Reading the Bible Through

Leviticus 11 - 13   In yesterday's reading, the Israelites attended the ordination of Aaron and his sons. Very powerful. Today, the Israelites are instructed in how to kept themselves from being unclean before God.  I find it very interesting that the purification time after childbirth depends on the gender of the baby. I have often wondered if this was related to males having more status? 

Leviticus 8 - 10   Earlier today, I spoke with some friends about just how gross these passages are. Killing animals in very specified ways and then doing this and that with the blood. Eventually, the glory of Lord appears to all the people who shouted for joy and fell facedown.  I've always felt a bit sorry for  Nadab and Abihu. It has seemed to me that they were caught up in an exciting moment. However, when I reflect, the Israelites had just completed all these offerings/rituals in order to have the ordination, but 2 of the people being ordained were letting themselves get carried away and not doing as the Lord had instructed.  I don't understand what Moses and Aaron are discussing at the end of this passage. I do see that Aaron won the argument which seems a bit unusual. 

Leviticus 3 - 7   What are all these offerings? I guess I need to learn what they mean and/or symbolize. As I am listening to these chapters, I notice that one place says the person "must confess." It reminds me that confession can feel so shameful, but can be so empowering. I am reminded of the work of Brene Brown on shame. She reports that shame grows with secrecy, silence and judgement, but is mitigated with empathy.  I have been told that we, as Christians, no longer need to make animal sacrifices because Jesus fulfilled that requirement by dying on the cross for us. I do believe that, but still I don't understand the meanings and symbolisms behind all of these different kinds of offerings. Also, we may still give offerings and/or tithes of our money. Wasn't their animals entwined with money/financial status in the days this was written? 

Exodus 40 - Leviticus 2   The cloud and fire of the Lord was in sight of the Israelites and guided all their travels. May I follow God so completely.  "The salt of the covenant  of your God" This is a new phrasing. What is the significance of salt? It gives flavor, but what is the whole  meaning here in this passage?  Most of the time, I find Leviticus fairly boring. However, one time, it really spoke to me of the holiness of God. We shall see how I find it in this reading currently. 

Exodus 37-39   Bezalel made the Ark of the Covenant. What an honor!! This passage seems like a set of instructions to me. At the end, Moses blesses the people for doing the work just as the Lord commanded, so I guess it was a set of instructions. 

Exodus 34 - 36   What's this punishing the children of those who sin to the 3rd and 4th generation? What does that even mean?  In verse 9, Moses implores God to take the Israelites as God's inheritance. How can God have an inheritance? No being comes before God. I wonder if this word 'inheritance' is translated differently in other versions. No, I didn't look just now.  Today, when I read  " Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles" it reminds me of the New Testament parable in which Jesus says if you hand causes you to sin cut it off, if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out.  Why no yeast? Does it symbolize something? Bezalel and Oholiab demonstrate the need for the arts: artistic crafts it says here. Sometimes, I wonder if I am a tabernacle: beautifully made, but easily taken down. 

Exodus 31 - 33   Aaron seems awful quick to agree to make an idol, the golden calf, in this passage it seems to me. Still, I, too, can be far to quick to put something else in front of the Lord. My human pride of doing it myself for instance. It also reminds me today of clergy who have lost their faith but continue as clergy because they have no other training/trade to pursue.  God is about to destroy the Israelites for worshiping the golden calf, when Moses talks God out of it. This speaks to me of the power of talking to God.  Joshua hears the sound of war, but Moses says it's the sound of singing. That singing must have been pretty bad, lol.  Moses is so angry that he throws the tablets engraved by God and they break! It seems disrespectful to me.  Aaron now tells Moses that the golden calf just popped out of the fire, but earlier it clearly says that Aaron shaped it. The story changed. The Levites go and kill 3000 of their own families. Sounds like a massacr...

 Exodus 28 - 30 Urim and Thummim What are these? I really don't get the burnt offering stuff. I mean, I know that it's a precursor to Christ, but there's so many different kinds. It seems confusing to me  What makes some things holy and other things not holy? 

Exodus 25 - 27   I gotta say I find this boring. It sounds like a set of blueprints to me. Sometimes, I try to use these words to picture the tabernacle and the items with it. 

Exodus 20 - 24   I'm getting a late start today. I usually try to stay a day ahead in the blog of reading the Bible through. However, that's not what happened today. Still, better late than never. Or maybe right on time on the correct day. This does tell me that I would benefit from being more than 1 day ahead for those times when life happens. As I sit typing this, it also underscores for me that reading the Bible through in 1 year is not an easy task! Ah, the 10 commandments! Good rules to live by. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord. I was taught that this was saying "Oh, god" or such in a casual way. Today, I find myself thinking that it more likely refers the unspellable, unpronounceable NAME of God.  The Sabbath. Why, oh why, do we constantly think we need to be doing something? Even God rested.  You shall not covet. As far as I can tell, the basis of American culture is based on coveting. Keeping up with the Joneses. Advertisements tell us that we've ...

Exodus 17 - 19   In 17:8, Moses says to Joshua. Where did Joshua come from? I think this is the first mention of Joshua. I also notice that Hur is now mentioned. Moses' father-in-law brings Moses's wife and sons to him. When had Moses sent them away? Was it so they would avoid all the plagues in Egypt? I also wonder how Jethro, Moses' father-in-law knew where to find them since they were nomads wondering in the dessert.  Moses' father-in-law cautions Moses against wearing himself out. With hustle culture, definitely advice we need today. You cannot pour from an empty pitcher. 

Exodus 14 - 16   I am struck by how quickly the Israelites wanted to return to slavery, even after all those plagues.  Lots of curiosities here: the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven. I'm tired this evening, so I don't have much to say. Please be encouraged to share your thoughts. 

Exodus 11 - 13 Plague of the firstborn: the cattle as well. Where did these cattle come from? I thought the animals/livestock were all killed in a previous plague? Still, I think the plaque of hail said the animals would be saved if they were inside a shelter.  Now Moses leaves Pharaoh. This is after Pharaoh tells Moses to never appear before him again. So it seems that Pharaoh seeks relief from the plague of darkness and hears of the plague of the firstborn in the same meeting.  Now for the plague of the firstborn, the Israelites must put the blood of the lamb on their doorframes. Previously, certain plagues didn't happen in Goshen where the Israelites lived. I see this a a foreshadowing of the blood of the Messiah who saves us from separation from God. (My definition of sin is that which separates us from God.)  As I write this, I have been thinking of C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce. In it there is a Grey Town where people get further and further apart. I see this happen...

Exodus 8-10   The plague of frogs. If all the Nile was turned to blood and everything in it died, where did the frogs come from? I know frogs don't stay in the water. Maybe the blood is part of why they got out. Who knows? Sometimes I do like to consider possible natural, rather than miraculous, explanations. For me, that doesn't make them any less wonderous. How did the magicians get frogs to come up? I'm still curious about how they did these things.  So if the frogs were to only be in the Nile, was it no longer turned into blood? When did that happen? Why?  Also, when Moses has Pharaoh appoint the time for the frogs to be gone, why does Pharaoh say tomorrow instead of right now?  The magicians could not produce gnats. Why not? Why frogs, but not gnats? If the magicians were using an evil power wouldn't that power be able to produce gnats? The magicians say, "This is the finger of God." To  me, this says there was something different this time, but I don...

Exodus 5-7   The beginning here confuses me. Moses and Aaron are saying that the Lord told them to take the Israelites into the wilderness for a 3 day festival to the Lord or they may be struck with famine or swords. I didn't understand anything about a festival from what I read earlier. Still, I guess they might get farther with that than just 'see ya.' I've always been puzzled as to how the Egyptian wise men and sorcerers also turned their staffs into snakes. Some would say by evil, but I have always wondered about some kind of trickery. Still, Aaron's staff (notice it's now Aaron's staff, not Moses like near the burning bush) eats up all the other snake/staffs. Pretty impressive.  Now the Egyptian magicians were also able to turn water into blood. I still wanna know how. Now, I also want to know were these Egyptian magicians got any water to turn it into blood? It looks like Moses and Aaron were pretty thorough. Maybe from the water people were digging up...

 Today's reading:  Exodus 2 - 4 Exodus 2:12 tells us that Moses committed a murder.  Moses flees to Midian and marries. His father-in-law, the priest of Midian, is called both Reuel and Jethro which seems kind of odd.  In 4:13, Moses asks God to send someone else. I think this is a place many believers have been.  Then in 4:24, God is going to kill Moses at an inn, but Zipporah, Moses' wife stops it by circumcising their son. What was that all about? It reminds me again that I think there's symbolic meaning to circumcision that I'm not getting. 

 Today's reading:  Genesis 47 - 50 & Exodus 1 I am definitely noticing that these Sunday readings are long ones! Here we move from Genesis to Exodus.  As Jacob blesses each of his sons near the end of his life I find this an odd custom. It must have been a custom as Isaac also blessed Jacob & Esau.  Also, it says that Jacob is telling his sons what will happen to them in the days to come. How did he know? Is it accurate? Also, what is the meaning of blessing here? Rueben's, because he slept with his father's concubine, doesn't sound like a blessing to me.  As I look at the time frame for the mourning of the death of Jacob, I am so saddened by the American response to death. Often, if a workplace gives bereavement it's only 3 days. There is a general feeling of we must get back to work and forge on. Grief doesn't work like that. Sometimes it's okay to be busy, but it's also okay to mourn and cry as well. There is no specific time that grief should...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 44 - 46 A Silver Cup in Benjamin's Sack, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, Jacob & his family go to Egypt Why did Joseph use a cup for divination? Previously, Joseph gave credit to the Lord. Today, it occurs to me that Joseph maybe said that he could find things out by divination to continue concealing his identity from his brothers.  I also noticed that in 44:9 it is said that the one who has the cup will die. The steward replies,  “Very well, then let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it  will become my slave;  the rest of you will be free from blame.” So was becoming a slave the same as or tantamount to dying?  Judah begs to stay in Egypt as a slave instead of Benjamin. Judah had promised to return Benjamin to their father safely.  Joseph reveals himself to his brothers! What a shock that was!! Joseph says that God sent him ahead to Egypt rather than his brothers' selling him. The dreams that Joseph...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 41 - 43 Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph in charge of Egypt, and Joseph's brothers go to Egypt The chief cupbearer, after 2 years, remembers what Joseph had done for him by interpreting his dreams.  Joseph gives God the credit of interpreting Pharaoh's dreams. Too often, I fall short of giving God the credit God deserves--which is all of it.  Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and is put in charge of Egypt. Remember, Joseph had just come from prison, now he's put in charge of the land.  Pharaoh gives Joseph a wife,  Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest  of On. I find 2 things curious about this. 1.) the woman is named in the Bible. 2.) How can Joseph marry an Egyptian woman? Previously, the people of Israel went to their own people to marry. Isaac and Rebekah did not like Esau marrying the local women.  Joseph recognizes his brothers, treats them harshly, and puts them in prison for 3 days. Among themselves, the brothers say th...

Today's reading:  Genesis 38 - 40 Judah & Tamar, Joseph & Potiphar's Wife, the Cupbearer & the Baker,  Er and Onan were so wicked in the Lord's sight so the Lord put them to death. What did they do that was so wicked? Jacob was no angel from my point of view. Jacob deceived Isaac and got his brother's blessing and birthright. In Onan's case, it tells us that it's because he would not fulfill his duty as a brother-in-law by producing children with Er's wife, Tamar. This just seems an odd custom to me. I cannot understand it without more cultural explanation. Tamar is not given to Judah's 3rd son, Shelah, as the custom would indicate, so Tamar takes matters into her own hands. Tamar poses as a proustite in order to sleep with Judah. Judah and Tamar negotiate a price for her services as a prostitute. Why does this seem permissible for Judah? How did Tamar know that he would partake of her "services"? When Judah tries to pay this prosti...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 35 - 37 Jacob settles at Bethel, his wife and his father die, Esau's line, Joseph's dreams, Joseph sold by his brothers Jacob tells his household to get rid of the foreign gods they have with them. This makes me wonder if he learned that Rachel had stolen her father's household gods.  God tells Jacob that kings will come from him. Once we get to the place where Israel wants a king, God is displeased with that desire.  Rueben sleeps with his father's concubine.  Jacob & Esau bury Isaac. Wait a minute, didn't Jacob & Esau's argument get started because Isaac thought he was about to die? And that was at least 20 odd years before because Jacob worked for Laban 7 years +7 years + 6 years or so.  Jacob and Esau could not stay together because their possessions were too great for them to remain together. So, Esau settled in Seir. This reminds me of Abraham and Lot parting. It also looks like there was healing between Jacob and Es...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 32 - 34 Jacob meets Esau, Jacob Wrestles with God, Dinah and her brothers' revenge Jacob returns home from where he fled because his brother Esau had determined to kill him. Jacob sends a message seeking to find favor with Esau. Esau responds by coming to meet Jacob with 400 of Esau's men. Then Jacob prays and sends Esau gifts. To me, these gifts seem like bribes. I also have to tell myself they lived in a very different culture from mine. On the other hand, if I thought someone was going to kill me and a gift might pacify them, they could have whatever they want. When they do meet, Esau runs up to Jacob. They hug and weep. I find myself wondering if Esau's heart was changed by Jacob's prayer or if Esau was glad to see his brother the whole time.  Jacob wrestling with God. Don't we all do this? Yet, I find in this passage also a deep mystery. Also, Jacob asks for a blessing and his name is changed. How important are names?  Shechem rap...

Today's reading:  Genesis 29 - 31 Jacob flees to his Uncle Laban, Jacob marries Leah & Rachel, Jacob's children, Jacob flees from Laban Here, Jacob is deceived by being given Leah instead of Rachel. It kinda seems like poetic justice for the way Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, to steal Esau's blessing.  Rachel giving Bilhah to Jacob to build a family for Rachel reminds me of Sarah giving Hagar to Abraham for a similar purpose.  This mandrakes story has always puzzled me. Why was Rachel so eager to have them? A quick google says mandrakes were thought to help with fertility. The other part of this story that intrigues me is that Rachel tells Leah that Jacob could sleep with Leah that night. How did who Jacob sleep with generally get decided? What made it Rachel's to give? Then we have the branches in the troughs. A quick google search does not bring any concise explanation.  In 31:14, I just noticed that Leah and Rachel appear to be as one mind regarding leaving...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 24 - 28 Isaac & Rebekah, Abraham's Death & his Family Lines, Jacob & Esau, Jacob's Dream at Bethel Abraham sends his lead servant (Is this Eliezer of Damascus who would inherit Abraham's estate if Abraham had no sons? A quick google says that it probably is the same person.) to get a wife for Isaac. Today, as I read this, I see it as an arranged marriage. It's not that Bethuel knew of it, but that it was the custom, so Abraham sent Eliezer to go and see about it. He takes the dowry with him. I also note that Rebekah is asked if she will go. It's not just someone else's decision.  As I read the story of Eliezer and Rebekah, I am once again reminded of Jesus with the Woman at the Well. That story is clearly on my mind lately for some reason. Rebekah draws all the water Eliezer and his camels need.  As I read about Rebekah's pregnancy, I noted that Isaac prayed for her. During pregnancy, Rebekah went to inquire of the ...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 21 - 23 The birth of Isaac, Hagar & Ishmael sent away, Abraham is tested, Sarah dies I can understand Sarah being upset at Ishmael mocking Isaac, but sending Ishmael away from his father because of it is appalling to me.  As I listen to Hagar getting her son, Ishmael, a drink from the well to save him from dying, I am reminded of the woman at that well with Jesus who offers her living water.  When God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, God says that Isaac is Abraham's only son. Yet, we know that Ishmael still lives. I find this whole sacrificing Isaac thing creepy. I've heard some people say they think that Isaac got onto the alter willingly. I tend to think that Isaac struggled against getting on the alter. In the end we don't know.  I also see the sacrifice of Isaac as a foreshadowing of the crucifixion of the Messiah to come. In some ways, Jesus prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane were like a struggle.  I find the h...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 18-20 The Lord and 2 men visit Abraham, Sodom & Gomorrah, Lot & his daughters, Abraham & Abimelech When these visitors come to Abraham, I am struck by how long the meal would take. 36 pounds of flour is a lot of bread to make. The calf still needs to be butchered and then cooked. Sounds like an all day thing to me.  I have often been struck by Abraham's boldness in asking the Lord to save Sodom & Gomorrah, starting at 50 and then making the way down to 10. Today, I think of Abraham's persistence when speaking to the Lord. I also find myself wondering if Abraham was thinking to himself, with each increment, that place is pretty wicked this might be a losing battle.  What was the sin of Sodom?  Ezekiel 16:49 & 50    “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.   They were haughty and d...

 Today's reading:  Genesis 15-17 The Lord's covenant with Abram, Hagar & Ishmael, the Covenant of Circumcision I see 2 covenants in this reading: one with Abram and the Covenant of Circumcision. The first about the land. The second seems to be about circumcision. I feel that there is some symbolism here that I am missing.  In between these covenants we have Hagar & Ishmael. In some ways this story strikes me as very odd. In essence, Sarai says: I can't get pregnant; try her. Hagar gets pregnant and doesn't do right by Sarai. Hagar despises her. Sarai then mistreats Hagar. I am struck by the word "mistreats." Sarai did not respond evenly to Hagar, but worse. 

 Today's reading:  Genesis 12-14 Various stories of Abram. Where does Melchizedek  king of Salem  come from? He brings bread and wine which certainly looks like foreshadowing of communion to me. 

 Today's reading:  Genesis 9 - 11 God's covenant with Noah, Noah's drunkenness, the the table of Noah's sons' descendants, the Tower of Babel, Shem's family line, Abram's family Here we see the first rainbow!  I have always been puzzled and troubled by Noah's response to Ham's seeing him naked. I don't see it as that big of deal. Is it because Ham told his brothers instead of fixing the situation himself? I can see that it's embarrassing for Noah, but he's still the one who got himself into that situation. I am also deeply saddened to think how these few verses have been used to justify the enslavement of persons of color. 

Today's reading:  Genesis 6-8   The story of Noah. What are these "son of God" and "Nephilim"? I don't know. I could google it, but I find myself focusing on the questions just now.  As I think about the Noah story today, it reminds me of the life-death-life cycle. 

 Today's reading: Genesis 1-5 Here we have the creation story, Adam & Eve, the Fall of Mankind, Cain & Able, and Adam's family line.   This is a lot to cover in one reading. Remember, we are only reading 5 chapters on Sundays! As I want this to be a place where people are safe to express different views, I think I would be remiss not to talk a little about the creation story. It can be a hotly contended topic. Is it a poem? Is it literal? Is it literally scientific? What about evolution? I don't know the answers. I do know that it's okay to ask the questions.  Today, the story of Adam and Eve sounds to me like the first example of passing the buck: the serpent lied to me, and the woman told me to do it. Seems nobody wants to take personal responsibility here.  Cain and Abel. I can watch much of this same story on any true crime YouTube channel. I love my sister dearly, but I also squirted her with a good amount of water when she wasn't looking at a child...