January 23, Reading Notes

Genesis 46-47

Gen. 46

Just a few notes on this section. It doesn't appear that God spoke to people often, but we see God speaking to Jacob here (who, by the way, didn't leave the promised land, even in the famine) at a time when it was important to encourage Jacob. God confirms the promise, giving Jacob a little more information, showing God's faithfulness to his plan of redemption and to Abraham. There is little to suggest that there was ongoing devotion to God and seeking Him on the part of Jacob. God remains faithful and tender.

For us as disciples, we can believe that in our weakness as disciples, He remains tender and faithful. Yet, if we desire to hear His voice more, we just need to spend more time with Him in the Word, and then in the harvest.

The math summarized in v. 27, is an editorial on how many descendants of Abe went in to Egypt. Later, Moses will give an idea of how many came out. What we need to understand in this is that Jacob took all his servants and livestock. That would have been a small city. The little comments made about the number of men Abe took to rescue Lot, and the fact that the holdings of Jacob and Esau were so large that the land couldn't hold both of them, are important to note and think about to give you a 3D view of what is happening. You don't have to read a commentary to get this. All you have to do is pay attention and go slowly with the Lord in His Word.

In verse 28, Jacob sent Judah ahead, showing again, the prominence of Judah.

Interesting, how the Lord often blesses through bad things. The Egyptians hated shepherds, forcing Israel to locate in Goshen, which was a well watered delta paradise, even in the time of famine.

Gen. 47

Verse 9 gets me every year. Jacob was 130 years old and he summarizes his years as "few and evil." And we know it is no exaggeration. What a sad statement, and to think, Jacob himself was responsible for much of it.

Whether it is your own life or someone else's, when the results of what we have done (and the chain reactions thereof) are complicated, tangled , out of control, and we feel trapped and feel we have no control, the solution is simple. The next thing you do, honor the Lord. At that point, no matter where you are or what the demand is, dare to honor God. Being in the Word gives us confidence of God's love and His Word tells us what to do. The Gordian knot is simple to deal with. You don't unravel it, you cut it. But it takes using the Sword of the Spirit (the Word) in the hand of one who is newly surrendered to the love and heart of Christ, to make this happen. It is so simple as to be profound. The next thing you do, honor the Lord.

Jacob doesn't seem to have learned that lesson.

Vs.13-26

So, why do you think that Moses/the Spirit want us to have this particular information? Here is something to think about. Israel grew as a nation, inside of Egypt, for 400 years. The Egyptians remember what Joseph had done for them as a nation for 2-3 hundred years. That is an incredible legacy. The US has gone 200 years as a nation and we still (sort of) respect the founders of the country. As we see new generations arise and people tinker with, and misunderstand, the intent of the founders, we could figure that in another 100 years we will forget to respect and honor them, imagining ourselves to be geniuses who could have done a better job, yet without their education and faith, and without paying the price they paid.

This section is probably here to show us the actions that made Joseph a national hero whose respect lasted hundreds of years, until a pharaoh came, who didn't know Joseph, and made Israel slaves.

Vs. 27-31

God gave Jacob 17 good years with Joseph, not to mention the peace and honesty in his life and family.

Jacob wanted to be buried in the family grave, in the land of promise.

In all the details of this story, as disciples, we can't lose sight of God working toward the redemption of man and the coming of Christ. We are now a part of that plan and story and need to be working to bring the news of this salvation and promise to the lost.

Matthew 15:1-28

Vs. 1-20

As the Pharisees became more aggressive toward Jesus, He became more open in exposing their hypocrisy. As disciples, we need to learn that "the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to all, an able teacher, correcting his opponents with gentleness," while also learning to be pointed, especially with certain opponents, regarding the truth and its implications. Jesus was not "politically" correct in how he dealt with the men who were leading people to Hell, yet the focus of His teaching, or reprimand, was on the truth, not simply attacking the person.

Unfortunately there is a danger in conservative "religion" that focuses on behavior and not on salvation and mission. The Levites were to have taught the people, but this was taken over by the system of rabbis, and later the Pharisees…all of this coming out of the Babylonian captivity, where the nation had been held together by the grace of God. Having lost the mission, and therefore the love and mercy and grace of God, they became policemen for saving the "truth." And they killed their savior.

As disciples, we are meant to work in the harvest, to personally be in the truth and abiding in the love of Christ in the harvest. Lose His love in the Harvest, like the church in Ephesus in Revelations, or like a lot of Christians and churches today, and you become Pharisaical. Ironically, if Jesus entered some conservative churches today, I don't think he'd be accepted and certainly would never qualify to be an elder.

Vs. 21-28

This is a test. Jesus was not being obnoxious. When He heard her address Him as the "son of David," I believe He was looking to see how honest and deep her faith really was. The promise to save mankind was disclosed progressively through the promise to Adam and Eve, then more fully revealed in the promise to Abraham, then more fully revealed in the promise to David, that is, that one of his descendants would be the Messiah and the eternal ruler of Israel and the world.

Two things: First, this interchange was more a lesson for the disciples (and us) than for her. She already had faith. They needed to see what this faith looked like, that it was persistent and knocking and seeking. That's a good lesson for us as disciples.

Second, after His rejection after feeding the 5000, signaling His ultimate rejection by the Nation of Israel, Jesus would now be reaching out more and more to the Gentiles. All of this is in the progress of the promise to Eve, to Abe and to us, and now through us, to our neighbor, in following Christ in the harvest.

Psalm 19

When I read a psalm like this, I picture two periods of David's life, both of which were simpler, and less busy and complicated than when he became king of the entire nation.

First, all those years as a shepherd, looking out on God's creation created a deep devotion to God in David. It takes time and quiet for this to happen.

Second, in those 7 years in Hebron as King of Judah David also learned. I believe it was in those years, reflecting on God's saving him from Saul, that he also transcribed the first 5 books of the Bible, as Deuteronomy says a king should do, and when David wrote Psalm 119. His devotion to the Word of God grew in this time of quiet.

In this Psalm, you have both together, the declaration of Creation to the Glory of God, and the Word of God declaring the Glory of God.

What always hits me is that when David had time or took the time, his heart was wholly the Lord's and God's glory flowed from his life. But when this same man became busy and distracted and engaged in the press of life, he failed, drifted from God, and brought deep pain into his life and family.

I think that what the Lord wants us to see in the life of David, besides enjoying this great psalm, is that a disciple should follow Christ simply in this life, abiding in Him, taking time with Him, working in the Harvest. That is the life that declares the glory of God. A life full of things and activities and multitasking doesn't do that for God and it makes for a very superficial disciple.

Proverbs 4:14-19

Many of the proverbs have a contrast and this one does, too, in verses 18 and 19.

Following Christ, His way, brings clarity, hope, stability and growing light. It is interesting that the lives of Jacob, David and Solomon became darker as they became busier, more political, more complicated, less focused on God and more focused on themselves. Life is busy, but the focus has to remain uncomplicated, simple and cleansed by the Word. We are to honor God by following and abiding in Christ and His love, in the harvest.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.

January 22, Reading Notes

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

Genesis 44-45

Gen. 44:1-13

The important thing to figure out in all of this story is what Joseph was wanting to discover or find out about his brothers. Joseph had no interest in making his brothers suffer. He had to see what was in them. Their sign of grief in vs. 13 is important. They could have all gone home without Ben.

Gen. 44:14-34

Notice how this verse begins. Notice who the main speaker is. Notice what the offer to Joseph was. Aside from the story itself, Moses/the Spirit are showing us something here about a choice that God made having to do with Judah.

V. 16 is very a very interesting confession.

V. 17 is Joseph pointing them to the real test.

V. 33 is an offer much different than the one Reuben made. How is Judah's offer here a foreshadowing of Christ, who will come from Judah's lineage?

Just to be clear, in Judah, Joseph sees that the brothers have changed and now he can open up to them. What did he see with them regarding Ben, that wasn't true with their dealings with him?

This is all to say that forgiveness is one thing, trust and restoration of a relationship is another. I have known Christians who, almost, arrogantly demand forgiveness to get the monkey of guilt off their backs, and then demand the relationship should be renewed. Without the process of rebuilding/proving trust, there is no restoration of relationship. And when we explain forgiveness as "just forgive and forget" like this, people think we're crazy. Then we point to the story of Joseph and say "forgive and forget" like Joseph did, and we confirm, not only that we are crazy, but that we really haven't read or understood the story. If Joseph's brothers had been arrogant or dishonest here, it would have been a much different story. Joseph/God made them prove themselves.

Gen. 45:1-15

There are some great verses here and you can make the applications to your life and experience.

V. 4 when Joseph calls them near, some people suggest that he showed his brothers he was a Hebrew. An Egyptian wouldn't have been circumcised.

I don't think Joseph always understood why the Lord had sent him to Egypt. It wasn't, I think, until he saw his brothers bow down before him the first time, that the process began. But, the process began in a heart that was fully yielded to God. I don't think Joseph had any super power of spiritual insight, but his heart was close to the Lord and, therefore, he was very teachable. If "close to the Lord and teachable" is a superpower, you can have that one too, and being in the word daily helps you get there, just like you're doing.

Gen. 45:16-28

Notice that Judah is no longer the spokesman when they return. That points to the fact earlier in the story, that God was drawing our attention to something important about Judah.

Notice also that Jacob's spirit comes alive again. If you've done the work you know that Joseph was a slave in Egypt for 13 years and then given his position. The 7 good years have passed and we are in the first 2 years of the famine with 5 years remaining. So, it has been 22 years since Joseph has seen his family and father. It is evident from what we see of Jacob dealing with his sons regarding the return to Egypt and Benjamin, that he has been heart sick for a long time. This is a long time to suffer like this with a dead heart. I'm not saying anyone deserved this, but God really did not cut Jacob much "slack" in dealing with Jacob's own sins against Esau. You never heard Jacob say he was sorry for anything he did to Esau.

Matthew 14:13-36

The Lord has ways of teaching many things at one time. There are some things to learn in the feeding of the 5000 regarding faith and depending on God's provision, but there are a couple of other interesting things.

One thing the disciples learned was what to do with 5000 people. You wonder how the disciples were prepared for the 3000 people who came to Christ on Pentecost. Here is how they learned. You break them into groups of 50 like Jesus did.

Second, they learned to expect problems after success. Or maybe they learned not to trust "success" at all, but rather God. The reason I'm saying this, unknown to us here, but revealed in John 6, is that after the feeding of the 5000, Jesus' popularity began to disintegrate, in fact, many disciples left him.

Whatever the purpose of Jesus and Peter walking on water, it would come in handy in John 6 as the crowds and disciples were leaving. Jesus asks the 12 if they too will leave and Peter says, "to whom else shall we go. Only you have the words of eternal life." Interesting that Peter said that and didn't say, "who else can walk on water." They got the point in the boat and worshiped Him.

Gennesaret is where the people sent Jesus away after he healed the demonic with the legion at the “bay of pigs” incident. Now, they are ready. The first rejection doesn't mean rejection for good.

Psalm 18:37-50

Regardless of how much we can or cannot identify with this psalm, for the disciple, every time God shows us his mercy and help, we should find ways of doing verse 49.

Proverbs 4:11-13

What is interesting in reading so many different portions of the Bible is that you find similar wording and realize that there are many ways to talk about a relationship with God.

So you find the words in Proverbs 4:12 and this seems focused on wisdom/God's word, but then you think this wording sounds familiar. Can you figure out where else you find words like these?

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

So we can add to seeking wisdom and heeding the words given to us, the idea of waiting on the Lord and resting in His care. This is not only a good exercise that helps grow Christ's disciples in the word, but waiting for Christ’s provision, and abiding in Christ is the next step after having His word.  It all rounds out the relationship He desires to have with us.

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.

January 21, Reading Notes

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

Genesis 42:18-43:34

This portion of text isn't complete until Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. The question you need to be asking yourself is why Joseph is doing this. We always use Joseph as an example of forgiveness without realizing there is a process involved. God does stuff and here Joseph is doing stuff. When people push a "just forgive" commandment on others and use Joe as an example, it shows they haven't really read the story.

Verses 22-24 are very key. What does it say to you about the last 13 years in all of their lives?

I always laugh at Joseph putting Simeon in prison and then Jacob isn't really in a hurry to rescue him. I wonder if Joseph chose Simeon for this reason, knowing that there would be no real pressure to come and get him.

What do you think putting their money back in their sacks was meant to accomplish? What was the reaction of the brothers? Joseph wasn't interested in generosity. He wanted them to feel something, and it worked.

In this section there are two offers made regarding Benjamin, one by Reuben and one by Judah. How are these different and what makes Judah's offer better? I think this is what made Judah a better man, and his offer points to Christ. I am sure this impressed Jacob. Think of this offer. It was the heart of Christ and it should be the heart of a disciple.

Jacob also gave in because they had no food. God has His way of pushing us through hard times. The most interesting part of Bruce Almighty is in the "cut scenes" where "God" explains why he would not have answered two of the prayers that Bruce did. It would have made if a better movie, if they had left that scene in.

When the guys arrive, Joseph has a meal prepared. I always wonder how long that would have taken, like when the Lord and the angels visited Abe and Sarah…"hey, can you guys stay to eat? Good!" Then to the servant, "Hey go kill an animal and prepare it." If it was me, I'd have said, "Do you like Chinese?" and then ordered out.

Notice that the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews.

Notice that Joe is still messing with their heads.

Notice that he is melting down emotionally.

The big test is about to come.

Matthew 13:47-14:12

These look like disjointed events.

The parable of the fish fits with the parable of the wheat and the tares.

That the disciples understood what Jesus was saying shows that they had "new" understanding of this new teaching, which was really a present day explanation of old truth. This would be complemented by what had been previously written. Just like us, in trying to bring the Word of God to people to show them what is happening in the world and how God wants to be in their lives, we use old and new, the truth of scripture and the present illustrations and parables of today's world. Anyway, this is what I get from it.

Jesus is rejected in Nazareth because the people could not connect the Word and Prophecy to this present day thing they were seeing as Jesus says, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Old and New.

And then John was the last of the prophets, and not recognized by the people or Herod as the fulfillment of the old in the present day.

If you can string these together better, go for it.

I remember the first time I read this account of John's death, how I was impressed by Herod having to save face and so doing the wrong thing because of the pressure of others on him. And to boot, he was a bad guy.

Putting this section together, disciples have to be masters of the Old (the Word of God) to relate it to, and make parables from, the New (Ipods, internet, American Idol, McDonalds, etc….).

Psalm 18:16-36

I always imagine that David wrote this after he was made king, looking back at running from Saul, hiding in caves and despairing of ever being blessed by God.

God is obviously giving this psalm to us to show us, if we are following Him and living for Him as disciples, we can fully depend on Him.

I've heard, I think, two pastors use the "jumping over walls" verse to say that they and their church would get through the hard time they were going through. Both pastors left soon after they preached that passage. The moral of the story is, if you want to stay in your church, don't preach that verse.  No, the moral is, depend on what you can control, your heart before the Lord, not the response or reaction of others. As disciples, our life is successful in Christ, not churches or positions or stuff.

Proverbs 4:7-10

You can't have two beginnings of wisdom. I think it works like this: Find Christ and then seek first His Kingdom and ask and seek and knock.

A disciple keeps on pressing to know Christ, just like Paul. Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Disciples keep on pressing, abiding, seeking, asking, knocking…following Christ in the harvest.

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.

January 20, Reading Notes

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

Genesis 41:17-42:17

Genesis 41:17-57

I only have a couple of things in this section.

V. 46 tells you how long Joseph was a slave in Egypt if you know how old he was when he was sold.

What does the naming of his children tell you in vs. 50-52. We make Joseph out to be a superhero, and he was, sort of, but I'm not getting the idea here that he knew what God was up to. He was still grieving and healing, and this, many years later.

Genesis 42:1-17

Here we go.

Try to figure out now how many years have passed since Joe saw his brothers.

What is the importance of verse 9? What does this tell you about Joseph and his thinking the past ?? years?

Why is Joseph treating them so roughly….and it isn't revenge?

We'll put more of this together tomorrow. It is enough to say that, as disciples, God doesn't do everything in our lives at once. We often look back and say that we should have known or understood something at a certain time in our lives, or we wish we had. The Father is a good teacher. His plan is vast and he teaches us in His time and opens our eyes according to His timing and plan. In the meantime, even in our struggles, we follow in the harvest.

Matthew 13:24-46

It would be a good exercise to think of how all of these parables fit together. The parable of the sower comes first, then the wheat and the tares, then the mustard seed, then the ditty on parables, then the explanation of the wheat and tares, then the hidden treasure and finally the pearl of great price. I think I have it figured out, but your exercise will benefit you more than my ideas, and don’t try to Google and find someone else’s explanation.  Do it yourself.

A couple of notes:

In my view, the wheat and the tares happens at the second coming of Christ, just as He is beginning His thousand year reign. Theoretically, this could also be at the end of the millennial reign of Christ where a similar event takes place. In any case, we are given a parable that is meant to complement the parable of the sower in some way.

In Jesus saying that the mustard seed is "the smallest of seeds," I don’t believe He is trying to make a scientific statement. In the experience of the people listening, the mustard seed was a very small seed, probably the smallest they had to deal with.

Given the importance of understanding what Jesus is saying, as disciples we can ask ourselves if we are giving enough of ourselves to growing in Jesus and serving Him in the harvest. Is it worth it, knowing Christ? The hidden treasure and the pearl are an invitation to a willing heart. I find with myself, though I'll agree with the "give everything" teaching, in the 35 years I've been following, I'm still holding back.  This is a constant invitation/exhortation.

Psalm 18:1-15

As with most of the psalms so far, the first 6 verses are great encouragement and will resonate with those who have been in the press and desperately needed the Lord to rescue them.

What do you see in the images that follow, that is interesting to you?

Proverbs 4:1-6

Again, what do you see in these proverbs that speaks to you?

The two things that get to me are that Solomon wrote this during a period when he was close to the Lord, but he drifted later in life. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, did not heed this advice.  The inspiration of the Spirit and the truth of His words remain, even though the messenger didn’t heed his own message.  Think about what Paul says to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.  It makes sense, doesn’t it, and it really applies to us as disciples making disciples.

The other thing that hits me and applies to us as disciples is verse 6, "if you love her, she will guard you." There is no more secure place on the planet than loving/abiding in Christ, in His Word, working in His harvest, even if we are being led as sheep to the slaughter for His sake.

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.

January 19, Reading Notes

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

Genesis 39:1-41:16

Genesis 39

Two things stand out to me regarding this story:

First, there is nothing like adversity to focus you on the Lord. Now, that positive effect of adversity doesn't always happen, but to the right people, the kind of loneliness and hardship Joseph is experiencing, brings them closer to God. I don't see this in Jacob's life, but it seems to be what happened to Joseph as God engineered this hardship to shape him.

A "sub" note here, is that Joseph was bought and sold by "Midianites" who are referred to as Ishmaelites. Midian was one of Abraham's sons born to his wife, Keturah, after Sarah's death. (Gen.25:1-4). In the 100+ years, the tribe has grown and might have mixed (as Esau did) with Ishmael's clan. As a nation, the Midianites will be a problem to Israel in a couple of important places. It might be that Jacob's sons regarded all of the other 7 sons of Abraham, and their descendants, as Ishmaelites.

Second, it was apparent to Joseph and to Potiphar that the blessing was from God. Joseph didn't have to be grateful to God and allow that to determine his behavior and heart, but he did. Jacob didn't and most people really don't. But Joseph was grateful. So when Potiphar's wife goes for him, Joseph realized that he would ultimately be throwing away his relationship with God, not repaying God in kind for the mercy and blessing he had received.

Theoretically, these are great discipleship lessons, but they have to be lived. Without the hardship endured in following Christ in the harvest, most of us never learn to focus on God. Without the blessing of seeing Him use us in the harvest, most of us never truly appreciate our salvation and His grace and mercy to us.

Joseph wasn't wearing much, if she could pull off his robe and see that he was uncircumcised. I guess they dressed differently back then, like the Scots in kilts. Abraham and Isaac grew an enormous community in Canaan that spanned over ….how many years? You can figure it out from the text…Abe was 75 when he entered Canaan, Isaac was born when Abe was 100 and Isaac lived to be 180, so this community was in Canaan over 200 years. They were large and wealthy and a stop on the caravan routes and were known as Hebrews and were herders and Bedouin, living in tents, and they had this one particularity, the men were circumcised. Over the 200 years, the Egyptians, especially the merchants, had heard of the Hebrews. Remember, too, we'll find out in a couple of chapters, that the Egyptians despised shepherds as crass, dirty, bottom dwellers. Now, with her anger and resentment focused on Joseph, she sees he is obviously a Hebrew.

I once messed up in a Sunday school class, saying that Potiphar probably knew his wife was a flirt and had to save face and didn't want to do this to Joseph. The teacher wisely corrected me by pointing out, in the text, that it says that when Potiphar heard the story from his wife, his "anger was kindled." Pot got hot, and Joe went to jail.

Paul says we should work to be approved workmen. You've got to know the text before you teach and before you venture out on a limb. That embarrassment taught me a good lesson, and, as you can see, I still remember that magic moment of correction.

Notice that even in the bitterness of being wrongfully accused, without appeal, God began immediately to give Joseph favor and to bless everything he touched. This was the Lord's confirmation and help to Joseph, but then, Joseph had to be in the right frame of heart to see this. As disciples, we too, have to be looking for where the Lord is working. He is always with us. We need to be alert, even in when things don't "go our way."

Just as something to pay attention to in this story, how much time is passing in Joseph's life? There will be clues, and you've already been given a big one. You know how old Joseph was when this happened to him. These sorts of little details make you skilled in understanding and applying the story. I still shake my head when I see pictures of Daniel in the lion's den as a young man. What utter ignorance and abuse of the text. No wonder few people know how important Daniel 6 is, and sadly, it is all there in the book. Disciples need to read with curiosity and pay attention to what God is saying.

The same applies here. We need to pay attention to the passage of time. God didn't change Joseph overnight, and He won't do it with us either. If you pay attention, you won't preach or teach superficial baloney.

Genesis 40

"Some time afterwards" is hard to understand now, but it will make sense tomorrow, unless you are really curious and figure it out today. And if you figure it out, figure out, too, how old Joseph is when he reveals himself to his brothers. And if you go to a study Bible and let them do it for you, you missed the joy of discovery. Finding the answer someone else figured out doesn't do the same thing for your heart and growth.

I'm not sure if Joseph had understanding of all dreams, or that the Spirit nudged him here and showed Joe what these two meant.

This chapter is a bridge to what is to come. What is important for us as disciples is to see how God used this, again, to form Joseph. We can go to the next chapter in a second. Joseph couldn't. Joseph was forgotten and never knew that the cupbearer would eventually remember. All Joseph knows at this point, and for the next two years, is to live everyday for God, to forget his family, and to forget that one weird moment when he interpreted those dreams, when it seemed that something might work out for him. In that daily life and disappointment, God was molding his heart for chapter 41.

Genesis 41

Two years later. In tomorrow's reading you'll learn how old Joseph was when this happened, and therefore, how long he was captive in Egypt and even how old he was when he interpreted the dream of the cupbearer. And not just 2 years, but 2 whole years.

The cupbearer finally made good on his promise.

In case we think that Joseph had it good as the assistant to the warden, notice what the jail was called.

Matthew 12:46-13:23

Matthew 12:46-50

This section should have been placed with the text from yesterday.

Having heard that Jesus was "beside himself" and that he was possessed by the devil, the family freaked and came to get him. The sword that Simeon said would pierce Mary's heart was beginning to cut its way through as she, herself, was beginning to doubt her son and all the events around his birth. The brothers were probably James and Jude, both writers of letters in the New Testament. I always imagine that the plan was that Mary should distract Jesus, and James would come in high and put the grain sack over Jesus' head and around his arms and then Jude would come in low with the ropes. Once tied, they would carry Him home.

Anyway, Jesus was not falling for this one. In fact, Jesus is absolutely focused and Jesus points to his disciples and (quoting Luke) gives the simple message of discipleship, Luke 8:21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Matthew 13:1-17

What I think is important for us as disciples, in this section, is the emphasis on "wanting to hear and understand." This is very much the same as "seek and you will find, etc…"

The issue here, is that Jesus told parables, not to hide the truth, but to show who was interested in understanding. The promises to those who "ask and seek and knock" are absolute. The faith promise here for the disciple, (that is, it is only a promise if you believe it and do it) is that the more you give Him in seeking to understand (time in the Bible, praying, doing), the more you will get back. This will, itself, be a motivation for some people, and others will just say, "Whatever, I'm good with what I've got."

Matthew 13:18-23

Your observations here are more valuable than my comments, but if you're interested, I have written some stuff on this section in two posts.

Dec 14th

http://fencerail.blogspot.com/2010/12/hearing-and-sharing-in-harvest-and-ch-2.html

Dec 1st

http://fencerail.blogspot.com/2010/12/hearing-in-harvest.html

Psalm 17

If you have never felt pursued, this might not do much for you. I used to speed read the psalms until I got "run over" in ministry. Now I can't read them fast.

A couple of notes:

Who said we invented blogging? Don't these psalms read like posts to God? And imagine the compassion and understanding of a God who would inspire them.

When I read verse 8, I always think of E. Elliot's book, "The Shadow of the Almighty."

Also on verse 8, I never understood the expression "apple of your eye" and how the English speaking world misunderstands this, until I learned German. In German, the word for "eyeball" is, literally, "eye apple." Turned around, what is being said here is that God will protect us like you would protect your eyeball. Not only do you cover your eye, but if anyone threatens to poke out your "eye apple" we tend to get angry and aggressive. We get this image of God having found a nice, juicy, ripe, red, shiny apple, and if you try to take a bite out of it, boy, will He get mad. No. The apple is an eye-apple, or for us English speakers, an eyeball.

Proverbs 3:33-35

Doesn't verse 34 seem like what we've been reading about in Genesis, in the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.

January 18, Reading Notes

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

Genesis 37-38

Genesis 37

In keeping with Jesus’ command to His disciples to “see the log” in their own eyes, we find Jacob repeating behavior in his family that his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, were guilty of: favoritism. This story might also shed some light on Reuben’s dark behavior.

Notice the time reference, this means that they had been in Canaan about 15-16 years. This would make Reuben about 28 or 29.

Notice also that Joseph is with the sons of the maids, not the son’s of Leah.

So Joseph is a snitch and his father loved him more, and Joe was probably protected, and there is huge animosity toward him. What a neat place to grow up. What a nurturing environment. The stage is set.

Into this “accident waiting to happen” God interjects 2 dreams. The second one actually gets Jacob mad. Notice that Jacob refers to “his mother,” meaning Leah. Leah was the leading lady and Jacob later says that she was buried in the family burial site.

It’s interesting that the brothers had no hesitation to want to kill Joseph. Reuben has a secret plot to free Joseph, but Judah actually saves him, suggesting they get some “cash for the trash.” The brothers probably all bought Ipods from the Midianite caravan.

Notice also that Jacob the trickster is trumped by his sons. What an evil trick. They held this secret for years, rotting their souls, and it says later that Jacob’s spirit revived when he learned that Joseph was alive, meaning, his “spirit” “died” here. How sad.

Certain aspects of this story are suggestive of Jesus: being rejected by his brethren, being sold, becoming their salvation. It is interesting that it was Judah who came up with this idea, Jesus coming from his lineage. Judah will also play a role later in this story. Notice later that Jacob rejects Reuben’s offer to protect Benjamin, but accepts Judah’s offer. There is something good about Judah, that, even in all this dysfunction, we don’t see yet.

As disciples, there is something about this story that is important to see regarding God’s sovereignty and man’s sin. This complete family catastrophe was not God’s doing, but he used it. God often uses disharmony and malfunction to help us. We look at this story and understand that God was going to use Joseph to save the family and eventually grow the nation in Egypt, but do we see that God was protecting and preparing Joseph? Joseph was also a piece of work and a chip off the old “Jacob” block. God had to get Joseph out of that family to mold him through the trials of captivity and injustice. I don’t think there was a plan “b” in making Joseph the man he became and he might not have been that man any other way. Also, it is usually recognized that being sold into slavery,  “saved” Joseph from the effects of Canaan’s sexually saturated culture and idolatry.

A couple years after one ministry malfunction I had in Germany, I realized that one of the “blessings” of this malfunction was that it created distance between our kids and a potentially devastating influence in the church. Not all relational malfunctions are bad.

This is all to say that when we see what happens in our lives or the lives of others, we shouldn’t automatically feel defeat if there is failure or disharmony or if hard events intervene. Just as in Romans 8:28, our confidence as disciples making disciples is that God uses everything in our lives as we love Him, even our deaths, for His good and His glory.

Chapter 38: The Adventures of Judah

So, why is this chapter here? We don’t yet know that Judah will be anyone important. Some suggest that this chapter shows the culture and influence that Joseph was “saved” from. Possibly.

The chapter definitely shows God’s sovereignty in preparing the line of Christ. Judah was either a bad dad or the power of the culture ruined the boys. His first two sons were evil and God put them to death.

Notice that the social “law” regarding continuing the lineage of the dead man, was already in place before the giving of the law. Created in the image of God, man creates order, imitating the order of the creator.

Tamar becomes the “black widow” here and Judah holds back giving her his last son. Obviously there is not a sense in any of this of anyone going to God and asking Him for advice. Everyone was just living from their “gut.”

Now, Tamar’s action was interesting. At this point in Jacob’s family, the promise to Abraham has been lost. There is no sense of anyone pursuing it. At least Jacob pursued it. It may have been that Tamar realized Judah was next in line to receive the blessing of the firstborn. I don’t know. It might have also been that the promise was why Judah didn’t want to give Shelah, his last and only son, to “the black widow.”

All we know is that the line of the promise continues through Judah and this story is somehow important. My guess is that the promise, somehow, figures into the actions of Judah and Tamar.

So, what do you see in Judah that makes him a better man than his brothers. I think it is in v 26, actually two things indicate that Judah was a different man.

Notice that the son’s are not listed as Er’s sons, they are Judah’s, and the line of the promise that flows to David and then to Jesus is via Perez, meaning that the line of Jesus was Latino, which is why we can dance and sing for joy. (the joke made in this last statement was not intended to make anyone look silly but me).

Matthew 12:22-45

12:22-32

This is a major confrontation and shows what the religious leaders finally came up with to “explain” and discredit Jesus.

For us as disciples, what I find interesting is that Jesus was very relaxed in dealing with this accusation. Mark 3:23 says that when Jesus heard this, He called them to him and tried to show them the silliness of their logic. I think we disciples need to have that same relaxed sense of hearing what is being said, and then seeking to give the other side of the story, firmly, with meekness, humility and a smile. In 2000 years, Christianity has not crumbled in the face of “facts” or “accusation.” We need to be confident in God.

I tend to define the sin against the Holy Spirit very narrowly. I think you actually had to be there, hear Jesus, see Jesus do a miracle, and then say, “that was of the devil” to have committed the unpardonable sin. I don’t think we can sin like this today.

12:33-37

This was a challenge and an accusation aimed at the religious leaders, who put on a “front” of being good, but were really evil within, that evil, being defined as in Rom. 1:18, resisting and suppressing the truth. The real challenge for all of us here is that God is keeping track of what we say and, if needed, will prove by our own words that He is just.

Apparently the desire to see a sign was not honest. Jesus’ words are, accordingly, hard.

The unclean spirit description, I think, is real. I think Jesus is telling us something that happens in reality. However, the real point of the story is that if you just clean up morally, but don’t put something in place of the evil that was there, the evil returns worse than before.

Jesus’ presence drove back the spiritual forces and many people were cured. Nationally it was a good time. But the warning was “if nothing takes the place of what went out,” that is, if you don’t let me in, “what happens next will be worse.”

Notice that the spirit returns. In bringing with it other, more evil spirits, it was making sure it couldn’t be driven out again.

As disciples, we don’t offer people restored marriages or personal order, etc., as important as those things might be. We offer people the ability to be forgiven and have God enter their lives and save them and break the power of sin and lead them. Anything less is just cleaning the house, not filling it with the Savior.

Psalm 16

David wrote most of the psalms after running from Saul and being in constant danger. As disciples, it may not be until we are put down for trying to live for Christ and make disciples, that we will appreciate what David and the Spirit have written here.

For me, verse 2 has the deepest meaning. All of what I really want in this life, or to see before I leave this place, is in Christ, “to do the will of Him who sent (I’d substitute “saved” for “sent”) me, and to accomplish His work.”

Proverbs 3:27-32

27-28

Two years ago the Lord really hit me with these verses, to give aid to people immediately. So, for this reason, I always carry cash to just give out if I sense someone needs it.

30…especially when driving or talking to someone in lower management who didn’t make the decision I’m mad about.

As disciples we often envy the “decisive person of action,” but God can use all kinds. None of his cleverness really helped Jacob. We don’t have to take assertiveness training to be better disciples. We need to fall deeper in love with Jesus and dare to share his story and make disciples.

It was a scared Sunday school teacher who finally overcame his fear and walked into a shoe store and shared the gospel with a shoe salesman who had been attending his class. That salesman was saved and he walked away from his shoes to save soles. DL Moody’s life was changed forever and the Lord used him to change countless other people. All because of a timid Sunday school teacher.

God uses all kinds, so we don’t need to envy anyone. We just need to follow Jesus as disciples.

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.

January 17, Reading Notes

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

Genesis 35-36

Genesis 35:1-15

I suppose it makes sense to think about God's timing. God leads Jacob to a place of commitment, formally renaming him and reaffirming the covenant He made with Abraham. But why now? They had been in the land some years already. If God had done this earlier, maybe the massacre at Shechem would have been avoided. On the other hand, with God leading Jacob this way now, after Shechem, it certainly isn't a reward for Jacob's seeking and devotion to Him. Whatever the lesson here, I'm sure it applies to us as disciples, and it gives some insight into God's dealing with fallen humanity.

My sense is this. Before we are willing to follow God, we have to be made to be willing. Sometimes He just makes things happen to move us, but more often than not, he allows life to bring us to a place of readiness. That readiness could be anything from boredom to joy to utter desperation. Looking at Jacob's life, he has a new start in Canaan and everything is fresh. He doesn't seem very devoted to God at all and appears to be showing no leadership to his family. But life was good. Note that they all had idols. They were becoming like the people around them. And then there is the dysfunctional family life they have lived. The point being, they already knew how to truly worship God, but had no need because they were sufficient and were happy the way they were.

The events in Jacob's life leading up to this time were not "caused" by God. This was just "life on earth" taking its normal, fallen course. This could have been a storm or an earthquake. God simply allowed them to have their way, to see their need, to realize that life without Him was futile, to see that He was the only real "security on earth." Just like with us, the just and the unjust, experience the same good and bad events on earth, and the Lord uses all of these to show our hearts, to form our hearts and, in the case of those who love Christ, to be a witness in that same disaster that we ourselves have experienced, giving visual proof of the life of Christ and the love of God.

Back to Jacob & Co. But now following the disaster in Shechem, would they turn to Him? Unfortunately, you don't see that happening. Now they really are in danger because of what the boys did. So God takes the initiative, I think, to save them, and to give them an opportunity to get serious with Him. This might have been a "teachable" moment.

Note that Jacob was ready to go.

I wonder why he didn't destroy their gods/idols. This might indicate a lack of devotion on his part with the thought of coming back to these. Just like people I know, well, ok, just like me if I don't want to give something up.

God put the fear of them, as protection, into the hearts of the neighbors. This would have not only saved Israel (Jacob & Co.) from attack, but they would have been totally ostracized from everyone, possibly keeping the influence of Canaan from entering deeper into their clan.

Interesting, that it mentions the death of Rebekah's nurse/maid. This is the woman who had been with her since Rebekah left her father's house to join Isaac. Since it mentions her death, and later, the death of Isaac, it is safe to assume that Rebekah was already dead, probably before Jacob returned from Laban. If so, it means that Rebekah and Jacob never saw each other again after their trickery with Isaac. Self inflicted punishment?

God faithfully confirms the covenant here. Note that there are no conditions mentioned. His working to save mankind, to fulfill the promise given to Adam and Eve, to Noah and to work through Abraham are firmly set on His faithfulness, not ours. There are some pretty notable people of faith in that line, but His working to save us, is not dependent on our faith. As Paul & the Spirit say to Timothy, "When we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." Jacob certainly had faith in the promise, but there is no reflection of God elsewhere in his life that I can see. The fact that Jacob is named Israel does, however, denote his tenacity and endurance in pursuing the promise. He might have created a little "hell on earth" for himself due to his lack of following God personally, "in spirit and in truth," but he still had faith and he still fought. And so he was named Israel.

This place was the same place Jacob had seen the angels ascending and descending on his way to Laban. Bethel means "house of God." This sacrifice looks like the same kind of sacrifice Jacob had offered years earlier.

Genesis 35:16-29

After the "mountaintop," life comes crashing in again on Israel.

Get a Bible map and you can see Bethel, where the sacrifice took place and then Rachel dies near Bethlehem. Because they had so much stuff, livestock, etc…, this wouldn't have been a day trip.

Notice that Jacob changes the baby's name. Your Bible will probably have a note telling how he changed it.

Notice also, that Rachel is buried along the way, not in the family grave. Her burial place will later be where the shepherds were told of Jesus' birth, and it is the region where Herod killed all the children.

Verse 22 is a very sad story with huge ramifications.

First, Reuben, the firstborn of the unloved wife, sleeping with the maid of the loved wife (who incidentally was the mother of two of his brothers, Dan and Naphtali) was a dominant and aggressive act. I don't think they fell into "forbidden love," like you see in the movies. This was the Alpha dog telling the other dogs he was the boss. Rape is a strong word, but I think this is what it was -my take on this. Imagine the animosity this would have created in the family between the Leah and Rachel sides.

Second, Jacob "hears" about it. There should have been immediate justice of some kind.

Third, Reuben, as the firstborn, has just lost his birthright. Jacob reveals this later at the end of Genesis when he dies. Of his first 3 sons he now has a "####" (whatever you want to call Reuben) and two murderers. Nice family. This will mean that the birthright will now skip past Reuben, Simeon and Levi to…… And we get a whole chapter devoted to him later.

Isaac dies and this creates a few questions and a cause/effect event into the next chapter.

I find it interesting that Isaac lives longer than Abraham and still, we have very little information on him.

Jacob apparently didn't spend much time with Isaac. Was it because they both had huge amounts of animals or was it because of the bad air between them, or both? Who knows, but it is interesting.

With Isaac's death, all that he owned would now go to Jacob, the animals, the workers, the money, the whole shebang.

Chapter 36

The fact that both Esau and Jacob are now "super rich," and can no longer live in the land together gives me the idea that Jacob must have shared some of it with Esau. Again, I'm impressed with Esau. He moves and leaves Canaan when he could have fought.

The wrapping up of Esau's history means, among other things, that the history in Genesis is about to switch gears.

Matthew 12:1-21

Matthew is showing the increased opposition Jesus encountered from the religious leaders. The man with the withered hand was probably a "set up." Chronologically, just before Matthew 12 comes John 5, if you're interested to see the fight that led up to this. Matthew is showing the official point where the Pharisees said, "We really need to kill Him." In John 5, John explains this need to kill Jesus in a more complete way.

When you read the prophesy that Jesus fulfilled, you wonder, as disciples, imitators and slaves of Jesus, how we think we have the right to be the opposite of what is written here. Do we bash the government and everything else we don't like, and forget that we are bringing a message of hope to lost and desperate people? Those who listen will be saved and those who reject the message are not our concern. We follow our Lord and bring them His message of life and hope.

Psalm 15

The question here is this, "Who do you let get close to you and dwell in the safety of your care." Jacob was invited, but had other interests. For us as disciples, it is more than living an "outwardly righteous" life. This is where we get fooled and think that if we are not "bad" people, we must be "good" people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus says that this person who gets close to God is the one who hears His words and does them. That person is the true follower. The focus is living with Jesus and that itself will clean up the behavior, but cleaning up the behavior does not mean living with Jesus. Jesus isn't fooled. Many Christians are simply outwardly righteous people who bear no fruit in the harvest, but have some faith, and like church, and listen to music and get religiously emotional. The commands are commands of discipleship and following in the harvest, like the Great Commission.

John 14:21-23 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Actually, God makes his "tent" around the disciple.

Proverbs 3:21-26

These are great words, but for us as disciples, there is something else to "not lose sight" of. God's redemptive plan, His mission to us, frames this life and this world and all our reality. What Christ has done for us makes us someone in Christ, an ambassador, a disciple, a witness, a missionary. Life for us is not about being "wise" and staying out of trouble. Life for us is being "wise" in the wisdom of Christ and the reality of this world we are called to reach.

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.