Reading Through the Bible Week 2

This is not meant to be a beating, but rather a tool to give you some help in reading and understanding God’s word. If you miss a day, and can “catch up; by doubling up, then sweet. If you can’t read on certain days, adjust the schedule to fit your life. I think you will find the schedule pretty easy to maintain if you keep just a bit of discipline.

With that said…………….

This week’s reading:
Monday: Genesis 22 – 24
Tuesday: Genesis 25 – 27
Wednesday: Genesis 28 – 30
Thursday: Genesis 31 – 33
Friday: Genesis 34 – 36
Saturday: Genesis 37 – 39
Sunday: Genesis 40 – 42
Monday: Genesis 43 – 45

Summary:
Monday: Genesis 1 – 3
In chapter 1, God has made everything by His power and the creation is a reflection of the character of God it is good. In chapter 2, God makes man (humanity) as His crowing act of creation. A creature that shares the image of God and is therefore a “reflection” of Him in the world. (Note: on why reading our Bible is so important: Who noticed Adam was alone? Adam was not lonely; he had perfect fellowship with his Creator. God declares it is not good for the man to be alone not the other way around.) Things change in Genesis 3; Eve is deceived by the serpent (Satan), Adam is disobedient of the command of God, and sin enters the world to the detriment of humanity and the creation itself.

Tuesday: Genesis 4 – 6
Genesis 4 shows us the effect of sin and how it affects everything and everyone. (Note: Was Cain forgiven? Interesting point to chew is that he isn’t a wanderer, but settles and builds a city. Is that mercy or did Cain see true forgiveness in repentance?) Chapter 5: This gets us from Seth to Noah; the next person we focus on in Bible history. In Genesis 6; we see how much sin is infesting mankind; and the invitation of judgment as God will not tolerate sin forever. Even in judgment, God is metered in His response and makes provision for mercy.

Wednesday: Genesis 7 – 9
Genesis 7 gives us a glimpse of the judgment of God against sin; it is terrifying and complete in its destruction. Chapter 8 reminds us of the mercy of God in the midst of judgment. He has remembered Noah and His promises to Noah (as well as Adam & Eve) and is faithful to them. Genesis 9 gives us a glimpse to the future; God will not blot out sin by destroying His creation (Note: sin must then be dealt with some other way). And even in the face of sin (Ham) and sins consequences (Canaan) God is faithful to the plan He has made.

Thursday: Genesis 10 – 12
Genesis 10 gives us the Table of Nations as it is known. The descendants of Noah, filling the earth; eventually. I say eventually, because Genesis 11 gives us the Tower of Babel; the sinful disobedience of the nations as they refuse to fill the earth. Instead of obeying the command they seek to make themselves great and are dispersed by the work of God. This chapter ends with a focus on Shem and how that gets us to the next singular person of focus, Abram. Chapter 12 gives us God calling and promising to Abram. This promise becomes the lens and backdrop for everything that happens in the Bible from this point forward. Abram quickly demonstrates his unworthiness of God’s promise through his sin (Note: we are still waiting for that promised seed in 3:15, Abram has been revealed to be the father of a great blessing, hence the Bible follows his descendants story moving forward)

Friday: Genesis 13 – 15
Genesis 13 shows some providence as God keeps Abram in the land while Lot chooses to go to the valley and separate from Abram. Chapter 14 again shows the provision of God and the blessing to Abram as he is victorious in battle. We also get a prototype of a non-Levite priest (Hebrews) who worships God. Chapter 15 is the faith of Abram and a repeating of the promise to Abram. You also have the cutting of a covenant by God, as He swears to keep His promises.

Saturday: Genesis 16 – 18
Chapter 16 begins with the continued sin and lack of trust of Abram and the difficulties that sin brings as Ishmael (son of Hagar/Abram) introduces more strife to the life of Abram. Genesis 17 shows God’s commitment to Abram, now Abraham, and the ability of God to accomplish what is humanly impossible. The sign of the covenant (circumcision) is now introduced and commanded. In chapter 18, Isaac is promised and the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah are doomed. (Note: there were no righteous residents in Sodom as chapter 19 will demonstrate)

Sunday: Genesis 19 – 21
Genesis 19 outlines the debauchery of Sodom and the deliverance of Lot for the sake of Abraham and the covenant God has with him. Just as Noah is delivered from destruction and falls into sin, you see the same pattern with Lot and his daughters. None are deserving of salvation. Continuing the theme, chapter 20 shows the continued sin of Abraham and the protection of God of Abraham & Sarah. Chapter 21 introduces the promise fulfilled; the birth of a child to Abraham and Sarah, Isaac. You see the continued blessing on Abraham extended to Hagar & Ishmael, but from this point forward; Isaac is the focus of the promises of God.