Genesis 19 through 29

Okay, a lot of information is covered in 19 through 29, very shocking and page turning stuff actually.  

In Ch. 19 we see the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which we knew was coming.  The city of Sodom saw the arrival of new visitors as an opportunity for homosexual gang rape. Wow, nice welcoming party Sodom.  Sexual violence was just one of many of the town's problems it would seem.  God had said he would spare the place if even 10 righteous people could be found.  Apparently they didn't exist, so he gets Lot and his family out of there.  This is the chapter where Lot's wife looks back and she turns into a pillar of salt.  They were warned not to look back, but we kinda see that Lot and his family were having a hard time leaving their adopted home of Sodom, despite its immorality.  Then the very sick and wrong part happens when Lot gets really drunk in a cave and both of his daughters sleep with him.  SAY WHAT? Crazy. God saves you and you repay Him by having drunken incest?  I mean, wow.  Idk.  His daughters then have children from this and it's all very soap operaish.  

Something else interesting in Ch. 20 would be that, guess what, Abraham plays the "my wife is my sister" card, AGAIN!  

Ch. 21 Is the promised child of Abraham and Sarah (the one Sarah laughed about earlier).  Isaac is born :)

Ch. 22 Is the classic story of Abraham being tested by God.  This is when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac and at the last minute stops Abraham and provides a ram instead.

Ch. 23 Sarah dies at the age of 127.  I am starting to see how the ages do get closer and closer to the 120 that was mentioned earlier.  So, it does seem like my question was answered later in the reading because it does seem to be just a gradual occurrence. 

Ch. 24  I bookmarked the part talking about oaths being made by putting your hand under another man's thigh.  I found that slightly intriguing.  There isn't much said about it.  It must have just been the custom at the time.  This is also the chapter that a wife for Isaac is found (Rebekah).

Ch. 25 Abraham dies. 

Ch. 26-29 Just have to point out that Issac follows in the footsteps of his father Abraham in this reading by CALLING HIS WIFE HIS SISTER.  I told you this reading was interesting.   Continuing in the reading we see Issac and Rebekah have two sons, Jacob and Esau.  First Jacob cons Esau out of his birthright and then later Jacob and his mother work together to deceive Esau AND Issac so that Jacob is the one to receive his father's blessing, not Esau.  Really Esau always seems to get robbed.  He does what he should, and he tries to please.  He even marries one woman specifically to make his father happier it would seem.  I think the only "crime" here is that he was so concerned with his feelings of hunger that he was willing to give up his birthright,  letting his hunger trump things of lasting value.  But still, it all seems rather unfair.  Jacob was quite the con man and liar it looks like.  But, I guess he does have to suffer a little of that soap opera drama that is going around.  He gets tricked as well, and has to put up with a very jerkface father-in-law.  Long and short of it though, I think both Jacob and Esau end up pretty good.  Sometimes it doesn't make sense to us why someone is chosen, they just are.  God often uses flawed people to accomplish His work. 

Okay, Wednesday's reading was Genesis 30 through 31

Tonight, Genesis 32 through 34

Tomorrow (Friday) Genesis 35 through 37

And since I probably won't get to blog on Friday, Sat will be reading Genesis 38 through 40

Night Night.

EDIT: Additional notes 8/7/12:
Halley's Bible Handbook had some commentary about Ch 21-22 where Isaac is to be offered up. Here is what they had to say, "The offering of Isaac was a foreshadowing of the death of Christ. A father offering his only son (Isaac was the "only son" of the promise 21:12). The son dead for three days (in Abraham's mind, v. 4). A substitution. An actual sacrifice. And this took place on Mount Moriah, the very same place where 2000 years later God's own Son was offered. Thus it was a foreshadowing, here at the birth of the Hebrew nation, of the grand event the nation was born to bring about."
MIND BLOWN. Jesus is also like the ram, taking the place of the death that is to be ours. It was goose bump inducing when I found out both events took place at the same location. I'm not sure why I had not known that before, but it was a cool little discovery. Just another example where the old testament points to Jesus.
Also, when Jacob has the ladder dream, the book mentions: "The ladder is a hint that the promises will culminate in something that would bridge heaven and earth. Jesus said that He was that Ladder (John 1:51) and the only Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5)." Freakin' cool.

Genesis 12 through 18

This section was mostly about Abram aka Abraham, the future father of Judaism.  God chooses Abram and has great plans for him.  Abram leaves the land of Haran and wonders around awhile, along with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot and all their peoples.  Egypt is one of the places they wonder to and Abram tells the Egyptians that Sarai is his sister because she is so beautiful he fears they will kill him to get her if they knew she was his wife.  Side note, this is a half truth because Sarai is actually his half sister, anyways moving on.  This idea of his was kinda stupid, and the King was like, why didn't you just tell me she was your wife?  Take her and go.  I'm not going to get into the whole story.
They wonder some more.  Lot goes on his own path away from Abram because their groups of peoples and possessions had grown so that they needed their own space.  Lot ends up getting in trouble and Abram comes and rescues him.  God is still in contact with Abram, and part of the great plans He has for him include making a great nation from him (Abram and Sarai are to have kids).  The thing that makes this interesting is that Abram and Sarai kinda don't believe it because they are so old and Sarai is barren.  Abram ends up having a kid with Sarai's servant because both Sarai and Abram think this is the only way to fulfill God's plan...sigh.  Also, God changes Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah.  Okay, that all took us quickly through Ch.12 -16.  Ch. 17 was mostly about circumcision... Which then brings us to Ch. 18, which I thought was the coolest and most interesting.
Ch. 18.  The three visitors section.  Ch. 18 starts out by saying that the Lord appears to Abraham.  Then it says that Abraham looks up and sees three visitors.  I am curious, the passage flows in such a way that it almost makes it sound like the Lord is among the flesh and blood visitors?  Or, that Abraham was talking with the Lord, then was interrupted by visitors, and rushed to them leaving the Lord waiting...but why would he do that?  The Lord then also speaks in the passage several times.  In a conversational tone, mixed in with the visitors.  I don't know, Abraham also refers to himself as the visitors servant, honored by their visit.  He makes a very big to do about making them comfortable and getting them food.  But, it seems these men are holy.  Also, they aren't really seen as individuals, but rather speak as one unit.  Is it going out on a limb to think these three visitors are God in three persons?  It's a thought.
It always makes me laugh when it comes to the part about Sarah laughing, denying it, and then God saying, "yes, you did laugh".  I don't know why, but I love that part.  The last bit of Ch. 18 is foreshadowing the doom and gloom coming to Sodom and Gomorrah.  So, anyways, I'm interested in hearing what others think about the three visitors.  I should read it over again soon and think on it more. I haven't even had time to ask Rob his thoughts on this passage.  Comments are welcome.
It's Monday and I'm behind on blogging.  To catch you up...
Sat I read Genesis 19 through 21
Sun I read Genesis 22 through 24
Today (Mon) read Genesis 25 and 26
Tues will be Genesis 27 through 29
I will try to blog Tues or Wed over the above passages.  Again, I'm bad at keeping exact dates lol, so you can always follow along with the reading plan that YouVersion has so you don't have to rely on me posting the future readings.
Night Night.

Job 17 through 42

Okay, I know I was suppose to write Friday about more Job stuff.  My Tuesday and Friday plans were more like guidelines anyway, right?  Well, instead of writing two or more posts about different sections of Job, I really just felt the urge to read ahead on this one and just finish Job (thus the reading verses 29-42 as well, sorry).  So, I am done with Job completely and now will write a bit about it.

Job truly has to withstand an extreme test of faith here.  And, although the Bible does give examples of suffering being the result of a person's sin, this book shows us that this cannot always be blindly applied to every situation.  Job lost so much and suffered greatly, but Job was actually seen as pretty righteous and God does back him in the end.  Though, God still lets Job know who's in charge here and that He doesn't really need to explain Himself.  God kinda points out that neither Job nor his "friends" really have a right to make judgments about how He runs the world.  Again, that being said, God did win the challenge against Satan as Job never cursed God, and God rewarded Job by basically giving back everything He took away, and then some.  Now, he didn't actually get back the children that died, but he got new ones.  I wasn't sure if I had realized this before, so it's interesting that I caught it this time around.  I'm not going to question God here.  I mean, we do read in 41 verse 11 that God says, "Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?  Everything under heaven is mine."  I would think that it would be hard not getting your old kids back too, but alas...

Now, a few things this book has taught me about suffering:
First off, some suffering is caused by Satan.  God allowed it to happen, but Satan is the one who was causing Job's pain.  Second, as I already stated, suffering doesn't always come as a result of sin.  Sure, the Bible does support that basic principle of "a man reaps what he sows," but just as we are not to judge others, we have no right to apply this general rule to any particular person.  God will know, we don't always get to know everything.  Third, when we are suffering it can be okay to talk to God in anger, doubt, and despair, He can handle it.  Have conversations with Him about how you feel.  God did not condemn Job for expressing his anguish.

Something else I have learned would be that sometimes that best way to help someone who is suffering is to just sit with them and be silent.  Just being there for someone and listening helps a lot.  When Job's friends first learned of his troubles they sat with him a whole week to show support.  This was basically the only good the friends did. When they started to judge and give bad advice, they were helping no one.  Don't get me wrong, I still think a little advice is okay, especially when it's welcomed, but being there and listening does wonders.

Finally, I take from this that suffering can often be used for a higher good.  God used Job's trials to win an important victory over Satan.  Also, I'm not sure how much we can take from Elihu (the young guy who wasn't even Job's friend but kinda spoke up out of nowhere), but maybe he was bridging the gap between the misguided words from Job's three friends, and when God finally came to talk.  Elihu seems to talk about suffering in a new way, in a way that suggest  it can be a purifying influence.  Suffering can improve a person, if received in the right spirit.  I have to say that this was SO true for me.  In a time when I thought the world was falling apart around me and I didn't really understand why God was "doing this to me", He really helped me heal and turn things around for the better.  He gave me many blessings after my immense pain and I feel I did learn a lot from that time in my life and that I have a greater respect now and greater devotion to God.  Though I could never have seen it at the time, that suffering was a blessing.  God asks us for our faith, and if we aren't taking it seriously, sometimes He will do something to get our attention.

Okay, this is way too long again, dang it!  Sorry, I totally get carried away before realizing it sometimes.  A final note, we must continue to trust in God, even in times of great struggle, just as Job did.  Job had it right from the start, go Job.

Next Reading
Wednesday (Tomorrow): To get you all caught up, finish Job (Chapters 29 through 42)
Thursday: back to Genesis Chapters 12 through 15
Friday: Genesis 16 through 18
Peace out.

Job 1 through 16

Hello, sorry it's Wednesday and not Tuesday.  I was working on bridal shower stuff for my friend Kristin Tuesday and kinda didn't get around to blogging.  Apologies.  But, I'm here now :)
I believe I can make up for typing so much last time by not having as much to say this time. I have read Job before, and studied it in college.  I didn't really feel like I had as many questions with this reading as I did with Genesis stuff.  The book of Job is, however, a very good reminder that hey, sometimes bad things happen to good people. And, just because they do, that doesn't mean God is against us, or that God is indifferent to our suffering.  There is more Job to come, but this is pretty much all I have to say about it thus far.  Now, for those playing along at home, here is the new reading list:
Today/Wednesday: Job 17 through 20
Tomorrow/Thursday: Job 21 through 23
Friday: Job 24 through 28
See you later!

New Assignment

Next up:
Tonight: Job 1 through 5
Tomorrow: Job 6 through 9
Monday: Job 10 through 13
Tuesday: Job 14 through 16
See you Tuesday.

Genesis 1 though 11

My Notes:
CH.1: In the beginning God created. Verse 26: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..."  This to me says that the triune God has always been.  That Jesus was there in the beginning too, one with God.  Verses 29-30: Then God said, " I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.  They will be yours for food.  And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." This will come up again later in the post, wait for it.
CH.2: Adam and Eve.  They way God intended things to be.  Perfection.
CH.3: The Fall. Just wanted to point out here that woman was tempted by the devil and man was tempted by mere woman, and yet we get all the blame.  Also, man was right there with the woman and he was cool with it.  Both woman and man are at fault.
CH.4: Cain and Abel.  The first murder.  Also, a popular question - Who was Cain's wife?  I'm going to have to assume that since people lived for so long then, and Adam lived for 930 years (5:4) we can deduce that he had several daughters as well and that Cain's wife would have been either a sister or a niece.  This sounds gross but, Adam and Eve had to populate the whole world, what do you expect?  Plus, it's not like incestuous relations caused birth defects and such at the time because there weren't any genetic imperfections yet (which takes time), nor was it considered wrong.
CH.5: Basically this is a lineage chapter to get us to Noah.
CH. 6:  God's not too happy. Up until now people were living crazy long lives.  Now in 6:3 we see how the Lord's spirit "will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years".  Basically at this point God is upset with man and understands that man is corrupt.  He also gets to the point that He wishes he never created us to begin with because of our wickedness, so He proceeds to flood the earth.  He did show mercy and favor to Noah however, who was a good man who walked with God.
I also found it cool in this chapter that it talks about Nephilim which I looked up, and found out that word means "giants".  Also, it talks about "sons of God" which could be angels?  Rob disagrees with me on this, but we are both unsure what "sons of God" could mean since it talks about how before the flood these giants and "sons of God" were on the earth as well, and taking regular women and basically producing the "heroes of old, men of renown" with them, which I found very interesting.  Maybe this is were some of the stories of Hercules and such really originate from?  Who knows.
CH.7: The Flood. Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives get on the ark, along with the animals.  The flood comes, the flood goes.  God makes peace with His creation after this (which is also somewhat symbolized with the olive branch/dove scene). In verses 21-22 God promises "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.  And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.  As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease."
CH. 9: Furthermore God makes a covenant that never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.  The rainbow is the sign of this covenant, and is a reminder today.  Also, another interesting thing in Ch. 9 is in verse 3 where it says, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you.  Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."  This links back to what I quoted in Ch. 1 (and told you to wait for).  It leads me to believe that before the flood, people were vegetarians but, after the flood, God said it was okay to eat meat.  This is one reason I feel justified in eating my chicken sandwich. Yum.
CH. 10: Nimrod.  This chapter seems to give us more lineage information.  Also, I see the name Nimrod introduced.  This made me reflect on the way that word is used today (negatively).  It makes me wonder where that usage originated because here it talks about Nimrod being a mighty warrior and hunter.  Just found that interesting.
CH. 11: The tower of Babel.  Okay, basically I'm confused here.  Right from the start in Ch. 11 it says "Now the whole world had one language and a common speech". This leads to the tower of Babel incident and the people (who all spoke the same language) got too ambitious and tried to compete with God it seems rather than serve Him.  But, in Ch. 10 it talked about how people HAD different clans and languages.  So, confused.  Rob seems to think that Ch. 10 family history stuff is basically telling us about what is to come for these family lines and as such it isn't technically chronological in the sense I was taking it (that they already had different languages before Babel). So, I'm not sure here.  I guess that makes sense though.  It was setting up the family lineage and then proceeded to tell the stories about them, I get that I guess.  One other big question I have is HEY, Ch. 6 just told us man was only going to live as long as 120 anymore, remember?  But, in Ch. 11 we see people living to 400 again and stuff.  THIS I have no answer for, and welcome comments and help.  Maybe this is a gradual process (the age thing).  Hopefully my notes aren't too scatterbrained.  Let me know how I'm doing so I can tweak things for next time.  Have a good night.

EDIT: Additional notes 8/7/12:
Some more commentary on the long life spans - After reading in Halley's Bible Handbook I noticed that the ages really began to get shorter after the Flood. Also, here is a quote from the book, "sin had only begun to have its malign influence on the human race". This seems to be implying that earlier in the overall story of the Bible, people lived longer because they were yet to be as removed from perfection. Like, sin began to cause a slow decay in humankind and the further removed we became, the shorter our lifespans until they somewhat leveled out. I found this interesting and had never looked at it that way before, but it is one idea.

For those of you playing along at home

Today/Wednesday: Genesis 1 through 3

Tomorrow/Thursday:  Genesis 4 through 7

Friday: Genesis 8 through 11

I plan to write about these readings on Friday (Covering Genesis 1 through 11).  I think I will try to follow a pattern. Read Wednesday through Friday - write about it.  Read Saturday through Tuesday - write about it.  

This has me writing about twice a week, reflecting on 3-4 days of reading each time.  See you Friday.

Introductions

As I start this blog I am 28 years old.  I am married to a wonderful man named Robert. I live in Kansas.  I am an Emporia State grad with a B.S.E in Literature.  I have a cute cat named Sibby.  I am a Presbyterian, and I enjoy spending time with friends and family.  

The sole purpose of my blog will be to record thoughts I have as I read the entire Bible, straight through, for the first time.  Yes, I have read parts of the Bible, as I'm sure many can say, but I can't say with confidence that I have read the entire Bible.  I want to remedy this.  This book is suppose to be the guiding word in my life.  If this is true, how can I continue to rely only on verses taken from the whole, possibly out of context?  How can I be satisfied with my Christian walk if I am only basing the knowledge I have of the Bible from what I have been told or have read from books only talking about the Bible?

 I am dedicating myself to reading the entire book, and I have chosen a chronological approach to further help my contextual learning.  I will be using YouVersion to track my progress, with the reading plan provided by The Blue Letter Bible. This plan is "compiled according to recent historical research, taking into account the order in which the recorded events actually occurred".  If I follow the schedule exactly, I should be able to have read the entire Bible within one year.  This is my hope.
P.S I have no idea why my text is showing in multiple shades, sorry.