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#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.

#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.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 19

Jan19

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 19 – Genesis 22 – 24 (A sacrifice, a death, a marriage)

Chapter 22 begins with God testing Abraham with the words, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go…offer him as a burnt offering…” 

That isn’t any way that I’d like my day to begin!  But Abraham’s immediate response was obedience. There are no questions, complaints, or refusals. He gets up early with the boy, the wood and the fire, and heads to the place God will show him…. to kill his only son. He builds an alter, lays the wood on it, binds and places Isaac on top (the boy is about 20 years old!), raises the knife to kill him, and is micro-seconds away from plunging it into the “son he loves,” the son of the Covenant, through whom the Messiah would come.  Yet Abe is willing to do it.

Hebrews 11:17-19 gives us the bulwark of his faith.  He believed God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill His promise.  God’s promises are always YES! and AMEN!  God never changes. God later imputes “righteousness” to Abraham because of his faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13 — “No temptation (testing) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also PROVIDE the way of escape that you may be able to endure it.”

And this is what God did for His friend, Abraham. STOP!  Now I know that you fear God. (God knew this all the time of course. He’s omnicient. But now ABRAHAM knew it too.)  And Abraham immeditely saw a ram caught in the brambles. This animal became the sacrifice. And the place became know as “Tthe LORD provides.” And indeed it was on that very mount that God Almighty “provided” His only begotton Son to the world, as a sacrifice and payment for their sin. (John 3:16)

Oh my! God renews His promises and gives even more:

  • I will surely bless you
  • I will surely multiply your offspring (as the sand on the seashore)
  • Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies
  • In your Offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed

In chapter 23, Abraham’s faithful wife of 62 years dies. He negotiates with his long-time friends near Hebron to buy a burial ground, and he buries her there. (He, Isaac & Rebekah, and Jacob & Leah will all be buried there as well. It is the first concrete piece of the Promised Land that Abraham actually OWNS.)  

Isaac is 37 when his mother dieds and Abraham thinks it’s high-time that the “boy” is married. Through the 66 verses of chapter 24 we are treated with a remarkable love story.  Abe sends his faithful servant (who HAD BEEN in the line of inheritance) back to Haran where Abraham’s brother’s family still lived to acquire a wife for Isaac. (No Canaanite wife for the Son of Promise!)  

The story shows the sovereignty and plan of God in very wonderful ways as the 85-year-old faithful steward, Eliezer, travels the long distance, and relies solely on God to choose the woman whom he will take back to his master’s son.  Read it again. It’s beautiful.

And Isaac (40 years old now) sees the beautiful Rebekah and takes her as his wife. The last words of the chapter are, “So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

Isn’t love grand?

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 18

Jan18

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 18  Genesis 19 – 21

We ended yesterday with Abraham’s interceeding with God to spare the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah for the sake of a bare minimum of 10 righteous people living there.  God agrees, but the cities are doomed by their sin and because there is only ONE righteous man in the whole area.

Chapter 19 is God’s grace at work. The two angels go into Sodom with the purpose of rescuing Abe’s nephew Lot and his family. They are lewdly accosted by the crazed men of the city, but they incapacitate them with blindness. Forceably grabbing Lot, his wife, and two daughters, the angels flee the city just minutes before the LORD rains down sulfer and fire out of heaven and burns up the cities, all the valley, all the inhabitants, and even what grew on the ground.

Talk about narrowly escaping “by the skin of your teeth!”

To show that only Lot is righteous in this family, his wife turns back and hesitates, looking longingly at all her “things.”  And the backflash of sulfer immediately coats her and turns her into a statue of salt. (A mini Hiroshima!)  Then the broken – but righteous man – flees to live in a cave (remember he had been a very important man – a judge – in the city), and is twice made drunk and seduced by his own daughters. They both have sons by him, who later turn out to be enemies of Israel – the Moabites and Ammonites on the east side of the Jordan.

Back to the man of the hour in chapter 20, when Abraham leaves the area (the sight & stench of the burned cities?) and roams into the Negev (south of Gaza).

And then —- can you believe it? —- he tells the local Philistine king that Sarah is his sister!!!  WHAT?  At this point Sarah as about to conceive – or maybe already has conceived – the promised son, Isaac! Abimelech takes her into his household, and God immediately closes the wombs of all the women in his house. (I’m thinking that God maybe causes great impotence among the men of the house, for that would be sooner evident.) If this hadn’t happened, perhaps Abimelech “might” have claimed Isaac as HIS offspring. YIKES!

God appears to the king in a dream with, “YOU ARE A DEAD MAN because the woman you took is a man’s wife.”

Abimelech cries out that he is innocent, a man of integrity of heart. God agrees and tells him that He, Himself, had KEPT HIM FROM SINNING.  Sarah (she must really be tired of this) is returned to Abraham, who prays for the king, and God “opens the wombs of the women.”  But the king DOES indignantly accuse Abe for bringing that trouble on him, although he sends him away with more loot. (and a thousand pieces of silver to prove Sarah’s innocence.)

And FINALLY, after 25 years of waiting, the promised son, “He laughs” is born. Abe is 100, Sarah is 90, and Ishmael is about 14.  A couple years later when Sarah weans Isaac, she notices Ishmael mocking (teasing, tormenting) the toddler.  She says (again) that Hagar and Ishmael MUST GO AWAY.  This time God agrees with her and tells Abe to do just that.

With regret and sorrow (but with God’s promise of blessing) Abraham sends the Egyptian maid and her son away. In the wilderness, the gracious God meets her again, refreshes and encourages her, reminds her of His blessing on her son and “points her to the south-east.”  Later, she takes an EGYPTIAN wife for her son.

At the end of chapter 21, there is a skirmish between Abraham and Abimelech (possibly another king in the line) about some wells that Abe dug.  It’s settled and the king and his men go back to Philistia. The place is named Be’er Sheva (Beersheba) meaning “seven wells.”

And ALL is at peace…..

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 17

Jan17

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 17  Genesis 16 – 18

After seeing God’s generous list of promises to Abraham yesterday despite the man’s flaws, we will see God’s continued faithfulness to him in these chapters, in and through yet another instance of Abraham “trusting his own understanding” instead of God’s.  (Consider Proverbs 3:5-6.)

In chapter 16, Abraham and Sarai/Sarah lose patience with God’s long-range, ultimate plan and decide to “provide an heir for Abe” by their own machinations. According to custom in those days, Sarah offers her maid (part of the “stuff” they got on that wayward trip to Egypt) as a surrogate provider.

Of course it happens and Hagar gets pregnant. She stupidly acts superior to the 80’s-year-old Sarah, and Sarah starts fuming. With Abe’s “okay,” she sends Hagar away – into the wilderness (presumably to die!). Wow.

But the God “who sees everything, even our grossest of sins” sees Hagar’s plight, encourages her, and sends her back to her owner. None of the three realize just HOW MUCH of an error has been made, for Hagar’s son, Ishmael, becomes the “father” of Islam, the perpetual enemy of the Jews through the ages, even until today.

Ah well, I am SO like these seniors – foolish in my “old age.”

Hagar’s son is born to Abe when he is 86.  God seems to be silent for 13 years until the surrogate son (whom Abraham has come to love very much) “becomes a man.”  And then the LORD comes to Abraham with MORE promises!! (Chap. 17)

God commands Abe to “walk before me” and “be blameless.”  He identifies Himself to Abraham as “God Almighty” (El Shaddai) (capable of doing anything). He promises to multiply Abe greatly (more than dust and stars??) He also tells and shows the 99-year-old Abraham another, binding Covenant, renaming Abram, Abraham “Father of a multitude of nations.” Besides being greatly multiplied, KINGS will come from his progeny.

This covenant will be “everlasting” though ALL generations of his offspring (the Jews), and the “sign” of it will be in ALL the males: circumcision.

God Almighty promises again for the land of Canaan to be their EVERLASTING possession. And He promises to be THEIR GOD. (Are you keeping track of all these promises?)

THEN…. to Abe’s amazing and somewhat uncomfortable enlightenment, God promises that Sarah, Abe’s one and only WIFE, will bear him a son, THE son of the Covenant.  What??  Sarah???  A mother of nations and kings????

Abraham falls on his face before God (in worship?) and laughs.  “You’re kidding,” he exlaims, “a 90-year-old woman will bear a child?”  Hahahaha, yeah right!  or Hahahaha, REALLY???  Curbing his laughter, Abe remembers his “other” surrogate son. “Oh, that Ishmael might live before you (be the covenant son).”

“Nope,” says God.  “Not him, but (for your sake) I will bless him too.  But, NO….I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH THE SON YOU AND SARAH SHALL BEAR. Period.” “Oh, and BTW,” says God, “you will call him “he laughs’ (Isaac).”   Fitting, right?

After God leaves, immediately Abraham circumcises himself, Ishmael, and all the men in his household. Now, THAT’S obedience!

Soon afterwards, in chapter 18, the LORD (Yahwey) appears again to Abraham, along with two “men” (angels).  Abe is wowed, runs to them in welcome, washes their feet and invites them to stay for lunch (bread, veal, millk and cheese).

Then the LORD gives Abraham a certain timeline (finally!). He tells him (and Sarah, listening in the tent) that in one year, she will bear that promised son.  This time Sarah laughs, although she denies it when God calls her on it and asks her if ANYTHING is too hard for THE LORD.

And after that meal and amazing revelation of joy, God reveals His horrendous plans for the cities in the valley (where Lot lives).  He doesn’t hide it from Abraham because:

  •      Abraham is to become a great and mighty nation
  •      All nations on earth will be blessed in him
  •      He is chosen by God
  •      He  will command his children and household to keep the ways of the LORD and do righteousness & justice.

God tells Abraham of Sodom and Gomorrah’s “grave sin” and that the “outcry” against them is great, and that God plans to utterly destroy them.  YIKES! How would you like to get THAT news?

Abraham immeditely thinks of his nephew (and his family, by then), and begins humbly, meekly, bargaining with the LORD to reconsider.  And in the process, the LORD says He will reconsider… IF THERE ARE 10 RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE living there.

(Turns out, there is ONLY ONE, so their doom is fixed. See 2 Peter 2:6-9)

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 16

Jan16

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 16  Genesis 12-15

   We’ve finished the book of Job.  And we left the man Job in a good place, restored and in a more intimate relationship with the LORD. 

Now we’re reading about another well-known man in the Bible. First known as Abram, the LORD later changes his name to Abraham (what I’ll call him, or maybe just Abe). 

At the end of chapter 11, we saw that Abraham’s father Terah had moved his whole family away from Ur of the Chaldeans (near modern day Bagdad in Iraq) half way along the “fertile crescent” to Haran (in modern Syria). They settled there until Terah died.

In chapter 12, God calls Abraham away from his family to a land He would show him. In this command were six wonderful, but far off promises.

  • God would make him a great nation
  • God would bless him
  • God would make his name great
  • God would make him a blessing
  • God would bless those who blessed him
  • God would curse those who dishonored him
  • In Abraham all families of the earth would be blessed (speaking of the Messiah)

Abraham obeyed (he was 75). He took his wife, nephew Lot, and all his stuff.  When he got as far as Shechem (half way into the land) God appeared and made another promise – He would give that land to Abraham’s offspring, even though it was then inhabited by Canaanites.

When a famine came, our guy LEFT the Promised Land to get food in Egypt. He nearly loses his wife (not his life) after telling a half-lie to Pharaoh. But God looks after “His man,” rescues him and sends him back to Canaan, loaded with more stuff.  This causes a probelm in chapter 13, because all his stuff and all Lot’s stuff won’t fit in the same upper pasture lands.  Abe gives Lot the choice of where he wants to live (the Jordan Valley near Sodom & Gommorah), and the elder stays where he is.

God appears to Abraham again and promises two more things: 1) all the land – north, south, east, west – will be given to Abe’s offspring FOREVER, and 2) His offspring will become as numerous as the dust of the earth. (That’s 10 promises so far!)

Meanwhile, down in the valley (chap. 14) trouble is brewing. The 5 “wicked” cities decide to quit paying tribute to the 4 kings in the east who owned them, so said kings came down to attack them, taking lots of spoil and people as slaves…. AND Lot.  A message comes to Abraham and he immediately rounds up 318 soldiers from his own household (!!) and goes after these kings. Whoa, chutzpah to the max!  But God is with him and they catch up, fight and free the slaves, goods, and Lot from the enemy.

As the king of Sodom comes out to thank and “pay” Abe, a strange ancient man named Melchizedek intercepts them, and holds a communion service with Abe, with bread and wine.  He is a king and a priest it seems, and according to Hebrews 7:15-22, a picture of Jesus. Abe tithes 10% of the spoil to him. Mel bless Abe and God Almighty.

Chapter 15 God comes to Abe in an amazing way, promising to 1) be his shield and reward, 2) give Abe his very own son, 3) and the progeny from him would number more than the stars in heaven. (We’re up to 13 promises, at least).  

Then God arranges for an age old contract (Covenant) to be made. Various animals are killed, split and laid out on the ground. The idea is, that the partners walking between them pledge that if they default on the contract, may they be as dead as the animals.  ONLY….. this time.  It is a one-way contract.  God – symbolized by fire – was the only one sealing it. And while Abe snoozed, God told him the future, which could be seen as 6 more promises.

  • Abe’s descendents would live in a land not their own for 400 years
  • They would be enslaved and afflicted there
  • God would bring them out with great judgment on the land
  • They would leave there with mega-possessions
  • Abe himself wuld live to a ripe old age and die in peace
  • Re-establishment (with details) that the land of all those Canannites would be given by God to all Abe’s descendents.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 14 & 15

Jan15

         Day 14 & 15 — (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 14 – Job 38-39  (God answers Job)

   “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said; “WHO is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you; and you make it known to me.” (38:1-2)

Whoa!  Imagine a whirlwind (a dark glowering tornado) looming and speaking those words!!! I would definitely sit up (no, stand up) and listen!  

Notice how God is identified here. It is by His name, LORD (all in caps). This is God’s personal name. The one He identified Himself as to Moses out of the burning bush that was not consumed (and told him to take off his sandles for he was standing on holy ground). This is the “I AM WHO I AM.” Jehovah. Yahwey. 

The the LORD God pounds Job (and his friends) with question after question, leaving all of them speechless. Where they there at creation?

         Were you there when I laid the foundation of the earth? Where is the way to the dwelling of light?

         Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you see the storehouses of the hail? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds that a flood of water may cover you? 

Um, no. 

This section reminded me of John 1:1-3 — “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.”

And, Colossians 1:16-17 — “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisable, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things HOLD TOGETHER.”

And, Hebrews 1:2, 3b — “But in the last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the World. “….and He UPHOLDS the universe by the word of His power.”

       Day 15 – Job 40-41. 

Then the LORD turns to Job and asks, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.” (smart move!)

Then in 40:7-14, God ‘dresses down’ Job, comparing the measley man to Jehovah God Himself!  Yikes! I would be wishing to fall through the earth about now!

To finish chapter 40 and 41, an AMAZING jaw-dropping section, God speaks of creating two magnificent and terrifying creatures – Behemoth and Leviathan – surely a giant dinosaur and fire-breathing sea monster, IMO. 

Behemoth (the foremost & biggest of God’s works) – his tail is like a cedar, his bones are tubes & bars of bronze and iron, and it’s not afraid of raging water. But he eats grass like an ox and stays in the marsh. (Reminds me of a Brontesaurus!)

Leviathan – his back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal, one so near to another that no air can come between them. His sneezings flash for light… Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth… Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes…. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes for from his mouth.  Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He counts iron as straw. He makes the deep boil like a pot…  “On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.”

I don’t know if these creatures were known to Job and his contemporaries, if they lived on the earth at the same time, but their descriptions surely were terrifying.

I loved that God showed these puny men His eternal existance and power. Wow.  

Chapter 42 wraps up the book of Job. Job confesses and repents. His glorius words could fare well with us as well. “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You; therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

God then rebukes Job’s merciless, pontificating friends, and tells them to make a sacrifice for their sin. He tells them that AFTER JOB PRAYS FOR THEM, He will accept the prayer and not deal with them according to their folly! YAY!!!

Then………. the LORD restores Job’s fortunes, with twice as much as he had before, and more children (but the same wife – bearing 10 more children should compensate for her, “Curse God and die,” statement).

And did you see, THEN, Job’s brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came and ate bread with him. Huh!

Job lived (I’m assuming boil free) for another 140 years! He saw sons, grandsons, great, great-great, and great-great-great grandsons. WOW. The LORD is ‘compassionate and merciful’. He tests His children with suffering, sometimes (often) without their ever knowing why.

Did you know that Job is acclaimed in the book of James? James 5:11 – “You have heard of the steadfastness (patience) of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. “