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Mon 31 Jul 2006

Biographical Study on Ishmael

Posted by Andrew Mitry under Bible Study
[10] Comments

Hagar and IshmaelA couple weeks ago we had a reunion for those of us who had gone on a mission trip to Africa this summer. Father Anthony Messeh shared a word with us about Abraham and his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Father Anthony was comparing Isaac and Ishmael, contrasting what the Spirit accomplishes versus what the flesh accomplishes. This motivated me to pick Ishmael as the character for study last Monday. I wasn’t able to finish it in one day so I ended up completing it today.
Biographical Study Form from Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods:

1. NAME Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar
2. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Scripture
Genesis 16-17
Genesis 21:8-21
Genesis 25:7-18
Genesis 28:8-9
Genesis 36:1-4
Genesis 37:23-28
Genesis 39:1
Judges 8:24
1 Chronicles 1:28-31
1 Chronicles 2:17
1 Chronicles 27:30
Psalm 83:5-6
Romans 9:7-9
Galatians 4:21-31
3. FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

Ishmael was the not the result of God’s will but rather Sarah and Abraham trying to find a logical solution to their problem of having a son. Being born according to the “flesh,” Ishmael could only be so much compared to Isaac who was born according to the “Spirit.” Ishmael, while blessed by God was not the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham and would not partake of the inheritance and fulfillment of His covenant. Ishmael, being born of a slave woman was not free while Isaac, in fulfillment of God’s promise was by His grace born free.
4. OUTLINE OF HIS LIFE

A. Ishmael’s mother – Hagar

1. Egyptian maidservant (Genesis 16:1)
2. Given by Sarah to Abraham with the hope of obtaining children by her (Genesis 16:2)
3. When Hagar conceived Ishmael, she became despised in Sarah’s eyes (Genesis 16:4)
4. Hagar fled when Sarah dealt harshly with her (Genesis 16:6)
5. Angel of the Lord named her son Ishmael, stating that he will be a wild man, in conflict with everyone and dwelling among his brethren (Genesis 16:11-12)
6. Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham when he was eighty-six years old (Genesis 16:16)
B. Abraham – sign of the covenant

1. Abraham says to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might like before You!” (Genesis 17:18)
2. God replies, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:19-21)
3. Abraham circumcised Ishmael at the age of thirteen (Genesis 17:25)
C. Isaac comes into the picture

1. Isaac is born when Ishmael is 14 years old
2. Ishmael is caught scoffing at Isaac on the day he was weaned (Genesis 21:8-9)
3. Hagar and Ishmael are cast out, but God tells Abraham that He will make a nation out of Ishmael because he is of Abraham’s seed (Genesis 21:10-13)
4. God hears Ishmael’s voice in the wilderness and calls Hagar and tells her that He will make Ishmael into a great nation. (Genesis 21:18-18)

D. Ishmael grows up

1. God is with Ishmael during which time he grows up and lives in the wilderness and learns to be an archer (Genesis 21:20)
2. Ishmael dwells in the wilderness of Paran and Hagar takes a wife from Egypt for him (Genesis 21:21)

E. Abraham passes away

1. Abraham leaves the inheritance to Isaac only (Genesis 25:5)
2. Ishmael buries his father with Isaac (Genesis 25:9)
F. Ishmael has twelve sons as God promised
1. Ishmael’s sons – Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar,Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah (Genesis 25:13-15)
2. Ishmael dies at the age of 137 in the presence of all his brethren (Genesis 25:17-18)
3. Esau marries Ishmael’s daughter Mahalath, the sister of Nebajoth to please his father Isaac (Genesis 28:8-9)
G. The Ishmaelites -

1. Purchased Joesph from his brothers and sold him to the Egyptians (Genesis 37:23-28, 39:1)
2. Listed as part of an enemy confederacy against God (Psalm 83:5-6)
5. GENERAL INSIGHTS

A. What were the characteristics of his parents? How did they influence him?

Abraham is known as a man of faith and obedience, considered the father of the Jewish nation. Hagar was Sarah’s maidservant, a bondwoman, who was given to Abraham by Sarah to conceive Ishmael. God blessed Ishmael and made a nation out of him because he was the seed of Abraham. (Genesis 21:13) Hagar chose an Egyptian wife for Ishmael, one who probably wouldn’t have known God. (Genesis 21:21)

B. Was there anything special about his birth?

Sarah and Abraham were trying find their own solution to the problem of not having a male heir, even though God had already promised a son to them. Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Ishmael was born to a bondwoman (slave) and was the result of Sarah and Abraham trying to fulfill God’s promise within the limitations of the flesh.

C. What was his occupation?

Archer. (Genesis 21:20)

D. What were his particular faults and weaknesses?

When Isaac was weaned Ishmael scoffed at Isaac. (Genesis 21:9). St. Paul goes as far to say that Ishmael persecuted Isaac (Galatians 4:29), which makes sense considering that Ishmael was a young man, probably around 16 to 17 years of age and Isaac was just a little boy at 2 to 3 years of age. Ishmael probably thought himself superior because he was the firstborn, but that he quickly found that he lost his right to the inheritance.

E. What were the results of his sins and weaknesses?

When Sarah saw Ishmael scoffing Isaac, she asked Abraham to cast Hagar and Ishmael out. (Genesis 21:9-14)
6. CHARACTER QUALITIES IDENTIFIED

Arrogant, foolish, derisive (Genesis 21:9)
7. BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED IN HIS OR HER LIFE

Children of the flesh are not the children of God. (Romans 9:8)
8. SUMMARY OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM HIS OR HER LIFE

Ishmael’s life was blessed yet it was not the same as Isaac’s because he was born of a bondwoman and by an act of the flesh compared to Isaac who was born of a freewoman through a miracle of the Lord. Many times we think the solution is in what we can do, but if we rely only on what we can do we still be slaves to the flesh, which is limited. Ishmael was still blessed and had twelve sons which became a nation, but that is nothing compared to what God did through Isaac and his family, granting them the inheritance and the family line that would lead to the Messiah.
9. PERSONAL APPLICATION

Do I want to be like Ishmael or Isaac? I need to look to God to fulfill his promise and be willing to wait for Him to do so on His schedule. Many times God is willing to do amazing things but I am not willing to trust in the promise He has given but rather want to find out a more logical or feasible solution. I pray that I can have the faith and the patience to trust in the Lord so as to have the advantage of being free rather than bound in the limitations of the flesh. I will begin to evaluate if the things I want to do and put them before God to see if this is His will or my lack of trust or patience in Him.
10. TRANSFERABLE CONCEPTS

Trying to solve things with our own methods will never equal what God has promised to do, we must wait and trust in the Lord. Ishmael was given a blessed life yet he was not the child of promise. When God promises us something, it may not make sense or seem like it is take a long time to come, but He is faithful.

 

Mon 17 Jul 2006

Biographical Study on St. Andrew the Apostle

Posted by Andrew Mitry under Bible Study
[4] Comments

I got to spend a wonderful time today studying St. Andrew the Apostle, I am glad that God encouraged me to start spending more time studying His word. I look forward to doing this on a weekly basis.

Biographical Study Form from Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods:

1. NAME St. Andrew the Apostle
2. REFERENCES

Scripture
Matthew 4:18-20
Matthew 10:2
Mark 1:16-18
Mark 1:29
Mark 3:18
Mark 13:3-4
Luke 6:14
John 1:35-44
John 6:8-9
John 12:20-22
Acts 1:12-14

Commentary
Homily XIX of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 1:42-42
Homily XX of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 1:43-44
Synaxarium (a biography of the saints, arranged by the church fathers and read after the Acts in the Divine Liturgy)
The Martyrdom of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Brother of St. Peter.
3. FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS

St. Andrew was a simple fisherman who listened and acted immediately. He was one of the twelve disciples and was responsible for bringing St. Peter to Christ. Originally a disciple of St. John the Baptist, he followed Jesus after hearing St. John say “Behold the Lamb of God!” When Jesus found St. Andrew and his brother fishing, Jesus called them to be fishers of men and they immediately left their nets and followed him St. Andrew was a man of action more than words, but his actions brought about the great fruits of St. Peter and set the stage for the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.
4. OUTLINE OF HIS LIFE

A. Fisherman in the city of Bethsaida
B. Disciple of St. John the Baptist

1. Readily listened and followed Christ when St. John the Baptist stated, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1-35-37)
2. After following Jesus that day, the first thing he did was to find his brother St. Peter to share with him the good news. (John 1:41)

C. One of the first men beckoned by Christ

1. Christ called St. Andrew and St. Peter to leave their nets and become “fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-19 and Mark 1:16-17)
2. St. Andrew and St. Peter immediately left their fishing nets and followed Christ. (Matthew 4:20 and Mark 1:18)

D. Chosen by Christ to be one of the 12 disciples (Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:14)

1. Called by Christ to be with Him, to preach, to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. (Mark 3:13-19)

E. Suggested to Christ the option of the five loaves and two fish for Christ to feed the Five Thousand (John 6:8-9)

1. St. Andrew did not fully understand Christ’s power yet, because he is asked “but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9)

F. Told Jesus that the Greeks wanted to see Him (John 12:20-22)
G. Attended Upper Room Prayer Meeting and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:12-2:4)
5. GENERAL INSIGHTS

A. How quickly did he obey God when told to do something?

When Christ called him to follow, he left immediately. (Matthew 4:20 and Mark 1:18)

B. What was his occupation?

Fisherman turn Fisher of Men.

C. What are the great accomplishments for which he is remembered?

Bringing St. Peter to Christ.

D. What crucial decisions did he have to make? How did they affect him?

Leaving his job with its income and familiarity to follow Christ, who has no place to lay His head.

E. What were his outstanding strengths in his character? What traits did he have?

Desire to bring others to Christ.
Willingness to operate behind the scenes – brining five loaves and two fish to Christ, telling Christ about the Greeks.
Did not become jealous of his brother St. Peter of whom Christ said “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18), even thought he was the one who brought him to Christ.

F. Did his life show any development of character as time passed? Was there growth and progression there?

At the time of the five loaves and two fish he questioned. “What are they among so many.” Later on he is bringing the Greeks, knowing that Christ can work with whatever is put before Him.

G. What were the long term results of his life, ministry and death?

By bringing St. Peter to Christ he opened the door for three thousand souls to be added to the church on Pentecost. (Acts 2:41)
He himself continued to minister and evangelize to the Gentiles, suffering persecution and martyrdom.
6. CHARACTER QUALITIES IDENTIFIED

Loyalty (John 1:41)
Obedience (Matthew 4:20 and Mark 1:18)
Discernment (John 1-35-37)
Resourcefulness (John 6:8-9)
Enthusiasm (John 1:41)
Lovingness (John 12:20-22)
Zealousness (John 12:20-22)
Man of Faith (Matthew 4:20 and Mark 1:18)
Humbleness (John 1:41)
7. BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED IN HIS LIFE

The importance and urgency of preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Love must not be just talk, but in action (1 John 3:18).
God chose those who were not wise and trusting in themselves but rather the simple who trust in Him to reveal His truth (Matthew 11:25).
8. SUMMARY OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM HIS LIFE

The outstanding characteristics of St. Andrew was his discernment, love, zeal and obedience. There must have been many a false prophet at the turn of the century as there are today, yet St. Andrew found and followed St. John the Baptist. When St. John simply stated “Behold the Lamb of God!” he immediately left St. John and followed Christ. When he found out about the Messiah, his first action was to find his brother and share the good news. When called by Christ to follow, he left immediately, not considering that he is leaving his only source of income or that he didn’t know where he was going. St. Andrew wasted no time in sharing what he knew was the truth, he saw the urgency in revealing the Good News to those who had not heard it and he was willing to give up the life he knew to do it, without delay or questions.
9. PERSONAL APPLICATION

St. Andrew was a man of trust and action, he didn’t waste time trying to debating what to do. I feel that many times God calls me to action and I complicate the process. God simply want me to go, to follow, to do what he says and to do it now. I don’t always need to understand why, I need to trust that the Lord knows best. Also, I do not have the same sense of urgency that St. Andrew has about bringing others to Christ, too many times I am lazy or shy.As a result of this study, I will commit to listening to God and doing what He asks me to immediately, trusting that His plan is perfect . Also, I will commit to contacting at least one person every week that I know who does not know Christ and sharing with him, even if it is awkward or difficult.
10. TRANSFERABLE CONCEPTS

A. St. Andrew listened to St. John the Baptist when he pointed to Christ and acted by leaving St. John and following Christ.

When God makes clear His truth, we must be willing to follow immediately.

B. St. Andrew listened to Christ and acted by finding his brother and sharing the Good News.

True Christian zeal and love necessitates that we share the Good News with urgency.

C. St. Andrew listened to Christ say “follow Me” and acted by following Him immediately.

Christ may ask to do something crazy, but we must trust Him and follow immediately when called.

D. St. Andrew listened to Christ ask for food to feed five thousand and acted by bring Him five loaves and two fish.

Sometimes a situation God has placed us in may not seem to have a plausible solution, we shouldn’t fret but trust that God has plans that will glorify Him.

 

Fri 14 Jul 2006

Filling Up

Posted by Andrew Mitry under Bible Study, Christianity
[6] Comments

Glass Being Filled with Water God has definitely been trying to drive home a point with me these past couple weeks. He is telling me that I need to give significantly more time to the study of His word. Yes, maybe I spend half an hour to an hour a day in quiet time, praying, reading, and meditating, but it isn’t enough. I need to set aside larger chunks of time once or twice a week to study the Bible in depth. Here are some snippets of what He has been revealing to me:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. – Revelation 3:19-20


If I want to hear His voice, open the door and dine with Him. I am sure that there are many different ways we can hear His voice, but I know that the Bible is definitely one of them. Do I listen intently?

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. – Psalm 32:8


God is willing to teach us, are we willing to learn? He gave us the ultimate textbook, do I spend time skimming parts or open it up for serious study?

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. – 1 John 4:1-3


How can I “test the spirits”? Christ when He was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4) answered with scripture, but the devil also tried to use scripture. If I don’t spend time to really understand the scripture, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, how can I test spirits and resist temptation?

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:25-33-34


By now, I am convinced that I need to set aside time for in depth study of the Bible, but then I begin to stress about how busy I am and all the work that needs to get done. This verse was comforting, if we are doing His will, He will provide. Now I am more comfortable with giving up significant chunks of time. I also began to realize that it was my pride and lack of faith that was telling me that I have to be the one to get the work done and that if I didn’t do it wasn’t going to get done.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. – John 17:3


We get to know God thorough His word. If I can’t spend a few hours a week studying the Bible, how can I spend eternity with Him?

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. – 1 Corinthians 4:15-16


I began to pray about how God wants me to delve into His word, I know there are many different methods of doing so. When I read this, I began to think, how can I imitate someone I don’t know. I decided that I would begin with doing biographical studies of characters in the Bible to see examples of how they imitated Christ.

Yesterday, we got to spend some time with Bishop Paul, our Bishop of Mission, He was sharing with us about what makes a great disciple of the Lord. He began with a verse from the gospel of John:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. – John 14:12


He was asking why don’t we do greater works than Christ? It is because we aren’t filled and led by the Holy Spirit. He use the example of Saint Paul, who was smart and intellectual, yet this is not what led to his fruits, it was sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. The only way to produce the great work is spending time getting filled and being obedient to His leading..

Now for action on my part. I had started using Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods as a guide to studying the Bible before, but only made it through the first method, “The Devotional Method of Bible Study,” so I picked it back up today and read through the fifth method, “The Biographical Method of Bible Study.” He recommends several different characters to study if you are just beginning. I think I will begin with my namesake, Andrew. I have scheduled in several hours on Monday to take the plunge. I’ll post an outline when I’m done.

 

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