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#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. “

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 13

Jan13

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

Day 13 – Job 35 – 37 (Elihu continues.)

In chapter 35, Elihu continues to speak to Job (and his other three friends), and he is as far off the truth as they were.  He tells Job the reasons why God hasn’t answered him are three. First was his pride (10 & 12). Second was that Job had wrong motives (13). And the third thing was that Job lacked trust (14).  

Well, actually, those are reasons why OUR prayers are not sometimes answered too. It’s just a shame that God’s silence towards job had nothing to do with them.  (And soon – very soon – God IS going to respond. And then, Job and his friends had better listen!)

Chapter 36 starts out with Elihu claiming to speak on behalf of God. He says his own words are not false and that he is one who is perfect in knowledge.  (Cough! Choke!  Really Elihu???)  He then goes on self-righteously (in my opinion) to describe how Almighty God, his maker, deals with mankind.

He does say some truth about God’s majesty in creation, and (I like this) “God is great, and we know Him not; the number of His years is unsearchable.” (36:26)  He got that right because God IS from eternity past and will go on forever into eternity future. 

He goes on in chapter 37, proclaiming God’s majesty in nature, specifically in the elements; storms of wind, rain, ice and snow.  I love this in verse 13, “Whether for CORRECTION or for His LAND, or for LOVE, He causes it to happen.”  Think of that the next time you read about (or experience) blizzards, flooding, tornados, or heat waves. Wow.

And at the end of the chapter, he almost (unknowingly) preaches at HIMSELF!  “Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”  (Hah, Elihu!  Remember 36:4?)

(But alas, am I not like that too?  Lord, forgive me. Thank You.)

 

On Sunday and Monday (posts together, and concludes Job), we will read God’s words to Job and his friends, in a series of hundreds of questions, the answers always pointing to God Himself.  Wow. Talk about an interrogation! 

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 12

Jan12

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

Day 12 – Job 32 – 34 (Elihu, the original “burning man”)

Job’s three friends have exhaused their words of “comfort” (more like condemnation). Job himself seems to have come to the end of his rebuttals. Now, Elihu, who is younger than all of them and seems to have been there all along waiting, takes the stage.

And he’s mad.  Four times in the first 5 verses the word says, he “burned with anger.  I can imagine him sitting in the group all this time and getting more and more steamed up, face red, eyes wide, breathing fast. But he waited his turn out of respect for age. And now, youth wills out and he stands with (in his own mind) authority.

In his first paragraph he disparages their age, saying “It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right” (32:9) and, “Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.” (32:10, 17)

But, you know what?  He basically says the same things.  It’s all Job’s fault. How dare Job claim to be righteous! God doesn’t afflict a good man! God repays man according to his works!

Elihu digresses a bit in mid chapter 34, praising the almighty, sovereign God, perfectly just and powerful. (Amen, Elihu!)

But he closes the chapter with stinging words agains Job. “Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against. God.” (34:36-37)

Sigh.

Elihu will speak for three more chapters in tomorrow’s reading. He will continue to condemn Job, but will finally turn his thoughts to God and magnify Him. That will be a welcome relief.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 11

Jan11

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

Day 11 – Job 29-31 (and then the words of Job ends)

 Today is the end of Job speaking until his confession in the last, short chapter. (Next up is the #4 “Friend” who waxes eloquent for four chapters!!!)

In chapter 29, Job remembers “the good old days” before all this tragedy fell on him.  It was the days when, “God watched over me,” when “the friendship with God was upon my tent,” when “my children were all around me,” and “my steps were washed with butter.”  WOW.

Job goes on to reminisce about when he was respected and honored, when, at his presence young men withdrew and aged rose and stood.  Ahhhh, those were the days, my friend; I thought they’d never end….. (You can almost hear him sigh.)

He lists all the good he did for neighbor and country. He bemoans the time when men “listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel.”

“But NOW… (in chapter 30 he tells how things have changed).  “now they laugh at me.”  “I have become their song, a byword to them.”  And even, “they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.”  What a downfall, what a humbling: to see how it is when men forsake you.

But his anquish is worse when he turns to his God.  “God has cast me into the mire….”  “I cry to You for help and You do not answer me; I stand and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me….”

Have you ever been in such dispair?  Have you wailed against your God?  I confess, I have not. I’ve complained and whined. God has sometimes seemed silent and distant to me. But never like Job.

Then in chapter 31, it’s as if he gathers himself, straightens up a little and begins to claim his righteousness, how he is undeserving of such a fate. Beginning with verse five, he lists a dozen or more  “if-then” scenarios.  If I had done such and such… then may such and such befall me.

At one point he says “Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)

Whoa, Job. Be careful what you wish!

Tomorrow we will endure Elihu (4th friend) going on and on. THEN…  God will speak.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 10

Jan10

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

   Day 10 – Job 24-28  (Whoa, 5 chapters today. Hang in there!)

Job begins with two “why” questions. I find myself asking those kinds of questions all the time. But if we really knew the “reason” for things that happen to us, would we be content? (see later in this post)  What we really want, I think, is that the “why” questions we ask God will make the trials go away!

In most of chapter 24, Job lists the things that very nasty people do – cruel and lewd people, thieves, drunks, adulterers, greedy, heartless, murderers. “Deep darkness is morning to them. They are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.” 

This reminds me of Jesus’s words to Nicodemas in John 3:19-20, “And this is the judgment: that light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” 

But their end will come, assures Job.

Bildad speaks briefly for the third and last time. Basically that God is majestic and exalted, man is sinful, especially Job.  Job responds, saying he KNOWS how great God is. (He even declares something WAY before Copernicus (1543) radically claimed it — that “the earth hangs on nothing.”  Yay, Job!)

In chapter 27 Job keeps responding to the claims of his three “friends.”  He stands in his integrity. He holds fast to his righteousness. His heart does not reproach him. (God told the devil this in chapter 1)

Wisdon is Job’s theme in chapter 28. He asks several times where it is found. Not it the wealth and jewels of the earth, not in the majestic beasts of the earth. (A companion read would be Proverbs 1 – 3)  No, wisdom and understanding lie only with God. “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.” (28:28)

 

I happened to listen this morning to a sermon by John MacArthur titled “The Purpose of Trials.”  It seemed to fit well in the reading of Job, although he does not reference the book, but others from Deuteronomy to 2 Peter. 

Here are the “reasons” he suggests for the godly to suffer.

     1. to test our faith (so WE know it)

     2. to humble us so we don’t think more of our own strength tham we should

     3. to wean us away from worldly things

     4. to call us toward a Heavenly (not earthly) hope

     5. to reveal what we really love

     6. to teach us to value the blessings of God

     7. to enable us to help others in their suffering

     8. to develope endurng strength for greater usefulness for God’s glory. 

If you’d like to hear the whole 30 minute message, click  on THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING.

 

 

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 9

Jan9

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

Day 9 – Job 21-23

Job asks them to listen to him for a minute and then they can mock him again. He comes back on Zophar’s statement in the previous chapter that “the wicked suffer” with “the wicked prosper.” (21:7-16).  He sounds complaining and wistful and even sarcastic.

His ending, “How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” would seem to stop his friends, but Eliphaz is back for round 3 with more condemnation.

However in 22:21-23, it almost sounds like Eliphaz is giving the Gospel. “Agree with God and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty you will be buillt up;”  but then he goes on to advice that Job “remove injustice from his tent.”

Job responds, speaking of God, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.” (23:12)

Job wishes that he could lay his case and argue before God. (Oh, Job, be careful what you wish for!)  But still, he rests in God’s soveignty. (23:13-14) “He will complete what He appoints for me,”

I love the promise of 1 Peter 5:10, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

It’s a promise that will be seen in Job’s own life at the end, but not yet.  Persevere through 19 more chapters. They get glorious in the knowledge of the Almighty, and a good ending for Job.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 7 & 8

Jan8
       Day 7 & 8 — (I combine Sunday and Monday reads.)  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?  You can also listen to an audio recording. It only takes a few minutes.
Job 14-16
Our guy Job begins the chapter with, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble,” and you might agree with him.
Did you know Moses agreed too?  Psalm 90:10 says, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”
Next in this sad saga, old Eliphaz (Friend #1, in this second round) comes back with more unkind and mistaken condemnation of Job (15). Job (16) says Eliphaz is not much of a friend. He calls him a “miserable comforter,” a blow-hard talking about what he knows nothing about!!
Then Job laments more about his suffering. He accuses God of shattering, shaking, shooting at, and slicing him.   (Just imagine his pain from that horrible skin ailment, that he must constantly scrape scabs/puss away with broken pottery.)
And I complain about a bit of arthritus or allergy! God forgive me.
Job 17-20
(Yes, I know it’s Monday. It’s been a  whole week since we began. We are still in Job! And it’s depressing!  Oh, please don’t quit. Carry on.  Persevere. Endure to the end (of Job, and the Bible!!)
Job is again thinking of death (Wouldn’t YOU if you were enduring all this and without compassionate understanding?). But if he dies, then he asks, “Where then is my hope?”  Oh, Job, remember your words in chapter 13! “Though He slay me, I will hope in HIM,“
Then Bildad (friend #2, in this second round) takes the “podium” and accuses Job of more badness. He asks why Job thinks they are “stupid” in his sight. (Well, duh!)  Bildad waxes eloquent about the “wicked” intimating that this is what poor Job is, ending that it is just the place of the person who knows not God.  (Don’t you wish he could review those first verses in the book that describe Job as upright and blameless?)
Job fervently answers his accuser(s) in chapter 19, “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?”  Yeah! What happened to the concept – “weep with those who weep”?  (Romans 12:15)  But as in a few other places, Job’s soul rises to God and he exclaims, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see God,” (19:25)  Wow.
Despite, Job’s gasping faith, his third friend, Zophar, cuts him down with, “The wicked will SUFFER!”
We’ve not heard the last of these three “friends,” and even a fourth one will appear in chapter 32 who at first rebukes the others, but then hammers down on Job too.  (Oh, just wait and see how God will treat these guys at the end of chapter 42.  (You can peek at it now, but it will be more satisfying when we get there.)
KEEP READING! Remember the blessing God promised to those who read His word.

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 6

Jan6
Day 6.  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?  You can also listen to an audio recording. It only takes a few minutes.
Job 10-13
(Keep faithfully reading. We are 1/4 the way through Job.)

Do you ever cry out to God and complain about things that are happening in your life?  “It’s NOT FAIR,” I’ve said many times. “Why did You DO such and such?” Or, “Why did You LET that happen???”

I think if we were actually standing before God Himself, we would be more like Isaiah (chapter 6) who fell on his face before the Almighty, like a dead man.  But, we, like Job, cry out our complaints to God and He doesn’t strike us dead.  He loves us!

“Why did you bring me out of the womb?” Job cries in pain and despair in 10:18. “Would that I had died before any eye had seen me.”  (Before you judge him, remember that he has lost ALL his children, ALL his wealth, ALL his health. And his wife wishes him dead.)

Then Zophar (friend #3) starts in on him, the worst “friend” so far.  He basically tells Job that he is even WORSE than he thinks. “Know that God exacts of you LESS than your guilt deserves,” 11:8.

WOW!  That’s LOW.

In 11:12, Zophar calls Job “stupid” and a “wild ass.”  Yikes!

In his response in chapter 12, Job gets a bit sarcastic. “No doubt you,” he says to his friends, “are THE people and wisdom will die with you.”  He’s amazed that he is a ‘laughingstock” to them. He, who has called to God and God answered him, a “just and blameless man.”  “Am I a laughingstock?” he asks.

Then Job goes on in that chapter to praise God and His absolute sovereignty in everything.

In 13:15 Job speaks those magnificent words of trust, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.”  WOW

A roller-coaster, that is Job in this book, in his pain, among his friends. He will get lower. He will go higher before he actually confronts the living and Almighty God. Then we will see Job truly humbled AND lifted up.

So, don’t give up, keep reading each day!

#2024 GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 5

Jan5
  Day 5.  Won’t you read the Bible with me this year?  You can also listen to an audio recording. It only takes a few minutes.
Job 6-9

(yes, I know, it’s hard).

Job’s friends who were so saintily silent, commisserating with Job in his misery and sorrow, now speak. (They shouldn’t have!!)

Job had indulged in a hopeless monologue, wishing he hadn’t been born. (Have you and I ever felt like that in a really tough situation of loss or extreme pain?)

When Eliphaz (friend #1) finally speaks, it’s not with compassion, but with a bossy tone, saying Job MUST have done something really bad, because, you know, God BLESSES the “innocent”……

Um, not always so, Eliphaz. The righteous DO suffer.

And Job actually points to something else. “Behold, BLESSED is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.” (Reminds you of Psalm 94:13-14 and Hebrews 12:5-6, doesn’t it?)

Job also says something seriously that reminds me of some of MY nights, “But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.” He, however, is suffering immensely, whereas I am NOT.

Yes, he is depressed. Wouldn’t YOU be? And yet his “friends” keep at it. Bildad (friend #2), tells Job that his days will be good again, he just needs to REPENT of his sin. (Huh? godly & blameless Job?)

I know NONE of us are sinless, but these horrors did not happen to Job BECAUSE he sinned. They are ultimately for God’s glory. (Kind of like the story of the man born blind that Jesus healed in John 9:3)

In chapter 9, Job first praises God Amighty, then yells at Him, and then in horror, backtracks.

Poor guy! Remember, HE doesn’t know what WE know. We saw that diabolical deal the devil made in Heaven’s courtroom with the holy, righteous God; that deal to ruin Job, and dishonor his God.

Don’t give up, keep reading tomorrow!

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