Bible In 90 Days – Day 4

Reading: Genesis 40:12 – Genesis 50:26

Take Away(s):

• Joseph’s perspective. Joseph could have been very conceited about interpreting dreams and said he had power, knowledge, and insight.  He could have even alluded to having consulted with his God – all the while saying “he” interpreted.  He didn’t do that.  He forthrightly states that the answer came from God – not him (41:16): “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” I pray that the knowledge of Who enables me doesn’t stay “knowledge” – but that it transfers into testimony of Who He is and how He enables me.
• The word WORSHIP. Chapter 47, verse 31 is the fourth time the word worship (or worshiped) is used so far in the NIV.  There are other words and phrases used for the act of “worshiping” or revering God – I’m just curious as to the differences in the Hebrew and any significance for using that specific word in these four instances.  No time to research this right now, but I certainly will do it soon.  [A quick search online shows that in the NIV, the word or root-word worship is used 175 times in the Old Testament, 75 times in the New.]
• Joseph’s perspective – Part 2. Of course, one of the classic observations and lessons from the story of Joseph is his telling his brothers that their act of selling him into slavery was God’s plan (50:19-21).  The fact that God is sovereign and uses all situations (the good, the bad, and the ugly!) for the furtherance of His story, for His glory, and ultimately for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28).  The hard part, of course, is aligning our definition of “good” with Gods!  [OK, Joseph did make his brothers sweat a little before he revealed himself to them…]

I can’t help mentioning that as I read about Joseph, I recalled watching Donny Osmond play him in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!  [Karen’s been an Osmond fan since her childhood!]

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If you’re participating, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 3

Reading: Genesis 28:20 – Genesis 40:11

Take Away(s):

• Esau running to meet Jacob (33:1-4). It says a lot about the healing and peace that Esau had after Jacob stole his father’s blessing (which was in yesterday’s reading).  Today, we read how Esau runs and greets/embraces Jacob at their reunion.  Sounds like Jesus’ parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-31.)  Not exactly what Jacob thought would happen…not what we typically think will happen in our lives.  May I surprise people by my “turning the other cheek”, as Jesus talked about in Luke 6.
• Joseph’s understanding of sin. In 39:9, Joseph tells Potiphar’s wife that sleeping with her would be wronging his master (Potiphar) and sinning against God.  How often we categorize our mis-steps (OK, sins) and try to differentiate them from “real sins”.  Joseph got it – I pray that I would…

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If you’re participating, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 2

Reading: Genesis 17:1 – Genesis 28:19

Take Away(s):

• Lot’s wife.  How often we look back…instead of keeping our focus and efforts on moving away from sin or the past.  It’s tempting to see how things turned out or what the results were (or may have been); but, as Paul says later, we are to forget what lies behind and press on.
• Abraham and Isaac in chapter 22.  There are so many things in this story, but the few that I thought about were:
  • Abraham’s relationship with Isaac in the sense that the father had raised his son to know about God (faithfulness, trustworthiness, providence,…) and the way in which they worshiped Him.  Isaac knew what was required for worship (fire, wood, lamb) and the process.  He also had no suspicions about their trip when his father told him what they were going to do.   We can assume that this was because Abraham taught Isaac about God – the “why” of worship, not just the “how”.  I pray that I boldly proclaim the how and why of worship with my kids.
  • Of course, Abraham’s obedience – based on his close relationship with and knowledge of God.  Abraham had known God’s faithfulness and providence first-hand and trusted Him…this was, no doubt, based on his remembrance of the events in his life.  How often we doubt God’s capabilities and providence – even when we know from first-hand knowledge that He never fails.  We may not have “huge” examples of His providential hand in our lives; but, if we reflect, we can see His faithfulness in our lives.  We just need to keep those examples at the forefront of our memory so we rest in that knowledge and truth at all times.  Reminds me of the chorus to Salvation Is Here, by Joel Houston when considered in relation to Abraham’s relationship with God and the way he lived (although, not perfectly all the time!):

  Cause I know my God saved the day,
  And I know His word never fails,
  And I know my God made a way for me,
  Salvation is here.
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  If you’re participating, what were your observations?

Bible In 90 Days – Day 1

Reading: Genesis 1:1 – Genesis 16:16

Take Away(s):

• The Christmas Story begins!  I read an article a while back (though for the life of me I can’t remember where) that talked about how the Christmas story actually started in Genesis with God setting in motion the reconciliation of Himself to His creation after the fall.  It was cool to have that in the back of my mind today as I read about creation, Adam & Eve, the fall, Noah, and the introduction of Abram and Sarai.
• The other observation was Cain’s interaction with God (4:9-16).  It just seemed so casual and irreverent.  When I first read it I was “wow…how inappropriate and cocky.”  As I scanned the reading a second time, I was pretty convicted.  How often I have a similar attitude with God about my sin and His plans.  Day One and I’ve already convicted by the Wrecking Ball (God)!

One of the benefits that the Bible in 90 Days program talks about is being able to read the bible in a shortened time frame so that all the interconnected details of God’s Word are seen and appreciated.  I am excited about this especially!

If you’re participating, what were your observations?

This summer at church, we are going through a program called The Bible in Ninety Days (BIND).  Starting June 7, and for the following ninety days, we will be reading through the entire Bible – in about 12 pages a day.

I’m pretty jazzed about this!  Reading through the Bible in such a way that the whole story – all the interconnected details of God’s amazing story of redemption – is clear and read in a time frame where I can appreciate it all the more. One of my additional goals is to post a “Daily BIND Nugget” on my blog to capture one of the “nuggets” from that day’s reading.

There is a song by Jill Phillips that I recently re-listened to that captures what I pray God will do in my life this summer reading through His Word in this intensive program.  The chorus goes:

Piece together these little mysteries
It isn’t hard to see the writing on the wall
Triumph and tragedy, only God can be
Both the builder and the wrecking ball

Jill Phillips (Wrecking Ball, from the Writing on The Wall CD)

I pray that I will appreciate all the more the truth of God’s Word AND that my heart will be soft and open to what he will do in me – both as the Builder and the Wrecking Ball.

The adventure starts on Sunday!