So Moses set up the tabernacle and all the parts of it as God had instructed him to do on the first day of the first month in the second year. Then a cloud settled over the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. This cloud was to be a sign to the Israelites to stay put if the cloud did not lift, and to go if the cloud lifted. During the day there was a cloud over the tabernacle and at night it was a firey cloud.
Now God had a place to dwell among the Israelites and enter into a new relationship with them.
Leviticus! VEGETARIAN WARNING: This section contains information about the sacrifice of animals as burnt offerings to the Lord. This blood offering was atonement for sin.
The priests were to build a fire of wood on the altar to receive burnt offerings.
Note: I've tried to do my best on this part. I think I need a chart because there are differences in the kind of offering, the animal offered, and the details of what is to be done with the carcass, and I find it difficult to keep it all straight...so here goes...
Chapter 1 - The Burnt Offering - From the herd (a young bull) without defect was to be presented at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to be acceptable to the Lord. He (the offeror) is to lay his hands on the head of the animal and symbolically transfer his sin to the animal and kill it. The priests were to present the blood and sprinkle it on the altar. The animal was skinned and cut into pieces and burned on the altar.
If the offering was from the flock (sheep or goat) a male without blemish (perfect) was necessary. The offeror would kill it on the north side of the altar. The blood would be sprinkled around the altar. The animal was skinned, cut into pieces and burned on the altar.
If the offering was a bird (turtledoves or young pigeons) the priest would wring it's head off, drain out the blood, remove the feathers and crop (I assume this means guts) tear it open by the wings without severing it completely and burn it on the altar.
A grain offering was also acceptable. Finely ground grain was to be mixed with oil and incense, and brought to the priests. They burned a handful (called the memorial portion) and the rest was for Aaron and his sons. Offerings of grain could be baked like a cake, or wafers spread with oil, or cooked on a griddle, or cooked in a pan. No offerings could be burned that contained yeast or honey as these aid fermentation and were symbolic of corruption in the human heart.
A fellowship or peace offering from the herd (bull or cow) was similar as described earlier, except the kidney and liver portions with the fat surrounding them were also burned on top of the rest of the offering.
From the flock, the lamb was presented and sacrificed as described earlier, except that the fat tail and other fat was burned with the kidneys and liver. The goats were sacrificed in a similar manner.
The Lord commanded the Israelites not to eat any blood or fat.
Chapter 4 talks about unintentional sins.
If the anointed priest sins unintentionally, the sacrifice is more elaborate. The animal is presented in the same way and killed. But the blood is carried into the Tent of Meeting, sprinkled 7 times before the Lord, and put on the horns of the incense altar. The rest of the blood is poured at the base of the altar just as the blood for all the other sacrifices is. The fat, kidneys, and liver are burned on the altar, but the head, hide, flesh, legs innards and dung are all taken to the ash heap outside the camp to the clean place and burned.
If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally then the elders bring a sin offering, and perform the sacrifice as described above.
When a leader sins unintentionally he brings a goat as a sin offering. The sacrifice is performed in the normal way.
When a member of the community sins unintentionally he must bring a female goat or lamb as a sacrifice in the normal way.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 5-7
20100130
Jan 30, 2010 Exodus 38-40:16
They continued fashioning the articles for the sanctuary of God. They built the altar out of acacia wood and covered it with bronze. They made the utensils out of bronze. They made the basin for washing as they were instructed. They made all the curtains and stands to hold them for the courtyard. In all, a little over a ton of gold, 3 3/4 tons of silver and 2 1/2 tons of bronze were used! In all 603,550 men aged 20 or more were counted in the census.
Then the priestly garments were made from the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen. The sacred garments for Aaron, the ephod and the breastpiece were made as Moses instructed. The robes were ornamented with pure gold bells alternating with embroidered pomegranates. Aaron and the priests also wore turbans and sashes. And finally a diadem to be tied on the turban with a blue cord. On the diadem was engraved, "HOLY TO THE LORD."
So when everything was finished, they brought it before Moses to inspect it all. It was done as Moses directed, so he blessed them.
It seem quite a stunning amount of sacred objects. I marvel at the ability these people had to create everything from what they had brought with them from Egypt. And I also wonder what their lives must have been like living in tents and not having things I take for granted, like electricity and power tools, or running water.
Next, they set up the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the first month. In it they placed the ark, the table and the things that went with it, the lampstand and the lamps, and the altar of incense. The altar of burnt offering was placed at the entrance to the tabernacle with the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and fill it with water. (I'm going to find a diagram of this - I do so much better with pictures.) Then everything was anointed with oil to consecrate (set apart for God) it all.
Then Moses did what God had said and brought Aaron and his sons to be washed and dressed and anointed. This anointing was "to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come."
Tomorrow we finish Exodus! Also read Leviticus ch 1-4
Then the priestly garments were made from the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen. The sacred garments for Aaron, the ephod and the breastpiece were made as Moses instructed. The robes were ornamented with pure gold bells alternating with embroidered pomegranates. Aaron and the priests also wore turbans and sashes. And finally a diadem to be tied on the turban with a blue cord. On the diadem was engraved, "HOLY TO THE LORD."
So when everything was finished, they brought it before Moses to inspect it all. It was done as Moses directed, so he blessed them.
It seem quite a stunning amount of sacred objects. I marvel at the ability these people had to create everything from what they had brought with them from Egypt. And I also wonder what their lives must have been like living in tents and not having things I take for granted, like electricity and power tools, or running water.
Next, they set up the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the first month. In it they placed the ark, the table and the things that went with it, the lampstand and the lamps, and the altar of incense. The altar of burnt offering was placed at the entrance to the tabernacle with the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and fill it with water. (I'm going to find a diagram of this - I do so much better with pictures.) Then everything was anointed with oil to consecrate (set apart for God) it all.
Then Moses did what God had said and brought Aaron and his sons to be washed and dressed and anointed. This anointing was "to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come."
Tomorrow we finish Exodus! Also read Leviticus ch 1-4
20100129
Jan 29, 2010 Exodus35:30-37:29
Moses told the Israelites that God chose Bezalel and Oholiab to be the main designers and master craftsmen to create His sanctuary along with others who would assist. Moses called these people and they recieved the offerings that had been gathered from the freewill offerings. In fact, it soon became clear that they had more than they could use, so Moses sent word not to offer any more for the sanctuary. Details are given about the making of the linen curtains of the Tabernacle and the loops to join them together. Descriptions of the frames, bases and crossbars for the tabernacle of acacia wood overlaid with gold are given next.
Bezalel made the ark as directed out of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold inside and outside.
I have been wondering why today's reading is so short. I looked ahead to tomorrow and found that it begins with ch 38, so I guess the number 9 got left off my schedule. So read to the end of ch 37. Sorry about that!
So to finish chapter 37, they also made the table, and the lampstand - like a giant menorah - it weighed 75 pounds and was made of solid gold! They made the Altar of Incense as directed and the special incense too.
Tomorrow read Exodus 38 - 40:16
Bezalel made the ark as directed out of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold inside and outside.
I have been wondering why today's reading is so short. I looked ahead to tomorrow and found that it begins with ch 38, so I guess the number 9 got left off my schedule. So read to the end of ch 37. Sorry about that!
So to finish chapter 37, they also made the table, and the lampstand - like a giant menorah - it weighed 75 pounds and was made of solid gold! They made the Altar of Incense as directed and the special incense too.
Tomorrow read Exodus 38 - 40:16
20100128
Jan 28, 2010 Exodus 33-35:29
Now God was still mad at the Israelites when he told Moses to take the people and go to the land He had promised to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He said that the angel would guide their way, but that He would not go with them because they were so stubborn and He might kill them. When the people heard this they were sorry and sad. God told them to take off their ornaments and they did.
Moses had a tent at a distance away from the camp called the "tent of meeting." When Moses went into the tent all the people watched at the doorways of their tents and watched until Moses went inside the tent. A pillar of cloud would descend upon the tent once Moses was inside. Whenever the people saw the pillar they each worshiped at the entrances of their own tents. I like the description of the Lord speaking face to face with Moses as a friend would speak to you. Moses would leave the tent and return to the camp, but Joshua would not leave the tent.
Moses asks God to help him lead the people. He asks the Lord to teach him what He wants him to know to lead the people so God will be pleased. I like what the Lord tells him "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses asks God to show him His glory, and God says that he should stand on a rock and when His glory passes by He would put him in the cleft of a rock and cover him with His hand until He passed by, and then He would remove His hand and Moses could see his back but not his face. So I have to admit I am confused about the earlier verse about talking to God face to face.
Then God has Moses prepare two new stone tablets and take them up to Mt. Sinai where he bows down and worships the Lord. Once again God reminds Moses of His commandments and other laws including the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Redeeming the firstborn of every womb, and remembering to keep the Sabbath holy, to name a few. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights with the Lord without eating bread or drinking water. And the commandments were written on the new stone tablets.
Moses' face was glowing when he came down from the mountain and the Israelites were afraid to go near him. But he talked to them and they realized that it was OK, that he was still Moses and they weren't so scared. Moses covered his face with a veil anyway, at least until he went to the tent to speak to the Lord.
Moses gathered everyone and reminded them to work six days and rest on the seventh. As I continue to read the Bible I become more impressed about how important it is to God that I keep the Sabbath day holy!
Moses conveys all the commandments and instructions for all the materials for the Tabernacle. After they heard God's message they left Moses and searched their hearts. All who were so moved brought an offering of whatever materials they felt inspired to give. Both men and women brought freewill offerings as they felt moved to.
Tomorrow read Exodus 35:30-37:2
Moses had a tent at a distance away from the camp called the "tent of meeting." When Moses went into the tent all the people watched at the doorways of their tents and watched until Moses went inside the tent. A pillar of cloud would descend upon the tent once Moses was inside. Whenever the people saw the pillar they each worshiped at the entrances of their own tents. I like the description of the Lord speaking face to face with Moses as a friend would speak to you. Moses would leave the tent and return to the camp, but Joshua would not leave the tent.
Moses asks God to help him lead the people. He asks the Lord to teach him what He wants him to know to lead the people so God will be pleased. I like what the Lord tells him "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses asks God to show him His glory, and God says that he should stand on a rock and when His glory passes by He would put him in the cleft of a rock and cover him with His hand until He passed by, and then He would remove His hand and Moses could see his back but not his face. So I have to admit I am confused about the earlier verse about talking to God face to face.
Then God has Moses prepare two new stone tablets and take them up to Mt. Sinai where he bows down and worships the Lord. Once again God reminds Moses of His commandments and other laws including the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Redeeming the firstborn of every womb, and remembering to keep the Sabbath holy, to name a few. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights with the Lord without eating bread or drinking water. And the commandments were written on the new stone tablets.
Moses' face was glowing when he came down from the mountain and the Israelites were afraid to go near him. But he talked to them and they realized that it was OK, that he was still Moses and they weren't so scared. Moses covered his face with a veil anyway, at least until he went to the tent to speak to the Lord.
Moses gathered everyone and reminded them to work six days and rest on the seventh. As I continue to read the Bible I become more impressed about how important it is to God that I keep the Sabbath day holy!
Moses conveys all the commandments and instructions for all the materials for the Tabernacle. After they heard God's message they left Moses and searched their hearts. All who were so moved brought an offering of whatever materials they felt inspired to give. Both men and women brought freewill offerings as they felt moved to.
Tomorrow read Exodus 35:30-37:2
20100127
Jan 27, 2010 Exodus 30-32
We rejoin Moses as he is with God on Mt.Sinai receiving instructions for the tabernacle and it's sumptuous furnishings. God instructs Moses to have an insense altar crafted from acacia wood and covered with pure gold. God then tells Moses that each person must pay the Lord a ransom for his life when he is counted. Everyone is to give the same amount regardless of their wealth. Then God told Moses He wanted a basin for washing fashioned out of bronze, in which, the priests were to wash their hands and feet whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting. A recipe for anointing oil was given next. This sacred anointing oil was not for personal use and was only to be used by the priests in their sacred duties. A recipe for incense is given next, and again, it is not for personal use.
God tells Moses that He has chosen two craftsmen named, Bezalel and to assist him, Oholiab, to be the creators of these works. God filled them with His Spirit to give them the ability and knowledge to bring forth these objects. God also gave skill to all the other craftsmen to help make everything He commanded.
The Lord told Moses to remind the Israelites to observe the Sabbaths. God worked six days to create heaven and earth and abstained from work and rested on the seventh and that's just what He wants us to do to. I really like to rest! Then the Lord finished speaking and gave Moses the two stone tablets "inscribed by the finger of God". How I would love to see those!
Now while Moses was gone, remember he was gone for 40 days and 40 nights, the Israelites were getting rowdy waiting for him to return. So Aaron tells them to give him their gold and he makes a golden calf. In verse 4 of ch 32, it says Aaron used a tool and fashioned an idol. The Lord sees this and tells Moses to get back back down to the Israelites because they have made an idol and worshiped it. Then God tells Moses that He wants to destroy them. Moses talked to God and spoke on their behalf that the Lord not destroy them, to remember his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Israel to multiply their descendants as the stars of the heavens. So God relented and did not bring the disaster he had threatened. Moses went down with the tablets and smashed them when he saw what they were up to. Then he took the calf and burned it and ground it into powder and scattered it over the water and made them drink it. So Moses asked Aaron what he was thinking. Aaron was left in charge and the Israelites conned him. Then Aaron lies to Moses and tells him that he threw the gold jewelry into the fire and a golden calf just popped out! Moses looks at the Israelites all running around like crazy people, and yells at the crowd for those who are with him come over to where he is. So all the Levites go over to Moses - like, if you're not with me then you're against me! Then Moses tells them to put on their swords and kill everyone who is out of control. So they did and killed about 3000 people. I'm guessing that Moses understood why God was SO mad once he saw for himself what they were doing after they had made the covenant with God 40 days earlier. It doesn't really say what they were doing, but I have to admit that sometimes I hear about someone somewhere doing something horrible and I can understand capital punishment.
The next day Moses tells the remaining people that they have sinned greatly, but he will go before the Lord and try to atone. Moses asks the Lord to blot him out of His book if He can't forgive him. But God tells Moses that whoever sins against Him will be blotted out of the book. Then God tells Moses that He wants him to take the Israelites to the place He spoke of. Then the Lord caused a plague upon the people because of their grevious sin.
Tomorrow read Exodus 33-35:29
God tells Moses that He has chosen two craftsmen named, Bezalel and to assist him, Oholiab, to be the creators of these works. God filled them with His Spirit to give them the ability and knowledge to bring forth these objects. God also gave skill to all the other craftsmen to help make everything He commanded.
The Lord told Moses to remind the Israelites to observe the Sabbaths. God worked six days to create heaven and earth and abstained from work and rested on the seventh and that's just what He wants us to do to. I really like to rest! Then the Lord finished speaking and gave Moses the two stone tablets "inscribed by the finger of God". How I would love to see those!
Now while Moses was gone, remember he was gone for 40 days and 40 nights, the Israelites were getting rowdy waiting for him to return. So Aaron tells them to give him their gold and he makes a golden calf. In verse 4 of ch 32, it says Aaron used a tool and fashioned an idol. The Lord sees this and tells Moses to get back back down to the Israelites because they have made an idol and worshiped it. Then God tells Moses that He wants to destroy them. Moses talked to God and spoke on their behalf that the Lord not destroy them, to remember his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Israel to multiply their descendants as the stars of the heavens. So God relented and did not bring the disaster he had threatened. Moses went down with the tablets and smashed them when he saw what they were up to. Then he took the calf and burned it and ground it into powder and scattered it over the water and made them drink it. So Moses asked Aaron what he was thinking. Aaron was left in charge and the Israelites conned him. Then Aaron lies to Moses and tells him that he threw the gold jewelry into the fire and a golden calf just popped out! Moses looks at the Israelites all running around like crazy people, and yells at the crowd for those who are with him come over to where he is. So all the Levites go over to Moses - like, if you're not with me then you're against me! Then Moses tells them to put on their swords and kill everyone who is out of control. So they did and killed about 3000 people. I'm guessing that Moses understood why God was SO mad once he saw for himself what they were doing after they had made the covenant with God 40 days earlier. It doesn't really say what they were doing, but I have to admit that sometimes I hear about someone somewhere doing something horrible and I can understand capital punishment.
The next day Moses tells the remaining people that they have sinned greatly, but he will go before the Lord and try to atone. Moses asks the Lord to blot him out of His book if He can't forgive him. But God tells Moses that whoever sins against Him will be blotted out of the book. Then God tells Moses that He wants him to take the Israelites to the place He spoke of. Then the Lord caused a plague upon the people because of their grevious sin.
Tomorrow read Exodus 33-35:29
20100126
Jan 26, 2010 Exodus 28 & 29
God instructed Moses to have sacred garments made for Aaron to give him dignity and honor, and also sacred garments made for Aaron's sons as well. God wanted them to serve Him as priests. God gave all the skilled men wisdom to know what and how to do this work. I like reading these instructions, I guess because I really like to sew clothing. I must admit that the patterns I have used are vastly different. I have had many creative ideas and sometimes I feel inspired because I can't figure out where the ideas would have come from. I marvel to imagine that the skilled craftsmen and artists had the knowledge impressed into their minds by God so that what they were to do made perfect sense to them. I must also admit that I tend to get lost in the details. Fortunately, I have found some helpful pictures on the web when I typed in Ephod, and Aaron's sacred garments. Some of the gemstones described are unfamiliar to me. Also, reading all these details it's clear why God had told the children of Israel to ask the Egyptians for gold and silver and precious things as they left Egypt. God had plans for those materials!
The garments made according to God's command were to become part of the consecration of the priests. Since a blood sacrifice was necessary, a bull and two rams without defect were needed. Also cakes made of fine wheat flour without yeast, mixed with oil were needed as well. Detailed instructions were given about dressing the priests in these special garments. The animals were to be slaughtered in a very specific way and burned on the altar. The blood was sprinkled on the altar and on their clothes, also, they were to put blood on their right ear lobes, right thumbs and right big toes. After this Aaron and his sons and their garments would be consecrated.
God explained about peace offerings, sin offerings, and something called wave offerings. He also said the sacred garments would be handed down from one generation to the next. The consecration was to continue for seven days, then the altar would be most holy and whatever touched it would be holy too. This all was required so that God could dwell among the Israelites.
Next read Exodus ch 30-32
The garments made according to God's command were to become part of the consecration of the priests. Since a blood sacrifice was necessary, a bull and two rams without defect were needed. Also cakes made of fine wheat flour without yeast, mixed with oil were needed as well. Detailed instructions were given about dressing the priests in these special garments. The animals were to be slaughtered in a very specific way and burned on the altar. The blood was sprinkled on the altar and on their clothes, also, they were to put blood on their right ear lobes, right thumbs and right big toes. After this Aaron and his sons and their garments would be consecrated.
God explained about peace offerings, sin offerings, and something called wave offerings. He also said the sacred garments would be handed down from one generation to the next. The consecration was to continue for seven days, then the altar would be most holy and whatever touched it would be holy too. This all was required so that God could dwell among the Israelites.
Next read Exodus ch 30-32
20100125
Jan 25, 2010 Exodus 25:10-27:21
God instucted Moses very specifically about the tabernacle He wanted constructed in order to have a place where He could visit Moses. This place consisted of a number of sacred objects which is what they were to make from the offerings of precious metals, stones and textiles. For each object exact dimensions are given and the materials which were to be used are described in some detail. They were to create an ark - a representation can be seen by watching Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - a table and a lampstand all of which were to be placed inside a large linen tent called a tabernacle. It sounds very beautiful from the use of much red, blue and purple, and gold. Instructions were also given for an altar of burnt offerings to be made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. A courtyard was to surround the tabernacle and was to be about 150 feet long and about 75 feet wide. It too was to be made of curtains made of the finest linen. Clear oil of pressed olives was to be used for the lamps which were to be kept burning from evening until morning. Aaron and his sons were in charge of keeping the lamps lit.
Tomorrow we'll learn about the priestly garments and the consecration of the Priests by reading Exodus ch 28 & 29
Tomorrow we'll learn about the priestly garments and the consecration of the Priests by reading Exodus ch 28 & 29
20100124
Jan 24, 2010 Exodus 21:22-25:9
We left off yesterday at the beginning of a list of 613 laws that elaborate on the basic 10. Now, I must admit that I am not a lawyer or a bible scholar. I do have a degree in accounting, but I'm pretty sure that that one mainly would fall under "Thou shalt not steal." Now, alot of these are mainly common sense. You know, just be nice to each other! After all the children of Israel were ALL related. I know some families where this isn't such good news. Frankly, I admit to having been pretty much shocked about the things people do to each other, all the while convincing themselves how right they are, and how it's justified in some way. Alot of the commandments are just common sense. The ten commandments are recognized as a moral foundation in Jusaism, Christianity and Islam. Everyone is related in some way to someone, if only we could go back far enough, we could trace our lineage to Noah and to Adam! That should mean something. It's mindbogling to me when I imagine the possibilities. At about that time I give it to God.
In today's bible passage, there are further laws about personal injury, some of which we mentioned yesterday. Followed by laws about protection of property, social responsibility, justice and mercy, sabbath, and three annual festivals, I know that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible. (These are called the pentateuch, which is greek for 5 books. That's about the extent of my scholarly information.) I imagine him in the role of judge and settling disputes and hearing these cases all day long. There must have been some common occurrences to make it necessary for the 613 laws to be written down by Moses. Something else that strikes me about these laws, is that even though they were written aeons ago, many of them are things people are still doing to each other today - though the punishments have changed in some cultures anyway.
At the end of Chapter 23 God tells Moses that he is sending an angel ahead of the people to guard them and guide them. They were to listen to him and do what he told them. He would protect them from other tribes of people not chosen by God.
Then God told Moses to come up on the mountain with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and 70 elders of Israel. Moses was to go up to the Lord alone though. When Moses told everyone about all the Lord's words and laws they all said they'd do all the Lord had told them to do. Then Moses wrote it all down. Moses made a blood sacrifice and sealed his covenant (promise) with God. Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu as well as the 70 elders went up to Mt.Sinai and saw God and ate and drank. I don't know why I am surprised that it sounds like they had a reception. Why not? We are talking about God here and with God nothing is impossible. Under God's feet was a pavement of sapphire as clear as the sky. God told Moses that He would give him the stone tablets on which He had written the law and commandment to use to teach the people. Moses went with Joshua further up the mountain and left the others below with Aaron and Hur in charge. A cloud covered the mountain for 6 days. It looked like the mountain was on fire to those remaining below. On the 7th day God called to Moses then he entered the cloud and spent 40 days and 40 nights there. During this time God gave Moses specific instructions and plans for his sanctuary or tabernacle and told him to follow the design precisely.
God tells Moses to tell the Israelites to bring him an offering. Moses is to receive these offerings given by men whose hearts prompt them to give. A free will offering - literally. The list of what was needed in order to create God's sanctuary, were highly valuable items - the best of the best - precious metals, gemstones, linen yarn in vivid blue, purple, and red, and goat hair, animal skins, acacia wood, olive oil, spices, and anointing oil and incense.
Tomorrow read Exodus 25:10-27:21
In today's bible passage, there are further laws about personal injury, some of which we mentioned yesterday. Followed by laws about protection of property, social responsibility, justice and mercy, sabbath, and three annual festivals, I know that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible. (These are called the pentateuch, which is greek for 5 books. That's about the extent of my scholarly information.) I imagine him in the role of judge and settling disputes and hearing these cases all day long. There must have been some common occurrences to make it necessary for the 613 laws to be written down by Moses. Something else that strikes me about these laws, is that even though they were written aeons ago, many of them are things people are still doing to each other today - though the punishments have changed in some cultures anyway.
At the end of Chapter 23 God tells Moses that he is sending an angel ahead of the people to guard them and guide them. They were to listen to him and do what he told them. He would protect them from other tribes of people not chosen by God.
Then God told Moses to come up on the mountain with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and 70 elders of Israel. Moses was to go up to the Lord alone though. When Moses told everyone about all the Lord's words and laws they all said they'd do all the Lord had told them to do. Then Moses wrote it all down. Moses made a blood sacrifice and sealed his covenant (promise) with God. Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu as well as the 70 elders went up to Mt.Sinai and saw God and ate and drank. I don't know why I am surprised that it sounds like they had a reception. Why not? We are talking about God here and with God nothing is impossible. Under God's feet was a pavement of sapphire as clear as the sky. God told Moses that He would give him the stone tablets on which He had written the law and commandment to use to teach the people. Moses went with Joshua further up the mountain and left the others below with Aaron and Hur in charge. A cloud covered the mountain for 6 days. It looked like the mountain was on fire to those remaining below. On the 7th day God called to Moses then he entered the cloud and spent 40 days and 40 nights there. During this time God gave Moses specific instructions and plans for his sanctuary or tabernacle and told him to follow the design precisely.
God tells Moses to tell the Israelites to bring him an offering. Moses is to receive these offerings given by men whose hearts prompt them to give. A free will offering - literally. The list of what was needed in order to create God's sanctuary, were highly valuable items - the best of the best - precious metals, gemstones, linen yarn in vivid blue, purple, and red, and goat hair, animal skins, acacia wood, olive oil, spices, and anointing oil and incense.
Tomorrow read Exodus 25:10-27:21
20100123
Jan 23, 2010 Exodus 18-21:21
So Jethro, Zipporah's father comes to visit Moses. He's heard about what's happened and wants to hear it directly from his son-in-law. So of course Moses tells him about everything. Jethro, a man of God was delighted to hear about all the good works of God. While he was there, he witnessed Moses sitting as the sole judge to settle disputes among the children of Israel. It was an enormous job. Too big for just one man. So Jethro offered Moses some helpful advice. He said that there should be worthy men appointed as leaders of every 10 people. Then those 10 are grouped into 5 groups of 10 or 50 people. Two groups of 50 would make a single group of 100 and then 10 groups of 100 people would make a group of 1000. Each leader was to settle disputes himself. If he couldn't do it then it went to the next highest judge and so on. This way Moses only heard the situations that were really difficult. Moses was their last resort. After that, Jethro went home.
The Isrealites came to Sinai where Moses went up on the mountain to hear what God wanted to tell him. God tells him to tell the Israelites that He "carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself". I like the image of eagles' wings. God had Moses go to the elders and have the people consecrated to get ready for recieving His word. The people all responded together that they would do what God had asked of them. God warned the people not to set foot upon the mountain or they would die. Only after they hear a ram's horn blast is it safe to go up the mountain. Moses consecrated the people, they washed their clothes, and Moses told them to prepare themselves and abstain from sexual relations.
In the morning of the third day the mountain shook and there was thunder and lightning and all the people trembled. God came down to the mountain and Moses went up and the people stood at the foot of the mountain. Then God sent Moses back to bring Aaron up.
Exodus Chapter 20 is where you can find The Ten Commandments listed. Some versions offer further explanations.
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol to bow down and worship them.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
God tells Moses to make an altar of earth for him and sacrice burnt offerings and peace offerings on it. I find this interesting that God wants earth, not fancy carved stones or gold or silver, but earth.
Chapter 21 describes the rules regarding Hebrew slaves and how they are to be treated. A Hebrew slave who marries can leave after 6 years with his wife. But if he has children the wife and children remain with the master and the slave is free to choose to stay with his family also. Then the master must take the slave before the judges and pierce his ear with an awl and he will be a servant for life.
Females could be sold by their fathers into slavery, but if she was to go free the master must let her be redeemed. She is not to be sold to foreigners. If he selects her for his son then she becomes his daughter.
Verses 12-21 list various punishments for crimes resulting in injury or death. Of note is the rule that a master could beat his servant with a rod as long as the servant didn't die. Ouch.
Tomorrow read Exodus 21:22-25:9
The Isrealites came to Sinai where Moses went up on the mountain to hear what God wanted to tell him. God tells him to tell the Israelites that He "carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself". I like the image of eagles' wings. God had Moses go to the elders and have the people consecrated to get ready for recieving His word. The people all responded together that they would do what God had asked of them. God warned the people not to set foot upon the mountain or they would die. Only after they hear a ram's horn blast is it safe to go up the mountain. Moses consecrated the people, they washed their clothes, and Moses told them to prepare themselves and abstain from sexual relations.
In the morning of the third day the mountain shook and there was thunder and lightning and all the people trembled. God came down to the mountain and Moses went up and the people stood at the foot of the mountain. Then God sent Moses back to bring Aaron up.
Exodus Chapter 20 is where you can find The Ten Commandments listed. Some versions offer further explanations.
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol to bow down and worship them.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
God tells Moses to make an altar of earth for him and sacrice burnt offerings and peace offerings on it. I find this interesting that God wants earth, not fancy carved stones or gold or silver, but earth.
Chapter 21 describes the rules regarding Hebrew slaves and how they are to be treated. A Hebrew slave who marries can leave after 6 years with his wife. But if he has children the wife and children remain with the master and the slave is free to choose to stay with his family also. Then the master must take the slave before the judges and pierce his ear with an awl and he will be a servant for life.
Females could be sold by their fathers into slavery, but if she was to go free the master must let her be redeemed. She is not to be sold to foreigners. If he selects her for his son then she becomes his daughter.
Verses 12-21 list various punishments for crimes resulting in injury or death. Of note is the rule that a master could beat his servant with a rod as long as the servant didn't die. Ouch.
Tomorrow read Exodus 21:22-25:9
20100122
Jan 22, 2010 Exodus 14:21-17
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord made an east wind blow all night and drove the sea back and turned it into dry land. The Israelites walked across on dry ground. Pharaoh pursued him with his horsemen and chariots. During the morning watch the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptians and made their chariot wheels fall off and threw them into a panic to get away. Then the Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and the waters flowed over the Egyptians, their horses and chariots, drowning all of them. The Israelites saw the power of the Lord and trusted him and Moses his servant.
Chapter 15 contains the lyrics of a song of celebration to commemorate the defeat of Pharaoh. Miriam, Aaron's (and Moses') sister, a prophetess, got her tambourine and all the women followed her and danced and sang. This grateful noise was short lived. Moses led Israel into the desert where there was no water. For three days they searched for water and the people started grumbling about what they were going to drink. There was bitter water available, Moses prayed and God showed him some wood which Moses threw into the water and it became sweet. The Lord made a statute with them and tested them. Basically they were supposed to listen to God, do what is right and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, he will not bring any of the diseases He brought on the Egyptians, "for I am the Lord who heals you." Then they found Elim with 12 springs and 70 palm trees, and they camped there. Sounds like paradise to me.
Next they traveled again and started grumbling, again, about being hungry and why didn't they just stay in Egypt where they had all they wanted to eat? Moses prays for them again, and again the Lord comes to their rescue. Manna from heaven! Described as being like white coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey, it looked like white flakes of frost on the ground in the morning. They were told to gather a quart or so - as much as each person would eat that day. The Lord tested them on this because when they tried to save it for the next day, it had maggots in it. On the sixth day they were to gather a double batch because everyone knows the Lord rests on the seventh day and he wasn't making dinner, so the sixth day was the only day they were allowed to take twice as much and on the seventh day there wasn't any on the ground in the morning.
Moses told Aaron to take a jar and collect a sample of the manna so the generations to come could see it. That would be so interesting to try a taste - except that it might be past it's expiration date...
They set out again and got thirsty again, and grumbled again, and Moses prayed again and told God he was afraid they would stone him. During this time the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. While Moses had his hands raised in the air the Israelites were winning. If he put his arms down the Amalekites were winning. How they figured that out it doesn't say, but they got smart and propped up Moses' hands and Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. God told Moses to write it on a scroll and make sure Joshua heard it because He would "completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." I can't help but wonder whether these people were aware that they were related to each other. I know we don't really see it that way now even though it's true. By the way, the picture above is a mural painted by me in my church hallway about two years ago. I hope you like it.
Tomorrow read Exodus 18-21:21
20100121
Jan 21, 2010 Exodus 12-14:20
Chapter 12 is the story of The Passover. The simple idea is that God gave the children of Israel very specific instructions about what to do to avoid being killed by the destroyer (portrayed in the movie by the creepy green fog), that by following these steps, their house would be "passed over" by the destroyer.
Every firstborn person or animal would die. Unless some very specific instructions were followed which were given by God to the Israelites. First, lambs were slaughtered at twilight and cooked over fire then eaten while wearing clothing of a specific type and style. The blood was painted on the sides and tops of the doorframe of the houses with a bunch of hyssop and then everyone was to stay inside until morning. This was the sign that the destroyer would leave the people inside that house alone. God told them to mark this day and commemorate it every year as a festival to the Lord. Seven days the people were to eat unleavened bread and the only work allowed was to prepare food for everyone. Anything made with yeast was not allowed to be eaten. There are more rules listed, check it out!
At midnight it happened just as God said it would. There was not an Egyptian house without someone dead.
The Egyptians urged the Hebrews to leave so more of them wouldn't die. (I can only imagine that if I were an Egyptian, I'd be pretty anxious for the Israelites to leave!) They sent them away with gold, silver and clothing, just as God had said. In all, the Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years.
Every firstborn was to be consecrated, both men and animals, and every year for a week no yeast was allowed. This was a reminder for every person of the great work that the Lord has done. The firstborn of every animal was to be sacrificed, and a lamb sacrificed to redeem each firstborn person. This foreshadows Jesus Christ and God's sacrifice of his firstborn son redeeming us.
Now Pharaoh thought that the Israelites were wandering around in the land in confusion, and, God hardened his heart. So God had told them to camp near the sea. Naturally Pharaoh had to go after them with all his soldiers, and horses and chariots and caught up with them. Of course the people were terrified and started to regret ever leaving. God told Moses to stretch out his staff and part the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Then the angel of God who had been leading the way moved to the back to separate the Israelites from the Egyptians bring light to the Israelites and darkness to the Egyptians. I wonder about the Israelites who after having seen all of the plagues and signs of their recent experience could be so doubtful about the power of God.
Tomorrow read the rest of Ch 14 to the end of ch 17
Every firstborn person or animal would die. Unless some very specific instructions were followed which were given by God to the Israelites. First, lambs were slaughtered at twilight and cooked over fire then eaten while wearing clothing of a specific type and style. The blood was painted on the sides and tops of the doorframe of the houses with a bunch of hyssop and then everyone was to stay inside until morning. This was the sign that the destroyer would leave the people inside that house alone. God told them to mark this day and commemorate it every year as a festival to the Lord. Seven days the people were to eat unleavened bread and the only work allowed was to prepare food for everyone. Anything made with yeast was not allowed to be eaten. There are more rules listed, check it out!
At midnight it happened just as God said it would. There was not an Egyptian house without someone dead.
The Egyptians urged the Hebrews to leave so more of them wouldn't die. (I can only imagine that if I were an Egyptian, I'd be pretty anxious for the Israelites to leave!) They sent them away with gold, silver and clothing, just as God had said. In all, the Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years.
Every firstborn was to be consecrated, both men and animals, and every year for a week no yeast was allowed. This was a reminder for every person of the great work that the Lord has done. The firstborn of every animal was to be sacrificed, and a lamb sacrificed to redeem each firstborn person. This foreshadows Jesus Christ and God's sacrifice of his firstborn son redeeming us.
Now Pharaoh thought that the Israelites were wandering around in the land in confusion, and, God hardened his heart. So God had told them to camp near the sea. Naturally Pharaoh had to go after them with all his soldiers, and horses and chariots and caught up with them. Of course the people were terrified and started to regret ever leaving. God told Moses to stretch out his staff and part the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Then the angel of God who had been leading the way moved to the back to separate the Israelites from the Egyptians bring light to the Israelites and darkness to the Egyptians. I wonder about the Israelites who after having seen all of the plagues and signs of their recent experience could be so doubtful about the power of God.
Tomorrow read the rest of Ch 14 to the end of ch 17
20100120
Jan 20, 2010 Exodus 8:16-11
So we're in the middle of a plague drama in Egypt. God tells Moses to tell Aaron to strike the ground with the staff and out of the dust will spring biting gnats or mosquitoes throughout the land. This time, when the magicians tried to do this trick they couldn't do it and they told Pharaoh that it was the finger of God. But Pharaoh's heart was still hardened just as God said.
God told Moses to get up early and meet Pharaoh when he goes to the water and say "Let my people go, that they may serve Me" and if not then "I will send swarms of bloodsucking gadflies upon you, your servants, and your people". In fact, the next day, they were everywhere - except - in Goshen where the Israelites live. Pharaoh called for Moses and said that they could sacrifice to God. But Moses said that it wouldn't be right because the Egyptians held the animals sacred that were sacrifices for the Hebrews and that they would be stoned by the Egyptians. Moses said that they would travel three days away to sacrifice to the Lord. So Pharaoh agreed to let them go into the desert to sacrifice if God made the flies go away. So Moses prayed, God made the flies go away, and Pharaoh went back on his word and wouldn't let the people go.
Again God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let the people go so they could worship Him. If not then all the Egyptian's animals would get sick and die, but not those belonging to the Hebrews. And it was so. Pharaoh's heart was still unyielding.
Next God told Moses to take soot from the fireplace, throw it up in the air in front of Pharaoh and it would become fine dust all over Egypt and everyone would be covered with festering boils. Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened just as God said.
After the boils, God made a hailstorm so strong that anything left outside, man, beast, or plant was pounded until it died. God said that He could have killed them all, but he wanted them to know that He is God. It was the worst storm ever. It thundered and hailed and the lightening ran along the ground. Pharaoh lied again and said that he was wrong, but once the storm ended his heart hardened again.
God told Moses that he had hardened Pharaoh's and the hearts of his officials to show the children and grandchildren that he dealt with them harshly so they would know that He is the Lord. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh again and said that if they couldn't go worship God that there would be a plague of Locusts. The officials told Pharaoh to let the people go. The locusts came and covered everything inside and outside (ick!) Pharaoh asked which people would be leaving to go worship God. Moses said everyone and all their flocks. But Pharaoh said only the men could go and Pharaoh kicked out Moses and Aaron. So Moses stretched out the staff and brought locusts with an east wind - locusts were everywhere. Pharaoh summoned Moses and confessed his sin against the Lord and Moses and could Moses please pray to God that the locusts go away? Moses prayed, God heard, a west wind carried away the locusts, and Pharaoh heardened his heart AGAIN.
Then there came a plague of darkness. This was a darkness that could be felt. It lasted three days. Only the Israelites had light. Again Moses was summoned to Pharaoh who said the people could go worship, but not the flocks. Moses said that they must be allowed to have animals to sacrifice. Pharaoh said no again and told Moses that if he saw him again he would die. The Lord had told Moses that there was one more plague that He would bring. It seems that everyone except Pharaoh had great respect for Moses and regarded the Israelites highly. God told them to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold. Moses told Pharaoh what the Lord had told him that the firstborn of everyone from Pharaoh to the slaves and to even the livestock would die - except the Israelites - so they would know that God makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Moses told Pharaoh that all the officials would bow down and tell Moses to leave with his people and possessions and flocks and herds. Then he left in great anger. Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.
Tomorrow's read Exodus 12-14:20
God told Moses to get up early and meet Pharaoh when he goes to the water and say "Let my people go, that they may serve Me" and if not then "I will send swarms of bloodsucking gadflies upon you, your servants, and your people". In fact, the next day, they were everywhere - except - in Goshen where the Israelites live. Pharaoh called for Moses and said that they could sacrifice to God. But Moses said that it wouldn't be right because the Egyptians held the animals sacred that were sacrifices for the Hebrews and that they would be stoned by the Egyptians. Moses said that they would travel three days away to sacrifice to the Lord. So Pharaoh agreed to let them go into the desert to sacrifice if God made the flies go away. So Moses prayed, God made the flies go away, and Pharaoh went back on his word and wouldn't let the people go.
Again God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that he let the people go so they could worship Him. If not then all the Egyptian's animals would get sick and die, but not those belonging to the Hebrews. And it was so. Pharaoh's heart was still unyielding.
Next God told Moses to take soot from the fireplace, throw it up in the air in front of Pharaoh and it would become fine dust all over Egypt and everyone would be covered with festering boils. Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened just as God said.
After the boils, God made a hailstorm so strong that anything left outside, man, beast, or plant was pounded until it died. God said that He could have killed them all, but he wanted them to know that He is God. It was the worst storm ever. It thundered and hailed and the lightening ran along the ground. Pharaoh lied again and said that he was wrong, but once the storm ended his heart hardened again.
God told Moses that he had hardened Pharaoh's and the hearts of his officials to show the children and grandchildren that he dealt with them harshly so they would know that He is the Lord. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh again and said that if they couldn't go worship God that there would be a plague of Locusts. The officials told Pharaoh to let the people go. The locusts came and covered everything inside and outside (ick!) Pharaoh asked which people would be leaving to go worship God. Moses said everyone and all their flocks. But Pharaoh said only the men could go and Pharaoh kicked out Moses and Aaron. So Moses stretched out the staff and brought locusts with an east wind - locusts were everywhere. Pharaoh summoned Moses and confessed his sin against the Lord and Moses and could Moses please pray to God that the locusts go away? Moses prayed, God heard, a west wind carried away the locusts, and Pharaoh heardened his heart AGAIN.
Then there came a plague of darkness. This was a darkness that could be felt. It lasted three days. Only the Israelites had light. Again Moses was summoned to Pharaoh who said the people could go worship, but not the flocks. Moses said that they must be allowed to have animals to sacrifice. Pharaoh said no again and told Moses that if he saw him again he would die. The Lord had told Moses that there was one more plague that He would bring. It seems that everyone except Pharaoh had great respect for Moses and regarded the Israelites highly. God told them to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold. Moses told Pharaoh what the Lord had told him that the firstborn of everyone from Pharaoh to the slaves and to even the livestock would die - except the Israelites - so they would know that God makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Moses told Pharaoh that all the officials would bow down and tell Moses to leave with his people and possessions and flocks and herds. Then he left in great anger. Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.
Tomorrow's read Exodus 12-14:20
20100119
Jan 19, 2010 Exodus 5:10-8:15
The Israelites were forced to find a way to make the same number of bricks without straw provided for them. When they couldn't get the job done they were beaten by their taskmasters. The Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh, who called them lazy. So then they complained to Moses. Moses gave it to God and God told him that he would make Pharaoh let the people go. God said he heard the Israellites and would deliver them. When Moses told the Israelites what God had said they didn't listen to him because they were discouraged.
Next is a record of the family of Moses and Aaron. I notice that Moses' mother was named Jochebed (in the movie her name is Yoshebel) and was his aunt. The Israelites are literally the children of Israel (Jacob). That's a big family!
Moses began to fear that he couldn't be a convincing speaker - even with the power of God inside of him. (Even Moses had doubts about his own abilities.) God heard him and reminded him that He would be with him and he would also have Aaron his brother to be his prophet. They did just what God said. Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83.
God told them that He would harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply the miraculous signs so the people of Egypt would know that He is God Almighty. (You know how the Egyptians worshiped all sorts of Gods. I must admit that I wondered why God would harden Pharaoh's heart to make it necessary to have to do more miracles. It seems like the Egtptian magicians knew how to do many of the signs at first. Then I realized that God wanted all of Egypt to understand that, as Yul Brenner said, He is God.) So they went before Pharaoh and demanded, again, that he release the people. Aaron threw down his staff and it turned into a snake, then the court magicians and sorcerers did the same trick. But then Aaron's snake ate all the other snakes. Pharaoh's heart hardened just as God said it would. Then God said to go out to where the Pharaoh would be at the Nile in the morning and touch the water with the staff. The water turned into blood. The Egyptians had to dig in the ground to find water to drink. The next week God told Moses to go before Pharaoh again and demand freedom for the Israelites. Of course Pharaoh said "No" and this time frogs came up out of the Nile and covered EVERYTHING - even the bread dough in the bowls - eeeeeewwww! The Egyptian magicians could make frogs appear too.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to pray to God tomorrow and make the frogs go away. So Moses prayed, God did what he asked, the frogs died, they piled them up in heaps which stank. And Pharaoh's heart was hardened again.
Find out what happens next! Read Exodus 8:16-11:10
Next is a record of the family of Moses and Aaron. I notice that Moses' mother was named Jochebed (in the movie her name is Yoshebel) and was his aunt. The Israelites are literally the children of Israel (Jacob). That's a big family!
Moses began to fear that he couldn't be a convincing speaker - even with the power of God inside of him. (Even Moses had doubts about his own abilities.) God heard him and reminded him that He would be with him and he would also have Aaron his brother to be his prophet. They did just what God said. Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83.
God told them that He would harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply the miraculous signs so the people of Egypt would know that He is God Almighty. (You know how the Egyptians worshiped all sorts of Gods. I must admit that I wondered why God would harden Pharaoh's heart to make it necessary to have to do more miracles. It seems like the Egtptian magicians knew how to do many of the signs at first. Then I realized that God wanted all of Egypt to understand that, as Yul Brenner said, He is God.) So they went before Pharaoh and demanded, again, that he release the people. Aaron threw down his staff and it turned into a snake, then the court magicians and sorcerers did the same trick. But then Aaron's snake ate all the other snakes. Pharaoh's heart hardened just as God said it would. Then God said to go out to where the Pharaoh would be at the Nile in the morning and touch the water with the staff. The water turned into blood. The Egyptians had to dig in the ground to find water to drink. The next week God told Moses to go before Pharaoh again and demand freedom for the Israelites. Of course Pharaoh said "No" and this time frogs came up out of the Nile and covered EVERYTHING - even the bread dough in the bowls - eeeeeewwww! The Egyptian magicians could make frogs appear too.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to pray to God tomorrow and make the frogs go away. So Moses prayed, God did what he asked, the frogs died, they piled them up in heaps which stank. And Pharaoh's heart was hardened again.
Find out what happens next! Read Exodus 8:16-11:10
20100118
Jan 18,2010 Exodus 2-5:9
You might be tempted to just watch "The Ten Commandments" and believe Hollywood's version of the story of Moses. They sort of took the whole book of Exodus and turned it into a movie. I must admit that I do tend to see Charlton Heston in my mind'e eye whenever I see the name Moses. But the story is different. Still, I like the green smoke representing the angel of death in the passover scene.
Chapter two begins with the history of Moses birth and how he became the son of the daughter of Pharaoh. Miriam, his fast thinking sister offered to find a Hebrew woman who could nurse him for her. Once he was weaned he lived with the daughter of Pharaoh (in the movie it's Pharaoh's sister). Moses killed an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew and buried him in the sand. Next thing he knew, the Hebrews knew all about it and when Pharaoh found out he tried to kill Moses. So Moses ran away to Midian. Waaaay different than the movie.
I notice that the scene at the well seems to accurately describe the account in the bible. How Moses rescued the girls trying to water their flocks. The man was so grateful he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah as a wife and she gave Moses a son.
During this time the Israelites cried to God for deliverance from their slavery and God saw them and was concerned about them.
While Moses was tending the flocks he saw a bush that looked as though it was burning (it was an angel of the Lord) and decided to check it out. Then he had a talk with God. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. God told him that he had seen the oppression of the Israelites and heard their cries for help. He instructed Moses who to talk to and what to say. God said that Pharaoh wouldn't let the people go unless a mighty hand compelled him, so God said he would be the mighty hand to compel Pharaoh. God even promised Moses that the children of Israel would not leave Egypt empty handed, that they would plunder the Egyptians.
Moses was worried that they wouldn't believe him, so God turned the staff he was holding into a snake and turned it back. He turned Moses hand leperous and then restored it. Then Moses was worried that he wasn't eloquent. So God gave him his brother Aaron to be his speech-giver. God said He would teach them both what to do and say. And that he would have the staff for miracles.
He took his family and went back to Egypt. On the way Moses got sick and almost died. Zipporah, believing God was angry because she didn't circumsize one of her sons, circumsized the son and threw the foreskin on Moses' feet and said he was a bridegroom of blood to her. I don't have any personal experience with this manner or method of healing, but it worked because Moses got better.
Aaron went out to meet Moses who told him everything God had said. They spoke to the Elders of the Israelites. He also performed the signs and they believed. Once they understood that the Lord had heard them and was concerned about them they bowed down and worshiped.
So Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh - this part is very like the movie right down to making them gather their own straw to make bricks.
Tomorrow we read Exodus 5:10-8:15
Chapter two begins with the history of Moses birth and how he became the son of the daughter of Pharaoh. Miriam, his fast thinking sister offered to find a Hebrew woman who could nurse him for her. Once he was weaned he lived with the daughter of Pharaoh (in the movie it's Pharaoh's sister). Moses killed an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew and buried him in the sand. Next thing he knew, the Hebrews knew all about it and when Pharaoh found out he tried to kill Moses. So Moses ran away to Midian. Waaaay different than the movie.
I notice that the scene at the well seems to accurately describe the account in the bible. How Moses rescued the girls trying to water their flocks. The man was so grateful he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah as a wife and she gave Moses a son.
During this time the Israelites cried to God for deliverance from their slavery and God saw them and was concerned about them.
While Moses was tending the flocks he saw a bush that looked as though it was burning (it was an angel of the Lord) and decided to check it out. Then he had a talk with God. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. God told him that he had seen the oppression of the Israelites and heard their cries for help. He instructed Moses who to talk to and what to say. God said that Pharaoh wouldn't let the people go unless a mighty hand compelled him, so God said he would be the mighty hand to compel Pharaoh. God even promised Moses that the children of Israel would not leave Egypt empty handed, that they would plunder the Egyptians.
Moses was worried that they wouldn't believe him, so God turned the staff he was holding into a snake and turned it back. He turned Moses hand leperous and then restored it. Then Moses was worried that he wasn't eloquent. So God gave him his brother Aaron to be his speech-giver. God said He would teach them both what to do and say. And that he would have the staff for miracles.
He took his family and went back to Egypt. On the way Moses got sick and almost died. Zipporah, believing God was angry because she didn't circumsize one of her sons, circumsized the son and threw the foreskin on Moses' feet and said he was a bridegroom of blood to her. I don't have any personal experience with this manner or method of healing, but it worked because Moses got better.
Aaron went out to meet Moses who told him everything God had said. They spoke to the Elders of the Israelites. He also performed the signs and they believed. Once they understood that the Lord had heard them and was concerned about them they bowed down and worshiped.
So Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh - this part is very like the movie right down to making them gather their own straw to make bricks.
Tomorrow we read Exodus 5:10-8:15
20100117
Jan 17, 2010 Genesis 48:8-end Exodus ch 1
Jacob blesses Ephraim even though he is the younger son.
Then he gathers all his sons around him and tells them their fate. (Sort of like reading the will before he dies.) Reuben although firstborn loses favor in his father's eyes for sleeping with his stepmother. Simeon and Levi lost favor for killing all the men in Shechem. Judah is like a lion - king of the forest. Zebulun will live by the sea. Issachar will be like a donkey - forced to hard labor. Dan will be the lawyer and the judge. Gad will be a raider after being raided. Asher is like a chef or a caterer, delivering delicacies fit for a king. Naphtali is like a poet - he utters beautiful words. Joseph is like a fruitful vine, attacked by archers and made strong by God. He is the prince among his brothers. Benjamin is like a hungry wolf, a fierce warrior kicking butt and taking names. These are the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jacob knows he is about to die and asks to be buried with his fathers in the cave near Mamre in Canaan. We read about that back on the 7th - Gen 23. When Jacob finished giving his sons instructions, he lay down on his bed and died.
Joseph wept and mourned his fathers passing and had him embalmed in the Egyptian way. He asked Pharaoh to let him take his father's remains to the cemetary he spoke of. Pharaoh agreed and so the entire family (except for the kids) went and also the dignitaries of Pharaoh's court. A large entourage went to bury Jacob. They continued their mourning ritual and buried Jacob as directed.
Then the brothers have a guilt trip about all the bad stuff they did to Joseph and get scared that now that their father is dead Joseph will take revenge. So they make up a lie that Jacob said Joseph has to forgive them. Then the brothers fall down at his feet and beg for their lives. Joseph says not to be afraid, that he's not God and that everything worked out the way it was supposed to. (A wise man once told me "If it's meant to be it'll happen".)
Joseph knows he is going to die. He made his brothers swear that they would take his bones back home. After he died the brothers embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.
EXODUS
Ch 1 - Years passed and Joseph and his brothers and all that generation had died. A new king came into power who didn't know about Joseph and got scared at how large the population of Israelites had become. So he enslaved them to control them and made their lives bitter. He tried to have all the newborn boys killed by the midwives, but they couldn't do it. So the population kept growing. Pharaoh tried again to have the newborn boys thrown into the Nile, but the girls could live.
Tomorrow read Exodus 2-5:9
Ask God that His will be done in Haiti, that the people may be helped, fed and nourished, sheltered and comforted. Amen.
Then he gathers all his sons around him and tells them their fate. (Sort of like reading the will before he dies.) Reuben although firstborn loses favor in his father's eyes for sleeping with his stepmother. Simeon and Levi lost favor for killing all the men in Shechem. Judah is like a lion - king of the forest. Zebulun will live by the sea. Issachar will be like a donkey - forced to hard labor. Dan will be the lawyer and the judge. Gad will be a raider after being raided. Asher is like a chef or a caterer, delivering delicacies fit for a king. Naphtali is like a poet - he utters beautiful words. Joseph is like a fruitful vine, attacked by archers and made strong by God. He is the prince among his brothers. Benjamin is like a hungry wolf, a fierce warrior kicking butt and taking names. These are the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jacob knows he is about to die and asks to be buried with his fathers in the cave near Mamre in Canaan. We read about that back on the 7th - Gen 23. When Jacob finished giving his sons instructions, he lay down on his bed and died.
Joseph wept and mourned his fathers passing and had him embalmed in the Egyptian way. He asked Pharaoh to let him take his father's remains to the cemetary he spoke of. Pharaoh agreed and so the entire family (except for the kids) went and also the dignitaries of Pharaoh's court. A large entourage went to bury Jacob. They continued their mourning ritual and buried Jacob as directed.
Then the brothers have a guilt trip about all the bad stuff they did to Joseph and get scared that now that their father is dead Joseph will take revenge. So they make up a lie that Jacob said Joseph has to forgive them. Then the brothers fall down at his feet and beg for their lives. Joseph says not to be afraid, that he's not God and that everything worked out the way it was supposed to. (A wise man once told me "If it's meant to be it'll happen".)
Joseph knows he is going to die. He made his brothers swear that they would take his bones back home. After he died the brothers embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.
EXODUS
Ch 1 - Years passed and Joseph and his brothers and all that generation had died. A new king came into power who didn't know about Joseph and got scared at how large the population of Israelites had become. So he enslaved them to control them and made their lives bitter. He tried to have all the newborn boys killed by the midwives, but they couldn't do it. So the population kept growing. Pharaoh tried again to have the newborn boys thrown into the Nile, but the girls could live.
Tomorrow read Exodus 2-5:9
Ask God that His will be done in Haiti, that the people may be helped, fed and nourished, sheltered and comforted. Amen.
20100116
Jan 16, 2010 Genesis 45:16-48:7
We pick up the story as the news reaches Pharaoh of Joseph's family situation. They get a personal invitation by Pharaoh to move to Egypt and that they'll be welcomed with open arms. They return to Jacob and tell him that Joseph isn't really dead, he just runs Egypt! Jacob is stunned and he doesn't believe them. When he hears the whole story and sees the carts he starts to believe and his spirit is revived. So they load up the carts and move to Egypt. On the way Jacob has a vision and God tells him not to be afraid to go to Egypt. They give "a countin'" of the families, sixty-six in all make the trip.
There is a tearful reunion of Joseph and Jacob. They meet Pharaoh and he gives them land in Goshen. In fact, he says for them to manage his flocks as well. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. Pharaoh asks Jacob how old he is, he says he is 130 and that his years are few. An interesting perspective.
The famine in the world continues and people exchange everything they have for food, but they survive. Jacob gives them grain for seed and food and tells them to pay 1/5of their harvest back to Pharaoh.
Seventeen years later Jacob is near death at 147. He makes Joseph promise him that he will not be buried in Egypt, but in the land of his fathers.
Later Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh visit Jacob, who is sick. He tells Joseph about God's promise to make him fruitful and increase his numbers, and how he has given the land as an everlasting possession to their descendants. Jacob claims Joseph's two sons as his own, that from now on they will be counted as his.
Tomorrow read Genesis 48:8 to the end and Exodus Ch 1! Woo hoo we'll finish the first book of the bible!
There is a tearful reunion of Joseph and Jacob. They meet Pharaoh and he gives them land in Goshen. In fact, he says for them to manage his flocks as well. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. Pharaoh asks Jacob how old he is, he says he is 130 and that his years are few. An interesting perspective.
The famine in the world continues and people exchange everything they have for food, but they survive. Jacob gives them grain for seed and food and tells them to pay 1/5of their harvest back to Pharaoh.
Seventeen years later Jacob is near death at 147. He makes Joseph promise him that he will not be buried in Egypt, but in the land of his fathers.
Later Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh visit Jacob, who is sick. He tells Joseph about God's promise to make him fruitful and increase his numbers, and how he has given the land as an everlasting possession to their descendants. Jacob claims Joseph's two sons as his own, that from now on they will be counted as his.
Tomorrow read Genesis 48:8 to the end and Exodus Ch 1! Woo hoo we'll finish the first book of the bible!
20100115
Jan 15, 2010 Genesis 42:29-45:15
The brothers returned home and told their father all that had happened. When they emptied their sacks they found the silver and were afraid. Joseph blamed them for the loss of his children, Joseph then Simeon and now Benjamin! Joseph couldn't stand the idea of losing Benjamin too, but he said that if his sons didn't bring him back that he would die of sorrow.
Eventually they ran out of grain and needed more food. Jacob told them to go get more. When they reminded him about Benjamin he was unhappy thinking of the trouble they had brought to him. Finally Jacob got over his emotional outburst and began to think more clearly. He told the boys to bring gifts from their homeland. I can just see this old man ordering the contents of a very large gift basket; some of this and some of that..."a little balm, and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds." Sounds nice. So they went to Egypt and brought Ben with them plus extra silver. Joseph had his steward take them to his house and make them comfortable. He brought Simeon out to them. When Joseph got there they presented their gifts to him. But still they didn't recognize him. He saw Ben and almost lost it, but got to a private room to cry. He washed his face and went back out to them. He served them all and to Ben he served 5 times what everyone else got.
Joseph tells his servant to fill their sacks with grain and return the silver they had brought and also to put his silver cup into Ben's sack. So they left. Then Joseph sent his servant after them to find the one with Joseph's silver cup inside their grain sack and bring him back to be his slave. So they all returned to Joseph's place. They bowed down to Joseph and told him how their father would die without Benjamin. Judah tried to bargain with Joseph to take Benjamin's place. It was Judah who had the bright idea to sell Joseph to the Midianites in the first place and he was dealing his daughter-in-law a raw deal too.
Finally, Joseph could contain himself no more and cleared everyone out of his house except for his brothers. He revealed who he was to them but they were still afraid because they didn't recognize him. Eventually he convinced them. He laid out a plan to have them bring their father and all their households come and live in Egypt. He also told them that it wasn't their fault that he was brought to Egypt, rather, it was God's will.
Tomorrow read Genesis 45:16-48:7
Eventually they ran out of grain and needed more food. Jacob told them to go get more. When they reminded him about Benjamin he was unhappy thinking of the trouble they had brought to him. Finally Jacob got over his emotional outburst and began to think more clearly. He told the boys to bring gifts from their homeland. I can just see this old man ordering the contents of a very large gift basket; some of this and some of that..."a little balm, and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds." Sounds nice. So they went to Egypt and brought Ben with them plus extra silver. Joseph had his steward take them to his house and make them comfortable. He brought Simeon out to them. When Joseph got there they presented their gifts to him. But still they didn't recognize him. He saw Ben and almost lost it, but got to a private room to cry. He washed his face and went back out to them. He served them all and to Ben he served 5 times what everyone else got.
Joseph tells his servant to fill their sacks with grain and return the silver they had brought and also to put his silver cup into Ben's sack. So they left. Then Joseph sent his servant after them to find the one with Joseph's silver cup inside their grain sack and bring him back to be his slave. So they all returned to Joseph's place. They bowed down to Joseph and told him how their father would die without Benjamin. Judah tried to bargain with Joseph to take Benjamin's place. It was Judah who had the bright idea to sell Joseph to the Midianites in the first place and he was dealing his daughter-in-law a raw deal too.
Finally, Joseph could contain himself no more and cleared everyone out of his house except for his brothers. He revealed who he was to them but they were still afraid because they didn't recognize him. Eventually he convinced them. He laid out a plan to have them bring their father and all their households come and live in Egypt. He also told them that it wasn't their fault that he was brought to Egypt, rather, it was God's will.
Tomorrow read Genesis 45:16-48:7
20100114
Jan 14, 2010 Genesis 40:9-42:28
We rejoin Joseph in prison with his cellmates. They have had dreams they don't understand. They tell Joseph their dreams and Joseph interprets them. The cupbearer and the baker are to be let out of prison in three days. The cupbearer is to be returned to his old job, but the baker is to be hung. It all happens as Joseph said. The cupbearer agreed to mention Joseph to the Pharaoh but he didn't. Not until two years later when Pharaoh starts having strange dreams that he can't figure out. In fact, nobody can figure them out and then the cupbearer remembers his mistake and tells Pharaoh about Joseph. After a shave and a change of clothes, Joseph meets Pharaoh. Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams and Joseph interprets them as warnings that for the next seven years there will be abundance and plenty, but for the seven years following, there will be hardship and famine. Naturally Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of all of Egypt. Joseph being a good guy sets aside 20% of the grain grown during the first seven years to prepare for the famine of the second seven years. His foresight pays off because nobody in the world has any food and they all travel to Egypt for grain - even his own brothers. They ask for grain, but they don't recognize Joseph, but he recognizes them. He pretends he can't understand what they are saying by using an interpreter. Joseph pretends that his brothers are spies trying to find out where Egypt is unprotected, as if he doesn't believe that they just want food. They tell Joseph that they are twelve brothers, that the youngest is home with their father and another one is "no more". Joseph says he will test them and puts them in prison. Then he demands that they leave one of them in prison while they go and fetch the youngest brother and bring him back. As they are talking amongst themselves, Reuben says that they shouldn't have done what they did to Joseph and that they should have listened to him. Simeon was bound and taken to prison. Joseph sent the rest of them home with their grain and gave orders for their money to be secretly placed inside the grain sacks.
Let's all offer up a prayer that God's will is done in Haiti and that His will is that those poor souls will be comforted. Also, my daughter-in-law has received word that her father is not well and on his way to the hospital this evening. I pray that she and her family are held in God's loving hands at this difficult time. Amen.
Tomorrow read Genesis 42:29-45:15
Let's all offer up a prayer that God's will is done in Haiti and that His will is that those poor souls will be comforted. Also, my daughter-in-law has received word that her father is not well and on his way to the hospital this evening. I pray that she and her family are held in God's loving hands at this difficult time. Amen.
Tomorrow read Genesis 42:29-45:15
20100113
Jan 13, 2010 Genesis 37:25-40:8
We left off with Joseph in a dry cistern. A caravan came along and his brothers sold him to the merchants. They took his robe and put goat's blood on it and took it to their father with a lie that it was Joseph's blood and that he had died. Jacob was convinced and mourned his son and would not be consoled. Meanwhile, the merchants sold Joseph in Egypt to an official of Pharaoh.
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob is the subject of chapter 38. He married and had three sons. The first one Er, was wicked and the Lord put him to death. So Judah told his second son, Onan to take Er's place with his widow, Tamar. If he slept with her the baby wouldn't be his, so he decided to spill his semen on the ground to keep from giving his brother a child. (This is called a Levirate marriage, where upon the death of a childless man, his brother would marry the widow in order to produce a son for the deceased man. This child would have 2 fathers, one biological and one legal. Just in case you were curious...) So the Lord put him to death too. So Judah tells Tamar to live in his house and wait until his youngest son, Shelah, is old enough to become her husband. (I guess Judah really liked her.) Judah's wife died and he mourned her. Tamar must have been mad that even though Shelah was grown, Judah wouldn't let them marry. When Tamar heard that Judah was on his way to shear sheep, she changed out of her mourning clothes and into floozy clothes that made people think she was a prostitute. (Maybe she liked him too?) So when Judah saw her, (her face was covered with a veil) he propositioned her and she agreed to sleep with him for a goat. Since he didn't have a goat handy she asked for a pledge - like an iou of some sort. He gave her his seal and staff. She got pregnant, changed back into her old clothes. Judah sent his servant with a goat to pay her but he couldn't find her and no one knew who he was talking about. About three months later they discover she's pregnant and they think she's been a prostitute. So Jacob has them bring her out to be burned. When she produces the seal and staff of his he realizes what has happened he says that she is more righteous than he is since he wouldn't let her marry Shelah. Later she has twins named Perez and Zerah.
Let's get back to Joseph. The Lord was with Joseph so that everything he did worked out. He lived in the house of his Egyptian master, Potiphar. Now, because Joseph just made people feel like things were fine, they put him in charge. Potiphar was blessed with abundance and a lack of worry about things because of Joseph. The bible says that Joseph was "well built and handsome". Naturally the lady of the house was interested. When he refused her she kept trying to get him into bed, but he wouldn't go for that. So she set him up. She got hold of one of his cloaks and screamed that he'd tried to rape her. When his master heard about it he put him in prison. Naturally the warden liked Joseph and put him in charge! Eventually some officials from Pharaoh's court made him mad and he put them in the same prison with Joseph. Both of them had dreams that they couldn't understand. So Joseph tells them that's God's work and to tell him all about their dreams.
Find out what happens - tomorrow read Genesis 40:9-42:28
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob is the subject of chapter 38. He married and had three sons. The first one Er, was wicked and the Lord put him to death. So Judah told his second son, Onan to take Er's place with his widow, Tamar. If he slept with her the baby wouldn't be his, so he decided to spill his semen on the ground to keep from giving his brother a child. (This is called a Levirate marriage, where upon the death of a childless man, his brother would marry the widow in order to produce a son for the deceased man. This child would have 2 fathers, one biological and one legal. Just in case you were curious...) So the Lord put him to death too. So Judah tells Tamar to live in his house and wait until his youngest son, Shelah, is old enough to become her husband. (I guess Judah really liked her.) Judah's wife died and he mourned her. Tamar must have been mad that even though Shelah was grown, Judah wouldn't let them marry. When Tamar heard that Judah was on his way to shear sheep, she changed out of her mourning clothes and into floozy clothes that made people think she was a prostitute. (Maybe she liked him too?) So when Judah saw her, (her face was covered with a veil) he propositioned her and she agreed to sleep with him for a goat. Since he didn't have a goat handy she asked for a pledge - like an iou of some sort. He gave her his seal and staff. She got pregnant, changed back into her old clothes. Judah sent his servant with a goat to pay her but he couldn't find her and no one knew who he was talking about. About three months later they discover she's pregnant and they think she's been a prostitute. So Jacob has them bring her out to be burned. When she produces the seal and staff of his he realizes what has happened he says that she is more righteous than he is since he wouldn't let her marry Shelah. Later she has twins named Perez and Zerah.
Let's get back to Joseph. The Lord was with Joseph so that everything he did worked out. He lived in the house of his Egyptian master, Potiphar. Now, because Joseph just made people feel like things were fine, they put him in charge. Potiphar was blessed with abundance and a lack of worry about things because of Joseph. The bible says that Joseph was "well built and handsome". Naturally the lady of the house was interested. When he refused her she kept trying to get him into bed, but he wouldn't go for that. So she set him up. She got hold of one of his cloaks and screamed that he'd tried to rape her. When his master heard about it he put him in prison. Naturally the warden liked Joseph and put him in charge! Eventually some officials from Pharaoh's court made him mad and he put them in the same prison with Joseph. Both of them had dreams that they couldn't understand. So Joseph tells them that's God's work and to tell him all about their dreams.
Find out what happens - tomorrow read Genesis 40:9-42:28
20100112
Jan 12, 2010 Genesis 35 - 37:24
God tells Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar to the God who appeared to him while he was fleeing from Esau. Jacob told everyone to clean up their acts and get right with God and throw away their idols. So they came to Bethel. God appeared to Jacob and told him again that his name would now be Israel. Jacob (Israel) set up a stone pillar, anointed it and worshipped God.
They left Bethel and travelled to Ephrath. On the way, Rachel went into labor and was having trouble. She died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Jacob buried her on the way to Ephrath.
At some point in their travels Israel's oldest son, Reuben, sleeps with Israel's concubine, Bilhah and Israel found out. A real scoundrel that one!
So Jacob had 12 sons, their names were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (sons of Leah)
Joseph, Benjamin (sons of Rachel)
Dan, Naphtali (sons of Rachel's maid Bilhah)
Gad and Asher (sons of Leah's maid Zilpah)
Jacob came home to his father Isaac where his grandfather, Abraham had lived. Isaac died at 180 years old. His sons Esau and Jacob (Israel) buried him.
Chapter 36 goes into Esau's wives and children. Many descendents are listed as the Edomites. Recently I was on a plane coming home from Louisiana and my daughter was with me, working on a crossword puzzle. Wouldn't you know it? One of the clues was
about Edom. The first thing she thought of was Eden, but it didn't fit. Somehow I thought of Edom and it fit. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
Joseph was 17 when his story really begins. Isreal loved Joseph more than any of the other sons because he loved Rachel best. I imagine that when he looked at Joseph, he saw his beloved Rachel. To demonstrate his esteem for this son, Israel made a richly ornamented robe just for him. (google Joseph and the Amazing Techinicolor Dreamcoat or go to www.josephthemusical.com) In those days it was common for the oldest son to inherit everything. Now, we've been around the block with the older brothers and have seen how given to petty jealousy and other sorts of scumbaggery they indulge in, so it's no small leap to imagine how unfair they thought this was. Then, to make matters worse, Joseph has a couple of dreams where in various ways the other 11 bow down and worship him. Naturally, the older brothers plotted to kill Joseph. One day Israel had kept Joseph back with him while the older boys were with the flocks. Israel told Joseph to go to his brothers. It was Reuben who saved Joseph's life. He had planned to have him thrown into a cistern and then go get him out later. I guess he wasn't all bad after all! Joseph gets there and they take off his robe and throw him into the empty cistern.
See what happens next in Genesis 37:25 - 40:8
They left Bethel and travelled to Ephrath. On the way, Rachel went into labor and was having trouble. She died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Jacob buried her on the way to Ephrath.
At some point in their travels Israel's oldest son, Reuben, sleeps with Israel's concubine, Bilhah and Israel found out. A real scoundrel that one!
So Jacob had 12 sons, their names were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (sons of Leah)
Joseph, Benjamin (sons of Rachel)
Dan, Naphtali (sons of Rachel's maid Bilhah)
Gad and Asher (sons of Leah's maid Zilpah)
Jacob came home to his father Isaac where his grandfather, Abraham had lived. Isaac died at 180 years old. His sons Esau and Jacob (Israel) buried him.
Chapter 36 goes into Esau's wives and children. Many descendents are listed as the Edomites. Recently I was on a plane coming home from Louisiana and my daughter was with me, working on a crossword puzzle. Wouldn't you know it? One of the clues was
about Edom. The first thing she thought of was Eden, but it didn't fit. Somehow I thought of Edom and it fit. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
Joseph was 17 when his story really begins. Isreal loved Joseph more than any of the other sons because he loved Rachel best. I imagine that when he looked at Joseph, he saw his beloved Rachel. To demonstrate his esteem for this son, Israel made a richly ornamented robe just for him. (google Joseph and the Amazing Techinicolor Dreamcoat or go to www.josephthemusical.com) In those days it was common for the oldest son to inherit everything. Now, we've been around the block with the older brothers and have seen how given to petty jealousy and other sorts of scumbaggery they indulge in, so it's no small leap to imagine how unfair they thought this was. Then, to make matters worse, Joseph has a couple of dreams where in various ways the other 11 bow down and worship him. Naturally, the older brothers plotted to kill Joseph. One day Israel had kept Joseph back with him while the older boys were with the flocks. Israel told Joseph to go to his brothers. It was Reuben who saved Joseph's life. He had planned to have him thrown into a cistern and then go get him out later. I guess he wasn't all bad after all! Joseph gets there and they take off his robe and throw him into the empty cistern.
See what happens next in Genesis 37:25 - 40:8
20100111
Jan 11, 2010 Genesis31:43-34:31
So, after Jacob finishes his tirade Laban basically says everything belongs to him so why did Jacob think he should take it? But I think he knows that they wanted to go with Jacob and he says that they should make a deal. Jacob takes a stone and sets it up like a pillar and tells his relatives to get more stones and make a large heap of stones. Laban names it one thing and Jacob another. But they both agree that it's like a stone boundary between them and they agree not to cross it. They had a meal and spent the night then parted.
Jacob goes on with his group and sends scouts to his brother. They return and tell him that Esau is coming with 400 men. Uh ohhh. Jacob gets scared that Esau is coming to kill him because he still wants him dead. So he prays to God that He will save him since he's supposed to have descendents like the sand of the sea. He decides to give his brother a gift of animals from his flock: 200 female goats and 20male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. Jacob sends servants with every animal group and tells them to say that these are gifts from Jacob to Esau.
That night Jacob gets up and sends his household across the stream and he is alone. He wrestles with a man until daybreak. When the man saw that Jacob him pinned he told him to let him go. But Jacob wanted the man to bless him before he let him go. So the man asks his name and Jacob tells him and the man says his name will now be Israel because he has struggled with God and men and he has won. During the struggle, the man smacked Jacob's hip so that he limped.
When Jacob sees Esau coming he goes out to meet him and bows down. My guess is that no one is more surprised than Jacob (Israel) that Esau is happy to see him. The two brothers make up for they each have plenty. Jacob asks Esau to allow his company to travel at a slow pace to keep the young healthy, and he agrees.
Dinah the youngest sister of all those boys goes out by herself and is raped by a guy named Shechem who really likes her. I mean - he wants to marry her - likes her. So he begs for her hand in marriage and the brothers agree - if - the entire town will get circumsized. Now all the males in the town get circumsized. But what they don't know is that the brothers aren't interested in allowing them to live no matter what they do since they defiled their sister. So during the third day when the entire male population of the town is sore (naturally) they kill them all. They take their women and children and everything they can their hands on. Jacob is not happy because the other people in the country will be mad at him because of what his sons have done to avenge their sister.
Next read: Genesis 35,36,37:24
Jacob goes on with his group and sends scouts to his brother. They return and tell him that Esau is coming with 400 men. Uh ohhh. Jacob gets scared that Esau is coming to kill him because he still wants him dead. So he prays to God that He will save him since he's supposed to have descendents like the sand of the sea. He decides to give his brother a gift of animals from his flock: 200 female goats and 20male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. Jacob sends servants with every animal group and tells them to say that these are gifts from Jacob to Esau.
That night Jacob gets up and sends his household across the stream and he is alone. He wrestles with a man until daybreak. When the man saw that Jacob him pinned he told him to let him go. But Jacob wanted the man to bless him before he let him go. So the man asks his name and Jacob tells him and the man says his name will now be Israel because he has struggled with God and men and he has won. During the struggle, the man smacked Jacob's hip so that he limped.
When Jacob sees Esau coming he goes out to meet him and bows down. My guess is that no one is more surprised than Jacob (Israel) that Esau is happy to see him. The two brothers make up for they each have plenty. Jacob asks Esau to allow his company to travel at a slow pace to keep the young healthy, and he agrees.
Dinah the youngest sister of all those boys goes out by herself and is raped by a guy named Shechem who really likes her. I mean - he wants to marry her - likes her. So he begs for her hand in marriage and the brothers agree - if - the entire town will get circumsized. Now all the males in the town get circumsized. But what they don't know is that the brothers aren't interested in allowing them to live no matter what they do since they defiled their sister. So during the third day when the entire male population of the town is sore (naturally) they kill them all. They take their women and children and everything they can their hands on. Jacob is not happy because the other people in the country will be mad at him because of what his sons have done to avenge their sister.
Next read: Genesis 35,36,37:24
20100110
Jan 10,2010 Genesis 30-31:42
Now, Rachel begins to get upset about not having kids. When she complains to Jacob, he gets angry with her because he's doing his part, and to take it up with God. But instead of praying Rachel gives her husband her maid. Again, history is repeating itself! So Bilhah, Rachel's servant has two sons named Dan and Naphtali. Not to be outdone by Rachel, Leah gives her maid Zilpah to Jacob. She becomes pregnant twice and has two sons named, Gad and Asher. (I just can't help seeing all of this in my head like an episode of Desperate Plural Housewives - Oy!)
The oldest son, Reuben, is out in the field and finds some mandrakes. In the amplified bible these are also called love apples. Reuben gives these love apples to his mother, Leah. Rachel wants some mandrakes! She asks Leah for some and in true Wisteria Lane fashion, Leah gets all bent out of shape because Rachel gets everything and now she wants mandrakes too! So Rachel bargains a night with Jacob for some love apples! Leah goes out to meet Jacob to tell him the deal and they sleep together and (no surprise) she gets pregant and names her fifth son Issachar. Leah gets pregnant again and has her sixth son named Zebulun. Later she finally has a girl and names her Dinah. In those days the main purpose of women was to be fruitful and multiply, but Rachel was still barren. I find it interesting that Leah perceives her sister as the more fortunate one even though she has bourne seven children and Rachel hasn't even had one. But God hears her (I guess she finally started talking to the right person) and she has a son and names him Joseph.
By now Jacob is ready to move his wives, children, household and flocks out of his father-in-law's house. I don't blame him. It's been 20 years and he's ready to go back home. Laban tells Jacob that he's been good for business and doesn't want him to leave. Laban asks what he could pay Jacob for his service and Jacob says not to pay him anything. But Jacob would like to take all the speckled and spotted and black sheep and speckled and spotted goats. So what does Laban do? He says OK and then leaves with all the speckled and spotted and black goats and sheep. Jeez. Thanks uncle Laban! Now how Jacob knew how to get speckled and spotted sheep and goats by using poplar, almond and plane trees, peel them and set them by the watering hole where the animals mated and conceived, it doesn't say. But it works! Laban's sons were jealous and Laban was being a jerk to Jacob. The Lord told Jacob to go back home. He talks with Rachel and Leah who are disgusted with the way their father is being to them and they tell Jacob to do whatever God tells him to do. Then Jacob leaves with everything that's his and Laban chases after him and catches up with him and accuses him of deceiving him. But Laban says that he won't hurt Jacob because God told him not to. Laban is really angry because some of his idols have gone missing along with Jacob and his entourage. Laban searches through everything but can't find the idols. (Rachel has hidden them in her saddle bag under her and says she can't get up because it's her time of the month and she isn't well enough to get off the camel!) Oh boy.
Our reading ends right in the middle of Jacob finally giving Laban a piece of his mind about all the work he's done and how he's suffered in Laban's service.
Tomorrow read 31:43-34:31 (it's almost a numerical palindrome)
The oldest son, Reuben, is out in the field and finds some mandrakes. In the amplified bible these are also called love apples. Reuben gives these love apples to his mother, Leah. Rachel wants some mandrakes! She asks Leah for some and in true Wisteria Lane fashion, Leah gets all bent out of shape because Rachel gets everything and now she wants mandrakes too! So Rachel bargains a night with Jacob for some love apples! Leah goes out to meet Jacob to tell him the deal and they sleep together and (no surprise) she gets pregant and names her fifth son Issachar. Leah gets pregnant again and has her sixth son named Zebulun. Later she finally has a girl and names her Dinah. In those days the main purpose of women was to be fruitful and multiply, but Rachel was still barren. I find it interesting that Leah perceives her sister as the more fortunate one even though she has bourne seven children and Rachel hasn't even had one. But God hears her (I guess she finally started talking to the right person) and she has a son and names him Joseph.
By now Jacob is ready to move his wives, children, household and flocks out of his father-in-law's house. I don't blame him. It's been 20 years and he's ready to go back home. Laban tells Jacob that he's been good for business and doesn't want him to leave. Laban asks what he could pay Jacob for his service and Jacob says not to pay him anything. But Jacob would like to take all the speckled and spotted and black sheep and speckled and spotted goats. So what does Laban do? He says OK and then leaves with all the speckled and spotted and black goats and sheep. Jeez. Thanks uncle Laban! Now how Jacob knew how to get speckled and spotted sheep and goats by using poplar, almond and plane trees, peel them and set them by the watering hole where the animals mated and conceived, it doesn't say. But it works! Laban's sons were jealous and Laban was being a jerk to Jacob. The Lord told Jacob to go back home. He talks with Rachel and Leah who are disgusted with the way their father is being to them and they tell Jacob to do whatever God tells him to do. Then Jacob leaves with everything that's his and Laban chases after him and catches up with him and accuses him of deceiving him. But Laban says that he won't hurt Jacob because God told him not to. Laban is really angry because some of his idols have gone missing along with Jacob and his entourage. Laban searches through everything but can't find the idols. (Rachel has hidden them in her saddle bag under her and says she can't get up because it's her time of the month and she isn't well enough to get off the camel!) Oh boy.
Our reading ends right in the middle of Jacob finally giving Laban a piece of his mind about all the work he's done and how he's suffered in Laban's service.
Tomorrow read 31:43-34:31 (it's almost a numerical palindrome)
20100109
Jan 9, 2010 Genesis 27,28,29
It's so good to be home. New Orleans was interesting, but COLD!!! And I am in love with my granddaughter, Audrey. My son's wife is a lovely lady and I am happy to know her. I was thrilled to attend their wedding on New Year's Eve.
I love NFL playoff weekends because I get to see every game played! My team isn't in the playoffs, so I can enjoy the games more than usual. I made a board to keep the Divisions straight and because I do better with pictures than verbal explanations of how the Wildcard system works. I'll try to get a photo of it posted so yous can see it.
Genesis 27 is all about family feuds. It's sad really. Jacob and Rebekah scheme to steal Esau's birthright (even though he sold it for a meal earlier.) Now, I have been known to try to make things happen. I call it "pushing" - I push the situation to what I think is to my advantage only to discover that if I had just been patient and allowed things to unfold themselves everything would have worked out better. This is a lesson I have had many opportunities to learn. I am hopeful that I am finally beginning to believe that I can pray about a situation and give it to God every time I catch myself worrying about it. Neither Rebekah nor Jacob bothered to talk to God about his promise. God had promised that the younger of the two (Jacob) would be the leader. But they had to push and couldn't wait for God to do His own work in His own way. So they play a trick on a blind old man who also happens to be their husband and father, and steal the blessing from their son and brother Esau. I never cease to be shocked at the stuff people do to each other. Naturally, Esau planned to kill his brother as soon as their father died. Rebekah decided that Jacob needed to "get out of Dodge" until Esau cooled off. Conveniently, Jacob needed a wife. But Rebekah didn't like the local Hittite women at all and decided they weren't good enough for her son. Isaac told him to go to his grandfather and uncle Laban's to find a wife from among his cousins. So Esau finds out that his brother went to visit the relates to find a wife. Then he realizes that they REALLY don't like his wives, so he marries two more women from his own family.
Jacob has a dream about a stairway to heaven (good song) and God is at the top of the stairway and angels are going up and down. God tells him again how he will give him all the land under him and to the north south east and west, how his descendants will be like the dust of the earth (many) and that God will be with him always. In the morning Jacob took the rock he used as a pillow, set it up and poured oil on it and called the place Bethel (the house of God).
Chapter 29 tells about Jacob finding his wife. He comes to a well and meets Laban's daughter (his cousin) Rachel. He falls in love with her and asks her father (his uncle) for her. Laban says he can marry her after he has worked for seven years. So he worked for seven years (which seemed like only a few days) for the privelege of marrying Rachel. Laban tricks Jacob - what goes around comes around - by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. Then he says something about how they do things differently, that the older sister marries before the younger. After a week Laban gives Jacob Rachel, but he has to work another seven years. Now Jacob loves Rachel but not Leah. Leah knows this (ouch!) So God gives Leah four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Rachel doesn't get pregnant.
Tomorrow we'll pick it up with Genesis 30-31:42
20100108
January 8, 2010 Genesis 24:28-26:35
I picked up my new Bible from Vine & Branches today. I got a gigantic "Comparative Study Bible." It's awesome! It's about 4 inches thick which makes sense since there are 4 versions of the Bible side by side. So lets continue...
Rebekah ran home and told everyone what had happened. They noticed the bling that Abraham's servant had given her. Laban, Rebekah's brother ran out to talk to the servant and told him that he had a place for him and the camels. So they all went in the house and Abraham's servant told them the story. They wanted Rebekah to wait to leave for a week or so, but the servant of Abraham wanted to finish the task and deliver her back home. They asked Rebekah what she wanted to do and she was fine with going right away. So she and her servant went with Abraham's servant. Rebekah saw Isaac and asked who he was. The servant told her and she covered herself with her veil. It was love at first sight. Isaac took Rebekah into his mother's tent, and married her and she comforted him after his mother's death.
Chapter 25 Abraham remarried and had six more sons. He lived to be 175. He was buried in the same cave he bought to bury Sarah.
Now we get into the history of Isaac's sons, Jacob and Esau. Rebekah eventually became pregnant with twins. She could tell that they fought with each other even in her womb. The first baby to be born was Esau. He was covered with red hair. The second, Jacob was holding Esau's heel as he came out of his mother. Esau became a hunter and Jacob was more of a contemplative sort. Jacob had cooked some stew and Esau came in from hunting and was famished. He told Jacob he didn't care about his birthright since it wouldn't do him any good if he had died from starvation. So Jacob said he'd give him food in exchange for Easu's birthright and Esau agrees, eats, and leaves.
Chapter 26 There was a famine, so Isaac went to Gerar. We see history repeating itself with Isaac telling the King that Rebekah is his sister, not his wife. Like father like son I guess. The King looks out a window and catches Isaac and Rebekah acting like more than brother and sister and asks him if she's really his sister. Then the truth comes out and the King says anyone messing with Isaac or Rebekah will die. The Lord blessed Isaacs crops, and animals and he becomes very wealthy. His success makes the King ask him to leave. They have some scuffles over water wells and finally reach an agreement. The chapter ends with Esau marrying two Hittite women named Judith and Basemath who gave his parents grief.
Tommorrow's passage is Genesis 27-29
Rebekah ran home and told everyone what had happened. They noticed the bling that Abraham's servant had given her. Laban, Rebekah's brother ran out to talk to the servant and told him that he had a place for him and the camels. So they all went in the house and Abraham's servant told them the story. They wanted Rebekah to wait to leave for a week or so, but the servant of Abraham wanted to finish the task and deliver her back home. They asked Rebekah what she wanted to do and she was fine with going right away. So she and her servant went with Abraham's servant. Rebekah saw Isaac and asked who he was. The servant told her and she covered herself with her veil. It was love at first sight. Isaac took Rebekah into his mother's tent, and married her and she comforted him after his mother's death.
Chapter 25 Abraham remarried and had six more sons. He lived to be 175. He was buried in the same cave he bought to bury Sarah.
Now we get into the history of Isaac's sons, Jacob and Esau. Rebekah eventually became pregnant with twins. She could tell that they fought with each other even in her womb. The first baby to be born was Esau. He was covered with red hair. The second, Jacob was holding Esau's heel as he came out of his mother. Esau became a hunter and Jacob was more of a contemplative sort. Jacob had cooked some stew and Esau came in from hunting and was famished. He told Jacob he didn't care about his birthright since it wouldn't do him any good if he had died from starvation. So Jacob said he'd give him food in exchange for Easu's birthright and Esau agrees, eats, and leaves.
Chapter 26 There was a famine, so Isaac went to Gerar. We see history repeating itself with Isaac telling the King that Rebekah is his sister, not his wife. Like father like son I guess. The King looks out a window and catches Isaac and Rebekah acting like more than brother and sister and asks him if she's really his sister. Then the truth comes out and the King says anyone messing with Isaac or Rebekah will die. The Lord blessed Isaacs crops, and animals and he becomes very wealthy. His success makes the King ask him to leave. They have some scuffles over water wells and finally reach an agreement. The chapter ends with Esau marrying two Hittite women named Judith and Basemath who gave his parents grief.
Tommorrow's passage is Genesis 27-29
January 7, 2010 Genesis 21:22-24:27
The end of Chapter 21 shows us how Abraham and King Abimelech negotiate the use of a well that Abraham had dug, but Abimelech's servants had taken over. After that Abraham settled in the land of the Philistines.
Chapter 22 has the Lord telling Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. He gets up really early in the morning and gets everything ready. They travel to the place where the Lord told him to go. I have a very hard time with the picture of this in my head. I'm pretty sure I don't have the kind of faith it would take to do this. I noticed that when Abraham told his servants to wait with the donkey while he and Isaac went to worship, he said "We will be back." Not "I'll be back", or "see you later" or something like that. I think he somehow knew the Lord wouldn't have him kill the son he had waited for for so long. It foreshadows God's gift of his only son and gives a little perspective of how hard that must have been. Like I said, I don't have that kind of faith. But true to his word they came back and went home after an angel shouted not to kill Isaac. The Lord provided a ram for a sacrifice.
We learn about Abrahams siblings, one of whom is the father of Isaacs wife.
On to Chapter 23 where Sarah dies at the age of 127. He wanted a certain property to bury her on and because he was so well liked and respected, he was able to buy it and bury her there.
Sarah didn't live long enough to see her son married. The Lord made Abraham rich and successful in everything he did. Abraham sent a trusted servant to find a wife for Isaac. And Abraham trusted the Lord to show the servant who this woman was. The servant trusted God, because Abraham trusted God. The servant prayed to God because he didn't want to let Abraham down. God answered his prayers. I like how the servant asked for a very specific sign and Rebekah came along and did exactly what the servant had asked God to have her do! He gave her a nose ring (piercings are nothing new!) and bracelets of gold. The servant asked Rebekah if her family had room where his company and animals could stay. She said that they did and the servant prayed and thanked God.
Tomorrow we'll read Genesis 24:28-67, 25 & 26
Chapter 22 has the Lord telling Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. He gets up really early in the morning and gets everything ready. They travel to the place where the Lord told him to go. I have a very hard time with the picture of this in my head. I'm pretty sure I don't have the kind of faith it would take to do this. I noticed that when Abraham told his servants to wait with the donkey while he and Isaac went to worship, he said "We will be back." Not "I'll be back", or "see you later" or something like that. I think he somehow knew the Lord wouldn't have him kill the son he had waited for for so long. It foreshadows God's gift of his only son and gives a little perspective of how hard that must have been. Like I said, I don't have that kind of faith. But true to his word they came back and went home after an angel shouted not to kill Isaac. The Lord provided a ram for a sacrifice.
We learn about Abrahams siblings, one of whom is the father of Isaacs wife.
On to Chapter 23 where Sarah dies at the age of 127. He wanted a certain property to bury her on and because he was so well liked and respected, he was able to buy it and bury her there.
Sarah didn't live long enough to see her son married. The Lord made Abraham rich and successful in everything he did. Abraham sent a trusted servant to find a wife for Isaac. And Abraham trusted the Lord to show the servant who this woman was. The servant trusted God, because Abraham trusted God. The servant prayed to God because he didn't want to let Abraham down. God answered his prayers. I like how the servant asked for a very specific sign and Rebekah came along and did exactly what the servant had asked God to have her do! He gave her a nose ring (piercings are nothing new!) and bracelets of gold. The servant asked Rebekah if her family had room where his company and animals could stay. She said that they did and the servant prayed and thanked God.
Tomorrow we'll read Genesis 24:28-67, 25 & 26
20100107
Jan 6, 2010 Genesis 18:9-21:21
It's great to be back home in California. Yesterday's travel prevented access. The plane had wi-fi, but the iphone didn't have enough juice, sorry about that!
Back to the Bible!
Abraham seems to understand that these three visitors are very special and goes all out to see to their comfort. He was right because one of them was the Lord. The Lord tells Abraham that he'll return in a year and when he does Sarah and Abraham will be parents. Sarah hears this and laughs at the Lord! The Lord asks "Why did Sarah laugh?" Sarah lies and says she didn't, but the Lord says he heard her. So not only does the Lord see us, he hears us too. And he forgives us even if we lie to him.
Turns out that the Lord is on a recon mission to check out Sodom and Gomorrah, because he heard that they were really wicked. He brought two angels with him. The Lord stays with Abraham and the two angels go on down to Soddom. Abraham is concerned that there will be good people destroyed along with the evil. So he starts asking the Lord if he would spare the city if there were 50 good people in it. The Lord says he would spare the city for 50 good people. Then they have the same discussion for 45 good people, 40 good people, 30 good people, 20 good people, and finally 10 good people. If there had been 10 good people in Sodom it wouldn't have been destroyed! After that the Lord leaves and Abraham goes back home.
So by now the the two angels arrive in Sodom and are greeted by Lot who lives there. He offers them hospitality and insists that they stay with him in his home. Then things start to get really creepy. All the men in Sodom gather outside of Lot's house demanding to have sex with the two new guys in Lot's house. Even creepier (to me) Lot tells them they can have his two unmarried daughters instead of the two new guys. The crown isn't satisfied and starts to break down the door. The two guys who are really angels, make them all blind. The angels tell Lot to take his family and run to the hills and don't look back. Lot says he can't get all the way to the hills that fast, but he can get to another little town, so the angels say they won't do anything until he is safe.
So Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. Lot's wife looked back and is turned into a block of salt. Abraham could see down into the valley where Sodom and Gomorrah were burning "like a flaming furnace."
This chapter is full of weirdness! Lot is scared for his safety and takes his two daughters to a cave in the hills. They want to have babies, so they get their father drunk and sleep with him and get pregnant. The older daughter has a son she names Moab, the younger has a son named Benammi. They are the ancestors of the Moabites, and the Ammonites.
Chapter 20 has Abraham telling people Sarah is his sister again. King Abimelech has a dream and God tells him what's really going on. King Abimelech asks Abraham why he lied and Abraham says he was making assumtions about what people would do. All that ever does is prevent communication. So the King gives Sarah back to Abraham as well as sheep, cattle and slaves and 1000 pieces of silver.
So in Chapter 21 Sarah has the baby. God keeps his promises. Sarah gets jealous of Hagar and Ishmael again and has Abraham kick them out. They wander around and run out of water, which is a really bad thing in the desert. Then while Hagar is crying and angel speaks to her and tells her "Don't be afraid". Then God lets her see a well and she gets water for her and her son. He became an expert with his bow and arrows and married the Egyptian woman his mom chose for him.
Back to the Bible!
Abraham seems to understand that these three visitors are very special and goes all out to see to their comfort. He was right because one of them was the Lord. The Lord tells Abraham that he'll return in a year and when he does Sarah and Abraham will be parents. Sarah hears this and laughs at the Lord! The Lord asks "Why did Sarah laugh?" Sarah lies and says she didn't, but the Lord says he heard her. So not only does the Lord see us, he hears us too. And he forgives us even if we lie to him.
Turns out that the Lord is on a recon mission to check out Sodom and Gomorrah, because he heard that they were really wicked. He brought two angels with him. The Lord stays with Abraham and the two angels go on down to Soddom. Abraham is concerned that there will be good people destroyed along with the evil. So he starts asking the Lord if he would spare the city if there were 50 good people in it. The Lord says he would spare the city for 50 good people. Then they have the same discussion for 45 good people, 40 good people, 30 good people, 20 good people, and finally 10 good people. If there had been 10 good people in Sodom it wouldn't have been destroyed! After that the Lord leaves and Abraham goes back home.
So by now the the two angels arrive in Sodom and are greeted by Lot who lives there. He offers them hospitality and insists that they stay with him in his home. Then things start to get really creepy. All the men in Sodom gather outside of Lot's house demanding to have sex with the two new guys in Lot's house. Even creepier (to me) Lot tells them they can have his two unmarried daughters instead of the two new guys. The crown isn't satisfied and starts to break down the door. The two guys who are really angels, make them all blind. The angels tell Lot to take his family and run to the hills and don't look back. Lot says he can't get all the way to the hills that fast, but he can get to another little town, so the angels say they won't do anything until he is safe.
So Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. Lot's wife looked back and is turned into a block of salt. Abraham could see down into the valley where Sodom and Gomorrah were burning "like a flaming furnace."
This chapter is full of weirdness! Lot is scared for his safety and takes his two daughters to a cave in the hills. They want to have babies, so they get their father drunk and sleep with him and get pregnant. The older daughter has a son she names Moab, the younger has a son named Benammi. They are the ancestors of the Moabites, and the Ammonites.
Chapter 20 has Abraham telling people Sarah is his sister again. King Abimelech has a dream and God tells him what's really going on. King Abimelech asks Abraham why he lied and Abraham says he was making assumtions about what people would do. All that ever does is prevent communication. So the King gives Sarah back to Abraham as well as sheep, cattle and slaves and 1000 pieces of silver.
So in Chapter 21 Sarah has the baby. God keeps his promises. Sarah gets jealous of Hagar and Ishmael again and has Abraham kick them out. They wander around and run out of water, which is a really bad thing in the desert. Then while Hagar is crying and angel speaks to her and tells her "Don't be afraid". Then God lets her see a well and she gets water for her and her son. He became an expert with his bow and arrows and married the Egyptian woman his mom chose for him.
20100105
January 5, 2010 Genesis 14:14-18:8
So after Abram finds out what has befallen Lot, he rescues him and defeats the kings who were fighting. King Melchizedek(KM)of Salem serves bread and wine (a symbol of life and joy) to Abram and blesses him. Abram gives KM 10 percent of everything he has. I like this part where Abram says he won't take so much as a sandal strap from KM. It reminds me of Forest Gump when he says there's only so much money a man needs and the rest is just for show. I think if more people thought about wealth this way more people would have more.
God makes a promise to Abram in a vision. He says "Abram, don't be afraid!" This is cool because it is the first time God says don't be afraid in the Bible. Even cooler it is repeated 365 times. Once for every day of the year. So you now know not to be afraid! I hope it sticks pretty soon... I still get scared for no reason.
God promises Abram that he and Sarai will be parents to so many children they will outnumber the stars. He's like 100 and Sarai is around 90 years old.
Now comes the part where Sarai gives Abram her Egyptian servant to have a baby with. Now, this isn't something God told her to do, she just decided to do this all on her own. Things were very different then than they are in my life - there's no way I'd go for that! Anyway, the woman's name is Hagar. Hagar gets pregnant and is mean to Sarai about it, which makes Sarai really mad. Sarai kicks out pregnant Hagar out into the wilderness. Then an angel appears to Hagar and tells her what to do. I like the part where Hagar names a well where she stopped "The well of the Living One Who Sees Me" because I like thinking that God's looking out for me too.
God changes Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah, and says again how many nations he will have. Abraham laughs at God because he just can't get his head around this. The part of God's covenant that sounds painful is that every single male of Abraham's household must be circumsized. From eight days old to full grown old men, all of them must have this done. Ouch! I guess God would know that a man would be really SERIOUS to do this. God tells Abraham about his son who he is to name Isaac.
Three visitors appear to Abraham and he gets so excited he starts running all over the place preparing food and providing all the hospitality he can. He tells them he is honored to serve them.
We'll pick it up tomorrow with Genesis 18:9-21:21
God makes a promise to Abram in a vision. He says "Abram, don't be afraid!" This is cool because it is the first time God says don't be afraid in the Bible. Even cooler it is repeated 365 times. Once for every day of the year. So you now know not to be afraid! I hope it sticks pretty soon... I still get scared for no reason.
God promises Abram that he and Sarai will be parents to so many children they will outnumber the stars. He's like 100 and Sarai is around 90 years old.
Now comes the part where Sarai gives Abram her Egyptian servant to have a baby with. Now, this isn't something God told her to do, she just decided to do this all on her own. Things were very different then than they are in my life - there's no way I'd go for that! Anyway, the woman's name is Hagar. Hagar gets pregnant and is mean to Sarai about it, which makes Sarai really mad. Sarai kicks out pregnant Hagar out into the wilderness. Then an angel appears to Hagar and tells her what to do. I like the part where Hagar names a well where she stopped "The well of the Living One Who Sees Me" because I like thinking that God's looking out for me too.
God changes Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah, and says again how many nations he will have. Abraham laughs at God because he just can't get his head around this. The part of God's covenant that sounds painful is that every single male of Abraham's household must be circumsized. From eight days old to full grown old men, all of them must have this done. Ouch! I guess God would know that a man would be really SERIOUS to do this. God tells Abraham about his son who he is to name Isaac.
Three visitors appear to Abraham and he gets so excited he starts running all over the place preparing food and providing all the hospitality he can. He tells them he is honored to serve them.
We'll pick it up tomorrow with Genesis 18:9-21:21
20100104
Jan 4, 2010 Genesis 11:10-14:13
So after more famlilal connections we learn of the tower of Babel. God didn't like that the people made this tall tower without him, so he confused them by making them unable to understand each other with different languages. This seems kinda funny to me since I speak the same language as everyone I know but I still get confused A LOT!
My mom says, "You need to be able to work with people." I think what she's saying is that you need to be able to have a meeting of the minds with people. You know, get on the same page. I need to pray about this one, 'cause I need some help on this. Sometimes my ears are made of cement. Just ask my husband!
We start learning of this guy named Abram. I like this guy, I really do. He messes up over and over, but God still loves him anyway. They decide to go to Egypt. One of the parts I find amusing is that he is scared for his life because his wife Sarai is so beautiful. He believes that if men know that she is his wife they'll just off him and take her. So he tells her to tell everyone that she is his sister! Somehow she ends up married to the king. After the king suffers all sorts of afflictions but doesn't know why he somehow learns the truth of the situation and goes to Abram and tells him to take his wife back and that he didn't know she wasn't his sister and he gives him all sorts of stuff too.
Abram and Lot were traveling together with all their herds and wealth and they decided to settle down. They realize that there isn't enough room on the land for all of them so they decide to split up. Abram tells Lot to choose what land he wants, so Lot takes the best for himself. Abram seems to be the kind of guy who doesn't really think too much of worldly wealth (which is probably why he has so much.) God promises Abram that someday it will be easier to count the specks of dust than to count your descendants, and gives him land.
Chapter 14 begins with a bunch of kings fighting over real estate. Eventually Lot and his family are captured. I love the irony in this scripture. How many times do you get jealous because someone has something you think you want. Then later something bad happens to them exactly for the reason you were jealous of them! Then suddenly you don't feel jealousy but pity. I guess that's the lesson!
Tomorrow read Genesis 14:14-18:8
My mom says, "You need to be able to work with people." I think what she's saying is that you need to be able to have a meeting of the minds with people. You know, get on the same page. I need to pray about this one, 'cause I need some help on this. Sometimes my ears are made of cement. Just ask my husband!
We start learning of this guy named Abram. I like this guy, I really do. He messes up over and over, but God still loves him anyway. They decide to go to Egypt. One of the parts I find amusing is that he is scared for his life because his wife Sarai is so beautiful. He believes that if men know that she is his wife they'll just off him and take her. So he tells her to tell everyone that she is his sister! Somehow she ends up married to the king. After the king suffers all sorts of afflictions but doesn't know why he somehow learns the truth of the situation and goes to Abram and tells him to take his wife back and that he didn't know she wasn't his sister and he gives him all sorts of stuff too.
Abram and Lot were traveling together with all their herds and wealth and they decided to settle down. They realize that there isn't enough room on the land for all of them so they decide to split up. Abram tells Lot to choose what land he wants, so Lot takes the best for himself. Abram seems to be the kind of guy who doesn't really think too much of worldly wealth (which is probably why he has so much.) God promises Abram that someday it will be easier to count the specks of dust than to count your descendants, and gives him land.
Chapter 14 begins with a bunch of kings fighting over real estate. Eventually Lot and his family are captured. I love the irony in this scripture. How many times do you get jealous because someone has something you think you want. Then later something bad happens to them exactly for the reason you were jealous of them! Then suddenly you don't feel jealousy but pity. I guess that's the lesson!
Tomorrow read Genesis 14:14-18:8
Jan 3 reading Gen 8,9,10,11:9
Hi Y'all!
Technical difficulties prevented yesterday's entry... but I found a computer at my New Orleans Hotel and now I'm good to go.
We left Noah on the ark with the water beginning to recede. (An interesting corollation to NOLA and Katrina.) God told Noah and his family when it was safe to get off the boat. After they got out the animals left too. The first thing Noah did on dry land was to build an altar to offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord. After God promises not to destroy life on earth again he tells everyone to be fruitful and multiply. The rainbow is a sign of his promise to us. I have a really cool picture of a rainbow over my house, maybe when I get home I'll post it.
The geneology sequences in the Old Testament can be somewhat tedious. I felt this way until I found out that the Bible contains the genealogy of Jesus Christ from the time of Adam. Whenever I read these parts I keep wanting to make a chart of all the names just to see them differently. Maybe I will.
20100102
Genesis 4-7
We begin our reading with the story of Cain & Abel. So, Cain is jealous because God likes Abel's present better than Cain's. The first natural born human commits murder, fratricide to be precise. I'm kind of blown away to imagine that someone who has conversations with God kills his own brother, and I don't know what to think of the first human being naturally born committing the first murder. So, God continues to talk to Cain after the murder & punishes him by marking him and turning him into a nomad. And then Adam & Eve have another son, named Seth.
About this time people started worshipping the Lord.
Then we get into geneology, people with very long lives. But, in chapter 6 they talk about supernatural beings marrying the prettiest girls, and their kids becoming superheros & warriors called Nephilim. For a special treat, google on "the giants of Nephilim" and check out those images!
People, being how we are, became cruel & violent and God was sorry he ever made them. Then he told Noah to build the ark and gather the animals, put his wife, sons & daughters in law aboard, and when they were all aboard God closed the door.
I know this is God's doing but I can't help wondering what it would have been like to be on that boat for 150 days until the water started going down, yikes! I suppose it was better than the alternative!
Tomorrow's read - Genesis 8-11:9
We begin our reading with the story of Cain & Abel. So, Cain is jealous because God likes Abel's present better than Cain's. The first natural born human commits murder, fratricide to be precise. I'm kind of blown away to imagine that someone who has conversations with God kills his own brother, and I don't know what to think of the first human being naturally born committing the first murder. So, God continues to talk to Cain after the murder & punishes him by marking him and turning him into a nomad. And then Adam & Eve have another son, named Seth.
About this time people started worshipping the Lord.
Then we get into geneology, people with very long lives. But, in chapter 6 they talk about supernatural beings marrying the prettiest girls, and their kids becoming superheros & warriors called Nephilim. For a special treat, google on "the giants of Nephilim" and check out those images!
People, being how we are, became cruel & violent and God was sorry he ever made them. Then he told Noah to build the ark and gather the animals, put his wife, sons & daughters in law aboard, and when they were all aboard God closed the door.
I know this is God's doing but I can't help wondering what it would have been like to be on that boat for 150 days until the water started going down, yikes! I suppose it was better than the alternative!
Tomorrow's read - Genesis 8-11:9
20100101
Happy New Year! Genesis chapter 1-3
Hey y'all, Happy New Year!
Yes, I said y'all (I'm in Louisiana)
Today I read Genesis chapters 1,2 & 3. God sure got a lot done in a week! He invented time, the sky, the Earth, the oceans, food, light, land animals & sea creatures, and a man.
Once I heard a joke that God looked at the man and decided he could do better and so he created woman! Then there's the thing about the trees, one gave life and one gave the power to know the difference between right & wrong (death). God said, eat the fruit of any tree but not this one! You got one job - don't eat the fruit of this tree! So, then comes this snake, (everytime I read this I think of Kaa from The Jungle Book.) Anyway - maybe she was having a bad day, but she listened to this snake, seems like a weird choice, but I wasn't there. And then, all kinds of bad stuff happened and they got kicked out of the garden.
Turns out - God was also the world's first fashion designer! So the chapter ends with these winged creatures guarding the enterance to the garden with a flaming, flashing sword.
At least the bible begins with a really good story! Tomorrow we'll read chapters 4,5,6, & 7. See ya then!
Yes, I said y'all (I'm in Louisiana)
Today I read Genesis chapters 1,2 & 3. God sure got a lot done in a week! He invented time, the sky, the Earth, the oceans, food, light, land animals & sea creatures, and a man.
Once I heard a joke that God looked at the man and decided he could do better and so he created woman! Then there's the thing about the trees, one gave life and one gave the power to know the difference between right & wrong (death). God said, eat the fruit of any tree but not this one! You got one job - don't eat the fruit of this tree! So, then comes this snake, (everytime I read this I think of Kaa from The Jungle Book.) Anyway - maybe she was having a bad day, but she listened to this snake, seems like a weird choice, but I wasn't there. And then, all kinds of bad stuff happened and they got kicked out of the garden.
Turns out - God was also the world's first fashion designer! So the chapter ends with these winged creatures guarding the enterance to the garden with a flaming, flashing sword.
At least the bible begins with a really good story! Tomorrow we'll read chapters 4,5,6, & 7. See ya then!
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