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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 39

Feb8

Day 39.  Reading Exodus 28 – 29. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Exodus 28.

Glorious holy garments show honor to the glorious holy God.

In this chapter, God shows Moses the patterns for the priests’ and high priests’ garments, which are extravagant to the max.  They were to be glorious, with meticulous details, and heavy (I think) with gold and precious stones.  They were not worn all the time but only when they ministered before the LORD God. 

Just imagine Moses writing down (or reviewing god’s writing?) the details for these items of clothing.  The colors of the robes and the embroidery, the gold ropes, chains, and bells, all those engraved precious stones, and everything reflecting “the glory and beauty” of their God.  

From the plain, knee-length linen undershorts to the royal blue robe with blue, purple, and scarlet pomegranates interspaced with golden bells along its hem to the gold plate with “Holy to the LORD” engraved on it, fastened to the front of his linen turban with blue cord. 

Just imagine!

There was also a checkered linen coat with an embroidered sash. (And undershorts, coats, sashes, and caps for Aaron’s sons.)

Then, the amazing accruements are described.  An apron-like ephod would be worn over the robe. It was made of embroidered linen, and attached to it by two straps over the shoulders was the breastplate. On the shoulder pieces were large onyx stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel in birth order, six on the right shoulder and six on the left. 

On the breastplate itself were twelve specific precious stones, in four rows of three, each one with the name of a tribe of Israel engraved.  Wearing this, the high priest represented all of Israel as he ministered to the LORD. All of the stones would have gold-filigree settings.

IN, or INSIDE this breastplate, the Urim and Thummin were kept.  Say what??  

  • “Their material and shape is not known. They were used by the High Priest to determine a “yes” or “no” verdict to the acknowledged leader of Israel who could NOT come before God personally as Moses had. They would be used for a specific direction for an immediate problem or crisis.”

God assured Moses that He had chosen specific people to make all these items and filled them with the spirit of skill.

Exodus 29.

Next, God told Moses how to consecrate Aaron and his sons (and the process for future priests).

A sacrifice of animals, unleavened bread, cakes, and wafers was prepared.  Aaron was to be brought to the entrance to the Tabernacle and washed with water (the bronze basin or laver). Then, the garments were to be put on him in order. Moses would take the specially made anointing oil and pour some over Aaron’s head and turban. His sons would be washed and dressed as well. 

The bull, one ram, and the unleavened bread products would be offered as a sin and food offerings. Finally, the second ram would be killed after Aaron and his sons had laid their hands on its head. With some of the blood, the altar would be sprinkled, and with some, Aaron’s and his sons’ right ear, thumb, and big toe would also be anointed. 

(Some of this ram’s meat would be reserved, boiled, and eaten by the priests, which is symbolic of how their physical needs would be met by the offerings from the people.)

This ritual would be repeated for seven days, and then the priests would be ordained.  Any priests following Aaron and his sons would participate in the same ceremony.

Weird, I know.

But all the rituals and sacrifices were symbolic of the only way sinful people (even the priests) were to approach their Holy God without dying themselves.

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 36

Feb5

Day 36. Reading Exodus 19 – 21. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Exodus 19.

After the exodus from Egypt and the Red Sea Crossing, Israel moved in stages across the desert for about three months, learning lessons about their God’s care for them and coming together as a “nation.” Finally, they arrived at Sinai and camped in front of the mountain.

(This was a fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3:12. “I will be with you, and this shall be a sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”)

It’s good that Moses (at 80) is in good shape, for now begins a series of climbs up and down Mt Sinai to meet with the LORD. 

First thing: a contract between God and the people must be ratified. “IF you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine, and you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

“All that the LORD has spoken, we will do,” they answered. Okay, cool.

Then, God told Moses to instruct the people on a few things. 

  • They were to clean and consecrate themselves.
  • They were to stay away from the mountain and not even touch its edge. (or die). 
  • When a ram’s horn sounded long and loud, they were to come to the mountain’s edge and wait.

Moses and the people obeyed. On the third day, smoke wrapped Mt. Sinai when the LORD descended on it in FIRE. The earth quaked, and a great smoke plum rose up like from a kiln. God’s voice thundered to Moses.  “Tell the people to keep back again!  NO LOOKEY-LOOS!  Then, get Aaron and come up to me on the mountain.“

Exodus 20.

On the mountain of Sinai, God gave His TEN COMMANDMENTS. (As a “preamble” to the “constitution” of Israel.)

  • NO other gods come BEFORE ME.
  • NO carving images of anything, and NO bowing down or serving anything but the LORD.
  • NO profaning the Name of the LORD your God.
  • REMEMBER what I said about the SABBATH Day. Rest, NOT work.
  • HONOR your parents.
  • NO murder.
  • NO adultery.
  • NO stealing.
  • NO lying about anyone in court.
  • NO coveting anything that anyone else has.

The people heard the rumbling thunder of God’s voice, felt the earth’s violent shaking, and saw the billowing fire and smoke.  They stood far off and pleaded with Moses to intercede for them. 

“Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, and that you do not sin.”

Exodus 21.

God then gave Moses some other laws to honor Him in worship and for righteous/fair treatment of others.

  • How to build and use altars for worship that will please God.
  • How to treat slaves and when to release them (REMEMBER, YOU were slaves!)
  • How to deal with those who hurt others by striking or cursing them.
  • What to do if violence causes a woman to miscarry or abort a baby.
  • Reinstating the Noahic law of “equal retribution for equal offense.” (eye for an eye, but no more)
  • Restitution if one of your animals hurts someone or what you do causes harm to another.

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(More tomorrow on liability, social justice, holidays (holy days), and that “carrot” in front of them: the conquest of the Promised Land.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 31

Jan31

Day 31. Reading in Exodus 4 – 6. 

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and meditate on it. What stood out to you?

Exodus 4.

From the burning bush, God told Moses that He was sending him back to Pharaoh to bring the children of Israel OUT OF EGYPT.

By now, Moses has twice told the LORD that he is “unable” to do it.  God has assured Moses that He would be with him all the way. God gave Moses His sacred Name by which he could persuade the people and even told him HOW He would rescue them. (Many times, Pharaoh would refuse, but God would plague Egypt until he agreed. )

“But the people won’t believe me,” Moses counters now.

Then, God gave Moses three signs to convince the people.  First, his staff turned into a snake and then back into a staff.  Next, his hand turned leprous, then back to clean. Finally, when Moses poured a little Nile River water onto the ground, it would turn to blood.  WOW!

“Oh, my Lord,” whines Moses, “I am not eloquent. I’m slow of speech and tongue.” (He’s spent the last 40 years with only sheep to talk to.)

God assures Moses that HE is God. He makes mouths (and ears and eyes with their deficiencies).  Moses is not to worry about that, but to “Go! I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

“Oh, my Lord. Send someone else.”

Okay, that is enough!  God is angry.  “Ok, Moses, but this is the last concession. Your brother is coming to see you. Tell and show him all I’ve revealed.  He will be your spokesman.  I’ll tell you what to say, and you can whisper it in his ear.” 

  • Wow.  Indeed, God has been exasperated with me like this many times as I make excuses not to obey Him.  Oh, the patience and kindness of our God!  Forgive me!  What a wonderful example I have in Jesus when it was time for Him to become human and die for my sins. No hesitation. And God said of Him, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Moses asks permission from his father-in-law to go and is graciously relieved of his shepherding duties.  He packs up his wife and son on a donkey. At a rest stop, God threatens Moses’ life. Why? Because he did NOT follow through with the covenant commandment of circumcision, which he should have done to his son when he was 8 days old.  Does Moses want to be part of God’s family or not?

While Moses lies dying, Zipporah circumcises their son and flaunts the foreskin. “You are a bridegroom of blood to me!” she says.  

God relents, and Zipporah is left alone with the boy until he heals before they return home. Moses leaves on foot to meet Aaron at the Mountain of God. He tells his brother everything God said, and together, the two men go to the elders of the people of Israel in Egypt and do the signs.  The people believe, and there is great rejoicing and worship of the LORD. 

Exodus 5.

Buoyed up by this reaction, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness‘.”

“Um, no!” answers Pharaoh. “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I don’t know him. I will not let Israel go.”

“Please let us go three days into the wilderness to worship our God, or He may send a pestilence on us.”

“No!  Get back to work!  You have too much idle time on your hands. Now you will have to find the straw for the bricks for yourselves instead of me supplying it.  AND YOUR QUOTA IS THE SAME!”

The elders of Israel go to Moses and complain. “You have made us stink in the eyes of Pharaoh! Things are worse than they were before!!!”

Moses goes to God. “Lord, why have You done evil to this people?  Why did You ever send me?  I have not delivered the people at all!”

Exodus 6.

“NOW, you will see what I will do to Pharaoh,” the LORD says. “For with a strong hand, he will send them out, and with a strong hand, he will DRIVE them out of his land.” (Just you wait and see!)

God speaks to Moses. “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan. 

  • 1) I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians HOLD AS SLAVES. 
  • 2) I have remembered my covenant. 
  • 3) Say to the people, “I am the LORD, and I will DELIVER you from slavery, I will REDEEM you with an outstretched arm with GREAT ACTS OF JUDGMENT. 
  • 4) I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.
  • 5) I will bring you into the land I swore to give to your fathers, and give it to you as a possession. I AM THE LORD.”

“Now, Moses, go in, tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the people of Israel go out of his land!” 

And so the contest begins. In the end, Israel will be free and wealthy. Egypt will be broken and without an army, a leader, or a son to take his place.

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As the writer of this book, Moses takes a moment to give us his and Aaron’s genealogy.  Jacob’s third son, Levi, had three sons (important regarding the duties of the Tabernacle and Temple worship). They are Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  Moses and Aaron are descended from the line of Kohath through Amram and his wife, Jochebed.  (Levi lived 137 years, Kohath lived 133 years, and Amram lived 137 years.  At this time, Moses is 80, and Aaron is 83. Their sister Miriam is somewhere between 87-92 (sources differ).

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 21

Jan21

Day 21. Reading in Genesis 27 – 29. 

What stood out to you in today’s reading? (See my own confession at the end.)

 

Genesis 27.

Jacob has already tricked the (double portion) “birthright” from his brother. Today, he tricks his father into giving him the blessing as well.

The “blessing” is more of a spiritual grace. It’s like passing down the promises God gave to Abraham about dominance, descendants, land, and the Promised One to come.

When Rebekah was carrying the boys in her womb, God had prophesied that the older of the twins would serve the younger. Still, Jacob had tricked his brother into giving him the birthright. And today, he and his mother will trick Isaac into giving him the blessing.  THERE WAS NO NEED TO TRICK!  It was God’s plan.

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Isaac was also deceptive, trying to sneak around his wife by telling Esau to bring him a delicious wild-caught feast. But he was not only blind, he must have been hard of hearing too. His whispered request to Esau was louder than he realized. Rebekah heard his plans and made some of her own, convincing her favorite son it was necessary to deceive his father. They got to work killing, skinning, cooking, and sewing. 

I can understand their deceiving Isaac with the food (older folks lose some of their sense of taste. Add some more wild herbs, and you’re good.) The same goes for smelling the scent of the outdoors on clothes, but his sense of touch?  Surely, the thick hairs on Esau’s arms and neck were softer than a kid goat’s would be!!!

Nevertheless, even with Isaac’s doubt and questions, his growling stomach won.  The mother-son duo did the deed. Later, satisfied and perhaps feeling sleepy, Isaac gave the paternal blessing to Jacob, his second son, the deceiving grabber. 

Almost like a melodrama, Esau arrives and cooks up a rabbit or deer in his own tent.  “Here, Dad, is the hearty, meaty, chunky herby stew you wanted.

Huh?  Who are you?

Esau, your son, with your food.

I already ate it!

What???  GRRRRrrrr. THAT CHEATING BROTHER OF MINE STOLE MY BLESSING!

“Yes,” said Isaac softly. “And he shall be blessed.” Did Dad, at that moment, realize the truth he spoke. That God HAD CHOSEN Jacob to carry the family blessing?  In pity, he gave Esau a watered-down blessing of leanness, violence, servitude, and eventual freedom. 

Fists clenched and gritting his teeth, Esau vowed to kill Jacob as soon as his father died.

Again, Rebekah overheard this vow, and fearing for Jacob’s life, she contrived to send him away to “get a wife from my family.”  Defeated and tricked again, blind and hard of hearing, Isaac agreed.  (Perhaps he soothed himself remembering the beautiful young wife he had gotten from there years before.)

Jacob is sent away. Rebekah never again sees her favorite son but has to deal with Esau and his horrible wives for the rest of her life. She dies before Jacob returns.

Genesis 28.

God is gracious to Jacob, meeting him along the way, giving him a vision of a ladder to heaven, and personally giving Jacob the Abrahamic covenant.

“I am the LORD, the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie, I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, east, north, and south, and IN YOU and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And I am with you and will keep you and bring you back to this land.”

Despite all the unnecessary deception and conniving, God blessed Jacob….as He had prophesied.

Jacob doesn’t quite get the magnitude of this.  “Okay,” he says. “IF God will be with me, and keep me, and give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and bring me back here… THEN the LORD shall be my God.” And as a sort of “PS” he says, “And of all that you give me, I will give You a full tenth.”

Genesis 29.

Oh boy, does Jacob get a taste of the deception he’s played on Esau and their father! Yes, he arrives at his family’s land. Yes, he meets the gorgeous Rachel at the well (like Rebekah, his mother), and yes, he falls madly in love with her at first sight.  Yes, her even wilier brother, Laban, agrees that he can marry the her IF he’ll work for him for …. oh, say, seven years.

All’s good. Right? After all, he doesn’t have camel-loads of a dowery.

But the deceiver is deceived. (How does it feel?) He works hard and doesn’t mind. He’s in love. His wedding night comes, but instead of Rachel, her older sister is substituted.  (In the dark – like Isaac had been – Leah probably felt and smelled the same as Rachel. He enjoyed her like he dreamed.)  Then the dawn comes – like it did with Isaac when Esau came with his stew. This was NOT who Jacob thought!!!

He’s furious but stuck. (Like Isaac was with giving the blessing to another son.)  He fulfills a week of nuptial duty with Leah and then gets Rachel.  But…. he has to work ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS.

(Oh, but it’s not over yet, Jacob, my boy!)

Jacob doesn’t know it now (and perhaps never), but God has chosen Leah for the line of the Promised One to come.  Her fourth son, Judah, is the son of promise, through whom the Lion of Judah will come. 

  • How I see myself in these chapters. After all, my name is the female version of Jacob, the grabber, the deceiver. I’ve connived to get what I wanted by despicable means. I’ve hurt others in the process. I’ve thought that “I” needed to get what I wanted SOONER that it came. I’ve gone ahead of God’s will and way.  AND YET, STILL, God has blessed me, taken care of me, and given me what He promised.  
  • I hope that, UNLIKE Jacob, I’ve learned my lesson and can pray Proverbs 3:5-7. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do NOT lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Be not wise in your own eyes; but fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.”
  • And Psalm 37:4-7. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for Him.”

 

 

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 17

Jan17

Day 17. Reading in Genesis 16 – 18. 

I invite you to first read the scripture for the day and meditate on it. Then, share your thoughts in the comments.

Genesis 16.

Ten years in the “promised” land, and Abram still had no offspring. Not ONE of the millions God had promised him had been born. Did he begin to doubt God’s word to him?

The Bible doesn’t say. But his wife, Sarai must have thought so. She tried to hurry things along by offering Abram a way to have that child. It wasn’t God’s way, but it was part of the culture of that day. She gave him Hagar – a slave whom she’d brought back from Egypt in that fiasco – as a surrogate for her. Any child born from Hagar would be theirs according to custom.

It worked. Hagar became pregnant. Hagar also became arrogant, looking down on her elderly mistress. “Ha! You old withered thing, I’m the one who will give the master a child.” 

Sarai complained to Abram, who told her to do what she wanted with her own slave. Hagar is sent away (probably intending that she would die).  A child by Hagar was a mistake, Sarai knew now, but you can’t “get rid of” a conceived baby that easy.

Next is the really unusual part. The two old but faithful servants of God are disobedient and harsh. At this point, Abram doesn’t care about the child he is to have with Hagar, and Sarai definitely hates her. Hagar has been arrogant and mean. (All of them have sinned.) But God intervenes in this mess. He meets Hagar, promises that her son will be fruitful (and a wild-ass of a man who will always be at war with his siblings), and sends her back to Sarai (we assume humble and obedient). Her heart has been changed because she knows God has truly “seen” her. 

Hagar then gives birth to Ishmael, the child of Abram’s fallen flesh, beloved but a thorn in his family’s side forever.

  • I’ve always hated reading this chapter in Genesis. How would I feel giving my husband to a pretty young thing because I was inadequate? (He goes quite willingly too!) And then, seeing that my plan worked, being angry about it, and wanting the results of my sin to disappear! And, on top of it all, having to see my husband love the child more every day. 
  • Yes, I wish this incident had not happened in the Bible. (And so did Sarai, I think.)  But there are lessons to be learned. Don’t run ahead of God, assuming YOU know what is best. Trust Him ALWAYS. Wait for the Lord, and HE will bring it to pass. Don’t try to hide your sin, but repent and confess it.

Genesis 17.

It’s about 13 years later, and Abram FINALLY hears from God again. “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless, that I may make a covenant with you and multiply you.”

And Abram fell on his face.  (In fear, relief, joy, worship?)

God renews His promise of fruitfulness, saying Abram will be the “Father of a multitude of NATIONS.” (That’s what the name ‘Abraham’ means.) He will be VERY fruitful. Kings will come from him. The land will belong to his offspring as an EVERLASTING POSSESSION.

Then, God describes that new covenant.  It was to be God’s covenant evident in their flesh.  Circumcision. EVERY male, 8 days and older, was always to be circumcised as an undeniable, forever sign of their belonging to God.  (Note that Abraham obeyed that very day. EVERY male (himself and Ishmael included) was circumcised.)

Before that, however, God had also said that he AND SARAH (her new name) would have a son, and nations and peoples would come from that boy.  ABRAHAM FELL ON HIS FACE AGAIN AND LAUGHED. (He was 99 then, and Sarah was 90.)

When he finished laughing, Abraham asked God that Ishmael would “walk before God” and be the promised seed. By then, the old man had come to love the young teen. (This is a problem with sinful endeavors! You love them.)

God was firm.  “NO, SARAH, YOUR WIFE will bear you a son.” (“Oh, and by the way, you’re going to call him ‘laughter'”)

I can almost hear God sigh about Abraham’s request.  “But…. I’ve heard you, and I will bless and make Ishmael fruitful. He’ll father twelve princes.  BUT!!!  I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you NEXT YEAR.”

Genesis 18.

God is so kind. Not only has He told Abraham that his wife would become a mom, He and a couple of angels appear to inform HER (among other things) that she will become pregnant at 90.

Abraham recognizes the heavenly visitors and quickly arranges a special meal for them so they will stay awhile. While they were eating, Abraham stands by as an eager butler.  Then God looks up and asks, “Where is Sarah?” (Of course, he knows very well she is just inside the tent, listening at the door.  “Do they like my biscuits? Was the veal prepared to their liking?” 

“I will surely return next year, and Sarah shall have a son,” God says, perhaps a bit louder.  This comment super tickled Sarah’s funny bone, and she laughed out loud. “Me, a woman past menopause, get pregnant?  Hahahaha.”

“Why did Sarah laugh?  Is anything too hard for the LORD? Next year, Sarah WILL have a son,” the LORD repeated.

“I didn’t laugh!” Sarah said.

“Yes, you did.” 

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Next on God’s agenda was Sodom. He’s decided to tell Abraham his plans since he was to become a great nation, and God had chosen him to keep the way of the LORD and do righteousness and justice. God tells him of his plan to destroy that wicked city.

Abraham, thinking immediately of his nephew, Lot, begins to plea-bargain.

“Suppose there are 50 righteous people in that city?”

“I won’t destroy it if there are 50 righteous people there,” God says.

“Suppose there are only 45 righteous?”

“I’ll not destroy it if there are 45.”

“Suppose only 40 are found?”

“Not if there are 40 righteous.” says our merciful God.

“30?”

“I won’t if 30 are found.”

“Um, suppose only 20 are found?”

“Not if there are 20.”

“Oh, Lord, don’t be angry. I’ll speak one last time. Suppose there are only TEN found?”

“For the sake of ten,” the LORD says, “I will not destroy the city.”

Then the Lord went His way, and Abraham returned to his tent. 

 

  • God is so forgiving and merciful. After Sarah and Abraham’s disobedience, He promised them a son of their own. And after both laughed at the idea, God remained true and, in a twist of humor Himself said they were to name the baby “Laughter.”  For Abraham’s sake, He even promised to bless the “child of their fleshly efforts,” Ishmael.   
  • Now, after Abraham’s intense “prayer” for the people of Sodom, God said he would spare the whole city if there were just TEN righteous people found in it.  (Unfortunately, there was ONLY ONE righteous person there.)

 

  • I am so grateful for God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness! I have deserved His wrath and punishment so often, and yet, for His Son’s sake, He has shown grace to me and blessed me.  He frequently even blesses my own fleshly efforts – like this blog.   
  • Like Abraham, am I willing to totally give myself to Him in whatever way He asks, even if it is painful?    And am I as concerned for my unsaved relatives as Abraham was for Lot? Have I dared to intercede for them again and again? Lord, help me.

 

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 14

Jan14

Day 14. Reading in Job 38 – 39. 

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and write “in the comments” what was meaningful to YOU. We can encourage each other in Him.

 

Job 38.

.The LORD answers Job. 

This is both a relief and a fear.  It’s a relief because I’m tired of Job’s pompous friends spouting so-called truths about God and Job when they don’t even know what they are talking about.  I’m not sure they are doing it out of concern for Job, or to make themselves look good.

And it’s a fear because wouldn’t YOU be afraid if God showed up in the middle of a heated conversation/argument you were having with a group of friends?  Even if you had repeatedly asked (demanded?) that God come and answer you, wouldn’t His actual voice scare you to death? Notice that everyone is silent now. 

A mighty whirlwind blows between the men, and Yaweh’s voice speaks. “WHO IS THIS who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”  Gulp!  “Dress for action like a man,” God says to Job. “I will question YOU, and you make it known to ME.” 

Court is in session, and the prosecutor is questioning the man in the witness chair. But the accused has no voice. He cannot answer God’s questions. 

“Where were YOU when I laid the foundation of the earth?”  

“Did you separate the land from the waters and make borders for them? Did you cause the earth to rotate and establish dawn and darkness? Do you know where I keep the snow, the hail, or the rain?  Can you make lightning or ice?  Can you move the constellations around in the night sky? 

“Do you know who has put intelligence in a man’s mind?”

“Did you teach the lion to hunt?  Or the raven?”

Job 39.

(It’s just a chapter break, but I can imagine a moment or two of silence in the courtroom while Job remains mute. 

Like an attorney, God then presents items to be entered as evidence.  He lists the unique skills and characteristics He has given to various animals; the mountain goat, the wild donkey, the wild ox, the ostrich, the horse, and the hawk. (All are fearfully and wonderfully made and adapted.)

To the Ostrich God has given a tiny brain (she lays her eggs on the open ground, then forgets about them). But He’s given her beautiful feathers and legs swifter than a horse’s (When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and rider.)   Who would have thought to create such a creature?

Could Job ever have created the intelligence, strength, and fierce eye-sight of the hawk or eagle, and trained them where to build their nests so their young would be safe? 

  • I can’t imagine being on the stand in any court, let alone where God is the prosecutor AND judge. I would be scared to speak too.  I am SO thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ is my Advocate, my Defense Attorney. He speaks for me. He intercedes and pleads my case. Though I am guilty, He holds out the evidence of His own blood to show my crimes have been paid for.  My sentence has been served. Oh, Hallelujah!

 

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 365 – the last day!

Dec31

   Day 365—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying THE REVELATION to John.

Day 365 – Revelation 19 – 22 (Rejoicing in Heaven, 1,000 years, Satan defeated, new Heaven/Earth, new Jerusalem, River & Tree of Life, Jesus is coming)

Revelation 19.

“Hallelujah! Salvation, and glory, and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just.”

“Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great.”

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready: it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Then John saw a white horse ridden by One called “Faithful and True.” His eyes are like a flame of fire and on His head are many diadems. He has “a name written that no one knows but Himself.”

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is “The Word of God.”  This One will defeat the nations and rule them. He will “tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”  On his robe and on his thigh, He has a name written, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

And the “armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white a pure” (the saints) were following Him on white horses.

“I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who was sitting on the horse and against His army. The beast was captured, and the false prophet, who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the Mark of the Beast and those who worshipped its image.  THESE TWO WERE THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE THAT BURNS WITH SULFER.”

Revelation 20.

Then John saw an angel holding the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” (Until the thousand years have ended, and he is released for a LITTLE while.)

Then John saw the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. (It’s when Israel’s promised King will reign on the actual earth from Jerusalem.  (A promise fulfilled to the Jews.)

After that, Satan will be released to try to deceive men again, and there will be a great war until fire from Heaven comes down and consumes them. THEN THE DEVIL WILL BE THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND SULFUR AND WILL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER AND EVER!”

Next comes “the Great White Throne Judgment,” when all the dead will stand before God’s throne. Books will be opened and the dead will be judged by WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, as written in the books.  “If anyone’s name was not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.“. 

Revelation 21.

John then saw a NEW heaven and a NEW earth.  He saw “the Holy City” descending out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned for her husband.  GOD IS GOING TO DWELL WITH MEN, AND THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND HE THEIR GOD. 

All tears will be wiped away. There won’t be death, no mourning, no crying, and no more pain.  All things will be made new. 

Then, an angel showed John the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God. It was radiant like the most rare jewel, crystal clear like a diamond.  It had a high wall with twelve gates. Inscribed on each gate was the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel.  The wall had twelve foundations made of twelve precious jewels, with each of the twelve apostles’ names on them. 

The angel with John measured the city. It was a perfect 1,500-mile cube (about 2 million square miles in volume). It mirrored the configuration of the Most Holy Place in the temple.  It was made of pure gold, transparent as glass. 

There was NO TEMPLE because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were the temple.

There was NO SUN OR MOON because the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb gave it light.

There was NOTHING UNCLEAN, ONLY those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are allowed to enter the city.

Revelation 22.

The angel then showed John the pure, crystal-clear river of the Water of Life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  It flowed through the middle of the street of the city. Growing on either side was the Tree of Life with twelve kinds of fruits, one for each month.

The servants of God and the Lamb will worship  Him.  And they will SEE HIS FACE. (see 1 John 3:2)

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John then signs his name. “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.”   

The angel told John, “Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this book (like the prophet Daniel was told to do in Daniel 8:26, 12:4-10), “for the time is near.”

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, COME!

Let the one who hears (reads) say, COME!

He who testifies to these things (Jesus) says, SURELY I AM COMING SOON.

John says, AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS!

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We did it. What a glorious trip through the Word of Almighty God, from pure beginning to purity restored.  Glory, hallelujah!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 361

Dec27

   Day 361—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 361 – 2 John 1, 3 John 1 (Do’s and do not’s of Christian hospitality)

This is the second of three letters John wrote to churches in Asia-Minor under his oversight. John calls himself “the elder,” which signifies his age and position in leadership.

There are warnings about false teachers trying to influence them and encouragements to hold fast to the truth and to Christ-like love for each other.

2 John.

John is encouraged that in this church (the elect “lady”) some make it a habit to walk in the truth of God’s word.  He encourages them all to keep loving one another. “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”

John cautions them about “many deceivers” who do NOT confess Jesus Christ in the flesh.  They are to watch out for them.  These deceivers are anti-Christ.  “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching of Christ, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” 

John closes, saying he wishes to come and talk to them face to face to complete his joy.

3 John.

In this letter, John addresses the “beloved Gaius,” a member in good standing of the church. “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health as it goes well with your soul.”

(What a great New Year’s prayer!!)

John also tells Gaius that it brings joy to his heart that he is “walking in the truth.”  He says Gaius is doing well in supporting true believing brothers in Christ, even if they are strangers, in a manner worthy of God. This way, supporters and missionaries can be “fellow workers for the truth.”

John then calls out two men – Diotrephes and Demetrius. The first man is selfish, does not acknowledge authority, talks wicked nonsense, and refuses hospitality. (I will deal with him when I come.) The second man has received good testimony from everyone, including from us. “Beloved Gaius, don’t imitate evil, but imitate good.”

In closing, John repeats that he hopes to see them soon and talk to them face to face. Meanwhile, “peace be to you.”

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Tomorrow, we begin John’s last writing – The Revelation.

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 360

Dec26

   Day 360—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 360 – 1 John 1 – 5 (God is light, confession, God is love, assurance)

1 John is one of three letters the apostle John wrote to the churches in Asia Minor, probably from Ephesus, probably in 90+AD.  He is the only survivor and eyewitness to Jesus’ earthly ministry, which he mentions in the first few verses.

He writes about the danger of false teachers and heresy by asking his readers to remember the fundamentals of faith.  He writes as ‘a loving father to his children’ and tells them how they can be assured of God’s love.

1 John 1.

 John reminds his readers that he has personally seen, heard, and touched “the word of Life” Jesus in the flesh. And what he heard with his own ears he proclaims to them so they may have the joy in knowing Him intimately too.    

The message? “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”  If we know Him, we will walk in the light and have fellowship with Him, and His blood will cleanse us from all sin. If not, we still are in darkness. 

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 2.

“My little children, I am writing so you may not sin. But IF anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins.” (what satisfies God that our sin has been punished)

Then John writes about the perfect love in Christ that should also be in believers. The “old commandment” was to LOVE GOD supremely and your neighbor as yourself.  The “new commandment” from Jesus was to love your neighbor, as He loved you and gave his life for you.  (sacrificially: John 13:34-35)  There is no place for hate in the heart of a believer.

Then John writes about the family of God in three spiritual stages: little children, young men, and fathers.  They know the Father, their sins have been forgiven, and they have overcome the evil one…because they are strong and the Word of God abides in them.

“Do not love THE WORLD or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh (to indulge yourself), the desires of the eyes (to acquire for yourself), and the pride of possessions (to impress others about yourself) — is NOT from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires. But whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

1 John 3.

See what kind of LOVE the Father has given us – that we should be called ‘the children of god.’ And we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is. 

This is the message you have heard from the beginning that we should LOVE one another.

By this, we know LOVE, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  Little children, let us not LOVE in word or speech but in deed and truth. 

“This is His commandment that we BELIEVE in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another.” 

1 John 4.

Do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS to see whether they are from God, for many FALSE PROPHETS have gone out into the world.  BY THIS, you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. Every spirit that does NOT confess Jesus is NOT from God, but antichrist.  Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is IN YOU is greater than he who is in the world.

“Beloved, let us LOVE one another, for LOVE is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not LOVE does not know God because GOD IS LOVE.  In this, the LOVE of God was made manifest (clear) among us, that God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is LOVE, NOT that we have loved God, but that He LOVED us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the satisfaction that our sins have been paid for) for our sins.”

If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

By this, we KNOW that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

There is no fear in LOVE, but perfect LOVE casts out fear.

We love Him because He first loved us. 

1 John 5.

“Everyone who BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who LOVES the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments.”

Whoever BELIEVES in the Son of God has the testimony in himself –that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does NOT have the Son of God, does not have life.”

“I write these things to you who BELIEVE in the name of the Son of God that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.”

(Amen.)

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 359

Dec25

   Day 359—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 359 – 2 Peter 1-3 (Salvation, Scriptures, Prophecies) 

This is the second letter that Peter wrote to the persecuted churches. He is even more concerned with the false teachers infiltrating them. He warns and encourages the believers to stand firm in the faith.

It’s possible that Peter wrote THIS letter from prison in Rome and soon faced execution by Emperor Nero.

2 Peter 1.

Peter affirms that his recipients “have obtained a faith of equal standing…by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” By God’s grace alone.  God has done it all by His divine power: life and godliness through the knowledge of Him. 

Peter challenges them to add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind.” 

“If you practice these qualities, you will never fall.” 

“Therefore, I intend to always remind you of these qualities…..to stir you up by way of reminder.”   

Peter knows he will be martyred soon and says, “I will make every effort so that after my departure, you may be able at any time to recall these things.”  (Review NOW the qualities Peter emphasized so strongly in the above paragraph.)

Peter then tells them he knows what he’s talking about because he was one of the three eyewitnesses of Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount.  And…. not only THAT, he has a “more sure word of testimony…. the word of the prophets.  “...knowing first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Peter 2.

Peter warns, “False prophets and teachers are among you!  They blaspheme the truth and will exploit you. Their destruction is sure. God didn’t spare the world in Noah’s time. God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah (except Lot).  “God knows how to rescue the godly from trials while keeping the UNRIGHTEOUS under punishment until the day of judgment.”  

Peter then writes about the horrible things (verses 10-22) the “unrighteous” are and do that will bring God’s final judgment on them. For them, the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.

2 Peter 3.

You can hear Peter’s desperation as he writes, “I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days, following their own sinful desires.

They will taunt, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? Since the fathers fell asleep, ALL THINGS continue as they were from creation.”  (Like today, too!)

Regardless of what these “scoffers” say, “the Day of the Lord WILL come like a thief” with cataclysmic horrors in the heavens and on earth.  “The heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!”  (WOW)

But true believers are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (As God promised.)  “Since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. 

Count the patience of the Lord as salvation (SEE verse 9), JUST AS OUR BROTHER PAUL ALSO WROTE TO YOU ACCORDING TO THE WISDOM GIVEN HIM.”

“Take care not carried away by the error of lawless people and so lose your own stability.  But GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.“

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(Peter, probably in his seventies, was martyred soon after writing this letter, being crucified (as tradition says) upside down, refusing to be crucified like his Lord.)  (Read John 21:18-19 where Jesus tells Peter how he will die.)

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Day 359 – Jude 1 (True apostles & apostates, doxology)

Jude (Judah in Hebrew/Judas in Greek) was one of Jesus’ four half-brothers, listed in Matthew 13:55. He calls himself “the brother of James,” who was the leader of the Jerusalem church. Although he and his brother initially rejected Jesus as Messiah, they were converted after Jesus’ resurrection, and so Jude was an eyewitness.

The content of Jude’s letter is very similar to 2 Peter and powerfully confronts apostasy/false doctrine in the church. Peter says it is coming; Jude says it has come. (Christianity was thought to be very vulnerable at this time. Only John and Jude, the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life, death & resurrection, were now alive .)

(Jude uses many OT illustrations and even quotes Peter. And… he quotes from books NOT in the Canon of the Bible but were accurate and true.  See how Paul did this in Acts 17:28, 1 Corinthians 15:33, and Titus 1:12)

Jude 1.

Jude wanted to write to these believers about their “common salvation” (a wonderful topic to write on), BUT, instead, he felt the necessity to urge them to “contend for the faith that was ONCE FOR ALL delivered to the saints.”   Why? Because certain people “have crept in unnoticed,” ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Then, like Peter, Jude reminds them of OT instances where God brought judgment on those who indulged in unbelief (Israelites), immorality (Sodom & Gomorrah), and blasphemy (fallen angels). 

“WOE TO THEM, for they walk in the way of “Cain’s greed,” “Balaam’s error,” and “Korah’s rebellion.”

He calls these false prophets and teachers “shepherds feeding themselves, waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves of the sea, and wandering stars,” always leading believers astray.

Jude further calls them, “grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires, loud-mouthed boasters, and ones who show favoritism for gain” (in case you missed them before!).

REMEMBER, beloved, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the predictions of (Peter).  “In the last time, there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions, who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit!”  (WATCH OUT!!)

But you, beloved…

  • build yourselves up in the most holy faith
  • pray in the Holy Spirit
  • keep yourselves in the love of God
  • wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life
  • and have mercy on those who doubt
  • save others by snatching them out of the fire,
  • to others, show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

And then Jude’s doxology.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND AUTHORITY, before all time and now and forever. Amen”