While Moses was on the mountain the people were impatient and built a golden calf to worship. When Moses returned from the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony, he questioned his brother about this, Aaron replied with the lamest excuse on record. “…they gave me this gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” HA!

We wonder why the people would so quickly dismiss all the miracles God had already done for them. We sometimes forget that the people were accustomed to seeing and hearing about the multiple gods of the Egyptians and the practices associated with their worship of the false gods.  They were copying the Egyptians when they celebrated, worshiped and honored their Egyptian gods by participating in revelry. The Hebrew word for revelry is the same word used in Genesis 34:14 and means sexual activity.

When Aaron proclaimed a "feast to the Lord" in honor of the golden calf, he was compromising and justifying the worship of a pagan god, by calling it a "feast to the Lord". He was trying to worship God on an altar of paganism.  At this point God had not given the Israelites all the commands of the Feast Days.  Today, we know about all the God-ordained Feast Days and yet we still worship God on the altar of paganism.  God's ordained days are Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and Feast of Tabernacles (birth of Jesus) and yet we in the western Christian church honor and celebrate Easter and Christmas, both with pagan origins.  And we ignore the holy days. Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is an example today reminiscent of the revelry that the people indulged in as recorded in today's reading (Exodus 32).

Exodus 31:13  

"Say to the Israelites, 'Be sure to observe my days of worship. This will be a sign between me and you for generations to come so that you will know that I am the LORD who makes you holy.

We may be tempted to think that if we go to church on Sunday and don’t do any work at all on that day of the week, this is what will make us somehow righteous and devout.  These days of worship referred to in this passage certainly meant the seventh day of rest, but also the other days of worship, His holy days, the feast and festival days of Tabernacles, Passover, and Pentecost.  Be worshiping Him and honoring Him on those days, would be a sign for all to see, a distinguishing mark.  This is what God says will set us apart from all the other people  on the face of the earth.  When we are set apart in this way, He says we will know (and other people will know) that He is the Lord who makes us holy.  Did you get the significance of that verse?  If we observe His days of worship, we will show the world that we are distinguished, we are set apart, we are different from the world and are made holy.

The Levites make a bold stand for the Lord.  The 3,000 people who were killed...were these the ones who were directly involved in the making of the golden calf and/or the ones leading the revelry?  The people were struck with a plague because of what they had done with the calf.  Could this be the result of heavy metal poisoning from being made to drink the water sprinkled with the dust from the golden calf?

In response to their sin, Moses makes an almost unbelievable plea on behalf of the people.
“…please forgive their sin - but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
What book? (See Phil 4:3, Ps 69:28, Rev 3:5)

There are some "apparent contradictions" in today's reading. God tells Moses that no one can see His face and live and yet earlier it says the Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks with a friend.
The only explanation is that Moses spoke with God the Son, the preincarnate Jesus.  God, the Father is surrounded by unapproachable light.

Moses chiseled out two stone tablets to take back up the mountain so that God could write on them the words that were on the first tablets which Moses broke in anger.  Moses wrote down words that God spoke to him in addition to the Ten Commandments.  The words of the Commandments were written by the finger of God.

Exod 34:33-35
When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
2 Cor 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Are our faces radiant after we have spoken with the Lord?

In the reading for today, as well as other days' readings, are listed many intricate details prescribed by God. Even though many of these things don't apply to us today, reading about them will be useful later on as a reference.

There are some rather unique instructions concerning the placement of the blood on Aaron and his sons for their consecration.  It is to be placed on the lobes of the right ears and the thumbs of the right hands and on their right toes. Is this a reminder that they are to hear and do the work of the Lord?

There are many times the words “without yeast” appear in reference to presenting offerings to God. In the New Testament, Jesus warned us about the "yeast" of the Pharisees.
Matt 16:11b-12
But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Notice how many times the words “a pleasing aroma” appear in Scripture, followed every time in this day’s reading by the words, “an offering made to the Lord by fire.” What is the significance of that for us spiritually?
Rom 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Cor 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

Is this the "pleasing aroma" He expects from us? To spread the knowledge of Him?

The two tablets of the Testimony were inscribed by the finger of God! WOW!

Isn't it amazing at the details God gave Moses for the construction of the tabernacle and the articles in it?

"You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give."
What a great pattern for us in our giving to the Lord. He wants us to let our hearts lead us in our giving. That of course is conditional on our hearts being in tune with God's heart.

God tells Moses that the people are to build a tabernacle and that is where His presence will dwell. What a great foreshadowing for us. Our bodies are to be a tabernacle for the Holy Spirit to dwell!

Did God give Moses the plans for the building of the tabernacle while he was on the mountain? Did Moses write all those many, many details down on something or did he just supernaturally remember? Or did God refresh his memory from time to time?

The breastpiece for the priest was to be used for making decisions. How does that relate to us as Believers with the breastplate of righteousness?
Eph 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Check out this video, The Bells Are Ringing. It relates the high priest to Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAMLAIqUoYo

We would also recommend this link to Rose Publishing Company.  They offer many free publications, including a picture of the garments of the high priest.
http://www.rose-publishing.com/Assets/ClientPages/Echart_highpriest.aspx?gclid=COzrjMPChLUCFegWMgodAhcACg

Isn’t it remarkable that these men who were skilled in brick making now have been given skills as seamstresses for making the garments for the priests? Just an example of how God gives us spiritual gifts and uses us for tasks that we could have never dreamed of doing.

Are all of us using our God-given spiritual gifts? If you have never identified your spiritual gift(s), or if you would like a refresher, email us for a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. Once your gift(s) have been identified, we can send you more information on your gift(s).

Exodus 19:3
Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain...
Ever wonder why the word God and the LORD are used, seemingly interchangeably? Well, we must go back to the Hebrew words to understand. The word God is Eloheim (meaning Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  The word LORD is Yehovah (meaning Jesus). Moses went up the mountain to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit but is was the Son who spoke to him. Using the meanings of the Hebrew words gives us a better vision. This same thing is especially true with the following verse:
Exodus 19:16
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast.

Now if we look only at the English words, we envision a storm on the mountain, black heavy clouds, booming thunder, and flashes of lightning. But using the Hebrew word meanings, we get a completely different picture. Here's how it would read in the Hebrew.

"There were loud voices in proclamation blowing a great trumpet accompanied by bright, glittering gleams enveloped in bright clouds."

Does that sound a bit like the company of angels that announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds??? It should. Just read these verses: Dan 7:9-10, Matt 17:2-5, Acts 7:53, Gal 3:19, Heb 2:2, Rev 4:1, Rev 8:13, Rev 9:14.

God spoke the words of the Ten Commandments the first time. The people did not want to listen to the voice of God.  They didn't want to get too close to God.  A similar thing happened with Jesus.
John 12:28-29
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Who is this "angel" God sent to go with them who has the power to forgive sin?
1 Cor 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
John 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son

Pretty clear...the "angel", God's Presence, was God, the Son.

Another example of how God, the Son interacted with people in the Old Testament is found in this passage.
Exod 24:9-11
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

And then we have this verse.
John 6:46
No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.

If no one can see the Father then how can Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, along with the seventy elders see God? Again, it's perfectly clear... the leaders saw God, the Son.

Ever wonder about the route of the Exodus journey?  There are about as many routes as there are "experts" who map them out.  The locations of the places named in Scripture are in dispute, even among the "experts". After spending several hours trying to discover a commonality with these "experts" as to the location of the places and the route taken by Moses and the Israelites, we decided to just look at Scripture and see if we could discern the Exodus route.  Here are our findings.

The Isralites camped about a three-day journey from Goshen (exact spot from which they left is unknown but Succoth is mentioned) and there they celebrated a festival to the Lord.  Actually, this festival began in Egypt on the 15th day of the first month.  But it was a week-long festival.  They left Succoth and camped at Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the Sea opposite Bael Ziphon. (Exodus 14) A three-day journey would have placed them at the tip of the northern end of the Red Sea, which is about 60-75 miles from the outskirts of Goshen. So these places named in Scripture must have been at the far northern end of the Red Sea.  The Red Sea forms the shape of a "Y" and splits Egypt from Arabia with a wilderness in between.  The left arm of the Y is the Gulf of Suez. The right arm of the Red Sea is the Gulf of Aqaba.  Apparently once Pharaoh decided that they weren't coming back, he sent the army after them.  It seems as if it is here at the Northern tip of the Red Sea where the crossing occurred.  Had the crossing been farther down near the southern end of the Red Sea, it would have been a lengthy journey not only for the Hebrews but also for Pharaoh's army, and much, much longer than a three-day journey.  Scripture then says that after the crossing of the Sea, Moses led them across the wilderness for three days until they arrived at a place called Marah where they found bitter water. Again this would have been a journey of about 60-75 miles, but probably less, because they were in no hurry.  Their pursuers were dead.  Their next encampment was exactly one month after leaving Egypt at a place named Elim. If they traveled south via the Red Sea, it would have necessitated another crossing of the Red Sea (across the right arm of the Sea - the Gulf of Aqaba) in order to get to Midian, where they met with Moses' father-in-law.  If, however, they traveled across the wilderness (which Scripture seems to indicate) then they would have arrived at Midian at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba ,  the right arm of the Red Sea. If this has been confusing, come Monday night to the discussion session.  We have maps!

Once they camped at  Elim, the people began to grumble.  It is at this time that God sends them their daily manna - their daily bread.

After spending some time at Elim, the journey continues until they reach Rephidim where God miraculously provides water. The Israelites defeat the Amalekites at that place.  Rephidim may be located near the mountain of God because they are there when Moses is reunited with his wife and children and his father-in-law.

As we read of the journey of the Israelites there is an interesting pattern that emerges, one that is often overlooked. God tells the people that He will protect them from diseases if they will just listen to Him and follow His commands. At this time the only new commands they had were the ones given to them as they traveled, commands such as gathering manna daily six days a week. How hard was that??? It is only later when the people have consistently disobeyed and grumbled and complained that God sent Moses from the mountain with a set of laws carved in stone.

We often equate “carved in stone” as something that is unmoving, unwavering, unchanging, consistent, completely fixed. Yet some people today want to bend and change the Ten Commandments when they literally were carved in stone. Shouldn’t that tell us something?

There is a great lesson to be learned concerning the manna. The Israelites had to trust God daily to supply their needs. Shouldn’t we do that too? Just wake up each morning trusting God to meet our every need. Meet Him with this request, "Lord, here I am, what would you have me do today?"

Exodus 13:17-18
When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn't lead them on the road through Philistine territory, although that was the shortest route. God said, "If they see that they have to fight a war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt."  So God led the people around the other way, on the road through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were ready for battle when they left Egypt.

If you look at a map, it is easily understood that this route, according to our human logic, this plan of God makes no sense at all! But God took them through the wilderness so they would learn to depend on Him.

The Lord went ahead of the Hebrews as they made their exodus from Egypt. He guided them in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. They were following the Lord and He guided and protected them. The people were    told to “Stand firm.” And “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to stand still.”

It is so hard for us to be obedient in standing still, isn't it? We tend to want to DO something.

Then the Lord tells the Israelites to “move on”. If only we would listen to the Lord and stand still when He tells us to and to move on when He tells us to.

Exodus 14:5
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services."
Remember, Pharaoh believed they were going on a three day journey to celebrate a festival to the Lord.  Notice earlier, after they had journeyed several days, God told Moses to tell them to turn back and encamp between Migdol and the sea.  (Exodus 14:1-4) This was not a direct route back to the land of Goshen.  By this detour, Pharaoh's officials knew that they did not intend to come back...or that they were confused as the direction they should travel.

The angel of God (God, the Son) who had been traveling in front of them, now withdrew and went behind them, along with the pillar of cloud, protecting the Israelites from Pharaoh's army.  It was during the night that the crossing of the Red Sea took place.  It was at daybreak that God caused the waters to flow over the Egyptian army.

Pay careful attention to the song of Moses.  It lists several references to God, the Son. The word "salvation" appears often in Scripture. Interestingly the English word salvation is translated from several Hebrew words. Sometimes salvation means “save or rescue”. However in the case of the word salvation used in Exodus 15:2, the Hebrew word is "yeshuw` ah." Sound familiar??? It should. It means “He who saves” – Jesus!

The song of Moses appears later in Scripture, illustrating that the entire Bible is one continuous story, with one consistent theme - salvation through Jesus.
Revelation 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints.
 
Exodus 15:13 is an excellent verse to ponder for today (or any day for that matter).
“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

God's love for us is never-ending. It is everlasting and unfailing. We are the redeemed. He leads us in His perfect love. He leads. We follow. That's His perfect plan. If we rely on His strength, He will guide us in everything we do in this life and ultimately into our heavenly reward, His holy dwelling. We need only to allow Him!

God institutes the Passover festival.  God's instructions to the Hebrews concerning the Passover are very specifically detailed. The great significance of the Passover is in the prophetic symbolism. Some 1500 years later Jesus became the fulfillment of the Passover by becoming the Passover lamb. The days, hours, minutes, the directions and orders concerning the regulations of the Passover are exact. They are specific so that we can recognize the connections between the first Passover and the fulfillment in the crucifixion and resurrection  of Jesus. The prophecies were fulfilled exactly. From the penning up of the lamb on the tenth of the month to the slaughter of the lamb at twilight on the 14th of the month, Jesus fulfilled these prophecies precisely. As we go through this study we will discover many prophecies that point to Jesus and the cross. Details are on the website www.philandpatti.com concerning the prophetic messianic symbolism of the Passover. Look under A Biblical View of Holy Week. This writing includes a day by day account of the week and an hour by hour account of the crucifixion and resurrection. 


Finally, after the final plague of the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh relents and lets the people go.  At this point, it appears that Pharaoh still believes they are taking only a three day journey into the desert to celebrate a festival to the Lord.

The Egyptian people are glad to see them go and give them articles of silver and gold, and cloth.  These articles originally belonged to the Israelites, as the result of a legitimate sale for food many, many years earlier when Joseph ruled in Egypt. (see Genesis 47).  These articles of gold and silver and costly material will be used in the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness.  Just an example of the providence of God!

The Israelite men (by most records men were those over age 20 and under age 60, those who were of fighting age) who left Egypt in the exodus numbered 600,000, not counting women and children. Whew!
We must take into account that not all the Hebrews left Egypt.  Some remained.  Also there were other people who left with them who were not Hebrews.  They will later be known as "the rabble". 

When the Lord instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He said to do this as a remembrance of how He had brought them out their bondage in Egypt. After Jesus' fulfillment of this feast day, we as Believers are to still remember, but instead of remembering that God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, we remember that Jesus redeems us from a life of bondage in sin.  “This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips”

A sign on our hand is what we do. A reminder on our forehead is what we think and remember. The law of the Lord should be in what we communicate to others by the way we live our lives.

How do we as Believers observe and honor our remembrance of what God has done for us?

A Listing of the Plagues:
1. Water turned to blood
2. Frogs
3. Gnats
4. Flies
5. Death of animals
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Death of firstborn

In the first three plagues, Aaron was God's instrument, and the first two plagues were copied by Pharaoh's magicians.   Beginning with the fourth plague of flies, the area of Goshen was not affected.  Moses was God's instrument for plagues 6,7,8, and 9.  For plagues 4, 5, and 10, neither Moses nor Aaron are listed as being God's instruments in carrying out the plagues.

If all the livestock died during plague 5, what animals had boils in plague 6? It seems as if there is a difference  made between livestock and animals. Perhaps the animals with the boils were household animals or other animals not considered livestock.

After the plague of boils, Pharaoh doesn't harden his heart, it is God who hardens Pharaoh's heart.  We are reminded repeatedly that God has hardened Pharaoh's heart so that His (God's) power may be displayed.

During the plague of hail, again livestock is mentioned. Some time must have passed since plague 5 for them to have livestock or they could have acquired more animals from outside the city of Egypt and from the land of Egypt. (Egypt is the city. The land of Egypt is the surrounding fields and country.)

In Exodus 8:25, Pharaoh tells Moses they can sacrifice to God but to do it within the land. Moses responds with saying that sacrificing animals in the land would be an abomination to the Egyptians. What he means is that the very animals that the Hebrew people would be sacrificing are the animals that the Egyptians considered "gods".

Exodus 9 gives us a clue as to the time of year between plagues 7 and 8.  It is late spring because "the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom".

In Exodus 10 Moses says to Pharaoh, "we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord."  This is a festival yet to be identified to the Hebrew people.  We know it is Passover - part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which occurs in late spring.

The plague of locusts is a devastating phenomenon. The locusts destroy every green thing on tree or plant.

In the plague of darkness, it says that the darkness can be felt, yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. What kind of darkness can be felt?  Praise God, that Jesus is our Light!

1 Pet 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Moses goes back to Egypt with his brother Aaron. He asks Pharaoh to let the people go so that they may go and worship God by holding a festival for Him in the desert. At this point in the story of God's people, there have been no commandments for celebrating any of the Feast or Festival Days. Moses is only asking for a three day journey (70 miles or so), he isn't asking Pharaoh that he free the Hebrew slaves for good.  Pharaoh perceives that he will loose his slave laborers if they make this three day journey. He punishes the people by ordering them to make bricks without providing straw for them. The people are told that they must gather their own straw.  Straw mixes with mud to make the brick stronger and to hold it together while it dries.

Once this decree is issued, the Hebrews are not too happy with Moses.  They did not want to listen to Moses "because of their discouragement and cruel bondage".  Yet this is just what God was offering them deliverance from.

“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm….”Moses delivered this amazing prophetic statement to the Hebrew slaves. God was telling them that He would redeem them from the yoke of slavery. He is telling us that He will redeem us with outstretched arms on the cross of Calvary.

Look at what God promises the Israelites:
1. I will free you from slavery. (Jesus frees us from being slaves to sin.)
2. I will redeem you. (Jesus redeems us.)
3. I will take you as my own. (Jesus brings us into His family.)
4. I will be your God. (Jesus is Lord of our lives.)
5. You will know that I am your God. (Jesus reveals Himself to us continually.)
6. I will bring you into the land and give it to you as your possession. (Jesus brings us into the Kingdom of Heaven and makes a special place just for us.)

The people did not listen then. Do the people listen now?

At the end of some of the plagues, Pharaoh asks that Moses pray for him.  Sometimes he promises that he will honor Moses' request but with compromises.  Notice the times that Scripture relates that it is God who hardens Pharaoh' heart.  In the plagues, notice how often the land of Goshen is spared.

Moses mentions to Pharaoh that the sacrifices they are to offer would be detestable to the Egyptians.  Of course it would be detestable to them.  The animals that the Hebrews used for sacrifices were the gods of the Egyptians.   The plagues that God sent on Egypt showed His power over all the Egyptian gods.  They were publicly defeated and humiliated one at a time.

Again, the all important staff is used. Keep paying attention to the staff!

Interesting comment in the commentary on page 103. Pharaoh avoids God through procrastination, compromise, and insincere repentance. Sounds like us today, doesn't it? And to add insult to injury…with each attempt at resisting God, Pharaoh’s (our) heart gets harder until we are so unaffected by God’s influence in our lives that nothing could get our attention, not even with the death of God’s only Son.

Even though our hearts may become hardened, we as Believers have circumcision of the heart.

Rom 2:29
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Phil 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--

Col 2:11
In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,

Circumcision of the flesh was a sign of the covenant between God and man.  Circumcision of the heart comes only through Jesus, a sign of the covenant between Jesus and His people.

The commentary for today's reading in the Chronological Bible mentions that some 400 years pass before another Scriptural account focuses back on the descendants of Israel in Egypt.  However God is far from being silent during those intervening years.  There are many other scrolls, tablets, and books that fill in the gaps.

The book of Job would properly be placed here in the timeline - between Genesis and Exodus.

Quite a bit has happened to the descendants of the sons of Jacob. For a while they reigned in Egypt (Lower Egypt - in the North - remember the Nile runs south to north) but now as the biblical record continues, they are enslaved.  There is a new king (from Upper Egypt who invaded Lower Egypt) in power who did not know about Joseph. This new king ordered the death of the baby boys in a effort to control the population of the Hebrew slaves.

A baby boy, later to be known as Moses, was born to Levite parents.  He was a "fine child". KJV says he was a "goodly" child. Was he one of those "easy" babies who don't cry very often? Is so, it would be easier to hide him, at least for the first few months.

Notice the verse about Pharaoh ordering that all baby boys be thrown into the Nile. Moses' mother was obedient to the order. She did add a little detail however when she placed him in a basket first. When Moses  was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, she gave him back to his mother to take care of him, and not only take care of him, but she paid Moses’ mother to do it! Isn’t it just like God? He does more for us than we could ever imagine!

How did Pharaoh's daughter know Moses was a Hebrew baby? Could it be because he was circumcised?

As an adult, Moses killed an Egyptian slave master and as a result fled from Egypt and into Midian.  This area is between Edom and Paran, east of Egypt across the Red Sea and far south of the Dead Sea.  There are many historians who believe that there were God-believing people living there when Moses arrived.  In fact Moses married the daughter of a priest of Midian.

Many years later in the land of Midian God speaks to Moses from a burning bush.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses from within a bush. God spoke to Moses from within the bush. Can we connect some dots here???

Our granddaughter, age 5 when retelling this story, related that God told Moses to take off his sandals because they were on fire.

God asked Moses to go to Egypt to bring the Israelites out. Moses offered up:
EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES
1. Moses: "Who am I that I should go?"
God: "I will go with you."
2. Moses: "What is your name?"
God: "I AM."
3. Moses: "What if they don't believe me?"
God: "You will show them signs and wonders."
4. Moses: "I don't speak very well."
God: "I will help you speak."
5. Moses’ fifth excuse as to why he couldn’t go was “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

At this final excuse, the Lord's anger burned against Moses and so God says He will send Moses' brother Aaron. Interestingly, Aaron was already on his way.

Pay very close attention to the staff that is mentioned over the next few days' readings. There is great significance to this staff.

God also told Moses that He would harden Pharaoh's heart. But we find out later that there is a reason for this hardening of the heart. God gave Moses His entire plan, from beginning to end, including the final plague.

Going back to Moses' excuses, can we draw some conclusions concerning ourselves? How often have all of us offered up the same or similar excuses when God calls us to do His work?

We must remember that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called!

At he nears death, Israel asks Joseph to bury him in the land of his fathers.  He seals it with, "put your hand under my thigh and promise..."  making the oath by confirming the covenant of circumcision.

Jacob blesses his sons, the 12 tribes of Israel.

Click on this link (or copy and paste this link) for a beautiful video showing the banners for the 12 tribes of Israel. The pictures were taken at a Messianic Jew conference in Portland Oregon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZKkln_GeLM

Jacob singles out the sons of Joseph saying that Manasseh will become a nation and Ephraim will become a group of nations. Joseph was Jacob's favorite son so Joseph's sons are also favored.  At Joseph's death, these two sons not only have their own blessings from Jacob but will inherit Joseph's blessings as well.

Jacob pronounces blessings on his sons. Their sins are not forgotten in the blessings that are given out. Reuben slept with Rachel’s maidservant. The men of Shechem were killed by Simeon and Levi. They are held accountable when the time comes for the blessings.  While we may not understand the fairness of these blessings, in God's eyes, they are just.  It is at this point that Judah is given the scepter promise, the line of kingship. Later the kings will rightfully come only from the line of Judah. Pay careful attention to the blessings of Judah. Can you see a connection there with Jesus? Check out verse 10 in Chapter 49, "until he comes to whom it belongs" . KJV says "until Shiloh comes". Shiloh is the name of the Messiah in the Jewish Talmud. Hmmm....

Verse 11 - He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch;
The Hebrew definition for vine is Israel (figuratively). God, the Father chose Israel. His Son chose those who will believe in Him (that would be us). Hmmm....again....

See other connections???

Joseph’s response to his brothers concern that he held a grudge against them is laid to rest when Joseph makes this great statement, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

How many times in our lives can we look back on events in our lives that seemed at the time to be devastating and yet God intended it for good? Time to take another look back at our lives???

It is very clear from Scripture that Joseph is ruler of Egypt.  Joseph sent word to his father Jacob to come to live in Egypt. He told him not to bother about his belongings, that the best of Egypt would be his. Yet Jacob took all his possessions with him. He held on to what he had. This speaks volumes about trust. Is it that Jacob didn’t quite trust that he would be provided for? Is that why he held on to the old.

Quite reminiscent of the Jewish people. God sent His Son, Jesus, the new covenant, and they held on to the old.  Same thing happened to some of the early Gentile Christians. They still held on to the pagan customs and traditions of their familiar gods, even though they were believers in Jesus.  Many times Christians hold on to secular customs and traditions, many of them contrary to God's Word.

When Israel set out for Egypt he stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God.  Since this place was far inland from the Mediterranean Sea, he may have taken a shorter and/or easier route than the brothers did earlier.  Besides, this time they had lots of provisions for the journey with them.

Genesis 46 lists the sons of Israel who went to Egypt.  Often we think of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, during this time of famine as being a young boy or a young man. The truth is he was old enough to have ten sons.

Can we even begin to imagine the scene when Israel and Joseph are reunited?

Israel and company are given premo land in Goshen, a land very conducive to raising livestock. Pharaoh offers to put those with special ability from Israel's family in charge of his own personal livestock.  This is the first step in a series of events that eventually lead to the dominance of the Israelites in the land of Egypt.

This Pharaoh is not the same as the Pharaoh who ruled at the time Joseph first arrived in Egypt.  This one is his son.  Pharaoh and Joseph share in the responsibility of running the country.  Pharaoh was a figurehead.  Joseph was the one who established some of the laws of the land.

As the famine becomes more and more severe, the Egyptians no longer have the money to buy grain. They begin to sell their livestock (second step in a series of events) and eventually they sell their land and themselves into servitude (final step in a series of events). This sets the stage for the Israelites to acquire property and become dominant in the land of Egypt. At this point the Egyptians are becoming servants to the Israelites. The Israelites held on to the dominance of the Egyptians as long as any of Jacob's sons were alive.

Gradually this situation was reversed. The Israelites later allowed themselves to become slaves to the Egyptians.

So, how about us believers in Jesus, do we allow ourselves to become slaves to the world or do we become slaves of THE WORD!

Oops!  Sorry, I hit the wrong key and sent out this daily writing way ahead of time.  It will appear in your inbox on the correct day later.  Please forgive!

Ever wonder about the route of the Exodus journey?  There are about as many routes as there are "experts" who map them out.  The locations of the places named in Scripture are in dispute, even among the "experts". After spending several hours trying to discover a commonality with these "experts" as to the location of the places and the route taken by Moses and the Israelites, we decided to just look at Scripture and see if we could discern the Exodus route.  Here are our findings.

The Isralites camped about a three-day journey from Goshen (exact spot from which they left is unknown but Succoth is mentioned) and there they celebrated a festival to the Lord.  Actually, this festival began in Egypt on the 15th day of the first month.  But it was a week-long festival.  They left Succoth and camped at Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the Sea opposite Bael Ziphon. (Exodus 14) A three-day journey would have placed them at the tip of the northern end of the Red Sea, which is about 60-75 miles from the outskirts of Goshen. So these places named in Scripture must have been at the far northern end of the Red Sea.  The Red Sea forms the shape of a "Y" and splits Egypt from Arabia with a wilderness in between.  The left arm of the Y is the Gulf of Suez. The right arm of the Red Sea is the Gulf of Aqaba.  Apparently once Pharaoh decided that they weren't coming back, he sent the army after them.  It seems as if it is here at the Northern tip of the Red Sea where the crossing occurred.  Had the crossing been farther down near the southern end of the Red Sea, it would have been a lengthy journey not only for the Hebrews but also for Pharaoh's army, and much, much longer than a three-day journey.  Scripture then says that after the crossing of the Sea, Moses led them across the wilderness for three days until they arrived at a place called Marah where they found bitter water. Again this would have been a journey of about 60-75 miles, but probably less, because they were in no hurry.  Their pursuers were dead.  Their next encampment was exactly one month after leaving Egypt at a place named Elim. If they traveled south via the Red Sea, it would have necessitated another crossing of the Red Sea (across the right arm of the Sea - the Gulf of Aqaba) in order to get to Midian, where they met with Moses' father-in-law.  If, however, they traveled across the wilderness (which Scripture seems to indicate) then they would have arrived at Midian at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba ,  the right arm of the Red Sea. If this has been confusing, come Monday night to the discussion session.  We have maps!

Once they camped at  Elim, the people began to grumble.  It is at this time that God sends them their daily manna - their daily bread.

After spending some time at Elim, the journey continues until they reach Rephidim where God miraculously provides water. The Israelites defeat the Amalekites at that place.  Rephidim may be located near the mountain of God because they are there when Moses is reunited with his wife and children and his father-in-law.

As we read of the journey of the Israelites there is an interesting pattern that emerges, one that is often overlooked. God tells the people that He will protect them from diseases if they will just listen to Him and follow His commands. At this time the only new commands they had were the ones given to them as they traveled, commands such as gathering manna daily six days a week. How hard was that??? It is only later when the people have consistently disobeyed and grumbled and complained that God sent Moses from the mountain with a set of laws carved in stone.

We often equate “carved in stone” as something that is unmoving, unwavering, unchanging, consistent, completely fixed. Yet some people today want to bend and change the Ten Commandments when they literally were carved in stone. Shouldn’t that tell us something?

There is a great lesson to be learned concerning the manna. The Israelites had to trust God daily to supply their needs. Shouldn’t we do that too? Just wake up each morning trusting God to meet our every need. Meet Him with this request, "Lord, here I am, what would you have me do today?"

The sons of Jacob (minus Benjamin) travel to Egypt for grain.  Several sources place the location of Joseph in the Lower Egypt delta area. (Lower Egypt is actually in the north and Upper Egypt is in the south - the Nile River runs south to north.)  This was several hundred miles from Jacob's  home, not an easy journey.  Most likely they traveled near the Mediterranean Sea and down to Egypt.

What must Joseph have thought when he saw the fulfillment of his dream of sheaves bowing down as his brothers bowed down before him?

Joseph didn't make things easy on his brothers when they came for grain.  After returning to their home, Jacob's sons must explain to their father why his son Simeon is not with them.  What is the significance of Reuben offering both his sons as “hostage” in the situation concerning the return of Benjamin?  Could it be that if Reuben's sons were killed, then Reuben would suffer as Jacob suffered at the loss of Benjamin and Joseph?

Apparently Jacob hadn't planned on sending his sons back to Egypt for Simeon.  It wasn't until the famine continued and they needed more grain that he sent them on a return trip.  This time they took some of the best products of the land.  These products came from trees that weren't as affected by the famine as other crops were.

Wonder what the brothers thought when Joseph seated them in order of their birth? It says they were astonished. And what's this with Joseph giving Benjamin five times as much food?

Judah presents himself as a protector of Benjamin. It is the beginning of the alliance with Judah and Benjamin as together they will later be known as the Jews.

Judah’s character surfaces once again as he offers himself in place of Benjamin (a foreshadowing of Jesus’ offer). His willingness to defend Benjamin, to honor his father, and be willing to substitute himself is another reason the line of the Messiah comes through Judah.

Gen 45:8b
And He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt. 
Notice in the above verse it says "He has made me a father to Pharaoh", MKJV

That little word "a" is left out in the NIV.  Speculation is that by this time Pharaoh is dead and his son has taken his place. However, Joseph  maintains his position in the kingdom.

When Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, he tells them to return for their father and bring him to Egypt to live in the region of Goshen.  This area was primo territory, lush with streams and tributaries running  from the Mediterranean Sea to the Nile River.

Great verse hidden away in today's reading -
Gen 45:8a
"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."

How often in our lives can we look at bad things that happen to us and yet see the hand of God at work? Maybe, it's time to stop and reflect.

“The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered…”

Joseph prospered? As a slave? How can this be?

When we have God's presence with us we will prosper…not by the world’s standards, but certainly by God’s standards. This is a great lesson for us. Serve the Lord, no matter our station in life.

We couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Joseph and the prophet Daniel. Daniel also prospered while he was in captivity in Babylon.

How did Potipher know that the Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered?  Why didn' t he give credit to the Egyptian sun god, Ra?  Could it be that Joseph was quick to give God the credit?  Notice Potipher was also rewarded.

Joseph refused to succumb to the temptation of Potiphar’s wife and called it a sin against God.  He knew that the act of adultery or fornication was a sin against God. Joseph's character certainly was displayed at this time. Other historical writings tell us that Potiphar knew Joseph's character and also the character of his wife and believed Joseph. However, in order to save face with his wife and his servants, he sent Joseph to jail. The jail in which Joseph was placed was different from the Roman jails of Jesus' day. In many cases the jails were more like houses. Depending on the person and their crime, often it was more like house arrest instead of being thrown into a dark and damp dungeon.

Joseph is brought before Pharaoh to interpret a dream.  Joseph must have been very relieved to say the least, to be freed from the prison, but he does something very gutsy.  When Pharaoh asks Joseph to interpret the dream, Joseph responds with, "I cannot do it."  He risked everything with this statement.  But was quick to give God the credit.

The Biblical "two-witness" rule is applied even to Pharaoh's dream.  "The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon."

Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt.  Joseph is now second in command, second only to Pharaoh himself.  No one in Egypt has more authority than Joseph, including Pharaoh's sons. Once the king issues an order it cannot be retracted.  Even Pharaoh knew that the spirit of God was in Joseph.  Otherwise why would the king of Egypt give such power and authority to a Hebrew slave?

Joseph was about 17 when he first came to Egypt and was 30 when he entered into service with Pharaoh.

God provided an abundant harvest for seven years. They were able to store up huge quantities of grain (one fifth the amount raised in the land) and still have an abundance.

Joseph's two sons. Manasseh and Ephraim are born in Egypt.  These two sons will be extremely significant in the genealogical record.

Notice that Israel (Jacob) protects Benjamin and refuses to let him go with the brothers to Egypt to get grain.  Later the tribe of Benjamin will also be protected.

Wonder why Joseph didn't go to see his family in Canaan once he was no longer a slave? Guess he was a little busy running things in Egypt!

Jealousy surfaces in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph's multi-colored coat was a major source of contention between Joseph and his brothers. It was a symbol that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. This coat was probably of a kind worn by royalty, long-sleeved, ankle length and colorful. Most coats were knee length, short sleeve and plain.  Coats were used for sleeping mats, blankets, pillows. suitcases, and even as security for loans.  Coats were an important possession and often considered a commodity.

His brothers already hated him and then when Joseph told them about his dreams, they hated him all the more. Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy had reached a crescendo when they plotted to kill him. Joseph was sold more than once before he reached Potiphar's house.

When Jacob was shown Joseph's blood-stained coat, he feared the worst, tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and wept for his son.  This was a customary sign of mourning or sorrow. When Jacob was mourning the supposed death of Joseph, his daughters (plural) came to comfort him. Does this mean Jacob had other daughters beside Dinah?

Quite a unusual story of Judah's sons and Tamar and the Levirate law. Mention is made of a shrine prostitute  when Judah seeks a woman after the death of his wife. These shrine prostitutes committed the act of prostitution as an act of worship, committed by both men and women. They did this for the glory of their false gods. Judah, thinking he was with a shrine prostitute, was with his daughter-in-law, who conceived and gave birth to twin sons.

The daughters of Lot have something in common with Tamar. Later in the timeline they will have something in common with another Biblical character. All have prominent roles in the genealogy of Jesus. Just another example of how God uses events laden with sin to fulfill His later and greater purpose.

The commentary in the Chronological Bible mentions that in the last days Edom will be singled out as a special object of God's punishment.  During the last days, in the Day of the Lord, Edom will be one of the places of safety where believers in Judah will flee for protection. 

Today's reading is full of genealogies. While we may think genealogies are insignificant as reading material, they are very significant in documenting genealogy. 

As an act of defiance toward Isaac, Esau married Canaanite women including Ishmael’s daughters. These are the women that Abraham didn't want Isaac to marry.The land of Canaan was given to Jacob as part of the blessing, passed from Abraham through Isaac. Esau was excluded from this blessing. By moving to the hill country of Seir, Esau was paving the way for Jacob to claim his promised blessing.

When God makes a promise, He makes a way for that promise to be fulfilled.

Can we all ponder some examples from our lives? Have there been times we have wondered in amazement at the way God honors His promises? Are all of us believers as faithful as God is?
2Ti 2:13
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to himself. 

Did you notice in Gen 36:24 among all the genealogical listings, this verse, "This is Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was gazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon."

We wondered about the significance of this verse and what the hot springs were and why it was even mentioned.  Well...as usual...it took us on a journey.  It seems the original Hebrew word is "yem" and can mean "hot springs" or it can mean "mule".  Yes, you read that right, mule,(as in offspring of donkey and horse).  Now there are many suggestions as to why the range of possible meanings of the word "yem".  It is closely tied to the Hebrew word "yom" which means "a period of time".   If it does mean mule, that could mean that Anah either discovered this breed while grazing donkeys or he is the one who did the cross-breeding with the donkey and the horse to produce the mule. Our thinking is that the word actually means "mule" and is there as a warning.  Don't mess with God's plan.  Don't be cross-breading animals. Just a thought...

WOW!         Dinah’s brothers certainly took some drastic measures in their response to the rape of their sister Dinah. F    First of all they bargained with the men of Shechem to be circumcised, then while the men were still in pain, Dinah's brothers killed them. They will pay for this later when their father Jacob gives out the blessings.  These brothers, Simeon and Levi have the same mother (Leah) as Dinah.

By using circumcision in this way, they defiled the symbol of the covenant between God and Abraham. The brothers Simeon and Levi lost part of their inheritance because of this.

However, the men of Shechem had ulterior motives.  They wanted all the wealth of Jacob and his descendants, which the union of marriage with Dinah would bring. 

We have often wondered how old Dinah was when this rape happened. The word "girl" is used to describe her.  The Hebrew word for girl is "naarah" and means "a girl from infancy to adolescence".  This may mean that Dinah had not yet reached adolescence.  If this were the case, it would explain why the brothers took such offense at the violation of their sister.  It was not uncommon to ask for a girl in marriage before the age of adolescence, but it was not acceptable to have sexual relations with a girl that young.  Once the rape took place, Dinah was considered defiled - or unclean.    

To his credit, Jacob tells his people to rid themselves of all the foreign gods they have with them, which they do. However, instead of destroying them, he buries them under the oak at Shechem.  Bad idea!  Were these the gods that Rachel brought with her from Paddam Aram or did Jacob's family acquire more gods?

God reemphasizes Jacob's name change to Israel. Did Jacob forget? Or did Jacob slip back into some old ways of doing things and God had to remind him that with the change of name comes a change in character?

Since Rachel had great difficulty in giving birth, the birth of Benjamin may have been a breech birth. Interesting that this birth took place near Bethlehem. Another significant birth also took place in Bethlehem.

Genesis 35 lists the names of Jacob's sons along with a sentence that says "These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddam Aram."  However, Benjamin was born in Bethlehem.  Is this a contradiction in Scripture??? 

Reuben sins with Jacob's concubine. Later Jacob takes away part of Reuben's inheritance. Just another example that "sin has consequences".

Also interesting that Isaac lived many years after his "dying" blessing to Jacob.  It says he was "old and full of years."  The words "old" and "full of years" seems to go together.  But, quite possibly the "full of years" may refer to the quality of life.

What a great epitaph...to die "old and full of years"!

God tells Jacob to leave the land where Laban, his family, and flocks are.  Jacob leaves secretly.  Interestingly, in only thirteen years, Jacob has fathered at least 12 children, one of whom is a daughter.

Before leaving her homeland Rachel steals her father’s household "gods". Was it because she believed that the household "gods" had powers and she thought her father could find out from these "gods" where she had gone with Jacob?  Or was Rachel having difficulty turning loose completely?

Once Laban discovers the flight of Jacob and family, he pursues and catches up with them.  There is a confrontation between Jacob and Laban, resulting in a covenant agreement between the two.  In that culture, the custom was to honor the "Godfather" concept. As long as the patriarch of the family was alive, he ruled over the entire family.  

As a witness to the covenant between Jacob and Laban, a stone pillar is placed as a monument. This monument stone is a remembrance.  Memories are elusive, but a stone monument will remain.  Whenever the monument is seen, memories resurface.  Without the monument, memories fade.  Having a witness to a covenant relationship between us and God is why we are commanded to honor God's Holy Days (Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles). These Holy Days (if we even knew they existed at all) have so faded from our memories, it's as if they never existed.  Yet we are told to honor and remember them forever.  God's Holy Days are our momuments as a witness to Jesus' fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Covenant as He instituted the New Covenant. 

Amazing example of an encounter with God the Son when Jacob wrestles with the “man”. He wrestled with God to secure a blessing. Do we wrestle with God to secure a blessing or do we wrestle with God in defiance in order to get away from His authority?

It is more than obvious that Jacob was concerned about the reaction of his brother Esau upon his return to his native land.  Jacob sent major gifts ahead of him to appease his brother.  Jacob bowed seven times to Esau when he met him face to face.  This was a customary exhibition of submission.  The interaction between Jacob and Esau concerning the gifts given was another example of the culture of the day in regard to doing business.

It will be discovered later in the reading that even though Esau seemed amicable toward Jacob, in reality he was concealing his hatred toward Jacob.  Jacob was wise in keeping some distance between himself and Esau.

Earlier we read that after Jacob wrestled with God, his name is changed to Israel. When there is a change of name there is a change of character. When we become believers we take on His name. When we take on His name, we take on His character. That of course means we change our way of doing things, we change our character, we become a new creation, His creation.

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Jacob makes his way to the land of the eastern peoples and sees a well with a large stone rolled over the entrance.  It took more than one shepherd to move the stone and yet later, Jacob himself alone is able to move the stone so that Rachael can water her father's sheep.  He must have been a strong man.

Jacob agrees to work seven years for Laban, his mother's brother, in exchange for the hand of Laban's daughter Rachel in marriage.  This was not an uncommon practice.  Once the deal had been made, Rachel and Jacob were betrothed, which means they were legally married but could not consummate the marriage until Jacob had worked for seven years. Jacob kept his end of the bargain but Laban did not.  At the end of the seven years, Laban ordered a feast to celebrate the consummation of the marriage but instead of giving Jacob Rachel, Laban gave his older daughter Leah instead.

In response to Jacob’s cry of deception concerning the substitution of Leah for Rachel, Laban responds with “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.”

When we look at all the times that God bypasses the firstborn in favor of younger sons, it seems as if God says repeatedly that man’s ways are not His ways. God is telling us He doesn’t play by our rules.

Leah was not Jacob's favored wife.  However, she gave him 6 sons, half the number of the 12 tribes.  After the first four sons, Leah stopped having children and asked her son Reuben to find some mandrake plants for  her.  This is a rare plant thought to increase fertility.  Apparently it worked and Leah gave birth to two more sons and at least one daughter.

If God set down the rules of marriage in the Garden of Eden to be between one man and one woman, why does Jacob have two wives and two concubines? Even though the custom of the day allowed such a thing, it was still contrary to God's plan. Another example of how God's people are called to be different from the world around them. No matter what the custom of our day is, we should always seek God's ways and not the ways of the world. However, as usual, God used Jacob to fulfill His plans anyway!

Laban obviously was influenced by pagan gods because he used divination to determine that he was being blessed because of Jacob.  He was giving the idols credit for his understanding of what God was doing through Jacob instead of giving God the credit. Later it becomes even more obvious just how greatly influenced Laban really was by the idols and pagan gods.

What is the significance with the speckled, spotted, dark and light colored lambs, goats, and sheep and the white striped branches? The manipulation of the colored animals was purely a matter of dominate and recessive genes. Jacob received more of the speckled and spotted, lambs, goats, and sheep simply because that was in the genetic code. (see Mendel's pea chart of dominant and recessive genes http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm) The striped branches had nothing to do with it, except for the fact that Jacob appears to be superstitious. Not a good thing!

Esau, the firstborn of Isaac, marries Hittite women.  Genesis 26 tells us that the women were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.  These women worshiped false gods and no doubt lured Esau into pagan practices as well.  God repeatedly warns His people to stay away from alliances with pagans.

Jacob received the birthright earlier when Esau bargained for a bowl of soup. The birthright was the scepter promise which gave Jacob the right for future generations to be kings. Jacob deceitfully received the blessing, which gave him and his future descendants riches and power.  The birthright was a legitimate purchase from Esau. The blessing was stolen.

When Isaac wonders at the speed at which the game meat is served, Jacob justifies the deceit by giving credit to God.  Hmmm...not a good thing!

The blessings given to Jacob are extremely significant prophetically, both literally (physically) and spiritually (figuratively).   Jacob later will be known as Israel, father of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Gen 27:28-29
May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness - an abundance of grain and new wine.  May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.  May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.
May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. While nations will not serve the man, Jacob, nations will serve Israel.  During portions of the reign of King David, and in the days of King Solomon nations did serve and honor the nation of Israel.  In our day, some nations honor Israel, but most do not.  However, during the millennial kingdom, ALL nations will serve and honor Israel.  
Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.  Jacob had only one brother so the plural use of the word brothers must mean brothers in a figurative sense.  The nation of Israel will one day be lord over all the other nations.  Interestingly, Esau's descendants will settle in Edom and be known as Edomites, in the land now known as Jordan, home of Arabs and Palestinians.

Esau discovers the deception of Jacob and pleads with his father to bless him as well.  Since Isaac had already given the great blessings to Jacob, there appears to be practically nothing left.  While in today's business and family inheritance dealings, if inheritance was received through fraud, it can easily be retracted. Not so in the culture and customs of those days. Once the words were spoken by a leader or the patriarch of the family, the blessing could not be rescinded.  Because of this deception, Esau determines to kill his brother Jacob, but not until Isaac is dead.

Rebekah fears for Jacob's life and sends him away to Haren. This was not a short journey. It was between 600 and 700 miles away.  When Jacob left, Esau essentially took over all that Isaac had.  But as far as Esau knew, Jacob would return shortly with a wife and claim the inheritance and the blessings.

After Jacob left, Esau marries the daughter of Ishmael, Isaac's half-brother. Esau did this to spite his parents even more.

Jacob stops at a place that he will later name Bethel (house of God).  This land now where Bethel is located is in the present day "West Bank" in occupied territory where Christians and Messianic Jews are unwelcome.

What is the significance of angels ascending and descending from heaven in the dream that Jacob had? Does it have something to do with angels interacting with humans now? Jesus told the disciple Nathanael that he too would see something similar.

John 1:51
He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Jacob names the place Bethel, which means house of God. It is here that God confirms the promise that He made earlier to Abraham and He offers this same promise to Jacob. Bethel became an important center for worship but later became a center for idol worship, which the prophet Hosea condemned. Isn't that just like Satan? He takes a place for worship of God and turns it into something evil. This makes us want to guard closely our place of worship and be careful to keep evil from slipping in.

The second wife of Abraham is often forgotten. After the death of Sarah, Abraham took another wife named Keturah and she bore him six sons. He even had sons by his concubines. He was 100 years old when Isaac was born, and then he fathered more children after age 100!

An interesting side note -Abraham and Sarah's burial site is a place of contention among Muslims, Jews, and Christians. No surprise there, scripture tells us that the descendants of Ishmael "lived in hostility toward all their brothers." Gen 25:18

And so they do...even now.

In the commentary of the Chronological Bible on page 52 it mentions that the major events of the first 2500 years have been chronicled as only a brief outline. There are however other writings that fill in many details.

Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years for the birth of their only sons, Esau and Jacob.  Isaac was 60 when  the sons were born to Rebekah.

Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. This was a legitimate transaction, unfair though it may seem.  

Gen 25:34

So Esau despised his birthright.

The birthright had no value for Esau.

When there is another famine in the land Isaac heads south toward Egypt. Sound familiar? Isaac lands in Gerar which is near Egypt in southern Israel. There Isaac lies to the men in the land telling them that Rebekah is his sister. Sound familiar?

To his credit, Isaac obeys God's instructions to stay away from Egypt. And there Isaac is blessed tremendously.

Gen 26:24
That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."

God promised Isaac that He would bless him because of what his father Abraham had done. Does that make us want to be obedient to the Lord knowing that it will bless our children and future generations? A point to ponder, wouldn't you say?

Abraham commissions Eliezer from Damascus to find a wife for his son Isaac and confirms this commission with an oath.  This ancient custom of confirming a solemn oath is described in the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, called the Jerusalem Targum.

The ceremony used on this occasion of the servant putting his hand under the thigh of the person to whom he was to be bound means that he put his hand on the part that bore the mark of circumcision, the sign of God’s covenant.  While this may seem vulgar or profane to us today, it was the sign of the covenant between God and man and confirming a covenant in this way was actually a sentiment of reverence and godly respect.  We must understand that there is a drastic difference between our cultural understanding today and their culture at that time.

 Abraham sent his servant quite a distance to find a wife for Isaac. Nahor was about 600 miles north from where Abraham was living. It was between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers near the Turkey border.  No doubt when Eliezer made this journey he passed near his ancestral home in Damascus.

Abraham's servant prayed a very specific prayer for requirements of a wife for Isaac. The hospitality of the day required that women at the well offered water to travelers, but it was not the custom to offer to water the animals. When Rebekah offered to water the ten camels, she understood how many camels there were and how much water that would be for that many thirsty camels. Estimates are that it would take about 25 gallons of water per camel after a week's journey. Wonder how many trips she made back down into that well.  Later on in the reading we are told that Rebekah had several servant girls attending her...so why was she going to the well instead of the servant girls?  Just another example of God's providence?

Notice when the servant prayed, his prayer was answered even before he had finished praying. Similar to what happens to the prophet Daniel

Dan 9:23

As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:

Can we be sure that as soon as we begin to pray that God will hear and answer our prayers? Are there some things that may hinder our prayers?
James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Abraham's servant's motives were pure. It was an unselfish prayer on his part. He didn't ask for success for himself, only that God would show kindness to his master.

How is it with us believers? Do we pray with the wrong motives or attitude or do we pray in faith that God will answer our prayers in His way and in His time?
Ps 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Do we lay our requests before Him and wait in expectation for the perfect answer? Wouldn't that be a great way to start every day?

Gen 22:1-2
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

God told Abraham to take his ONLY son. Even though Abraham had another son, Ishmael, by Hagar, Isaac was the son of promise.

Abraham says to the servants who are with him...

Gen 22:5

"Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.  We will worship and then we will come back to you."

Abraham tells the servants, ..."we (plural) will come back to you." Abraham fully expected that both he and Isaac would return.

Hebrews 11:19

Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Notice all the parallels to Jesus in the sacrificing of Isaac. 

*It was a three day journey for Abraham and Isaac. It was a three day journey for Jesus from the cross to the resurrection. 

*Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice. Jesus carried the wooden cross for His sacrifice. 

*Isaac submitted to the will of his father. Jesus submitted to the will of His Father.

*Isaac was saved by the substitution of another sacrifice. We are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus. 

*The place of Isaac's near sacrifice was Mount Moriah, the same place that Solomon built the temple (2 Chron 3:1), and the same place Jesus was crucified, Jerusalem.

Who was the “angel of the Lord” with Abraham and Isaac? Sounds a lot like the Son of God. Look at the blessings and promises given to Abraham. Only God can make those promises.

Rather a strange way of bargaining when Abraham purchased the field and cave for Sarah's burial.  This was the customary way of arranging for the sale of property.  However, the offer from Ephron was for Abraham to use the cave for a burial tomb, which he may have understood to be temporary.  Another custom then (as it is in some places today) was to place the body in a tomb, seal the entrance, and then return after the flesh had rotted off the bones, gather the bones and place them in a box.

Interestingly, a mosque covers the entrance to this tomb today.

Abraham was certainly obedient to the Lord in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac.  While God probably will never ask us to do such a thing, He still expects us to be obedient, quickly and completely.

Wouldn’t you think that Abraham would have learned his lesson when he went to Egypt? But no, he had to lie to Abimelech and tell him that Sarah was his sister, getting in even more trouble. And then Abraham says that Sarah is his half-sister. Even though these words are in the canonized Scripture, they are Abraham's words. There is no Scriptural reference that document this...so is Abraham still lying?  Oh, what a tangled web we weave.....

As we journey through God's Word, we will find many instances when the great men of the Bible show flaws in character.  Any yet they are still known as great men of faith.  We may demonstrate flaws in our character at times as well but we need to continue to strive for perfection because we know that God is with us.
2 Corinthians 13:11
 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 

God spoke to Abimelech telling him that Abraham was a prophet. Hmm...never quite thought of Abraham in that way before.

Finally Sarah conceives, after waiting 25 long years. What a great lesson for us to learn...to believe that God keeps His promises, no matter how long we must wait to see the fulfillment, or how slow God seems.

2 Pet 3:9a
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Claimed any of the Lord's promises today?

After Abraham and Abimelech settle the dispute over the well, "Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time".   God told him how much land He was going to give to his descendants, which  was extensive.  And all Abraham had to do was to walk the land.
Gen 13:17
"Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."
At this point Abraham has yet to do that.  Even though Abraham was disobedient at times, God still honored His promises - not because Abraham was righteous - but because God is!

The Lord appeared in the form of a man to Abraham. accompanied by two angels, also in the form of men.  When Abraham saw them, he bowed down in respect.  Normally strangers passing through a land would have bowed down to Abraham.

It was the custom to greet strangers with great respect and to offer them food and lodging, which Abraham did. Preparing the food for the three men was no quick and easy task. The bread had to be kneaded and baked.  The animal for the meat had to be killed and cooked.

Sarah overheard the conversation about her having a child at her advanced age and she laughed to herself at the prospect . God responded with
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"Isn't this a verse we should claim on a daily basis? Indeed, IS anything too hard for the Lord?

When Abraham interacted with the three men, he spoke of the… “Judge of all the earth…” Who is the Judge of all the earth? And how did Abraham know that? We know from John 5:22 that Jesus is the judge of all the earth, so that must mean that one of the three men was indeed the Son of God.

Why did Abraham bargain with the Lord for ten people? He started bargaining for 50 righteous people. Did he think that Lot had some influence on the sinful people there? He must have thought that surely Lot could have influenced that many people. How is it with us as Believers ? Do we have influence over at least 50 people?

Lot was very  hospitable to the two angels who appeared as men at the city gate.  Remember the customary hospitality toward total strangers is to offer them food and lodging.  The men (angels) seemed reluctant to go with Lot and offered instead to sleep in the city square.  Other historical writings relate that the people of Sodom did not abide by the customary hospitality rules.  They instead delighted in watching men suffer from hunger...so much so in fact that anyone living in the city showing hospitality to strangers was subject to the death sentence...and the Sodomite way of the death penalty was very inhumane.  The men (angels) knew that Lot would suffer consequences if they took him up on his hospitable offer. Any yet, Lot was persuasive and they went with him.

Evidence of the decadent lifestyle of the men of Sodom is evident in their demand for having sex with the two strangers (angels).  Equally repugnant is Lot's offer of his two virgin daughters instead. However, to his credit, 2 Peter 2:7-8 tells us that Lot was a righteous man.
and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)

The people of Sodom and the other four cities engaged in any evil perversion imaginable, homosexuality, pedophilia, adultery, fornication, rape, torture, and murder, to name a few.

Notice that the angels had to practically drag Lot and his family from Sodom. They didn't seem to want to leave.  The angels told Lot to take his wife and his "two daughters who are here...", implying that there may have been other daughters who were not there in the house with him at the time.  The mention of sons-in-law implies that Lot had other daughters as well who were pledged to be married.  The daughters living with him were not pledged to be married, otherwise Lot could not have offered them to the men of Sodom.  They would no longer have been considered Lot's property.

About the burning sulfur that rained down from heaven, could this have been a coronal mass ejection?  That would explain things. Volcanic eruptions have been used by some as an explanation for what happened with Sodom and Gomorrah but Scripture says that the sulfur came from heaven.  In a coronal mass ejection, plasma (sun's material that changes hydrogen to helium) is blown out into space and can strike the earth.  The sun's process of changing hydrogen to helium is essentially the same process employed in a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb.  Evidence on the ground around the Sodom area, such as silica sand turned to glass, support this explanation according to some archaeologists.  Certainly God could have used a coronal mass ejection, to accomplish His purposes. 2 Peter 2:6 tells us that Sodom is there as an example of what will  happen to the ungodly.
http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/CMEs.shtml

John Wesley's comment on Gen 19:24:
"Then the Lord rained - from the Lord - God the Son, from God the Father, for the Father has committed all judgment to the Son. He that is the Saviour will be the destroyer of those that reject the salvation."

Why did Lot’s wife look back? What exactly is a “pillar of salt”?  If this was a coronal mass ejection that destroyed Sodom and the other cities, then the concept of Lot's wife being changed to a pillar of salt could be a similar event as was observed at Hiroshima on a bridge near ground zero.  People were walking on the bridge when the bomb exploded.  The millions of degrees of heat from the blast of the bomb incinerated the people on the bridge in a microsecond.  But in that short period of time their bodies made a shadow on the concrete of the bridge.  Their shadows protected the concrete from the flash and the peoples' images were burned into the concrete.  Could it be that Lot's wife's shadow was burned into the column of salt by the flash from the coronal mass ejection?  Was the city of Sodom Lot's wife's hometown? Did she look longingly back at the life she had there? This city was definitely "sin city".

Before we become Believers in Jesus we are dead in our sins. We are citizens of "Sin City". Once we become believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are then citizens of "The Kingdom of Heaven". Shouldn't we live then as if we are citizens of the Kingdom? We should never look back at the life we had in "Sin City".
(Email us for the writing - "Kingdom Living in a Foreign Land".)

Concerning Lot's two daughters getting their father drunk - were they so desensitized to the sexual perversion in Sodom that they saw nothing wrong with having sexual relations with their father?

Now concerning Lot, "And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose". The same thing happened with the second daughter.

This scripture does not say that Lot was unaware of the actual act of intercourse, only that he was unaware when his daughters lay down nor when they got up. It says nothing about the act itself. So was Lot aware of that? If he was aware, then we must conclude that he become desensitized to the sexual perversion of Sodom as well, but 2 Peter 2:7-8 tells us that he was tormented by what he saw in Sodom.

How is it with us as Believers in Jesus? Have we become desensitized to any and all sexual perversion?  Or are we tormented as well by what we see in our world today?  But more importantly, what will we do about it?

The word of the Lord appeared to Abram in a vision.  Apparently Abram didn't exactly  understand and so God came to him in the flesh. Who is "the word of the Lord" and "the angel of the Lord"? In many instances in Scripture these two phrases are synonymous for the Son of God, the pre-incarnate Jesus. Abram asks God for a sign of His promise to bless Abram's descendants. This covenant is extremely significant.

God prepares a covenant with Abram.  The commentator gives an excellent summary of the significance of this covenant agreement.

Gen 15:11
Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
There is a profound spiritual truth application for us today from this verse.  These birds of prey represent Satan and his desire to stop this covenant between God and Abraham.  Satan tries to destroy the promises of God.  Abram was quick to drive these birds away.  Believers should recognize the surety of God's promises and be quick to defend them. The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) records that Abram "sat with" the animal carcasses.  Application for us...guard God's promises!  See also the parable of the soils,(Matt 13:3-8).

The prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 34:17-20 reminds the people of God's covenant with Abraham and the consequences of violating that covenant.

God promises Abram the land, not the land of Israel as we know it today. These borders listed in Gen. 15:17-21 include the land from Baghdad to Cairo and from Turkey to the Persian Gulf. (Email us for a map of the boundaries of this land) All Abram had to do was to walk the land and claim it. Again, did Abram obey? NO.

God also tells Abram that his descendants will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. And so they were.
Exo 12:40 
And the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.

When Sarai offered Hagar to Abraham, so that she and Abraham could have a child, she was trying to "help God out". Sarai was doing what was culturally acceptable but it was morally wrong. How often do we as Believers in Jesus do and say things that are acceptable by the world, but wrong by God's standards?

Notice when Hagar runs away, the angel of the Lord promises her something. "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count." Does a simple angel have this kind of power? Hagar knew who this angel was. She identifies the angel as God, as the "God who sees me".
Gen. 16:13.

Again Abram didn't trust God or wait patiently on Him. And look what happened. If Abram had trusted God to take care of him during the famine and had not gone to Egypt, there would have been no Hagar and no Ishmael.

God institutes the sign of circumcision as a confirmation of His covenant and He changes the names of Abram and Sarai.  When there is a change in name, it signifies a change in character. This circumcision is a foreshadowing of circumcision of the heart.
Php 3:3
For we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh; 

Notice also that Isaac was not conceived until after Abraham's circumcision. And God makes it clear to Abraham that His covenant is with Isaac and not Ishmael.

Lessons to be learned from Abraham? If only we would obey God completely and trust Him completely and wait patiently on Him, life would be so much easier, wouldn't it???

God told Abram to leave his country, his people, his father’s household and go. Yet, Abram took possessions, and people, including Lot. He didn’t obey God completely. Incomplete obedience is disobedience . How often do we obey God only when it's something we want to do, completely ignoring other things that we should do? Complete obedience is not always an easy thing for us to do.

Back to Abram. He next decided to go to Egypt, instead of trusting God to provide for him during the famine. If Abram had taken only what God told him to take, he wouldn’t have had to worry about taking care of all his entourage. (see the writing on the website www.philandpatti.com under Chronological Chronicles II "Disobedient Abraham".)

In this context of people living lives of 200+ years, a man of 75 would be considered middle age.

Abram is fearful of the Egyptian men so he passes Sarai as his sister. Pharaoh in effect "pays" Abram for the "use" of Sarai when he takes Sarai into his harem. It may have taken years for Sarai to be completely prepared to actually become Pharaoh's wife.  Even though Abram declares that Sarai is his half-sister at another time, other historical writings relate that Sarai was the daughter of Haran, Abram's brother, making Sarai his neice.

When Abram leaves Egypt, he goes to the land of Canaan and there he and Lot discover that there isn't enough room for both of them and so Abram gives Lot a choice of where to go. Lot chooses the fertile land (keep in mind that at this time the land surrounding that area was fertile - not so now - it is a desolate place) and pitches his tent among the cities of the plain near Sodom. Bad idea!

Notice God tells Abram that He will give him all the land that Abram can see. God tells Abram to walk the length and breadth of the land. This "walking the land" was to show the people there that Abram was claiming the land as his own. But did Abram walk the land? Well, read it for yourself. (Gen. 13:18)

Abram was not a perfect man. He sinned. But God used him anyway! None of us are perfect. We all sin. But God can use us anyway!

Then this man...Melchizedek...just who is He anyway??? See the book of Hebrews. It explains it very clearly!

Noah's descendents traveled a great distance, both physically and spiritually, from the landing of the ark on the mountains of Ararat (present day Turkey) to the plains of Shinar in Babylonia (present day Iraq).

Gen 11:1
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

Gen 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

In Gen. 9:1 God tells Noah and his family to “fill the earth”. God didn’t say to go build cities for yourselves. Cities often require leaders who lead the people away from the authority of God.

The people wanted to “make a name for ourselves”. What “name”? And they didn't want to be scattered. Yet this is exactly what God wanted them to do. In fact, that is exactly what He DID do. Sounds as if pride was creeping in and we know what happens with pride.

Is there anything significant that the people built the Tower of Babel out of brick instead of stone? Stone is something found in nature, something created by God, each one unique. Brick is man-made and uniform in appearance. Seems as if the people wanted to do things on their own, and not do things God's way. Isn't that just like us? Do we often make our own plans and then ask God to bless them instead of asking God what His plans are for us?

Another interesting thing - the Hebrew word for mortar is the same root word used in the word for materialism. The ways of the world are what bound the people together in the days of the Tower of Babel. The people in those days rebelled against God. Anything changed today? The words of the prophets are very clear. In the last days there will be a great confederation of rebellion and worldwide religious apostasy. There will eventually be a one world political and religious system in place (the bricks in the Tower of Babel), all bound together with a common love of materialism (the mortar in the Tower).

Once the people were scattered and their language confused, they congregated in groups with common languages, creating ethnic clans.

A word of caution concerning the commentary in the Chronological Bible on page 21.  Mention is made that the first child is born much earlier than before in the lives of the people.  However, we are not told in Scripture that the names listed in the genealogy are the first ones.  Names are listed if they are noteworthy in the genealogical record.  Not all names were listed.  In fact, most of the names were not listed.  Otherwise, the Bible would be full of names.

Also, concerning the book of Job...several historical records place Job between Genesis and Exodus - after the life of Joseph and before the life of Moses.

People begin to live shorter lives after the flood. Why? The protection of the canopy was gone, and the people were subjected to solar and cosmic radiation of which they were not accustomed. Before the flood the canopy prevented radiation from striking harshly against the earth. The atmospheric gas was higher in oxygen than it is now and air pressure was approximately twice what it is now. After the flood when the canopy fell radiation damaged cell structure of the human body, oxygen ratio was lowered and pressure diminished.

The things that caused longer life is gone...all because of...sin!  Because of sin, God removed the protective canopy.