Chronoligical order
When we read most books, we expect the action to flow from one event to the next. However, the Bible is not linear in its recording of Biblical events. This reading plan gives us an idea of how the events of the Bible play out in their chronological order. We begin in Genesis, but quickly jump into the book of Job, one of the earliest Biblical texts we have. We will also see read the prophets interspersed throughout 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles.
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding”
Proverbs 4:6-7
January 1: Genesis 1-3
Genesis opens with "In the beginning God". This indicates that the next 66 books we are about to read are His book. This is His story of redemption. God sets about making the heavens and the earth. He creates the sun, moon, stars, and earth. He creates all life on earth and then rests.
The final creation is mankind. From there, man is given the command to name all the animals. He is also given the command to be fruitful and multiply. Adam and Eve are in the Garden of Eden. It is a paradise, but they are still expected to work. They are given any tree to eat from. However, they are not allowed to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They are warned that if they eat from that tree, then they will die.
The serpent is more crafty out of the animals. He approaches the woman and asks "did God
really say?" Those four words today are still used to pull people away from God's word. Eve
responds that if they eat it or touch the fruit then they will die. In my opinion, that is when the
serpent knew that he was going to be able to get them to go against God's command. God had
not said to touch it, just not eat it. There was an addition to His command. The serpent promises
that if they eat the fruit, then they will be like God. So she takes it and eats it and gives it to her
husband. Sin always over promises and under delivers. Now shame enters God's creation. The
man and woman realize they are naked and hide as they hear God walking in the cool of the
evening.
Fellowship was broken between the man and the woman, and between mankind and God. God banishes the two from the garden, but promises that One will come from the woman's seed that will crush the head of the serpent.
January 2: Genesis 4-7
Having been banished from the garden, Adam and Eve begin having children. Their son Cain works the ground. Their son Abel becomes a shepherd. Abel makes an offering to The LORD and He finds it pleasing. Cain makes an offering to God, but He is not pleased with the offering. Cain becomes enraged. God confronts him and warms Cain that sin is "crouching at his door". Cain's rage seeks to control him. God explains that if Cain does what is right, then he will be accepted.
Cain lures his brother out into a field and kills him. Cain did not do any level of self-reflection to see where he went wrong. Instead, he blamed his brother for his lackluster sacrifice. God punishes Cain for his sin. Cain is given a mark by God and he goes out to establish the first city. Lamech is one of Cain’s descendants. He is the first polygamist identified in the Bible.
We read about the line of Seth in chapter five. The Lamech we read about in this chapter is not the same Lamech from chapter four. The Lamech in chapter four has the distinction of being the first polygamist. The Lamech from Seth’s line was an upright man.
Chapter six brings bad news that God regretted making humans because of the wickedness happening. There was a lot of bad stuff happening at the time. Mankind began to multiply on the earth the way that God had commanded Adam and Eve. However, they were going about it in the wrong way. This leads to God‘s judgment on the earth. He is going to send a flood to wash it all out. Only Noah and his family will be spared.
Noah builds an Ark even though there had been no rain. Most likely, plenty of his friends made fun of him for going out on faith and building this boat. Noah was faithful, though, and did what God told him to rather than worry about the judgment from men.
January 3: Genesis 8-11
Noah and his family continued floating along on the water. The sources of the watery depth and the floodgates of the sky stop and the water begins to recede. The ark eventually comes to rest on Mount Ararat which is in modern day Turkey. Noah and his family debark the ark. God promises that He will never flood the earth again and gives the sign of the rainbow to remind us of this covenant.
God tells Noah to be fruitful and multiply and fear the earth. Prior to the flood, humans were on a vegetarian diet. Now that the flood has receded and the world is changed, humans are now allowed to eat meat. Noah was the first man to plant a vineyard. He made some wine and drank it. Then he retired to his tent where he got naked. Ham, one of his sons, discovered his father's nakedness and reported it to his brothers. Noah pronounces a curse on Ham, the father of Canaan.
The people are fruitful and they multiply. Because of their greatness, they decide that they want to build a tower so that they will be remembered. They set to make a tower that will stretch all the way to heaven. God sees what the people are doing. So, He goes to the land and confuses the languages. It is ironic that they built the temple with the intention of NOT being dispersed.
However, it was that very decision that led to them separating
January 4: Job 1-5
Job is one of the older books in the Old Testament. Job is a very wealthy man. He has seven sons and three daughters. He has 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, and 500 female donkeys. Job was the greatest man in the east. He was also so pious that any time his children had a banquet, he would purify them since he feared they might have defiled themselves.
The sons of God come to present themselves. The LORD asks Satan where he has been and then God proceeds to talk about Job and how great he is in his integrity, turning from evil, and fear of God. Satan wagers that the only reason Job is faithful is because God has blessed him with so much stuff. God allows the adversary to take away all of Job’s possessions.
In the blink of an eye, Job lost it all. His children died, his livestock was stolen or devoured, and his servants are struck down by the sword. Job stands up, tears his robe, and shaves his head, a sign of mourning in those days. He says, “the Lord gives and He takes away, Praise the name of Yahweh”. Would we respond that way if we found ourselves in his position?
The sons of God assemble again. This time Satan says that Job only remained faithful because he had not been harmed. God gives the adversary permission to give Job physical ailments. Job is infected with terrible boils all over his body. His wife tells him to “Curse God and die”. From our perspective, that seems harsh. However, she said that out of concern for him. She knew that if he died, he would not be suffering anymore. Job chides her and asks if they should only accept good things from God.
Job’s friends come to visit after hearing the news. When they are away from him, they see how destitute he is and begin mourning for their friend. They go and sit among the ashes with Job for seven days and seven nights. No one says a word.
After a week’s worth of silence, Job speaks. He curses the day he was born but does not curse God. Job is suffering and he does not know why. The silence having been broken; his friend Eliphaz gives the first speech. His speech is filled with traditional wisdom. However, it does not address the reason for Job’s affliction. In reality, he should have remained silent.
Eliphaz continues his speech. He points out to Job that the holy ones will not answer him. He needs a mediator. The need for a mediator is a theme throughout Job. He tries to console Job by saying that rather than being upset, he should realize that trouble is part of the human life cycle. That is a LOT easier said by someone that is not suffering. I wonder how Eliphaz would have reacted to that advice during a time in which he was suffering! I doubt he would have taken it very well. Several years ago, I had submitted a report to some of my advisors. In response to my questions, one of my mentors responded “Well, like you said…” I was not thrilled that someone used my words to minister to me!
January 5: Job 6-9
Job responds to Eliphaz in chapter 6. If his grief could be weighed, it would outweigh the sands of the sea. The sands of the sea is used as a metaphor for vastness or something that cannot be measured. Job feels that he is under attack from God. He asks a rhetorical question that implies a negative answer. Eliphaz’s words did nothing to encourage Job. Instead, it was like feeding contaminated food to Job’s malnourished soul.
Job complains about the plight of humanity, stating that our days are like that of a hired hand, indicating that God treats us like a harsh master. He is so upset that he refuses to keep silent. He has reached his breaking point. He will complain in the bitterness of his soul.
Bildad begins his speech. He acts like God’s defense attorney, accusing Job of spouting hot air. He too gives rhetorical questions that expects a negative answer. God does not pervert justice. He does not pervert what is right. That is true. The problem here though is that Bildad is essentially accusing Job of sin in his life and that is what is causing his condition. None of these guys have the facts on what is really taking place here. Bildad sees this suffering and thinks “well, you must have done something to make this happen.” In those days when ailments hit, it was assumed that people fell ill because of sin in their lives. Jesus answers questions from the disciples about whose sin made a man born blind, the sins of the parents or the sins of the man. Job is suffering, but it is not as punishment from sin he committed.
Job tries to present his case for innocence as if in a judicial setting. He accurately identifies that humans cannot be justified before God. God is mighty and made many wonderful things. Job has no ability to answer Him or make arguments against Him even if he is right. He could only beg for mercy. Job is innocent and wants to know why God is oppressing him like this. He closes this speech begging God to be compassionate on him and stop the persecution so that he can enjoy the few remaining years of his life.
January 5: Job 6-9
Job responds to Eliphaz in chapter 6. If his grief could be weighed, it would outweigh the sands of the sea. The sands of the sea is used as a metaphor for vastness or something that cannot be measured. Job feels that he is under attack from God. He asks a rhetorical question that implies a negative answer. Eliphaz’s words did nothing to encourage Job. Instead, it was like feeding contaminated food to Job’s malnourished soul.
Job complains about the plight of humanity, stating that our days are like that of a hired hand, indicating that God treats us like a harsh master. He is so upset that he refuses to keep silent. He has reached his breaking point. He will complain in the bitterness of his soul.
Bildad begins his speech. He acts like God’s defense attorney, accusing Job of spouting hot air. He too gives rhetorical questions that expects a negative answer. God does not pervert justice. He does not pervert what is right. That is true. The problem here though is that Bildad is essentially accusing Job of sin in his life and that is what is causing his condition. None of these guys have the facts on what is really taking place here. Bildad sees this suffering and thinks “well, you must have done something to make this happen.” In those days when ailments hit, it was assumed that people fell ill because of sin in their lives. Jesus answers questions from the disciples about whose sin made a man born blind, the sins of the parents or the sins of the man. Job is suffering, but it is not as punishment from sin he committed.
Job tries to present his case for innocence as if in a judicial setting. He accurately identifies that humans cannot be justified before God. God is mighty and made many wonderful things. Job has no ability to answer Him or make arguments against Him even if he is right. He could only beg for mercy. Job is innocent and wants to know why God is oppressing him like this. He closes this speech begging God to be compassionate on him and stop the persecution so that he can enjoy the few remaining years of his life.
January 6: Job 10-13
Job tries to present his case for innocence as if in a judicial setting. He accurately identifies that humans cannot be justified before God. God is mighty and made many wonderful things. Job has no ability to answer Him or make arguments against Him even if he is right. He could only beg for mercy. Job is innocent and wants to know why God is oppressing him like this. He closes this speech begging God to be compassionate on him and stop the persecution so that he can enjoy the few remaining years of his life.
Zophar begins attacking Job’s answers as if he was a prosecuting attorney. His rhetorical questions imply a negative answer. He accuses Job of being a talker. Zophar misrepresents Job’s position. Job has not once claimed that his answers are perfect. Further, he did not claim that he was sinless. Zophar makes it seem as if Job was claiming that he was better than everyone else and had it all figured out. That is NOT what he had been doing.
Job responds with sarcasm, accusing his friends of being condescending. They claimed to have deep knowledge, but based on how they are responding to his affliction, they are clearly not as smart as they think they are. Job rightly identifies that God has all understanding and knowledge. Out of everyone assembled to sit with Job, God is the only One that knows the source of Job’s suffering.
Job again reminds his friends that he is just as smart as they are, he is not inferior. He also states that he would rather make his argument before God Almighty. These friends cover the truth with lies. He tells them to be quiet. He will plead his case to God, even if it means he loses his life. Job’s hope is in God alone.
January 7: Job 14-16
Job speaks of the fleeting nature of life. Our days are short and full of trouble. We wither like the blossoms of a flower. Job asks why God would spend His time scrutinizing and evaluating humans since they are not permanent. Job describes the permanence of death. When a tree is cut down, there is still hope since it can sprout again. When a person takes his or her last breath, they will not rise again. Job is in a depressed state. He is focused on God’s oppressive might, his painful future, and subsequent death. Sometimes we can get so bogged down with the weight of worldly pressures we can lose sight of how good God is to us. When that happens, I suggest we count our blessings to remind ourselves of how good God is.
Eliphaz responds by going on the attack. He is accusing Job of being full of hot air, not responding as a truly wise person would. Instead, he surmises Job’s answers are empty and self-serving. He accuses Job of not having the proper reverence for God. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Eliphaz opines that Job must not have wisdom since he is not showing God the proper respect. Eliphaz then launches the claim that wicked people spend their years in pain and agony. I think that many of us would disagree with his statement. We see wicked people all around us that seem to be without agony or pain.
Job replies to Eliphaz’s speech by informing his friends that they are terrible comforters. They have done nothing to help him in his state. In fact, they have only made things worse. Job reminds them that if he was in their place and they were in his, he could easily speak like they are. When someone else is going through a tough time, we do not know exactly what the person is going through. It is best to keep from giving advice to the suffering individual. That is one of the biggest issues with Job’s friends. They assume that they know the source of Job’s suffering. I find that in life it is best to not assume!
January 8: Job 17-20
Job continues putting his hope in the Lord. He asks God to “put up security” for him. He is asking that God be responsible for any debts Job might have defaulted on. Even in his hope, though, Job identifies that he is an object of scorn. His eyes are dim from grief and his body is a shadow.
Bildad responds. He asks how long “until you stop talking?”. The “you” in the original text is plural, not singular. Since Bildad is speaking to Job, this plural form is a mark of politeness. The politeness seems to end shortly after this question since he then accuses Job of thinking his friends are a bunch of unthinking animals. He then tells Job that his problem is not an angry God that is tearing at him. Instead, it is Job’s anger at God that is the problem. Bildad then explains how the days of the wicked are numbered and the suffering that they endure.
Job replies to Bildad by asking him a similar question to Bildad’s opening line. “How long?” The words of Job’s friends have not helped him at all. In fact, they have added to his grief. He pleads for their mercy.
Zophar responds by indicating that he still believed he offered valuable insight into Job’s plight. Zophar explains more of the wicked person and the struggles they have. They conceal evil under the tongue, even though it tastes sweet in the mouth. He will not enjoy the fruits of his labor and the appetite of the wicked is never satisfied. One day, the wicked person’s possessions will be taken away and they will face God’s anger.
January 9: Job 21-23
Job responds to Zophar asking that they listen to him before they continue their mocking. Job is not lodging a complaint against man, but instead the complaint is to God. He is frustrated at this point because he feels as if God is not listening or paying attention to him. Sometimes we are going to go through some dark times, and it feels like God is not with us. However, during those times of supposed silence, we can know that He is there with us. Does a teacher talk while the students are taking a test?
There are more complaints about the prosperity of the wicked. Job rightly proclaims that everyone eventually perishes. Whether a person is in peak physical health or poor health, one day he or she will draw a last breath.
Eliphaz begins his speech with an interesting question. “Can a man be of any use to God?” This rhetorical question seeks a negative answer. It does not matter how righteous Job is because God is perfect. God created mankind; He is not reliant upon them. Instead, we are reliant on Him. We cannot fill up any deficiencies in Him because He has no deficiencies. God continues to exist whether we acknowledge Him or not. He does not need us to continue being God, He will always be.
Job responds by trying to justify his poor attitude. From his vantage, God is oppressing him. He has been searching for God everywhere, but he has not found Him. There is some hope in this speech when Job states that he will be like gold when the test is over. Just like dross is removed from gold in the crucible, Job’s blemishes will be removed. He has endured a lot, is terrified, and faint of heart, but he has not been destroyed.
January 10: Job 24-28
Job continues his speech. Many of the things he says in chapter 24 are similar to Proverbs. There are timeless truths in what he says. He speaks of the futility of trying to hide sin. The adulterer waits for twilight thinking that no one will see him. Though he may not be caught by humans, the Almighty knows what he has done.
Bildad offers more rhetorical questioning. He is essentially saying “it is what it is”. That was a saying we used a lot in the Navy. Things are the way that they are. Job is in his situation, and it is what it is. However, that knowledge does nothing to help Job out. Bildad’s “comforting questions” provide no comfort at all. Job explains that he will not speak unjustly, and his tongue will not utter deceit. These are two characteristics of an upright person.
Job sings a hymn to wisdom in chapter 28. Wisdom is better than anything else that the world has to offer. Wisdom is better than gold, onyx, or sapphire. It is so valuable, that we will never really know its true value. We are living in an age where information is constantly coming at us. However, there is a difference between having knowledge and having wisdom. When it comes to the Bible, we can have all the knowledge of what it contains. However, that knowledge is not wisdom if it is not applied in our lives.
January 11: Job 29-31
Job yearns for a time when God blessed him and he had no worries. There has been an attitude shift in him since he told his wife that they should accept both good and bad things from The LORD. He wants to return to that time where he had no worries, stress, or sickness about him. God’s friendship rested on his tent. Though he cannot see it, God is still with Job. It is hard to see it, though, because he is mocked by people younger than him now. He has no youthful vigor anymore. Job has become an object of scorn despite the fact that he was renowned and respected prior to his troubles.
Throughout the entire exchange, Job maintains his innocence. He has kept the law and has no reason for the pain he has endured. He has not looked at young women inappropriately. He has not left his wife for another. Job has walked in truth and not deceit. He has clothed the needy and supported the orphan. Job has done what God has instructed His people to do, but Job still suffers.
January 12: Job 32-34
Elihu responds in anger. Elihu means “He is my God” and Barachel means “God has blessed”. Elihu is mad because he perceives that Job has argued for his own righteousness. This implied that God was unjust. Further, he is mad because Job’s friends condemned Job before they knew the facts of the case. Elihu is young, so he has been shy about telling them what he thinks until now.
He begins addressing Job. He informs Job that he is wrong in his assessment that he is upright, pure, and without transgression. Job is wrong because God is greater than man. Elihu speaks of God’s deliverance from the Pit and restoration of righteousness. He tells Job that if he has something to say, then he should say it. Otherwise, he needs to keep quiet and listen to his instruction.
Elihu then addresses the “wise” friends of Job. He then proceeds to give the attributes of God. God is just and almighty. He is powerful and can cause the world to stop at any moment. The Almighty cannot be condemned. He is righteous and holy. God is the One that watches over His creation. God sees the missteps of the people and the injustice they do. He asks a good question. When someone says to God that they have endured their punishment and promise to walk righteously, should God repay them on their terms?
January 12: Job 32-34
Elihu responds in anger. Elihu means “He is my God” and Barachel means “God has blessed”. Elihu is mad because he perceives that Job has argued for his own righteousness. This implied that God was unjust. Further, he is mad because Job’s friends condemned Job before they knew the facts of the case. Elihu is young, so he has been shy about telling them what he thinks until now.
He begins addressing Job. He informs Job that he is wrong in his assessment that he is upright, pure, and without transgression. Job is wrong because God is greater than man. Elihu speaks of God’s deliverance from the Pit and restoration of righteousness. He tells Job that if he has something to say, then he should say it. Otherwise, he needs to keep quiet and listen to his instruction.
Elihu then addresses the “wise” friends of Job. He then proceeds to give the attributes of God. God is just and almighty. He is powerful and can cause the world to stop at any moment. The Almighty cannot be condemned. He is righteous and holy. God is the One that watches over His creation. God sees the missteps of the people and the injustice they do. He asks a good question. When someone says to God that they have endured their punishment and promise to walk righteously, should God repay them on their terms?
January 13: Job 35-37
Elihu continues his speech in defense of The LORD. Based on Job’s complaints, it seems as if Job is trying to make himself righteous apart from God. Elihu calls him out on this issue and reminds him that the oppressed often fail to consider the person and work of God. Rather than understand that they could be receiving punishment for their sin, they focus on their present situation. Elihu closes chapter 35 accusing Job of speaking empty words.
As Elihu’s discourse continues, he asks that the me be patient with him a little longer. He has not fully justified God in his eyes. He explains that sometimes God puts constraints on His people so that they will not completely fall into sin. He opens their ears to correction and insists they repent of their sinfulness. However, some of those that are bound will respond to their constraints with hatred in their heart.
God is everywhere. He is powerful and mighty. Elihu senses God in the thunderstorm. He sends snow and torrential rain. He is the source of all weather. God is dazzling and amazing, we cannot look upon Him. Elihu uses the sun as a comparison. We cannot gaze at the sun for too long because of its radiance. God is even more radiant. He is just and righteous, we cannot reach Him. God does not oppress justice.
January 14: Job 38 and 39
Now God speaks from the whirlwind to address Job’s complaints. God demands to know who obscures His counsel. God, of course, already knows the answer. He then proceeds to demand Job answer His questions about how the earth was established, its dimensions, and its foundation. He also asks who it was that contained the sea and developed its boundaries. After God asks a series of questions about the things of the world, He then asks Job if he can contain the constellations and send clouds and lightning. We all know that answer to that. Job cannot do any of these things. Neither can we.
In chapter 39, God asks questions regarding the animals and their birth cycles. He also wants to know who set the wild donkey free. God is implying that He has placed every animal in a suitable environment. He gives strength to the horse. He protects the offspring of the ostrich. God is God and Job is not. God is God and we are not.
January 15: Job 40-42
Job is understandably shaken by God’s questioning. He confesses that he is insignificant and places his hand over his mouth. God continues asking questions. He brings up Behemoth and Leviathan, two large beasts that were created by God Almighty. Job cannot pull Leviathan in with a hook, but God can.
Job replies that he knows God can do anything and none of His plans will be thwarted. Job takes back all the things he said and repents in dust and ashes. God tells Job’s friends to make a burnt offering for themselves. He is displeased with them because they did not speak about Him truthfully like Job did. He tells them that Job will pray for them since He will not listen to their prayers. God promises mercy to them, explaining that He will not punish them for their folly.
God then doubles all of Job’s possessions. He also gives Job the same number of sons and daughters as he had before he lost them all. Job has been restored to his place of prominence. One thing that always throws me off about this narrative is that Job is never given an explanation on why he suffered the way that he did.
We are going to go through some rough times and God will see us through. However, He will not always explain to us why we went through the tough times. The challenge is to remain faithful to Him in good times and bad.
January 16: Genesis 12-15
God calls Abraham telling him to leave his father's house and go to the land that He will show him. Abraham is faithful and leaves the land he knows at the age of 75. If we were in Abraham's position, would we be obedient?
Abraham makes it to the site of Shechem at the oak of Moreh. At the time, the land is owned by the Canaanites. God promises this land to Abraham. Abraham responds by building an altar to the LORD. Famine strikes the land, so to ensure his survival, Abraham and his wife head to Egypt. Since Sarai is so beautiful, Abraham worries that Pharaoh will kill him to marry Sarai. Believe it or not, back in those days, even in pagan societies, adultery was a high offense and carried the death penalty. Abraham convinces her to tell Pharaoh that she is his sister. Pharaoh is confronted by God about his potential sin. Pharaoh then confronts Abraham about the lie and sends them away.
Abraham heads out with Sarai, Lot, and all his possessions to the Negev. When they get there, Abraham gives Lot his choice of the land. Lot sees the lush green of the Jordan valley decides to head that way. After Lot and Abraham separate, Abraham goes back to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron.
The land Lot occupies is eventually taken over. Abraham launches an attack to defend Lot and his family. When they are brought back, God establishes His covenant with Abraham. Abraham is not happy about the covenant because he does not have any offspring to give the inheritance to. Instead of his flesh and blood, his wealth will go to Eliezer, his servant. God promises that Abraham will have a son. God eventually delivers on that promise. When God promises something, we can know that He will make it happen in His time. We must remember that God's timing is always best.
January 17: Genesis 16-18
Having been promised that a son is headed his way, Abraham approaches his wife with the good news. His wife says she is too old to give him a son, so she gives her concubine over to
Abraham. While some would argue this is a lack of faith on Sarai's part, the fact is that it is a
lack of faith on Abraham's part. He should have said something to the effect of, "No, our son will
come from the two of us." However, he was all too willing to take the concubine Hagar to give
him a son. We have to wonder how history would be different if Abraham had just trusted God to give him a son with Sarah.
Hagar becomes pregnant with Ishmael. Now Sarai has disdain for Hagar because she is carrying Abraham's child. Hagar is given back over to Sarai to do as she wants. She abuses the poor woman and she flees. Hagar makes it to a spring in the wilderness where she is approached by The Angel of The LORD. The Angel tells her to go back to her mistress. The child she is
carrying will be a great nation.
When Abraham is 99 years old, he is given the instruction to observe covenant circumcision. All males in his camp must be circumcised. All male boys that are born must be circumcised when they are eight days old. Vitamin k helps stop bleeding and is at its highest level on the eighth day after birth, so this is the best day to perform this ceremony. I doubt that Abraham had this knowledge. God does, though, and I am positive that is why He commands the covenant be performed on the eighth day.
The LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at his tent and approached the three men, imploring them to dine with him. As they are dining, they ask where Sarah is. The LORD says that He will return in one year and she will be pregnant. Sarah laughs at this news. When she is asked why she laughed, she denies it. But He replies, "No, you did laugh". As His people, we must make no mistake in thinking that we can hide things from God.
The visitors announce that they are going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wicked
ways. Abraham makes a plea for them, but the only ones that will be spared are Lot and his
family.
January 18: Genesis 19-21
Only two of Abraham’s visitors go to Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels enter Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was sitting at Sodom's gate. His location indicates that he had worked his way up to be a leader within Sodom. Lot bows his face to the ground and asks that they would come to his house. He feeds them, but the spread is not nearly as nice as the one that Abraham had laid out for them earlier. The angels warn of the impending doom. Lot tries to warn his sons in law and others about what is getting ready to happen. Unfortunately, they all think he is joking and disregard what he is saying. Lot is holding out, hoping that they will come, but then the angels tell him to get out of there. They flee, but as they are moving along Lot’s wife turns around to see the destruction and she turns to salt. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. Lot and his daughters are spared.
Abraham travels to the Negev where he settles between Kadesh and Shur. He again claims that Sarah is his sister. He clearly did not learn his lesson the first time! Abimelech takes Sarah and is then warned in a dream that she is married. Destruction is headed his way.
The LORD appears to Sarah just as He said He would. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to Isaac. When he was eight days old, Isaac was circumcised just as God had commanded.
Unfortunately, there is sibling rivalry. This results in Ishmael and Hagar being sent away.
January 19: Genesis 22-24
The LORD approaches Abraham and tells him to take Isaac and sacrifice him. Abraham gets up early, takes his son, and two of his young men with him. When they get to Moriah, Abraham tells the two men to stay behind and takes Isaac with him. Isaac asks his father where the lamb is that they will sacrifice. Abraham explains that God will provide the sacrifice. Abraham makes up the altar, lays Isaac down on it, and is ready to plunge the knife into his son, when he is stopped by God. Abraham has shown that he loves God more than anything else and will not withhold anything from The LORD.
Sarah lives to the ripe old age of 127 and then passes away. She is buried in the cave of
Machpelah. Though the landowner offered to give the cave to Abraham to bury Sarah, Abraham
is adamant about paying for the cave. This detail is important. If the landowner had given the cave to Abraham, he would still have ownership rights over the cave. Since Abraham is purchasing this land, he finally has full ownership of a piece of the land God had promised him.
Abraham is getting on in years and decides to find a wife for Isaac. He sends a servant to select a suitable wife from his land, not the land of the Canaanites. As the servant goes to find a wife for Isaac, he prays that God will identify who the woman should be. Before the servant even finishes praying, Rebekah approaches him and offers to draw water for his camels. The servant
approaches Rebekah's father about marrying Isaac. The father allows it and Rebekah goes back
immediately. This was counter to the marriage customs at the time. This shows that Rebekah had great trust in God and His provision. Are we willing to go against cultural norms to follow God and His commands?
