Through the Bible in One Year

 

Before you read this please note that I love to learn! I love bunny trails and going off topic. I have long thought that all one needs to learn is the bible as it will take you many places and to many topics. In this weeks readings I have touched on botany, geography, animal husbandry, and tons of entomology. Gods word is rich for my heart and my mind!

 

 I wanted to share this tool. http://bibleshared.com/  I found it via Mary’s blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/marysmooz . There is a cool widget for keeping track of your through the bible in a year progress by percentage. There is also a printout you can use as a check off sheet.  All good incentives to keep on track!

Some of the on-line study guides I like to use. (I know I have posted these in previous post but someone new might be interested)

http://www.studylight.org/ 

http://biblos.com/ 

http://www.biblegateway.com/  

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/?source=2

http://www.christnotes.ohttp://www.myrecycledbags.com/rg/commentary.php  This has become a favorite because I can have the actual scripture right next to the commentary on the same page and not have to click back and forth. Much better for studying!

This week’s readings:

qJan 17: Gen 16-18

The story of Sarai and Hagar is so for today. Often we rush into a decision or choice without first taking it to the Lord…or we may pray and then not wait to hear from the Lord. Sarai did not wait on the Lords timing for her family.

 We are always looking to blame the other guy…  as did Sarai and Hagar. They dealt harshly with one another. They forgot that “thou God seest thee”

God is always ready to rescue us from our impatience and harshness and point us in the right direction.

God blessed Abraham and Sarah in spite of their unbelief and trust in the Lord in their situation. Oh what hope that gives me! I am not always full of faith and trust when I ought to be.

The covenant is so powerful. Abraham was quick to obey and understood the meaning and necessity of it. The promise of a savior, the need to be atoned for our sin. I like the following as an understanding of the covenant: http://www.jesuswalk.com/abraham/6_circumcision.htm

I love Abrahams meeting with the three visitors. (I believe them to be angels). Poor Sarah…I too would have been inclined to laugh..not in unbelief as much as the thought of going full term at that age.

Abraham’s plea with God is such a lesson for us. We should always be in prayer for our family, our friends, our neighborhood. That Abraham walked and talked with God is so amazing.
qJan 18: Gen 19-21

Lot lingered …perhaps hopeful that some would have a change of heart in their wicked ways. 

  qJan19: Gen 22-24

qJan 20: Gen 25-26

It is cool to see Gods promise to Abraham unfold. Also the way in which Abraham took care of his children making sure they were well settled.

Jacob and Esau: Love this story. Esau the hunter, knew how to please his father with a bowl of meat stew, a manly type man. Jacob perhaps the scholar or a shepherd, lover of God. A quiet man.

Sod Pottage : That which is boiled

Edom: Red

God directed yet again when there was a famine. They obeyed just as Abraham did. I often wonder if we are not listening to the Lord …has He directed us and we not heard? The Lord blessed Isaacs obedient. While others suffered through the famine Isaac was heavy in bounty.

That Isaac too denied his wife as his wife shows how easily we can fall into sin in the face of fear.

The wells. Peace was pursued. I think the lesson is to keep pursing peace. It’s a mindset. Something we have to work at in all situations.

Esek: Contention

Sitnah: Hatred

Rehoboth: Enlargements, room enough.

Fear not, I am with thee, and will bless thee  What comfort!

The name Judith is in the bible ( Esau’s wife) Unfortunately he Married a Canaanite. They were strangers to the blessing of Abraham, and subject to the curse of Noah.
qJan 21: Gen 27-29

I still cannot understand how a mother/wife can deceive not only her husband, teach her child its okay to lie, and not be honest before God. She was a stumbling block for both of her sons. Yet God blesses Jacob.  God overrules the bad actions to fulfill His purposes.
qJan 22: Gen 30-31

I like this definition of envy from Wesley’s Commentary:  Rachel envied her sister — Envy is grieving at the good of another, than which no sin is more injurious both to God, our neighbour, and ourselves.

The commentary goes on to give an excellent comparison of Hanna and Rachel and the way in which we should conduct ourselves.

But this was not all, she said to Jacob, give me children or else I die - A child would not content her; but because Leah has more than one, she must have more too; Give me children: her heart is set upon it. Give them me, else I die, That is, I shall fret myself to death. The want of this satisfaction will shorten my days. Observe a difference between Rachel's asking for this mercy, and Hannah's, 1 Samuel 1:10, etc. Rachel envied, Hannah wept: Rachel must have children, and she died of the second; Hannah prayed for this child, and she had four more: Rachel is importunate and peremptory, Hannah is submissive and devout, If thou wilt give me a child, I will give him to the Lord. Let Hannah be imitated, and not Rachel; and let our desires be always under the conduct and check of reason and religion.

Question to ponder: Am I in God's stead?

Mandrakes

From the Bible Encyclopedia on christiananswers.net

Hebrew: dudaim; i.e., “love-plants”

occurs only in Gen. 30:14-16 and Song of Songs 7:13

Many interpretations have been given of this word dudaim. It has been rendered “violets,” “Lilies,” “jasmines,” “truffles or mushrooms,” "flowers," the “citron,” etc. The weight of authority is in favor of its being regarded as the Mandragora officinalis of botanists, "a near relative of the night-shades, the 'apple of Sodom' and the potato plant." It possesses stimulating and narcotic properties (Gen. 30:14-16). The fruit of this plant resembles the potato-apple in size, and is of a pale orange color. It has been called the “love-apple.” The Arabs call it "Satan's apple." It still grows near Jerusalem, and in other parts of Palestine.

In depth info on Mandrake ( I found it very interesting!)

http://www.donsmaps.com/sacredroot.html

qJan 23: Gen 32-34

Love this story. God changes the hearts of men.
qJan 24: Gen 35-37

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments:

and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.  Gen 35:2,3

This strikes me as something we need to do each and every time we go before God. Of course it may read more like put away anything that comes between you and your relationship with the Father etc. But it is in prep to be holy before God..to shake all things of the world off.

Bethel: The name Bethel comes from the Hebrew beth, meaning house, and el, meaning God. Bethel means House of God. Numerous events of Bible History occurred there, including God's appearance to Abraham and Jacob, and for some time it was the place where the Ark of The Covenant, containing The Ten Commandments, was housed.

ALLON-BACUTH

al'-on-ba'-kuth ('allon bakhuth; the King James Version transliterates Allon-bachuth, al-on-bak'uth, "oak of weeping"):

The burial place of Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah (Genesis 35:8); it appears from the narrative that she made her home with Jacob, who had returned from Paddan-aram, and was sojourning at the time at Bethel, in the vicinity of which was the "oak of weeping," under which she was buried.

Check out these photos of modern day Paddan-aram. I love looking at the land of the bible.

http://www.openbible.info/geo/photos/paddan-aram

http://www.openbible.info/geo/photos/paddan-aram/2  some may repeat

Here is info  on Paddan- aram. http://www.keyway.ca/htm2004/20040809.htm

Jacob Sheep: Here are some articles on the sheep ( now called Jacobs Sheep) that Jacob had. I love animal husbandry and thrive on learning something new!

http://www.4hornfarm.com/Sheep.html

http://www.jsba.org/history.htm

http://www.risenshinefarm.com/Historyandcareofjacobsheep.html

 Nest Weeks Readings

Jan 25: Gen 38-40
Jan 26: Gen 41-42
Jan 27: Gen 43-45
Jan 28: Gen 46-47
Jan 29: Gen 48-50
Jan 30: Ex 1-3
Jan 31: Ex 4-6