Torah Torah TORAH

DAILY BIBLE READING
Thursday 8 August
Genesis 49, 50

COMMENT 1:
We’ve reached the end of the book of Genesis.
The last of the 3 great patriarchs, Jacob, died in Egypt (49:33), but we note that he didn’t want his remains left there. He instructed that his body be buried in the Promised Land (49:29-32) and his instructions were carried out (50:12, 13).

Though Jacob lived the last 17 years of his life in Egypt, his heart was elsewhere. His relationship with God was what mattered to him above all else. Central to that was God’s covenant with him and the promises God had made to him. In all this, he was aligned with his father and grandfather. His desire to be buried in Hebron with Abraham and Isaac and with Sarah, Rebekah and Leah reflects his faith.

The last verse of this book tells of the death of Joseph, the notable one of the next generation (50:26). He too did not want his remains left in Egypt, but to be put in a coffin so that eventually his body would also be buried in the Promised Land (50:24, 25).

Subsequently, this was done and he was buried at Shechem (see Exodus 13:19 and Joshua 24:32), not the same place as the 3 patriarchs and their wives, but nonetheless in a place of significance connected with Abraham (see Genesis 12:6, 7), the first place he had come to in the Promised Land and where God had first made a promise to him in relation to that land.

We can see how important the Promised Land was to them. So it’s surprising, isn’t it, that at the end of Genesis the Hebrew people are not in that Land, but in Egypt. They’ve multiplied, they’ve done well, they’re settled and secure, but they’re far from the Promised Land.

The book of Genesis is not the end of the story; there’s much more to come.

COMMENT 2:
The blessings that Jacob gave his 12 sons at the end of his life (49:1-28) are interesting. They are more than wishes, but have a prophetic quality. They include “what will happen to you in days to come” (49:1), and they were “appropriate” to each individual (49:28).

The blessing on Judah is particularly interesting and intriguing (49:8-12). Judah was the human progenitor of the line of Israel’s kings and eventually of Jesus, who is in view in the blessing (49:10).

See how many indications there are of Jesus in this blessing on Judah, even if they’re enigmatic and shadowy. Let me know what rings a bell for you!

DAILY BIBLE READING

Advance notice of cessation of my daily comment on the Bible reading of that day.

I’m intending to stop, at least temporarily, my daily posts soon.

I intend to post 3 more comments: on Matthew 13 on Wednesday 7 August (tomorrow), then on Genesis 49, 50 on Thursday 8 August, and finally on Matthew 14 on Sunday 11 August.

That means we’ll have completed the book of Genesis and got exactly halfway through the gospel according to Matthew.

I hope you’ve found my comments helpful; I’d appreciate hearing from you. I’ve certainly liked preparing them.
I also hope that you’ve found the pattern of Bible readings helpful.

I may take this project up again, or possibly find another way of engaging with others about reading and discussing the Bible.
Blessings to all my readers.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Tuesday 6 August
Genesis 47, 48

COMMENT:
The life of the 3rd great patriarch, Jacob, the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham, was drawing to a close.

Isn’t it surprising that he thought that the days of his life were “few” (47:9), considering that he was 130 years old when he said that, and that he lived a further 17 years to be 147 years old when he died! But his lifespan was less than his father and grandfather.

From this time, God, the only God, became known as “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Already, those three names have been linked and the covenant God made with Abraham and the promises God made with him have been repeated to Isaac and then to Jacob.

In the time of Moses a few generations later, God referred to “the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Numbers 32:11).
Likewise, several times in the last book of Moses, Deuteronomy, right up to 34:4.

Hundreds of years later, the prophet Elijah during the great contest on Mount Carmel prayed, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel” (1 Kings 18:36). Later again, king Hezekiah referred to God the same way (2 Chronicles 30:6). There are references in the book of Psalms too (see e.g. 105:8-11). It became a common way to refer to God.

But this isn’t just the case in the Old Testament. Jesus based important teaching on Scripture and quoted, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Matthew 22:32; see the parallel accounts in Mark 12:26 and Luke 20:37).

The first Christian martyr Stephen used that same expression, referring to Israel’s history (Acts 7:32).

But the Apostle Peter in his preaching referred to God as “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Acts 3:13).

It remains a valid and appropriate way of referring to our God. It links us with God’s dealings with all his people and reminds us of his covenant and promises which are still valid and include us.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Monday 5 August
Genesis 45, 46

COMMENT:
We’ve reached the climax of the account of Joseph: he revealed himself to his 11 brothers.

I wonder how Joseph felt about the way he treated his brothers since they first arrived in Egypt. He’d given them plenty to suffer. Was it so that they would do some serious soul-searching and wrestle with their consciences?

Whether that was so or not, Joseph didn’t continue that way from this point. He could have paid them back for the suffering they caused him; there would have been no way of restraining him, whatever he chose to do.

But Joseph was kind and forgiving to his brothers. Wasn’t it lovely to read 45:14,15 in particular?

What motivated Joseph to be like that? It was the way he viewed his experience. His understanding of God made all the difference.
He saw God’s hand in his life (45:8,9). Whatever he experienced in his life - whether it felt good, bad or indifferent, God was there, over everything and in everything. He related to God - and God is good, supremely good.

This is the case for us too. It doesn’t matter whether our life appears to be significant or not in the view of the world, our relationship with God our Creator will make a difference so great that everything else will pale into insignificance.

May you know that too in your heart, just as Joseph did. May God bless you in that.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Here’s the list of daily Bible readings for the coming week:

Monday 5 August: Genesis 45-46
Tuesday 6:Genesis 47-48
Wednesday 7: Matthew 13
Thursday 8:Genesis 49-50
Friday 9: Exodus 1
Saturday 10: Exodus 2-3
Sunday 11: Matthew 14

May you be blessed as you read these portions.

Each day, I’m continuing to post a comment or two on my page about the daily Bible reading.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Sunday 4 August
Genesis 43, 44

COMMENT:
What a great story, these last chapters of Genesis, 37-50, about the life of Joseph.

The focus is now on Benjamin, the youngest son, the boy of Jacob’s big family. He doesn’t say a word; at least, nothing is recorded about his words or his deeds. He’s just there.

What’s particularly interesting is Judah’s part in the account, in his interactions with his father and then with the Egyptian “Prime Minister”.

Judah reasoned with his father before their second visit to Egypt during the famine (43: 3-5, 8-10). We can feel how difficult it was for Judah and his brothers to persuade their father.

Then, when that second visit turned into disaster, it was Judah who acted as spokesperson on behalf of his 10 brothers. He very respectfully explained the situation in detail to the “Prime Minister” (44:16, 18-34). How scary that must have been.

Judah was the 4th son in the family - his older brothers were Reuben, Simeon and Levi, but he took the lead. What’s more remarkable than his careful explanation is that he offers his own life in exchange for that of his youngest brother (44:33). That’s self-sacrificial. That’s magnanimous.

Then we remember something earlier in the story. Judah, along with his 9 brothers, hated Joseph and was prepared to kill him (37:20), but it was Judah who suggested to his brothers that they instead sell Joseph into slavery and so actually profit financially from his disposal (37:26,27).

So what a change there’d been in Judah. What a turnaround. Is there any lesson for us in this story?

DAILY BIBLE READING
Friday 2 August
Genesis 41, 42

COMMENT:
How patient are you? How long-suffering am I?
Joseph, falsely accused and imprisoned, waited 2 years before relief came for him (41:1).
And this was on top of being sold into slavery by his jealous hate-filled brothers. What trials!

It is surprising how often dreams feature in the Bible. List all the dreams we’ve encountered so far to the end of today’s Old Testament reading - and in the New Testament too. Surprising, don’t you think ? And such significant dreams too.

Regarding Pharaoh’s 2 dreams (41:1-4, 5-7), it’s not hard to imagine that they signified a time of plenty and abundance followed by a time of scarcity and failure. I’m surprised that none of Pharaoh’s “magicians and wise men” (41:8) couldn’t - or wouldn’t - offer an interpretation. Perhaps they didn’t want to be bearers of bad news.

Similarly, regarding the dreams of Joseph’s fellow-prisoners in our previous reading (40:9-11, 16, 17), it’s not to imagine that the first dream to the cupbearer signified a positive outcome, while the second dream to the baker signified a negative outcome.

What do you think? Am I just using hindsight, or do you agree with me?

Pharaoh’s dreams and how he dealt with them contrast with a much later account about an equally powerful monarch who had a troubling dream. Read Daniel 2 about Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylon and the Babylonian Empire, and his dream.

Like Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar also had many “magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers” to call on to interpret his disturbing dream (Daniel 2:2, 3).
But Nebuchadnezzar was not like Pharaoh; he was canny and untrusting.

To be sure that his wise men really did have a revelation from “the gods” (as he and they thought) to communicate the dream’s meaning to him, he demanded that they first tell him what he had dreamed. What a smart move! It’s something that Pharaoh never thought of.
Daniel not only interpreted the dream (Daniel 2:36-45), but first told Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed (2:31-35), of course, only the one true God could do this, as Daniel pointed out (2:27-30). Praise God!

Though the situations involving Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar are similar, the way those 2 men handled it was quite different.
Interesting, don’t you think?

DAILY BIBLE READING
Wednesday 31 July
Genesis 39-40

COMMENT:
Did you notice how much this text emphasises that God was on Joseph’s side and brought blessing through him.
Firstly, during his time of service to Potiphar as a slave, look at 39:2, 3(2x), 5(2x).
Secondly, during his time of imprisonment, look at 39:21, 23.
7 times in one chapter! You just can’t miss it.

But that doesn’t mean that Joseph was spared mistreatment and suffering. Despite Joseph’s integrity, he was falsely accused and treated most unjustly. We must not think that, because we live in a right relationship with God, we’ll be spared trouble either way. God uses such things for ultimate good, for ourselves and for others.

This pattern in Joseph’s life was a continuation of his experience during his earlier years - his brothers hating him and selling him into slavery, just because he was favoured by his father.

It’s interesting to notice that Genesis does not record any sin of Joseph, not a single one.
We may think he was precocious in his youth, and unwise to tell his dreams to his family, but unlike other great Old Testament characters like Abraham and David, there’s no sin in Joseph’s record. I don’t mean that he was sinless. All human beings, apart from Jesus, were and are sinners, so Joseph must have sinned too. It’s just that there’s no record of it. Perhaps there’s a reason for that.

Joseph is a type, a foreshadowing, of Jesus - favoured by God, pure and sinless, unjustly treated, rejected by people - especially his very own relations, but the saviour of the world and elevated to a position of majesty and authority.

In chapter 40, did you notice the double meaning of “lift up” (40:13, 19, 20)? Pharaoh “lifted up” the heads of his cupbearer and his baker, but in totally different ways!
That reminds me of something; look at what Jesus said in John 3:14, 15. How was he “lifted up”? There were 2 ways, weren’t there?

DAILY BIBLE READING
Tuesday 30 July
Genesis 38

COMMENT:
Such a sordid story, we may wonder why it’s in the Bible, the holy book of God.
Once again, the Bible tells us the truth about our history and the nature of our humanity, our degraded fallen status.
There’s no heroism, no glamor, no nobility; instead there’s shame and gross sinfulness.

The 2 central characters in this chapter, Judah and Tamar, are ancestors of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:3). Here we learn how Perez, their son, also in Jesus’ line, was conceived.

But, there are things worse than that about this chapter.

First up, Judah leaves his family - God’s chosen people, gets attached to the pagan Canaanite people and marries a Canaanite woman (38:1, 2). Should he have done this?

Second, does this remind you of something we’ve already read? Look at Genesis 34, about Dinah, Judah’s sister. She did much the same thing (34:1-4). Then compare the outcomes of these 2 events; in the first case, there was intense rage resulting in extreme vengeful violence towards Shechem’s entire clan; in the second case, there’s nothing. What gross hypocrisy!

Third, there’s Judah’s attitude to casual s*x (38:15,16). He had no qualms, it seems, about using a pr******te. Should he have done this?

But three months later, when his daughter-in-law is found to be pregnant, which must have been the result of casual s*x, he wants the most severe penalty carried out, her ex*****on by burning (38:24). Again, what gross hypocrisy!

It’s horrible, isn’t it? There’s nothing in the chapter to counter our feelings of revulsion. Perhaps there’s one small item: Judah’s acknowledgment that Tamar is a better person than he is (38:26).

Many chapters at the end of Genesis tell the account of Joseph (Genesis 37-50), a good long sequential narrative. But chapter 38 is embedded into that bigger account and interrupts it. Why is it there? What do you think?

DAILY BIBLE READING
Monday 29 July
Genesis 36-37

COMMENT:
We may wonder why there are chapters like Genesis 36 in the Bible - all those strange names.

It shows that the Bible is thoroughly based in history, nothing like all the fanciful legends of pagan religions and cultures.

We can learn several things from it.

Esau ( not the chosen line) married 2 women from pagan nations (36:2) and also a descendant of Ishmael who, though himself a son of Abraham, also married women of pagan nations (36:3; 21:21). This contrasts with those in the chosen line - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all of whom married near relatives, and then all of the descendants of Jacob (Israel) who generally married amongst themselves and were instructed to stay separate from and not intermarry pagan people.

Esau prospered, as did Jacob (36:6,7).

Esau and all his extended family moved out of the Promised Land, which eventually became Israel, and settled in country to the east (modern day Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia) (36:6,8,9). This contrasts with those in the chosen line, who settled in the Promised Land ( modern day Israel).

There’s a pattern in the presentation of history in Genesis. The non-chosen line is dealt with first before attention reruns to the chosen line.
It’s like that with the 3 sons of Noah - Japheth and Ham are dealt with first (10:2-5, 6-20), then the chosen line through Shem (10:21-31).
Also the descendants of Abraham - Keturah’s line is dealt with first (25:1-4), then Ishmael’s line is dealt with (25:12-18) before the account returns to the chosen line through Isaac.
And similarly with Isaac’s descendants - first Esau (Gen. 36) before attention returns to the chosen line through Jacob.

The Old Testament is almost exclusively the account of God’s dealings with his chosen people, Israel and the Jews, which then provides the background for the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus, in the New Testament.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Saturday 27 July
Genesis 34 & 35

COMMENT:

These chapters I find rather sad, because they illustrate the fallen state of the people of God, who should have been distinct from the surrounding pagan people, not so much physically distinct as morally distinct. It’s only by the grace of God that they are his special people.

Firstly, Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob who is mentioned (presumably, since he had 12 sons, he had more than 1 daughter) “went out to see the daughters of the land” (34:1). Does that sound like a rebellious teenager to you, taking unwise risks? Of course, it turned out badly.

“Raped” (38:2, NIV) may be an overstatement, when the following verses are taken into account. The reaction of Dinah’s brothers is shocking with all their deceit and then lethal violence, far in excess of what was appropriate.

Even their final statement (34:31) is a gross exaggeration in view of Shechem’s tenderness and love towards Dinah and his desire to marry her, just topping off the ungodly behaviour of Dinah’s brothers. Their retribution on Shechem went way beyond that single person; they severely punished a whole clan (34:25-29). It’s dreadful.

How ironic that the very next chapter tells of improper s*xual conduct in one of these sons of Jacob, his eldest son, Reuben (35:22). There’s no retribution recorded of his evil conduct.

What hypocrisy! How like fallen human beings.
What do we learn from this?

Another sad irony near the end of this reading is that Rachel dies in childbirth (35:16-20). Remember how she deceived her father searching for his stolen “gods” and the reason she excused herself. Very sad, isn’t it?

Ah, the Bible records true human history, not a glamorised account, but real - humans needing God’s forgiveness and mercy.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Friday 26 July
Genesis 32 & 33

COMMENT :
Out of the frying pan, into the fire!
Poor Jacob. He’d just got away from tricky uncle Laban and his hostile sons. He feared disaster at their hands, but was saved only by God’s intervention (31:29).

After 20 years away from his homeland, he wanted to see his aged father Isaac, his ‘dear old Dad’ (31:18). God had told him to go there and promised: “I will be with you” (31:3, 13).

But there was a problem, a big problem. Not only would he see his father, but his brother Esau would be in the vicinity. The last time, Jacob had been with his brother, Esau was furious and had wanted to kill him.

Jacob sent a conciliatory message to Esau, then learned that Esau was coming to meet him. But he was not alone; he had a few people with him! 400 men. 400 men! (32:6). What did this mean? Was it an army? A huge brigade of wild tribesmen? Would Jacob and all his family be attacked, tortured, killed? No wonder he was “in great fear and distress” (32:7).

I haven’t faced such a situation in my lifetime (71 years so far); have you? But I have experienced times of fear and distress to varying degrees, and I expect you have too; correct?
What Jacob did in his situation is magnificent, a wonderful example to us.

He did everything humanly possible to change a potentially disastrous encounter into something better, to mollify his brother with a staged arrival, with great respect to the extent of being obsequious, with preparing his whole family and servants, with very generous gifts.

But, above all that, he prayed to God. It’s well worth reading his prayer again (32:9-12). We can sense his earnestness. He trusted God, he believed God’s promises to him. In this, he’s a good example to follow.

But not only that. When it was all over, when his encounter with Esau had concluded successfully, he worshipped God (33:20), no doubt thankfully. In this too, Jacob ( now renamed by God: “Israel”) is a good example to follow.

Jacob named the altar he set up on land he purchased in Shechem: “El Elohe Israel”, which means something like: “Mighty is the God of Israel” (33:20). Through all his experience, Jacob had come to know the one true creator God as his God!
Is God your God too?