Journal Through the Bible: Week 8 Thursday

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Genesis 26:6-35
This part of the chapter almost seems parenthetical to me. It relates the failure of Isaac to protect the reputation of his wife, Rebekah, by perpetuating a lie that they were brother and sister much like his own father, Abraham, had done a couple of times to Sarah. But if the narrative of the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is told sequentially it makes me wonder where the children were during their sojourn with Abimelech of Gerar in Philistia. Verse 8 states that they had been there a long time and I suspect that it would be difficult to keep up the charade with small children present.

Another possibility is that the boys were already grown and living elsewhere, like shepherds of their father's flocks, since the end of the chapter tells of Esau's marriages to women who were a constant aggravation to his mother.

Does God make any promises in this passage?
God appeared to Isaac at Beersheba and promised that He would be with him and would bless him just as He had blessed Abraham. He also stated that He would do this for Abraham's sake.

Are there any references to Jesus?
The analogy is often made of Jesus being the spring of living water (verse 19). Isaac's herdsmen fought with the herdsmen of Gerar over it and lost. They then moved and dug another well that they called Sitnah which means enmity. They lost that one also. Then they dug a third well which they were able to hold without a fight and they called it Rehoboth which means broad because God had made room for them. There is an analogy here of the first state of man (spring of living water) being lost during the first battle with the serpent, progressing to the life of constant battle with Satan, which will eventually be followed by life with the One that has made a place for us. There was also a fourth well called Sheba which means an oath, and the city named Beersheba which means well of the oath. Jesus is the Oath, or promise, that supplies peace between God and all people who repent and believe on Him.

Are there any references to End Time events or eternity?
As  mentioned above, Jesus has prepared an eternal place for us. It is our Rehoboth and Beersheba.

Does God issue any commands in this passage?
He told Isaac not to be afraid because God would always be with him.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 8 Wednesday

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Genesis 25:1-26:5

In this passage we learn more about Abraham's descendants, including the sons he had by his wife, Keturah, the woman he married after Sarah died.

One interesting note that I made in the margin of my Bible is that 25:18 tells us of the death of Ishmael. It says "and he died in the presence of all his brethren." I love that! Remember that the angel had told Hagar in 16:12 that her son "shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren" back during the time when she was carrying the aged Abraham's only child?

Does God make any promises in this passage?

• God promises Rebekah that she will have twins that will separate into two distinct nations.
• God renews the Abrahamic covenant with Isaac and tells him all the blessings that come with this covenant.

Are there any references to Jesus?

• The reason the elder son, Esau, will serve the younger, Jacob, is because the Messiah would come through the line of Jacob.
• God tells Isaac that through his seed shall all the nations be blessed. That seed is Jesus.

Are there any references to End Time or Eternal events?

• Isaac's descendants are still waiting to inherit all the land that God promised them.

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• God commands Isaac not to take his family into Egypt during the time of a famine.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 8 Tuesday

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Genesis chapter 24

I love reading this chapter! It contains such a poignant illustration of God's sovereignty coexisting with man's (or in this case, woman's) responsibility. See if you can find it yourself. I'll tell you below the main post where I noticed it.

Does God make any promises in this chapter?

• God does not speak, but He does work throughout this chapter to fulfill the promise He made to Abraham by arranging the marriage of Isaac to Rebekah.

Are there any references to Jesus?

• verse 60 - Jesus is the seed that possesses the gate of all who hate His people.

Are there any references to End Time or Eternal events?

• Rebekah's descendants, those thousands of millions, have yet to possess the gate (or have victory over) their enemies but it will happen.

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• We can infer that God issued a command to Rebekah to be Isaac's wife since His angel went before Abraham's servant to Mesopotamia so that Rebekah would be the first pretty young lady to come out the city gate to draw water.

(I see God's sovereignty and man's responsibility illustrated throughout this whole story but especially in verses 7, 8, 14, 40, 41 and 58. Abraham states that God will send His angel to Mesopotamia ostensibly to prepare the woman that God wanted to be Isaac's wife. This is the sovereignty portion. But Abraham tells his servant that if the woman will not come the servant is released from his obligation. This is man's responsibility. In other words, God's sovereign will was for a certain woman to be Isaac's wife, but the woman had the responsibility to follow that will.)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 8 Monday

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Genesis 22:1-23:20 

In this passage Abraham endures two hard tests. First, he is commanded to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice and second he must grieve the death of his wife, Sarah, and obtain a proper burial place for her.

Does God make any promises in this passage?

22:16-18 - God promised many blessings upon Abraham including greatly multiplying his descendants, even to the point of domination over their enemies. He also promised that there would be a certain descendant that would bless all nations.

Is there any reference to Jesus?

• 22:8 - When Abraham tells Isaac that God will provide himself a lamb for the burnt offering he is speaking of the Lamb of God, Jesus.
• 22:18 - Jesus is the "seed" of Abraham that is the blessing to all nations of the world.

Is there any reference to End Time events or eternity?

• None that I found

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• 22:2 - God tells Abraham to take Isaac to Moriah and offer him as a burnt sacrifice.

Sunday Psalm: Our Strength and Shield

Psalm 28

 

 

Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock;

be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me,

I become like them that go down into the pit.

 

² Hear the voice of my supplications,

 when I cry unto thee,

when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

³ Draw me not away with the wicked,

 and with the workers of iniquity,

which speak peace to their neighbours,

but mischief is in their hearts.

⁴ Give them according to their deeds,

and according to the wickedness of their endeavours:

give them after the work of their hands;

render to them their desert.

⁵ Because they regard not the works of the Lord,

nor the operation of his hands,

 he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord,

because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;

 my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;

and with my song will I praise him.

⁸ The Lord is their strength,

and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

⁹ Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance:

 feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

TAKE TIME: Feb 25-Mar 2 Reading Assignment

Introduction: Our reading this week covers a transition from Abraham to his son, Isaac. God honors the Abrahamic covenant by extending it to Isaac. It is through this son of Abraham and Sarah that the LORD honors the eternal covenant that was ratified by the blood of the testator, the Messiah.


Reading Assignment:

• Monday - Genesis 22:1-23:20
• Tuesday - Genesis 24:1-67
• Wednesday - Genesis 25:1-26:5
• Thursday - Genesis 26:6-35
• Friday - Genesis 27:1-40
• Saturday - Genesis 27:41-28:22

Memory Verse

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.  Genesis 22:8

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - This week take time each day to praise God for keeping His promises that we have been finding in the scriptures. God is the only One who will always keep His promises!
• Confession - God already knows about each sin but confess any as they come to your mind and ask Him to help you not sin that way again.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for blessing you through the Abrahamic covenant. It is through this covenant that the world received the Savior!
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

God led Abraham's servant to the wife that was right for Isaac. If you are not married make a list of the Godly qualities you want your future spouse to have and then ask God to lead you to right person accordingly. If you are married, ask the Lord to help you find something special to do for your spouse to show that person and the Lord that you appreciate your life's partner. (Acts of love and kindness should not be exclusively done on Valentine's Day!)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Saturday

Desert terrain of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada (taken by Gram in 2011)

Genesis chapter 21

Does God make any promises in this chapter?

• In this chapter we see the fulfillment of a previous promise that God made to Abraham and Sarah, the birth of their son, Isaac! (The promise was given in Genesis 17:19.) I always find it ironic that Sarah would ask, "Who would have said unto Abraham that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age," when God clearly said unto both Abraham and Sarah that such a thing was going to happen!
• God promises to make Ishmael's descendants a mighty nation also. (21:13, 18) 

Are there any references to the future Messiah (Jesus)?

As God, Jesus is also the everlasting God on whom Abraham called when he planted the grove in Beersheba.

Are there any references to future (End Time or Heavenly) events?

None that I identified.

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• In this chapter we see where Abraham obeyed the command of the LORD to institute circumcision as a sign of their covenant by circumcising Isaac (21:4)
• God tells Hagar to go to her son and take care of him when they are without water and Ishmael called out to God (21:17-18) 

Read Through the Bible in 2013: February 25 - March 2

Take Ten

2/25/2013	Exodus 24, 25	Mark 15
2/26/2013	Exodus  26-28	Mark 16
2/27/2013	Exodus 29, 30	Luke 1
2/28/2013	Exodus 31, 32	Luke 2
3/1/2013	Exodus 33, 34	Luke 3
3/2/2013	Exodus 35, 36	Luke 4, 5

For introductory information on the book of Luke see this post .

Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Friday

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Genesis 19:30-20:18 

When it comes to reading the Bible, this is probably one of my least favorite passages. It shows just how reprobate even the people of God are when left to their own devices. I am not surprised, although I am disgusted, when reading about the degradation that Lot's daughters instigated, but when Abraham sends his still-beautiful wife, Sarah, into a harem I almost cannot endure it. The temptation to do things our own way is great.

A couple of days this week we read a couple of rich passages containing God's promises. This is not one of those days.

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom?

No, God does not speak in this passage.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

No.
 

Are there any references to End Time events?

No.
 

 Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom?

No, God does not speak.

Another Year of T-shirts for the Grandchildren

It has become a Rite of Spring for me, this making of t-shirts for our grandchildren. Lovingly fingering the thin cotton material while dressed in wool always lifts my spirits knowing that the weather will one day be warm enough for the children to wear them.

 

This year I decided to design my own t-shirts instead of buying already designed iron-on transfers at the craft store. That way each child will have something that fits his or her personality and interests, or at least that is the goal.  :)

 

 

 T-shirt #1

 

I only have 2 completed so far, but thought I would share them.  You can probably guess who is now the owner of the first shirt. (If you need a reminder you can go back a few years to my 4th blog post here to meet the manatee lover.)

 

I've tried unsuccessfully for a long time to find a cross stitch pattern to make a manatee sweatshirt for the manatee lover's autumn birthday but with no success. So when I decided to make her a t-shirt I looked through my pictures to see if I had anything appropriate. None were perfect, but one was chosen because it had at least one complete manatee in it:



 

 

 

 

 

After copying my photo to a Word document I added text and a graphic to the page: 

 

 

 

Using iron-on transfer paper (which I bought as a BOGOF per package sale offer) I printed off the transfer. If you do this, remember to use the mirror-image setting so that the text is properly formatted after ironing.

 

Tigger is now wearing this t-shirt:

 



T-shirt #2

Thanks to current tv options Fen has discovered old cartoons that most of us forgot (and for good reason, I might add). One of the characters has become his hero. Thanks also to old pictures found on the Internet I downloaded a picture of his favorite character:

T-shirts #3-#7

Uh, not even started although Sweet Pea did tell me that she would like one with her favorite animal, a hippo, . . . or a dog . . . specifically, Pepper.

Ok, perhaps you'd like to see pictures of our two latest cuties wearing the Valentine shirts that their Gram bought them instead. (I use the word "bought" loosely. I used bonus points earned from holiday spending to get each shirt for about $1.50 each. Hope that doesn't make me look like Gram-the-Scrooge).

Fen was giving his sister a little Valentine love.  :)

The picture is a little fuzzy but these moving targets were hard to photograph

And here is our newest little love and his Gram, who was privileged to visit him  on Valentine's Day in his home almost 2,000 miles away from her own (which is in an area warmer than her own year round):

I'll post more on shirts 3-7 when I have them.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Thursday

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Genesis 18:16-19:29 

This passage tells of the judgment and destruction that fell upon the cities on the plain, most notably Sodom and Gomorrah. While reading this passage two questions concerning human reasoning came to my mind:

1. Why did Lot's wife look back? Was it her love for the worldly things of Sodom that drew her gaze or was it concern for the daughters and sons-in-law that refused to leave with them that caused her to hesitate? Either way, she disobeyed and paid the price.
2. Why did Lot not take his daughters and flee to Abraham? His uncle had already rescued him and his family during the war between city-states. Perhaps the thought of being rescued by Uncle Abraham made Lot resentful and he didn't want to show up at Abraham's tent door a broken man eating humble pie.

These scenarios are sad.

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom?

• In 18:23-33 God is telling Abraham that He will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Within that conversation is the promise that God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked during a time of judgment.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

It is possible that this was a theophany, an appearance of the Messiah before His first advent. Jesus is God in the flesh, and Abraham appears to be having this conversation with God in human form.

Are there any references to future events (New Earth, Heaven)?

None that I identified.

Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom?

• 19:12-16 -- Through the 2 messengers God commanded Lot to take his family and leave Sodom.
• 19:17 -- Those who left were commanded not to look back. (His wife did and turned to salt.)
• 19:17 -- Lot was commanded to take his family into the surrounding hills. (Which he did not do right away and certainly not without an argument! More on that tomorrow.)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Wednesday

Our latest blessing from the Lord (picture borrowed from my daughter's blog)

And God said unto Abraham, as for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also by her: Genesis 17:15-16a

Genesis 17:1-18:15

Does God make any promises in this passage? And if so, to whom? And do these promises apply to me?

• 17:2, 6 - God promised to multiply Abram's family greatly by making him the father of many nations.
• 17:5 - God changes Abram's name to Abraham to as part of His promise to him.
• 17:7 - God promises that His covenant with Abraham and his offspring will be an everlasting promise.
• 17:8 - God promises that Abraham's family would possess the land as an everlasting possession.
• 17:15 and 18:10 - God promised Sarai/Sarah a son!
• 17:19, 21 - God promised to establish His covenant with Isaac, the yet to be conceived son of Abraham and Sarah.
• 17:20 - God promised Abraham that He would bless Ishmael and would multiply his family greatly.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

Jesus is the King of Kings that descends from Abraham and Isaac.

Are there any references to eternity or End Time events in this passage?

• God's covenant with Abraham and his offspring is everlasting. That the ratified covenant will exist throughout eternity.
• God's promise of an everlasting possession of the Promised Land means that they will retain ownership of it throughout eternity, which would mean on the New Earth also.

Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom?

• In 17:1 God appears to Abram and tells him to walk blamelessly before Him so that He can make His covenant with him. (Remember that God had made the promise to Abram in chapter 15 but Abram found his own manner of fulfilling it, as though God needed Abram's help!)
• In 17:9-14 God told Abraham to institute the rite of circumcision as a sign of their covenant agreement.
• In 17:15 God told Abraham to change Sarai's name to Sarah.
• In 17:19 God told Abraham to name the child that Sarah would bear "Isaac."

Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Tuesday

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And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Gen 15:5-6 (KJV)


Genesis 15:1-16:16
 
Whoa! Today is the day we hit the motherload!

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom? And do those promises apply to me.

15:1 - God promised to be Abram's shield and power.
15:4 - God promised that Abram's servant, Eliezer, would not be his heir but that Abram would have his own child.
15:5 - God promised that Abram's descendants would be so numerous that they cannot be numbered any more than the stars may be numbered. (This applies to me. Even though I am not Jewish, I do have Jewish ancestry which makes me a descendant of Abraham. The same could probably be said about most English people.)
15:13, 14, 16 - God promised Abram that his descendants would go into bondage but would be released from it 400 years from that time. He stated that Abram's family would come back to the land where he was now standing after 4 generations lived in the foreign land that would enslave them (Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses).
15:15 - God promised Abraham that he would die in peace and after living to an old age.
15:18 - God promised Abram that his children would possess the land, and then He described the boundaries.
16:10, 11 - Through His angel, God promised Hagar that her offspring would be the start of a mighty nation. He told her to name the child Ishmael. (NOTE: Have you ever noticed that the angel told her Ishmael would dwell in the presence of his "brethren" when at that time he was the only child of the old man, Abram?)

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

Not specifically, but like the Children of Israel, God called His Son out of Egypt to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.

Are there any references to eternity or End Time events?

It is my understanding that the descendants of Abraham have never possessed the whole land that God promised them. This is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled in its entirety.

Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom? And are these commands that I must obey today?

15:6 - God commanded Abram to make a sacrifice as a token of his belief.
16:9 - Through His angel, God told Hagar to return to Sarai and submit to her.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 7 Monday

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Genesis 14:1-24

This was the time of city-states when each walled city was its own self-governed nation. Lot, Abram's nephew, was captured in the battle between several of these so Abram armed his servants and went on a rescue mission.

After the battle, the victorious Abram was greeted Melchizedek, king of Salem (which means "peace" and which is the city that later becomes Jerusalem). Abram paid tithes and Melchizedek blessed Abram with a monumental blessing, "Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." Genesis 14:19-20

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom. And do these promises apply to me?

Through Melchizedek God makes the promise that Abram would be the possessor of heaven and earth. (Awesome! What more is there?) Since Lazarus is said to have been received into Abraham's bosom when he died, which always evokes a picture in my mind of the beggar receiving a warm embrace in the arms of his ancestor, Abraham, as he enters Heaven, these verses seem to correspond.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

Psalm 110: 4 and Hebrews chapters 6 and 7 tell us that this Melchizedek is a type of Christ. Jesus is forever made to be a kingly priest for us (an intercessor who bears our sins). He is without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. He also was not of the Levitical tribe (which had not even been established during the time of Melchizedek).

Are there any references to End Time or eternal events in this passage?

I suspect the reference to Abram being the possessor of heaven and earth declares eternal blessing. All we who are of the family of Abraham, and the New Testament makes it clear that this means the spiritual Gentile children of Abraham as well as all physical descendants who believed on Jesus the Messiah as the redemption for their sins, will share in this blessing.

Does God issue any commands in this passage? If so, to whom. And are these commands that apply to me?

God does not speak in this chapter.

Sunday Psalm: God's Judgment

Psalm 11

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The providence and justice of God

4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Psalms 11:1-7 (KJV)



TAKE TIME: February 18-23 Reading Assignment

Introduction: This week we will follow the life of Abram and Sarai to their transformation to Abraham and Sarah, the names that the LORD chose for them. Through this week's journey we will see that God promised to give them a son but when that promise wasn't fulfilled quickly enough to suit them they found their own solution for their infertility problem.

We will also see God's judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities on the beautiful plain where Abraham's nephew, Lot, chose to settle and how that affected his family.  These two events, Abraham's own way of obtaining a son and Lot's family's wicked choices, would be the way that several nations that later warred against the Israelites had their beginnings.


Reading Assignment:

• Monday - Genesis 14:1-24
• Tuesday - Genesis 15:1-16:16
• Wednesday - Genesis 17:1-18:15
• Thursday - Genesis 18:16-19:29
• Friday - Genesis 19:30-20:18
• Saturday - Genesis 21:1-34

Memory Verse

Is anything too hard for the LORD?  Genesis 18:14a

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - This week take time each day to praise God for having a plan for your life.
• Confession - God already knows about each sin but confess any as they come to your mind and ask Him to help you not sin that way again.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for the many blessings in your life! After your salvation, your family might be at the top of your list
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

God had a plan for Abraham's life that included giving him a son through Sarah but since Abraham and Sarah thought such a thing was impossible they took matters into their own hands instead of doing things God's way. Do you know of someone who is not following God's plan for their life? (Be careful! Make sure you know what God's plan for them is! There are some things that are part of God's plan for every life, so try to focus your attention in that direction.) Just as God forgave Abraham and Sarah and restored them to His fellowship, see if you can reach out to someone who needs affirmation of God's love and forgiveness this week.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 6 Saturday

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Genesis 12:4-13:18 

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom? And do those promises apply to me?

Yes, in 12:7 the LORD appeared to Abram and told him that this was the land He would give his descendants. He said it to Abram the third time also (13:14-17).

God also promises that Abraham's descendants would be so many that man could not number them. 

Is there any reference to Jesus in this passage?

None that I saw.

Is there any reference to End Times or eternity in this passage?

Yes, when God tells Abraham that the land would belong to Abraham's family forever that must mean exactly that! 

Does God make any commands in this passage?

Yes, He tells Abraham first to look at the land and then He tells him to walk throughout the land to see it. 

Read Through the Bible in 2013: February 18-23

Take Ten

2/18/2013	Exodus 9, 10	Mark 6, 7
2/19/2013	Exodus 11, 12	Mark 8, 9
2/20/2013	Exodus 13-15	Mark 10
2/21/2013	Exodus 16-18	Mark 11
2/22/2013	Exodus 19, 20	Mark 12, 13
2/23/2013	Exodus 21-23	Mark 14

Journal Through the Bible: Week 6 Friday

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Genesis 11:10-12:3

We are returning now to Genesis and picking up where we were before reading Job. As I mentioned several weeks ago, many Bible scholars believe Job to be the contemporary of Abraham. Now that we have finished Job's biography we will begin Abraham's.

As I mentioned here, by doing the math from the ages given in chapter 11 we can determine that Shem outlived Abraham!

Does God make any promises? If so, to whom? Do these promises apply to me?

Yes, in the first few verses of chapter 12 God makes a covenant with Abram. He promises that He will make him a great nation and that all nations will be blessed through him.

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

Yes, Jesus is the fulfillment of that blessing to all nations!

Are there any references to End Time events?

Not specifically, but the New Testament (testament means "covenant") makes it clear that this promise that God made to Abraham is eternal and that all who repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus - the blessing for all nations - will be the beneficiaries of it as residents of the New Earth.

Does God issue any commands? If so, to whom? Do these commands apply to me?

God commanded Abram to leave his homeland and to go to the land that God would show him. This does not specifically apply to me, but since I am a Christian and will be a beneficiary of the eternal blessing it will apply to me when the New Jerusalem is established upon the New Earth.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 6 Thursday

Note: This is an edited post. Some of the intended text was apparently deleted. The addition appears in boldface type below.

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Job chapter 42

We have come to the end of the book of Job and we are encouraged to see how he was blessed at the end because he persevered through the trial that God allowed Satan to inflict upon him.

Does God make any promises in this passage?

Yes, God promises Eliphaz that if he and his friends will offer the proper sacrifices and if Job will pray for them God will accept them (James 5:16).

 

Are there any mentions of Jesus?

Yes, in 42:5 Job states that he not only had heard about God but now he had seen Him! Jesus is God in the flesh.

 

Are there any references to End Time events?

No, not that I identified.

 

Does God issue any commands?

Yes, God issued commands to Eliphaz concerning the acceptable means of repentance.
 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope your study of God's Word will draw you closer to the One who loves you the most! 

Journal Through the Bible: Week 6 Wednesday

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Today's reading contains the names of two animals that we cannot positively identify but that sound like two animals that we know through fossil and folklore. "Behemoth" sounds very much like the dinosaur that scientists have named the brontosaurus. The description of "leviathan" sounds very much like the dragon of folklore, which many are convinced really existed. Indeed, tales of these terrible fire-breathing creatures are found in too many diverse cultures to be summarily dismissed as fable. Even the ancient book, Beowulf, contains an account of a battle with a creature that has many of the attributes of the Biblical leviathan, a creature that Job obviously had encountered. The reason that we cannot say with any certainty that behemoth and leviathan are really a dinosaur and dragon is because both are now extinct.

Job 40:15-41:34

Does God make any promises in this passage?

No
 

Are there any mentions of Jesus in this passage?

None that I identified.
 

Are there any references to End Time events?

No, but I truly hope that the New Earth will be repopulated with animals that have become extinct upon this old one! Wouldn't it be exciting to see with our own eyes some of the creatures that we missed?

Does God issue any commands?

He commands Job to consider behemoth, the majestic creature that seemed to have a voracious appetite and thirst as well as a propensity for resting in the shade! (40:15-24)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 6 Tuesday

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Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city; neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. Job 29:5-8


Job 39:1-40:14

God continues questioning Job. Many of the questions concern animal and bird life. Job answers God in chapter 40.

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom?

The promise implied in this passage is that God takes care of the creatures that He created!

Are there any references to Jesus in this passage?

As stated on other days, Jesus is the creator and therefore is the One that daily sustains the undomesticated animals and birds.

Are there any references to End Time events in this passage?

None that I saw.
 

Does God make any commands in this passage? If so, to whom?

Yes, first God specifically tells Job to give an account of the words he spoke about God in reproof (see 40:2). This is a warning to all of us because we are told that we also will be commanded to give an account of our words.

Our response should be the same as Job's. We should admit that we are vile and that there is no proper response. 

Remember, Job wanted an audience with God and that is just what he got! But after he received that audience his reverence shocked him into silence (40:4-5). So shall it be with anyone who thinks they know more than God! 

Second, God then commands Job to "gird up your loins like a man" once more. He challenges Job to make good his previous words of condemnation, including dealing with the proud and wicked. God says that if Job can do all that then He, God, will admit that Job is as self-sustaining as God Himself.

 

Journal Through the Bible: Week 6 Monday

Ice and snow covered bush outside Pastor Dad's office

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail? Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? Job 38:22, 29

 

 

Job chapter 38

 

God begins His reply and an inquiry. The questions that He asks Job were meant to humble him. They should do the same to each of us, too.

 

 

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so, to whom?

This whole chapter is a promise! God not only created all things but He sustains them, too. He even provides food for the wild beasts (38:39-41). And everything has a purpose even when we do not see what it is! Just a few examples are the light to bring men's evil deeds to an end, the hail to add confusion in times of war, and the laws of nature to keep things in order.

Are there any references to Jesus? 

Not directly, but John 1 tells us that all things were made by him and Colossians 1:17 tells us that by him all things consist.

Are there any references to End Time events? 

 No, but the creative resources found in this old earth will surely be found in the New Earth as well! Won't it be wonderful to be there beside the morning stars (angels) as the New Earth is being created?! (see 38:7)

Does God issue any commands? If so, to whom? 

In verse 2 God commands Job to stand up and be a man who will answer God's questions ("Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me."

Sunday Psalm: Begin with Despair but End with Hope!

Psalm 13

 

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?
how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?
how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God:
lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him;
and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy;
my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalms 13:1-6 (KJV)

TAKE TIME: February 11-16 Reading Assignment

Introduction: This week God speaks with Job and his friends. He declares to Job that there are many things that no one but God can understand and that He owes Job no explanation. He teaches Job this lesson by asking him a series of scientific questions, some that humans still do not have the ability to answer!

Also in these passages are references to animals that are believed to be extinct but that might possibly have been land and aquatic dinosaurs and dragons. In the last couple of chapters Job repents of demanding an explanation from the Almighty Creator. God accepts his apology and then requires him to pray for his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. God did not tell him to pray for Elihu.

Notice that God rewarded Job with double the amount of material possessions after the trial than what he had before the trial began. God also rewards him with children and a long life that allowed him to see great-great children.

After completing the book of Job we return to Genesis and begin reading about Abraham. Use the genealogy in Genesis 11 to add up the years of each person from Shem to Abraham. It proves that Abraham died before Shem, the son of Noah, did!

 
Reading Assignment:

• Monday - Job 38
• Tuesday - Job 39:1-40:14
• Wednesday - Job 40:15-41:34
• Thursday - Job 42
• Friday - Genesis 11:10-12:3
• Saturday - Genesis 12:4-13:18

Memory Verse

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  Genesis 12:3

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - This week take time each day to praise God for being merciful.
• Confession - God already knows about each sin but confess any as they come to your mind and ask Him to help you not sin that way again.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God that you are blessed through the family of Abraham! It was through his family that the Savior was born!
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

God moved Abraham away from his home and the worship of idols to a new country where he would serve the Lord. Are there any new families in your neighborhood? Introduce yourself, be genuinely friendly, and help them get settled. Get to know them and then introduce them to your Savior!