Category: Bible 2023

What is covered

Exodus 1:

• Seventy persons decended from Jacob in Egypt
• Joseph died
• Eventually a king over Egypt arose who didn’t know Joseph
• The Egyptians set taskmasters over the children of Israel
• Israeli midwives were instructed to kill male children
• Pharaoh commanded all males be cast in the river, and every daughter would be saved alive

Exodus 2:

• Moses’ parents were of the tribe of Levi
• When he was three months old his mother hid him in an ark in the bull rushes
• Pharaoh’s daughter pulled him from the water
• Him mother nursed him and brought him to Pharao’s daughter, and he became her son
• Moses murdered an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew
• Moses fled to Midian when Phraoh heard of the murder
• He came to live with Reuel and married his daughter Zipporah
• The Pharaoh died and the children of Israel cried out to God
• God heard their cry and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Psalm 88:

• Lord hear my cry to you
• My life draws near the grave
• I am like the dead – remembered no more
• There is no praise for You in the grave
• My friends and acquaintances are far from me

Luke 21

• The widow’s two mites
• Jesus predicts that there will come a day when not one stone of the temple would sit upon another
• The disciples ask when this will happen
• Jesus said deceivers would come in His name
• Jesus said there would be wars and commotions
• Nation will rise against nation – and earthquakes, famines, and pestilences
• There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven
• They will persecute you and bring you before kings and rulers
• Do not meditate beforehand on what you will answer
• By your patience possess you soul
• When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, then it’s desolation is near
• Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled
• Signs in the sun, moon, and stars
• Men’s hearts failing them from fear
• Then the Son of Man will come in a coud
• When these things happen, lift up your head, because your redemption draws near
• The parable of the fig tree
• Take heed or that day will come on you unexpectedly
• Jesus taught during the day and at night went to mount Olivet

2023

Scripture

By your patience possess your souls.

Luke 21:19

Observation

I’m not sure what this verse means. I don’t recall seeing it. It is in the context of being hated by others in the last days, but we will be protected.

Application

I need to learn patience. Possesing your soul, or keeping your soul sounds like coming out on the other side.

Prayer

Lord, help me to be patient to make it through each day to the end. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

What is covered

Genesis 25:

• Abraham’s 2nd wife was Keturah
• They had 6 sons, including Midian
• Abraham gave all to Isaac, but gifts to the others
• Abraham sent the others off to the east
• Abraham died at 175, Isaac and Ishmael buried him
• The geneology of Ishmael and Isaac
• Ishmael had 12 sons who were princes
• Isaac and Rebekah had Esau and Jacob
• Esau sells his birthright for some red stew

Genesis 26:

• Isaac moves to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar because of famine
• Isaac says Rebekah is his sister because he is afraid since Rebeckah is beautiful
• Isaac prospered there until Abimelech told him to leave
• Isaac moved to the valley and re-dug the wells Abraham had dug
• The people quarreled over wells so Isaac would move out and dig another until they didn’t quarrel over one and there he settled
• God repeated His promise to Abraham also to Isaac
• Abimelech came and made an oath between them to do no harm
• Esau took two Hittite wives who were a gruief of mind to Isaac and Rebehak

Psalm 6:

• David cries out to the Lord asking for deliverance from his enemies
• David rebukes his enemies because the Lord has heard his prayer

Luke 10

• The Lord appoints 70 and sends them out two by two
• The harvest is great but the workers are few
• Jesus gives warnings as He sends them out
• The 70 return with joy
• Jesus gives authority of the power of the enemy
• But rather rejoice that your names ar written in heaven
• Jesus rejoices as well and tells the disciples that they are blessed to see what prophets and kings have longed to see
• The lawyer asks “And who is my neighbor?”
• The parable of the good samaritan
• “Go and do likewise.”
• Jesus visits Mary and Martha
• Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help out
• He doesn’t

2023

Scripture

When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 25:34-35

Observation

Esau was plenty old enough to make his own decision. He did things different from his parents and this gave them “grief of mind.” What is that? Is it grief of death? The death of unmet expectations. Should your presumtions of how others live or choose actually deserve to die?

Application

This passage struck me because my sons are finding companions and as a parent I worry and wonder how things will go for them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please help me to recognize that the choices of others are outside my control. You know what is best for us, and yet you let us chose and sometimes have to learn from it or grow through it. But although you don’t chose for us, you do give wise counsel. Dear Lord, I pray that you help me not to keep silent and withdraw but to engage in counsel – and Lord, let that counsel be wise caunsel. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4, Luke 11

I did not get this reading done.

Tomorrow’s reading: Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10

Again no post, but the reading was done.

Tomorrow’s reading: Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

I didn’t post here, but I did read this day’s reading.

Tomorrow’s reading: Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

I’m going to put in the weekend posts and then I’ll come back and edit them as I go through them because I wont’ have consistent access to my computer over the next few days.

I didn’t post here, but I did do this reading.

Tomorrow’s reading: Genesis 18-19; Psalm 3; Luke 7

What is covered

Genesis 12:

• God tells Abram to leave his father’s house
• God promises to make him a great nation
• Abram leaves Haran at 75, takes Lot
• Abram pitched his tent at Bethel
• Abram continued south, on to Egypt
• Pharaoh took in Sarai and was cursed
• Pharaoh rebukes Abram and sends them away

Genesis 13:

• Abram went back to Bethel
• Abram and Lot have to separate because they have so much
• Abram let Lot choose – he chose the plain of Jordan
• God told Abram to walk the land, all he could see would be his
• Abram moved to Hebron by the terebinth trees of Mamre

Genesis 14:

• War – 4 kings vs. 5 kings
• The victors took spoils, including Lot
• Abram armed 318 of his servants and went after Lot
• He pursued as far as Dan (the tribe?) and north of Damascus
• He brought the spoils and Lot back
• Melchizedek blesses Abram

Luke 5

• Jesus preaches from Simon’s boat
• Jesus asks Simon to launch out and let down his nets
• Simon wasn’t feeling it, but he did it anyway and caught a great number of fish
• James and John were partners with Simon
• Jesus said they would catch men
• Jesus heals a leper, he was told to tell no one
• multitudes came to hear and beheald
• Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed
• a paralytic’s friends let him down through the roof to see Jesus
• Jesus proclaimed the paralityc’s sins were forgiven
• The scribes and Pharisees called that blasphemy
• Jesus said which is easier, forgiving sins or rasing the lame
• Jesus healed him and made a point about His ability to forgive
• They were all amazed, glorified God and were filled with fear <<
• Jesus meets Levi Matthew and calls him to be a disciple
• Matthew gave Him a feast and Jesus was accused of eating with sinners
• Jesus declared He came to heal the sick, not the healthy (who don’t need healing)
• Jesus was questioned about why His disciples didn’t fast
• Jesus answered that now wasn’t the time for that

2023

Scripture

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

Luke 5:23

Observation

Jesus asks this because “logic” would say that it’s easier to just say “you’re forgiven” than to heal a paralized man. Words are cheap and maybe you do and maybe you don’t actually forgive.

He showed that his forgiveness is legitimate by doing the harder option. If he can do the harder one, then how effective must his forgiveness be?

Application

Jesus is trying to break through to us regarding just how encompassing His forgiveness is, how effective it is, for us.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for putting in the thought and effort to try to penetrate our understanding so that we can rejoice in the forgiveness that you give. It is not easy. It is not cheap. It cost You all. Help me to internalize what Your forgiveness means. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 15-17; Luke 6

What is covered

Genesis 9:

• God blesses Noah and his sons, directs them to be fruitful and multiply, and gives creatures into their hands
• Gives animals for food, but exempts eating blood
• God establishes His covenant with Noah and his descendants to never again destroy the earth by flood
• The rainbow is the sign of this covenant
• Noah got drunk and his sons had different reactions
• Noah knew what Ham had done… how? It doesn’t say he was passed out
• Noah died at 950

Genesis 10:

• The genealogy of Noah’s sons

Genesis 11

• The tower of Babel
• Shem’s descendants to Abram
• Terah’s relatives he brought from Ur to Canaan to Haran

Luke 4

• Jesus led to the wilderness and tempted 40 days by the devil
• When Jesus returned he tauht in synagogues
• He returned to Nazareth where he grew up and read from Isaiah
• He told them there were many lepers in Elisha’s time, but only Naaman was healed
• The tried to throw him off a cliff, but He passed through them
• Jesus cast out a demon
• Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law
• Jesus healed after sunset
• Jesus tries to move on and the people try to keep Him from leaving

2023

Scripture

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;

Luke 3:42

Observation

It struck me how the crowd had their own agenda – for Jesus to stay and minister to and continue to preach to them. But Jesus already had an agenda provided by His Heavenly Father.

Application

Do we try to shift, or assume, God’s agenda for us and those around us.

Prayer

Dear God, help me today to see where I’m putting my own stamp on decisions and people’s choices that don’t belong to me. Open my eyes to see what You are doing and You are intending. Amen.

**Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 12-14; Luke 5**

2023

What is covered

Genesis 6:

• Sons of God and daughters of men mingling
• The Lord is not having it
• Wickedness causes God to be grieved
• Noah finds grace in God’s eye
• Noah’s genealogy
• Noah prepares the ark
• Noah brings two of every creature on board

Genesis 7:

• The flood
• Noah is told to bring seven of every clean animal, and two of every unclean animal
• Noah was 600 years old at the time
• Forty days of rain and one hundred and fifty days on the water

Genesis 8:

• God sent wind and the waters subsided
• After forty days Noah sent the raven & dove
• Seven days later he released the dove again
• It returned with an olive leaf and seven days later when released she didn’t return
• Noah was 601 when he saw dry ground
• God sends Noah and the animals out
• God made a covenant with Noah to not bring a second flood
• God declares the seasons and daily cycle will continue as long as the earth remains

Luke 3

• The fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar is noted
• John the Baptist is called into ministry
• John gives counsel to people
• He declares that he is not the messiah
• John baptizes Jesus
• The genealogy of Jesus

Scripture

And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

Genesis 8:21

Observation

I’d never noticed that God declares that he will never again curse the ground for man’s sake. I don’t know the significance of that – but it was news to me.

Application

I’m simply struck again by reading the scriptures over at different times of life that you notice different details. There’s always something to discover. The Word of God always provides something new. Just like a recent descussion about how we’ll be learning something new from Jesus through out the ages of eternity.

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank you for knowing our curious natures and having things in store for us to satisfy that deep longing. You are truly the provider. Amen

Tomorrow’s Reading Genesis 9-11; Luke 4

I made a mistake yesterday and read chapter 3 then. I even selected my verse out of there. How embarrassing. Oh well, we’ll just keep going. That’s the theme. Bump, bruises, and scrapes along the way, but you pick up and keep going.

What is covered

Genesis 3:

• Introducing the serpent and his interaction with Eve
• Eve’s fall and encouraging Adam’s fall
• The resulting curse

Genesis 4:

• Adam and Eve have children, Cain and Abel
• Cain and Abel bring offerings
• Cain murders his brother an is cursed
• Cain’s 3-great grandson Lamech also kills a man
• Adam and Eve have Seth

Genesis 5:

• Adam and Eve’s geneology down to Noah

Luke 2:

• Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem for the census
• Mary had Jesus while there
• Angels appear to the shepheds declaring the birth of the Savior and Christ
• The shepherds went to see and declared what they were told
• Mary pondered these things in her heart
• Jesus was circumcised and presented at the temple in Jerusalem
• Simeon and Anna bear witness
• Jesus met with scholars at age 12 and didn’t return with his parents
• They found him missing and went back to get him

Scripture

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.

Luke 2:32

Observation

Simeon had waited his whole life just to see the Lord’s Christ, His annointed one. It was by the Spirit that he came into the temple, maybe this wasn’t his normal time. He takes the baby up in his arms. I guess passing around babies was common, or was he part of the work done there? He did give a blessing regarding Jesus.

From the very beginning God’s plan was revealed to be a universal one: revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Israel. No one is exempted.

Application

Today’s verse is a simple reminder to recognize everyone, no one is to be exempted. Whosoever will, let them come.

Prayer

Our Father, help me today to widen my circle. Help me to have my eyes open to opportunities to help those outside my circle to see that You are avalable to be revealed to them. And help me to see the working of Your Spirit to that end. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading Genesis 6-8; Luke 3