Read the Bible: Genesis 50

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When I started reading Genesis at chapter 1 on March 1, it was an experiment really. It was an idea that I decided to try not knowing if it would work or if anything would come of it. We have finished one book of the Bible together… out of 66. There are many books shorter than Genesis; nothing in the new Testament is 50 chapters long but then again some Old Testament books are longer and a few are much longer.

We are finishing Genesis on Easter Sunday. As I have said, I don’t if that means anything but it is interesting. We will start the Exodus account tomorrow morning which should be familiar territory for most of us. Then we will take a break and read the Gospel According to Matthew before facing our biggest challenge yet: Leviticus. By my figures that will be June 19th, a date that is very important to me if no one else.

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Bible Reading Bloopers

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When the Read the Bible series started I knew it would be a little rough around the edges. The best way to fix it was to start and see how it went, then make adjustments. I started out recording the readings and the discussion on my phone and later downloaded recording and editing software. When I first starting making cuts and edits, I was just throwing those things away. Eventually I realized some of them were funny. AFV has been on television for over 35 years. I watched TV’s Bloopers and Practical Jokes before that. We laugh at failure, as long no one is (seriously) hurt.

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Satur-deja Vu

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Today is Holy Saturday or perhaps you know it as Black Saturday. There are events that took place each day of Holy Week leading up to the crucifixion. Nothing happens today; Jesus rested in the grave. After spending a day thinking about the scourging, the crown of thorns and Jesus crying out as he yielded up his spirit, take this day to reflect. It’s a lot of action, loud words, crying… rest as Jesus rested. Tomorrow we celebrate.

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Read the Bible: Genesis 49

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Jacob, aka Israel, calls all of his sons together to bless each of them before breathing his last. He dies at the age of 147, after living 17 years in Egypt.

Genesis 49

Jacob called his sons, and said “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.

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He Cannot Save Himself

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So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross and we will believe him.” Matthew 27:41-42 (ESV)

It has been a few years since I shared this poem. Attached is the live reading I did at Unity Baptist on Palm Sunday, April 13th.

He Cannot Save Himself
A poem for Good Friday

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Read the Bible: Genesis 48

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Even after saying “Behold, I die” at the end of this chapter this is still not the end of Jacob. Most of chapter 49 will be blessings and prophecies as he recognizes each son by name. And I don’t know what it means – probably nothing at all – but we will finish the book of Genesis on Easter morning. We’re planning Good Friday worship services and thinking about the resurrection and at The Master’s Table I’m talking about Jacob’s sons and the 12 tribes of Israel. Not totally unrelated… this is the family through whom all the world will be blessed, after all.

Genesis 48

After this someone told Joseph “Your father is sick.” And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

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Read the Bible: Genesis 47

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We’ve seen people coming from all over Egypt and Canaan to buy grain from Joseph. What happens when the money runs out? They start trading livestock for grain. What happens when that runs out? By the end of the famine the nation of Egypt will own everything in the country, including the Egyptians.

Genesis 47

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh “My father and brothers, and their flocks, and herds, and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan and they are in the land of Goshen.”

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Read the Bible: Genesis 46

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This chapter gives us a review of Jacob’s family, repeating which son was born by which wife and then taking that forward another generation or two. The total number of the House of Israel going down into Egypt was 70. Jacob is reunited with Joseph and they prepare to settle in the land of Goshen.

Genesis 46

Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

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Read the Bible: Genesis 45

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It must be sweeps week because here is the big dramatic reunion scene you’ve been waiting for. Overcome with emotion, Joseph drives everyone out except his brothers then tells them everything. He also tells them not to worry about selling him into Egypt because that was God’s doing.

Genesis 45

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all of them and he cried out “Make everyone go out from me!” And no man stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 

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Happy Monday

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My kitchen is small and has no place to sit but I get it. You can sip that cup of coffee and talk to Jesus. Go ahead and listen for that still small voice. God is near.

This is Happy Monday #583.

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