficult for Abraham to follow through

with this? Who comforts Abraham in his distress?

7. What does Abraham communicate with his actions?

8. Where do Hagar and Ishmael go? What happens? Who visited her? What happens when

the visitor is done speaking with her?

9. What does Ishmael become and where does he settle? Where does he take a wife from?

10. What does Abimelech want with Abraham? Who accompanies him on his travels to visit

with Abraham? What does this indicate/

11. What is Abraham’s grievance? What does he do with it? How does Abimelech respond?

12. How does Abraham mark the covenant? Why? What do we learn about Abraham and

his life among the Philistines?

1. God appears to Abraham again. What does He command Abraham to do? What is the

purpose of this command?

2. Was this demand different than the gods of other religions during the time? Can that

explain why Abraham went along with it? Why or why not?

3. Who did Abraham take with him? What did they take with them? Would they have

noticed that something was missing? Would Sarah have noticed they were missing a key

element for the offering?

4. Isaac has no idea what is going to happen. He trusts Abraham fully. What do you think

they talked about one their way? Was Abraham cherishing this time with his son? Was

he having an internal struggle with God about what was commanded of him? What

happened previously in Abraham’s life that shows he can trust God?

5. What does Abraham command his companions do? Why would he do that?

6. Isaac carries the wood for the sacrifice. What other Biblical account does this parallel?

What are the similarities and differences between the two accounts?

7. Isaac notices something is missing. How does Abraham respond to his question? What

did Abraham mean by his answer?

8. Abraham gets to the point of almost no return when he is stopped. Why does The LORD

stop him? What did they use for a sacrifice instead? How does God fill the void for His

followers today?

9. Is the declaration The LORD makes the same or different from the covenant He

established with Abraham earlier? What is significant about this site? Where is it today?

Who has control over it? Why is there contention over it?

10. Who is Rebekah? What family line does she come from? Why does this chapter

conclude with her introduction?

1.     How long did Sarah live? What does Abraham say to the Hittites?

2.     What do the Hittites offer Abraham? What place does Abraham choose for Sarah’s burial place?

3.     Why would Ephron offer to give the cave for free? Why did Abraham refuse this offer? How much was the land worth?

4.      Why is owning this land significant in Abraham’s life? What had God promised him earlier?

2. Where did Abraham’s servant go? (24:10–11)

3. For what did Abraham’s servant pray? (24:12–14)

4. How did the Lord answer the servant’s prayer? (24:15–25)

5. What did the servant do after the Lord had answered his prayer? (24:26–27)

6. What did Rebekah do? (24:28)

7. Who went out to meet Abraham’s servant? (24:29–31)

8. What did Abraham’s servant tell Laban? (24:34–49)

9. How did Laban respond to what Abraham’s servant said? (24:50–51)

10. How did Abraham’s servant respond to what Laban said? (24:52–54)

11. What did Rebekah’s brothers say to her when she left with Abraham’s servant? (24:59–60)

12. What did Rebekah do when she saw Isaac? (24:64–65)

13. How do people generally choose whom they are going to marry?

1. After Abraham mourns and buries Sarah, what does he do next? Is this a problem? Why

or why not?

2. Who is Keturah?

3. What did Abraham leave to his sons born by concubines? What does Isaac get?

4. Does Ishmael get a larger portion than the other sons born to other concubines?

5. How old is Abraham when he dies? Who buries him? Where is he buried?

6. Abraham is known as the first Hebrew. What is Ishmael?

7. Why are we given information about Ishmael and his descendants? What does the text

indicate about Ishmael’s sons? Why would the author give a brief summary of Ishmael’s

life?

8. Isaac is 40 years old when he marries. How old is he when Rebekah is able to have

children? How is this similar to Abraham’s struggle for descendants? Is Isaac’s response

similar to Abraham’s? Why or why not?

9. How does the text describe the children in the womb? What does the LORD say about

the children inside of her?

10. Which child is born first? What Jacob doing when he is born?

11. The children were wrestling in Rebekah’s womb, indicating that there was strife from the

beginning. How do Isaac and Rebekah stoke that sibling rivalry? Do their occupations

play a part in the division? Have we seen this rivalry between brothers before?

12. Why was the birthright of the firstborn so important?

13. What does Esau’s demand for stew tell us about him? Do we fall into similar traps?

Why is it easier to chase after the worldly things rather than spiritual things?

1. There is famine in the land. What is Isaac’s response? What does God tell him to do?

What is promised to Isaac if he obeys? Where does Isaac settle? What does that tell us

about his faith?

2. Who will be blessed by Issac’s offspring? How are they blessed today?

3. Who does Isaac say Rebekah is? Who does he sound like? Why does he do it? Who

discovers the truth?

4. How does Isaac respond when he is confronted? What does Abimelech say in response?

How is this similar to the episode with Abraham? Are there any differences?

5. Isaac is blessed by The LORD. What does that blessing look like? Who became envious

of him? What is Abimelech’s response to this new problem?

6. What does Isaac do when he gets to the Valley of Gerar? What happens now?

7. Where does Isaac go from there? What happens when he is there?

8. What is Isaac promised? How does he respond?

9. Who comes to meet Isaac after he has relocated?

10. What is their reasoning for coming? What do they want to establish with Isaac?

11. What do we learn about Esau and his growing family?

12. What is the overarching theme to Genesis 26? How does it apply to us today?

1. Approximately how old is Isaac at the start of this narrative? Why would Isaac be in a

hurry to give the blessing to his oldest?

2. What is the significance of the blessing? How is the blessing different from the

birthright?

3. What is Isaac’s request of Esau? Why was Rebekah not part of their conversation? What

is her response to Isaac’s request?

4. How does verse five refer to Jacob? What does this tell us about Rebekah? Is what she

did okay? Why or why not?

5. What are Jacob’s concerns with the plan? Is he hesitant to follow along? What is

Rebekah’s response?

6. Why does Isaac not recognize his son when Jacob enters with the delicious food? When

he identifies himself as Esau, how does Isaac respond? What is Jacob’s answer? Why

would Isaac want Jacob to get closer to him?

7. When does Esau return? What has he brought with him?

8. What does Isaac do when he realizes he has been cheated? What does Esau do? Why

was Isaac unable to bless Esau as well?

9. What does Isaac prophesy about what Esau’s life? Is this Isaac’s response to Esau’s

request for a blessing? Is it a blessing?

10. What is Esau waiting for to take his vengeance against Jacob? Will this make him feel

better? What is Rebekah’s solution?

11. Could Rebekah’s solution be a curse against the two of them? Why or why not?

1. Why is Jacob leaving? Will he ever see Rebekah again?

2. Who tells Jacob to not take a Canaanite woman as a wife? Why would he have an

opinion about this? Did he have any experience dealing with Canaanite women marrying

into the family?

3. What does Isaac call the blessing? Why would he phrase it like that?

4. What is Esau’s response? Why does he respond that way?

5. What does Jacob dream about on his way to Paddan-aram? Who does he see in the

dream?

6. What is promised to Jacob in the dream?

7. When Jacob wakes up, what does he do? How is he feeling? What does he label the

place? Is that an accurate description? Why or why not?

8. What does he use to make a marker? What does he name the city?

9. Jacob makes a vow. Is this different than the other patriarchs? Why or why not?

10. What is in the vow?

11. Is the vow selfish? Why or why not?

12. Should we make vows to God? Why or why not?

1. Where does Jacob head after his encounter with God? What does this tell us about him

as a son?

2. Why was the well covered with a large stone?

3. The sheep were lying beside the stone? Why?

4. How does Jacob approach the shepherds? Who does he ask about? Why would he

inquire about his health?

5. When did women normally water the flocks? What does the time of day indicate about

Rachel’s status?

6. Why does Jacob tell the shepherds to do? What does this tell us about his attitude toward

them? How will Jacob’s shepherding skills help him later on?

7. How do the shepherds respond to Jacob’s direction? What does that tell us about the

shepherds?

8. What event does Rachel’s arrival remind us of? What does Jacob do when she gets there?

9. What happens when Jacob meets Laban? What deal do they reach?

10. What does Laban do at the end of the deal? Did Jacob deserve it? How does Laban

explain his actions? How does Jacob respond? Why?

11. Who did Jacob love more? What does The LORD do when he sees who is loved more?

12. What is the name of the firstborn son? Why? Does it have the effect that the mother is

hoping for?

13. How many sons does Jacob have by the end of the chapter? What will come from these

sons?

1. Who does Rachel blame when she is unable to have children? What is Jacob’s response?

Who does she resent?

2. Who does Jacob place the blame on? Why would he think that?

3. What is Rachel’s plan moving forward? Who does this remind us of?

4. What does Leah since she is not having any more children? Why would she do this?

How is her motive similar to Rachel’s? How is it different?

5. What happens to these children? Who do they become? Is that fair considering what we

have seen previously in Genesis?

6. What sparks the tension between Leah and Rachel? What is offered to relieve the

tension? What is the underlying cause of the tension? Is Leah justified in how she is

feeling? Why or why not? How about Rachel? Is she justified?

7. What happens after Leah gives birth to Dinah? What is special about this event?

8. What does Jacob do now that he has a large family established? Why would he need to

ask permission?

9. Why would Laban want to keep Jacob around?

10. We see a similar proposal between Jacob and Laban. How does Jacob respond to

Laban’s question? Why would he do that?

11. Why would Laban think the proposal would benefit him and his flocks?

12. What does Jacob do to increase his flocks? Is this deceitful? Is this how animal

husbandry works? Who made it possible for Jacob to gain all of the strong sheep?

1. Why would Laban’s sons complain about what Jacob has done with Laban’s animals?

Did Jacob do anything deceitful to gain the wealth or is it in line with the original deal he

made with Laban? How does Laban’s attitude toward Jacob differ than when they met?

How is it different than after Jacob worked the initial seven years?

2. Why does Jacob offer such a long explanation for why the are leaving? Who tells Jacob

to leave? Would Jacob have left if he had not been told to?

3. What is the response from Rachel and Leah? How do they view themselves? Why

would they think that way?

4. What does Rachel steal before leaving? Why would she take them?

5. Why are they headed to Gilead?

6. How long does it take for Laban to figure out Jacob is gone? What is his response? How

long did it take to catch up with Jacob? Where do they meet up?

7. Who warns Laban not to stay anything to Jacob? Why shouldn’t Laban say anything

good or bad?

8. What does Laban accuse Jacob of? Is this a fair accusation? Why or why not?

9. Why would Jacob tell Laban that if anyone in his party has his gods, that the person will

die? How does Rachel hide them? Why would Laban fall for the ruse?

10. What does Jacob do?

11. Why would Laban claim ownership of his daughters and their children?

12. What are the conditions of the covenant set up between Laban and Jacob? How do they

commemorate the covenant?

13. Who does Jacob swear by? What does he do after he swears the oath?

1. Jacob and Laban have finally parted ways. What happens as Jacob goes on his way?

What is his response? Why would he choose the name Mahanaim?

2. Why would Jacob travel through Seir? Who does Jacob send his messengers to? What is

Jacob’s message? What does the message convey? What does this teach us about

Jacob’s spiritual development?

3. How does his brother respond? What would Jacob think when he receives this message?

4. What does Jacob do to prepare for Esau’s arrival? Why? Does he have reason to fear?

5. How does Jacob pray? How does he view himself? What is his intention with the

prayer?

6. When the messengers come to Esau, what are they supposed to say? How will this help

Jacob? Was it a sign of his fear that kept Jacob from delivering the gifts himself or was it

something else?

7. What was Jacob’s final act of of self protection?

8. Now that Jacob is alone, what happens? Why does this event take all night? How is this

event ended? Who is Jacob with?

9. What is Jacob’s demand? What happens when Jacob is blessed? What does his new

name mean? When Jacob asks the name, what is the response he gets? Why?

10. What does Jacob name the place? Why?

11. The Israelites no longer eat the muscle that is at the hip socket because of this wrestling

match. What does that tell us about Jacob’s hip socket? Was it ever healed or did he

spend the rest of his life limping around?

1. Jacob sees Esau and the 400 men coming toward him. What is his response? Is this

different than what he did in chapter 32? Why would he put Leah and her children first?

Why weren’t Leah’s children named in this passage? How many times does he bow

down? Why?

2. How does Esau respond? What does he ask? Why is this significant?

3. Why would Esau ask about the procession that Jacob sent to him? What is Esau’s

response to Jacob’s answer? Why would Jacob urge him to take everything?

4. Esau wants to go ahead of him. What is Jacob’s excuse for not? Is he being genuine or

deceitful?

5. When Jacob arrives to Paddan-Aram, what does he do? Where does he stay at first?

Why?

6. Who is Dinah? Who is Schechem? What happens between the two?

7. Jacob heard about what happened. Why did he wait to respond? Why does Hamor visit

Jacob? How do Jacob’s sons respond when they hear about Dinah?

8. What is Hamor’s initial offer? What does he finally promise to Jacob if he will give

Dinah as Schechem’s wife?

9. Jacob’s sons make an agreement. They cannot marry between the two people groups

unless Shechem and all his men do one thing. What is it? Why is this request

advantageous? How does it show that there is still a level of deceit in Jacob’s family?

10. Who takes up arms against Hamor and his people? What do they do with all of their

possessions? How does Jacob respond? Why is he distraught over their actions? How

do his sons respond to his rebuke?

1. Jacob is told to go back to Bethel. What is he told to do when he gets there? What is

significant about that command?

2. What is Jacob’s response? Why would there still be foreign gods among them? What

else does Jacob tell his family to do?

3. Where do they hide the gods? Why would they hide their earrings? Why would they

hide them rather than destroy them?

4. When Jacob and his family were traveling, why didn’t anyone attack them? What does

Jacob do when he gets to Luz?

5. What is significant about Deborah’s passing? Why would she have meant so much to

Jacob?

6. God appears to Jacob. What does He do when this happens? When did God change

Jacob’s name? Why would He reiterate the name change here? What else does God tell

Jacob to do? What does Jacob do to commemorate his encounter with God?

7. What happens shortly after God has His meeting with Jacob?

8. What does Reuben do with Bilhah? Who is Bilhah? Why would he do this?

9. Who does Jacob meet at Mamre? How old was Isaac at this point? How does the Bible

describe Isaac? Who buries him? Where is he buried?

10. Where is Rebekah at this point?

1. We take a brief break from Israel’s movements and look at the family line of Esau. What

is another name for Esau? Why does the text focus on clarifying the Canaanite aspect of

his wives?

2. Which one of his wives is not Canaanite? What line did she come from? Why is she

lumped in as a Canaanite?

3. According to the text, why did Esau and Jacob separate? Is this accurate? Does this

indicate that they truly reconciled?

4. What does verse 31 tell us about the Edomites? Why is this important?

1. Who is Joseph? Why are his brothers referred to as the

daughters of Bilhah and Zilpah? What is the text indicating by referring to them like

that?

2. Why would Israel look at Joseph as a son born to him in old age? Is this accurate?

3. How is Joseph’s status marked by his father? What does the marker represent to his

brothers?

4. What does Joseph dream about? How many dreams does he have?

5. Why would Joseph tell his brothers? What response would he expect?

6. How do his brothers respond to the dreams? Why would they feel this way toward him?

7. When Joseph tells his father about the dreams, what is his response?

8.. What leads Joseph’s brothers to plot against him?

9. What are the brothers doing in verse 12? Where are they? Why would Israel send Joseph

to his brothers? Why would this frustrate them? Was Israel aware of the bitterness he

was breeding between his offspring?

10. When Joseph gets to where his brothers are, what does he discover? Who has to inform

them of their whereabouts?

11. As Joseph is approaching, what do they call him? What do they decide to do with him?

12. What brother comes up with a different plan? What would motivate him to develop this

plan? Was it to help Joseph out or was it to make amends for what he had done

previously? What did this brother do that gave him a bad name within the family?

13. What do they do after they throw Joseph in the pit? What does that tell us about their

mentality?

14. As they are eating, what do they see? What do they decide to do with Joseph then? Why?

15. What does Reuben do when he finds the pit is empty? What does he say to his brothers?

What is their response to his inquiry? Why would they lie to Reuben?

16. How do they make it look like Joseph was mauled and killed by a wild animal? Why

would the brothers not give an exact description of the animal?

17. What is Israel’s response? Who tries to comfort him? Why would his sons not tell him of

Joseph’s fate when they see their father in such anguish?

1. Israel is grieving the loss of Joseph. Why would Judah leave now? Does he harbor ill

will toward his brothers? Is he disgusted with himself? Why would he think leaving

would be better than helping his father through the grieving process?

2. Where does Judah go to get a wife? Who else has gotten wives from this group? Did

these marriages help them in their status or hurt them?

3. How many sons does his wife give him? What are their names? What do we learn about

Judah’s first born son? What happens to him?

4. What does Judah require of Onan? Why would this be acceptable in the Ancient Near

East custom? What does Onan do to ensure he will not fulfill the oath? Why would

Onan not want to follow through with his father’s plan?

5. What does Judah tell Tamar to do? What happens when the daughter of Shua dies? What

does Tamar do when she learns Judah is going to shear sheep? What does Judah confuse

her for? Why would this disguise work?

6. What deal do Judah and Tamar reach? What does Judah leave as collateral?

7. Judah is true to his word and sends the goat, but the Adullamite cannot find the woman.

What does he learn when he asks the men about her? What does Judah decide about the

goat?

8. Who winds up pregnant? What happens when Judah confronts her about her pregnancy?

What is Judah’s response?

9. How many children does she have? What happens when the children are being born?

What are their names?

1. Where does Joseph wind up? Who does he work for? What is significant about the man

he works for?

2. Who was with Joseph as he toiled for the Egyptian? Why is he successful? What does

he do to ensure his success?

3. What does his master do when he sees the favor on Joseph? Who benefits from Joseph’s

new position? What is placed under Joseph’s authority?

4. How does the text describe Joseph? Does the Bible give us physical descriptions often?

Why is the description important here? Who takes interest in Joseph?

5. What does Potiphar’s wife want from Joseph? How does Joseph respond? Who would

Joseph sin against if he followed through with her plan?

6. What happens after he rejects her? Does she stop the advances or does she continue?

Why? What does Joseph do?

7. Joseph maintains his innocence and does nothing wrong. What does Potiphar’s wife do?

When Potiphar hears from his wife, what does he do? Why would he trust his wife’s

word and not even consult Joseph? Why is Joseph not given a chance to explain his side

of the story?

8. Where does Joseph wind up?

9. Why would Joseph continue to have hope even in his current situation?

10. What can we learn as believers from Joseph’s attitude?

1. Why did the baker and cupbearer wind up in prison? Who were they handed over to?

What did that person do with them?

2. What were Joseph’s duties? What does that tell us about the prison system back then?

3. Why were the men distraught about their dreams? Do all dreams have an interpretation?

4. What news does the cupbearer receive? What news does the baker receive? Was

Joseph’s interpretation accurate? What does Joseph ask of the cupbearer? Is the

cupbearer faithful in his promise?

5. Why does Joseph find himself in front of Pharaoh? What does he do before meeting

Pharaoh?

6. What dreams did Pharaoh have?

7. Joseph gives very little of an explanation to the cupbearer and baker about God’s power

in interpreting dreams. He gives a much longer explanation to Pharaoh? Why?

8. What happens to Joseph after he interprets the dreams?

9. How many sons does Joseph have? What are their names and why does he name them

that?

10. Who comes to Egypt during the famine? What are some other instances of others coming

to Egypt during times of famine?

1. Why did Jacob send his sons to Egypt? Why did he have Benjamin stay behind? What

do Joseph and Benjamin have in common?

2. Why did Joseph brothers not recognize him when they arrive in Egypt? Why did Joseph

speak harshly toward them? Was it a cultural issue or because of what they had done to

him earlier in his life?

3. What does Joseph accuse them of? Why?

4. Were Joseph’s brothers truthful about the fate of their older brother in verse 13? Why or

why not?

5. What does Joseph do with his brothers at first?

6. What is Joseph’s reason for changing his decision? How do his brothers respond? How

does Reuben respond to their moaning? Is he justified in his response? Why or why not?

7. Why would Joseph be so generous to his brothers as they begin their journey back to

Canaan? Why did he hide his generosity?

8. What happens when the brothers stop to lodge for the night? Do they count this as a

blessing or a curse?

9. How does Jacob respond when his sons return to him?

10. What does Reuben offer? Why would he do this? What is Jacob’s decision?

1. Why does Jacob tell his sons to go back to Egypt? How long has it been since they

returned home? Who was left behind in Egypt? What does that tell us about the family?

2. Who protests Jacob’s instruction? Why is he worried about returning? What is Jacob’s

response to the argument?

3. Why were the brothers truthful with Joseph when they first encountered him? Is it right

that Jacob is upset about their truthfulness? Why did the line of questioning about the

brother at home not spark any curiosity amongst the brothers?

4. Who offers to take responsibility for Benjamin? What does Jacob have them do? Why

would they think it was a mistake that the money had been returned? What is Jacob’s

attitude regarding Benjamin’s departure now?

5. They pack up gifts to return. What are the gifts? What does that tell us about the family?

6. Where are the men taken when they arrive in Egypt? Where do you think they would

have been taken if they did not bring Benjamin?

7. Who do they talk to while in Joseph’s house? Why? What do they confess? What do

they do when Joseph comes home? Why didn’t they give the same confession they gave

to the Steward? How does Joseph respond when he sees Benjamin?

8. How is the meal served? Why? Why does Joseph eat separately from everyone? Is that

another clue the brothers should have picked up on? Why or why not?

1. What are Joseph’s instructions to the steward? Is this a different amount than the first

time? What went into the youngest’s bag? Why would Joseph do this?

2. What time do the brothers depart? What does Joseph do shortly after? Who does he

send? What words are they supposed to use when they address them?

3. Why would Joseph use the term divination? Did he practice divination?

4. What do the brothers promise about the one found with the cup? Why is that what the

steward is focused on and not the money? What is the steward’s response?

5. What was going through the brothers’ minds when they opened their sacks? Do we ever

make oaths that we wish we hadn’t made?

6. Why is Judah the only one mentioned when they approach Joseph? How does Judah

respond after Joseph’s line of questioning?

7. Why is Judah pleading so hard? What does he do to try to persuade Joseph? What does

he reveal about their assumption on what happened to Joseph?

8. What is Sheol?

9. Who is Judah concerned about? Benjamin, Joseph, or his family? Why would remaining

a slave in Egypt be better than going back home to face his father?

1. Why would Joseph send everyone away? What questions does he ask of his brothers

after he reveals himself? How do the brothers respond?

2. What does Joseph tell them to do after they remain silent? What does he confide in

them? Why would he do that?

3. How does Joseph justify their evil actions from the past? Does God make good situations

come from bad? Why? What does that tell us about God? Has God used bad

experiences in our lives for good in our lives?

4. What does Joseph tell them to do? What does he promise them? What happens between

Joseph and Benjamin? What does Joseph do with his brothers? How do you think the

brothers are feeling about this?

5. How does Pharaoh respond when he hears about Joseph’s brothers? What does that tell

us about the relationship between Pharaoh and Joseph? What does Pharaoh promise?

6. What does Joseph give the brothers? What does he give to Benjamin? What does Joseph

send to Jacob? Why?

7. What is Jacob’s reaction when he finds out his son is alive? What kind of emotions do

you think this news brought up in him?

8. Up to this point, Jacob has been too old and feeble to travel. He has sent his sons every

time. What does Jacob promise to do? Would he still travel if Joseph had not made the

promises?

1. What happens in Beer-Sheba to Jacob? Who else has had an encounter in Beer-Sheba?

What is Jacob told? What does “put his hands on your eyes” mean?

2. Who went to Egypt with Jacob? Why does the author focus on the lineage of those going

with him?

3. Who went ahead of Jacob on his way to Egypt? Why? What does Joseph do when he

sees his father? How does Israel respond? What does Joseph say he will do? Why is

settling in Goshen so important to Joseph?

4. Why would Joseph only bring five of his brothers to meet Pharaoh? Why would Pharaoh

ask about their occupation? What does Pharaoh tell Joseph to do regarding his livestock?

Why?

5. Why would Jacob bless Pharaoh? Why would Pharaoh want to know how old Jacob is?

6. Who provides the food for Jacob’s family?

7. What happens when the Egyptians run out of money? What does Pharaoh gain because

of the famine? What does Joseph do with the Egyptians? Who is spared from having to

move? Why?

8. What is happening with the Jacob and his family while the Egyptians are going through

these tough times? What does Jacob do with Joseph when it comes time for him to die?

What is Jacob’s request? Was this request necessary based on what God had promised

him in Chapter 46?

1. Jacob has already given his blessing to Joseph. Why does Joseph go back to see his

father? Who accompanies him? What does Jacob recall about God Almighty? How long

ago had that promise been made?

2. Why does Jacob feel the need to reclaim Joseph’s two older sons? What does he mean

that they are his now just as Reuben and Simeon belong to him? What about the rest of

Joseph’s children born after those Ephraim and Manasseh?

3. Why does Jacob bring up Rachel’s death? Where is she buried?

4. Israel sees the two sons and asks who they are. Do you think that Joseph had brought

them along with the intent of them receiving blessings or was it just coincidence? What

does Israel say to Joseph about the two?

5. Who is on Israel’s left? Who is on Israel’s right? Why would Joseph put them in these

positions? What does Jacob do? Why would he change what hands touch which son?

Who should have had Jacob’s right hand on his head? Why?

6. How does Jacob identify God in his blessing? Who has redeemed him from harm? Does

this show a further change in Jacob and his faith?

7. What does Joseph do when he sees his father’s hand placement? Why does Jacob refuse

to move his hands? Why did Jacob not go along with the tradition of giving the greater

blessing to the eldest? Where have we seen this before?

8. What does Jacob promise to Joseph as he is getting ready to die?

1. Why does Jacob call his sons together? What does he tell them? How are these

prophetic messages grouped together?

2. What does Jacob say about Reuben? What does he say about Levi and Simeon? Why

would those two sons be grouped together?

3. What instructions does he gives his sons about his burial? Why was it important for all

of the sons to hear them? What happens immediately after his last wishes are presented?

4. Why was there 70 days of mourning for Jacob? What does Jacob have them do with his

body? Who performs this task? Why?

5. Why did Joseph ask Pharaoh’s household and not Pharaoh himself for permission to go

bury his father? About how long has it been since the famine ended?

6. Who went to bury Jacob? Who stays behind? What comprises the burial procession?

Why would Jacob receive such a ceremonial procession?

7. What happens upon Joseph’s return from burying Jacob? Who approaches Joseph? How

does he respond? Why would the brothers still be concerned? What does that tell us

about their understanding of forgiveness?

8. What are Joseph’s instructions as he prepares to die? Who does he make this oath with?

How old was he when he passed? How many generations of his descendants did he see?