Tag Archive | Genesis

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 144

May23

   Day 144—We are still in our FIFTH month of Bible reading.   Are you loving God more each day? What are you learning about Him?  Share in the comments section.

   Day 144 – Psalm 108 – 109 – 110. (Psalms of David)

Psalm 108 repeats some of Psalms 57 and 60.  “Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the PEOPLES; I will sing praises to you among the NATIONS.”     “Be exalted, O God, above the HEAVENS!  Let your glory be over all the EARTH!”

“Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the SALVATION OF MAN!  With GOD WE DO VALIENTLY; it is HE who will tread down our foes.”

Psalm 109 is a prayer for God’s help against the wicked of his day.  “Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.”   “In return for my love, they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” 

Many of the following complaints refer to the time when David was being persecuted by Saul. It’s as if David is petitioning God, as a judge in a courtroom, to rule against his persecutors.  “Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love!”    “With my mouth, I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For HE STANDS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE NEEDY ONE, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.”

Psalm 110 contains great prophetic sections, showing Jesus as both king and high priest. It is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament.

“The LORD says to my Lord; ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ (Matthew 23:43-44) (Hebrews 10:12)

“The LORD has said and will not change His mind. Yo are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Genesis 14:17-20, Hebrews 5:6, 7: 1-28)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 60

Feb29

    Day 60 —  We are still in the second month, but we’ve begun a new book! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 60 – Numbers 14 – 15, Psalm 90 – (Turning Back, Defeat, Promise, and a psalm of Moses)

Yesterday we saw the rebellious Israel turning from the Promised Land out of fear of the “giants in the land.”

Numbers 14 take up where we left off.  Not only does Israel fear to go into the Land, the want to kill Moses, choose a new leader and GO BACK to Egypt.  (Are you guys crazy??)

Joshua and Caleb plead with the people to enter the land, testifying that their God will surely give them victory. But the people decide to stone them.  Only the appearance of the Shekinah Glory of the LORD stops them. God offers Moses a SECOND chance to become the progenitor of His people, and he refuses, stressing God’s honor and glory that is involved. He begs that God will PARDON their sin according to the greatness of His mercy.

God hears Moses’s intercession for these rebellious ingrates, and pardons them. But there is a consequence they must endure – 40 years of desert wanderings until THAT generation (age 20 and up) all die. Only their teen and young children will have the chance to receive that Promised Land. (Joshua & Caleb and their families will also be exempt.)

So, TURN AROUND and head into that dry and barren land……

But still the people rebel!!  “No, we were wicked,” they confess. “We will go in as directed!”  But it is too late. As they swarm forward – against God’s word, without Him, the Ark of the Covenant, and Moses – they suffer absolute defeat from the Amalekites and Canaanites, giving those pagan enemies a chance to gloat, deride, and shame the LORD God Almighty.

Can’t you just see God dusting his hands of them all and turning his back on Israel? But no. God, our God, is ever faithful to his promises and his people. Instead in Numbers 15, He speaks of WHEN the people of Israel come into the Land to inhabit it, which HE is giving them.

Whoa! Such grace and mercy. Sure, they will endure consequences of their sin. Sure, it will be their children who go in and conquer the land.  But God does not utterly desert them.  He even describes the offerings they will make to Him with the produce of that Land.   He also distinguishes unintentional sins from outright defiance, giving grace to the one and harsh punishment to the other.

He reaffirms the importance of keeping the Sabbath sacred to Him, as He’s directed. And He tells ALL the people of Israel (not just priests) to make tassels on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord binding them, to remind them of all the commandments of the LORD which they are to obey and so be a holy nation go God.

Psalm 90 is the only psalm written my Moses. He writes of the eternality of God, and fact that man is made from dust. (Remember Moses wrote the book of Genesis too.)  He writes of God’s majesty and man’s sins (even the secret ones). Man’s life – in contrast to God’s everlasting existence – is but 70-80 years, and is full of toil and trouble, and ends with a sigh.  He asks God to teach his people how to “number” their days and apply their hearts to wisdom.  Then he ends with pleas for God’s presence and love and power and favor to be with and on his children.

#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.

.

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

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

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

Jan27

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Jan26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jan25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jan23

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jan22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   Day 22 – Genesis 30 – 31

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

ALLOW him leave?  NO!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

What???

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jan20

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

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

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

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

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

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

Okay back to the geneologies of chapter 25.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sigh.

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

#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?