Bible Study

Why did Joseph's brothers hate him?

In Genesis 37, Joseph's brothers hate him enough to sell him into slavery. Dr. Toby Holt asks where God is when calamity strikes — even though God's name never appears in the chapter. Jacob plays favorites with a special coat, and the brothers' jealousy turns to hatred when Joseph shares his dreams of ruling over them. They plot to kill him, then sell him to traders bound for Egypt, and deceive their father with a blood-stained coat. Though God seems absent, His fingerprints are over every event.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the brothers hate Joseph? Out of jealousy — over their father's favoritism and Joseph's dreams of leadership. Their envy hardened into hatred.

2. Where was God in this betrayal? Present and sovereign, even though unseen. His hand was guiding events toward a greater purpose.

3. Where is God when our circumstances grow dark? Right there, working behind the scenes. As with Joseph, God can be at work even when He seems silent. "Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit… We shall see what will become of his dreams." — Genesis 37:20 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Who did Jacob wrestle with all night? In Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob wrestles a mysterious "Man" through the night and walks away with a limp and a new name. Dr. Toby Holt explains this strange and pivotal encounter.

Returning home after twenty years, Jacob is terrified of meeting Esau. Left alone at the river, he wrestles until daybreak with One he realizes is God Himself — a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. He clings to Him: "I will not let You go unless You bless me." God touches his hip and renames him Israel.

Questions this study answers:

1. Who did Jacob wrestle with? Not an ordinary man, but God Himself appearing in human form. Jacob said he had seen God face to face.

2. What was the point of the wrestling match? To break Jacob's self-reliance and bring him to cling to God for blessing. He stopped fighting God and started holding on to Him.

3. How was Jacob changed? He received a new name, Israel, and a permanent limp. He left the encounter humbled and transformed.

"I will not let You go unless You bless me!" — Genesis 32:26 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

What was Jacob's ladder, really? In Genesis 28:10-22, the fleeing deceiver Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. Dr. Toby Holt reveals what that ladder truly was. Running from Esau, Jacob sleeps with a stone for a pillow and sees a ladder joining heaven and earth, angels going up and down, and God above it renewing His promises. Every person senses a gap between earth and heaven, and our error is trying to build our own ladder by good works. But Jesus told Nathanael that He Himself is that ladder — the only way between earth and heaven.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was Jacob alone with a stone for a pillow? He was fleeing his brother Esau after stealing the blessing. Even there, God met him with grace.

2. What did the ladder represent? A connection between heaven and earth. Jesus later revealed that He Himself is the ladder — the only way to God.

3. How do we reach heaven? Not by building our own ladder of good works, but through Christ. He came down to us, and we come to God through Him.

"...a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." — Genesis 28:12 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Can God use a broken family? In Genesis 27, a blind old father, a scheming mother, and a deceiving son all sin their way through one chaotic day. Dr. Toby Holt shows how God works His good plan even through a deeply broken family.

Isaac plans to bless Esau, ignoring God's choice of Jacob. Rebekah schemes, and Jacob lies to his father's face to steal the blessing. Every major figure does wrong — yet the blessing still lands on Jacob, the son God had chosen. Nothing can make God swerve from His plan.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Isaac favor Esau? Partly from natural affection and his taste for the game Esau hunted. He let his preference override God's revealed choice.

2. Was Jacob and Rebekah's trick a sin? Yes. Deception and dishonoring his father were real sins. God's plan prevailed despite their wrongdoing, not because of it.

3. What can we learn from this broken family? That God works through flawed, sinful people. His purposes do not depend on our goodness. "Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine." — Genesis 27:28 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God choose Jacob over Esau? In Genesis 25, before twin brothers are even born, God declares that "the older shall serve the younger." Dr. Toby Holt explores one of the Bible's clearest teachings on God's electing choice. As Isaac's line continues, Rebekah gives birth to Esau and Jacob, and God announces His choice of Jacob before either has done good or bad. Quoted by Paul in Romans 9, this is a foundation for predestination: God's choice rests on His grace, not our merit. Esau then sells his birthright for a bowl of stew.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why does God call Himself "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"? To highlight His own faithfulness, not theirs. He worked through three flawed men by grace.

2. What does Genesis 25 teach about predestination? That God chose Jacob before the twins were born or had done anything — His choice rested on grace, not merit. Paul cites this in Romans 9.

3. What did Esau's choice reveal? That he despised his birthright, trading God's blessing for a single meal. He valued the immediate over the eternal.

"Two nations are in your womb… and the older shall serve the younger." — Genesis 25:23 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? In Genesis 22, God gives Abraham the hardest command imaginable: offer your son Isaac as a sacrifice. Dr. Toby Holt walks through this famous test and the gospel it foreshadows.

Abraham obeys, traveling three days to Mount Moriah as Isaac carries the wood up the hill. At the last moment God stops him and provides a ram as a substitute. Abraham trusted God so fully that, Hebrews says, he believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. The scene foreshadows Christ — the beloved Son who carried His own wood up that same hill — except Isaac was spared, and Jesus was not.

Questions this study answers:

1. Was God really going to let Abraham kill Isaac? No. It was a test of Abraham's faith, and God provided a ram in Isaac's place. God never intended Isaac to die.

2. What did Abraham believe would happen? He trusted God to keep His promise — even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead. He told his servants they would both return.

3. How does this point to Christ? Isaac, the beloved son, carried the wood up Moriah, just as Jesus carried His cross. But where Isaac was spared, God did not spare His own Son.

"...now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." — Genesis 22:12 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? In Genesis 18:22 through 19, God rains down judgment on the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Dr. Toby Holt examines a sobering account of both God's wrath and His mercy. Before judgment falls, Abraham pleads with God, who agrees to spare the cities for ten righteous people — but not even ten are found. Two angels rescue Lot's family as fire destroys the cities; Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt. Jesus warned it will be "more bearable" for Sodom than for those who hear the gospel and reject it.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? Deep and widespread wickedness, including sexual sin but, as Ezekiel says, "all manner" of evil. Their corruption was total.

2. Why would God spare the cities for ten righteous people? Because He is merciful and patient, willing to relent for the sake of His own. Sadly, not even ten could be found.

3. What did Jesus mean when He spoke of Sodom? That it will be more bearable for Sodom than for those who reject the gospel. Greater revelation brings greater accountability. "Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens." — Genesis 19:24 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Is anything too hard for God?

In Genesis 18:1-15, the Lord promises ninety-year-old Sarah a son — and she laughs. Dr. Toby Holt asks whether anything is truly too hard for God.

Three visitors come to Abraham, one of them the Lord Himself in human form. As Abraham serves a lavish meal, the Lord renews His promise: Sarah will have a son within the year. Sarah, far past childbearing age, laughs at the impossibility. God's reply: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"

Questions this study answers:

1. Who were the three visitors? One was the Lord Himself, appearing in human form, with two angels. Abraham welcomed them with lavish hospitality.

2. Why did Sarah laugh? Because she was far too old to bear a child; the promise seemed impossible. She judged God's promise by what seemed feasible.

3. Is anything too hard for God? No. The God who kept this promise to Sarah keeps every promise He makes. His power, not our circumstances, is the measure.

"Is anything too hard for the LORD?… and Sarah shall have a son." — Genesis 18:14 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

What does it mean to be a friend of God?

In Genesis 12, God calls Abraham out of a pagan land with a staggering set of promises. Dr. Toby Holt opens the life of the man the Bible calls "the friend of God." Abraham came from Ur, steeped in idol worship, yet God chose him — not for his merit but by grace. God told him to leave his country and family for a land he had never seen, and he obeyed. God promised to make him a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him — fulfilled in Christ.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God choose Abraham? Not for his goodness — he came from a family of idol-worshipers. God chose him by His own sovereign grace.

2. What did God promise Abraham? To make him a great nation, to bless him, and to bless all the families of the earth through him. That last promise points to Christ.

3. Who are the true children of Abraham? Those who share his faith, not merely his bloodline. All who trust God as Abraham did are counted his children. "I will bless those who bless you… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." — Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God confuse the world's languages? In Genesis 11:1-9, humanity unites to build a tower to the heavens — and God scatters them by confusing their language. Dr. Toby Holt explains what really happened at Babel. God had told mankind to spread out and fill the earth, but the people gathered to build a city and tower "to make a name for ourselves" — pride and rebellion. God came down, confused their language, and scattered them, accomplishing His will despite their defiance. Babel is reversed at Pentecost, where God used many languages to unite people into His church.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the tower anger God? Because it was proud rebellion — building "up" to make a name for themselves instead of spreading out as God commanded.

2. Why did God confuse their language? To stop their united rebellion and scatter them across the earth, accomplishing His purpose despite their resistance.

3. How does Babel connect to Pentecost? At Babel God divided languages to scatter; at Pentecost He used many languages to gather people into His church. "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves…" — Genesis 11:4 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.