January 25

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2010

Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
(1) "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us..."(Gen 50:15)

(2) "When (his brothers') message came to him, Joseph wept" (50:17)

(3) "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (50:19,20)

(4) Exodus. Now begins the book of Exodus. I'm always amazed to read things I've forgotten: Unable to "shrewdly" to control the Hebrew population ("But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread" (1:12)), Pharaoh pronounces infanticide on the Hebrew boys. When Pharaoh discovers this doesn't work (because the midwives "feared God...they let the boys live" (1:17)) he pronounces to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile..."

(5) Moses; the name derives from "I drew him out of the water".

(6) Summary of Genesis: There is an excellent summary of the grace shown in Genesis in the July 2007 issue of Tabletalk (pp 41-42) titled Astonishing Grace by Warren A. Gage. An excellent comparison between Joseph and Judah!

Matthew 16:13-17:9
(1) "I tell you that you are Peter...I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (16:18,19) Unfortunately this verse only reminds me of an elder & pastor (in the Reformed tradition) who pulled this verse to assert their authority. After years of hearing this passage applied to discount papal authority and apostolic continuity, two men use it a manner which seemed identical to Roman Catholic interpretation & application. These two men sadly abandoned their duties as elders.

If the Boy Scouts have requirements for rank among children & officers, why shouldn't Reformed churches (and other traditions) at least hold some requirement for elders? (especially if they view them as holding so much responsibility?) Shouldn't this be for both the protection of the Church as well as the elders themselves?

Psalm 21:1-13

Proverbs 5:1-6
(1) "My son...". This is the 11th occurrence of this address, "my son". Many years ago when I first started my annual reading through Scripture, this recurring address jumped out at me...just one of many things that can be missed if one doesn't actually read through Scriptures. It struck me as the words of a loving father to impart wisdom, goodness & prosperity to his son.

(2)"...the lips of the adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not." Thus opens the discourse on adultery and death. The father knows the consequences of the adulteress and pleads with his son (whom he loves) to stay far from her not merely because "I say so" but by explaining & describing the consequences. Marvelous! Rich lessons to be learned here!

Years Read

2010, 2025