Old Testament Reading Plan

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Joshua 6–11, Joel offers some thoughts about the importance of opposing that which opposes God.
RESOURCES:Here's an example of two Christians disagreeing about how to interpret the Jericho story: https://spokanefavs.com/joshua-and-the-battle-of-jericho-did-it-happen-as-the-bible-records/How seriously do we take sin? One pastor wrestles with sin and the stoning of Achan: https://www.breadforbeggars.com/2019/03/the-stoning-of-achan/Another reflection on Achan's sin: https://derrickjohnphillips.blog/2020/02/12/achan-and-ai/There is good news in the Gibeonite story, especially when juxtaposed with Rahab: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/good-news-in-the-gibeonite-deceptionA Jewish perspective on how to interpret Joshua: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/conquering-canaan/
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Deuteronomy 34 and Joshua 1–5, Joel offers some thoughts about the cyclical nature of history and how to read Joshua.
RESOURCES:There are several articles describing how we might read Joshua:-Mostly accessible: https://bibleproject.com/blog/why-did-god-command-the-invasion-of-canaan-in-the-book-of-joshua/-Readably academic: https://authentictheology.com/2017/08/18/7-interesting-things-about-the-book-of-joshua-why-most-scholars-think-it-is-not-an-accurate-historical-description/-Highly academic: https://preachingsource.com/journal/reading-the-book-of-joshua/-Academic, and in opposition to the position I take: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2019/violence-against-the-canaanites-in-deuteronomy-and-joshua-reconsidered
Some thoughts about Rahab: https://www.workingtolive.com/story-rahab-faith-action-can-transform/A devotional on the Commander of the Lord's Army: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/commander-lords-army/
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Deuteronomy 28–33, Joel offers some thoughts about the importance of covenants to God.
RESOURCES:Why do we remember negative experiences more than positive ones? The New York Times suggests some reasons here: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/24/your-money/why-people-remember-negative-events-more-than-positive-ones.htmlThere are several thoughts about the blessings of Moses and Jacob in the Torah: https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-two-blessings-of-the-twelve-tribes-varying-perspectives-similar-functionThoughts on blessings and the end of Moses' life: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-final-blessing/
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Deuteronomy 8–11, 26–27, Joel offers some thoughts about God's eyes being on the Israelites and on us.
RESOURCES:One way of understanding Deuteronomy 8 is that we need discomfort to grow: https://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/old-testament/deuteronomy/why-we-need-the-wilderness.htmlHow do we cure our stiff-necked-ness? https://mtorah.com/2012/08/09/eikev-covered-heart-stiff-neck/Immigration and caring for the sojourner: https://orthodoxephrem.wordpress.com/2018/07/08/immigration-identity-gods-character/How do we come up with a tithe being over 20% of a person's wages or produce? Here's one concise explanation: https://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/tithing-cost-israelites-more-than-10-under-the-mosaic-covenant/Here's a pastor's reflection on giving of the first fruits: https://comesundaydoc.org/2019/03/05/first-fruits-of-liberation-lectionary-reflection-for-lent-1c-deuteronomy-26/Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were very different: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3035740/jewish/Blessings-Curses-Mount-Grizim-vs-Mount-Ebal.htm
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Deuteronomy 2-7, Joel offers some thoughts about God's covenant love for us.
RESOURCES:Who or what was Og? This article gets at some of the ideas: https://www.thetorah.com/article/og-king-of-bashan-underworld-ruler-or-ancient-giantWhy two versions of the Ten Commandments? Here's one explanation: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4455092/jewish/Why-Two-Versions-of-the-Ten-Commandments.htmThe Bible Project has several videos on the Shema, which you can find here: https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/shema-series/
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Numbers 32-36 and Deuteronomy 1, Joel offers some thoughts about long-range visioning and planning.
RESOURCES:William James Jennings' book, "The Christian Imagination," can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Imagination-Theology-Origins-Race/dp/0300171366/Here's one map of the divisions of the Promised Land: https://visualunit.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/tribes_map_new.pngThe Bible Project offers a helpful assessment of the Israelite invasion of Canaan: https://bibleproject.com/blog/judgement-cruelty-conquering-promised-land/The Jewish Women's Archive shares some ideas around the daughters of Zelophehad: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/daughters-of-zelophehad-midrash-and-aggadahThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers some helpful (and concise) orientation to Deuteronomy: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/0
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Numbers 26-31, Joel offers some thoughts about the purity, righteousness, and justice God's people are called to pursue.
RESOURCES:An interesting mathematical assessment of the censuses in Numbers: https://www.math.umd.edu/~jmr/numbers.htmlOne possibility for dealing with the massive numbers of Israelites: https://www.thetorah.com/article/recounting-the-census-a-military-force-of-5500One meditation on God's justice in the midst of genocide: https://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/did-god-order-genocideA Jewish writer wrestles with the disturbing parts of Torah: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/coping-with-complexity/Another writer who lays the blame for the slaughter at Moses' feet: https://cyberpenance.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/did-god-command-genocide-and-virgin-capture-in-numbers-3115-18/
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTplanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Numbers 20-25, Joel offers some thoughts about the potential and reality of God's people.
RESOURCES:
One possible map of Israel's journey through the wilderness: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/25/30/bc/2530bcc7fd76c16a1cf81a44e4bc9bae.jpgHow do we deal with death? This is a helpful take on Miriam and Aaron's deaths: https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/torah-commentary/death-miriam-death-aaron-death-moses-death-meA thoughtful reflection about the bronze serpent, Moses, and Jesus: https://shereadstruth.com/moses-and-the-bronze-serpent/A Jewish take on the Balaam and Balak story, anchored in Jewish midrash: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3715894/jewish/Balaam-and-Balak-The-Full-Story.htmOne Christian's reflection on Balaam: http://wordshalfheard.blogspot.com/2014/01/balaams-oracle-magis-star.htmlHere are some Jewish traditions about the priest Phinehas: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4071544/jewish/Phinehas-The-Zealot-of-the-Bible.htm
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTPlanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Numbers 14-19, Joel offers some thoughts about actions and consequences.
RESOURCES:A Seventh-Day Adventist reflects on Sabbath-breaking: https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2018/08/16/why-don%25E2%2580%2599t-we-stone-sabbath-breakers-anymoreJewish midrash (commentaries on the Hebrew Bible) offers fascinating hypotheses about Dathan and Abiram: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4423161/jewish/Who-Were-Dathan-and-Abiram.htmMore midrashic thoughts, this time on Korah: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/246641/jewish/Korah-The-Rebel-of-the-Bible.htmThis thoughtful paper discusses the budding staff of Aaron as a non-violent solution to a violent rebellion: https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ajet/29-2_123.pdfDaniel Greenwood, a Jewish law professor, describes the importance of the Red Heifer law: https://sites.hofstra.edu/daniel-greenwood/parashat-hukat-numbers-19-i-the-puzzle-of-the-red-heifer/
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTPlanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot

Interested in reading the Bible? Me too! Welcome to the Old Testament Reading Plan weekly podcast.
In this episode on Leviticus 24 and Numbers 6, 10-13, Joel offers some thoughts about power, trust, and our responsibilities.
RESOURCES:This is a brief article about "HaShem": https://www.aish.com/sp/ph/69739762.htmlWant to know more about the Nazirite vow? This is a helpful article: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/287358/jewish/The-Nazir-and-the-Nazirite-Vow.htmIf you want to go down the rabbit hole of the identity of Moses' father-in-law, this is a helpful article: https://abundantsprings.church/blog/who-is-moses-father-in-law-reuel-jethro-or-hobabA scholar writes some thoughts about the quail miracle here: https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/1999-3_195.pdfMiriam and Aaron might have had reason to challenge Moses, but didn't follow the appropriate process: https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/numbers-and-work/the-challenge-to-moses-authority-numbers-12Here's some thought about the Nephilim: https://knowingscripture.com/articles/giants-in-the-land-a-biblical-theology-of-the-nephilim-anakim-rephaim-and-goliath
READING PLAN LINKS:Download the reading plan at https://bit.ly/2021OTPlanHave a question? Submit it at https://bit.ly/Ask-OTFind this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Y57KVYFind this podcast on Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/OTPlanGoogFind this podcast on Spotify: http://bit.ly/OTPlanSpot