Wow, I have finished Genesis! Let me tell you, it was far more interesting than one might expect. In some chapters, I really thought I was reading the script to a soap opera. Seriously! Most of the men have at least two wives, a lot of them even have "women maidservants" who also happen to sleep in the same bed sometimes and bear children for them.
I guess it's meant to show that there are no perfect men in the Bible, EXCEPT FOR JESUS!
But one of the most intriguing sagas of Genesis to me, was the account of the life of Joseph. Son of Jacob/Israel and Rachel (Jacob's 2nd wife, probably the one he loved the most), Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. Joseph was gifted with prophetic dreams from God. One day after sharing a dream with his brothers in which they are were bowing to him in the form of sheaves of grain, his brothers grew more envious of him. Now, you all may know the story of Joseph and his beautiful coat, and how his brothers threw him down a well and tricked their father into believing that Joseph was eaten by wild animals. After being sold into slavery, he was blessed by God with dreams that would benefit pharaoh and put Joseph in charge of literally everything in Egypt.
During the famine which he prophesied, his brothers came to him not knowing who he was, asking for grain. At this point, one should be confronted with the question....What would I do in this situation?
"Here are the brothers who betrayed me. They sold me like cattle into slavery. Because of them, I have been through so much turmoil in my life. I had to sit in prison and treated horribly." Joseph must have been thinking. "But ahh, I am in the position of power and authority now. I can sentence them to imprisonment for what they've done, even death!"
Here is this HUGE temptation to have revenge against those who sinned against him. I'm sure satan is right there at his ear whispering, "You are justified in this revenge! You deserve to get even! They deserve death! Give them what they deserve!"
But no, this is not Joseph's choice. He shows mercy-undeserving mercy-just as our Lord shows us undeserving mercy! We deserve death, but that is not what comes to us. How gracious is our Lord that he shows mercy and gives love! I am so thankful for his love and mercy!
On an unrelated note...I come again across a new question. In Jacob's life, God changes his name, as He does with many in history. He changes him from Jacob (which means "supplanter, taking the place of another especially using underhanded tactics") to Israel (which means "wrestles with God"). However, many times after God changed his name to Israel, He refers to him again as Jacob, his previous name. There is even several places where he calls him by both names in the same sentence.
Like here: And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" Gen 46:2.
If anyone should have an idea why this might be, do share. Well, off to exodus now. I am still behind in my reading, but I am still reading, and that's all that matters.
God Bless
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
So how am I doing?
Well, if this was about successful daily reading and staying on schedule, I would say, I have already failed and it's only day 24 out of 365. BUT, it is not about that, it is about spending time with God, and hearing His Word. I don't read each day like I should, yet. I didn't even start on Jan 1. My first reading was Jan 5th, and I managed to read 5 days worth at one time, it wasn't bad at all. Today is day 24, and I think I'm still on about day 18. Not too bad, I think. If it takes me more than a year, that's ok with me.
The point is to get into it and read it and leave changed. Each time I have sat and read, I gain a new bit of insight into Life and how to live and how to think. Not just from proverbs, but also Genesis, Mark and Psalms. Even in all the history that is hashed through in Genesis (that I have read so far), there is something to be gained from reading it.
I started this blog not just to catalog my experience reading, although that is a natural outcome of blogging, but because my reading to find answers is leaving me with more questions. Like how can Jacob be so blessed by God, when he has acted so wrong toward his brother, father, father-in-law? And why is it ok for Jacob to have two wives and two other maidservants that he lies with in addition to his two wives? I know God said to multiply, but I would not be a happy wife to Jacob. (approx. Gen 25-36)
I would love for any one reading this to join me if you feel the calling to. I am following the bible reading schedule from this website http://www.newlife919.com/reading-guides.htm I will be posting here questions, comments, and observations that I encounter in my readings. If you are reading the bible in a year also, and would like to post here with me, I am happy to use this place as a discussion board for other readers. Email me your interest, and I will add permissions for you to post. Happy reading, and I do hope you will join me.
The point is to get into it and read it and leave changed. Each time I have sat and read, I gain a new bit of insight into Life and how to live and how to think. Not just from proverbs, but also Genesis, Mark and Psalms. Even in all the history that is hashed through in Genesis (that I have read so far), there is something to be gained from reading it.
I started this blog not just to catalog my experience reading, although that is a natural outcome of blogging, but because my reading to find answers is leaving me with more questions. Like how can Jacob be so blessed by God, when he has acted so wrong toward his brother, father, father-in-law? And why is it ok for Jacob to have two wives and two other maidservants that he lies with in addition to his two wives? I know God said to multiply, but I would not be a happy wife to Jacob. (approx. Gen 25-36)
I would love for any one reading this to join me if you feel the calling to. I am following the bible reading schedule from this website http://www.newlife919.com/reading-guides.htm I will be posting here questions, comments, and observations that I encounter in my readings. If you are reading the bible in a year also, and would like to post here with me, I am happy to use this place as a discussion board for other readers. Email me your interest, and I will add permissions for you to post. Happy reading, and I do hope you will join me.
Reading the Bible in One Year
So, I decided in December that I would make this year the year that I would read through the Bible.
Who am I? I am a christian whose walked through shadowed valleys, and open fields. I grew up attending church, learning all the frequently taught bible lessons, gaining all the moral lessons meant to be gained from these stories, and trying to be as good as I could be.
As an adolescent christian, I failed at "being good," and gave up the attempt as I quickly became covered in a spirit of shame and worthlessness. I traveled through the darkest valleys I have ever known, darker than I ever knew to exist before then.
And some how, through God's gracious mercy, and unfailing love, He carried me out of the valley and brought me into a beautiful spacious place (Psalm 18:1-19).
As a growing christian, I am learning that Christianity is not just about "knowing the stories," and "being good," but it is much more! I am learning that the Bible is not merely a collection of stories and moralistic fables like Aesop's Fables, but it is much, much more!
Christianity is about the Truth of God's love for us, which was so great that he sent his only Son, while we were dead in our Sins, not because we were righteous and deserving, because we are not. And the Bible is the testament of that truth, so that we may know the Truth, and the truth will set you free!
Knowing this now, about the Bible, I feel it is time, as a christian, that I read this book of Truth written by God. So that I may fully understand His Truth.
Who am I? I am a christian whose walked through shadowed valleys, and open fields. I grew up attending church, learning all the frequently taught bible lessons, gaining all the moral lessons meant to be gained from these stories, and trying to be as good as I could be.
As an adolescent christian, I failed at "being good," and gave up the attempt as I quickly became covered in a spirit of shame and worthlessness. I traveled through the darkest valleys I have ever known, darker than I ever knew to exist before then.
And some how, through God's gracious mercy, and unfailing love, He carried me out of the valley and brought me into a beautiful spacious place (Psalm 18:1-19).
As a growing christian, I am learning that Christianity is not just about "knowing the stories," and "being good," but it is much more! I am learning that the Bible is not merely a collection of stories and moralistic fables like Aesop's Fables, but it is much, much more!
Christianity is about the Truth of God's love for us, which was so great that he sent his only Son, while we were dead in our Sins, not because we were righteous and deserving, because we are not. And the Bible is the testament of that truth, so that we may know the Truth, and the truth will set you free!
Knowing this now, about the Bible, I feel it is time, as a christian, that I read this book of Truth written by God. So that I may fully understand His Truth.
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