Devoted to Scripture

Devoted to Scripture

By Devoted to ScriptureReligion & Spirituality
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Devoted to Scripture episodes

  • #024 Exodus 17-19

    Day 24 of the podcast, reading Exodus 17-19 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Exodus+17-19/

    This is day 24 of our journey.

    Israel continues to grumble and complain about the lack of provisions, but God is patient and provides them with water from a rock! We are then given a picture of the governmental structure for the nation as Moses' father-in-law gives advice about how to judge the multitude of people. And finally, Israel reaches Mount Sinai, the mountain of the Lord, and trembles in the presence of God Almighty.

    Join me in Exodus 17-19 as the nation of Israel is established by the power and wisdom of God.

    Key verses:

    Exodus 17:6

    I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel.  

    Exodus 18:21

    But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  

    Exodus 19:20

    The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    11 min
  • #023 Exodus 14-16

    Day 23 of the podcast, reading Exodus 14-16 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Exodus+14-16/

    This is day 23 of our journey.

    After the death of every Egyptian firstborn, Pharaoh finally allowed Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness.  However, after his long-time slaves are gone, Pharaoh's temper flares and he begins to pursue the Israelites with his army.  With a huge army approaching and no escape path in sight, the Israelites begin to fear for their lives but God extends his mighty hand to fight for His people!  He leads His people through the Red Sea and drowns the Egyptian army when they try to follow.  After seeing God's faithfulness and might, you would expect great trust in the power of God, yet the people grumble and complain at the lack of water and of food.  Nevertheless, God continues to provide for his wayward children.

    Join me in Exodus 14-16 as God's power and provision are broadcast to the nations.

    Key verses:

    Exodus 14:14

    The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.”  

    Exodus 15:13

    By your loyal love you will lead the people whom you have redeemed;you will guide them by your strength to your holy dwelling place.

    Exodus 16:35

    Now the Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was inhabited; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    16 min
  • #022 Exodus 11-13

    Day 22 of the podcast, reading Exodus 11-13 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Exodus+11-13/

    This is day 22 of our journey.

    Today we learn the ritual and history of the feast of Passover.  God prepares to bring his final judgment on the Egyptians, the death of every firstborn in the land, just as he warned Pharaoh in chapter 4.  But God institutes the Passover as a way for the Israelite firstborns to be saved.  By killing a spotless lamb and covering their doorposts with the blood, the angel of death will pass over the home and not kill.  1500 years later, Christ died as our spotless Passover lamb so that the death that we deserve would pass over us and that we might live eternally.

    Join me in Exodus 11-13 to see the fulfillment of God's promise to defeat Egypt and deliver his people.

    Key verses:

    Exodus 11:5

    and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.  

    Exodus 12:27

    then you will say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, when he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck Egypt and delivered our households.’” The people bowed down low to the ground,  

    Exodus 13:18

    So God brought the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea, and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle.  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    14 min
  • #021 Exodus 8-10

    Day 21 of the podcast, reading Exodus 8-10 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Exodus+8-10/

    This is day 21 of our journey.

    The reading today unfolds over many days as Moses & Aaron repeatedly stand before Pharaoh, pleading with him to allow Israel to go worship God and warning him of the coming trouble if he refuses.  Each time Pharaoh refuses...God steps in with another plague: frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness.  Undeterred by the power of God's mighty hand, Pharaoh foolishly throws Moses & Aaron from his presence, telling them never to return.  This sets the stage for a final plague...a plague that would change the course of Egyptian history.

    Join me in Exodus 8-10 to see God's power revealed to rescue his people.

    Key verses:

    Exodus 8:15

    But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.  

    Exodus 9:16

    But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth.  

    Exodus 10:2

    and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    16 min
  • #020 Exodus 5-7

    Day 20 of the podcast, reading Exodus 5-7 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Exodus+5-7/

    This is day 20 of our journey.

    Moses and his brother Aaron stand before Pharaoh and give the stubborn ruler a message from God.  Pharaoh's heart is hardened against God and His people and he refuses to listen. Instead of letting the Israelites leave to worship God, he finds ways to makes their labor even harder and exert his dominance over the situation.  God responds by promising to deliver Israel and to enact judgement upon Egypt.  Our reading ends with the first of ten major judgements from God upon the house of Pharaoh as he turns the water of the Nile into blood.

    Join me in Exodus 5-7 for God's promise of deliverance.

    Key verses:

    Exodus 5:3

    And they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go a three-day journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, so that he does not strike us with plague or the sword.”  

    Exodus 6:1

    Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for compelled by my strong hand he will release them, and by my strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”  

    Exodus 7:4

    Pharaoh will not listen to you. I will reach into Egypt and bring out my regiments, my people the Israelites, from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment.  

    Exodus 7:17

    This is what the Lord has  said:“By this you will know that I am the Lord: I am going to strike the water of the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned into blood.  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    12 min
  • #019 Exodus 1-4

    Day 19 of the podcast, reading Exodus 1-4 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Exodus+1-4/

    This is day 19 of our journey.

    Today, we move into Exodus; the second book of the Bible.  About 200 years have passed since the events at the end of Genesis and the Israelites have become "many and mighty".  As a result of their growing numbers, the Egyptians have enslaved God's people to keep them from becoming a threat to the empire.  In the heart of this turbulent era, Levi's great-grandson, Moses, is born.  By God's provision, Moses is protected as an infant and grows up in luxury within the palace with the Pharaoh himself.  As Moses reaches adulthood, however, the young man has not forgotten his identity as an Israelite and can no longer turn a blind eye to the suffering of his people.  After murdering an Egyptian, Moses flees to Midian where he lives for 40 years.  Then, at the age of 80, God appears to Moses and calls him to lead his people out of Egypt to the land of promise.  Reluctantly, Moses returns to Egypt and tells the leaders of Israel that "I AM" is going to deliver them from Egypt!

    Join me in Exodus 1-4 as God remembers his covenant with Abraham.

    Key verses:

    Exodus 1:9
    He said to his people, “Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are!

    Exodus 2:10
    When the child grew older she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “Because I drew him from the water.”  

    Exodus 2:24
    God heard their groaning, God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob,  

    Exodus 3:14
    God said to Moses, “I am that I am.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

    Exodus 4:15
     “So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do.  

    Exodus 4:23
    and I said to you, ‘Let my son go that he may serve me,’ but since you have refused to let him go, I will surely kill your son, your firstborn!”’”  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    19 min
  • #018 Genesis 48-50

    Day 18 of the podcast, reading Genesis 48-50 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Genesis+48-50/

    This is day 18 of our journey.

    Today we finish the book of Genesis!  The first book of the Bible closes with Jacob's final words of blessing on his sons.  First, he specifically blesses Joseph and establishes that Joseph's sons have equal status with his own sons, thus granting Joseph a double portion of the inheritance.  Then, Jacob speaks a blessing on all 12 of his sons.  Each blessing is specific to the son and tells something about his character AND about the future place of their tribe within the nation of Israel.  Most prominently, he grants to Judah, his 4th son, the crown and a prophecy of a permanent kingship over the entire world.  As we read these blessings, think back on what you know about these sons and the things they have done.  In the last chapter, Jacob dies and is taken home to be buried with Abraham & Isaac.  Then, Joseph speaks a blessing on his brothers, granting them full pardon for the evil they enacted upon him, pointing to God's complete sovereignty!

    Join me in Genesis 48-50 as we see a picture of God's grace within the final blessings of Jacob and Joseph.

    Key verses:

    Genesis 48:20
    So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you will Israel bless, saying,‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.  

    Genesis 49:10
    The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.

    Genesis 49:28
    These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each of them an appropriate blessing.  

    Genesis 50:19-20
    But Joseph answered them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  20 As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    16 min
  • #017 Genesis 46-47

    Day 17 of the podcast, reading Genesis 46-47 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Genesis+46-47/

    This is day 17 of our journey.

    What a blessed reunion!  After 22 years, Jacob is finally reunited with his beloved son Joseph.  The entire house of Israel travels to Egypt, 70 people in all.  They settle in the land and prosper there as Joseph provides for them.  As Jacob enters Egypt, he is brought before Pharaoh and blesses the most powerful ruler in the land.  As God had once promised, Abraham's family IS a blessing to the nations!

    Join me in Genesis 46-47 as we witness God's preserving power at work in the house of Israel!

    Key verses:

    Genesis 46:3-4
    He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  4 I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes.”  

    Genesis 47:7
    Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh.  

    Genesis 47:27
    Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they owned land there. They were fruitful and increased rapidly in number.  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    12 min
  • #016 Genesis 43-45

    Day 16 of the podcast, reading Genesis 43-45 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Genesis+43-45/

    This is day 16 of our journey.
    Back in Canaan, Jacob is distressed at the thought of sending Benjamin to Egypt and possibly losing another son but Judah steps up to take responsibility for his life.  All of the brothers return to Egypt and are put to the test; Joseph claims Benjamin as his servant and sends the others away in peace. Rather than return home to his family, Judah shows the changes in his life by offering himself as a substitute for Benjamin.  Seeing God's work in his brother's life, Joseph finally breaks down and reveals himself to his family.  The reunion is rich with tears and rejoicing, and Joseph reassures his brothers that God miraculously used the harm that they had intended as a way to preserve all of their lives!  We end today with eleven brothers rushing home to retrieve their father, Jacob, so that he could embrace his once lost and beloved son!
    Join me in Genesis 43-45 for every detail of the intrigue and emotion of this great reunion!

    Key verses:

    Genesis 43:9
    I myself pledge security for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.  

    Genesis 43:30
    Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.  

    Genesis 44:33
     “So now, please let your servant remain as my lord’s slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers.  

    Genesis 45:5
    Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!

    Genesis 45:28
    Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    17 min
  • #015 Genesis 41-42

    Day 15 of the podcast, reading Genesis 41-42 NET, read along at:

    https://netbible.org/bible/Genesis+41-42/

    This is day 15 of our journey.
    Two years have past since the previous passage. Despite his faithfulness, Joseph still remains in prison and is holding on to the hope that the Pharaoh's cupbearer would remember him.  Finally, Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret and God provides an opportunity for Joseph to sit before the most powerful ruler of the era! By God's power, Joseph is able to interpret the dream and tells Pharaoh all that will happen over then next 14 years.  Impressed with his wisdom, Pharaoh appoints Joseph as his second in command, and "God's man" begins to rule over the entire nation.  After 7 years, as God predicted, a severe famine hits the entire known world and, due to the Lord's provision through Joseph, Egypt is the only nation that has food during the calamity.  People come to Joseph from every neighboring land to buy food from Egypt's plentiful stores...to his surprise, this even includes his own brothers (a scene he once witnessed in his dreams as a boy)!  After years apart, Joseph's brothers don't recognise the boy they once sold into slavery when they come face to face with him as an adult.  Because of their past treachery, Joseph doesn't fully trust his brothers and devises a test to prove whether or not they have changed.  
    Join me in Genesis 41-42 as God provides for His people and fulfills His promises.

    Key verses:

    Genesis 41:25
    Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same meaning. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.  

    Genesis 41:57
    People from every country came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain because the famine was severe throughout the earth.  

    Genesis 42:5
    So Israel’s sons came to buy grain among the other travelers, for the famine was severe in the land of Canaan.  

    Genesis 42:22
    Reuben said to them, “Didn't I say to you, ‘Don't sin against the boy,’ but you wouldn't listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!”  

    All Scriptures are from the NET.

    17 min

About Devoted to Scripture

From the publisher's feed

This will be a daily posting of my trip through the Bible. I will be reading the NET aloud. Each day I will introduce the passage with a brief commentary. But mostly I will simply be reading the Word of God for you.