Reading with Ben

Reading with Ben

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Reading with Ben episodes

  • The Book of Exodus Chapters 3 & 4. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! I'm very excited to start reading the second Book of the Bible... Yes! I'm talking about Exodus. This is Episode #02 of this new season, Reading chapters 3 & 4.


    Exodus chapter 3, This chapter provides one of Scripture's most infamous encounters: Moses and the burning bush. This chapter can be divided into four sections, as God calls Moses to a position of leadership and vows to bring judgment on Egypt for their treatment of Israel.

    Exodus chapter 4, God commanded Moses to tell the Pharaoh that Israel is the Lord’s son, even the Lord’s firstborn. Pharaoh was to let God’s son go so that he may serve his God. If Pharaoh refused, he would lose his first son. An interesting thing took place before Moses left.

    God thought to kill Moses because he had not circumcised his son. The rules of God are not exempt for servants or leaders of God. Zipporah was not so happy about this but it had to be. Moses headed out and was met along the way by his brother Aaron, who was brought up to speed by his younger brother.

    12 min
  • The Book of Exodus Chapters 1 & 2. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! I'm very excited to start reading the second Book of the Bible... Yes! I'm talking about Exodus.

    This is Episode #01 of this new season, Reading chapters 1 & 2.

    Exodus 1 consists of four main sections. The first section describes the context of the children of Israel after the death of Joseph. The twelve sons become twelve tribes, expanding from seventy people and Joseph's family already in Egypt to becoming "fruitful and increased greatly" (Exodus 1:7). The land was "filled" with the Jewish people. The Lord had blessed Abraham's line with many descendants just as He had promised


    Chapter 2 provides the birth account of Moses (Exodus 2:1–10), the story of his exile to Midian as an adult (Exodus 2:11–22), and the context of the Jews just prior to the call of Moses to free the people (Exodus 2:23–25). In the first section, the text reveals Moses was born to parents from the tribe of Levi (Exodus 2:1). He was hidden for three months to escape death under Pharaoh's command to murder infant Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:22). When the mother of Moses could hide him no longer, she placed him in a basket in the Nile River.

    10 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 50. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 24, 2022, and Episode #24!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapter 50.

    Genesis chapter 50, immediately following Jacob's death (Genesis 49:33), Joseph weeps openly and falls on his father's body, kissing his face. This death hits him hard. After ordering Jacob's body to be embalmed—likely meaning mummified—by the Egyptian doctors, Joseph will set about obeying his father's final wish to be buried in Canaan (Genesis 49:29–32). First, however, the state of Egypt observes an official 70–day period of mourning. This is an extraordinary gesture toward a man otherwise unconnected to that culture (Genesis 50:1–3).


    Though Joseph has been invested with incredible authority (Genesis 41:44), he is still technically a slave to the ruler of Egypt. This king, known by the title Pharaoh, must be consulted if Joseph is to leave the country. He asks through a messenger, possibly because those in mourning were not allowed to physically see the Pharaoh. Not only does Pharaoh agree to allow Joseph and his brothers to leave for the burial, he sends a huge delegation of Egyptian servants and dignitaries along to honor Jacob. In addition, Pharaoh sends horsemen and chariots. As with Jacob's mourning period, this is an extravagant affair (Genesis 50:4–9).


    7 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 48 and 49. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 23, 2022, and Episode #23!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 48  & 49.|

    Genesis chapter 48, Jacob had talked about dying for many years (Genesis 37:35; 47:9), but now he truly nears the end of his days. If this scene takes place immediately before the events of chapter 49, Jacob is literally on his deathbed. Joseph, hearing of his father's illness, comes to Jacob's side with his two oldest sons to receive a blessing. Jacob's frailty is reflected in the effort it takes him to sit up in bed (Genesis 48:1–2).

    Genesis chapter 49, Before he dies, Jacob urgently seeks to complete two important pieces of business with his twelve sons. First, he wishes to give a prophetic message appropriate to each. While these are titled "blessings," not all are positive. These are presented more as predictions than bestowing favors. Second, he wants to command them to bury his body in Canaan and not in Egypt.

    12 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 46 and 47. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 22, 2022, and Episode #22!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 46  & 47.

    Genesis chapter 46 can be divided into three sections: Jacob's final encounter with the Lord, a count of all of Jacob's descendants at or around this time, and Jacob's reunion with his son Joseph in the land of Egypt.

    Genesis chapter 47 answering the brothers directly, Pharaoh addresses Joseph, granting him the authority to grant his brothers' request. This is both an honor to Joseph and an act of wisdom by Egypt's ruler. This establishes that Jacob's family is there under Joseph's care—Joseph is their patron, not the Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh does, however, command Joseph to settle his family in Goshen and to put some of them in charge of managing his own livestock (Genesis 47:5–6).

    14 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 44 and 45. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 17, 2022, and Episode #21!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 44  & 45.

    Genesis chapter 44 Joseph's test continues by having his own personal, valuable silver cup hidden in the grain sack carried by Benjamin. Under Joseph's orders, the steward catches up with the brothers on the road back to Canaan. He questions them harshly, accusing them of stealing the cup. Naturally, the brothers protest loudly. They have no idea the cup is with them. Seeking to prove their innocence, they make a foolish offer: if any of them are found with the cup, that man will be killed, and the rest will become slaves to the ruler (Genesis 44:3–10).


    Genesis 45 is a chapter filled with revelations. It begins with Joseph revealing his identity to his terrified brothers. It ends with those brothers revealing that their father's beloved son Joseph is not dead; he is living as a ruler in Egypt. While the events of Genesis are factual, this passage also serves as an example of excellent storytelling. Genesis 45 provides the emotional "payoff" that has been building over the last several chapters. Joseph, unrecognized by his ten older brothers when they arrive in Egypt to buy grain (Genesis 42:7–8), has chosen not to reveal himself to them. Instead, Joseph has tested them by both providing generously and treating them harshly as well (Genesis 43—44).

    13 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 42 and 43. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 17, 2022, and Episode #20!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 42  & 43.

    Genesis chapter 42 begins with Jacob sending his ten oldest sons to Egypt to buy grain for the family. It ends with him refusing to send his youngest son back as part of a second trip.

    Genesis chapter 43 Jacob lashes out, blaming his sons for even mentioning Benjamin to the Egyptian governor (Genesis 42:13). It's not clear how much time has passed, but it's long enough that the situation goes from bad to worse, and the family is on the verge of starvation. Pressing the issue, Judah sways his father in two ways. First, he points out that the family, including the little ones, and Benjamin, will all die without food from Egypt. Second, Judah offers his own life as a pledge of safety for Benjamin, committing to be responsible if anything should happen to his youngest brother. Jacob can either let everyone die, including his youngest son, or he can send the entire group to see if they can obtain food (Genesis 43:6–10).

    15 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 40 and 41. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 19, 2022, and Episode #19!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 40  & 41.

    Genesis chapter 40, Joseph continues to languish in a special prison attached to the house of the captain of the guard (Genesis 39:11–20). While Joseph's former master held that position (Genesis 39:1), Scripture does not use the name Potiphar from this point forward. It's unclear if Potiphar is still in that role, or if he has been replaced. After Joseph has been there "some time," likely several years, two new prisoners arrive. Pharaoh has become angry at both his chief cupbearer and his chief baker. He throws them into the prison, also called "the pit" or "the dungeon," where Joseph is.

    Genesis chapter 41, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, experiences two troubling and prophetic dreams. In the first, seven beautiful, healthy cows come up out of the Nile River to feed on the grass. Then seven famished, emaciated cows come up after them and devour them. The second dream is similar. Pharaoh sees seven good ears of grain growing on a single stalk. Then seven thin, wasted-looking ears grow up after them and somehow swallow up the healthy ears of grain.

    13 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 38 and 39. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 18, 2022, and Episode #18!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 38  & 39.

    Genesis Chapter 38 likely takes place during Joseph's time as a slave in Egypt (Genesis 37:26–28) and sometime before he is reunited with his brothers (Genesis 45:1–3). After this passage, the text will return to a focus on Joseph.


    Genesis Chapter 39 Joseph has been falsely accused. It would be natural to expect him to think he had lost God's blessing. However, Scripture is quick to assure us that the Lord was still with Joseph. Even more, God showed Joseph His steadfast love. Though Joseph languished in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn't commit, he had not been abandoned. As evidence of this fact, God causes the king's jailer to be impressed with Joseph's work ethic, integrity, and success. Soon, Joseph is given charge of nearly all the duties in the prison, much as he had been in Potiphar's house. Because of the Lord's blessing, everything Joseph does continues to succeed (Genesis 39:21–24).

    11 min
  • The Book of Genesis Part 2 Chapters 36 and 37. ESV Version.

    Welcome back to Reading with Ben! Today April 17, 2022, and Episode #17!

    I'll continue the lecture with chapters 36  & 37.

    Genesis 36 consists of a list of Esau's offspring, focusing primarily on genealogy and the rulers of Edom, the nation that came from Esau. The chapter is inserted in Genesis between the generations of Isaac (Genesis 25:19), ending with his death in the previous chapter (Genesis 35:28–29), and the generations of Jacob, which follow Joseph's story through to the end of the book (Genesis 37:1–2).


    Genesis 37 takes up the story of Jacob's son Joseph. Joseph, just 17, is both deeply loved and deeply hated. Described as the son of Jacob's old age, as well as being the firstborn of Jacob's beloved late wife Rachel, Joseph is clearly favored by his father over his older ten half-brothers. It's not surprising, then, to learn of their hatred for Joseph, especially when Jacob gives to him a princely, multicolored robe. This gift may have indicated Jacob's plan to make Joseph his primary heir. Joseph doesn't make it better. He reports on his brothers' misdeeds to Jacob. He also tells them of powerful prophetic dreams he experiences that suggest all of them will one day bow down to him (Genesis 37:1–11).


    14 min

About Reading with Ben

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Hello everyone I'm glad to introduce myself in this first episode.