January 31 - Exodus 4-6: Moses Suffers from Self-Doubt

Today’s Reading: Exodus 4-6

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Moses' self-doubt hinders God's ability to make things right with his people.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Moses felt no one would believe that God sent him. So God gave him three signs to show the people that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sent Moses. He was then self-conscious of his speaking ability. So God chose Aaron, Moses' brother, to speak for him.
On the way back to Egypt, Zipporah, Moses' wife, saved Moses from God by circumcising their sons.
The Israelites believed Moses and Aaron. However, Pharaoh was not impressed. He punished the Israelites by ceasing their straw subsidies. The people grumbled to Moses. Moses grumbled to God. Moses questioned his ability and credulity.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God presents himself as "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

God does not present himself as the creator of the universe so powerful that all should bow to his every need. He reminds the Israelites of the ones to whom He gave the Promise. This is what connected them to each other and what would distinguish God from any other imitators – the promise of Abraham.
Even for Christians today, our God is tied to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is because the Promise is still for us.

Moses' lack of self-confidence hinders God's ability to make things right for his people.

Moses' objections come from his lack of self-confidence. What Moses does not realize is that God has chosen him. If God, the God of the Promise, has decided Moses is the one to bring the people out of Egypt, then Moses has the tools needed for the task. If God calls you to do something, he has already given you the ability to do it. Use these tools for the purpose.
Fear is one of the hardest parts for Christians to overcome. As I write this it has been two weeks since writing the last post (I started Nov. 1 to have enough backlog to get through the year). One of the main reasons was my feeling of inadequacy and fear that I had nothing to write. I'm not sure I have actually mastered that fear, but what I do know is that once I have finished my task I feel better and more confident. Obeying God gives confidence. To the stutterers (like Moses) – trust in God and let that trust guide you.

Pharaoh's heart would be hardened.

This is a difficult problem for interpreting this text. If God makes Pharaoh's heart unable to accept His authority, could Pharaoh be blamed? Some have tried to get around this by making it indirect – God knows Pharaoh's heart and it would not accept his authority, so God is describing what would happen instead of actively hardening his heart. There are good arguments on either side. However, what Exodus wants to present is this: Pharaoh's heart would be hardened to show all of Egypt and Israel that the God of the Promise is superior to any other gods that men serve. Whether Pharaoh is punishable or not is ancillary.

God tried to kill Moses because he failed to keep the mandated tradition.

Circumcision was not required to be righteous before God. Abraham was righteous before he was circumcised. However, God required all males that were associated with the Promise to be circumcised. What this episode shows is that if you wish to be part of God's ambassadors to the world, you must follow the traditions set by God. One must be circumcised to be a Jew. If baptism in the New Testament is treated the same as circumcision in the Old Testament, then the same holds today: anyone who wishes to be a Christian must be baptized. To claim otherwise shows disrespect to God's authority.

January 30 - Exodus 1-3: Moses is Chosen to Lead the Israelites Out of Bondage

Today’s Reading: Exodus 1-3

The Message

English Standard Version

Today starts Exodus, the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt to prepare for their entry into Canaan. Almost all of it will be easy to read. The last few chapters will be harder to get through. But as always, I will be leading us through with thoughts on how each day's reading contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Four hundred years later there was a xenophobic Pharaoh. He put the Israelites into bondage. They still prospered. So the king tried male infanticide. God blessed the midwives because they would not kill.
Pharaoh's daughter found a baby in the Nile. She named him "Pulled-Out" (Moses). Raised (secretly) by his Hebrew mother in Pharaoh's house, Moses identified with the Israelites. At forty, he killed an Egyptian beating an Israelite. Scared, he fled to the wilderness of Midian.
The Israelites groaned for God to relieve their suffering. So God called Moses to say that "I-AM-WHO-I-AM" wanted His people out of Egypt.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God chose Moses to lead the people long before he called Moses to lead the people.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

The Egyptians remembered Joseph for 400 years.

As the final footnote to Genesis, Exodus reminds us how Joseph saved the nation of Egypt. The people remembered him (and his God) for 400 years. It took that long for them to wonder why these Israelites were in their nation. When we unswervingly obey God, people will remember us for generations.

God blessed the midwives for deceiving Pharaoh and not killing the Israelites.

God blessed them with houses and families—even though they lied to the king. However, they were not rewarded because they deceived the king. They were rewarded because they protected innocent life. Deception is only acceptable when it promotes God's interest, not your own.

Moses was born to be the leader of the Exodus.

There is no luck in Moses leading the people out of Egypt. He was special from birth. He was raised as an Israelite in the highest house of Egypt during a time the king wanted all Israelite males killed at birth. He was willing to protect God's people. He fled his country when his own people rejected him. He protected innocent women from bullies. He never forgot his God, no matter where he went. Moses was chosen by God long before he was called by God.

God heard the cry of His people and saved them.

God wanted to help the people escape their captivity because he loved them and heard their cry. Jews continue to use this reason for honoring and serving God today. When we call out to God to relieve our suffering, God will respond.

God reminded the people that he was the God of the Promise.

This God was the God of their common ancestors, Abraham, his son Isaac, and the namesake of the nation Jacob/Israel. What is significant about this is that they are the ones who received the promise from God. So God is reminding the people that they are being saved by the same God who promised them a nation, land, and prophesied that they would become a blessing to the nations. What God do you serve?

The Egyptians would give the Israelites gold, silver, jewelry, and extra clothes.

This would serve as both punishment for enslaving the Israelites and how Israel would finance the years in the wilderness. Even though God uses bad situations for His good, the ones doing evil will still be punished. Even God's punishments help others.

January 29 - Genesis 48-50: The End of the Story of Jacob and Joseph

Today’s Reading: Genesis 48-50

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You are finished with Genesis! That means you have read two books. Only 64 to go! (And some of them will go by quickly!)

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Joseph finally gives the theme for the entire book.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Jacob lay dying. Joseph and his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, visited Jacob. He blessed them as equals to Joseph's brothers and prophesied that Ephraim (the younger) would become greater than Manasseh (the older). He then blessed each of his own sons. Judah would become a lion and rule over the nation; Simeon and Levi would not receive equal portions but be divided among the others. Then Israel died.
Israel's family buried him in Canaan. The brothers thought Joseph would exact revenge on them. He assured them God had meant everything to happen for good.
Joseph lived 110 years.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jacob's blessings were about the (eventual) nation of Israel more than the individual son.

Blessings in the Old Testament were not prayers to God to bless the people but sayings to the people about what God would do for them. So these blessings are each tribe's destiny when they do reach Canaan.

Three son's blessings were prominent.

Judah as "a lion's cub, … / home fresh from the kill ... / The scepter shall not leave Judah; / he'll keep a firm grip on the command staff / Until the ultimate ruler comes / and the nations obey him" (49:9-10, The Message). This would be the tribe that would supply the kings for nation of Israel and later the nation of Judah. Saul, David, etc. were from the tribe of Judah.
Levi, because of his temper and his willingness to kill, would not receive land but be dispersed among the other tribes. God would eventually make the tribe of Levi the priests and they would not have a province but be given parts of cities to survive.
Benjamin was a "ravenous wolf" (49:27, The Message). This would be the tribe that Saul of Tarsus, later the Apostle Paul, would come.
These are prominent because it shows that a nation of people will eventually take on the personality traits of its founding father(s). If the fathers seek to serve God, the nation will seek to serve God. If not, then the opposite is true. But this does not last forever, as we will read in the months ahead.

Joseph ends the story by giving the redemptive theme of Genesis.

When his brothers were scared Joseph would finally put an end to them, he reminds them,

Don't be afraid. Do I act for God? Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now - life for many people. (50:19-20, The Message) 

Joseph knew that God uses bad situations for good. Because of their sins and Joseph's faith God was able to save an entire group of nations. Joseph did not need revenge. He had been blessed more than he could ever care because he embraced his trials and believed God would carry him through them. Wow! What a great story!

Footnote

As we head into the other four books of the Pentateuch, you may find sections boring, tedious, or downright strange. I will continue to blog every day's readings and keep showing how each of these readings leads us to the grand theme of the Bible, God is setting all things right. Do not worry, we will make it, together!

January 28 - Genesis 46-47: The (Small) Nation of Israel Moves to Egypt

Today’s Reading: Genesis 46-47

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Joseph uses Egyptian culture to his advantage.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God reassured Jacob that he would be safe going to Egypt. So Jacob and his entire family left.
When the harem arrived, Joseph coached them to tell Pharaoh that they were herders so he would give them the land of Goshen. Pharaoh welcomed them and gave them that land.
The people of Egypt sold their livestock to Pharaoh in return for food. The next year they sold their land to Pharaoh. Joseph allowed the people to keep their land but required a fifth of the crops.
Jacob died in Egypt, but made Joseph promise to return his body to Canaan.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jacob loves his land.

Jacob was born on this land. He returned to it with his family. He had worked the land for decades. He does not wish to leave. But he must. He wishes for his body to return to the land once his dies. As someone living far from his home, this resonates with me.

Joseph uses the Egyptians' prejudices against them.

It is interesting that Pharaoh gives the best land to the Israelites (as they will later be called) because they do not want these livestock herders to live near them. The best land. And the Israelites flourished.

Joseph designs a just sharecropping arrangement.

Remember that Genesis is not a book of moral tales. It is a history of God's early people. However, and not to get overtly political (as I often do), this arrangement should be lauded for its simplicity and fairness. Joseph could have forced the people onto community farms and required them to give all of the crops to Pharaoh in return for enough to survive, as in communist countries of the recent past. But we know how that system worked (or didn't). The amount he requires as payment is only 20%. This means the people were able to keep, sell, and live off 80% of their labor, unlike other sharecropping contracts from around the world. This arrangement provided the necessary ingredients for a boon to Egypt's cultural progression and leads them to become an empire. When godly people create godly systems of government, all people benefit.

January 27 - Genesis 43-45: Joseph's Brothers Pass Their Test

Today’s Reading: Genesis 43-45

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God uses bad situations to set things right.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

When they could stay no more, Jacob allowed his sons to return to Egypt with Benjamin. Joseph fed them, giving Benjamin more than the others. The brothers suspected nothing.
Joseph told his steward to put Joseph's silver cup in Benjamin's bag. Later the steward caught up to them and proclaimed that the guilty one would become Joseph's slave. Benjamin was caught. The brothers begged Joseph for Benjamin's life. Joseph finally revealed his true identity – God had saved Egypt because of their evil actions. He told them to move to Egypt and have the best land. Jacob felt years younger.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jacob is very upset at allowing the only remaining son of his one true love go to Egypt.

Jacob had lost Joseph (or so he thought). He had only one son from Rachel still alive. To lose him would be too much for him to bear. That is also the reason the brothers fight for Benjamin's life. They want to save their father as much as their brother.

God prepared Joseph for this very time.

(Repeat of yesterday's comment)
What makes Joseph's story wonderful for followers of God is that he obeys God and God rewards him while he is still alive. But God does not only reward Joseph, He also rewards the people of Egypt and the surrounding areas. Egypt has been blessed by God and could bless the (nearby) world. This was the very purpose for which God had prepared Joseph. Being despised by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of attempted rape, imprisoned, forgotten for two years—all of these things were tests of Joseph's faithfulness. Our problems and trials may be God's preparation for a great purpose in our future. When we continue to submit to God and give Him the glory for all we have, God's name is honored among the nations and they will allow the Creator to make all things right.

Joseph's greatest accomplishment is bringing the glory of God to the Egyptian people.

The Egyptian knew the God of the creation. They knew the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew this God because Joseph told them about him through his actions and giving God the credit for all he did. When we act as God would have us to act, people will know our God and will make things right in their life.

January 26 - Genesis 41-42: Joseph Proves Faithful and It Saves a Nation

Today’s Reading: Genesis 41-42

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

See Joseph's attitude when faced with the potential for great fame.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Two years later Pharaoh had two dreams. At last the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret. Joseph consulted God: seven years each of plenty and famine for Egypt. Pharaoh made Joseph his second-in-command, in charge of all Egypt. Joseph married Asenath and had two sons, Manasseh (Forget) and Ephraim (Double-Prosperity). People from all over the world came to buy grain in Egypt.
Jacob sent his remaining sons, save Benjamin, to buy food. Joseph concealed his identity. He imprisoned Simeon and told them to bring their youngest brother to prove they were not spies. Jacob was very distraught.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Joseph gives God the glory for interpreting dreams.

Joseph proves his righteousness again by telling Pharaoh that it was not his ability but

God giving him the ability to interpret dreams. This echoes the theme of Genesis, when people submit to God, good things happen.

God prepared Joseph for this very time.

What makes Joseph's story wonderful for followers of God is that he obeys God and God rewards him while he is still alive. But God does not only reward Joseph, He also rewards the people of Egypt and the surrounding areas. Egypt has been blessed by God and could bless the (nearby) world. This was the very purpose for which God had prepared Joseph. Being despised by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of attempted rape, imprisoned, forgotten for two years—all of these things were tests of Joseph's faithfulness. Our problems and trials may be God's preparation for a great purpose in our future. When we continue to submit to God and give Him the glory for all we have, God's name is honored among the nations and they will allow the Creator to make all things right.

Joseph's brothers' trip to Egypt finally gave Joseph the chance to payback all that had been done to him.

Joseph's dreams came true. Here are 11 sheaves of corn bowing down to his. Joseph could have imprisoned or even executed them without answering to anyone. Benjamin, his full brother, was not there. He could have taken all competition from his little brother. Instead he gives them food, returns their money, and gives them a test. We will read the results of that test tomorrow. What great faith to have a chance at payback and not to give it.

January 25 - Genesis 38-40: Tamar and Joseph Prove Their Faith

Today’s Reading: Genesis 38-40

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God continues to bless Joseph even though he is brought lower and lower in Egyptian society and higher and higher in their hearts.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Judah married Shua, a Canaanite. They had three sons. The oldest married Tamar. God killed him. God also killed the middle son when he refused to honor his brother through conceiving a child with Tamar. Years later Judah would not give his third son to her. She deceived Judah dressed as a prostitute and conceived through him.
Joseph, a slave in Egypt, was thrown in jail by his master's jealous wife. God blessed him and he became the head prisoner.
Pharaoh threw two servants in jail. God gave Joseph the interpretations of their dreams. Neither remembered Joseph later.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Onan (Judah's second son) is killed because he would not honor his family by siring a son with Tamar.

No matter our thoughts on this practice, he was obligated to give Tamar and Er (Judah's oldest son) a son. Because he would not give Tamar a son God killed Onan. This story is not about sex or whether a couple should plan a family or not. It is about someone agreeing to honor his family and then reneging on that promise.

Tamar deceives Judah for righteousness' sake.

Judah agreed to help Tamar have a child. She waited for his youngest son, Shelah, to come of age. Yet Judah would not honor his promise. So she had to deceive him to have it fulfilled. Judah said, "She is in the right; I'm in the wrong" (38:26, The Message). The only way Tamar could get Judah to do what was right was through deception.

God's definition of righteousness is not limited to the set, black-and-white guidelines we normally understand.

This passage is full of what could be called "moral gray areas." Tamar uses deception to get Judah to give her a son. Judah thinks he is with a prostitute. Judah is married, not to Tamar. However, there is right and wrong. This right and wrong is not the same as what I would expect. Being right with God depends on each individual person's life within that person's community, not a set of global rules legislated and enforced by a distant group.

God continues to bless Joseph when he suffers persecution.

Joseph's attitude never changes toward God. Because of this faith, everyone could see how God blessed Joseph. Joseph is made a leader of criminals and even they follow him. Even when things do not go how we expect God will make all things in our life right if we continue to submit to His will for our lives.

January 24 - Genesis 35-37: Jacob and Sons Joseph

Today’s Reading: Genesis 35-37

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The list of genealogies is to signal the change from one story (or generation) to the next. In this case the story shifts from Jacob and Esau to Joseph and his brothers. It's like the commercial break, but with less consumerism.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God wanted Jacob to return to where he was originally called. So Jacob had his family throw all other gods out. When they arrived God officially changed "Jacob" (Deceiver) to "Israel" (God-Wrestler).
Rachel gave birth to Benjamin but died doing so. Jacob had 12 sons in total.
Esau's family grew large and prospered.
Israel loved Joseph, the firstborn of Rachel, more than the others. This made Joseph's brothers angry. They schemed to kill him. Instead, they sold him as a slave. The brothers took his coat and convinced Israel that Joseph had died.
Joseph became a slave to an Egyptian.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jacob was not always fully on board with God. However, when God called his family, they were willing to leave all other gods behind.

The people God used were not always fully committed to Him when chosen. However, when God called Jacob to return to Bethel Jacob made sure that everyone cleaned and threw out all other gods. When called, God's people answer.

Joseph's brothers' hatred came from Jacob's favoritism of Rachel, Joseph's mother. Joseph's dreams escalated the hatred.

Understanding that Genesis is not a book of parables but explanation of the early people of God, this story gives another example of Jacob's multiple marriages causing problems with his family—even to the next generation. Jacob loves Joseph because he was the son of his favorite wife, Rachel. The other brothers could not compete with this position. So instead they schemed to get rid of him. Favoritism's consequences do not end with one generation.

God is preparing Joseph for great things ahead.

This shows the second half of the (negative) theme of Genesis, God will use bad situations to bring a greater good for all.

Reuben had a good heart.

I only wish he had a better sense of timing.

And Finally, if you can't remember the names of Jacob's sons, thank Andrew Lloyd Weber:

Good luck getting that out of your head!

See you tomorrow.

January 23 - Genesis 32-34: Jacob Returns Home

Today’s Reading: Genesis 32-34

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

I repeat what was written yesterday. The stories in Genesis are not meant for us to emulate or glean lessons from. They are the chronicles of the ancient people of Israel. So remember as you are reading these stories are not meant for us to judge. They are meant for us to understand the people.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Jacob continued home with his wives, servants, and sons. Esau gathered 400 men to welcome them. Jacob, unsure of Esau's intentions, separated his family.
One night, Jacob wrestled an unknown person. He refused to let go without a blessing. The unknown person changed Jacob's name to God-Wrestler (Israel). Jacob wrestled God.
Esau welcomed Jacob, his family, and his herds with open arms.
A young man, greatly desiring Jacob's daughter Dinah, raped her. Jacob's sons required the entire town to be circumcised before allowing them to marry. Three days later, Simeon and Levi killed the men to revenge her honor.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

(Repeated from yesterday's comments) God's people are the same as people today.

The themes from today—women fighting over one man, businessmen fighting over who cheated who, grandparents sad and angry that their children and grandchildren move away suddenly—are the same battles people face today. The people from the Bible are not super-humans bare no similarities with people today. They are normal, everyday folks. God uses them. God can use us as well.

Jacob has been gone over 20 years. Esau has been able to recover from his feeling of betrayal.

Esau, who promised in his heart to kill Jacob the first chance he could after their father's death (Genesis 27:41) has now forgiven his brother of his deceiving betrayal. I hope it is because Esau has become wise in his older age. How wonderful it is to forgive a brother (or a sister) of a horrible wrong! May we be like Esau!

January 22 - Genesis 30-31: All (Jacob's) Children

Today’s Reading: Genesis 30-31

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The stories in Genesis are not meant for us to emulate or glean lessons from. They are the chronicles of the ancient people of Israel. So remember as you are reading these stories are not meant for us to judge. They are meant for us to understand the people.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Barren, Rachel gave Jacob her maid Bilhah as a substitute. Bilhah bore two sons. In response, Leah gave Jacob her maid Zilpah and she bore two sons. Leah and Rachel continuously fought over Jacob. Leah bore two more sons. God allowed Rachel to have a son, Joseph.
Laban and Jacob agreed to give him certain-colored animals. Jacob saw to it that all the strong animals gave birth to that-colored young and he prospered. Their relationship was rocky. Jacob left for home in the night. Laban chased after them. They finally agreed to peace and Laban returned home sad but satisfied.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God's people are the same as people today.

The themes from today—women fighting over one man, businessmen fighting over who cheated who, grandparents sad and angry that their children and grandchildren move away suddenly—are the same battles people face today. The people from the Bible are not super-humans who bare no similarities with people today. They are normal, everyday folks. God uses them. God can use us as well.

Jacob's marriage to Leah and Rachel (and subsequently Bilhah and Zilpah) gives the best argument for one man, one woman marriages.

There is no prohibition of polygamy in the Bible. Everyone who attempts to give one has to rely on inferences from other passages (Genesis 2, for example, is descriptive not prescriptive). What the Bible does have, however, is real stories of polygamous marriages not working well. Leah and Rachel fight constantly as rivals (they are sisters!) over Jacob's love. They use him as a bargaining chip for power. Their children are leverage over the other wives. And Bilhah and Zilpah become lost in the battle. If that doesn't scream, "Don't marry more than one woman!" I don't know what else could. But I must be clear, examples of something going terribly wrong does not make it a sin.

January 21 - Genesis 27-29: The Deceiver is Deceived

Today’s Reading: Genesis 27-29

 The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God uses bad situations to bring His plan into action.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Isaac wanted to bless his favorite son, Esau. Rebekah cajoled Jacob into tricking Isaac. Isaac blessed Jacob (thinking he was Esau) and gave him reign over his brothers. When Esau learned this, he promised in his heart to kill Jacob. Rebekah and Isaac sent Jacob to live with her brother Laban.
On the way God passed Abraham's blessing onto Jacob.
Jacob fell in love with Rachel, Laban's second daughter. After seven years of work, Laban tricked Jacob and gave Jacob his oldest daughter Leah instead. Jacob worked seven more years for Rachel. Leah, not loved by Jacob, had four sons.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Rebekah acted on God's earlier promise.

Before Esau and Jacob were born God told Rebekah Esau, the older, would serve Jacob, the younger (25:23). So be careful when judging her actions. They were not as sinister as we make them out to be.

Both Rebekah and Isaac want Jacob to go to Laban.

Rebekah wants him to go so Esau will not kill him. Isaac wants him to go to find a godly wife (as did his father Abraham). Rebekah also wants him to find a godly wife, but it's more because she's tired of the Hittite women Esau has married (27:46).

Jacob is a deceiver, but God gives him Abraham's blessing anyway.

Why God chooses Jacob is still a mystery. His vow is not one you would expect a godly man to give, "If God stands by me and protects me … this God will be my God (28:20, The Message). We want him to have Job's faith—obedience without conditions. However, this shows a major theme in Genesis, God will take the situations humans have created and still bring them to His honor. If you have a spotty past (or are not willing to fully serve God yet), God will still protect you. Through his love and protection we will see his greatness in the end. He is patient and willing for us to grow into giving Him everything.

Leah's attempt at gaining Jacob's love does not work.

She names her first three sons "Look-It's-a-Boy!" (Reuben), "God-Heard" (Simeon), and "Connect" (Levi). Yet Jacob still loved Rebecca more than her. So she finally decided to give up her plan and named her fourth son "Praise-God" (Judah). I'm not sure why that has always struck me as interesting, but it has.

January 20 - Genesis 25-26: God Chooses His Elect

Today’s Reading: Genesis 25-26

The Message 

English Standard Version

Hint: When you reach the genealogy section, don’t pronounce the names in your head. That way you will read the important parts without feeling overwhelmed by the Hebrew names.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God chooses one over another. Why he does this is … not up for discussion.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Abraham died at 175 years-old. Ishmael and Isaac buried him at Machpelah. However, their families did not get along.
God told Rebekah that her twin sons would become two great nations and the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). Esau had red hair all over his body and enjoyed hunting. Jacob enjoyed tents. Each parent chose a favorite. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal.
Isaac inherits Abraham's covenant. Abimelech, once deceived by Isaac and Rebekah, wanted to make peace between them. When asked why he wanted peace replied, "Because I know God has blessed you."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Abraham's new sons were not equal to Isaac.

Once again the American inside me questions God's sense of justice in all of this. Why does God choose Isaac and all of Abraham's sons from Keturah and his concubines only receive gifts?

God chose Jacob and not Esau.

American Graham cries, "Why, God! This isn't fair!" Why did God choose Jacob and not Esau?

Jacob is a deceiver.

Jacob's name means deceiver. Why did God choose a deceiver and not the manly-man Esau?

Isaac is no better than his father at focusing on God's promise.

Isaac and Rebekah tricked Abimelech the same way Abraham tricked Abimelech. Isaac falls for the same line of reasoning—they'll kill me if they know she's my wife. Even godly men, God's chosen men, can lose focus on God's promises and focus on their own fears.

God blessed Isaac so much that the people wanted to be associated with them.

Abimelech, even after Isaac tricked him, wanted a relationship with Isaac. They could see God was with Isaac. When we serve God, others can see.

God's choice in who he blesses and not blesses is not for our discussion.

God's ways are not our ways. God's thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:6-11). As much as I, American Graham, want to ignore it, I cannot second-guess God's choice. Paul would echo this sentiment (using this example) in Romans 9. Take the choice of Jacob over Esau. Esau, manly man, married Judith and Basemath. They became thorns in Isaac's and Rebekah's sides (see yesterday's comments to see why this was a major problem). God chooses based on a person's heart that others cannot see and we must trust that God is just. This is why he chose Jacob over Esau.

January 19 - Genesis 22-24: Abraham Finds a Mate for Isaac

Today’s Reading: Genesis 22-24

The Message 

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Trust in God plays a major role in today’s reading.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God commanded Abraham to offer a sacrifice—Isaac. Abraham arose and went. As Abraham started to kill his son, an angel came, "You have proven your true allegiances! Don’t touch him!"
Sarah died. Abraham bought the cave Machpelah for her body. Isaac and Abraham grieved.
Abraham wanted a God-fearing woman for his son. He tasked his servant to find a wife from Abraham’s relatives. The servant trusted God to help him and found Abraham's grandniece, Rebekah. She and her family served God. They rejoiced when they learned his task. After 10 days, they returned to Abraham. Rebekah' companionship comforted Isaac.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Abraham’s test is to see if his allegiances have changed from God to Isaac.

Many people do not understand why God would want to test Abraham in this way. If God would never think of requiring child sacrifice and gave harsh penalties if someone sacrificed their child (Jeremiah 7:31; Leviticus 20:1-5) why would God command a child sacrifice? Because he wanted to test Abraham's faith that he could become a great nation through God alone. Our allegiance must be to God, even over our family. That may seem simple when God comes to us and asks us to leave our older-than-us family (especially if we do not have a great relationship with them). But it becomes a much harder choice when the sacrifice is your own child (or grandchild). That is why God tested Abraham. When Abraham passed the test God stopped him. He proved himself faithful over all. Could we do a similar act?

Abraham wanted a God-fearing woman for Isaac.

Abraham knew the importance of a woman dedicated to God for his son's mate. He had to plead that God wouldn't destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their unrighteousness. He did not want this to happen to his great nation! To help it start correctly, he asked to have a wife found among the people he knew obeyed God—his family. A great way to start a great nation of disciples is to marry someone who is also a disciple of God. But remember—this was before the Law of Moses. Abraham did not want a ritual follower for his son. He wanted a disciple of God for his son.

Abraham's servant asked God to lead him to the right woman.

This continues the (positive) theme of Genesis: when people trust God to lead their lives, good things happen. The servant asked God to show the right woman who would be a servant. And God did.

Rebekah was chosen because she kind to a stranger, not because she belonged to the right religion.

Rebekah gave some of her water to Abraham's servant. She also, on her own, gave water to his camels. If you know anything about camels, you know they drink water in fits and spurts. They drink gallons all at once and then do not drink for hours or days. She would have to work a long time to give water to ten camels that weren't hers. Her righteousness went beyond the ritual. Men, regardless of religion, godly women serve and serving women are godly. Women, regardless of religion, godly men serve and serving men are godly.

January 18 - Genesis 19-21: Dysfunction in the Ancient World

Today’s Reading: Genesis 19-21

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

This section should remind everyone—especially if you have a dysfunctional family—of God’s ability to take non-ideal situations and have things made right through them.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Lot tried to save God’s angels from being harmed by the residents of Sodom. He fled to save his family from the angels’ destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. To preserve their lineage, Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.
Abraham and Sarah repeat their deception in the Negev. Abimelech asks them to leave after Abraham blesses them and prays for the health of their women.
At 90 years-old, Sarah gives birth to a son, Isaac. She now wants Hagar and Ishmael out. God allows this to happen and promises both Hagar and Abraham that Ishmael would become a great nation.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Lot wants to protect God’s angels even though he does not realize they are God’s angels.

Lot’s righteousness is seen when he pushes these visitors to sleep in his house to protect them from the residents of Sodom. He does not realize they are God’s angels (Hebrews 13:2). God sets things right when his people protect those who they may have no relationship to.

Lot’s daughters provide an example of a "lost in translation" moment.

Americans read this section with horror and disgust. This decision made sense to these women: 1) (because I believe in a literal, six-day creation) Genes were less spliced at that time. Close relatives could reproduce without the major problems of today. That is why Abraham married his half-sister, Isaac his first cousin once removed and Jacob his first cousin. It wasn’t taboo because there weren’t as many problems for the children. 2) There weren’t as many men to choose from at that time. Marriage had major political ties. Marrying a woman from a land that had just been completely destroyed was unthinkable and there weren’t any Hollywood producers to create a man willing to rebel against that.

Sarah’s prejudice against and hostility toward Hagar and Ishmael is never resolved.

Yesterday I mentioned these hostilities could be a cause of the animosity between Arabs and Jews today. This story seals that fate. Yet Abraham does not simply kick them out or tell his wife to leave them alone. He consults God who promises Abraham Ishmael would become a great nation.

The Bible is not sanitized for your listening pleasures.

Never let anyone tell you the Bible is not believable because the stories are too much like children’s stories. With stories like these, no one should ever accuse the Bible of being too Disney. These were real problems faced by real people. These people were not heroes or heroines who had super-human faith and made the right decisions every time. They were just as human as people living today. Abraham and the rest decided to act on their strong faith because they had faith willing to act. Oh, may we have faith as strong as these!

January 17 - Genesis 16-18: Abraham Proves His Righteousness

Today’s Reading: Genesis 16-18

The Message, 

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Abraham is a completely fair and loving man. He defends all people.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Sarai presents Hagar to Abram, now 80, to have children. Soon after, Sarai threw Hagar out. God told Hagar to return. Ishmael (her son) would be always be a fighter.
Abram, Ishmael, and all of Abram’s males were circumcised to confirm the everlasting covenant with God. Abram’s name became "Father-of-Many-Nations" (Abraham).
God visited Abraham and Sarai (now Sarah). Sarah laughed at having a son at her old age; therefore, their son’s name would be "Laughter" (Isaac).
Abraham pleaded with God to save the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah. God agreed to spare the whole city for only 10 righteous people.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Giving Hagar to Abram was Sarai’s way to take control of God’s promise. She resented her decision and things turned bad.

Sarai was not a fickle woman who changed her mind because she didn’t like Hagar anymore. For Sarai, a woman’s worth is tied to her ability to bear children for the man. This was too much for her to stand. So she created strife between them.
This happened because she was unwilling to allow God to control the timing of his promises. As the theme constantly echoes in Genesis, when humans take control over God, bad things happen. It is likely the enmity between these two women led to Ishmael’s want to fight and eventual strife between Arabs (who are the descendents of Ishmael) and Jews (the descendents of Isaac).

God councils Hagar to return to Sarai and "put up with her abuse" (16:9, The Message).

This is striking, especially to an American. Why would God allow Hagar to be under this type of abuse? Because God would bless Hagar through Sarai’s abuse. God would not leave her alone to suffer but would make her, too, a great nation through Ishmael. Hagar points to the second theme of Genesis, God will use these bad actions and situations to make something good.

Abram’s circumcision was to seal the covenant between a righteous Abraham and his God forever through all generations.

Abraham’s circumcision would be "a permanent marker of my permanent covenant" (17:13, The Message). Abraham was declared "Set-Right-with-God" when he believed God (15:6, see yesterday’s comments). All descendents of Abraham would be circumcised to show their link with Abraham and God’s covenant. Even Christians are circumcised—through baptism—to share in Abraham’s covenant with God (Romans 4). This ritual not only links Christians to Jews but also to Muslims who, being descendents of Abraham, practice circumcision in honor of Abraham’s covenant with God.
However, this circumcision is only the physical sign of a heart that is circumcised. Physical circumcision did not guarantee obedience to God. Only a circumcised heart allowing God to lead can take part in the promises of God.

Abraham prays for his son Ishmael and God blesses him.

Even though Abraham knew Isaac would be the son God promised him and would carry on the covenant of God, Abraham continues to pray for his son from a maid-wife, Ishmael. Abraham is truly a godly man.

Abraham’s negotiations with God over Sodom and Gomorrah show both God’s and Abraham’s characters.

Abraham cares deeply for the city and does not want God to destroy the good with the bad, which would be out of character for the God Abraham served. However, he is also realistic about the people there and their (in)ability to obey God. So he bargains with God to save the city. Personally, I do not see God as changing his mind but allowing Abraham an opportunity to prove his love for others. Abraham didn’t need Sodom or Gomorrah. God promised that Abraham would become a great nation with no link to Sodom and Gomorrah. But he still pleaded with God not to destroy the city.
Since comparing the USA to Sodom and Gomorrah happens regularly, especially following a disaster, we need to see God’s character here as well. God is not willing to give up Sodom and Gomorrah as long as there were 10 people obeying him. Would God destroy the USA (or any area/city in the USA) and kill the righteous with the unrighteous? No! So let’s ignore all warnings that God’s wrath in the form of storms or wars is coming upon the USA because of its unrighteousness.

January 16 - Genesis 12-15: God Makes a Covenant with Abram

Today’s Reading: Genesis 12-15

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we return to Genesis. We will stay in Genesis until the end on January 29.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Abram’s faith in God’s promise is questioned but never lost.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God promises Abram, "I will make you a great nation and blessed all the Earth’s families through you. Leave your family." Abram obeyed God.
The Egyptians caught Abram lying when he, afraid of them killing him for her, said Sarai was his sister. They were kicked out of Egypt.
Abram separated from Lot. Later, Abram rescued Lot from warring kings. After the battle, Abram refused everything from Sodom’s king but gave a tenth to the king of Salem.
God renewed His covenant with the aging Abram, now doubting the promises. Abram believed God once again. This set their relationship right.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God’s promise to Abram was not limited to a foreshadowing of Jesus.

God’s promise of "All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you" (12:3, The Message) was made for the great nation of Israel to bless the world by example and words. Although the nation of Israel came close in a few instances, for the most part this was a complete failure.

Abram’s trip into Egypt showed his weakness of focus.

Abram’s lie happened because he did not trust that God could make good on His promise in the face of the Egyptians’ jealousy. Before we look at his decision unsympathetically, we must first realize he was not directly rejecting God’s covenant but allowed the Egyptian threat becloud his faith. This would happen again and again. We hedge on following God’s plan when we allow our situation to overshadow God’s promises. Where have threats from the world caused you to sidestep God’s plan in your life?

Melchizadek foreshadows Jesus’ spiritual reign over our lives.

Just as Melchizadek receives a sacrifice of Abram’s earnings because he was a priest of God so we give our lives as sacrifices to Jesus because he is our priest. It’s not a ritual priesthood. Melchizadek did not become a priest by earning a degree from a prestigious seminary. Jesus does not reign over our lives because he was a great scholar or great teacher. He reigns over our lives because he is God. And we believe this because we trust God.

Abram’s belief in God’s promise set his relationship right with God.

This is a case where Eugene Peterson’s The Message shines, "And he believed! Believed God! God declared him 'Set-Right-with-God'" (15:6). As Paul would point out later, this did not come from a ritual (circumcision). It came based on his faith. I’ll mention more tomorrow.

January 15 - Job 40-42: Job Passes His Final Test

Today’s Reading: Job 40-42

The Message

English Standard Version

You made it to the end of Job (no easy ordeal)! Congratulations! Only 65 more books to go!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God gives Job a final challenge. Will Job respond with anger?

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God questions Job, "You want your day in court? Here it is. I created a world that could crush you. You are not worthy a trial. Case dismissed!"
Job, bewildered, replies, "You are utterly just! My second-guessing was short-sighted. Forgive me! Never again!"
God turns to Job’s friends, "You lied about my nature. You should ask Job to present a sacrifice so I will forgive you."
Job’s health, his wealth and his honor returned. He had ten more children, including three girls–whom Job treated as equals to his sons. Job lived a long life and died a fulfilled man.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God’s response provides the Accuser with his final test—will Job give up after not receiving a proper response?

God is issuing a challenge to Job, "You wanted me to come and answer your charges. Here I am. Case dismissed." This should have proved one challenge too far. There is no way Job’s faith would survive this. But it does.

Job’s response gives the theme of the book—faith in God even when it does not make sense.

Job’s response to God’s challenge is to humble himself and take his place as the created. "I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it hall firsthand – from my own eyes and ears!" (42:5, The Message). Job doesn’t request a retrial. He doesn’t yell at God to answer his charges. He responds with faith. God still knows best.

God humiliates Job’s friends for lying about him.

Job’s friends wanted to defend God by trumping up charges against Job that did not exist. They flailed against his character reminiscent of the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon given by Jonathan Edwards.
We do not honor God by attempting to convince the world it is evil. We honor God by convincing the world God is good.

Footnote

Let’s not gloss over the fact that Job’s daughters were not only given part of their father’s inheritance (which someone could argue because he had enough to go around) but also were treated as equals to their brothers. This is Job—God’s friend. The next time someone accuses God, the Bible, or Christianity as being chauvinistic point them to the end of Job.

January 14 - Job 38-39: Job Receives His Answer

Today’s Reading: Job 38-39

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job at last receives his reply from God. But it’s not what you would expect.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God answers Job, "I am going to ask you questions and I want straight answers. Pay attention and stop talking.
"Where were you when I created everything and set it all in order? Do you understand the oceans, the sky, or the universe? Do you really understand death? Do you know how the earth works and the way in which animals live? Are animals able to do their jobs unattended? Did you set animals on this earth to take care of it?"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God’s reply is unsettling.

As an American, I want Job to end happy. I want God to come and say, "Job, I realize this has been an extremely difficult time for you. But I allowed this to happen because I had to prove to the Accuser that you would not curse me. Here are you children, your herds, and your respect back as if they were never gone." Then Job would wake up from what seemed like a dream.
But this story does not end that way. And I don’t like it. If you have followed my discussions of this book you know what’s coming next. This book isn’t meant to settle our minds. It brings our souls to the brink and demands it to submit to God.

God’s reply is not mocking Job but setting him up for a disconcerting comforting.

"Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you’re talking about?" (38:1, The Message). At first, I thought this was another iteration of the messages Job had heard in the past. Yet that is not how it ends.
God is preparing to bring comfort to Job. But he is not going to do it in the same way we, especially Americans, would expect. He has to remind Job of how small he is compared to creation. Once Job understands this God can lift him up. God does this through examples.

God mentions animals to show Job his strengths not his failings.

God shows Job how these creatures are all stronger, faster, and/or wilder than man. God did not give husbandry of the earth to these animals because they were not created in God’s image. That is the subtle message left for Job. Job thinks his entire existence is futile. God must remind Job that, although a small part of the universe, humans are God’s special creation with His spirit.

January 13 - Job 35-37: Elihu Continues to Repeat Past Arguments Against Job

Today’s Reading: Job 35-37

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Elihu continues to promote the same ideas Job’s three friends did previously. Still nothing new. Still a misunderstanding of the situation.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Elihu continued, “Job, you seem to think your innocence is important. Your innocence or evil could not make a dent on God’s earth. God has produced an earth to teach us, but man is too ignorant to listen. So stop talking such nonsense.
“God is too just to punish innocent people. He uses suffering to teach. So praise his wonderful ways! Think of rain. Thunder and lightning is beyond man’s control. Why would anyone attempt to question God’s works? Worship him, Job!"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Elihu is more bold in accusing Job of wrong.

Elihu does the same thing Job’s three friends did before: tell of God’s greatness, interpret Job’s situation as happening because of his sin, and a call for Job to stop this "I’m innocent" charade and start confessing sin. He is more bold because he taunts Job even more than his friends – telling Job, "If you’re so smart, give us a lesson in how to address God. We’re in the dark and can’t figure it out" (37:19, The Message).

January 12 - Job 32-34: Young Elihu Ironically Tries to Comfort Job - By Repeating the Same Old Arguments

Today’s Reading: Job 32-34

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

When Elihu begins you wonder if he will defend Job. But he doesn’t.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Elihu, a young man, finally has enough and yells at Job and his three friends, “If you old codgers can’t convince Job of his sin, let me. Job, let me hand it to you straight, no beating around the bush. You think God should answer you. You are wrong. God has no time to play courtroom with you. God could snap you like a twig. He is awesome! God cares for the entire world. Job, you have convinced yourself that you right. Now your punishment has come you play ignorant. Oh, the nerve! Give up and repent already."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

This section looks out of place, but it isn’t.

Job has finally finished his defense. We wait the answer from God but instead we get the opposite–a young man repeating what has been discussed. But it isn’t out of place. It is here because the book is written to thwart your sense of comfort. It’s meant to look out of place to keep the reader uneasy.

The reader begins with such high hope for Elihu only to be crushed.

Every time I read this I get excited, “Elihu is going to show them the truth! He’s young; he’s not tainted. He’ll speak what is right." Yet it is not to be. Elihu has nothing new to say. He only repeats it without being interrupted.

Elihu deceived himself into thinking by being young automatically makes his ideas fresh.

This pains me as a young(er) person. I read books and hear lectures on topics and I think I can bring something brand new to everyone. But in the end all I have done is rehashed old, rejected arguments to the irritation of those around me. This may also be the reason I am skeptical of most political or theological movements. It’s not really new; it’s just trotting out an old idea in a hipster outfit.

January 11 - Job 29-31: Job Issues His Closing Statement

Today’s Reading: Job 29-31

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job’s lists of what he has done and not done are worthy of emulation.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job gives his final argument, “Oh, for the good-ole days when God took care of my family. I did everyone right. I wanted to die of old age, tired from my never-ending good works.
“But now I am worse than the village villain. Everyone despises me. I have no life in me. I shout for help but no one hears me.
“I do not deserve this mistreatment! I am willing to pay for my evil. But no one will present the case against me! Even the ground I work has nothing to charge me with. Let me know my charges!"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Job has nothing left to do but state his final case and wait.

Job’s words come to a heart-wrenching end. He has endured everything he could possibly imagine and more. The only thing left is to state his case once more and to wait. And so we shall.

January 10 - Job 24-28: Job's Friends Run Out of Ammunition

Today’s Reading: Job 24-28 The Message, English Standard Version

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job continues, “Yes, there are evil people in the world and they do bad things. They think they are getting off scot-free, but God actually sees them. But why can’t we see God’s judgment coming?"
Bildad screams, “God is awesome! We are maggots in comparison!"
Job confusedly responds, “That’s true. But it doesn’t help us here."
Zophar is silent.
Job resumes, “I have been denied justice! The wicked will be swept away. God is sovereign! In God is all wisdom. Where can we have this wisdom? It comes from fearing the Lord."

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job as a written narrative is beginning to break apart (Bildad’s short reply, Zophar’s silence). It mirrors the breakdown in the conversation going on. Even the book breaks down under the strain of the story.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Job asks why we are kept in the dark about God’s judgment.

Yesterday Job commented that the wicked do not see ruin and the righteous do not see vindication. Today, he continues this vein of thought. It’s a hard part of living a godly life. If God sees all that goes on, why don’t we have proof of that? As with other difficult questions in this book, there is no answer.

Bildad’s short attack and Zophar’s silence shows his friends are running out of ammunition.

They have tried everything they know to prove Job is getting his just desserts. Nothing has been successful.

"Fear-of-the-Lord – that’s Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil" (28:28, The Message).

Respect of God and staying away from evil – recipe for a righteous life.

January 9 - Job 21-23: Job's Faith Sustains Him through Accusations

Today’s Reading: Job 21-23

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job gives the most difficult aspect of following God. Yet he still trusts in His judgment.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job complains, “Listen, friends, you can mock me later. Why does God allow some wicked to succeed? They live fancy lives then have fancy funerals. What you say is wrong."
Eliphaz retorts, “Are you trying to give God advice? Do you think because you are righteous God is punishing you? Let us tell of your sins. You are a rich man who persecutes the poor. Escape comes only if you change your ways!"
Job replies, “I won’t change my plea. I only wish I could find God. Then I would be able to appeal to him. But I cannot."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Not all of the wicked perish. Not all righteous prosper.

This may be the most difficult part of following God. We know that God punishes those who do not obey him. But it is so hard to obey God when we know there are others who openly practice evil and get away scot-free. It’s not fair. It’s not just. There is no answer. But this book isn’t meant to give answers.

Eliphaz’s lists of sins against Job would make a list we use to judge businesspeople today.

Eliphaz calls Job a “first-class moral failure" (22:5, The Message). The list is quite extensive and not pleasant. They would also make a good list for us to judge businesses today. If they did such things we should punish them.

Job continues to suggest his salvation comes from a fair hearing with God.

Despite all of what Job has lost, despite Job’s wife turning on him, despite all his friends have accused him of, Job continues to believe this is a complete misunderstanding. He refuses to believe God is unjust and punishing him for crimes he did not commit. How awesome to see someone not give up on God. I only wish I had that faith!

January 8 - Job 17-20: Job Loses Patience with His Friends

Today’s Reading: Job 17-20

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job’s answers are getting more and more curt and angry.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

The brunt of the situation hits Job: “Everyone has deserted me. Everyone I see mocks and shames me. Is my only hope a quick death?"
Bildad mocks, “Come on! We all know evil people lose everything! God does this so everyone will understand the punishment of evil."
Job exclaims, “How long are you going to do this horrible thing to me? You ignore me and tell me I’m the problem. Leave me alone and gaze at your own life."
Zophar replies, “Evil people do evil things and God takes away everything they have! Job—can’t you see this?"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Job has changed his view of death.

Yesterday, Job welcomed death because it would mean God would soon take his sin far away. Today, death does not bring hope, but kills it.
How is this reconciled? It isn’t. That’s the deal with scriptures like these. It even leaves the reader in a state of disorientation. No easy answers.

Bildad inadvertently gives God’s rationale for having “elected" people.

And [evil people] leave empty-handed – not one single child – nothing to show for their life on this earth. Westerners are aghast at their fate, easterners are horrified: "Oh no! so this is what happens to perverse people. This is how the God-ignorant end up!" (18:19-21, The Message)

We will read later how God uses this same reasoning for punishing the Israelites, Judah and Israel.

Job begins to beg his friends to either show pity or leave.

His final salvo is similar to what I heard from my friends,

If you’re thinking, ‘How can we get through to him, get him to see that his trouble is all his own fault?’ Forget it. Start worrying about yourselves. Worry about your own sins and God’s coming judgment, for judgment is most certainly on the way. (19:28-29, The Message)

January 7 - Job 14-16: Job Longs for the Resurrection—Away from His "Comforters"

Today’s Reading: Job 14-16

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You have made it one week.

Today’s reading starts the cycle of Job’s friends making the same mistakes. This does not mean the passages are less important, but I do not want to bore you with the same observations day after day.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job remarks on the resurrection. Take note—it’s worth a good look.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job continues crying out to God, “Man’s life is only a few days and only sorrow! So kill me and get it over with! But you will come and rescue me in the resurrection! That’s when our sin will be removed forever."
Eliphaz replies, “Man’s life is short because they spend them on evil! Why are you going on and on like this?"
Job answers, “You windbags, stop trying to comfort me! I’m innocent and God is punishing me! Surely there is something in the world that can save me from this horrible fate!"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Job expects his salvation to come either in this life or in the resurrection.

To Job, salvation is not limited to a clean conscience. Salvation means his sins and the punishments that come from them are thrown into the sea. This is why he begs God to kill him. He knows the end will only bring joy and reconciliation.

Eliphaz sounds like a “Negative Gospel" minister.

“Negative Gospel"—a term I have made up for ministers known for having negative views of everything and use all of their energy combating “false doctrines." Take this example, “They have sex with sin and give birth to evil. Their lives are wombs for breeding deceit." Ouch! I’m glad he’s not on the right side! God cannot make things right if we only focus on how man has perverted that plan.

January 6 - Job 10-13: Job's Friends Pervert Justice in God's Name

Today’s Reading: Job 10-13

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job’s friends, in defending God, actually bring reproach on God’s justice.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job cries out to God, “Speak to me! What is my sin? You wonderfully created me! Yet if I sinned you would greatly punish me! What is my sin?"
Zophar interjects, “Who do you think you are? If God answered, you would be babbling in the ditch. Give up and repent of you evil."
Job mocks, “I’m sure you speak for all the experts, and when you die there’ll be no one left to tell us how to live" (12:2, The Message). I know how wonderful God is. Why do you defend God this way? Does he need you to defend himself?"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Job never accuses God of perverting justice.

Job continues to call out to God to bring charges against him. He accepts his fate though he still does not understand why it has come.

Zophar wrongly accuses Job of hiding his sin and being too stubborn to admit it.

This situation feels unsettlingly familiar to me. There have been several times I have tried to convince someone they are a sinner. Why would I do such a thing? If they cannot see where they have sinned, maybe they are correct. If I continue to press someone's sinfulness I may be perverting justice in the name of God. This is important for all Christians to understand. We do not need to defend God. God is the Creator of the universe, remember.

Job firmly derides his friends for perverting justice in God’s name.

Job’s friends do not understand what is going on. They continuously stress Job’s guilt using higher and higher theological language. Job has no other option but to mock their arrogance. It reminds me of how many non-Christians mock Christian’s arrogance on what is “obviously black and white." If things were so black and white, why do Christians need to use highly-complicated theology to get there?

January 5 - Job 6-9: Job's Finds No Relief from His Woes - Or His Friends' Correction

Today’s Reading: Job 6-9 The Message, English Standard Version

This is one of those days reading The Message pays off. If you can, I would definitely suggest reading from it today (click on the link above if you do not have one handy).

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Job does not accuse God of wrongdoing. On the contrary, he continuously praises God for being just.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job answers Eliphaz, “My misery is too great to be silent!" He calls out to God to end his suffering by killing him. “I have nowhere to hide! Your punishment is coming from all directions and even in my dreams! I don’t know what I did wrong!"
Bildad answered, “What is this jabbering? God doesn’t make mistakes. He only punishes those who are evil."
Job cries, “Yes! I know! He is awesome! But I still don’t know what I did! I feel incapable of making a defense because who could be the judge in my trial? No one but God!"

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Job defies his friends and continues to call out to God for an answer.

Eliphaz basically tells Job to be quiet because God is too awesome to complain to. Bildad tells Job he must be mistaken because God does not make mistakes. However, Job’s grief is too great to be muzzled. He must make sure God knows of his grief.

Job asks God to forgive his sins—even though he does not know what they are.

This is a gut-wrenching section of scripture. Job is on the brink of madness because he cannot understand why God would reject him. Yet never does he question God’s righteousness. He is humble even to the point of asking for forgiveness from sins he does not even know he has.

Once again, Job’s friends are (mostly) correct but their message is to the wrong person.

Please never tell a person their children died because the children were sinful. Even if the person died from a drug overdose and was a terrible person. God never makes things right by condemning the already-dead. Neither should we.

January 4 - Job 1-5: Job Loses Everything but Faith

Today’s Reading: Job 1-5

The Message

English Standard Version

Today we switch books from Genesis to Job. The reason Job is here in the order is that no one knows when it was written. Since it does not fit in the story of Abraham we will read it here before his story begins. Genesis will return on January 16.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Eliphaz feels the need to give Job a “come to Jesus, everything’s great there" message.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Job was a good man who was “honest inside and out." He had ten children and was very rich. The Accuser (Satan) confronted God, “Job only serves you because he’s rich!" God granted him all Job possessed, including his beloved children. Job still served God.
The Accuser returned, “Job only serves you because of his health!" God granted him Job’s health. Large boils appeared from his head to his foot. Job still served God.
Job had three close friends visit him. In a fit of agony Job cursed his very existence. Eliphaz called to be more faithful to God.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God does not set all things right by making all people rich/middle class/poor.

One of the difficult problems of reading the book of Job is the rush to quick lessons. “Serving God does not always lead to prosperity!" is often shown from these verses. However, they do not take into account Job’s previous, and subsequent, settings. Job was a rich man and would return to being a rich man without any change to his devotion to God. Obeying God does not always turn out to make someone rich—but being poor is also not an automatic sign of devotion to God. Serving God goes much deeper than how much a person has. This is why Job is able to bless God even when he loses everything.

God does not set all things right by making all people healthy.

See the previous point. Serving God does help someone stay away from many horrible diseases, but it does not prevent bodily decay. Yet suffering is not a sign of devotion to God. Serving God through suffering is.

Calling to God for death is not a sin.

“What’s the point of life when it doesn’t make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning?" (3:23, The Message). Job is facing the worst troubles of his life. The only response he has during this time is to question his very existence. Yet in all of this he allows God to maintain control—the opposite of a sin. He questions God’s handling of his life without telling God to leave him alone.

A person does not always need to hear a “come to Jesus" message.

As a minister, this one hurts. I read Eliphaz’s statements and think he’s doing such a great job preaching! Then I realize Job has no reason to come to God—he’s the most devoted follower of God. Eliphaz’s lesson comes across as arrogant and pedantic. So do mine, when I do not really understand the person’s suffering. Telling God’s greatness to a person who has lost all meaning to life is not evangelizing. Sometimes sufferers need someone to sit and suffer with them. Unfortunately, this will happen over and over again in the book of Job. Prepare for awkward moments.

January 3 - Genesis 8-11: Man Populates the Earth

Today’s Reading: Genesis 8-11

The Message

English Standard Version

Hint: When you reach the genealogy section, don’t pronounce the names in your head. That way you will read the important parts without feeling overwhelmed by the Hebrew names.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Every major culture in the world has a story about a catastrophic flood with one family surviving.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God makes the flood waters recede from the earth. Once out of the boat, Noah and his family made an animal sacrifice. Smelling the sacrifice, God promised not to destroy the earth again because of man’s sin. God blessed Noah and his sons and gave them responsibility over the earth.
Many years later, all people living on the earth decided to make a great tower which would make them famous forever. When God saw what they wanted to do he decided to confuse their language to scatter them around the world. Because of this the place was named “Babel."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God decided to no longer punish the whole world because of man’s sin.

It is difficult to say that God “changed" as a result of the flood. However, God decided no longer to punish his creation because of the sin of man. The earth would continue to be under the curse given because of Adam and Eve’s sin, but it would no longer be collateral damage to punish humans.

God gave all animals for humans to eat.

Compare Genesis 2:29-30 and Genesis 9:2-3. At first God did not give meat for man to eat. After the flood God allowed Noah to kill and eat animals.

Noah cursed Ham because he did not make things right.

Shem, Japheth, and Noah were angry with Ham not because he saw his father naked in his tent but because he saw him and did not cover him. Instead he went to his brothers to tell them of what he saw. If he had covered his father he would not have been cursed.
Foreshadowing: Ham became the father of the Canaanites. These would be the people who the Israelites, the children of Shem, would later conquer and force to be their slaves.

God confused everyone’s language at the tower of Babel because they wanted to make themselves famous.

God’s reason for changing their language came from their attempt at becoming famous apart from God. Becoming famous (or making a name for yourself) because of God is something Christians could aspire for. However, even this is dangerous.

January 2 - Genesis 4-7: Sin Overtakes the World

Today’s Reading: Genesis 4-7

The Message

English Standard Version

Hint: When you reach the genealogy section, don’t pronounce the names in your head. That way you will read the important parts without feeling overwhelmed by the Hebrew names.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

See how each generation cares less and less for setting things right.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Adam and Eve give birth to two sons: Cain and Able. Both sacrifice to God. Cain’s was not approved, which angered him greatly. God warned him this anger would overtake him. Cain instead killed Able. As punishment, God required Cain to spend his days cursed from the earth. Adam and Eve had another son Seth who became like his father.
Year after year, each generation grew further and further away from God. Eventually they thought only of evil. So God chose the one man whose family followed Him and saved them from a flood which wiped out the entire world.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God’s warning to Cain was to keep things right between Cain and his brother.

Even God’s warning to Cain was not focused on his actions. God did not tell Cain, “Don’t kill Able. That would be wrong." His answer is a warning—your anger will make sin (taking control from God) overcome you. Cain’s sin did not start at the murder. It started when he allowed his anger to control him.

Cain was protected by God even after murdering Able.

What is strange is that God protected Cain with a mark instead of leaving him out on his own. God did not want to punish Cain with death. Why would God do such a thing? Because God’s intentions are to make all things right, not exact punishment on all. God could make things right through sparing Cain.

Seth called on the name of the Lord.

This was much more than saying the word “Lord." If sin is taking control from God, calling on the name of the Lord means giving control to God. True conversion means giving control of all things to God.

God chose Noah because he was “a good man, a man of integrity in his community" (6:9, The Message).

I find this definition interesting. Not only was Noah understood to be good by God but a good man by his community also. What a great statement for anyone, especially someone who calls on the name of the Lord. We as followers of the Creator of the universe should naturally be people of integrity among our community.

January 1 - Genesis 1-3: The Gospel Begins

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1-3

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Death does not enter the world until after Eve and Adam sinned.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Genesis tells the story of beginnings. God creates everything in six days, resting on the seventh. He created a helper-companion for Adam, Eve. He declared the “Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil" off-limits—offenses punished with death. The serpent told Eve they would be like God if they ate the fruit. Eve and Adam eat. The serpent was punished with no legs; the woman was punished by being lorded over by her husband; and the man was punished by working hard the Earth. All are punished with (eventual) death. God kills to make leather clothes for them and expels them from the Garden of Eden.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God created the Universe!

All creation screams “God’s Creation!" How powerful is the Creator of the Universe! How wonderful it is that he created us in his image!

God created man in His image, but the knowledge of good and evil came later.

God gave us the ability to choose to obey him or not. Yet he did not give Adam and Eve the ability to know what is good and what is evil. That came later. That’s interesting.

The snake’s challenge was to Eve’s pride.

The serpent told Eve she would “see what's really going on" and that she would know “everything, ranging all the way from good to evil" (3:5, The Message). Eve wanted that type of knowledge, to be like God. Eve wanted to be equal with God, to have the same control God has. That is what sin is—trying to take control from God.

God brings death and destruction into the world because of Adam’s sin.

The guiding thought this morning is important because Genesis 1-3 gives the reason the Gospel—God setting all things right—must exist. First, God created all things right—meaning never to die. God warned Adam and Eve if they ate of that tree they would die. Adam and Eve brought death and destruction into the world through their sin because they were cut off from what could sustain their life forever—the Tree-of-Life. God must make all things right in this world because sin—entering through Adam and Eve—has upset that order.

Because of this sin all humans know what is right and wrong and can choose to either make things right or not.
However, the first death was not Adam’s or Eve’s but animals from God’s creation to make clothes for Adam and Eve.