This year as a church, we’re walking through the Chronological Bible Reading Plan. We’ll be posting a weekly blog on Sunday mornings so you have a guided daily look and question prompts for each day of your reading.
*You can begin this plan at any point throughout the year. Simply begin at week one and follow the plan for a year!
We’re barely out of the first month of the year and we’ve already read two whole books! Way to go! Let’s keep at it, trusting that by engaging the Word of God, we will be transformed by the Spirit into the image of Christ. As John Newton says, “A Christian is not of hasty growth, like a mushroom, but rather like the oak, the progress of which is hardly perceptible but in time becomes a deep-rooted tree.” Persistent faithfulness in the small, but significant things will produce growth if we do not lose heart!
We cover A LOT of ground this week – a little over 400 years, actually (cf. Gen. 15:13). We’ll see the people of Israel highly favored among the Egyptians, oppressed by the Egyptians, and redeemed from the Egyptians. The events we’re reading this week become *the* most significant moment for the people of Israel, the primary motivation for living in obedience to Yahweh’s covenant, and a foreshadowing of a greater and more permanent work of redemption for God’s people.
The last three chapters of Genesis are chock full of fascinating content, which is no surprise because so has the whole book. Here are a few things worth noting: (1) 48:17 – family history repeats itself as Jacob crosses his hands blessing the younger above the older. God keeps hinting at his upside-down ways. (2) 49:1, 9-10 – Jacob is prophesying about the “last days” which should generally be a clue to perk our ears up about something related to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Usually it’s not super clear at the time, but it comes into greater focus as we read the Bible. The footnote in verse 10 says the kingly scepter shall not depart from Judah until “he comes to whom it belongs”. (3) 50:24 - The promise given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has taken root into the fourth generation as Joseph dies. He looks forward with hope.
God’s promise to make Abraham a great nation is unstoppable – even under persecution. God’s upside-down ways continue to pop up in our reading and it’s only the second book of the Bible. It’s fascinating to me that we know the names of the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, but not the name of Pharaoh! Weakness is, has been, and will be the way for God’s people. If that isn’t enough – God uses unlikely people with ugly pasts to accomplish his purpose. Although God has been silent for 400 years, he is still a God who hears, sees, knows, and redeems.
Much of this reading is pretty familiar – except Exodus 4:24-26. Bridegroom of blood?? What even. It’s one of those passages I try to avoid. But – not today. Here’s a quote from an article by one of my former professors at Beeson Divinity School that brings (some) clarity: “Interestingly, both Exodus 4:25 and 12:22 use the Hebrew term naga (touch, strike) for the application of blood to the respective object… Exodus 4 and the Passover text of chapter 12 both have the subject matter of the first-born son in view. Both texts understand the application of blood as the means by which divine disfavor is thwarted. The link between blood, averting divine wrath, and the first-born son in Exodus 4 and 12 provides the New Testament with much of its theological vocabulary and rationale for the atoning work of Jesus Christ.” Basically, blood covers guilt. That’s consistent throughout the Biblical storyline.
From this passage, reflect on why the New Testament book of 1 Peter might call Jesus’s blood “precious."
Commence the plagues!! And the simultaneous hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. Pay attention to 9:16 for the Lord’s purpose in plaguing the Egyptians and for hardening Pharaoh’s heart. One scholar says a central theme of the Bible is “God’s glory in salvation through judgment” – that’s certainly the case here! If you want to read more, here’s a long article unpacking more detail about the 10 plagues.
Salvation is supposed to make God’s name known in all the earth. Who can you tell about your own salvation experience today?
The Exodus is the central event for the people of Israel. And there are so many threads being set up that we’ll see woven into the story of redemption from this point forward. Lambs slaughtered at twilight (12:6), blood of the lamb covers over death, it’s a statute forever, hyssop is an interesting detail (cf. Psalm 51:7 and John 19:29), and none of the bones of the lamb should be broken (12:46). There are many connections here to help us look forward.
God’s story of redemption is beautiful. Where do you see foreshadows of Jesus here?
Moses carries the bones of Joseph with him from Egypt, being led by the Lord in a pillar of fire and pillar of smoke. Keep an eye out for both of these occurrences as we move throughout the rest of the storyline of Scripture – they’re frequent signs of Yahweh’s presence. As they come to the Red Sea, we see the strength and power of Yahweh’s redemption as he alone fights for his people. Moses pens the first song in Scripture in Exodus 15 saying “I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously.” What more is there to say – even on this side of redemption? Let us continually sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously and he will triumph gloriously at his return! And we all will sing the same song from 15:13, “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”
Have you ever wondered what manna tasted like? Here’s your answer: “wafers made with honey”. Graham crackers, perhaps?! I hereby move to substitute communion wafers for graham crackers. Do I hear a second? In all seriousness, the apostle Paul does interpret Exodus 17 in light of Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4. The people have experienced amazing and wonderful works of God – yet they are still quarrelling. As Paul says, “These things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did…Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” The reality is, we do desire evil – our wills are bound to it. So, let us always examine our motives and desires lest we unwittingly fall into sin. We have a Savior who stood before us on the rock, was struck for us, and who tells us that he is the living water which will not leave us thirsty again.
What quarreling should you repent of?