January 21 - Evening
“When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.”
- Exodus 2:15
The Deliverer Flees to Deliver, and Will Deliver Again
From the royal palace in Egypt Moses rose up to defend and, possibly, deliver the people of Abraham now called the Hebrews. The Pharaoh that tried to kill Moses would have been his half-brother Thutmoses III who had reigned with Hatshepsut in his early years, before Hatshepsut squeezed Thutmoses III out of his position as pharaoh. Around 1483 Thutmoses III began a revolt against Hatshepsut and, at the same time, Moses killed the slave master. Thutmose III had public support and overthrew and killed Hatshepsut who was in her fifties in 1482. And, Moses fled to Midian. Thutmose then reigned 1482-1450 BC. (Moses will return to the land of Egypt in 1447 BC)
Moses fled east into Midian when Pharaoh Thutmoses III tried to kill him. Moses lived among the Midianites who were a people who originated through the fourth son of Abraham and his second wife Keturah named Midian. The Midainites lived in the Sinai Peninsula on the east side and, also, on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba in Arabia. At a well in Midian where Moses sat down to rest the seven daughters of a Midian priest (possibly a priest/king like Melchizedek) named Reuel (or, Jethro in 3:1 and 18:1) came to water their sheep. A group of shepherds attempted to drive the daughters away from the well, but Moses defended them from the shepherds and watered their sheep. Moses is seen acting as a deliver in Egypt before he fled and as a deliverer in Midian as soon as he arrives. Moses future will be as a deliverer for Abraham’s nation from Egypt.
Moses would spend the next forty years with the household of Reuel (Jethro) and he married the oldest daughter named Zipporah. For the next forty years Moses, who had been the crowned prince of Egypt, would labor as a shepherd in the wilderness of Midian.
Bios (Gr) - Life (Eng) – bios is Greek word that means “life.” Our English word “life” is used to translate two different Greek words that refer to life, but identify two different aspects of life. The Greek word zoe is translated “life” in verses like John 3:15-16 and John 6:33-35 (the bread of life). The Greek word bios appears in verses like:
• Luke 15:30 – “But when this son of yours who has squandered your property (bios) with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’.”
• 1 Timothy 2:2 –“ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives (bios) in all godliness and holiness.”
• 2 Timothy 2:4 – “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian (or, “of this life” frombios) affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”
• 1 John 2:16 – “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (bios)—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
Bios means “life extensively,” such as the period of life and the course of life. Bios also refers to how life is sustained, the means of living life, the manner of life and the good things of life
• Luke 15:30 – “But when this son of yours who has squandered your property (bios) with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’.”
• 1 Timothy 2:2 –“ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives (bios) in all godliness and holiness.”
• 2 Timothy 2:4 – “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian (or, “of this life” frombios) affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”
• 1 John 2:16 – “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (bios)—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
Bios means “life extensively,” such as the period of life and the course of life. Bios also refers to how life is sustained, the means of living life, the manner of life and the good things of life
Do I see my natural talents and my spiritual gift continuing to manifest in different situations?
I will embrace the gifts God has given me and use them in line with his character and his will.
I will embrace the gifts God has given me and use them in line with his character and his will.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Your godly influence on others
Church
Understanding and Discovery of Spiritual Gifts
Nation
Unions and workers
World
Countries facing traumatic futures: Haiti, Guyana
Someone to Quote
"There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment." - Martin Luther
Something to Ponder
"Here is the cosmological proof of the existence of God – the design argument of Paley – updated and refurbished. The fine tuning of the universe provides prima facie evidence of deistic design. Take your choice: blind chance that requires multitudes of universes or design that requires only one.... Many scientists, when they admit their views, incline toward the teleological or design argument." - Ed Harrison (cosmologist)
Here’s a Fact
Since the discovery of the Tel Dan Stele with the text that mentions the royal “house of David,” many critics admit a man named David might have existed. But, the critics still insist that the biblical references to David are fictional. The critics must answer this question: Why would the Israelites, who followed the religion of a holy God, record a fictional account about one of their national heroes having marriage and family problems while he murdered and committed adultery? If they are going to make up a hero why present him and his son Solomon as failures in so many important areas?
Proverb
"A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart." - Proverbs 21:2
Coach’s Corner
Don’t waste time. Don’t waste words. Don’t waste emotion.
Job 41
New International Version (NIV)
41
“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope?
2
Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3
Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words?
4
Will it make an agreement with you for you to take it as your slave for life?
5
Can you make a pet of it like a bird or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
6
Will traders barter for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?
7
Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?
8
If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again!
9
Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.
10
No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?
11
Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.
12
“I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs, its strength and its graceful form.
13
Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor?
14
Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth?
15
Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together;
16
each is so close to the next that no air can pass between.
17
They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted.
18
Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19
Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.
20
Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
21
Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth.
22
Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it.
23
The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.
24
Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone.
25
When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing.
26
The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.
27
Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood.
28
Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it.
29
A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance.
30
Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31
It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.
32
It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.
33
Nothing on earth is its equal— a creature without fear.
34
It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud.”
New International Version (NIV)
41
“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope?
2
Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3
Will it keep begging you for mercy? Will it speak to you with gentle words?
4
Will it make an agreement with you for you to take it as your slave for life?
5
Can you make a pet of it like a bird or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
6
Will traders barter for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?
7
Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?
8
If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again!
9
Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering.
10
No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?
11
Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.
12
“I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs, its strength and its graceful form.
13
Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor?
14
Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth?
15
Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together;
16
each is so close to the next that no air can pass between.
17
They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted.
18
Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19
Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.
20
Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
21
Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth.
22
Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it.
23
The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.
24
Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone.
25
When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing.
26
The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.
27
Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood.
28
Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it.
29
A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance.
30
Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31
It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.
32
It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had white hair.
33
Nothing on earth is its equal— a creature without fear.
34
It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud.”
Genesis 29
New International Version (NIV)
Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram
29 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”
“We’re from Harran,” they replied.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”
“Yes, we know him,” they answered.
6 Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”
“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8 “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
New International Version (NIV)
Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram
29 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”
“We’re from Harran,” they replied.
5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”
“Yes, we know him,” they answered.
6 Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”
“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
8 “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.