You Can Read the Bible Guided Podcast

Today the focus shifts back to Abraham and will stay there for a while. Abraham moves to the Negev, a desert region in southern Canaan. There he enters the territory of Abimelech, he makes a second attempt to save his neck through deception, and it goes about as well as the first time. These stories of Abraham and Abimelech must serve some purpose in the overall narrative, and we’ll talk about that more in our Weekly Dig, which is now available for Week 1.

We then swing between the joy of Isaac’s birth and Sarah’s jealousy of Hagar and her own son, Ishmael. Allow God to be the subject of the story as Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, yet with a promise of their own.

Chapter 22 brings one of the most difficult passages in all the Bible: God’s command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Pay attention to the very first line of this chapter: “After these things, God tested Abraham…” That verb “tested” is a clue to the meaning of what happens next. Since you know that it’s a test, you can immerse yourself in the story and imagine what it’s like for Abraham, who doesn’t know he’s being tested.

The author is clueing you in that the terror to come is not arbitrary: there is a plan to sending Abraham – and you – into the valley of the shadow of death. But Abraham doesn’t know this. He’s still figuring out who this God is, and whether he can trust Him. Pay attention to the line, “God will provide,” when it’s first said, and how it gets repeated.

There are two additional things to listen for today. The first is the elemental details that add color to the page: the bread and skin of water given to Hagar; the Tamarisk tree in Beersheba; the negotiation with Ephron over a burial plot. These are very human stories, with very human details, which don’t escape the author’s notice.

And notice another name given in worship to the LORD: El Olam, The Everlasting God. Add this to “God Most High” and “The God Who Sees” that we’ve already heard this week, watch how excited these first followers were to make new discoveries about the LORD.

For a final time this week we revisit John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Genesis chapters 20 through 23. Now let’s read it!

Yesterday’s reading ended with the hope and promise of an heir to carry the grand promises God had made to Abram. Today’s reading begins with Abram’s attempt to manage the promise by conceiving an heir with Sarai’s servant, Hagar.

Now, as odd as this story might seem to us, there was nothing unusual about it in Abram’s time. A child born to Sarai’s slave would be legally considered to be Sarai’s child. This means that not only would Sarai lose her reproach as barren, but Abram would have a defined heir, and his possessions, and most importantly, his property in Canaan, would remain in the family.

However, the LORD has other plans. Notice through chapters 17 and 18 that the LORD reveals first to Abram (now known as Abraham), and then to his wife (now known as Sarah), that she will bear the son who will carry the promise. Sarah’s disbelief is contrasted with Abraham’s faithfulness… but let’s understand that they are both experiencing something profound and unique for which they had no point of reference.

When the three men arrive in chapter 18, notice how the author jumps back and forth between referring to them as “the three men” and at other times as “the LORD.” This is one of the most fascinating conversations in the whole Bible, and unfortunately sets up the negotiations that surround the destruction of Sodom. Notice how, in each of these discussions, the LORD listens to Abraham, pushes Abraham, but doesn’t condescend or humiliate Abraham.

The reading closes with a few disturbing scenes – the depth of Sodom’s disgrace, the chains that bind Lot’s wife, and the corruption of Lot’s daughters. This is the last time we’ll see Lot, and last impressions are sometimes more important than first impressions. The author might be communicating something about Lot and his family by leaving us with these final glimpses.

Hopefully you’re realizing that the Bible doesn’t shy away from dark corners. The subject of the story, again, is God, and it’s His character that we’re to pay the most attention to.

I hope you’ve memorized it by now, but our verse for this week is John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Genesis chapters 16 through 19. Now let’s read it!

The camera shifts from high overhead to just above the ground, as we zoom in on the story of Abram and his family. The rest of Genesis will follow Abram, his children, and grandchildren.

It begins with a set of promises – a covenant that the LORD makes with Abram – and this raises some monumental questions for the reader. Will the LORD be true to His promises? Is the LORD powerful enough to fulfill them? In a world where gods were notoriously fickle and finite, these were no small considerations.

Furthermore, remember that the subject of the Bible is God, so these questions are in the always in the background as the story of Abram and his descendants unfolds.

In today’s reading you’ll encounter a few additional characters: Abram and his wife Sarai escape the Pharaoh of Egypt – despite Abram’s ill-conceived deception. We get our first battle scene in chapter 14, as Abram comes to Lot’s rescue when Mesopotamian raiders take him captive. And Melchizedek, king of Salem and Priest of El Elyon – God Most High, blesses him upon his return.

But in the stillness of one late night, Abram nervously contemplates his lack of an heir. How can the promise ever mean anything if there’s no one to pass it on to? There is powerful emotion in this dialogue, as well as in the vision that follows.

All of this reflects back on those first three verses of today’s reading: “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country…to the land that I will show you, and I will make of you are great nation…’” This covenant is the framework for the whole rest of the Old Testament – and in some ways, for the whole rest of the Bible. Let this command and these promises sink into your bones.

Our verse for this week is John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Genesis 12 through 15. Now let’s read it!

As we begin today the earth is still covered by water, with Noah floating safely above it. There’s something striking about the very first line in today’s reading: “But God remembered Noah and all the animals…” Rescue wasn’t enough. Noah was rescued in order that he might thrive in some other future. Not only saved, but saved for something.

You will notice today certain human metaphors that are used to describe the LORD: He “remembers” Noah. Later on, God “smells the pleasing aroma” of Noah’s sacrifice and “says in His heart” that He will never again destroy the earth in this way.

Remember, the subject of this book is God, and this is the most personal description of the LORD we’ve seen thus far. You can ask, what is the author saying here?

At the end of the Noah story there is a troubling scene with his sons. Pay attention to the names here, and the character of the men who bore them, as well as the names in the genealogy that follows. These names would have been familiar to the Hebrews when they heard these stories and many of them will be seen again as cities, tribes, and nations later on.

Near the end of today’s reading is the story of the Tower of Babel. These nine verses have what’s called a “chiastic” structure: it’s a form of poetry where every event in the first half has a response, in reverse order, in the second half. You can even have fun mapping it yourself.

Notice again in this passage the human metaphor of God “coming down” to view the city and tower. Also pay attention to the conversation God has in the heavens: using words like “us” and “we.” You’ve seen this before – “Let us make man in our image… Behold, the man has become like us, knowing good and evil…” Let this soak in.

Again, our verse for the week is John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Genesis chapters 8 through 11. Now let’s read it!

The scene opens with Adam and Eve giving birth to two sons: Cain the older, and Abel the younger. As grown men, the two of them bring offerings to the LORD out of their respective harvests. Cain of vegetables, and Abel of his flock. God favors one over the other, and there is a moment of decision.

In the moment of decision you can breathe in the imagery of the active posture of sin – it’s crouching at Cain’s door, ready to devour him. Listen to what Cain fears.

Yesterday, I encouraged you to pay attention to what gets repeated: words, phrases, and themes. Observe also the dialogue, which questions are asked, and what people are fearful of. Repetition and dialogue are tools the author uses to develop purpose and meaning. If you want to know what was important to the author (and you should!), pay attention to repetition and dialogue – what is repeated, and what is said.

As we head through chapters 4 and 5 we discover hope – the human race continues despite its dysfunction. Generations pass. And in chapter 6 the camera zooms in on a moment when God declares “It’s enough.” Pay attention again to the dialogue in chapters 6 and 7.

There’s two important themes in today’s reading: First, God does not automatically favor the older brother over the younger. Second, God defends the righteous – with Abel, as his advocate, and with Noah, by providing deliverance.

Both of these ideas are not only completely unknown to the ancient world, but they each serve as huge themes in Genesis – and the rest of the Bible. Watch out for them!

Our closing verse for this week is John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Genesis Chapters 4 through 7. Go read it!

Today you begin a fifteen month journey of reading through the entire Bible. This will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

Each day we’ll provide an introduction to the passage you’ll be reading. Our purpose is not to blow your mind with deep commentary, nor to provide a shallow, clever application, but rather our goal is to shine a brighter light on what you’ll be reading.

Today’s passage begins the whole story. When I use that word “story” I don’t want you to hear “Myth” or “Fairy Tale.” Rather, “story” is a shorthand for “narrative.” What you’re looking at is not a theology textbook or how-to manual or a self-help guide. It’s a story. And we’re wired to learn through story.

And this passage – really the first 11 chapters of Genesis – is a collection of stories about time before time – the camera zooms in and out around certain events that the author wants to illuminate. As you read through the beginning of that story today, here’s a few things to notice:

First: The primary subject of this passage and of this entire book is God. The object is creation. Keeping the focus on God as the subject – the One that the Bible is about – will serve us well as we read through the Bible. This passage tells us a lot about God – what He’s capable of, and what He expects.

Second: Humanity is special. We are made in God’s image, given “dominion” over creation, filled with the breath of life.

Third: Pay attention to words, themes, or phrases that get repeated or revisited. The canopy in chapter 1; the “naked and not ashamed” and “for this reason a man shall leave his house” that gets flipped around between chapters 2 and 3; and the act of naming in all three chapters.

Finally, when you get to chapter 3 (which recounts what is called “The Fall”), look at the deceit, disruption, and blaming between the characters. Pay attention to what they’re afraid of, and how they respond to that fear.

We’ll end each day this week with John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Genesis 1 through 3. Go read it!