Posts with the category “2026-bible-in-a-year”

I love that these two artisans keep being named and lifted up38:21ff - HUGE amounts The women leave the tomb with fear and great joy.  What a combination!But they run into Jesus as they goMatthew gives only one resurrection time with all the disciples?  Why this and not others included? Psalm 34:11-22 - Read the whole (RTW) - The second half is one to remember when hard times come - vv 11, 15, 18,...  Read More

35:29 - All the people whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that God had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.  1 cubit = 1.5 ft.  Meaning these curtains were 42 feet!Try to imagine what this might have looked like "Compelled"? - forced?  Paid?The charge isn't really a charge at all - the King of the Jews?  Sedition?Jesus quotes Psalm...  Read More

Moses intervenes before the peopleGod making a covenant with Israel via MosesMoses face - we are changed by our encouters with God.  Jacob, now Moses.  How are our changes obvious to others? Not much to say here other than the heartbreak of it all Psalm 33:12-22 - again, read the whole :-).  This is such a powerful description off faith, belief, and trust.  Love the last 3 verses Proverbs 9:1-6 - ...  Read More

Golden calf - why are we so quick to abandon God?  What are the golden calves we set up in place of God in our lives?God saying "time to start over again"?  and the Lord changed his mind.  These and then the slaughter in the camp - ok to not understand what to do with those things How do we deny Jesus ourselves?What did Judas expect to happen when he betrayed Jesus?Notice Matthew brings in more pr...  Read More

Continue reflecting - which of the commandments do these order/commands connect to?Sabbath as ESSENTIAL - how have we left this behind? Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.  We often focus on Judas and Peter but they all abandoned Jesus at this momentNotice that Jesus never truly defends himself Psalm 32 -Power of confession.  Letting out what we hold in.  Reflect on how shame controls us...  Read More

Ancient practices of sacrifices were common in that time.  Church adopting the practices of others.  And we still do this today - Christmas, hymns, etc.  Incense - Engaging all the senses in worship.  What senses do we regularly engage and which don't we? Why did Judas betray Jesus?  Doesn't really go into reasons.  Speculation of whether it was disappointment in the direction Jesus was goingJesus...  Read More

Symbols matter.  What are some symbols for you in your life?Again, how was all this done in the desert/wilderness? Still in "end stuff" stage.  Here it is how did we choose to live?  Connect the anointing to the details in the Exodus readings currently.  Why the extravagance?  Because it is God!   Psalm 31:1-18 - Again, read the whole if possible.  Shifts to a lament even after the affirmation Pro...  Read More

Where did the supplies come from?  Likely from traders along the wayLamp - eternal flame - the light of God always present Be ready - parable of the bridesmaidsBe faithful - talents parable Psalm 31:1-18 - Again, read the whole if possible.  Rock and fortress, support and protection and refuge.  I visualize someone holding onto a rock in a raging river Proverbs 8:1-11 - How is wisdom calling out t...  Read More

Try to read these laws and commands in light of the Ten Commandments.  How do each of these relate to the originals?24:9-11 - All of them saw God?  I honestly don't remember reading this before.  Always something new to findGod is worthy of beauty and the details here Still in the "future" sectionFig tree - object lesson in so manyy ways in the GospelsSpeaks here of how it is always "go time" for ...  Read More

Theological word for a moment like this is a theophanyDeep sense of the holiness and purity of YHWHAre there 9 or 10 commandments?  Is "No other God" and "idols" part of the same commandment?First 4 commandments - God and us, Other 6 commandments - Us togetherCommandment 5 - Murder or kill? Still in angry Jesus mode - Woes and curses upon those Jesus sees as hypocrites.  But we need to also be wil...  Read More

Holding up of Moses' arms - analogy of how we can't do it on our ownJethro - telling the same to Moses.  Too much for one person to do.  And Moses listens!  Sinai - here we go!   Debates - still trying to trick Jesus.  Jesus' response of love God / love neighbor is like the sermon on the mount - it simplifies but makes it harder!  More stories of trying to trip Jesus upLast first / first last / se...  Read More

This is really coming to the end of the first main part of Exodus.  After this we move into the formation of the Israelite nation (even though they won't be in the land for a LONG time)Miriam's song - Maybe this is more original than the one of Moses.  Often fragments tend to be more authenticThis section begins the if/then of much of the rest of the Torah - if you obey, then you will be blessed, ...  Read More

Pillars - the ongoing presence of God with the peopleHardening Pharaoh's heart - again, is this for sure God spoke this or a later interpretation of why Pharaoh keeps doing what he doesIsraelites' reaction to the Egyptians returning?  Fear.  They have been conditioned to this - they haven't seen the full power and ongoing presence of God.  Understandable that they would react this wayLove this lin...  Read More

First part of this feels like a bit of a later addition.  Steps out of the narrativeThe deaths of the firstborn - heartbreaking.  Not to be celebrated.  Why couldn't there have been a different way?Huge numbers - 600,000 men not including women and children430 years they were in Egypt.  Generations.  And at the end, again a step out of the narrative - laws being to be introduced Healing of the bli...  Read More

The beginnings of the Passover.  It is hard to take this story because it is the innocents who are being punished for the Pharaoh's stubbornness.  But unfortunately isn't that how life always is?  The powerful don't face the same sufferings... Parable now to illustrate what Jesus just said in the previous verse.  Last first, first last.  The story now begins to shift towards Jerusalem - on the way...  Read More

Did God harden Pharaoh's heart or is that just an interpretation to try to explain why he was so hard headed?How do we see modern parallels to the Pharaoh and his responses and actions? Children again - and the disciples not getting it (again).  But...how do we do the same?How do you experience wealth and possessions getting in the way of discipleship?Was Jesus' command to the rich man a blanket c...  Read More

Moses - when it got hard, he wanted to give up.  Again pretty human.  Watch for his growth through the story though6:3 - "I did not make myself known to them" - feels like an acknoweldgment that the form of faith was still not fully there for the Hebrew people.  God was still (and is still) speakingGenealogy - notice that we learn the parents of Moses hereIs the "hardening" an interpretation of "w...  Read More

Moses - so human.  Resisting the call, giving excuses, as all of us have done and still do.  Moses lies to Jethro, his father-in-law about why he wants to go back to Egypt4:24 - I feel like there's a story or something that got lost in the communication here of why this happensThe oppression of the Hebrews - a story as old as time and continues to repeat itself to the modern day What does a child'...  Read More

Moses - murderer.  Yes to save another but a murderer nonethelessNote - another "Well" momentHoly Ground - the place where we learn the deepest truth of the world?Name of God - truly this is an unpronounceable and nearly-impossible-to-translate word Why did Matthew put this healing here.  No other healings around this one.  Temple tax - another one that I am honestly not sure what to do with it Ps...  Read More

When the days of weeping for him were past.  What a beautiful description of grief.  Joseph's graceWhat was the progression of the Egyptians' hatred for the Hebrews?Courage of two women - Shiphrah and Puah - Moses would likely not have survived without their courageous disobedience Who do you say that I am?  Who do others say Jesus is?  How do we put ourselves in the way of God's work?Reading the ...  Read More

Cycles repeating themselves is a theme in the Bible.  The last first, the first last.  Where else have you seen this?Last blessing - yikes.  Better to be flatly honest in the blessing or not?Jacob - gathered to his people.  Once again, I love this phrase.   Healing on the Mount - and then a feeding on the mount!Request for a sign - Oh how we are never satisfiedJesus uses yeast here in a negative w...  Read More

This Jacob has become so different.  Do we allow space for people to truly change?  "We are more than the worst mistake we ever made" - Bryan StevensonVerse 28 - how does your translation cover it?  In the Hebrew, it is simply "he".  However, NRSV says "Israel" - example of an interpretation decisionJoseph acknowledges the prejudices of the EgyptiansBut notice what Joseph and the Pharaoh do when t...  Read More

The reveal - so now that it is all "out" - how do you feel about what Joseph did?  Serves his brothers right?  Over the top?  Other?Joseph - Coming to see God's hand in how things turned out.  But was it that God guided the whole thing or that God worked in the midst of it?  Changes our way of understanding God depending on our answer?  What a gift for Jacob to hear that Joseph is alive Context - ...  Read More

Joseph feels like he's really piling on here.  Remember Joseph's dream that he had back in the day?  Well, it is fulfilled here.  His brothers bowing down to himI call this section "grace-ish" from Joseph Another kingdom parable - justice and choosingMessage translation of 13:52 - Helps me in the understanding of what is said there - He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s k...  Read More

Again, how is God still speaking today?  Do you feel God is still speaking in new ways today?  Why or why not?Joseph - interpreted as his faithfulness is rewardedHow do you feel about what Joseph is starting to do here with his brothers? Weeds and wheat - How do we view others and trust in how God works?Kingdom Parable Section - kingdom is compared to that which is tiny, unnoticed, yet transformat...  Read More

God working through awful circumstancesPotiphar's wife - more trials for Joseph with still more to come.  Its not easy and never simpleDreams - how do you feel about what dreams say to us?  Does God speak through dreams still today?  When have you had a dream that was significant?  Ask me about the mountain lion sometime... Jesus redefines family here.  "Chosen" family and not just "born-into" fam...  Read More

Technicolor Dreamcoat time!  What's your favorite song from the musical?Family dysfunction again...One of those stories of having to go through the trials before coming out the other sideQustion - Did God put Onan to death or is that simply how the people of his time interpreted his death?  Remember we're dealing with ancient cultures hereAnd more family weirdness... Blaspheming the Spirit - lots ...  Read More

Renaming of Jacob.  "Israel" means "struggled" or "wrestled" with God.  This is something that has stayed with the Jewish people - tradition of midrash, arguing, debating, wrestling with the stories and with God. God reaffirms the covenant once againThings are being set up for the story of the brothers, Joseph, etc.  I love the phrase - that Isaac was "gathered to his people." Jesus is once again ...  Read More

Wrestling story - was it an angel?  Was it God?  Someone/thing else?  There's a literal meaning here and a figurative one. On the figurative side, I love how this story notes that when we encounter God, we are marked and we are changed.  Note the grace of Esau - no reason he had to be grace-filled with Jacob but he is.  A lesson in there for usStory of Dinah - Horrible story.  No way of trying to ...  Read More

Jacob continues his trickery,but somehow God is still at workRachel seems to be a good match for him...Notice though that Laban still makes a covenant with Jacob in spite of it allNow Jacob has to deal with EsauIs Jacob starting to "get it"? What is Jesus meaning here with the sword?  I thought of the message of Bonhoeffer in Life Together - When Christ calls a person he bids them come and die.  I...  Read More

Systems and stories keep repeating themselves, don't they?  How do you experience that reality in your own life?  In society?Jacob - continues to be the trickster and a bit of a scoundrel.  God uses all kinds...Notice how even here there are some early understandings of genetics... A shift comes here - not so much about miracles as it is about teaching and challenging.  First commissioning of the ...  Read More

Family dysfunction in full effectWhy did God choose Jacob?  And my heart breaks for Esau - just feels snakebitNotice - another meeting at a well.  Seems to be a central place?  Why?  Core need - water.  Why couldn't we set up Leah and Esau?  They seem like they would be good together Power again- Just emanating from Jesus the way it is describedPower again - Healing of the blind menMessianic Secre...  Read More

Notice another covenant made - Difference between covenants and contracts?  Here's a good breakdown on what covenant means in the Bible.Note the importance of names of places and names of people.  The names tell stories tooFamily dysfunction shows up againPut yourself in Esau's position in this reading - how are you feeling?  What are you thinking?Why only one blessing?  Ancient tradition held tha...  Read More

Put yourself in Rebekah's position in the story. How are you feeling with what is happening?  What is happening between the lines?  Remember, this is just the "highlights" - not going in depth.  The blessings offered - why don't we offer blessings in this way today?  What a gift it would be do to that for othersNotice that Hagar's well shows up againI love the language that is used when Abraham di...  Read More

Grace given to a mourning man.  When have you experienced a beautiful grace from others?The servant - praying for finding Isaac's wife.  How often do I/you/we pray for the every day things that we need?  How do we interpret everyday moments? Healings, Healings, Healings - notice what is in common in these healing stories and what is different.  Notice who is being healed and how.  Faith - Greek wo...  Read More

Abraham acting out of fear again - when will the dude learn?  Yet God works in spite of Abraham's actions and fearsNames - what is important about your name?  Notice how God promises and acts out care for Ishmael - making of him a great nation as wellWhen we come to this story, read Abraham and Isaac from the perspective of Isaac.  What does that change in you? What fruits do you see in yourself?...  Read More

Things start to get ugly.  Stories of lies, abandonments, trickery. fear, horrific suggestions by Lot with his daughters.  Hard chapters to read Lord's Prayer - notice what is the same and what is different in the prayer that we pray on Sundays.  Notice how the things Jesus is getting at is about internal things. For Jesus it isn't about the externals if the internals are not in alignmentGod and w...  Read More

The Bible Project - The Book of Genesis - Key Themes The Bible Project - The Book of Matthew - Key Themes...  Read More

Elements with Abraham and Sarah of trying to force God's hand.  Important note - Hagar is the first person in the Bible to give God a name.  She names God, "El-Roi" - The one who sees or God who sees.  Also notice how this becomes a part of the naming of the well where God encounters herCovenant - word keeps showing up and will keep showing up.  What does that word mean to you?  Names are changed ...  Read More

I love the statement - lift up your eyes (or raise up your eyes).  It is such a beautiful sense of expansiveness and seeing the bigger thing than just looking downNotice that the "religion" of the day is not yet fully formed.  It is still a work in progress.  The covenant ceremony - this is patterend after what was known as a Suzerain Treaty ceremony from ancient times.  The key thing is that norm...  Read More