January 7 - Evening
"So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe." - Genesis 12:4-10
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe." - Genesis 12:4-10
Abram Moves into and Through the Land
Abram left Haran and moved with his wife, nephew and his servants along with their flocks and possessions into the land of Canaan. Most likely Abram traveled the main trade route from Haran into Damascus and from there they moved through the Huleh Valley north of the Sea of Galilee and into the Jezreel Valley. From there they made their way to stay at Shechem which was the site of the great tree of Moreh (possibly an oak tree). “Moreh” means “teacher” which would indicate that this was a site for receiving instruction or revelation, and a place of worship.
It was here at the great tree of Moreh in Shechem that the Lord again appeared to Abram, possibly like he had in Ur when Abram received the call to leave as described by Stephen in Acts 7:2 where it says, "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran." Now that Abram has arrived and is in Shechem, the heart of the land, the Lord tells him, "To your offspring I will give this land." It is interesting to note that the promise of the possessing the land was not given to Abram, but to his offspring. Abram was obeying God and serving those who would follow. This was the first mention of "the land" being part of the promise.
Abram moved on from Shechem to the hills between Bethel and Ai to build another altar. From there Abram continued south into the Negev to graze his flocks. A season of normal rainfall, though little, would be enough in the Negev to produce vegetation for grazing. The year Abram arrived there was too little rain, so the famine forced him to move on into Egypt for the survival of his flocks.
Zoe (Gr) - Life (Eng) - zoe is a Greek word for life or existence. Zoe was vitality to the Greeks.
The New Testament speaks of physical zoe and, also, spiritual zoe that abides eternally.
Do I listen to the right people? Do I know what advice is wisdom and what is not?
I will take time to discern between wise words and seductive words.
I will take time to discern between wise words and seductive words.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Parents
Church
Spiritual growth and production in church programs and activities
Nation
Minorities
World
Unstoppable immigration into Europe which is plunging birthrates
This is a Canaanite temple (right) with a large circular altar (left) in Megiddo. This was in use from 3000-1000 BC. Two small circular stone bases that supported pillars in the temple can be seen on the ground inside the temple.
This map marks the location of the Garden Tomb that some people feel is where Jesus was buried, but it is not the historical or traditional site of Jesus death. There is no archaeological support, in fact, archaeology shows the tombs of this area were old in Jesus' day. The Crusaders used it as a horse stable.
Someone to Quote
"God hath in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you." - Thomas Brooks
Something to Ponder
Early Latin translations of the Greek New Testament were made since Latin was the language of the Roman Empire in the West. Damasus, the bishop of the church in Rome (366-385 AD), wanted to separate from the Greek speaking church in the East and make the Western church completely Latin. To do this he needed an updated, accurate translation of the Greek New Testament into Latin so that the Western church could move on. One of the great Latin scholars of the day was Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius (or, Jerome) served Bishop Damasus as a secretary. In 382 Jerome began making an updated and correct translation of the Greek scriptures into Latin. Jerome left Rome and moved to a monastery that was in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to focus on his work of translation. He finished the Latin translation in 405 and included in it a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. This Latin Vulgate became the standard text for the Latin, or Western church, even until Latin was a dead language. Even then the church of the Middle Ages forbid the Bible to be translated into any other language in spite the fact that the most believers could never read or understand the Bible.
Here’s a Fact
This is a list of ancient inscriptions that attest to the accuracy of the New Testament:
1 Pontius Pilate Inscription, Caesarea, mentions Pontius Pilate by name and gives him the title of Perfect (Governor) (here)
2 Caiaphas Ossuary, Jerusalem, names Caiaphas the Priest who condemned Jesus (here)
3 Erastus Inscription, Corinth, Name and title of a city official named and titled by Paul in Romans 16:23 (here)
4 Soreg Inscription, Jerusalem, Warning sign for Gentiles on Temple Mount as in Acts 21:27-31 (here)
5 Herod Ostraca, Masada, a fragment from a wine jar with the name and title of King Herod (here)
6 Vespasian/ Titus Inscription, south of Temple Mount, Names Vespasian and Titus (here)
7 Arch of Titus, Rome, commemorates Rome’s 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem (here)
1 Pontius Pilate Inscription, Caesarea, mentions Pontius Pilate by name and gives him the title of Perfect (Governor) (here)
2 Caiaphas Ossuary, Jerusalem, names Caiaphas the Priest who condemned Jesus (here)
3 Erastus Inscription, Corinth, Name and title of a city official named and titled by Paul in Romans 16:23 (here)
4 Soreg Inscription, Jerusalem, Warning sign for Gentiles on Temple Mount as in Acts 21:27-31 (here)
5 Herod Ostraca, Masada, a fragment from a wine jar with the name and title of King Herod (here)
6 Vespasian/ Titus Inscription, south of Temple Mount, Names Vespasian and Titus (here)
7 Arch of Titus, Rome, commemorates Rome’s 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem (here)
Proverb
"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words." - Proverbs 7:4-5
Coach’s Corner
Often the hero is afflicted.
Acts 7:1-8
New International Version (NIV)
Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin
7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’
4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. 6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. 7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’ 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
New International Version (NIV)
Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin
7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’
4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. 6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. 7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’ 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
Genesis 14
New International Version (NIV)
Abram Rescues Lot
14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
New International Version (NIV)
Abram Rescues Lot
14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
Job 16
New International Version (NIV)
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2
“I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3
Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4
I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.
5
But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6
“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7
Surely, God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.
8
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9
God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10
People open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me.
11
God has turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12
All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
13
his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.
14
Again and again he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior.
15
“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust.
16
My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes;
17
yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18
“Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest!
19
Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
20
My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21
on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.
22
“Only a few years will pass before I take the path of no return.
New International Version (NIV)
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2
“I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3
Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4
I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.
5
But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6
“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7
Surely, God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.
8
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9
God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10
People open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me.
11
God has turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12
All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
13
his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.
14
Again and again he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior.
15
“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust.
16
My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes;
17
yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18
“Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest!
19
Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
20
My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21
on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.
22
“Only a few years will pass before I take the path of no return.