Archive | January 2024

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 31

Jan31

    Day 31 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 31 – Exodus 4 – 6  (Moses, God, Aaron, Pharoah & Israel)

Chapter 4 continues the amazing conversation between the LORD and Moses at the burning bush at Sinai. God has just told him that HE will bring out His people from Egypt, and they will plunder that country in the process. Oh wow!

But (yes, that is Moses’s first word). But… they won’t believe me!  I can almost hear God sigh. Okay… here’s a couple minor miracles that you can show them. And when Moses obediently throws down his shepherd’s staff, it turns into a SNAKE!!  Yikes!  Moses runs from it, but God says to catch it by the tail. Seriously???  But Moses obeys and voila! it is a staff again. (By the way, the snake is one of the symbols of authority in Egypt.)

Then God does the leprosy (yikes again!) miracle – first appearing when Moses pulls out his hand from his robe, and disappearing when he puts it back inside. (I imagine Moses is really shook up by now, but God offers a third miracle that he will do when he gets to Egypt. Get a pitcher of water from the “holy-to-Egyptians” Nile River, and when you pour it out… it will be BLOOD!

It’s settled then, right? No!

Moses’s next word again was, “But…”  This time he says he can’t talk eloquently, in fact he has a stutter. (Perhaps from only talking to sheep for 40 years and hearing their “baa-baa-ba.”)

God is losing patience with His man. Who gave you that mouth, Buddy?  Me.  If I made it, I can make it talk for me!  But…alas… I’ve summoned your bro Aaron. He can talk. He will talk for you…for me.

Moses can’t find another excuse so he goes home and explains to his father-in-law that God has called him to set the Hebrew people free from slavery in Egypt.  Surprisingly, this priest of Midian sees God’s hand in it all and sends him off “in peace.”

Chapter 5 finds the brothers before Pharaoh in Egypt. “The God of Israel says ‘Let My People go so they can hold a feast to Me in the desert.”

WHAT???, says Pharoah. “Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice.  I WILL NOT!”

Moses & Aaron resort to, “Please let us go to sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest…… a pestilence fall on us.”

“NO!! NO WAY! GET OUT OF HERE!”

And Pharaoh doubles the load on the already super-burdened Hebrew slaves. And they ask Moses why he ever came. They aren’t delivered. Their situation is WORSE.  And of course, Moses goes to God and accuses Him of the same thing. YOU HAVE NOT DELIVERED YOUR PEOPLE … AT ALL!

In chapter 6, you can almost see God rubbing his hands together. “NOW you will see what I shall do to Pharoah.” Then he preaches a mini-sermon to Moses, recalling His promises to the Patriarchs.

“I have heard the groaning…”

“I have remembered my covenant…”

“I am the LORD and I will bring you out…”

“I will deliver you from slavery…”

“I will redeem you…”

“I will take you to be my people…

“I will be your God…”

“I will bring you into the land I promised your forefathers and give it to you for a possession…”

“I AM THE LORD.”

Then follows a brief genealogy of Moses and Aaron (the tribe of Levi), beginning with their faithful parents Amram and Jochebed.

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(And then the contest begins. You’ll be sorry, Pharaoh, that you messed with the Living God.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 30

Jan30

    Day 30 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 30 – Exodus 1 – 3  (Israel grows & becomes a threat, Moses appears)

In Joseph’s time, Israel was 70 people strong. Now, 300+ years later (chapter 1), they had “increased greatly; they have multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.”  WOW!  (God was fulfilling His promise to Abe in Genesis 15.)

But the new, paranoid Pharoah is afraid of them. What if…? And what if they…? he worried. So he set out to “deal” with this problem. First he conscripted the Hebrews to build cites for him through hard manual labor. Then – because they just got stronger and multiplied – the forced labor got ruthless and turned into cruel slavery. And still they multiplied.

The next solution was to kill baby boys at birth, but that didn’t work out so well. God used the midwives to save the newborns.  Pharoah’s “final solution” was infanticide. He commanded all Egyptians to throw EVERY son born to the Hebrews into the crocodile-infested Nile River.

But a beam of hope arises in chapter 2. A beautiful baby boy is born to a couple who are from the tribe of Levi. (Not Joseph, not Judah).  The mother kept her son hidden as long as she could, but babies do cry loudly sometimes. So she obeyed the ruling pagan authority and “cast” her baby boy into the Nile.  It just so happens, that he was lovingly wrapped and placed in a water-proof basket, and had a big sister to look after him.

He “happened” to float by where Pharoah’s (childless) daughter was bathing and began to cry pitifully.  She had the basket brought to her, recognized the baby boy as Hebrew (circumcision), but instantly wanted him.  Miriam steps up right then and offers a wet nurse for the baby, and Pharaoh’s daughter PAYS the baby’s own mother to nurse him. WOW. But at about 3-years old, Jochabed gives up the baby (named Moses by the Egyptian) to live as the grandchild of the Pharoah.

This was of course all in God’s plan. Moses is trained up in all ways (achedemics, languages, military command, etc,) to become a leader (not for Pharoah, but for God).  He just needed some time learning how to lead…. SHEEP. Dumb sheep.

After defending a Hebrew slave by killing an Egyptian taskmaster (a big no-no), Moses has to flee for his life. He runs hundreds of miles away, trekking across the Sinai desert to Midian. (Midianites were descendants of Abraham & his second wife, Keturah). There at a well, where some women came to water their sheep, another matchmaking takes place. Moses meets the seven daughters of the local priest, and marries one of them, Zipporah and looks after his sheep. The have a son (later another one).

It looks like Moses (mighty man of God) has sunk into obscurity.  Well, he has.  For forty years he herds, feeds, cares for, chases after, and nurses flocks of sheep.

Then God calls him.  He was trained 40 years in Egyptian leadership and 40 years in shepherding. God has heard the cries of his people in slavery, and Moses is ready.  Well, GOD thinks he is ready. Not so, Moses.

In chapter 3, God talks to him through a burning bush that does not get consumed. (But not TOO close, for the area around God Almighty is holy).  Moses, God says, “Come, I will send you to Pharoah that you may bring my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

“WHAAAATT???”  Moses cries. Who am I?

God promises Moses His very Presence will go with him, and, in fact, God will help Moses bring the nation back to the very spot on which they stand.

“What am I gonna tell the people?”

God tells Moses to use his “personal” name to the people. The Name he used with Abraham… I AM WHO I AM. (Yaweh, or Jehovah).

Then God goes on to tell him how it will happen. He is to tell the Pharoah certain things, which will be resisted, do some miracles, which will be resisted. Then God will bring them out with POWER, with lots and lots of loot, and take them to the Promised Land.

(Okay. It’s settled, right?  Wrong. Moses, the sheep-herder has more objections.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 28 & 29

Jan29

 Day 28 & 29 — (I combine Sunday and Monday reads.)  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 28 – Genesis 46-47  (Jacob settles in Egypt, Joseph manages the famine)

Chapter 46 sees the old man, Jacob/Israel packing up his family and goods and beginning the trek south. He stops briefly in Beersheba and sacrifices to God. God assures him it’s the right ting to do. “Jacob, Jacob, I am the God of your Father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you…”  

There were 66 family members in all in the caravan (70 persons in his “house” counting Joseph, his wife and sons). Before the Hebrews return, there will be 600,000 men, not counting women and kids.  God’s promise told to the Patriarch’s would begin to come true – they’d be as numerous as the sand, dust, and stars.

After 22 years thinking his fave son was dead, Jacob finally meets Joseph, the Vice-Pharoah in Egypt. What a scene! Lots of hugging and weeping.  Then Joseph settles them in the “prime” land of Goshen, away from the capital. He tells them what to say when he introduces them to the Big Man. They were to say they are “shepherds.” Egyptians do not like sheep, so Goshen is perfect.  At the meeting, Jacob blesses Pharoah, not the other way around.

In chapter 47, we see Joseph, relieved to have his family nearby, back to the seriousness of running the economy of Egypt in the remaining 5 years of famine. It looks like he is draining the hungry people dry, but they seem pleased to give up their money, land, and themselves to receive grain to eat and plant.

Jacob/Israel is coming to the end of his days. He’s lived in Egypt near his favorite son for 17 years.  He’s 147 now, and he calls Joseph to extract a promise from him.

“…promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.  PROMISE!”  And Joseph swears it. (He will make a similar request before he dies).

Day 29 – Genesis 48-50 (the last chapters) – (Blessings & Promises)

In chapter 48, Jacob/Israel, knowing he will die soon, begins to gather his sons together for the Patriarchal Blessings. Joseph brings his two sons to his father (Manassah & Ephraim) to be blessed. Jacob “adopts” them as his own sons, giving them equal portions with the other 11 brothers. Remember three things here:

  1. Jacob considers Rachael as his “wife”
  2. Jacob considers Rachael’s first born, Joseph. as the one who gets the Birthright (double portion of his inheritance)
  3. In adopting Joseph’s sons and giving them equal portions with his own sons, he carries out this “double portion” in heritance for Joseph.

Again, as in all the sons of the Patriarchs, Joseph’s second son gets the greater honor – Ephraim over Manassah. And they are considered part of the 12 Tribes of Israel. When the united kingdom spits after Solomon dies, the Northern half is often called “Ephraim.”  (Judah is the name as the Southern half).

And finally, in chapter 49, Jacob gives his Blessing to all the sons, revealing both their character and the portions of the Promised Land that will be theirs. As before, he passes up Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (because of their wickedness) and proclaims Judah as the progenitor of the One who will bless all the nations on the earth, the Eternal King, the Lion of Judah (Jesus, the Messiah).

Then the old Patriarch dies.

Chapter 50 covers two amazing things. One, Jacob/Israel is embalmed as per the custom of the Egyptians. He is mourned for 70 days, then, as per his desires, he is transported to the Promised Land, and buried in the cave of Machpelah, where his grandfather/grandmother, father/mother, and Leah are buried. The Canaanite inhabitants are astonished at the great complany of Egyptians that attend the burial.

Two, after ALL THESE YEARS, still obviously feeling guilt, Joseph’s brothers come to him with a story (true or made up??) that before he died Jacob told Joseph to forgive them for selling him into slavery.

Joseph is astonished and cries out in grief.  He has long since forgiven them (even before they first came to Egypt).  He assures them AGAIN, that even if THEY meant it for harm, GOD meant it for good, in order to save all of them alive (and fulfill His promises to Abraham).

Do they finally believe him?  I hope so.

And then the time comes for Joseph to die (110). He extracts a promise from his brothers (and families) to “carry his bones” with them when they return to the land God promised them. (Joseph totally believed God’s words to Abraham that after 400 years, God would bring Israel back to the Promised Land.)

Then Joseph dies, his body is embalmed and placed in a coffin….”resting” in Egypt for 400 years.

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NOTES: 1) Exodus 13:19 tells how Moses made sure to collect Joseph’s bones before the “Children of Israel” left Egypt.

2) Joshua 24:32 tells how Joshua buried Joseph’s bones in the portion of land that Jacob had bought from Hamar in Shechem.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 27

Jan27

   Day 27 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

Day 27 – Genesis 43 – 45 – (Joseph tests brothers, sends for Jacob)

Chapter 43. The second year of famine hits harder and Jacob/Israel’s family have run out of food again. The Patriarch tells his nine sons to go down to Egypt and buy more.  

Judah reminds him of the Egyptian ruler’s words – they must take Benjamin or not bother to come. When Jacob objects, Judah pledges HIMSELF as a surity for his kid brother. Jacob finally agrees to the inevitable, but tells them to take double money and some gifts.  And he prays, “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man.”

When they arrive, Joseph brings them all into his house. He’s going to feed them a sumptuous meal, but THEY think they are doomed. Again the brothers bow down low to him. When Joseph sees Benjamin, emotion overwhelms him and flees to his bedroom to cry. After washing his face and returning as the stern vice-ruler of Egypt, he orders the meal.  He seats the brothers in birth order which amazes them. And, as a test to see if their jealousy toward Ben is really gone, heaps much more food and goodies on his younger brother. No reaction. (a good sign)

Chapter 44 tells of one more test Joseph gives his brothers.  He fills all their grain sacks to the brim, once again adding back their money, but also places his own silver chalice in brother Ben’s sack. ALL ELEVEN brothers leave, relieved at having escaped in tact.  But they soon see the dust of a chariot approaching them. Joseph’s steward accuses them of stealing his master prized cup. 

“What? No! We wouldn’t do that!!”  The Steward searches their sacks, and of course in the last one – Benjamin’s – it is found.  The brothers are terrified!  (Did they accuse their young brother of actually taking it?) The steward says only the thief will need to return, but they ALL go. They would rather face an angry Egyptian ruler than their own father if Benjamin is not with them!

Joseph feigns anger. Judah confess their guilt (selling of Joseph, but not stealing the cup) and tells him they all will be his servants.  But Joseph says only the thief stays, the rest can go home.

Now we see Judah at his best. (Remember his humble confession of sin back in chapter 38?)  Now he offers HIMSELF in place of Benjamin. (A picture of what Christ did!) He says that his father will die if Benjamin is not returned. What a change from when he first said, “Let’s kill Joseph,” with no regard to his fathers feelings. Judah has truely changed. 

Chapter 45. When Joseph sees Judah kneeling before him, offering his own life, he can stand it no longer. He sends all his servents out and breaks down. In Hebrew he confesses he is their brother, Joseph.  They are shocked, stunned, speechless, and scared to death. 

Joseph beckons them closer (to get a gook look at him) “I AM YOUR BROTHER, JOSEPH, whom you sold into slavery. Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves. God sent me before you to preserve life… to preserve for you a remnant on earth…to keep alive for you many survivors.”  He tells them of the five remaining years of famine yet to come. “It was not YOU who sent me here, but GOD. Now, hurry, go get my father and bring him to me!”

The brothers finally believe him, fall on him with mutual weeping and talk the night away.

The ELEVEN return to Jacob (can you imagine his joy at counting all the heads of his sons?). They convince him that it is true. Joseph is alive. Joseph is vice-Pharoah of Egypt. Joseph has prepared a place for them. Joseph want to see his father.

“It is enough,” Jacob cries. “I will go see my son before I die.”

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 26

Jan26

   Day 26 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

Day 26 – Genesis 41 – 42 – (Joseph & Pharoah’s dreams, Joseph meets 10 brothers)

It’s been TWO LONG YEARS since Joseph asked the Wine Steward to remember him to Pharoah. Finally in chapter 41 he remembers! His boss has had a couple disturbing dreams about cows and corn, and the court “soothsayers” can’t interpret them. What to do??

“Oh, yeah!” says the steward, thunking his head. “I remember a Hebrew slave in prison.  He can do it.”

They send for Joseph, and they bring him out of “the pit.” He shaves himself (Egyptians like smooth cheeks and bald heads), changes his clothes and presents himself to the king of the land.  He reminds Pharoah that ONLY GOD can interpret dreams and that He will give the king an answer.

Pharoah tells his weird dreams – seven fat cows are eaten up by seven skinny cows, who got no fatter. And then seven ears of corn growing on one stalk (amazing, usualy only 2-3) are swallowed by seven withered, thin, and blighted ears. (I see a theme here….)

God reveals the meaning of the dreams to Pharoah through Joseph. Seven years of amazing plenty in Egypt, followed by seven years of severe famine. And…. “God will shortly bring it about.”  Yikes!  But our wise, enslaved-for-13-years, Hebrew lad has a suggestion: Choose a discerning & wise man to oversee the land. Collect 20% of all the crops for seven years and store it away for the time of famine, so that Egypt won’t starve to death.

Wahoo!!  Guess who Pharoah picks and sets up in Egypt as vice-ruler, second in command only to the king? He gives Joseph a signet ring for sealing documents, garments of fine linen (watch those fancy coats, Joseph!), a gold necklace, and the second (flashiest) chariot in the garage. (This is basically what Potipher and the prison keeper did to Joseph, but to a much greater scale.God was certainly with him.)

Joseph also got a new name, and at 30-years-of-age, he was given a wife who bore him two sons – Ephraim & Manassah. (Recognize these??)

Joseph collected the required Federal cut of grain each year, built storehouses for it, and socked it away. Then came the severe famine. Joseph opened the storehouses and SOLD the grain to the people.  People from other countries came to Egypt looking for food, and Joseph SOLD it to them, enriching Egypt’s coffers.

Chapter 42 flashes back to Canaan where Jacob, his 11 sons and all their families began to feel the pinch. “Go down to Egypt and buy some grain so we don’t die!” demanded Jacob to his TEN sons. No way was he sending Benjamin, the only remaining son of his “wife” Rachel. (The “boy” was probably in his early twenties then.) They took money and began a trip that their great grandfather had made several hundred years before.

Joseph is shocked to see his ten brothers seeking food and bowing down before him. (Flash back to his own dreams when he was a boy.)  He counts and sees only 10 brothers.  Have they done away with his full brother Benjamin too?

Thinking quickly, he calls them SPIES and quizzes them about their father and the other boy. To further shake them up, he puts them in jail for three days. They groan and wail that this was their punishment for what they did to their brother, Joseph. They do not know that this Egyptian ruler can understand Hebrew.  Their words and sorrowful guilt after all these years touches Joseph and he cries.

Then with his commander face back on, he tells them he will let them take the grain, but they will get NO MORE unless they bring their younger brother with them next time. And as further incentive, he keeps Simeon in jail as collateral.

The NINE brothers return home and tell Jacob/Israel what happened (including the fact that all their money bags were found back inside the grain bags.

“NOooooooooooo!” wails their father. “You will NOT take Benjamin. He is the only son I have left.” (huh?) Reuben – probably glad the ruler took Simeon and not HIM – offers to keep Benjamin safe, saying Jacob could kill his own two sons if harm comes to him.  WHAT??  Are you kookoo, Reuben? Kill two of Jacob’s grandsons!!  Sheesh.

It doesn’t matter. Jacob absolutely REFUSES to send his “only” son to Egypt.

(We’ll see about that. Hunger causes desperation.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 25

Jan25

   Day 25 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 25 – Genesis 38 – 40 – (Judah & Tamar, Joseph & Potipher, the butler, and the wine steward)

Chapter 38 steps briefly away from the story of Joseph to give us a glimpse of Leah’s fourth son, Judah, through whom the Messiah will come. We’ve seen his 3 older brothers disqualify themselves. (Reuben slept with his father’s concubine, and Simeon & Levi massacred a whole town for revenge.) It would seem Judah is about to do the same disqualifying thing, but look for his humble confession of sin.

This chapter is full of a lot of cultural things that leave our mouths haning open. God executing sinful men on the spot, brothers siring children for a deceased sibling, deception, prostitution. It’s all there with Judah and his sons and daughter-in-law.

His two oldest sons sinned mightily before God and died. Judah went against custom and withheald his 3rd son from the widow. Tamar the offended daughter-in-law deceived her father-in-law. Judah went to a “prostitute” then later self-righteously condemmed her to death for immorality, until she declared HIM as the means of her pregnancy. Read 38:26. Judah’s eyes are opened to his own sin and says of Tamar’s actions and his own, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” 

It is through one of the resulting twin sons the the Messianic line is continued. God is so merciful and gracious. “Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness and mercy to the children of men.” Psalm 107:8

Back to Joseph in chapter 39 (but we will see the “converted” Judah again in chapter 44.) Meanwhile Joseph is sold to Potipher, Captain of the King’s Guard. And whoa! Everything that the Captain puts into Joseph’s hands prospers. He soon makes the handsome young slave overseer over everything in his life except the food he eats. AND his wife. (No problem there for Joseph.)

But the wife lusts for Joseph and tricks him into fleeing her boudoire to escape her wiles. Unfortunately, she grabs his coat and in the process of escape he slips out of it. (Poor Joseph, again at the mercy of a “coat.”) She falsely accuses him of trying to rape her, whimpering before her deceived husband, the Captain. Immediately the innocent Hebrew slave is sent to prison. (And assumably Potiphars prosperity declines.)

God is with Joseph and he finds favor with the prison keeper, who soon puts him in charge of all the prisoners (in order that, presumably, HE can be only concerned with his meals! Ha!)

In Chapter 40, two of Pharaoh’s top guys – who look after HIS meals (bread and wine) – fall into disfavor. The Captain of the Guard (Potiphar) appoints Joseph to be with them and attend them while they await trial. 

One night these two men have disturbing dreams. Joseph asks why they are so troubled and they tell him their nightmares, wishing there was someone who could interpret them. Ahhhhhh… our dreamer of dreams himself is there and tells them that only God can do that, but offers to try.

The Wine Steward goes first, telling of three lush grape clusters that he juices into the wine glass in Pharoah’s hand. Good news! Joseph tells the man he’ll be restored to service in three days. Then he begs the Steward to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh so he can be released.

The Baker, cheered, tells his dream about carrying three baskets on his head that are full of yummy baked goods for Pharaoh. But the darn birds kept coming and eating the goodies. Bad news! Joseph sadly tells the man that in three days he’ll be executed.

The fate of both men plays out just as God revealed to Joseph, but the Wine Steward, forgets Joseph.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 24

Jan24

   Day 24 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 24 – Genesis 35 – 37

In Chapter 35, after the horrific situation with his daughter in Shechem and Jacob’s fear of retaliation in the last chapter, God now comes to the road-weary man with a new direction.

“Get up to Beth-el and live there. Make an alter there to the God who appeared to you when you fled your brother.”    (Beth-el is where Jacob had the stairway to heaven dream and first heard God’s promises. He’s a different man now. His fathers’ God is now HIS God.)

He commands his household to get rid of all their foreign gods/idols and purify themselves.  Hmmm, besides the ones Rachel stole from her father, where did all these idols come from?  Remember in 34:29 when Jacob’s sons plundered the city of Shechem, they took all the livestock, all the little kids and wives, all their wealth, and ALL THAT WAS IN THEIR HOUSES.

Jacob obeyed God, left the pagen idols behind, and began the 20-mile trek south to Bethel to worship “the God who answers me in my day of distress.”  And, “a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they DID NOT PURSUE the sons of Jacob.” 35:3-4  WOW!

Jacob and fam, arrived at Beth-el, he built the alter and worshiped God. God reaffirms his name change to Israel, and identifies Himself as God Almighty (El Shaddai). He reaffirms the promises given to Abraham and Isaac…

  • they would be fruitful and multiply
  • nations and kings would come from him
  • the land would be given to him and his offspring

Two deaths are mentioned in this chapter. Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, dies in labor wit her second son, whom Jacob names Benjamin. He buries her near Ephrath (Bethlehem – remember when Herod tries to kill Jesus by killing all the boys under two in Bethlehem? It said “Rachel was weeping for her children, who were not.” This is the place.)

And soon after Jacob meets up with his father, Isaac (and I’m sure, introduces all his children to “Grampa” and tells his story of the last 20+ years), Isaac dies at the age of 180.  Jacob & Esau bury him in that burial cave along with Abraham, Sarah, and Rebekah.

Chapter 36 (don’t skip reading it!) gives the geneology of Esau, his children and leaders, and cities they become.  36;6-8, tells of Esau’s whole family, with livestock and possession leaving the area (much like Lot did when it became too crowded), moving south and east to what will be know as Edom.

Chapter 37 begins the story of Jacob’s “favorite” son, Joseph. (Didn’t he learn a lesson about favortism from his parents??) But, Jacob’s heart remembered his beloved Rachel, and this was her first born son. He lavishes love on him and gives him the special, long and long-sleeved coat of a “ruler” of his brothers, an “amazing technicolor dreamcoat.”  (Just kidding.)

Joseph’s brothers KNEW EXACTLY what it symbolized and hated their “pompous” little brother, who tattled on them every chance he got and taunted them with his “dreams” of superiority.”  (Yes, God sent the dreams as prophecy, but did he have to share them???)

They got their revenge, and when they saw the boy coming to where they were pasturing the sheep (way north, past Shechem), they plotted first to kill him, and then to sell him for profit to a caravan of Ishmaelites going to Egypt.

(It’s interesting that both Reuben & Judah did not want him killed (37:21 & 26). These two brothers will also seek to save Bemjamin’s life in Egypt.)

The chapter ends in double tragedy. Joseph, the exalted son, becomes a slave to Potiphar, a captain of the guard for Pharaoh.  And Jacob (the great deceiver) is deceived again, this time by his sons, who tell him that Joseph must have been killed by wild animals.  The “ruler’s coat” is torn and splattered with blood (by them) to prove his untimely death.

Jacob is inconsolable in his mourning and weeping, and wishes he were dead too.

(But God means it all for good.)

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 23

Jan23

   Day 23 —  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 23 – Genesis 32 – 34 (Jacob goes home)

In yesterday’s reading we saw Jacob being confronted by his father-in-law. He will face more crises today.

Chapter 32. After leaving Laban and before he meets his supposedly blood-thirsty brother Esau, God sends a host of angels to encourage him. (He’s going to need that!)

He’s sent a message to Esau that he is returning home and hopes to find favor (not fury) in his brother’s eyes.  The message comes back that Esau is coming to meet him…… with 400 men. YIKES!  (Remember Abe’s 318 men who fought kings and rescued Lot?)

Jacob divides his camp in two, hoping to save some of them, and asks for help and deliverance from the God of his grandfather and his father (not his own yet). He remembers that God had promised to be with him and to make his offspring numerous as the sand.  Then, still trusting in his OWN methods, he sends Esau a humongous gift of animals to appease him. And then he waits.

That night, God, Himself meets and wrestles with Jacob. He changes his name to Israel (champion with God) and blesses him. He also cripples Jacob’s hip to remind him Who really got the upper hand. Jacob realizes he’s “seen” God for himself.

Chapter 33. Taking one more precaution against the Esau-crisis, Jacob arranges his family in preferance of who he loves most. The servant girls and their boys in front, Leah, her sons & daughter next, and his beloved wife Rachel and favorite son Joseph at the very back. Then he turns to face his “avenging” brother.

But miracle of miracles! Esau runs to meet his long lost sibling and embraces him (and there is no dagger in his hand!). Introductions are made all around, Jacob/Israel is humble towards Esau, and Esau is gracious towards his “cheater” brother. They both go their way in peace.

Whew. Crisis number two averted, by God hand, again.

Jacob/Israel and his huge (intact) family and still an abundance of animals, turn West, cross the Jordan River and re-enter the Promised Land. He settles in Shechem and buys some land, including a well from the local head honcho. (betware, Jacob!!)

In Chapter 34, a set of horrible disasters plays out. First Jacob & Leah’s daughter Dinah is raped. The man, and his father, the local king barter for her. (Lets all intermarry and be one happy family.)  Unfortunately, Jacob does not meet this crisis head on. It’s left to Simeon and Levi, full brothers to Dinah to revenge their sister’s defilement.  They murder not only the man and his father, but ALL the men in the town. They also plundered the city – all their wealth, all their little ones and wives, all that was in their houses.

Whoa. (Certainly not the ‘eye for an eye’ concept that God had set in place hundreds of years ago.)

Jacob is aghast and ashamed… and fearful. He thinks he’s doomed now, by the hands of all the surrounding Canaanites. “I stink in their sight,” he moans. And they hastily move on.

On his journey home, he’s had to deal with Laban, Esau, and now the pagans in the land that God promised his offspring.  He’s nearly 100 now, and responsible for so many people. He’s at a very low point.

But God meets him in the pit and raises him up. (tomorrow’s reading)

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 21 & 22

Jan22

    Day 21 & 22 — (I combine Sunday and Monday reads.)  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 21 – Genesis 27-29  (Isaac & sons, Jacob on his own)

Chapter 27 tells us that Isaac is getting old and blind. He is 137 years old (the age his half-brother, Ishmael died, and he assumes his death is coming soon. But Genesis 35:28 tells us he actually will live another 43 years and die at 180!!!)

But that was his frame-of-mind when he decided to bestow the “Blessing” on his older son, Esau (whom he loved best, because of the food he brought. Hmm, like father, like son: food would be his downfall!)  He asks Esau to go hunt for some fresh meat, cook it, and bring it to him so he could bless him.  Exit Esau, Meanwhile behind the tent flap Rebekah & Jacob eavesdrop.  And Mom sets a plan into action that will eventually deprive her of her favorite son for the rest of her life.

Together, with like-tasting venison-stew, kid leather hand and neck coverigs, and a stolen robe of Esau’s they TRICK old Isaac into blessing Jacob.  Now God had already promised this, and might have brought it about in an amicable way, but Mom couldn’t chance. it.  The ruse goes off, with only a few suspicious questions, and Jacob receives the Patriarchal Blessing. But is he blessed?  You decide.

Esau returns and blows up at the trick. He now has neither Birthright or Blessing. He threatens to kill his brother (as soon as their father dies). Rebekah is frightened he WILL do it, and convinces her husband to send Jacob off to her brother Laben’s family “to get a non-pagen wife.”  Remember Esau’s Hittite wives who were bitterness for her and Isaac.

Chapter 28, it sounds good to Isaac and he sends Jacob off to Haran, where his very own wife came from. Sadly Rebekah never sees her fave boy again. She dies before he comes back.

Too bad they hadn’t know Proverbs 3:5-6.

Heading north, Jacob stops at a place he renames Beth-el (house of God) and has a fantastic dream about a ladder stretching from earth to heaven, and angels going up and down on it.  (Remember the song about climbing Jacob’s Ladder?)  And the LORD, the God of Jacob’s fathers, appears and blesses him: his offspring as numerous as dust – the land theirs forever – all the nations to be blessed through his Offspring.

On top of that, God promises to be with Jacob always and will bring him back to The Land.  Jacob vows back to God, saying that if He will do all that, then the LORD will be Jacob’s God too.

Chapter 29 – Jacob reaches Haran, and (deja vu) he sees a woman coming to water her sheep who is of the very household he’s looking for. It’s love at first sight. Her father, Laban (Jacob’s uncle), agrees to give Rachel to him as a wife …. for seven years of free labor.  The years fly by.  The wedding feast comes, and he marries Laban’s veiled daughter.

Come morning… YIKES!!! Not the beautiful Rachel, but her older, not-so-pretty sister, Leah. Jacob complains to Laban. YOU TRICKED ME!  Ah, Jacob, you know how it feels now!  Laban says, oh, I forgot to tell you the oldest daughter gets married first. But no problem, Rachael can be yours for another seven years free labor.  A week later, Jacob now has two wives, and although LEAH is considered Jacob’s “prime wife” by God, Jacob always calls RACHEL his true wife.

Four sons are born to Jacob by Leah – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah (the son through whom the Messiah will come.)  Judah’s name means PRAISE because with him, Leah praised the LORD.

   Day 22 – Genesis 30 – 31

Chapter 30 begins with a MEGA STRIFE in Jacob’s household. He is bought, bartered, and traded between his two wives and their servent girls for his affections and his “power to impregnate”. Before the chapter is done, Jacob (at 91)  has eleven sons and a daughter and he thinks it’s time for him to “go home,” back to the Promised Land. Uncle Laban objects hotly. Jacob has been his “rain maker” and brought much prosperity to him.

ALLOW him leave?  NO!!!

In chapter 31 Jacob sighs and agrees to work a few more years, all the while plotting an outrageously weird plan to “cheat” Laban out of his best sheep and goats. Laban is conniving too, and switches the rules several times. (What a pair!) Jacob claims Laban cheated him TEN TIMES!

(Oh, Jacob, remember the lentil stew you traded for the Birthright? Remember the kid-leather gloves and claiming to be Esau to get the blessing…..?)

But God is sovereign in all, and Jacob prospers despite all the trickery.  Then God sends an angel to tell Jacob it’s time to, “go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.”

He takes his two wives out into a field and secretly tells them to pack up, that they are leaving.  And while Laban and his other sons are moving the sheep to another pasture, Jacob, all his women and kids and possessions exit Haran, gaining a 3-day lead on his father-in-law.

Laban is furious and takes some men in hot pursuit. But God sent a nightmare to Laban warning him, “Be careful not so say anything to Jacob, bad or good.”  Laban catches them and rants at Jacob. WHY have you tricked me? Why did you trick me?  It’s in my power to do your harm, but….. your God warned me not to.

At the end, he just asked to kiss his daughters and grandkids goodbye.  Things calm down, but then Laban drops a bombshell.  “I know you longed greatly for your father’s house…..but WHY DID YOU STEAL BY IDOLS?”

What???

Jacob swears he did NOT take them, and allows Laban to search all his tents, pronouncing a “curse of death” on anyone who has them. (Jacob will rue the-is day.)

But…Jacob did not know that Rachel — his beloved Rachel, his precious wife, the mother of his favorite son, Joseph — had taken the idols from her father’s house. She hid them under a camel’s saddle in her tent and sat on it, claiming to be in “the monthly way of women,” and not able to get up.

Jacob and Laban argue more, and finally agree on a mutual oath, that they would be “keeping an eye” on each other. The oath they swore has been taken as a benediction today, but it was originally a malediction.

“The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.”

And they set up a piller (like a line drawn in the sand) saying that neither one was to pass over it to do the other one harm.  “May God judge between us” they vow.

In the morning Laban kissed his grandchilddren and daughters and went home. Jacob went on the other way.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 20

Jan20

Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?   It only takes a few minutes.  (You can also listen to an audio recording.)

   Day 20 – Genesis 25 – 26  (A new man, same old sin & brothers hate)

Let’s look at chapter 26 first and then attack the geneologies of chapter 25.

Another famine comes to the land. Remember what Abraham did when a famine came in HIS time and what happened as the result? This time the LORD appears to Isaac and tells him clearly, “DO NOT GO DOWN TO EGYPT, stay in this “promised land” and I will bless you. And God reaffirms the “Abrahamic blessing” to Isaac as well – offspring as numerous as the stars, the land given to them, and all nations blessed through his ultimate offspring.  Isaac obeys and stays.  But…..

Like father: like son. It’s hard to believe, but a fearful Isaac tells the men in Gerar that Rebekah is his sister!!!  This time is is not even half true. If anything they are cousins twice removed!   Anyway, it seems the king saw them kanoodling in the garden one day and confronted Isaac.  Our boy gives his weak excuse and Abimelech chastises him and warns all his people about him. Sheesh, Isaac!! Obey and then dismay your God.  And because Isaac was such a prosperous farmer, the Philistines were jealous of him and the king told him to, “go away!”

*Later Abimelech calls him back because he sees God has blessed Isaac and wants to get in on a little of that blessing.  After some squirmishes about the wells again, there is peace.

Okay back to the geneologies of chapter 25.

Before Abraham dies, he re-marries a woman named Keturah, who bears him six more sons who became the fathers of more nations on the East side of the Jordan. And they have grandsons for Abe as well. In verse 6, Keturah is called Abraham’s “concubine” which refers to a wife of “lesser status”.  Sarah is the prime wife, her son, Isaac, in the Messianic line.  Like with Ishmael, Abraham sends all these “secondary” sons away, because he KNOWS God has given the land and the blessings to Isaac.

Then at 175 years old, Abe dies.  (It’s interesting that he DID see his twin grandsons up to the age of 15.) Also interesting is that Ishmael returns and together he and Isaac bury their father in the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham had bought as a family burial place, and where Sarah was buried.

The progeny of Ishmael is listed, with twelve “princes” born from him, all settling far east of the promised land. Then at 137, he died.

The last part of chapter 25 begins the story of the twin boys born of Isaac and Rebekah twenty years after they were married.  When Isaac saw his wife was barren, he prayed and God heard his prayer.  When the the babes in her womb seemed to wrestle and struggle inside her, Rebekah prayed to the LORD.  And, interestingly, God prophesied to her about the boys. Two nations would come from her, they’d be divided, and the older would serve the younger. 

In time the boys wre born. The first one out had vibrant red hair (Esau, meaning ‘red’), the second one had smooth skin (somewhat like his character).  How fun that the second one (Jacob) had a hold of the firstborn’s heel when he was born.  He was called Jacob (grabber, supplanter).

Then we see a serious failing of these twice blessed parents.  Dad loved Esau best (he caught and brought Isaac, yummy venison).  And Mom loved Jacob best (he stayed home and helped around the house).

Trickster Jacob, one day cheated his minutely older brother out of his birthright (a double portion of all their father would leave to them). Esau was famished; Jacob was cooking some lentil stew (probably his mom’s famous recipe). Esau’s stomach growled and rumbled at the delectible smell. Jacob held out one hand with the stew and the other for Esau’s birthright. Esau “threw away” his birthright and gobbled the stew (sopping up the last with some fresh bread Jacob included).

Verse 34 says Esau DESPISED his birthright.  Later, Esau would DESPISE his brother and threaten to kill him.

Verses 34-35 of chapter 26 tell us that at 40, Esau married two Hittite women, and that they made life BITTER for Isaac and Rebekah.

Sigh.

Since the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, with brothers Cain and Abel, sin and strife has split and threatened brothers.  Sadly this won’t be the end of it.