BIBL 104 Old Testament Narrative Bible Study Assignment Template (AY2021) PDF

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BIBL 104 Old Testament Narrative Bible Study Assignment...

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Name: Date: 11\16\2020 Section: BIBL-104 Studying the Old Testament Narratives Passage: Numbers 21:4-9

Instructions: For this assignment, you will be studying the Old Testament story of The Bronze Serpent found in Numbers 21:4-9. You will use the template below in order to complete a study of this passage. In your study, you will use the skills of Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and Application that you have become familiar with through your reading in Everyday Bible Study.

I. Observation A. I have read Numbers 21:4-9 in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or CSB) and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. You will find a copy of the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NLT in your myWSB Library. o Yes o No B. Having read the passage in both formal and functional translation, list at least 2 similarities and 3 differences between the way both translations cover this story. You may list as many similarities and differences that you find as long as you meet the minimum amount. Similarities

Differences

Verse 4: From Mount Hor, they set out by the Red Sea – Both the ESV and NLT mention that the people travel from Mount Hor to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient. Verse 7: The people cry out to Moses the same in both the ESV and NLT. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned against God and against you.”

Verse 6: ESV: “Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many of people of Israel died.” NVL: “So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.”

Verse 5: Both in ESV and NLT the people began to speak out against God and Moses. Both versions stating “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?”

Verse 5: NLT: “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” ESV: “For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Verse 9: ESV: “And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” NLT: “Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!”

C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying 1. Main characters: (List them)    

God Moses The people of Israel Serpents / snakes

2. Plot: (50-100 words)

Moses is leading his people out of Egypt following God’s commands. The people of Israel grew impatient with Moses and God, speaking out against both of them. For the people of Israel sinning against God; God sent fiery serpents among the people of Israel to open their eyes to the sins they have committed. 3. Narrative structure: (50-100 words) Introduction: Moses guiding his people out of Egypt to the promised land. Inciting incident: While traveling to the promised land many of the people grew impatient on the way. Rising action: The people spoke out against God and Moses, questioning them why they had brought them here to the land of Edom. Climax: The people of Israel realized that they have sinned against God and Moses. Falling Action: The people of Israel asked Moses to pray to the Lord to take the serpents away. Resolution:

God gives Moses a command to make a bronze serpent and anyone who has been bit, shall they look at it will be healed and live.

C. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation. 1. Who:  The people of Israel  Moses  God (speaking to Moses)  serpents

2. What: The people traveled with Moses from Mount Hor till they set out by way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The people grew impatient in this time of travel with Moses The people of Israel started to speak out against God and Moses, asking them why they would have brought them out of Egypt and into the middle of the wilderness. God began giving the people of Israel judgment by sending fiery serpents to bite the people for not trusting in him and Moses. Many of the people of Israel died The people realized that they had sinned against God and Moses, they came to Moses and asked that he pray for forgiveness among the people. God listened to the people’s repent of their sins and gave Moses a command to make a bronze serpent. And that anyone who had been bit by serpent shall look at it that they would be healed and live. 3. Where:    

Mount Hor Red Sea Promise Land Israel

4. When: 

In the forty-year wilderness journey

5. Why: Why did the people of Israel speak against God and Moses? They had been following Moses and didn’t see fit that they had enough to drink or eat. Why did God send serpents to the people of Israel? To punish the people of Israel for speaking out against God and Moses. 6. How: How where the Israelite people survive? They realize that they had sinned against God and Moses and ask Moses to pray to God for forgiveness and repentance. Moses then prayed, he was instructed to create a brass serpent and whoever looked upon it was healed.

II. Interpretation A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you think the author is trying to communicate in this passage. Remember, the Old Testament narratives frequently communicate truth by showing it to us in story form instead of telling it to us by way of teaching or sermon. Please remember that words like “I,” “We,” “Us, and “Our” are application words and not interpretation words. Interpretation is about “then and there” and not “here and now.” We were not there so the passage is not about us. Our “part” in the passage is application or how we will respond to God’s Word. In the story of Moses in the bronze serpent, the author is making an example of the people of Israel, one of their anger and their misplaced trust in God. This story shows that although you cannot see God, he hears all and sees all. In times of God's people failing to trust and obey his commands, God will set into motion a plan to put his people on the correct path towards his glory again. The people of Israel realizing their sins that they had committed ask Moses to pray to God to take the serpents away. God and his never-failing love for his people heard that repentance and sent Moses to construct a bronze serpent and instructed the Israelites that anyone who has been bit shall they look upon the bronze serpent they shall be healed and live.

B. Based on your answer above, write out one principle from this passage. You should be able to express this principle in 1-3 sentences. God has mercy among his people and offers forgiveness in their sinful nature.

III. Correlation A. How does this Old Testament narrative fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State what type of story you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and explain why you believe this to be so. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length. The story of Moses and the bronze serpent fits into the redemption category of the metanarrative Bible. This story highlights the distrust in human nature. The people of Israel when being led by Moses into the wilderness quickly started blaming Moses and God for their issues. Furthermore, believing that Moses was leading all of his people into the wilderness to die, the people did not believe that they had enough food and water therefore they place distrust in Moses. After the people of Israel placing their distrust in Moses and God, God punished the people of Israel. After realizing their mistake, they then spoke with Moses asking him to pray for forgiveness to God. After God was satisfied with them repainting their sins, he instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent that would heal and redeem the followers of God. Rebuilding the faith, they once had in God

B. How does your principle fit with the rest of the Scripture? This principle is the one you have written out in 1-3 sentences in the Interpretation section. If your principle is a true Biblical principle it will be reflected throughout the Scriptures. Where is the principle discovered in this Old Testament narrative found elsewhere in the Scriptures? Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.

Redemption is spread throughout the old testament as well as the whole Bible. Such as Jacob in the old testament when he was wrestling with God. Isaiah 44:21-28 21 “Remember these things,

Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you; you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. 22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

C. How does this Old Testament narrative reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ? State and explain at least one way that the principle of this narrative can be identified in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.

Jesus Christ is the highlight principle of redemption and forgiveness. Jesus lived a life like no other he always put others first to show his kindness and his love that he had for everybody on this earth. For those who had sinned in the past many of those people were treated differently because of the mistakes that they had made previously, all of those mistakes have been forgiven through him. (Romans 3:24-26) And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

IV. Application What points of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length. A. The question of duty

B. The question of character

C. The question of goals

D. The question of discernment...