Genesis

I have found that one of the best things I do before I read a book in the Bible is to know who wrote it, when they wrote it, and who they were writing it to.  It makes the scriptures make sense.  If I asked you who wrote the first book of the Bible would you know? If I asked you who wrote the first 5 books of the bible, would you know.  Some people could answer it with “Well, of course”; and others would be like “I have not a clue”.  Until recently, I was the latter.  The author of the first book was actually the author of the first 5.  By the way, when I say author I mean just the vessel that God used. Technically, God wrote the Bible by breathing it into the person who actually penned it.  So in this case, the man who penned the first 5 books was Moses.  Yup, he wrote the first 5 books of the Old Testament. 

The first 5 books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  They are referred to in different ways by different people.  They are the Books of Law.  The Pentateuch (Penta meaning 5) .  The 5 Scrolls. The Torah.

So, I picture January 1, 2009 coming and us diving into Genesis when I realized that by January 4th we will  actually be making a detour into Job.  To read the Bible Chronologically we are going to have to hop a little.   In January,  we are going to read the famous “In the Beginning….” and then we are going to marinate ourselves in some of the best Scripture ever written (I am sure I will say that more than once)….In January alone,  we will read about the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, how we got different languages, the Abrahamic covenant, the story of Joseph,  and Jacob’s blessing.  It will be a read of Beginnings.  The  beginning of the world, humans, sin, promises, family, nations, and Covenants (promises).  

There are 5 Patriarchal Fathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Job.   Therefore, in the middle of Genesis we will read of one of those fathers, Job.  The book of Job, although uncertain who may have penned it, possibly Job himself, but maybe it was another book written by Moses.  The theme of Job is Redemption.  So  just to keep everyone on track for January, here is going to be the schedule:

Jan 1: Gen 1-3
Jan 2: Gen 4-7
Jan 3: Gen 8-11
Jan 4: Job 1-5
Jan 5: Job 6-9
Jan 6: Job 10-13
Jan 7: Job 14-16
Jan 8: Job 17-20
Jan 9: Job 21-23
Jan 10: Job 24-28
Jan 11: Job 29-31
Jan 12: Job 32-34
Jan 13: Job 35-37
Jan 14: Job 38-39
Jan 15: Job 40-42
Jan 16: Gen 12-15
Jan 17: Gen 16-18
Jan 18: Gen 19-21
Jan 19: Gen 22-24
Jan 20: Gen 25-26
Jan 21: Gen 27-29
Jan 22: Gen 30-31
Jan 23: Gen 32-34
Jan 24: Gen 35-37
Jan 25: Gen 38-40
Jan 26: Gen 41-42
Jan 27: Gen 43-45
Jan 28: Gen 46-47
Jan 29: Gen 48-50
Jan 30: Ex 1-3
Jan 31: Ex 4-6

1:00 Blue Letter Bible

On the Blogroll are helpful sites that I use and will add to through the year.  The one I use a lot is the Blue Letter Bible.  The OT was written in Hebrew, except a few passages were written in Aramatic.  It is important sometimes to look up the Grammatical Meaning of a Word.  Sometimes it makes the pages go from Black and White to Color!! 

If you have a minute try to see what the word “created” is in Hebrew from the Website.  Type in Genesis 1, (use KJV version) click the C (for Concordance….and you will see that it means BARA.  which means FORMED.  Picture God Forming us.  He didn’t just close His eyes and we appeared…He formed us and the earth EXACTLY as he wanted us.  Bara.  With a single word he can FORM whatever He wants.  That is the Power of God.  SO anything you are holding onto that you think is too Big for God to overcome for you….remember what  HE did in a single Word!

10:50 am

OK, here is what is on my mind.  First, I want to cry.   When I felt lead to do this I was hoping and praying for at least ONE accountability partner. The Lord should be enough for accountability but I struggle.  So I prayed for an earthlyt accountability partner.  As a standard practicee of the Lord HE has met my need with abundance.  There are about 50 people (that I am aware of) that will be doing this with us.

Most of the reading will be a FIRST time read for me.  The reason I tell you this is because I want to learn.  I have bought a few references to help with with this.  So if I sound smart, don’t assume! LOL.  I just hope to learn along the way.  With that said,  I am certain that I will get some stuff wrong.  PLEASE use the opportunity to correct or question me on any topic.  My purpose for this Read Through is gain Wisdom, NOT knowledge! 

Some of you have studied books, or scriptures before.  I urge you to SHARE so that all of us can glean from your past.  If anyone is reading any books as we study The Bible…Please teach us.

Please continue to pray for all of us.

8:25 am

I have a house full of company this week and all I can think about is tomorrow.  I have to run to the Kroger but I just needed to share my excitement.  I have a few things I need to get off my chest so I will write more later…so check back.  Be in a state of prayer today.

Bible

Do you dust off your Bible yet? Buy a new one? What version are you using?  How long have you had it? Do you need to borrow one? ARE you ready?

I am! I am using my first Bible.  It is a black with white stitching NIV Life Application Bible.  It is already falling apart.  I guess they don’t make them like they used to.  I got it about 3 years ago.  Bet Cox made me buy one.  I gasped at the price.   Since then I think I own stock in Lifeway!  But I bought the one that matched my purse at the time.  It was a black coach with white stitching….remember those.  Since then it has taken a nice beating.  It has some crayon pages, some ripped, some creased…but more importantly some read!  I love that Bible and I hope to have it forever.  Since then,  I have been given a Holman from Rachel, a NASB for Kay Arthers Ministry, a NKJV from Beth, a NIV study from my sister….but my original is pretty special…I didn’t know what it was when I got it or how it would change my life. 

If you have a minute tell me about the Bible you are going to use for this assignment…version, how long you have had….etc.

What’s in a Name?

I wasn’t going ahead, I promise, but I did happen to read the first Verse.  

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1 )

and I stopped there.  I used some of the references I posted on the side bar under blogroll to look up some of the Words in Hebrew.  The English language uses God in places where the the original translation had much cooler words.  They used words that explained his character.  Last month I was reading in Exodus and came across some paragraphs that really showed God’s personality.  The different words for God does the same.  So as you read them, take a minute to use some references to see in the verse you are planted in WHICH term for God was originally used.  It makes a difference.    The God term in the first verse of the Bible is Elohim.  This reference is not the most common, but it is used 2,570 times.  Elohim (אלהים )means God, with the meaning of power and might.  Which you can see that in that verse it makes sense! (if your wondering Jehovah is the most common with almost 7000 references).  So here are 10 names that you might recognize:

Elohim Means God, refers to power and might.

El Elyon means Most High, refers to extreme sovereignty and majesty of God.

El Shaddai means God of Mountains, refers to God is all powerful.

El Olam means Everlasting God, refers to our security even after we die.

Jehovah means the one who is always present, the most common.

Jehovah-Nissi means the Lord is my banner, God gives victories.

Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord is peace, mans we can have inner peace.

Jehovah-Tsidkenu means the Lord God our Righteousness, only he can make us righteous.

Adonai means Master, God has total authority.

Theos ho Pater (Greek, NT) means God the Father refers of love and authority for all members of the family.

 

There are many many more.  I actually have a favorite, which is El Roi, because I know he sees me at all times.  Do you have one? If yes please share.

 

How are you preparing?

Ever since I  felt drawn to this assignment from the Lord to read through the entire Bible I have been preparing.  I have decided which bible I am going to use, I have a journal for it, and I bought a prayer book to coincide with the year.  More importantly,  I have been praying.  I am the type of person that starts everything with a bang and then I fizz out.  I have been in prayer over that.  We have about 30 people that have committed to this verbally and I really want us to put some time aside to pray for one another.  This assignment might be one of the single most important things I ever do.  I truly mean that.  The Lord wrote the Bible as a Book, not as a devotional.  Of course, there are times when we get in and get out to hear from Him, but the reason he tells us actual “stories” is to put the BIG picture together that He is a BIG God.  The Genealogy, the Redemption, The Sacrifice, the Revelation, The History, the Prophecy…they all fit into one Story.  God. 

Besides the Holy Spirit,  the Bible is the one vehicle He has left us to use in order to know Him.  I can’t help but to be in awe of the Bible.  Moreover…I am in awe that it is such a small Book and yet so many people just don’t read it, know it or use it.  Why am I almost 36 years old and have read only fractions of it?  How would I feel if today were my last day on this planet and the Lord says tomorrow “So Trish…what did you think of that 1 book I asked you to read?” Man, I would feel awful!

So as I prepare for this, I am asking that we all pray for ourselves and one another.  We need to pray that we don’t let the world distract us, we need to pray that scriptures we have read before fall fresh on us with a new message, we need to pray that the Lord helps clear our minds and schedule as we read, we need to pray that the Word is alive and useful daily, we need to pray that we humble ourselves to admit when we don’t understand the scriptures, we need to pray that as we read His Word we learn His way so that we allow the Spirit to sanctify us to be more like Him.  We need to pray for longevity.  As excited as I am now, I know how I am….so pray that I remain this hungry for Him for 365 days, not a day less.

Has anyone else done anything yet to prepare?  What is it? Has anyone asked a friend to be an accountability partner? Has anyone bought a commentary? A new Bible? Praying? Has anyone asked a spouse to do it with them? What has the Lord said to you about this venture? How excited are you?