January 14 - Gen 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Prov 1:10-19
Genesis 5:1-7:24
- Genealogy - remember that for hundreds of years these stories were shared by oral tradition. Even in cultures where that was the primary way, things get exaggerated. A person who lived a long time might have lived 60-70 yeras but after it was passed along a bunch of times, suddently Methuselah lived for over 900 years!
- As I read stories like this, I think of the ways that we say today about how God spoke to us or God led us to something. We don't know the mind of God and most of us haven't had specific times where we felt that we literally heard God saying something. The commentary here feels more like a situation where people were trying to understand why such a devastating flood came upon the earth. Again, people asking the BIG questions we're still wrestling with today - why do terrible things happen?
- Do an internet search on ancient flood stories and compare to what you read here.
Matthew 3:1-4:11
- Why did the people go out to John? Why do people follow charismatic leaders in general? What did John have that people weren't getting elsewhere? How do we do the same today?
- How did the Pharisees and Saduccees respond to John's calling them out?
- Intersting combination of humility and boldness for John - boldness in his proclamation but humility in knowing his place in the grand scheme of things
- Temptation story - this is why knowing your Bible is important - temptation will not only tempt but will also twist Scripture to tempt.
- The calling of the first disciples - why did they follow? What had they seen of Jesus that led them to say yes to follow this guy? If you haven't seen the TV show The Chosen, they present this really in a unique and interesting (and plausible) way.
Psalm 3 and Proverbs 1:10-19
- Psalm 3 - Got me thinking back to times when I felt like I was surrounded by "enemies" - never has been those with guns or swords but people with words and methods. I remember the loneliness of it and the pain of it and the "trying" to trust in God in the midst.
- Proverbs 1:10-19 - Temptation - think back to the story of Jesus' temptation...notice how this proverb speaks of the slow ease of temptation. For a great exploration of how temptation could "work" check out The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
Posted in 2026 Bible in a Year
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