Tag Archives: Old Testament

Read the Bible: Genesis 24

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We’re going to read Genesis 24 from the English Standard Version (ESV). What I normally do is start with the KJV text and make adjustments; thou and thine becomes you and your, I update some of the other archaic language. In Genesis 1, for example, all modern translations say expanse instead of firmament. When there is no consensus I talk about the variants in the discussion. Sometimes the syntax is just backwards to how we talk. “Abraham said to Sarah, his wife…” instead of “his wife Sarah.” To be sure what I want to say actually gets said, I copy and paste the text, make the edits, then print a draft copy to read from. This is the longest chapter in Genesis, and while Sunday is most people’s day of rest, it is often the busiest day of the week for pastors.

Read the Bible: Genesis 23

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After having Isaac in her old age, at the age of 90, Sarah then lives to the ripe old age of 127. In Genesis 23 Abraham mourns his wife then purchases a field with a cave and buries her.

Heads up, chapter 24 is the longest chapter in the book of Genesis, 60 verses. I’m not quite sure how to handle that yet. We may split the chapter in half or I may try to do a lot of reading and not much discussion. A lot of discussion shouldn’t be necessary because parts of that narrative are very repetitive. It discusses itself, in a manner of speaking.

Read the Bible: Genesis 22

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In some ways, Abraham is like God the Father in that he was willing to offer up his only son. In some ways, Isaac is like Jesus in that he was the son of promise. At some point every analogy breaks down. The plan of salvation was God’s design and while Abraham was faithfully doing what he was told but it was a blind faith. Jesus willingly laid down his life; Isaac may have been an unwilling participant in this exercise. Substitutionary sacrifice is illustrated here when Abraham slays the ram… oh, spoilers. Maybe you better play the audio.

Read the Bible: Genesis 21

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Isaac is born, as God said in Genesis 19. Tensions flare again between Sarah and Hagar and Abraham is consoled that he will be the father of a great nation also. We take a deep dive in the discussion into Christian and Jewish belief compared to what Muslims teach.

The Dome of the Rock is built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Seen at the bottom of this picture is the Wailing Wall, or Western Wall, which is all that remains of the Temple destroyed by Rome in A.D. 70. Jews still gather at the base of the wall to pray, because that is as close as they can get to the site of the former Jerusalem Temple. Muslims control the actual hill top and tensions between Jews, Christians and Muslims are always high.

Read the Bible: Genesis 20

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Chapter 19 was kind of long and I felt some things needed to be said. Good news: Genesis 20 is a shorter chapter, only 18 verses, and it gives us a break from some of the heavy stuff of the past two chapters. Abraham is traveling abroad telling people that Sarah is his sister, which we have seen before.

I presume at this point if you are listening to these recordings that you are familiar with The Master’s Table, and are most likely a subscriber of some type. We may try to offer Read the Bible as a podcast on other outlets in the future. It is also possible that you have come across a website or someone on social media that has stolen this content and reposted it. So in today’s broadcast we will add some type of identifier, probably a closing (outro) that identifies The Master’s Table and Clark Bunch as the original producer of this content. You can listen to it, download it, share it with others, just don’t pass it off as your work. Please give credit where credit is due and include a link back to The Master’s Table.

Read the Bible: Genesis 19

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This is the longest chapter that we have read yet and there is a lot to talk about. I did some editing on the final product and got it down to a runtime of 29 minutes. This is one of those Rated R chapters; there may be a children’s coloring page of Lot’s wife turning to a pillar of salt; it’s less likely they had a discussion in Children’s Church about the men of Sodom trying to break down the door of Lot’s house.

Read the Bible: Genesis 18

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This chapter is longer than the last and there is a lot to say about this one. Three men visit Abraham – long discussion about who they might be – and they deliver two pieces of information. 1) Sarah will give birth at the age of 90 and 2) Sodom and Gomorrah will be judged for their great sins.

Link to Read the Bible: the LORD for a refresher in the Old Testament name for God.

Read the Bible: Genesis 17

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God has made promises to Abram and in this chapter will establish his covenant with him and give the sign of circumcision. Abram will be known as Abraham, Sarai as Sarah, and the birth of Isaac is promised. This chapter is a little longer than the past couple we’ve read and I felt a lot needed to be said.

Read the Bible: Genesis 16

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Mistakes have consequences. Sometimes you don’t even realize you are making a mistake in the moment, it seems like the right thing to do, but there are still consequences. And sometimes, if you are Abram and Sarai, you make mistakes that change the course of world history and the consequences of your actions will continue to be felt for millennia.

Read the Bible: Genesis 15

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God repeats promises in chapter 15 that were made in chapters 12 and 13. He reveals details about the next 400 years and beyond and Abram believes, an act of faith that God regards as righteousness.

In Genesis 4, Cain killed his brother Abel. I know that but I got my words a little mixed up tonight. Abel offered the more excellent sacrifice which is why he is mentioned in Hebrews 11.