Editor’s note: Reading through the Bible in a calendar year isn’t as daunting as you might think and if you haven’t already begun, now is a great time to start! Enjoy this excerpt from Daily Scripture Guidebook by Tim Wildsmith and get reading the Bible!
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Old Testament
Our Old Testament readings this week pick up in the middle of Jacob’s story, and in Genesis 32 we find a pivotal and peculiar scene where Jacob wrestles with God. The setting is dark — literally at night — and mysterious. Jacob finds himself alone on the banks of the Jabbok River (a branch of the Jordan), where a shadowy figure attacks him.
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” — Genesis 32:24–26
The figure responds by asking Jacob what his name is.
Remember, this is the same Jacob who stole his brother Esau’s blessing from their father, Isaac. Jacob’s name is synonymous with this deceptive act, so by saying his own name, he is forced to admit who he really is.
And then something remarkable happens.
The shadowy figure changes Jacob’s name. And it’s not just any name. His name is changed to Israel. He becomes the namesake of God’s chosen people.
This is what redemption looks like.
Jacob was a deceiver constantly on the run from who God had called him to be. He fought God, literally and figuratively, for a blessing that was only temporary. But God had something better planned for his life. He gave him a new name and a new destiny. He gave him a blessing that would last forever.
If you ever feel like you’re running from who God created you to be, return to this passage. Read it again and again. Be reminded that God fights for you, even when it’s you He has to fight.
New Testament
This week’s New Testament readings give us snapshots of Jesus’s life, including some amazing miracles, parables, and His teaching on the Sabbath. Matthew 12 opens with a face-off between Jesus and the Pharisees, who take issue with the fact that the disciples were disobeying the Sabbath laws of the Torah. Notice how Jesus tries to show them that their legalistic views are missing something. The Pharisees are so focused on the “letter of the law” that they can’t see what the law was truly intended for. Immediately after this encounter, Jesus goes into the synagogue and heals someone. His ability to heal is affirmation of His teachings about the Sabbath, but this entire episode causes the Pharisees to despise Him even more. Why do you think the Pharisees were so bothered by the good things Jesus did?
Chapter 13 is the third of five extended teaching “discourses” in Matthew. Bible commentaries call this the Parabolic Discourse because Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God through parables, which are short stories that illustrate a deeper truth. Jesus uses things familiar to the people of His day — farming, baking, fishing, etc. — to give them clues about what God is up to all around them.
In some cases, as with the parable of the sower, Jesus offers an explanation of what the parable means. In others, we are invited to interpret for ourselves. Which ones do you find most compelling?
In chapter 14 we learn the sad fate of John the Baptist, and then Jesus performs two of His most incredible miracles when He feeds five thousand people (with only five loaves of bread and two fish) and walks on water. Things are clearly escalating, and Matthew wants us to feel the tension. When you read these passages, imagine yourself as a bystander. How would you feel if you witnessed Jesus saying and doing these things? What would you say to Him?
Psalms and Proverbs
Proverbs is filled with short, simple sayings intended to impart wisdom to readers, but wisdom is not a simple thing, and it’s not easy to attain. A lot of people equate wisdom to knowledge, but it’s more than that (we probably all know people who are awfully smart yet lack wisdom).
- Wisdom is a combination of knowledge, experience, and good judgment.
Wisdom is something we have to pursue and work at. Proverbs 2:4 tells us to search for wisdom in the same way that we might search for hidden treasure.
That sounds like a lot of work. Is it worth it?
Keep reading.
The pursuit of wisdom leads to knowledge and understanding (v. 6), success (v. 7), protection (v. 8), discretion (v. 11), and righteousness (v. 20). Wisdom also protects us from all sorts of bad things (vv. 12–19). So yes, the pursuit of wisdom is a lot of work, but if you want to truly live the good life, it’s worth the effort.
Reflections
Write down a few reflections on this week’s readings.
Day 15: Genesis 31:1–55; Matthew 12:1–21; Psalm 9:13–20
Day 16: Genesis 32:1–33:20; Matthew 12:22–45; Proverbs 2:1–11
Day 17: Genesis 34:1–35:29; Matthew 12:46–13:17; Psalm 10:1–11
Day 18: Genesis 36:1–37:36; Matthew 13:18–35; Psalm 10:12–18
Day 19: Genesis 38:1–39:23; Matthew 13:36–58; Psalm 11:1–7
Day 20: Genesis 40:1–41:40; Matthew 14:1–21; Proverbs 2:12–22
Day 21: Genesis 41:41–42:38; Matthew 14:22–15:9; Psalm 12:1–8
Excerpted with permission from Daily Scripture Guidebook by Tim Wildsmith, copyright Tim Wildsmith.
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Your Turn
Are you reading through the Bible this year? Don’t be put off by the date. Just jump in! Any day to start reading the Bible is a great day! ~ Devotionals Daily