Day 5/90 Through the Bible—Exodus 1-15

1:9-10 Perhaps the new Pharaoh was racist or an unkind leader. Why else would he worry about the Israelites siding with his enemies? He could have been paranoid. Surely the new Pharaoh could have come up with a plan to endear himself to the Israelites, instead of controlling them. As I’ve learned from Inception, “Positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time.”

1:12 It must be truly aggravating for your plans to have the reverse affect that you wanted, and for your enemies to grow.

1:15 The Israelites had only two midwives? They must’ve been busy. Perhaps they were the leaders, the generals, as it were of the midwives.

1:19-21 These midwives are pretty creative in their lying, and then God rewards them. However, He doesn’t reward them for the lies. They are rewarded because they feared God above men (even the Pharaoh). It’s not an argument for lying, but it is an argument for fearing God.

2:5-7 I think there is often a misconception that Pharaoh’s daughter heard Moses crying, and that is how she found him. However, the Bible says that she saw the basket, and it wasn’t until she opened the basket that Moses started crying. Perhaps the baby was used to floating in the river and being fetched out by his family. Perhaps he cried at the shock of being fished out by complete strangers (strange faces, clothing, smells, makeup, sounds, etc.) He also may have been hungry. It’s possible that he had come to associate the basket being removed and opened with being fed, so when it didn’t happen, he may have protested. So, it makes sense that Miriam’s first offer is to bring someone who can nurse the baby. This isn’t referring to a nanny/babysitter/governess, either. Ishshah nashiym (woman), yanaq (to give milk). It’s referring to a nursing mother, someone who could satisfy the baby’s needs.

Also, I’m not so sure that Pharaoh’s daughter finding Moses was an accident. The mother, Jochebed, was determined enough to hide him for three months, and I’m sure an Israelite woman would know where the Princess lived. She probably also knew where the Princess bathed, since it was customary for her to bathe in the river. I’m also inclined to believe that the water was safe, since the Princess was bathing in it.

2:20 Pharaoh’s daughter gave Moses a Hebrew name. She must’ve known the Hebrew language at least well enough to know “mosheh” drawing out of the water, rescued.

2:14 “Who made you a prince and judge over us?” Uh, I think that was God. He sounds like he’s sulking. (Who died and made you king?)

2:15 I wonder if Pharaoh (who was so desperately trying to limit the Israelites’ power) was galled to have an Israelite for an adopted grandchild. He might have even been glad to have an excuse to try to kill him. Moses was well-educated, and could easily become the catalyst leading to the revolt that Pharaoh was so desperately trying to prevent.

Moses flees and sits down by a well. This would be a great place to be sure of meeting people and possibly getting information and/or help.

2:16-19 Jethro (Reuel) was surprised that his daughters had come home so early, so I guess the other shepherds picking on his daughters was a regular occurrence. I wonder if he ever did anything to stop it. All it took was one man (Moses) to keep the shepherds at bay. Although, the daughters identified Moses as an Egyptian to their father (Did I somehow never catch that before?), which might have been enough to startle the other shepherds off at least this time.

2:24 God remembered His covenant? Does that mean that God forgot? Of course not. I can remember things I’ve never forgotten. John 3:16, anyone? It’s not like God forgot them (Oh, oops, sorry guys. I kinda forgot you were still there in horrible slavery. My bad.) No, he knew this would happen. Genesis 15:13-14

3:1 A lot in this one little verse. Moses is a shepherd now. We tend to accept this fact a little too quickly. We have to remember where he came from. This sort of work was way beneath his standard of living. In fact, you might recall from Gen. 46:34 that, “every shepherd was an abomination to the Egyptians.” (this helped the Israelites from intermingling, for sure). So, being a shepherd may have been a lot more difficulty than just a lack of skill for Moses. He may have also been facing some cultural difficulties in the idea.

Also, we accept very readily that Jethro was a priest of Midian, but who exactly were these people? Was Jethro a priest of God, or of an idol? The Midianites were descendents of Midian, son of Abraham and Keturah.

Also, he’s in the desert near Horeb, the mountain of God. I wonder if it was called the mountain of God then, or not until later. Also, did Jethro and family call it Horeb (a Hebrew name meaning desolate), or did they use its other name: Sinai. Did I never notice before that the burning bush mountain is the same mountain where the 10 commandments are carved? Perhaps God spoke to Moses out of the same bush later as well.

3:3 I think Moses’ response seems a bit tame. I think he would have been curious, excited, and maybe even a little scared to see a burning bush. He was brave enough to investigate something so out of the ordinary.

3:6 I tend to laugh at Moses for hiding when he realizes who it talking, but I can imagine that I would be hiding, too if I encountered God like that. I might even be more fearful, because I have more knowledge of God available to me.

3:7-11 I’ve seen the oppression. I’ve heard the cry, and I know their sorrows. (Yeah, God, it’s really bad.) I have come down to deliver them (About time, too!!) To a good, large land (That’s what I’m talking about!) Come, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. (Whoa, hang on there. What happened to You coming down? I-I-I can’t do this!! I’m nobody!)

3:14 I AM THAT I AM (HAYAH ASHER HAYAH) A lot of focus in fantasy and entertainment is about the “Chosen One.” God here is THE ONE. He is. Self-existent. Eternal.

3:18 Wait a second, I thought the deal was to get the children of Israel out of Egypt? This says that god just wanted them to take a 3-day journey to the wilderness for sacrifices to God. This isn’t God being sneaky, negotiating for a holiday and planning total escape.

3:22 Women plunderers? Yeah! Take that, Vikings! I mean—Egyptians!!

4:1 Who is the “they”? The Israelites? The Egyptians? According to God, the Israelites would believe Moses’ words. So, perhaps the signs were meant for Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Looking at verse 5 clears it up a little.

4:2-9 Moses is given three signs to perform. All three of these are not good omens. Perhaps God is demonstrating His power to the peoples by His control over dangerous elements. Snakes can kill people, leprosy was a death sentence, and water changing to blood would be especially dangerous in such a dry climate. Water was precious. God could have chosen any signs (Look, I can make doves appear from my hands, and flowers appear, and find coins in your ears!), but He chose signs that would convince the people of His serious and powerful nature and purpose.

3:11-4:13 Moses gives every excuse in the book. I’m nobody. What will I tell them? What if they don’t believe me? I’m not eloquent. Send someone else.

However, I often do the same thing when God gives me something to accomplish for Him. I am too limited by my own disbelief to accomplish what I could accomplish if I had faith. Yet, God uses the useless to demonstrate His own worth in us.

4:16 “And you shall be to him as God.” Isn’t this the dream of all younger brothers?

4:20 Moses takes his wife and sons back to Egypt with him. In 2:22 he only had one son. It’s not until 18:4 that we find out that Eliezer was the second.

4:25 Moses was in Midian for 40 years. I wonder how old his son was when mom went at him with a sharp stone.

5:2, 4, 7-9 I always imagine this Pharaoh as sounding like Schwarzenegger. (Who is this God that I should obey Him? I don’t know this guy, and I won’t let Israel go!) (Why are you keeping them from their work! Get back to work!! They are so many, and they’re resting! Don’t give them any more straw for brick, either. Let them go find it! Same amount of bricks as before. They are lazy and whiny, so they need more work. Waah, waah, waah! We want a holiday! They need to be taught not to be so demanding!)  :D  That’s just too much fun. I can’t take Pharaoh seriously.

5:22-23 Moses complains to God. He seems to have forgotten that God told him that Pharaoh’s heart would be hard (3:19).

6:14-20 400 (430) years of captivity seems like a lot of time and a lot of people. I tend to think of it in terms of what that would look like today. However, their age spans were still much longer. Levi lived 137 years. His son, Kohath, lived 133 years. Kohath’s son, Amram (lived 137 years) was Moses’ father. So, Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses. 400 years and 4 generations. Also, Levi lived in Canaan for at least 40 years before moving to Egypt. (Kohath might even have been born in Canaan.) Moses also lived beyond these 400 years. In 4 generations, God increased the 70 people (75 including Joseph and family) into a full nation. (in 12:37 they are numbered at 600,000 men, besides children)

6:20 Moses’ mother was also his great aunt. Weird.

6:10, 6:12, 6:30 Moses continually tells God that he’s not a good speaker and that he has uncircumcised lips. He keeps trying to get out of it. This doesn’t quite sound like the bold, Charleton Heston version that we’re so used to.

7:15-21 Moses visits Pharaoh in the morning at the river. Perhaps Pharaoh, like his daughter, bathed in the river. Or, he may have been performing early morning rituals (perhaps worshipping the gods). This morning visit from Moses happened a few times (8:20, 9:13). Moses communicated God’s consequence. The Nile turning to blood was more than just inconvenient. The Nile was the primary source of water and food, but above that, this was an affront to the gods of Egypt. The god Hapi (of the Nile), Khunum (guardian of the Nile), Osiris (of the underworld, the Nile was his bloodstream), Tauret (hippopotamus), and Nu (of life in the Nile). These gods were supposedly powerful. Even their blood, since it was divine, was supposed to have benefit, but this bloody river was definitely not beneficial. The river stank, and all this horror lasted for 7 days.

8:5 Now, frogs. This was inconvenient, but also held significance in the Egyptian gods’ inabilities. The frog was associated with Heqet (of life and fertility, appearing as a frog or with a frog’s head). The Egyptians weren’t allowed to kill frogs, either, since they were associated with the goddess. I also find it funny that the fertility goddess’ frogs would invade even Pharaoh’s bed.

8:8 Pharaoh knew who caused the frogs, and begged for them to be removed.

8:9-11 Moses actually let Pharaoh decide when the frogs would leave, so that God’s power could be demonstrated.

8:18-19 Even the magicians couldn’t replicate the lice, and they recognized it as God’s power. This was an attack on Geb, god of the earth. This plague would have been particularly disturbing to some Egyptian priests, who shaved off all of their hair daily for purification.

8:21 The fourth plague is commonly known as the “fly” plague. However, the word given doesn’t specify flies, just “swarms.” This could be mosquitoes, scarabs (the creator god, Amon-Ra had the head of a beetle), flies, gadflies, dog-flies, or gnats. Some people think it could have been a combination, or even animal infestations. This was also the first plague to have a distinction between the tormented Egyptians and the protected Israelites.

8:25 Pharaoh offers an alternative: offer sacrifices in Egypt, but that wasn’t God’s plan.

9:6 After plagues of blood, frogs, lice, and swarms, I’m not surprised that all the livestock died. However, I’m more inclined to believe that it was the swarms that brought on the disease, since neither the swarms nor the disease affected the Israelites. Perhaps these swarms were somehow linked to all the frog carcasses which were sitting around in rather stinky piles. They may have sprung from them or fed on them.

Some of the livestock were sacred to the Egyptians. Their gods were often portrayed with animal parts. The god Apis was portrayed as a bull, and his followers cared for a bull, which was believed to be an incarnation of the god. It was revered, and after its death it would be mourned, embalmed, and buried in a sarcophagus. This incarnation would have died along with all the other livestock during the plague. Other gods were represented as a cow, a ram, a cat, etc.

9:11 The magicians could not stand. They were also brought low before God. There were a few gods associated with medicine and healing, including Serapis, Imhotep, and Thoth.

9:13-14 The request is still to go out and serve God, not for them to leave indefinitely. Moses also informs him that the next plagues will be personal. Thus, the hail, was an attack. The hail could’ve been against Nut (the sun goddess), Shur (the wind god), or Isis and Seth (who supposedly protected the crops).

9:19 I thought that all the Egyptians’ cattle had died. Did they seize the Israelites’?

9:27 I feel sorry for this messenger. He probably had to run around, dodging fiery hail, trying to find Moses. I wonder if Moses was dodging hail on the way back to Pharaoh.

10:3 I think it’s pretty understandable that the leader of one of the most powerful and successful kingdoms of all time (in which he is considered a god), would find it rather difficult to humble himself before the God of his slaves. This would be a considerable loss of face before his people and the world.

10:7 Even Pharaoh’s servants and advisers couldn’t convince him. They realized that Egypt was destroyed. What pride to ignore everyone.

10:13 Locusts. Nepri (god of grain), Thermuthis (goddess of fertility and harvest), and other gods who protected crops (Isis, Ermutet, and Seth) were defeated by the swarms of locust.

10:15 The locusts left nothing green in the land. Now, when I think of Egypt, I tend to think of sand and stone, yet the Egyptian civilization grew and flourished through its use of the Nile river. There was much richness and greenness to lose, and they lost it all.

10:22 The darkness was mainly an attack on Amon-Ra, the sun god. This wasn’t just an eclipse, either. There was darkness (thick darkness) for three days.

10:26 Moses insisted on taking everything, explaining that even they didn’t know what they would need to serve God with. I wish the airlines realized this and helped me out with my luggage. Who knows what I’ll need to serve God later. :D

12:11 They were to be ready to leave. God knew that Pharaoh would pursue them. Maybe they needed the extra head-start.

12:29 This last plague would have crippled Egypt emotionally, legally, and spiritually. The loss of the cherished firstborn would have been tragic, but the firstborn was also the heir to a greater portion of the father’s possessions. The younger sons didn’t have the same rights. Also, this last plague was a final blow to all the gods, many of which were represented with animals. The firstborn of men and animals died, proving once more that the gods of Egypt had no power. And, finally, this was an attack on the divinity of Pharaoh himself.

13:3-5 What happened to the “just going to make sacrifices” deal?

13:17 God protected His people, knowing what they could handle at each moment.

14:3, 5-6 Pharaoh decided that they were helpless and lost on their own, and his people agreed that they didn’t want to let the Israelites go.

14:11-12 The people lose heart at the first instance. I think God planned it so they could know that they could depend on Him even when they were “on their own.”

14:17, 20 If I’m going to be destroyed in my own country, let the rebellious slaves go, then decide they’re weak and pursue, I’m probably not going to shame myself with retreat when I see them marching through the middle of an ocean, especially when a stupid cloud is blocking me.

15:14-16 Israel got a reputation! You can’t hush up something like the devastating destruction of Egypt.

15:20 Miriam is labeled as a prophetess. I wonder if she had prophesied Moses bringing salvation to her people. As a girl she was used of God in bringing about this salvation.

Day 4/90 Through the Bible--Genesis 41-50

41:7 How can a plant devour something? The Hebrew word, bala, means, “to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally to destroy: - cover, destroy, devour, eat up, be at end, spend up, swallow down (up).” (Strong’s) So, swallowed, destroyed. I think I can picture one plant destroying another.

41:45 Joseph’s wife is the daughter of a priest of On. At first, I wondered if On was a god, but a little bit of research tells me that On was a place. Not just any place, either. It was in lower Egypt, and it was the major center for worship of Ra, the sun god. The priests of this city were considered to be knowledgeable in the history of Egypt. These priests were very studied, and Greek philosophers even came and studied in the priests’ training centers. Pharaoh didn’t give just any wife to Joseph, he gave a daughter from wise people.

44:1-3 I think after the first time (and following panic attack), I would’ve checked my sack of grain before leaving Egypt a second time.

I’ve also wondered why Joseph never searched for his family once he had the power and resources. Was he still afraid of his brothers?

46:21 Benjamin had 10 sons by the time the family moved into Egypt.

47:6 Pharaoh gives them the best of the land (Goshen), and even asks them to be rulers (chiefs, keepers) over his own cattle. (Hey, you guys are good with livestock, I’d like to put you in charge of mine. (This coming from the ruler of one of the greatest civilizations.))

47:7 Jacob comes in and gives Pharaoh a blessing. It’s crazy to think that an old shepherd like Jacob could have anything to offer to the Pharaoh. Then, I remember how important Jacob was to God. Pharaoh ruled a powerful country, but Jacob served GOD!

47:13-26 Joseph lives up to some Jewish stereotypes here. He’s such a wise man with money, securing everyone’s money, livestock, property, and even the people themselves. And, you know it must’ve been bad, because even after all that loss, the people were still grateful to Joseph for saving their lives.

47:29-30 It’s a testament to Jacob’s faith that he wants to be buried in Canaan, the land of God’s promise.

48:9 Joseph’s sons were at least 19 years old when they were blessed. They were born in the years of plenty, Jacob and family came to Egypt after 2 years of famine, and they’d been in Egypt for 17 years before Jacob was dying. (41:50-52; 45:11; 47:28) They were effectively adopted under Jacob, since both Ephraim and Manassah became a part of the 12 tribes of Israel. Ephraim led to Joshua, while Manassah let to Gideon.

48:10 Jacob, like his father, Isaac, had failing eyesight in his old age.

48:13-14 Jacob also blesses the younger Ephraim over Manassah, just as Isaac was over Ishmael and Jacob was over Esau.

Chapter 49

Reuben (see, a son) is demoted. Simeon (hearing) and Levi (attached) are denounced for evil plans and separated. Jacob makes a play on words here. Judah(praise)’s name (Yehudah) comes from the word praise (yadah) that is used. Zebulun(habitation)’s blessing talks about dwellings and havens. Issachar (he will bring a reward) becomes a beast of burden providing benefit to his masters. Dan(judge)’s name comes from the word “judge” (diyn) that Jacob uses. Gad (troop) comes from the same word “overcome” (gud) that is used. Asher (happy) becomes a great chef. Naphtali (my wrestling) has good words. Joseph (he will add) will be fruitful. Benjamin (son of my right hand (or, originally, son of my sorrow)) is a wolf and violent.

49:31 Jacob is buried with his family, in Canaan, in the same cave as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. It’s interesting that he doesn’t ask to be buried with his favorite wife, Rachel.

50:15-18 I wonder if the brothers made up what Jacob had said. (Dad told us before he died, that you had to be nice to us.) It must’ve been painful for Joseph to realize that his brothers still didn’t believe that he had actually forgiven them. He reminded them (20), that God’s plan had been at work.

50:23 Joseph lived to see Ephraim’s third generation!!

50:25 Joseph also wished to be buried with his family, in Canaan.

Day 3/90 Through the Bible--Genesis 29-40

29:8 Why wait for all the flocks? Perhaps it was heavy? The shepherds say they can’t water the flocks until everyone is gathered and “THEY have rolled the stone”. It may have required more than one person, but then, Jacob rolls it away himself.

29:14 Laban greets Jacob with almost Adam’s exact words that he greeted Eve with for the first time: “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” The same words bone (etsem) and flesh (basar) are used in both passages.

29:20 Really? This sounds like a chick flick on steroids.

29:31-35:18

Leah: Reuben—see, a son (God has seen me, now, my husband will see me! Look! Look!)

Leah: Simeon—hearing (Alright, Jacob didn’t see the first son, and love me, perhaps he’s not good with the whole eyesight thing, so maybe he can hear instead.)

Leah: Levi—attached (Okay, so the seeing and hearing failed, maybe this time we’ll be attached at the hip. Maybe I should literally tie him to myself.)

Leah: Judah—praise (Maybe if I just sing loud enough, he’ll get the picture that I’ve borne him 4 sons and he’ll love me. *sigh* Maybe I should just forget him and praise God, who’s blessed me.)

Rachel (Bilhah): Dan—judge (Hah! See, God’s judged and I’m just as good as my sister! I can have sons, too!)

Rachel (Bilhah): Naphtali—my wrestling (My sister and I have been going at it, fighting all over. She thought she had won, but now I’m winning!!)

Leah (Zilpah): Gad—troop (Oh, hey, look, a troop.) [Perhaps she’s deliberately ignoring Rachel.]

Leah (Zilpah): Asher—happy (I’m so happy! I will be known all over as being blessed, because I’m so awesome at bearing sons!!)

Leah: Issachar—He will bring a reward (Oh yeah! Here’s my reward for giving my servant to my husband, so I could give him even more sons!!)

Leah: Zebulun—habitation (Another son! He’s gotta love me more and live with me now!)

(Leah: Dinah—justice (Justice is served! I’m awesome.))

Rachel: Joseph—He will add (Oh yeah! I’ve got a son! God’s going to give me another one! C’mon God!)

Rachel: Ben-Oni—son of my sorrow (Ah! I’m dying! Tragedy! My sons will grow up without their mother!) Jacob: Benjamin—son of my right hand (This guy is really, really special. He deserves honor.)

30:1-2 Rachel’s reaction to barrenness “Give me children, or else I die! . . . Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I may have children by her.” sounds a lot like Sarai, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please go into my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” The husband’s reactions are identical. They do what their wives told them to do.

31:19 Why does Rachel steal the household gods? Did she want them? We never hear of her actually using them.  I think she was not happy with her father, she knew he loved them, and she wanted to hurt him. 31:14-16 We see that neither Leah nor Rachel enjoyed their father’s treatment of them.

31:32 Kill whoever has what was taken from you. This sounds like the cup in the Joseph story.

31:47 Jacob names the place with a Hebrew name, and Laban names it with a Syrian (Chaldean) name. Laban was a Syrian, as identified in 25:20. They weren’t being divisive. They gave different names so that their descendents would understand what the place was. The place could testify in two languages.

31:52 Here is the first ever recorded restraining order.

32:10 Jacob makes all these preparations for meeting his brother, Esau. He’s placed everything in order, planning as much as he could to prevent damage and place as many barriers as he could to figure out his brother’s motives. THEN, Jacob prays with humility to God, asking for deliverance. I’m truly glad that I’m not God, because I sometimes think that Jacob deserved to be destroyed by Esau. Was Jacob ever repentant for what he had done, or did he just brush it off, attributing his behavior to his nature (as evidenced in his name)? Hey, I can’t help it, guys. My name is Deceiver.

32:24 Why was Jacob alone? To pray? Why was he wrestling a stranger? I think, on the verge of meeting my brother (and his 400 men), I’d be a little tense and on the lookout for anyone out to hurt my family, especially when my brother was plotting to kill me the last time I saw him. I’ve also wondered why Jacob won’t let him go without a blessing. I’m thinking that it was probably so he could be sure that whoever the stranger was, they weren’t an enemy.

33:4 If I was a red, hairy, manly, outdoorsy, hunter like Esau, I don’t think I would have been that close with my white, smooth, deceitful, homebody, mama’s-boy, little brother, especially after he took advantage of my starvation to rip-off my birthright and then outright stole my blessing as well. Yet, when Esau is re-united with Jacob, he runs to meet him, embraces him, falls on his neck, kisses him, and weeps. As much as I don’t get along with my sisters sometimes, I dearly love them.

33:10 “But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.” This “face of God” (paniym elohiym) is very similar to the name “Peniel: ‘For I have seen God face to face’.” I’m sure Jacob’s late-night encounter was on his mind.

34:15 Jacob’s sons proposed circumcision as a mere act that would unite the two groups. However, circumcision was not just an act, it was a sign of a covenant. It identified Abraham and descendents as partakers of God’s promise. For these foreigners to accept only circumcision was not enough for them to be joined with Jacob’s family, just as going to Church doesn’t make you a Christian.

Chapter 34 Dinah’s name means justice, but I’m not sure she ever had any.

35:2 It seems that Jacob knew that his household had foreign gods among them, but he’d not really done anything about it. Oh, look, it’s time to go to Church (make offerings), let’s all take our showers (purify yourselves), get all dressed up (change your garments), and put on our happy faces!

35:4 I’m wondering how Jacob managed to hide all the idols under a tree without anyone knowing. He had such a large family and household, surely someone would have seen him. Or, perhaps he was hiding them from other people, intending to come back with his family and pick them up after their sacrificing was over.

35:11 God tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply. Hey now, I thought he was already pretty fruitful. He has 11 sons and one daughter. That’s pretty productive in my mind. Yet, Jacob obeys, because 5 verses later in v. 16, Rachel is in childbirth again. Perhaps Jacob had to be commanded. Maybe Rachel’s first pregnancy was difficult, and he didn’t think she’d live through another one.

35:22 Reuben ruins his chances.

35:23-26 In the list of Jacob’s sons, Leah, incredibly, has borne HALF of them herself (not with Zilpah)! Plus a daughter. She was one amazing woman, and she ends up in the line of Christ.

37:5 I always wonder about Joseph’s attitude as he’s sharing his dreams with his family. Jacob doesn’t seem to have any problem with the dreams until (10) he hears about the “sun and moon” bowing to Joseph. Then, he rebukes Joseph.

37:17 Why did Joseph’s brothers go from Shechem to Dothan? Were they trying to throw their father (or brother) off their trail? Was Dotham better for feeding flocks or for entertainment?

37:21-22 I wonder if Reuben’s attempt to save Joseph (his father’s favorite) was an attempt at redeeming himself in his father’s eyes for sleeping with Bilhah.

37:28 Joseph was sold to Ishmaelites. These were relatives, his grand-uncle’s descendents. (Hey, cousin! Wanna buy your cousin as a slave?)

38:12 Judah’s wife dies and he is comforted and goes up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. So, is it the sheepshearers that are the comfort, or is he mourning and then going back to work?

38:15-16 Was Judah’s act of engaging in prostitution normal for him? Was it normal for men in general?

38:21-22 How embarrassing.

38:24 Tamar “played the harlot” literally.

39:4-6 Joseph was only 17, yet he was in charge of all in Potiphar’s house (which would have been a lot, since Potiphar was the captain of the guard). Yet, teens nowadays are often not even responsible enough to clean their rooms, do their chores, or complete their work without urging from parents or other supervisiors.

39:17 Potiphar’s wife passes the blame: “the Hebrew servant whom you brought to us.” It’s a tale as old as time. Even back in the beginning, Adam and Eve tried to pass the blame: “the woman who You gave to be with me.”

40:8 I truly love how Joseph acknowledges God as the interpreter of dreams. I wonder, though, what the reactions were. His question: “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Is that a rhetorical question? A statement? I wonder how the chief butler and baker reacted to it. In their god-filled religion, was it possible that they even understood him?

Day 2/90 Through the Bible--Genesis 17-28

17:5 Abraham’s new name reflects God’s promise to him. That would be so incredible to have your name as a testament of God’s promise; to be known, identified by what God will do in you.

17:1-18 God tells Abraham that he’ll be the father of many nations. Abraham is good with that. God tells Abraham that he will keep the covenant by circumcising all the males. Abraham says nothing. God tells Abraham that his wife, Sarah will have a child. Abraham cracks up and makes a big deal of it.

Sure, Abraham probably liked the “father of many nations” bit, but why no reaction to the second bit? Perhaps he was in shock. I think if I heard the sign of the covenant that God had in mind, I might have protested. “Is that really necessary, God?” Perhaps he just didn’t understand . . . yet. So, he cracks up about his old woman having a baby, instead. As if THAT was too hard for God.

Then, in chapter 18, God visits Abraham again. Perhaps Abraham forgot to mention to Sarah that God had told him that they were going to make a baby. God pops by to give a friendly reminder. What does Sarah do? She laughs. Imagine your grandparents having a baby. I laughed. Why is it a surprise that Sarah laughs? We somehow expect her to be more in-tune with God’s plan and power because, she’s a Bible character. Both Abraham and Sarah were almost 100 years old! The idea that people that old could have a baby, I find that laughable, too.

18:32 Lot was ineffective. He knew about God, but his presence in Sodom did nothing to improve its depravity. Sodom would have been spared for 10 righteous people. Lot. Lot’s wife. Lot’s two daughters. Lot’s two sons-in-law. That adds up to 6 people. It’s not quite 10 people, but surely Lot interacted with people outside of his family. Indeed, in 19:1 we learn that Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. The gate was where the city’s leaders, officials, and judges sat. These were the powerful, influential people of the city, and Lot was one of them. However, for all his power and influence, there were not even 10 righteous in the city. I wonder if Lot’s own family could have been counted among the righteous. Not to mention the others in Lot’s own household. When he went to Sodom, he had “flocks and herds and tents” (13:5) and herdsmen (13:7). Surely some of his servants would have heard him talk about God? The only ones saved were his immediate family. His wife didn’t end up making it, and later his daughters got him drunk to impregnate themselves. Sounds like Lot was really effective. (Please note the sarcasm.)

We know that Abram was 75 when God established His first promise and Abram left home (Gen. 12). Then next mention of Abraham’s age is when Ishmael was born (Gen. 16). Abraham was 86. After that, we know that he is 99 at the introduction of circumcision (Gen. 17), and following that we have the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham and Lot separate somewhere between them leaving home and Ishmael’s birth. That means it was somewhere between Abraham’s 75th year and his 86th year that Lot went to Sodom. The destruction of Sodom was after (or at) Abraham’s 99th year. Thus, we can estimate that Lot spent between 24 and 13 years in and/or around Sodom. In all that time, he had approximately no godly influence on the people.
In Gen. 13:13 they are “exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD,” and in Gen. 18:20, “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave.” This doesn’t sound like anything has improved. The words “sinful” in chapter 13 and “sin” in chapter 18 are related. “Chatta’ah” and “chatta” come from the same word “chata,” meaning, “to sin; by inference to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn: - bear the blame, cleanse, commit [sin], by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend (-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness).” (Strong’s) The sin factor here has not changed. This sin is not unheard of, either. The “wicked” in 13:13 is the same word “ra’ah” in 6:5, when God decided to destroy mankind with the Flood. So, even in chapter 13, the city was ripe for destruction. Perhaps Lot’s stay delayed the destruction, but it was not enough to prevent it. There weren’t even 10 people to show for Lot’s involvement.

20:2 Okay, so now this old lady, who is “too old to bear children” is appealing enough for King Abimelech to take her. Interesting. She’s almost 100, but she’s still good looking. I could live with that.

20:18 All of Abimelech’s women were barren while Abraham and Sarah were there. They must’ve been there long enough for someone to notice that fact. Yet, for all that time, Abimelech had not come near Sarah. Perhaps they stayed so long because Abraham couldn’t figure out a way to reclaim his wife/sister since the king had taken her. Then, I find it interesting that Abraham prays and Abimelech’s family is healed and they can bear children again. Exactly after this, Sarah conceives and bears a son. Perhaps she was healed along with Abimelech’s household.

21:7 Sarah is thrilled that she could bear a son for her husband, “in his old age.” However, he wasn’t anywhere near too old to have kids. After Sarah dies, 37 years later, Abraham remarries and has 6 more sons (25:2), before dying at the age of 175.

21:8 I think it’s kinda funny that they decide to have a feast when Isaac is weaned. That doesn’t sound like a fun day for Isaac, but everyone else is having a party. Also, perhaps it was a rough day for Sarah, and so when she sees Ishmael scoffing, it sets her off so much more easily. Plus, now her son has made it through some pretty risky childhood, it’s more important to get rid of anyone who might rival her son. So, Ishmael, who’s maybe around 16, gets the boot with his mom.

21:22-34 Abraham makes a pact with Abimelech about the water resources. Is this the same Abimelech, perhaps?

22:12 Classic story of faith. Abraham believed God and acted. Abraham didn’t withhold his only son. If you think about it, God Himself didn’t withhold His only Son, either.

23:3-18 There’s such a cultural dance here as they decide on price in all politeness.

24:2 “Please, put your hand under my thigh . . .” Does anyone else find this kinda awkward? I know it’s cultural, but it’s just so foreign to me. I wonder what they’d think of pinkie promises.

24 In some ways, I think it would be rough to be Rebekah and to leave my home and family to marry a stranger. However, you gotta keep in mind that she was marrying the only son of a very wealthy man. I bet that helped.

25:25 Esau was a hairy, hairy baby. Now, sometimes premature babies have a lot of body hair, but it usually falls out within a few months. Ears, back, knuckles, chest. However, Esau’s seems to have lasted his whole life. Perhaps he had Hypertrichosis.

25:29 Esau has been out hunting for food. This isn’t an afternoon job, either. It could take weeks out, alone, in the wilderness. He probably ran out of food and ended up fasting. (A few verses later, in 26:1, we learn that there was a famine, perhaps it was already having an effect.) So, when he returned and was weary and starving, it’s safe to assume that he didn’t catch anything. I used to think he was silly for selling his birthright so easily. However, he might have literally been starving. He even says that he’s about to die. If it was a choice between my birthright and my life, I think I would take the stew, too.

26:1 Here is Abimelech, the King of the Philistines in Gerar again. The same guy? This time, it’s Isaac who lies about Rebekah, and the king discovers the deception. (Did nobody notice their two sons? Or, did they not come?) If I was Abimelech, I’d be tired of their whole, lying family. However, Isaac lives and thrives in the land, until the Philistines get jealous. They stop up all the wells (probably the ones in chapter 21 that were a part of Abimelech and Abraham’s pact). Then, Isaac leaves. Some bickering over wells ensues, and Abimelech goes with Phichol to meet with Isaac in Beersheba to make a pact. This is very similar to Abraham’s meeting at Beersheba with Abimelech and Phichol. Are these the same people?

Chapter 27

Rebekah fits right into this family. Abraham lied, Isaac lied, and now she’s teaching her son to be tricksy. It’s not surprising to see where Jacob’s later life and his dealings with Laban came from.

28:6-9 Esau notices that his parents don’t like the Hittite women. He already had two Hittite wives (26:34). So, in order to solve the problem, he takes another wife. This time it’s a relative, Ishmael’s daughter. If he’s trying to please his father, I don’t think that marrying the daughter of his father’s rival will get him any points.

28:20 Jacob pledges that if God will be with him, keep him safe, give him food and clothing, and that he will come back to his father’s house in peace, then God will be his God. There seems to be a lot of conditions here in this pledge. He’s expecting a lot from God.

Day 1/90 Through the Bible--Genesis 1-16

It’s interesting to imagine Moses writing down what God described to him in Creation. I wonder about how much Moses actually understood. Grass. Herbs. Fruit. Greater light. Lesser light. Sea creatures. Birds. “Cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth.” Okay, Moses knows about grass. Lots of grassy, green plants. “Sea creatures,” or “moving creatures.” A swarm “active mass of minute animals.” (Strong’s) I would guess he didn’t know much about what went on in the seas. He knew of fish, at least. As far as land animals go, I wouldn’t be surprised if cattle and sheep formed the majority of Moses’ experiences in that arena. Sure, he was a shepherd, but he seems very specific with “cattle” and then very un-specific with “creeping thing and beast of the earth.” It’s like he’s saying, “And, all those other things that walk.” Perhaps “cattle” is just a generalization for large animals? Let’s check. Okay, the Hebrew word is where we get “behemoth.” It basically means “a dumb beast, especially a quadruped or animal” (Strong’s) So, it’s a nice generalization. Memo to self: When Moses speaks of cattle (in my version), he may be talking about land animals.

God made the plants before the sun. Did God support them with photosynthesis before the sun showed up, or were they able to survive until the sun showed up the next day? What day were the insects made? I would think that they would be included with the animals. So, the poor Venus Fly Traps would have to wait a few days before getting a snack.

2:1-3 God rested on the 7^th day. My first thought is that if God took a break, then everything would fall apart. He holds everything together. He can’t take a break! However . . . if I take a break and rest, I don’t die. God was setting up a pattern of behavior for us to follow. Rest doesn’t mean not breathing, or pumping blood, or eating. Rest is an act of renewal. It’s a conscious pause in the chaos of life in which I choose to set aside the wastes of time and my to-do list. I can choose to enjoy life, pausing to appreciate it. If God takes a break, I die. If I don’t take a break, I die.

 Perhaps the four rivers branching out of Eden were the inspiration for the five rivers of hell in Greek mythology. 2:10-14

 “It is not good that man should be alone.” 2:18. Didn’t Adam have God? Adam wasn’t really alone. This is the first time God looked on His creation and said it wasn’t good. However, he wasn’t saying that Adam wasn’t good. It was only the fact that Adam was alone that wasn’t good. Does that mean God created something that was  . . .  deficient? *gasp* No, no, calm down. In a way, we’re all deficient without God. However, I believe that man was made incomplete, because man was made in God’s image. No, I don’t mean that God is incomplete. God is three Persons. These three Persons support and work with each other, just as man was created to support and work with another person.

2:21 I wonder if Adam had a scar from where the rib was taken out. If God closed up the flesh, it must’ve been perfect. Also, how did Adam know about his “surgery”? He knew that Eve was made from him, because of what he first said. Did God tell him? It’s also interesting to think of verse 24. Eve came from Adam’s flesh, and Adam’s flesh is reunited as the two become one flesh in marriage.

Did Adam and Eve have bellybuttons?

3:1 Why a snake?

4:7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” This is representative of the human condition. Sin hovers over us, but we are meant to soar free of its clutches.

5:3 Adam was 130 when he had Seth (son #3), which makes me wonder how old Cain and Abel had been. How long did Adam and Eve live in the Garden of Eden? Did Adam’s count of years begin before or after leaving the Garden? Did they even know how to track the years then or did God just tell Moses how long they had lived? Most of the people listed in the genealogy of chapter 5 lived to be over 900 years. Perhaps they figured it out in all that time, but if not, they must’ve had lives that just SEEMED really long, with no means of measuring it. But, I suppose, they wouldn’t have thought their lives were that long, since they had nothing else to compare it with. From Adam, to Seth, to Enosh, to Cainan, to Mahalalel, to Jared, to Enoch, to Methuselah, to Lamech, to Noah, the oldest guy (at death) was 969, and the youngest was 895. This is excluding Enoch, who didn’t die. He only reached 365 years old, and God took him. He must’ve been a devoted friend of God for God to take him when he’s only lived about 3/5 of his life.

Anyways, back to Cain and Abel. I wonder if they had families of their own. In the genealogy, the youngest age (that is listed) of having a son is 65, and the oldest is 187 (aside from Noah, who really threw the curve at 500 years old). So, the youngest it is listed that they have kids, is already a senior citizen. If Adam and Eve got kicked out of the Garden and had Cain and Abel right away, then it’s possible that they had been old enough to have families before the murder. However, it’s not until after the murder (and subsequent curse) that Cain begins his family. So, perhaps Abel had no family of his own.
I also wonder whether Seth was born before or after Abel was killed.

I’ve also kinda wondered before how the population of the world increased so much over the ten generations (Adam to Noah) that there would be so many people and cities and be so evil. However, when people live for 900 years, they are bound to have a few children (even if they wait until 65 to start). I wonder how early the girls married. With 900 years, and no contraceptives, I’m sure there were quite a few children born. I’m more surprised that they were able to procure enough food for everyone.

Adam: You’re pregnant AGAIN? We’re already got 5 babies, and I’m working and sweating all day as it is to put food in everyone’s mouths!
Eve: Well, they’re not eating YOU alive. You don’t have to carry them all around day or give birth to them!
Their understanding and technology must have advanced rapidly. It’s a lot of people. If they are living to be 900, they must’ve been pretty tough. If a woman had only 1 baby every two years, then she still may have had hundreds of children in her lifespan. If parents nowadays call the kid by the wrong name on occasion, it’s normal. I wonder how often the mothers called the wrong name back then. Also, let’s just give a low estimate (for living 900 years) and say that one woman may have had only 100 kids in her lifetime. Now, if each of those kids had 100 of their own, that’s somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 grandkids to remember (I leave a wide estimate because of the custom of siblings marrying back then). Just think of the size of the wallet you’d have to have in order to show all of them off. And, if you live that long, you might just have great-grandchildren, or great-great-grandchildren also. Adam himself lived long enough to have met his great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Methuselah. Seth and Enosh also lived long enough to meet their great-great-great-great-great-grandsons. However, it decreases after that. Cainan only lasts to his great-great-great-great-grandson, Mahalalel his great-great-great-grandson, Jared his great-great-grandson, Enoch his grandson (but he’s an exception because of his early departure), Methuselah his great-great-grandson, and Lamech his grandson(s).
Interestingly enough, Methuselah dies the year of the Flood. Perhaps he died in the Flood, or perhaps God delayed the Flood until after his death. Methuselah’s father was Enoch and walked with God, which I sometimes forget. I feel like they are usually treated as two very separate Bible stories. However, we are told in Exodus 20 to “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long.” Perhaps Methuselah honored his father, and that’s why he lived so long. I can just imagine an ancient Methuselah taking his last breath just as the rains began. God had told Noah the time of the Flood, perhaps He planned it, knowing that would be when Methuselah would die.

It never ceases to amaze me in 6:5 that “every intent of the thoughts of his [man’s] heart was only evil continually.” The entirety of mankind’s thoughts and plans was merely evil. The word for evil (ra’ah) is used twice in this verse. “Bad, evil (naturally or morally), adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displease (-ure), distress, evil, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness, wrong.” (Strong’s) The evil was abundant. The Hebrew word “kol” is also used twice in this verse. “The whole; hence all, any or every, (in) all (manner), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing).” (Strong’s) ALL the thoughts were only evil ALL the time. That just astounds me how people are so evil, so aggressively evil. While the depths of depravity is still a surprise, the depths of mercy is also still a surprise.

6:22 “This Noah did, according to all that God commanded him, do he did.” This guy must be related to Abraham (Oh wait . . . hee hee), because he’s got some awesome faith and obedience going on. My family has a joke in our house, because my dad likes to talk about all these wonderful things we could/should do. “We could stop by McDonalds on the way home and then catch a movie tonight,” or, “We should all go pick out tablets, and then we’d all have one!” He’s really not meaning most of it literally, but we like to tease him for it. Sometimes, he gets our hopes up for no reasons, so we have started replying, “You said it. Now we’ve gotta do it.” If only we treated the Word of God like that. “You said it, now I will do all that You have commanded.” It’s as simple as that.

8:2 In my mind, I think I’ve always painted this idea of the sky raining until it couldn’t rain anymore; the fountains of the deep exhausting themselves, stopping, and then the flood waters receding. However, the Bible just says that they stopped. God restrained the rain. They could have kept going! As it was, it took 150 days for the floodwaters to recede. How long would it have taken if God had let the storms go for longer? I’m sure God could have let it go until Noah reached outer space. I’ve always wondered that if the ark was floating above the mountains, was the air thin? All those poor people and animals in one big boat, with one window and thin air. I’m sure glad God promised to never do that again.

8:20-21 Noah made sacrifices of clean animals, “and the LORD smelled a soothing [or pleasant] aroma.” Yeah, I bet it smelled pleasant. Barbeque usually smells pretty good.

9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” People often attribute the “eye for an eye” idea to Moses (or to the law given at the time of Moses) or to Hammurabi, but it seems like the idea of equal retribution was originally introduced from God here, just after the Flood.

Chapter 10 just amazes me. It maps out the origins of nations.

Japheth’s descendents are linked to the Assyrians, the Medes, the Greeks, the Sythians, Cyprus, etc.
Ham’s descendents are linked to the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Canaanites, the Assyrians, the Arabs, the Phoenicians, the Philistines, the Amorites, the Jebusites, etc.
Shem’s descendents (the Shemites, or Semites, where we get Semitic people) are linked to the Arabs, the Israelites, the Midianites, the Ishmaelites, the Edomites, the Assyrians, the Persians, etc.

The genealogies are just a bunch of names and numbers, until you try to make some sense of it. Noah actually could have met his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Terah. Shem could have met his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Isaac. Shem saw 10 generations after him, and outlived seven of them. That’s pretty good for a guy who survived the flood!

12:1-4 When God called Abram to depart from his country, his family, and his father’s house to follow God, Abram was 75 years old. His father only lived to 205, and his grandfather only lived to 148! Abram’s life was half over, and God was calling him away from all comfort into the unknown. Talk about a mid-life crisis!

14:13 Abram is contacted when Lot is taken captive. Here is the first use of the word, “Hebrew.” It means “descended from Eber.” Back in chapter 11 we can see that Eber is Shem’s great-grandson. Since Abram was rich, he had the resources to rescue Lot when he was captured.

15:17 God alone passed between the bisected animal carcasses. Therefore, God’s covenant with Abram was not conditional on Abram’s own actions. Whether or not Abram kept his part of the bargain, by serving God, God would keep His promises, because He alone had walked between the animal pieces. It is a pledge that if one party reneges on the agreement, the same should be done to him as was done to the animals (as in cut in half). God alone walked through, therefore Abram doesn’t have to worry about being bisected.

Chapter 16

I’ve always kinda thought badly about Sarai. She’s demanding, unbelieving, and she terrorizes Hagar and Ishmael. However, it’s good to put some context to things. She’s only human, after all. When Abram had his “mid-life crisis,” Sarai went along with it. Now, she’s old, barren, and jealous. Her husband isn’t much help, either. He seems to shrug his shoulders and say, “Whatever.” However, as much focus as I’ve seen so far in Genesis on genealogy (both words coming from the same root), it’s not hard to imagine the pressure that she must’ve felt as a barren woman. It was shameful. She had no purpose in life. In her 127 years of life, she only bore one child. I wonder if she would’ve died if it were a girl. Nowadays, there is not as much pressure for women to have babies (or sons), but back then, Sarai would have faced a lot of pressure.

I'M NOT AT HOME

Psalm 139               
          Sunday, July 22, 2012

I’m not home in this world
Where no one understands.
I’m unknown and unknowable
In these strange, foreign lands.

I’m alone in this world

Where no one seems to care
I’m unpursued and unsought
In these lands of despair.

I’m small at heart in this world

Where no one seems to see.
I’m unimpressive and uninspiring
In these lands I can’t be free.

I’m falling apart in this world

Where no one has it right.
I’m unhinged and unstable
In these lands devoid of light.

This world is not my home

Where people can’t comprehend.
I’m known and loved.
In Your arms I can mend.

This world is not my home

Where people live so selfishly.
I’m pursued and cherished.
In Your eyes I’m loved attentively.

This world is not my home

Where people cannot feel.
I’m wonderful and powerful.
In Your presence I am real.

This world is not my home

Where people build on sand.
I’m ordained and secure
In the safety of Your hand.

LONGING FOR BELONGING

July 12, 2012

I’m feeling kinda lonely,
I’m feeling pretty blue.
I’m feeling like my heart has died
And my brain has turned to glue.
I’ve started walking upside-down
Yet feeling like I’m inside out.
I know someday I’ll feel at home
But even this I sometimes doubt.

          I’m longing for belonging
          For peace at least
          I don’t want to roam.
          I just want a home,
          A place to belong
          But my journey is long
          And my journey is tough
          But this worlds not enough.
               This world is not my home.
               I’m only passing through.
               Though in this world I roam
               This world will never do.

I’m missing all my friends.
It’s like I’ve lost a limb.
My present is monotonous
My future seems so grim.
It mocks me with uncertainties.
Yet everyone tells me there is hope.
Day after day I don’t belong,
And in this world I cannot cope.

Christ, too, longed for belonging
For the likes of you and me.
When He came to give His all for us
Upon that blessed tree.
Christ knows the pain so deep inside.
He knows the strains, the hurts, the strife.
He’s felt the ache when far from God.
Yet He beat death to give us life.

          I’m not alone. I’m not unknown.
          God took my wrongs. Now I belong.
          He gave His all, so He could call
          Me as His own. Now I am home.
          I’ve found my place, inside God’s grace.
          I’ll rest at last, secure and fast
          In arms of love, in heaven above.
          Longing no more. Belonging for sure.