As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

In our eighth chapter God provides leadership for the Israelites. Other nations had human kings but Israel would be lead by God as their king and judges or others who would be called by God as temporary human leaders under God’s control. Israel would face a crisis the judge would raise an army and the threat would be defeated.

The really interesting thing was God would use a woman, Deborah, or an under sized army so that everyone would know that the victory came about because of God. The judges and prophets were all men and women of faith but the Israelites were less that faithful.

The story of Samson is the story of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Samson was called to be set apart from birth and he was given special gifts. Yet he violated the conditions of his calling and lived a life of sin. His sinfulness led to the loss of this powers and his life but he did repent and was used as God’s tool in the end.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

In our seventh chapter the chosen people are called to trust God and step out in faith and God is called on to deliver on God’s promises of victory.

The Israelites have wandered in the desert for forty years and Moses and his generation have died off. Joshua is the new leader and God has promised to be with him and the new generation.

The promised land is just across the Jordan River protected by the armies of current kings. For victory the Israelites need to do three things:

1) They need to trust God and follow God’s law.

2) The males need to be circumcised so that they will be different than nonbelievers.

3) And they need to step out in faith and step into the Jordan.

Imagine coming to the (probably rushing) Jordan River and the priests needing to step into the water carrying the Ark of the Covenant. It was like Moses standing at the Red Sea. God had promised them a dry crossing but that water sure looked cold and wet.

The chosen people responded in faith and God delivered them. On the attack of Ai, the Israelite army was humiliated because of the sin of Achan. The people repented and Achan was killed for his actions. Were these the same grumbling nonbelievers of the desert? How many times have we been unfaithful and missed out on the blessing God had for us?

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

In our sixth chapter the chosen people wander in the desert for forty years as a generation dies off.

God’s plan was a chosen people who would live as God’s representatives showing the World what holy living was like. The Israelites were anything but an example of God’s holy living.

These wandering trouble makers complained about everything. They disrespected God and God’s chosen representatives, Moses and his brother Aaron. Even Aaron and his wife plotted against Moses.

Why God continued to lead and protect the Israelites is beyond human understanding. As I think about this lost generation, I think about all of us and how God’s vision for our lives is so much more than anything we can even imagine. Yet, we too chose grumbling, plotting and unbelief over simple obedience to God and God’s Will.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

In our fifth chapter God gives Moses a new covenant with the Law as its sign.

Imagine wandering in the desert with a column of smoke by day and a column of fire at night. How could one complain? Yet that was what the chosen people did! We need water, we need bread, we’re tired of bread we want meat.

Now as Moses is up on the mountain getting the 10 Commandments the people are down in the valley worshiping a false God. I understand why Moses throws the law at them but I am surprised God lets any of them survive!

The Law does give us a wonderful measuring stick for measuring our lives. Yet, the Law is more often used to proclaim the sin in other people’s lives which was never God’s intent.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Our fourth chapter covers the downfall of the Israelites and the rise of Moses as God’s tool in delivering His chosen people.

Through his faithful witness and God’s grace, Joseph gains the trust and respect of the Egyptians and the alien becomes a needed friend. In time the alien’s family and friends follow out of hunger and need. At first the aliens are welcomed, but as generation after generation passes, mistrust and envy cause problems for the aliens.

God hears the cry of His people and Moses is selected as the one to lead the chosen people to freedom. Moses is an Israelite raised by Pharaoh’s family but fully human in his actions and his fears. I love the back and forth as God calls Moses and Moses comes up with the reasons why he should not be the one. Time after time God calls and uses people who would never be able to win without God.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Our third chapter covers Genesis, chapters thirty-six through fifty, and tells the story of Joseph and how the chosen people came to live in Egypt.

Joseph is the first of Abraham’s family who seems to be a pretty faithful guy. When Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery he seems to roll with his fate and remains faithful to God. Things were going well for Joseph, when his owner’s wife got him thrown in prison. How many of us would have given up at this point? Joseph did not give up and God makes lemonade out of Joseph’s lemons. Who of us would expect to go from prison to the head assistant of Pharaoh, but Joseph did with God’s help in understanding the future.

For me the story of Joseph is the story of what God will do for all of us if we will trust in the Lord.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, three key questions come to mind for me. These questions are:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Our second chapter covers Genesis, chapters twelve through thirty-five, and tells the story of Abraham’s call to covenant with God to be the father of the chosen people. Chapter 2 ends with the burial of Isaac, the promised son of Abraham.

As I think about God’s call of Abram, I continue to be amazed by God’s patience and willingness to forgive us humans. Yet, I still wonder why God gave up on humanity and decided to pick a chosen people. I know that the chosen people were to be a living witness as to how humanity could have a relationship with God; and that the success of the chosen people was to lead all of humanity to want a relationship with God.

Abraham was a man of tremendous faith; who of us would be willing to sacrifice our only child? Yet, Abraham also had moments when he was less than faithful. Why have a child with your wife’s servant, and why tell a King that your wife was your sister?

In the first two covenants between man and God, God provides the sign of the covenant. For Adam it was the garden and for Noah it was the rainbow. For Abraham’s covenant with God, the sign is each man’s circumcision.

Isaac is an unknown, but if the actions of our children reflect on who we are then Isaac is far from perfect. Esau, the oldest, is not very smart and acts very rashly. Jacob is crafty and a thief or at least a corner cutter. I wonder why God let Jacob be born second and why he was permitted to steal the leadership of the family and the chosen people. Wrestling with God was a life and name changing experience for Jacob who was to become Israel.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

Our first chapter covers the first 9 chapters of Genesis which covers the creation of our world, the story of Adam and Eve, the story of Cain and Abel, and the story of Noah and the do over.

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, three key questions come to mind for me. These questions are:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And What does this story mean to me?

Creation of our World

If God created us and our world, then God must be greater than what we can see or know or could it be even understand?

Most Bibles claim that God created heaven and earth, but I have heard it argued that a closer translation would be that God brought order out of chaos. How would this change your understanding of God?

Story of Adam and Eve

I have never understood why Adam or Eve would ever listen to the serpent. If you are living in paradise why would you ever risk it? Once we understood good and evil, we humans have never been able to not sin. What a dark truth; original sin affects us all.

Story of Cain and Abel

In most of the Bible, shepherds are almost outcasts that are not well thought of, and farmers are land owners and the heart of the society. How odd is it that the farmer kills his brother, the herdsman? Yet God will not let Cain be killed; does this show God to be compassionate?

Noah and the Flood

The first covenant between man and God is with Adam and the second covenant is with Noah.

I understand why God wants to start over, but why was Noah and his family so good?

I also love the promise of the rainbow, that God will never flood the earth again. Every time it rains we see the sign of this covenant.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

A great overview of the Bible, taught to you in 31 days.  A religious learning that highlights and summarizes a journey through the Bible brought to you by Pastor Combs. 

Make sure you have picked up your copy of The Story, published by Zonderan. I am using the revised edition copyrighted in 2008. This is also the edition we have available in the office for your purchase or rental.

Each day we will read one chapter with each chapter being about 10 pages. After you’ve done your reading you can post any questions or comments you have on our blog. If you need help or want to contact me you can always email me at pastor@myccumc.com

Thanks for being part of this study and I can’t wait to see where God leads us.

Pastor Duane