Month: January 2026

Day 11 – A YEAR IN THE BIBLE – Genesis 31-33

______

GENESIS 31 – BETHEL

Return Unto the Land of Thy Fathers and To Thy Kindred
And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. – Genesis 31:1-3

The Speckled Shall Be Thy Wages; The Ringstraked Thy Hire
And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, and said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. – Genesis 31:4-10

I am the God of Bethel Where Thou Vowedst a Vow Unto Me
And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. – Genesis 31:11-13

Whatsoever God Hath Said Unto Thee, Do
And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is our’s, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do – Genesis 31:14-16

Except the God of My Father Had Been with Me
This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. – Genesis 31:38-42

Let Us Make a Covenant
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. – Genesis 31:43-44

______

GENESIS 32 – DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF MY BROTHER

Deliver Me, I Pray Thee, from the Hand of My Brother
And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. – Genesis 32:9-12

In today’s reading of the Old Testament, we learn about Jacob’s encounter with God as he prepared to meet with his brother, Esau. Jacob wrestled with God throughout the night and at the end of that night, his name was changed to Israel. We read about Jacob’s reconciliation with Esau, how he settles in the land of Canaan, and how his daughter was defiled there, and how vengeance for her defilement was executed.

Thy Name Shall Be Called No More Jacob, but Israel
And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank. – Genesis 32:22-32

______

GENESIS 33 – ESAU RAN TO MEET HIM (JACOB)

And Esau Ran to Meet Him
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my Lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. – Genesis 33:4-11

Day 10 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 28-30

______

GENESIS 28 – GOD BLESS THEE AND MAKE THEE FRUITFUL

God Almighty Bless Thee and Make Thee Fruitful
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother. – Genesis 28:1-5

A Ladder Set Up on the Earth and the Top Reached to Heaven
And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. – Genesis 28:10-17

If God Be With Me So I Come Again to My Father’s House in Peace
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. – Genesis 28:18-22

______

GENESIS 29 – SEVEN WEEKS (YEARS)

I Will Serve Thee Seven Years for Rachel
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. – Genesis 29:15-20

In the Morning, Behold, It was Leah
And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. – Genesiis 29:25-27

He (Laban) Gave Him Rachel His Daughter to Wife Also
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. – Genesis 29:28-30

______

GENESIS 30 – THE LORD HATH BLESSED ME FOR THY SAKE

The LORD Hath Blessed Me for Thy Sake
And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. – Genesis 30:25-27

Day 9 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 25-27

______

GENESIS 25

And His (Abraham’s) Sons Isaac and Ishmael Buried Him
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi. – Genesis 25:8-11

Isaac Intreated the LORD for His Wife Because She Was Barren
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; And the one people shall be stronger than the other people; And the elder shall serve the younger. – Genesis 25:21-23

Behold There Were Twins
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. – Genesis 25:24-28

Thus Esau Despised His Birthright
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. – Genesis 25:29-34

______

GENESIS 26

Because Abraham Obeyed
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. – Genesis 26:1-5

Rehobeth – For Now the LORD Hath Made Room for Us
And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is our’s: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. – Genesis 26:17-22

______

GENESIS 27

My Son, Obey My Voice
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: my father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. – Genesis 27:6-12

Upon Me Be Thy Curse, My Son
And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: and she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: – Genesis 27:13-16

The Voice is Jacob’s Voice, but the Hands are the Hands of Esau
And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. and she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. – Genesis 27:17-26

The Blessing
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, And the fatness of the earth, And plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be Lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be he that blesseth thee. – Genesis 27:27-29

Esau Cried with a Great and Exceeding Bitter Cry
And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy Lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. – Genesis 27:33-38

By the Sword Shalt Thou Live, and Shalt Serve Thy Brother
And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, That thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. – Genesis 27:39-40

And Esau Hated Jacob
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? – Genesis 27:41-45

Day 8 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 22-24

______

GENESIS 22 – BECAUSE THOU HAST OBEYED
Take Now Thy Son and Offer Him for a Burnt Offering
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. – Genesis 22:1-2

God Will Provide Himself a Lamb
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. – Genesis 22:6-8

For Now I Know that Thou Fearest God
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. – Genesis 22:9-12

And Abraham Called the Name of that Place Jehovah-Jireh
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. – Genesis 22:13-14

Because Thou Hast Obeyed My Voice
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. – Genesis 22:15-18

______

GENESIS 23 – THE GATE OF HIS CITY
Before All that Went in at the Gate of His City
And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. – Genesis 23:17-20

I was drawn to this passage because it spoke of all that happened at the Gate of Abraham’s City and it reminded me of all I learned about the Gate during the year I did a sermon series on the book of Ruth. The gate of a city was very important. It was the place were buying and selling happened, where business deals were finalized. It was the place where marriages were arranged, disputes were settled and where legal decisions were made in the presence of witnesses. Kings used the gates to address the people and Prophets cried out to the people. It was a gathering place. 

______

GENESIS 24 – TAKE A WIFE UNTO MY SON
Go to My Country, My Kindred, and Take a Wife Unto My Son
And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. – Genesis 24:1-9

Abraham’s Servant Prayed
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. – Genesis 24:10-14

Before He Had Done Speaking Rebekah Came Out
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my Lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. – Genesis 24:15-21

Whose Daughter Art Thou?
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in? And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. – Genesis 24:22-25

Isaac was Comforted After His Mother’s Death
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. – Genesis 24:63-67

Day 7 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 19-21

______

GENESIS 19 – LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE
Genesis 19 tells of God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness. The passage focuses on Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who hosted two angels in his home. The city’s men demanded Lot to open the door so they could “know” the visitors. The angels blind the men and urge Lot’s family to flee. Lot, his wife, and two daughters left, but Lot’s wife looked back at the destruction and turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters fled to the mountains and lived in a cave, later engaging in incest to preserve their lineage.

Escape for Thy Life, Look Not Behind Thee
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. – Genesis 19:15-22

God Remembered Abraham and Sent Lot Out of the Overthrow
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. – Genesis 19:29

______

GENESIS 20 – I WITHHELD THEE FROM SINNING AGAINST ME
Genesis 20 speaks of Abraham’s continued deception of calling his wife, Sarah, his sister. This time he is in the land of Gerar and the King Abimelech takes Sarah. God intervenes in a dream, warning Abimelech, who then returns Sarah, asks why Abraham lied, and after Abraham prays, God heals the women of Abimelech’s household of barrenness that had fallen on them. This shows us God’s protection of Abraham despite his failings.

For I Also Withheld Thee from Sinning Against Me
And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. – Genesis 20:1-7

______

GENESIS 21 – El Olam – the Everlasting God
Genesis 21 gives details of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. This fulfills God’s promise. However, this also leads to conflict and we see Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. The chapter tells of God’s provision for Hagar and Ishmael and a covenant of peace with Abimelech and ends with Abraham calling on the name of the LORD. He calls on El Olam – the Everlasting God.

The LORD Did Unto Sarah as He Had Spoken, Sarah Conceived
And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. – Genesis 21:1-3

El Olam – The Everlasting God
And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. – Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭33‬ ‭

Day 6 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 16-18

GENESIS 16 – To Hagar a Promise
Genesis 16 tells how Sarai, who was impatient at being barren, gave her handmaiden Hagar to Abram to bear a child. Hagar conceived a son, then despised Sarai, and fled. Being found by an angel, Hagar was instructed to return and was promised many descendants, with a son named Ishmael which means “God seest me.”

To Hagar – I Will Multiply Thy Seed Exceedingly
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? – Genesis 16:10-13

______

GENESIS 17 – To Abram a Covenant; To Sarai a Son
Genesis 17 details God’s covenant with Abram. God changed his name to Abraham. God promised him countless descendants and the land of Canaan. Circumcision was the eternal sign of this everlasting promise for all males in his household. Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah and their future son, Isaac, would be the heir.

To Abram – Thy Name Shall Be Abraham – a Father of Many Nations
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. – Genesis 17:1-8

To Sarai – Thy Name Shall Be Sarah – A Mother of Nations
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? – Genesis 17:15-17

______

GENESIS 18
Genesis 18 tells of three divine visitors appearing to Abraham, who shows them great hospitality by offering them a meal. During the visit they promise that Sarah will bear a son leading Sarah to laugh in disbelief. This prompts God to ask, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” The chapter also detail Abraham’s negotiation with God pleading for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham asked God to spare them if even ten righteous people were found, demonstrating God’s justice and mercy.

Sarah Laughed
And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. – Genesis 18:10-15

Day 5 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 13-15

______

GENESIS 13 – THE PROMISE

The Land Was Not Able to Bear Them
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abrams’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle: – Genesis 13:6-7a

Let There Be No Strife
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before the? Separate ourselves, I pray thee, from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. – Genesis 15:8-9

Lot Chooses Sodom
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. – Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭

I Will Make Thy Seed as the Dust of the Earth
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. – Genesis 13:14-18

______

GENESIS 14 – LOT’S DECISION AND HIS CONSEQUENCES

They Took Lot
and they took Lot, Abram’s Brother’s son, who dwelt in Sondom, an his goods, and departed. – Genesis 14:12

When Abram Heard that His Brother Was Taken Captive
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. – Genesis 14:14-16

Melchizedek King of Salem – Priest of the Most High God
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. – Genesis 14:18-24

______

GENESIS 15 – THE COVENANT

I Am Thy Shield and Thy Exceeding Great Reward
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. – Genesis 15:1

Thine Heir Shall Come Forth Out of Thine Own Bowels
And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. – Genesis 15:2-5

He Counted it to Him for Righteousness
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis 15:6

Whereby Shall I Know that I Shall Inherit It?
And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? – Genesis 15:7-8

The Covenant Ceremony
And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. – Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭9-‭11‬

A Deep Sleep Fell Upon Abram
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their’s, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
‭– Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭12‬-‭16‬ ‭

A Smoking Furnace and a Burning Lamp
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. – Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭

In the Covenant Ceremony, the parties cut animals in half and line them up along a pathway between the two halves. The lesser kingdom representative would walk between the animals, saying, if I break the covenant, then I too shall be cut in pieces. We would expect that Abram would have walked down that pathway, but he doesn’t. God puts Abram into a deep sleep. A smoking furnace and a burning lamp pass through the animals instead. In the Bible, Fire represents God. So, it is God Himself who walks between the halves of the animals and takes the curse upon Himself if Abram breaks it. This points to Jesus because Jesus took our curse upon Himself, though we deserved it.

Day 4 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 10-12

GENESIS 10 – THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH

Genesis 10 is sometimes called the “Table of Nations,” because it details the genealogies of Noah’s three sons – Shem, Ham, and Japheth – and their descendants. It shows how Noah’s family multiplied on the earth after the Flood, spreading into distinct nations.

These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. – Genesis 10:32

______

GENESIS 11 – BABEL

Genesis 11 tells the story of the Tower of Babel – where all people are speaking one language and are united to build a tower reaching the heavens in defiance of God’s command. This lead God to confuse their language and scatter them and halt the constructions of their tower. The chapter also gives the genealogy from Noah to Torah, introducing Abram, Sarai, and Lot.

One Language in the World
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. – Genesis 11:1-4

So the Lord Scattered Them Upon the Face of All the Earth
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. – Genesis 11:5-9

While unity often looks like a very positive thing, it is not positive at all if that unity is in opposition to God’s command. This was unity in sin. God told the people to spread throughout the whole earth. Instead they stayed put, banding together in their own power, and decided together to build a tower to heaven not wanting to be scattered abroad. So, God forced His command by turning their one language into many languages so they could not understand one another.

If God says GO and you do not GO, He will at some point (in His mercy) make you GO! It is always better to obey God than be forced as a rebellious child.

Abram, Sarai, and Lot
Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. – Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭

______

GENESIS 12 – A PEOPLE, A PLACE, A PROMISE

Genesis 12 marks the beginning of God’s covenant with Abram (later Abraham). God calls him to leave his homeland and family for an unknown land (Canaan) and promises to make him a great nation and a blessing to all people and nations.

And I Will Make Thee a Great Nation
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. – Genesis 12:1-5

God promised a land for Abram’s people to dwell. God promised Abram offspring. God promised Abram that all the nations of the earth would be blessed by him and his seed. We know that the seed promised was Jesus Christ who came from the line of Noah, the line of Shem, and the line of Abram.

Day 3 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 7-9

______

GENESIS 7 – WHEREIN IS THE BREATH OF LIFE

God commands Noah to enter the ark with his family and the animals (seven pairs of clean, one pair of unclean) because judgment is coming. He shuts and seal the door. It rains for 40 days and nights of rain, covering the whole earth and destroying all life outside the ark. Only those within the ark are saved.

Noah Did According Unto All the LORD Commanded
And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. – Genesis 7:5

Noah Went In
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. – Genesis 7:7

Wherein is the Breath of Life
And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. – Genesis 7:15

The Flood was Forty Days Upon the Earth
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. – Genesis 7:17-19

All in Whose Nostrils was the Breath of Life in the Dry Land Died
And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. – Genesis 7:21-22

Noah Only Remained Alive, and They that Were with Him in the Ark
Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. – Genesis 7:23b-24

______

GENESIS 8 – BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY

The flood waters start to go down after God “remembers Noah.” Noah and the ark lands on top of Mount Ararat. Noah sends out a raven and then a dove (which returns with an olive leaf). Finally, the earth dries enough for Noah, his family, and the animals to leave the ark. Noah builds an altar and God smells the sweet smell of the offering and promises never again to destroy the world with a flood. He establishes the rainbow as a sign of His covenant. 

God Remembers Noah
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heave was restrained. – Genesis 8:1-2

Asswaged – subside, decrease, made to cease

Bring Forth Every Living Thing
Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepers upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. – Genesis 8:17

The LORD Smelled a Sweet Savour
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and too of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. – Genesis 8:20-21

The phrase, “and the LORD said in his heart,” touched my own heart. It was a reminder of what we already know – we are made in His image.

______

GENESIS 9 – HIS COVENANT

God blesses Noah and his sons and tells them to be fruitful and repopulate the earth. He gives permission to eat meat (but not blood), establishes capital punishment for murder (since man is made in God’s image), and promises again never to destroy all life with a flood – symbolized by the rainbow. Afterward, Noah gets drunk, Ham sees him naked and tells his brothers. Noah curses Canaan (Ham’s offspring) and blesses the other two brothers, Shem and Japheth, for their respect.

God Blessed Noah and His Sons
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that move to upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. – Genesis 9:1-3

In the Image of God Made He Man
Whoso shed death man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. – Genesis 9:6

I Will Remember My Covenant
And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. – Genesis 9:8-17

Ham Saw the Nakedness of His Father and Told His Brethren
And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: and he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant. – Genesis 9:20-27

Day 2 – A Year in the Bible – Genesis 4-6

GENESIS 4 – CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING GOD’S INSTRUCTION

I Have Gotten a Man from the LORD
And Adam knew Eve his wife: and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. – Genesis 4:1-2

The LORD Had Respect Unto Abel and to His Offering
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. – Genesis 4:3-5

If Thou Doest Not Well, Sin Lieth at the Door
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. – Genesis 4:6-7

And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.” – Genesis 4:6-7 AMP

Cain Rose Up Against Abel His Brother, and Slew Him
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. – Genesis 4:8

Why didn’t God accept Cain’s offering? We read in Genesis 3:17-19 of the curse that was pronounced to Adam because he ate of the fruit of the tree God commanded him not to eat of. It reads as follow – And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Why didn’t God accept Cain’s offering? Because Cain was bringing a sin offering and his offering was the “fruit of the ground” and a product of the curse could not remove the curse.

In Num. 18:12-14 and Lev. 27 we learn the fruits of the ground were accepted as tithes and offerings to support ministry, but couldn’t be a sin-offering. Cain brought the wrong sacrifice and there was no acknowledgment of guilt or faith in the atonement which would be evidenced by the correct sacrifice. Cain ignored God’s instruction and decided to do things his own way. Therefore, Cain’s offering was not respected by God.

God Hath Appointed Me Another Seed
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. – Genesis 4:25-26

Seth – means “appointed”

______

GENESIS 5 – ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD
Adam Begat a Son in His Own Likeness and Called His Name Seth
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: – Genesis 5:3-5

Enoch Walked with God
Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. – Genesis 5:22-24

Cain had a son name Enoch and a descendant named Lamech. The Bible says in our passages today that Lamech took two wives which was not in line with God’s instruction in Genesis 2: . He was the first polygamist and the second murderer because we also read that he killed just as his forefather Cain had. Sin has a way of growing in a family when it isn’t dealt with.

Seth also had descendants named Enoch Lamech. Enoch was so close to God that the Word says he walked with God and did not die. God just took him. Lamech was the father of Noah. It matters who you focus on individually and as a family. Cain’s family lived with the curse of his father. Seth’s family lived with a focus on God and it would be the line of Seth that the promised Messiah would be born into.

______

GENESIS 6 – NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD
God Saw that the Wickedness of Man was Great in the Earth
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. – Genesis 6:5-7

But Noah Found Grace
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. – Genesis 6:8

Make Thee an Ark of Gopher Wood
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. – Genesis 6:13-14

PRAYER
Behold, I Do Bring a Flood of Waters to Destroy All Flesh
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. – Genesis 6:17-19

Lord, Help me today to keep my eyes and heart focused on You and You alone. Help me to walk with You and according to Your instruction. Help my family to do so as well. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!