Category: Bible (Page 391 of 420)

Admittedly, page after page of the Bible reveals something I do not understand. In Genesis 28, Jacob fled from his home and his angry brother, Esau. On the journey, he rested for the night, where God revealed himself to Jacob through a dream featuring a stairway to heaven.

In the midst of this fascinating story I got stuck on Jacob’s choice for a pillow – a stone. Why choose a stone to place under his head? Why not an extra blanket or robe? Apparently, head-resting objects of metal, from that era, have been unearthed in Egypt. So, Jacob rested as was normal in his day – on the ground with a hard object to cradle his head. Who knew?

In the broader picture, the stone under Jacob’s head became an alter, the place Jacob slept became a shrine, and Jacob himself transformed from fugitive to pilgrim – God in his grace revealed himself to Jacob.*

* Thank you to Allen P. Ross for this insight, found in his wonderful commentary on Genesis, Creation & Blessing.

Week three of reading the Bible cover to cover.

Today marks the end of the second week of reading the Bible cover to cover in 2021. You made it!

We watched the worlds form and followed the adventures of Abraham. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt and Jesus brought a little girl back to life – our first dive into the unlimited depth of the scriptures.

So much, so soon, and we’ve only started.

Week two of reading the Bible cover to cover.

Issac lied to Abimelech. Fearful of his host, the king of the Philistines, Issac told him that Rebekah was his sister, not his wife. Abimelech caught Issac in his lie, scolded him, and eventually drove Issac and his clan away (Genesis 26).

This incident mirrors Abraham’s lie about his wife, Sarah, to Pharaoh in Egypt (Genesis 12).

So I wonder, did Issac come up with this scheme on his own? More likely, he heard stories growing up in the family tents about how Abraham outwitted Pharaoh and grew rich. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Be careful the stories you tell your children.

In Mark 9:42-49, Jesus says a lot about hell. Jesus issues a series of warnings against causing others, and ourselves, to stumble. Stark choices, and consequences, rain down. As I read over and over, it appears easier to land in hell than I like to think.

To Jesus, hell is a real place, and he should know.

I gloss over this aspect of Jesus’s teaching, skimming past in my search for softer lessons. Not sure that’s the best practice.

Week two of reading the Bible cover to cover.