Genesis 25-26

In these chapters we really start getting into the dynamics of Isaac's household. In chapter 25, Abraham dies and Isaac and Ishmael bury him with Sarah. We then get the lineage of Ishmael's side, which is where the twelve rulers come from whom we were told about in Genesis 17.

One question about a possible difference in Bible translations - in my NIV, Ge 25:18 says, "His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them." The phrase "hostility toward" has a footnote that reads, "Or lived to the east of.'

I don't know about y'all, but living in hostility and living to the east just don't mean the same thing, and obviously living in hostility is much worse than simply living eastward. This footnote was also used back in chapter 16, but it just now really jumped out at me. Which translation do you tend to use or lean toward? I'm leaning toward the hostility translation considering what it is happening in the Arab world today, but I also like to look for the best in people, so I'd like to go more with the living to the east. But I really just don't know.

Genesis 22-24 & Having Full Faith in God

I feel like a lot us believe in God and have faith in Him. We trust that He will take care of us, and we speak of how good He is. But do we really trust Him? Before I started reading the Bible I believed in God and knew He would take care of me, but I know I doubted Him. I didn't realize then, but now that I've started reading God's Word I see just how little faith I had in the Lord.

For example, in Genesis 22 God tells Abraham to go sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Now, God had already told Abraham that he would prosper through Isaac, so Abraham knew that regardless of what he did to his son, Isaac would live to have children. So Abraham takes Isaac to the mountain where the sacrifice is supposed to happen, and just before Abraham kills his son God stops him and provides a lamb to take Isaac's place. Talk about full trust and faith in God!

Honestly, if I had been in that situation I don't know if I could have led my only child to sacrifice. I don't know if I would have trusted God enough to follow through with His commands. And that made me think. How can I say I know and have faith in the Lord if I'm not willing to do all that He asks of me? Walking with God has so many layers, and it truly is a lifestyle. It can't be turned on and off at our convenience; we have to be walking with the Lord at all times. We can't choose when we want to trust God and when we don't. That's not how it works. It works by trusting in Him 100% of the time - no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Women of the Bible: Collector's CBS Edition

I've been visiting home for the past few days, and while I was home, my mom saw this magazine in the grocery store and picked it up so her and I could read through it. I find it so funny that I just had this little breakthrough in Genesis 21 when Sarah is given some approval by God, and then this magazine almost literally falls into my lap.

Genesis 21 & The Woman is Finally Right

In Genesis 21, Abraham's seed is finally born - the seed through whom God's promises would be fulfilled. This is a big moment! So Isaac is born, and after he's born, Sarah demands that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. And surprisingly enough, God agrees with Sarah.

This moment really stuck out to me because this is the first time that a woman suggests something/makes a demand that God backs up. See, after Sarah demanded that the slave woman and her son be sent away, Abraham asked God if that's something he should really do. And God said, "Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." (Ge 21:12)

Genesis 20 & Sinning through Ignorance

The big, overarching story of Genesis 20 has to do with Abraham and Sarah lying about being married, once again, to a king. The couple tells Abimelek that they are brother and sister, which is technically half true, but they mention nothing of being married. Then God appears to Abimelek in a dream and reveals to the king that Sarah is a married woman, and he's as good as dead for taking her. Consequently, all of Abimelek's female slaves aren't able to conceive once Sarah comes into the picture. The happy ending: Abimelek apologizes to Abraham and gives Sarah back to him.

What confuses me the most is that God faulted Abimelek for taking Sarah as his wife even though Abimelek had no idea of the truth about Sarah and Abraham. He hadn't a clue that Sarah and Abraham were actually married. He clearly states that he did this with a clear conscience, and God agrees. So why is he to blame? Now, Abimelek had yet to actually touch Sarah, which apparently means he never actually sinned. But again, why does God say that had he touched Sarah he would have sinned? I'm not sure why Abimelek got all the grief here.

And for that matter, why is it okay for Abraham and Sarah to lie? Why is it okay for them to hide their marriage? We learn in this chapter that Abraham is, indeed, a prophet. (Ge 20:7) And it's my impression that he's the first prophet. Again, why is it okay for a prophet to lie? And why is God backing him? This all seems so backwards to me.

Genesis 19 & Being Totally Confused about the Definition of "Wicked"

So day 18 of my reading plan takes me through Genesis 19-21, and since I have so many thoughts about each chapter I've decided to split up my posts about them over the next three days. So today it's chapter 19 when we learn about the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

One thing I noticed was this is the first instance of homosexuality in the Bible. The angels make their way to Sodom where they are greeted by Lot whom convinces the angels to sleep at his home instead of in the city square like they had originally planned. When the angels are inside Lot's home, all the men in Sodom demand Lot to give them the angels for sex. I find it really interesting that homosexuality, in this particular story, is associated with wickedness.

One of the reasons I'm reading the Bible is to gain an opinion about topics that I'm currently unsure about, and my views on homosexuality fall into that category. I've struggled with how I think of it. From what I've heard from super religious people is that homosexuality is a sin, "and it says so in the Bible." I've never been sure if I really believe that; I'm reading the Bible to find out for myself. And I want to believe that the Bible says nothing about hating a person for their sexual orientation, but this first mention of it is giving me a negative view. I don't like it either; I want to believe that God doesn't hate the gays despite what people say. I'm eager to read more about the Bible's stance on homosexuality, and I'm praying for understanding about this heated topic that is a huge part of today's society.

Genesis 12-18

It's been a while! This past week has been super busy, but even though there hasn't been a post I've still been reading. After finishing the Book of Job, my reading plan took me back to Genesis, and I think I'll be going in order for the next few months. So anyway, on to the rest of Genesis...

This is when we start to learn about Abram, who eventually has his name changed to Abraham. Long story short, he settles in Canaan, and after a short stay in Egypt during a famine, Abram is doing pretty well. The only thing he's really missing is an heir. He ends up having a son with his wife's slave, and the son is named Ishmael. But God isn't totally excited about all of this, and He promises that Sarai, Abram's wife whose name is changed to Sarah, will have a son to be named Isaac.

Job 32-42 & The Moral of the Story

I finished Job! The Book of Job is the first Book of the Bible that I've actually read all the way through. It's one Book that I feel like I can speak on with some authority now. I feel accomplished. For someone who's never read the Bible - maybe only 10 verses at most throughout my whole life - having one Book under my belt feels so good. But anyway...

The Book of Job ends with Elihu speaking first. I have no idea where Elihu came from, but regardless, he's there, and he's got some things to say. Elihu is younger than Job and his friends, but he makes it clear that he needs to speak. Oh yeah, and Elihu thinks he is the end-all-be-all of godly wisdom. So Elihu speaks, and he pretty much repeats what EBZ have already said. Elihu, too, is convinced Job has sinned and that he needs to repent.

Job 29-31 & Pride

These chapters include Job defending himself one last time. I mean, as if he really needs to. All I've read for the past week and a half is Job defending himself, but nonetheless, for the last time Job is making his final speech in defense of his actions.

Chapter 29 is all about Job reminiscing on the good ole days. He reflects on life before his trial. He was respected. Younger men felt that they couldn't be seen in his presence, and older men stood when he entered the room. And he helped the needy - providing clothes to the naked, giving food to the hungry, standing up for the meek. There's no denying the Job is a standup guy. And Job is very proud of himself for all the good he's done.

Job 24-28 & An Epiphany

These chapters of Job take us to the end of the long monologues between Job and his friends. Hallelujah! Okay, that might sound bad. But you can't deny that all those monologues seem to go on and on and on. I'm ready to get to the meat of the Book of Job, and it's finally coming.

So in these chapters, Job and his friends wrap up their monologues. Bildad is the last of Job's friends to speak, and then Job gives one final speech to his friends where he pretty much curses them. Job describes all the bad things that will happen to wicked people, and it kinds seems like Job is aiming all of these descriptions at his friends - as in this is what will happen to them because they have given such awful advice and just been terrible.

Job 17-23 & 2 Lessons I've Learned

I'm combing multiple days worth of reading into one post again. For this post, the readings are Job 17-20 and Job 21-23.

The stage for today is very similar to yesterday's stage. These chapters are a continuation of the long conversational monologues between Job and his three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Basically, Job is still pitying himself and wishing for death. He's so confused as to why God would put him through such misery despite Job being a righteous man. And Job's friends are still convinced that Job is lying about his righteousness. They are begging Job to repent for the sins they assume he's committed. They also become more and more bold with their accusatory statements about Job, and it's gotten to the point of just downright meanness. They're definitely "kicking the man when he's down" so to speak. 

I said yesterday that the Book of Job is very repetitive, and I'm standing behind that. I'm sure that the final chapters in Job are full of insight and "ah-ha" moments, but it's taking a lot to get to that point. I can't help but wonder why there is so much talk before "the meat" of the story. My only guess is that, through repetition, we are supposed to get a better understanding of the severity of Job's frustrations and how detrimental bad counsel from friends can be to a person experiencing struggle. I'm trying to remain focused, but I'm not going to lie, the bulk of the Book of Job is kinda boring. I really liked the beginning, but now I'm just ready to get to the end.

Job 6-16: Three Days of Reading in One Post

Maybe you're wondering why I'm combining three whole days worth of Bible reading into one post. Well, the Book of Job is predominately conversation between Job and his three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. There's a ton of back and forth and repetition. So to spare y'all a bunch of repetition here on A Coffee Date with God, I've decided to combine the readings.

Like I said, in these 11 chapters Job is having a big conversation with his friends. Basically his friends are convinced that the reason Job has all these nasty boils all over his body is because Job has sinned. And to their defense, this is all they know - that God punishes sinners. They don't understand the concept of trial, which I touched on in my last post.  

Job 1-5 & Testing Faith

I've read only the first five chapters of Job, but I am LOVING this book already. It's written in a very poetic way, and it's just great. I never would have thought that I would have a favorite book of the Bible or anything like that, but Job might be changing my mind. So now that I'm done gushing...

Here we've got the story of Job. He was a righteous and blameless man. And he was pretty wealthy because he has, like, a million different animals in his flock. He's also has a bunch of kids, and his kids are a bunch of partiers. But Job is so righteous that he constantly praises God; he even offers sacrifices to God on his kids' behalf just in case they're sinning while they're partying. Job is basically just an all around good guy. And he's a pretty stellar dad, too.