Week One of our Eat This Book bible study is finished and I for one, am REALLY enjoying it!
In this post, I'm just going to highlight some of the verses and events in the chapters we have read that stood out to me.
Day One: Genesis 1, 2 & 3; Psalm 1
I mentioned in my previous post that I think it's really fitting that we are starting the new year off by studying Genesis. It's such a fantastic book. Learning about Gods creation never gets old to me.
What I love about this type of study, especially when joined by other people, is it allows you to hold each other accountable. It's really easy to be motivated at the beginning of a Bible study but with one of this magnitude (we're talking an entire year!) the excitement and motivation can often fizzle out quickly. So when you're able to interact and have dialogue, ask questions and read other peoples thoughts on what you're studying, it can make it seem a little less daunting. Dare I say, even fun!? Yes, there are those of us out there that LOVE studying the Bible... 🙃
Day Two: Genesis 4,5,6 & 7; Psalm 2
Every time I read the story of Noah, I can't help but think of how much faith it must have taken to do... well, what he did. Build a gigantic ark, big enough to hold enough animals to preserve their kind and your entire family...because God told you to.
Can you imagine the reaction of his family and friends? I can picture people thinking, "That guy is nuts!" But he carried out his job that God asked him to do. And as always, God made good on His promise.
Noah was a man of tremendous faith. The overall comments in the reading for day two was that we all aim to have faith like Noah, to be as convicted as Noah and to trust God like Noah did, not matter WHAT the world thinks of us.
Day Three: Genesis 8,9,10 & 11; Psalm 3
The story with the Tower of Babel is a prime example of how early on in life we started to think our way was way better than Gods way. I mean, right from the very beginning, we kind of flopped with our faith!
Instead of trusting God, they followed King Nimrods plan to become worldly and famous. He asked them to build a huge tower, big enough to reach the heavens and convinced them that they would only find salvation if they could accomplish that.
Psalm 3:8 reminds of one very important fact that the people forgot when building the Tower of Babel; salvation belongs to the Lord. It comes from Him only.
Day Four: Genesis 12,13,14 & 15; Psalm 4
All of my highlights seem to be coming from the Psalms but can you blame me? Look at the beauty and truth in this one!
In the craziness of the world, how fantastic is it that we can rely on Jesus for peace? No matter what we go through, we can rely on the promise of the Lord. We can lay our heads down at night and trust in Him completely. Amen!
Day Five: Genesis 16,17 & 18; Psalm 5
Abraham and Sarah are a story of faith. Jon pointed this out in his comments for the reading on day five and I agree with him. To me, the verse I shared in the Psalm reflect the story of Abraham and Sarah.
Genesis 17:15-19 talks about how God told Abraham that He would bless Sarah and she will "produce nations" and Abraham fell on his face laughing. Why? Because he was 100 years old and Sarah was 99. Today, this story makes people scoff and say..."there is no way that could happen"; to that I say, that's exactly what both Abraham and Sarah said. In fact, they laughed!....in that moment, they lacked faith.
Spoiler alert...God kept His promise! Roughly nine months later, little Isaac came along. The world didn't believe. Science said it was impossible. But with God ALL things are possible.
May those who love your name boast about YOU, Lord. If I am to boast about anything, let it always be about You!
Day Six: Genesis 19,20 & 21; Psalm 6
These chapters are not always easy to read. When I first started reading and studying the Bible, I always got uncomfortable reading about Sodom and Gomorrah. I think it's obvious why it could be hard for some to read, considering the world we live in today.
The more I read it, the more I am able to see past the fire and brimstone and see that God's compassion really does outshine everything else.
We are all sinners. Every single one of us. And every person in Sodom and Gomorrah deserved the fate they received because, like you and I, they were sinners.
When God tells Abraham His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham pleaded with the Lord, since his nephew Lot was there with his family, so Abraham asked Him if He would indeed destroy the city if there were even ten righteous men there? The Lord said that He would not destroy it if there were even ten.
It is not Gods plan for us perish. He loves us and is merciful and patient with us. He hears our pleas and our prayers. It was always Gods plan for us to be with Him.
If it was not, I suspect He would have given up on us long ago for we are deserving of nothing. The very fact that we are given chance after chance is because He does not wish for any of us to spend eternity absent from His presence.
Day Seven: Genesis 22,23 & 24; Psalm 7
Okay, so my highlighted verse isn't from todays reading...but it sure does resemble it! God, loves us so very much...so much so that He sent His one and only Son to us, to die a death and only we deserve so that whoever believes in Him will NOT perish but live forever.
Abrahams faith is tested in this story. He is asked to take his son and sacrifice him as an offering to the Lord.
As a parent, I cannot imagine how difficult that moment would be. I honestly don't know how I would react.
But Abraham put God above all things and was ready to live his faith out. God was never going to let him go through with this. Isaac was not the true Lamb of the world. Jesus was. Only His sacrifice on the cross is what counts. God was testing Abrahams faith. He passed.
Want to study with us? Check out our discord channel by clicking the link below:
The Kingdom Discord
We'd love to have you study with us! It doesn't matter whether you're brand new the Bible or have read it hundred times. Whether you're just curious or a raging lunatic for Jesus (I can say that because...I kind of am! :D) All are welcome. So don't be shy.
If you post about our Bible study, use the hashtag #eatthisbook so it won't be missed!
See you next week!
