Hiatus

After almost 2 years of daily blogging, Know~Be~Do will take a 3-week hiatus.  All is well; I am just putting myself out of the reach of (most) technology for a while.  I will keep journaling my daily Bible reading, it just won't be available online.  When the blog resumes, I won't be "back-filling" to maintain continuity.  So, if you read this blog regularly; I'll see you in  about 3 weeks.

Exodus 7 - 9

Moses continues to struggle with his calling to Pharaoh at God's command.  He is given several signs to demonstrate to the Pharaoh that he is indeed a messenger from God.  Pharaoh was unimpressed with these indications and refused to release the Hebrews.  God directs Moses to pronounce a plague on the Nile River, turning it to blood for seven days.  Still the Pharaoh refused to listen.  A plague of frogs next overran Egypt, but left the ruler unmoved, as did subsequent plagues of gnats, flies, disease, boils and hail.  While Egypt suffered, the Hebrews living adjacent to them were unaffected.  Through all this, Pharaoh's heart was not softened, but became even more hardened against releasing God's people, the Hebrews.

Exodus 4 - 6

God proves to a doubting Moses that he is the one chosen to lead Israel out of Egypt.  Moses travels to Egypt and speaks to the Israelites and then to Pharaoh.  While the people are reluctant to trust Moses, Pharaoh is set against his labor force leaving and makes their tasks even harder to perform.  God promises Moses that He will deliver His people from their bondage and appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, as his spokesman.

Exodus 1 - 3

Israel continues to suffer in Egypt.  Jacob's family prospers, yet they are subjected to slavery.  When their population increases beyond Pharaoh's liking, he orders the execution of all male children.  Moses is hidden by his parents to escape execution, and is found by the daughter of Pharaoh.  He is raised in the palace of Pharaoh, yet chooses to side with the Hebrews and flees after murdering an Egyptian.  While 'on the run', Moses encounters God in a burning bush.  God instructs Moses that he will be used to lead the Hebrews out of their Egyptian captivity.

Genesis 48 - 50

Jacob, nearing the end of his life, blesses his children and grandchildren - again in fulfillment of the promises God made to him.  He pronounces that God will continue to demonstrate His faithfulness to His promises in the recurring generations.


After Jacob's death, the brothers again fear that Joseph will take revenge for their earlier actions.  Joseph demonstrates again and again that he has trusted God in the whole process; and that God has brought good out of intended evil.  Joseph dies in Egypt after a long life - one in which he sees three generations of his own children.  

Genesis 46 - 47

Jacob prepares to travel to Egypt, a place God has forbidden him to go in the past.  However, God appears and promises Jacob that not only will Jacob survive the journey, but he will see Joseph before he dies, AND his descendants will not live in Egypt forever.  The reunion with his long-lost son is joyful; and Jacob settles in the area of Goshen to tend sheep.  The famine Joseph predicted arrives, and the nation of Egypt survives because of Joseph's shrewd planning.  Jacob, knowing his time on earth is short, makes his son Joseph promise to bury him in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 43 - 45

Joseph's brothers ran out of the food that they had been given (they had tried to buy it but their money was returned), and they were reluctant to go back to Egypt.  Something about that government official was off-putting to them.  They finally convince Jacob to allow Benjamin to travel with them - Judah pledges his own life if anything happens to Benjamin - and they make their way back to Egypt.  Joseph, seeing all his brothers again, is overcome with joy and invites them to dine with him.


Before they return to Canaan, Joseph instructs his servants to once again place the money back in the sacks of grain, as well as hiding his own silver chalice in Benjamin's luggage.  He then has his brother detained under charges of theft and - just as he knew it would be - Benjamin is "found" to be the culprit.  Judah pleads for the life of his brother, displaying a genuine concern for his siblings and father that was not evident years prior.


Joseph dismisses every one of his servants so he can deal with these foreigners in solitude.  There, he discloses his true identity to his brothers.  Far from a tearful, joyful reunion, his brothers are distressed.  Their brother - whom they sold into slavery - now has the power of life and death over them.  Joseph quickly assures them that God has allowed all the past years to take place so that their family could be preserved.  He sends for his father and secures housing, lodging and provision for his family.  Hearing the news that Joseph is alive is almost too much for old Jacob to bear; but he rejoices at God's provision.

Genesis 41 - 42

Pharaoh's sleep is interrupted by a disturbing dream.  None of his astrologers or magicians could interpret it ... until the chief butler recalls a young man he met in prison that was extraordinary in his ability to interpret dreams.  Joseph is sent for, told the dream, and quickly tells Pharaoh that God is able to interpret the dream.  Pharaoh has been warned in his sleep to prepare for coming famine by storing grain in the years of plenty.  Pharaoh promotes Joseph to oversee the collection and storage of grain, making him answerable only to Pharaoh in every matter.  Joseph marries and begins a family of his own.


Meanwhile, Jacob's family feels the pressure of the famine and looks to Egypt for provision.  The ten brothers (all his sons minus Joseph and Benjamin) travel to Egypt where they meet - unknown to them - Joseph.  Joseph accuses them of being spies and asks for one of the brothers to be held in security while the youngest brother is brought to verify their claim to all be the sons of one man.  Reuben decides that this is all occurring because of their actions to their brother many years ago.  He communicates this to his brothers, unaware that his offended brother is standing within earshot and can understand every word they say!


The brothers return to Canaan, finding on their arrival that their money has been returned in the grain they have brought with them.  They are not sure what this means, but fear that they are being set-up for some great calamity.  Jacob is reluctant to let any more sons travel out of his sight.

Genesis 38 - 40

Jacob's son, Judah, is blessed with a large family.  However, his children do not follow the ways of God.  One after another, they fall into sin and are punished.  Judah himself is found to be immoral and companying with harlots.  The family, though large, is in turmoil.


Joseph, on the other hand, prospers in Egypt.  Potiphar, who bought him from the slave traders, places him in a position of high authority - a position Potiphar's wife tries to exploit for her own wanton desires.  She accuses Joseph of attempted rape and has him thrown into prison.  In prison he continues to prosper and is soon the head trustee.  He interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's servants, yet they do not ask for Joseph's release when given the opportunity to do so.

Genesis 35 - 37

Jacob returns to Bethel, the place where he wrestled with God, and worships there.  His beloved wife, Rachel, dies in childbirth and is buried.  The final number of Jacob's sons is twelve.  Isaac dies at the age of 180 and is buried by his sons, Jacob and Esau.


Esau's family greatly multiplied and formed a mighty nation named Edom.  God continued to bless the promises made to Esau's father and grandfather of a large and prosperous heritage.


Jacob's favored son, Joseph, is despised by his brothers because of the favoritism showed to him as well as the claims continually made that the entire family would bow in reverence to Joseph.  The brothers sell him into slavery and tell Jacob that Joseph was killed by wild animals.  The slave traders eventually sold Joseph in Egypt to an official of Pharaoh named Potiphar.

Genesis 32 - 34

Esau and Jacob meet and Jacob plans to attempt reconciliation with his brother.  He hatches a plan to parade his wealth before his brother in an attempt to impress him and distract him from the revenge surely to be planned.  In the midst of these preparations, Jacob wrestles with the Angel of the Lord and will not cease until God promises to bless him.  In the process, his name is changed to Israel "prince of God."


Jacob and Esau meet and a reconciliation of sorts is effected.  Jacob's daughter is defiled by some local men and her brothers (Jacob's sons) take exacting and furious revenge on the men and their families.

Genesis 30 - 31

Jacob continues to have sons with his wives and his wealth increases - as does the wealth of his father-in-law.  A disagreement develops between Jacob and his father-in-law, and Jacob leaves abruptly.  Laban, Jacob's father-in-law, pursues after Jacob and the two parties resolve to leave one another alone for their mutual good.

Genesis 27 - 29

Isaac's son, Jacob, having already bought his brother's birthright for a bowl of soup, now tricks his father into giving him his brother's blessing as well.  Esau, furious with his deceiving brother, vows revenge and Jacob flees for his life.  Jacob travels to the land of his mother to find a wife.  Along the way, God appears and confirms that the blessings promised to Abraham and Isaac would be extended to him as well.  Jacob serves in that land for 14 years, acquiring two wives (due to the treachery of his father-in-law, the deceiver was deceived!) and begins a family.

Something totally different

At a recent mid-week service, the Bible study group I attend asked the question, "Why is it that whenever someone wins a ball game, they give credit to God; but you never hear about the person on the losing team who was also praying for a victory?"  I mean, have you ever heard someone say "I lost and want to thank God for that"?


I did last night.


Colt McCoy, a college senior and the University of Texas quarterback, was knocked out of play during the first series.  In less than five minutes, his hopes of leading his team to a national title evaporated.  How did he respond?  With class.  Well said, Mr. McCoy!

Genesis 25 - 26

Abraham remarries after the death of his wife, Sarah.  More children are born to this patriarch, again fulfilling God's promises to him.  All his wealth, however, is given to his first-born son, Isaac.  Abraham dies at the age of 175.  His two most famous sons, Ishmael and Isaac, continue to see God fulfilling His promises to their father through their own descendants.  Isaac's wife, Rebekah, gives birth to twins named Esau and Jacob.  Esau, by rights the heir, sells his inheritance to his younger brother thinking that a good meal is more to be preferred.  When a famine strikes the land, Isaac attempts to flee to Egypt but God prevents him from doing so.  He travels to the land of the Philistines instead.  He attempts to perpetrate the same lie his father told many years ago in the same land - passing his wife off as his sister.  His lie is soon discovered.  Isaac spends time in the land digging wells, providing water for the area and becoming involved in land disputes when the native inhabitants try to claim the wells as their own.

Genesis 22 - 24

Life in Abraham's family is nothing if not interesting.  God tests Abraham's faith and asks him to sacrifice his long-awaited son, Isaac.  When Abraham proves himself willing, God intervenes and provides for an animal sacrifice.  Sarah dies and is buried; Isaac marries a distant relative that God indicates is exactly the wife He would have for him.  God continues to demonstrate His faithfulness to keep promises.

Genesis 19 - 21

The city of Sodom is visited, and Lot is found within her gates.  He invites the angelic visitors in and they share their news of coming judgment.  The populace of the city is incensed at this report and demand access to these visitors so that they may do to them what the name of their city implies about their behavior.  Lot and his immediate family flee the city, having been given a dire warning to not look back on the city.  Lot's wife ignores this command and is destroyed.  Abraham gazes in the direction of the cities from a far off distance and observes them burning.  Lot's daughters, convinced they are the last inhabitants on the planet, commit incest with their father to preserve the family line.  The nations of Moab and Ammon can trace their ancestry back to these actions.


Meanwhile, Abraham travels to the south and is found in Philistia - the land of a king named Abimelech.  Attempting to preserve his life, he claims that Sarah is only his sister.  God protects Sarah and Abimelech from committing sin, and Abraham leaves the area after his ploy is discovered.


True to God's word, Sarah and Abraham conceive and a son is born.  His name is Isaac - exactly what the prophetic message said it would be.  The birth of Isaac causes problems for Hagar and her son, Ishmael, who leave but are promised a great inheritance by God.  Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech, and dwells in the land of the Philistines for quite some time.

Genesis 16 - 18

Abram tries to fulfill God's plans for his life his own way.  He fails miserably.  Although he makes numerous mistakes, God still makes a covenant with him that will bring blessing to Abram.  Part of that covenant involved changing Abram's name to Abraham; another part was the promise of a son born to his wife Sarah.  God makes this promise to Abraham personally. Abraham also intercedes for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah - convincing God to not destroy the wicked cities if ten righteous people can be found among her citizenry.

Genesis 12 - 15

Abram is promised by God that he will be blessed if he obeys God.  Abram leaves his home country in order to journey to a place God would show to him.  Along the way, Abram demonstrates that he is learning to obey God unquestioningly; his failures are not final and provide necessary feedback to him that allows him to learn to trust God in all areas of life.  One of Abram's relatives, his nephew Lot, parts company with his uncle and is captured.  Abram rescues his nephew and encounters a priest who serves the living God.  God confirms His covenant with Abram and promises that his descendants would inherit a great land and possession.

Genesis 8 - 11

God keeps His promise to Noah and delivers him and his family from the flood.  The waters subside and Noah exits to a world totally unlike the one prior to the global devastation.  Noah's first response is to worship and praise God for His deliverance.  Noah and his family are blessed and charged with repopulating the planet.  Noah's descendants are the common ancestors of all alive today.  Noah's family grows and is scattered throughout the world due to the confusion of languages sent by God.  Eventually one family line produces a man named Abram.

Genesis 4 - 7

The family of mankind grows and increases.  The problems created by mankind also grow and increase.  Murder occurs between the first siblings; revenge and vengeance become common place occurrences; men are born, live and die - and in the process of just a few generations, mankind has gone from idyllic to constantly evil always.  God determines to destroy mankind, with the exception of Noah - a man who has found favor with Him - and his family.  A device of safety is prepared - an ark - and Noah, his family and samples of all living creatures are safely placed aboard prior to the destruction of the world's population through a global flood.

Genesis 1 - 3

Personal note:  the majority (99.5%) of the posts in this blog are my personal notes, thoughts, impressions of my daily Bible reading.  For 2010, I am reading through the Bible historically (in the order in which the books were written).


In short order, the accounts of creation and man's fall are given.  God creates a perfect environment for man to live, work and raise a family.  This proves to be beyond man's ability to maintain and he fails to live within God's guidelines.  When confronted with his error, he immediately blames God ("this woman YOU gave me").  God punishes him by banishing him from paradise and causing his labors to be painful and sweat-inducing.