Romans 9:14-18 Picking up where we left off last week, what approach is Paul using in order to convince his readers that there is a true spiritual Israel which is distinct from ethnic Israel? How far has Paul progressed in his argument? God has chosen to show mercy to the nation of Israel, while at the same time he has excluded Edom (the descendants of Esau). This raises the question of whether or not God is just in making such choices. What two events in the history of Israel does Paul use to buttress his argument that God is just? Do these verses completely resolve the question? What is the background in the history of the Jews to God's words to Moses about to whom He shows mercy? How does this demonstrate that mercy is up to God and not man? Why does Paul next use the illustration of Pharaoh? What does Paul mean when he refers to Pharaoh being "raised up?" What happened before God hardened Pharaoh's heart?What would not have happened had Pharaoh not been hardened by God? What has Paul not discussed in this chapter so far? (60 min)

Keywords Mercy, Hardening, Justice, Jacob, Esau, Edom, Pharaoh, Rahab

Genesis 36:9-43 An entire toledot of Genesis is devoted to the descendants of Esau. In this passage we look at the second part of that toledot. What were the Children of Israel supposed to learn from this genealogy, and how are we to learn from it? What are some of the key names which might have some importance to our understanding of the redemptive history? What is important to see about the structure of this genealogy, and how does the narrator use that structure to communicate something important to us? What great lesson can we learn from the Edomites that has a bearing on our lives and our future? (58 min.)

Keywords Esau, Seir, Amalekites, Edom, Edomites

Genesis 36:1-8 This lesson includes a review of the toledots of Genesis and how they provide a structure and plan for the book. The toledot of Esau amounts to a short diversion from the chief plan of the book, yet it provides us with important information. What is the importance of this account? Why does the narrator stress that Esau "is Edom?" How does the seed of the woman differ from the seed of the serpent? What's wrong with the saying that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?" What are the three wrong choices that Esau made? (56 min.)

Keywords Esau, Toledot, Seir, Birthright, Edom