Genesis 23 Dear RTB’ers, On our second day of reading this year I asked about Genesis 3 being a stand-alone chapter, while on both sides of Genesis 3 we had chapters doubled up (1-2 and 4-5). I argued that Genesis 3 deserved its solitary status, with sin entering the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience …
Monthly Archives: February 2024
February 9 / Genesis 21:22-22:24
Genesis 21:22-22:24 Dear RTB’ers, Today, in my mind, the most powerful story in the Old Testament, Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. As we read through the Old Testament, we will see how Joseph and Moses prefigured Jesus by delivering their people – Joseph bringing his brothers and their families to Egypt to escape the famine in …
February 8 / Genesis 20:1-21:21
Genesis 20:1-21:21 Dear RTB’ers, Two stories today, Abram-Abimelech and Isaac-Ishmael. The Abimelech incident is similar to the one we encountered a few days ago when Abram took a little trip down to Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20). In both cases Abraham told Sarah to say that she was his sister, not his wife. I certainly don’t understand …
February 7 / Genesis 19
Genesis 19 Dear RTB’ers, Genesis 19, one of the saddest chapters in the Bible. How could anyone read Genesis 19 and still be positive for same-sex issues? The men of Sodom speaking: “Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” (v. 5b, ESV) The NASB is more deliberate: “Bring them out to us …
February 6 / Genesis 18
Genesis 18 Dear RTB’ers, I mentioned yesterday that we would see “the angel of the LORD” appearing in our readings as we moved through the Bible. Today we see the LORD Himself coming to Abraham, along with two companions: And the LORD appeared to him… and behold, three men were standing in front of him. …
February 5 / Genesis 16-17
Genesis 16-17 Dear RTB’ers, Early on I suggested that I try to get my e-mail posts out by 8:00 AM, or 9:00 AM at the latest. Obviously I have not held myself firmly to that schedule, but I do try to post early. Today, however, the newborn child across the driveway created my delay. So, …
February 4 / Genesis 15
Genesis 15 Dear RTB’ers, Today, a short reading, not as much action, mostly a conversation between the Lord and Abraham. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram… (v. 18a). This is now the second covenant between God and His people. The first was with Noah (God speaking): “Behold, I establish My covenant …
February 3 / Genesis 13:5-14:24
Genesis 13:5-14:24 Dear RTB’ers, There’s a lot going on in today’s reading. We met Lot yesterday, Abram’s nephew. Now today in Genesis 13 we see the beginnings of a dispute between Abram and Lot, who were both quite wealthy. The issue was pasture and water for their herds and flocks – there was not enough …
February 2 / Genesis 11:10-13:4
Genesis 11:10-13:4 Dear RTB’ers, Today we meet Abram, whose name is later changed to Abraham. Immediately we encounter confusions – confusions, at least, in our own way of thinking. My first confusion comes with Abram’s brother, Nahor, marrying his brother Haran’s daughter, Milcah. That is, Nahor married his niece. Strange to us, but that’s how …
February 1 / Genesis 10:1-11:9
Genesis 10:1-11:9 Dear RTB’ers, The whole of chapter 10 might be just a bunch of foreign names to some of you, but it’s surprising how many of these names show up later in the Bible. My own short list (surely forgetting some that show up later): Gomer, Magog, Tubal, Meshech, Tarshish, Kittim, Cush, Egypt, Put, …