January 24th One Year Bible Readings

Genesis 48:1-49:33 ~ Matthew 15:29-16:12 ~ Psalm 20:1-9 ~ Proverbs 4:20-27
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Old Testament - Today in Genesis Chapter 48 we read about Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh!  One thing I thought about when reading this chapter and the next chapter was how interesting it is that blessings had so much importance and significance back in the days of the patriarchs.  And I wonder - do we have blessings today that are as significant?  Do fathers bless kids or grandkids these days?  Maybe so...  I guess I just haven't noticed it in my family...  :)  I do think there are still some "blessings" today that hold some incredible significance today.  Wedding vows come to mind and the blessings that come from the pastor/priest/minister during this time.  Church ceremonies or rituals come to mind - Communion, Baptism, Funerals, etc.  And then certainly above all else, there is the amazing and eternal blessing we receive from Jesus himself - the free blessing and free gift of salvation.  What else is there today that I'm missing?  Have you been "blessed" by others in some way, like we read about in today's 2 chapters?  Have you "blessed" others?  Please share in the Comments section below.  Below is a painting by the American artist Benjamin West from the early 19th century of Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh - and with his arms appropriately crossed as per the text :) -

In Genesis chapter 49 we read about Jacob blessing his sons - and these are some very accurate blessings he gives as we will see as we continue through the Bible this year.  Perhaps Predictions or Prophecies might be the better term for Jacob's blessings in this chapter.   Verse 10 is awesome: "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will obey."  This verse can apply to 2 descendants of Judah - King David and then ultimately and eternally to Jesus.  In verse 22 we read this about Joseph: "Joseph is a fruitful tree,"  And this is certainly true, as his descendants will include Joshua, Deborah & Gideon & Jephthah (3 judges of Israel), and Samuel the prophet.  Below is an image of Jacob blessing his 12 sons:

Below is a map that should be helpful to review based on today's blessing from Jacob of his sons.  Obviously we still need to get through the Exodus and a few other things before the twelve tribes have this land below :), but this is a nice overview for now of where things are going and correlate with Jacob's blessing in today's readings:

Bible.org's commentary on Genesis chapter 48 titled "The View from the Graveyard" is at this link and commentary on chapter 49 titled "The Purpose of Prophecy" is at this link. 

New Testament - In Matthew chapter 16 verses 11 & 12 stood out to me today: "So again I say, `Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' " Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about yeast or bread but about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  And I wonder today - are there false teachings that we should beware of today?   I believe there are...  and there have been times in my life where I have bought into false teaching's.  How can we know if a teacher is false?  That is a great question.  I would say that each of you are doing an amazing thing to help discern whether a teacher is false by reading the entire Bible.  I believe the Bible to be the ultimate Truthful teaching that we can read - and thus, if you come across teachers that differ radically or go against the teachings of the Bible, you need to be wary.  Don't get me wrong - every pastor / minister / priest is going to have some different takes or views or interpretations of the Bible.  By slight degrees...  If there are major differences, then you should be worried.  In addition to knowing the Bible relatively well, the key to discerning false teachers will be the Holy Spirit.  If you are getting bad "gut feelings" (hopefully coming from the Holy Spirit) over and over again about a teacher, there might be an issue.  Pray to God about this and ask for his guidance.  I realize this can be a sensitive issue!  I'd say don't freak out about this and start wondering if your pastor is a false teacher....  :)  But, be aware.  I do believe there are still false teachers out and about today unfortunately.  If you ever feel like you are being confused by someone today, keep your eye on the way out of confusion through God's Word!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew chapter 15 titled "A Lesson in Hermeneutics" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 20 is a prayer for a king as he goes out into battle - check out verses 1 through 5 again and you can imagine a group of people saying these words to the king.  Maybe another way to read this Psalm, personally, is as a prayer for yourself as you go out into battle against a sin or a struggle in your life.  And this verse 5 then is for you as you go into this battle: "May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers."  Amen! Let the banners fly soon in your life!

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23 holds so much truth... "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."  Check out yesterday's posting below for tons more reflections on why it is so critical for us to guard our hearts.  How are you doing on guarding your heart these days?

We would do well to obey the teaching of verse 24: "Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech." I have found it sometimes far too easy to be pulled into perverse talk - even if I didn't start it. (look at me - blaming others here! :) I do think we really need to be aware of situations where talk amongst our peers or friends is going in the wrong direction and to realize that we need to get ourselves out of these situations as quickly as possible.  Sure, try to do it gracefully.  Try to change the subject if you can.  But if not, just excuse yourself and get out of Dodge...

YouTube:  Today's readings in Genesis about Jacob blessing his son's reminded me of Tenth Avenue North's song "You Are More:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtcwQwgdsA

Do you know that you are more than the sum of your past mistakes?  Click here for More!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. " Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that your heart would be guarded by God's Word today. Pray that Jesus is the Lord of the wellspring of your life today and forevermore.

Comments from You and Questions of the Day:  Proverbs verses 25 & 26 are powerful and bring up a question I'd love feedback on: "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe."  One thing that stood out to me in these verses is the ideas of setting goals.  Are you a goal setter?  I honestly am not really.  I mean, I kind of set short-term goals - work projects, ministry projects, etc.  But I don't really sit down and write down any big lifetime type goals.  Part of my thinking on this is that I want to be as flexible as possible - if Jesus calls me to do something, I don't want to be hung up on some other goal...  :)   But, I'm not sure if this is the best thinking.  This Proverb verse kind of makes me wonder if setting goals helps us keep looking straight ahead?  If goals help us mark out a straight path for our feet?  And to stay on it?   So, let me know in the Comments section below if you are a goal-setter?  And to the extent you can share how you set goals?  How often?  In writing?  How often do you check back in on your goals?  Do they make a difference in your life?  In your spiritual life?  I am really curious on this one...  I am thinking I might need to be setting some goals here!  :)  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

Comments

[Ramona]

Genesis 48:1-49:33

Jacob said to Joseph, "The Sovereign God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will multiply you. I will make you into a group of nations, and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.'
(Genesis 48:3-4 NET.)

I find the tenses used in this passage very interesting. Jacob states that God told him He was going to make him, not his descendents, not some group in the future, but him, Jacob/Israel, fruitful. For someone who had no knowledge of the resurrection, someone who the “Soon Coming King” would be way into the future, Jacob had an intense sense of eternity in his heart. Do we, those who come after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, see our off-spring, children, grandchildren and great-grand’s in the Big Picture of things as being an extension of ourselves, or do we think everything ends with us? How much of this do I truly understand? I say that I am part of something greater than myself, but do I act it and walk it? Are my actions speaking louder than my words?

I also find it interesting that Leah is buried in the land promised to Abraham, in the cave bought when the land was promised but not obtained fully. However, Rachael was buried on the road outside of Bethlehem. I’m not sure if there is any significance, I just find it interesting. Leah, the “booby” prize, the one not wanted, was the mother of both the priestly line and the kingly line, Levi and Judah. I’m not taking anything away from Joseph, but it seems that God always deals with the unwanted, the outcasts. I believe what we see in these twelve boys played out in this story is a strong reason why we are told to be careful how we judge. We, outside of the revelation of God, do not know how a story will end. It seems the ones with the “badest” reputations don’t end that way. What is that song, “It’s Not How You Start but How You Finish.” I think it is from a musical, but I can’t remember which one.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Sheilla]

I just want to thank you for the blog and ur insights. God is using you to strengthen the faith of many

[RAS]

Thanks, Ramona for your commentary about Leah.

[Carol]

I look at Proverbs 4:25-26 as I look at Joshua 1 and also what Paul said about running the race...is that this pertains to knowing the end goal that God has planned for us/has ready for us, and for us to not let ourselves get sidetracked from that by looking to the left or to the right! I'm not a great goal setter, for shorter term goals so this wisdom can certainly be used there also.

From Psalm 20:5, I will be meditating and hopefully using the idea of flying a banner (in my heart and head) as I go into battle!!

[Bob Bieberdorf]

Men have 3 goals designed into their makeup: 1) A battle to fight, 2) An adventure to live and 3) A beauty to rescue. This comes from John Eldridges book "Wild at Heart." Over the years, I have found that if my goals fall into one of those catagories and are supported by scripture, there is great satisfaction in persuit of that goal.

[patricia]

You have caused me to do some thinking about blessings. God has recently put me in two group settings where He has told me to anoint each person in the group with oil and speak whatever He gives me over them. In some cases it is an anointing for a family role or ministry that I am aware of, other times it is something completely prophetic.
Would you consider this a blessing?

[Dee Dee]

It says in Habakkuk 2:2 to write your vision down and make it plain to all men. It is good to have visions and write them down. I keep a journal and seek Gods blessings because today is all we have and my greatest blessing is to look back over former posts in my journal and see how far God has brought me and the love He has for his children.