Answer Key – Weeks 1-5

Week 1

In Genesis 2–3, what do God’s actions toward Adam and Eve reveal about His character, even after they sinned?
Even after Adam and Eve sinned, God continued to show mercy, care, and compassion toward them. He sought them out in the garden, spoke to them directly, and provided clothing for them after their shame was exposed. Although there were consequences for their sin, God did not abandon them. His actions reveal that He is both holy and merciful—a God who judges sin, yet still pursues people with love and grace.

In Genesis chapter 3, we see a glimpse of the coming Messiah. One verse is often called the “first gospel” because it contains the first promise of a coming Savior after the fall. Can you find it?
The verse often called the “first gospel” is Genesis 3:15. In this verse, God tells the serpent that the offspring of the woman would one day crush his head, though His heel would be struck. Christians have long understood this as the first promise of Jesus Christ—the coming Savior who would defeat Satan through His death and resurrection.

In Genesis 22, what similarities do you notice between the story of Abraham and Isaac and the crucifixion of Jesus?
Genesis 22 contains several parallels to the crucifixion of Jesus. Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son, just as Jesus is the beloved Son of God. Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice up the mountain, much like Jesus carried the cross. Abraham was willing to offer his son in obedience to God, while God the Father willingly gave His Son for the salvation of the world. In the end, God provided a substitute sacrifice—a ram—pointing forward to Jesus, the Lamb of God who would die in our place.

Week 2

In Genesis 32:22–32, what happens when Jacob wrestles with God, and what changes as a result?
When Jacob wrestled with God, the encounter left him both humbled and changed. God gave him a new name—Israel—which marked a turning point in his life. Jacob walked away with a limp, a lasting reminder of that night and of his dependence on God. The story reveals a man who entered the struggle fearful and self-reliant, but came away clinging to God for blessing and identity.

As you read Genesis 37–45, how does Joseph respond in times of suffering and in times of favor? What patterns do you notice in his life?
Throughout both suffering and success, Joseph consistently remained faithful to God. Whether he was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, imprisoned unfairly, or placed in a position of authority, he continued to act with integrity and wisdom. One clear pattern in Joseph’s life is that he trusted God in every season. Another is that God’s presence was with him, guiding and strengthening him through every circumstance.

Read Genesis 45:4–8. How does Joseph describe what happened to him, and what does this reveal about God’s power to work through difficult circumstances?
In Genesis 45:4–8, Joseph explains to his brothers that although they meant harm against him, God was working through those events for a greater purpose. Joseph saw that God had sent him ahead to preserve lives during the famine. His words reveal a deep trust in God’s sovereignty and show that the Lord is able to bring good even out of painful and unjust circumstances.

Week 3

In Exodus 12, what specific instructions does God give for the Passover, and how do these details point forward to Christ?
God instructed each household to sacrifice a spotless lamb, place its blood on the doorposts, and eat the meal in readiness to leave Egypt. The blood of the lamb caused judgment to pass over them, sparing their firstborn. These details point forward to Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, whose blood saves those who place their faith in Him. Just as the Passover marked Israel’s deliverance from slavery, Christ brings deliverance from sin and death.

According to Hebrews 11:24–26, why did Moses choose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than remain in Egypt?
Hebrews 11 says that Moses chose to suffer with God’s people because he valued obedience to God more than the temporary pleasures and riches of Egypt. He looked ahead in faith to the reward God had promised and considered “disgrace for the sake of Christ” of greater value than earthly treasure. Moses lived with an eternal perspective, trusting God above worldly comfort and status.

What ‘traveling companion’ do the Israelites carry with them for 40 years in the wilderness because of an oath made in Genesis 47? What does this reveal about their companion’s belief in the promise?
The Israelites carried the bones of Joseph with them through the wilderness because Joseph had made them swear to take his remains to the Promised Land (Genesis 50:24–25; Exodus 13:19). Even though Joseph died in Egypt, he believed God would surely fulfill His promise to bring His people into the land He had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Carrying his bones for forty years was a lasting testimony of faith in God’s covenant promises.

Week 4

What does the sprinkling of blood in Exodus 24 symbolize according to Hebrews 9:22?
In Exodus 24, Moses sprinkled blood on the altar and on the people as part of the covenant between God and Israel. Hebrews 9:22 explains that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The sprinkling of blood symbolized purification, atonement, and the sealing of the covenant. It pointed forward to Jesus Christ, whose blood would establish a better covenant and bring complete forgiveness of sins.

Exodus 24 contains a phrase that Jesus famously echoes at the Last Supper. Can you find the parallel? How does seeing this connection change your perspective on the cup of the New Covenant?
In Exodus 24:8, Moses says, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you.” At the Last Supper, Jesus echoes this in Matthew 26:28 when He says, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Seeing this connection reveals that Jesus was establishing a new and greater covenant through His own sacrifice. The cup of the New Covenant becomes a powerful reminder that salvation was secured through His blood.

Exodus 34 focuses on an external law chiseled on tablets of stone. How does Paul’s description in 2 Corinthians 3:3 reframe the law as something internal and personal?
In 2 Corinthians 3:3, Paul explains that believers are like letters from Christ, “written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” Instead of the law being only an external command, God now works within His people through the Holy Spirit. Obedience becomes something flowing from a transformed heart and a personal relationship with Him.

Week 5

In Leviticus 16, what happened to each goat on the Day of Atonement, and how do the two goats together point to Christ’s sacrifice for sin?
One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering, and its blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the people. The second goat, often called the scapegoat, had the sins of the people confessed over it before being sent into the wilderness. Together, the two goats picture the work of Christ. Jesus not only died to pay the penalty for sin, but He also carried our sins away from us completely. As Psalm 103:12 says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (NIV).

In Leviticus 19, what phrase is repeatedly attached to God’s commands, and what does this reveal?
Throughout Leviticus 19, God repeatedly says, “I am the Lord” or “I am the Lord your God.” This phrase reminds Israel that His commands were rooted in His authority, holiness, and covenant relationship with them. God’s people were not called to obey blindly, but to remember who He is. His character is the foundation for the way His people are to live.

In Leviticus 23:10–11, what was done with the firstfruits offering, and why is this significant? (See 1 Corinthians 15:20)
The priest was to wave the first sheaf of the harvest before the Lord as an offering of thanksgiving and dedication. This firstfruits offering pointed forward to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul calls Jesus “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (NIV). Just as the first part of the harvest promised more to come, Christ’s resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of all who belong to Him.