Reading the Bible Through

 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...