Through Genesis Chapter 40 (p.___ in my Bible)

I am amazed at the sacredness of early Biblical tradition.  There is one tradition or covenant I am searching the meaning behind...placing the hand under ones' thigh.  (Genesis 24:9)  The closest answer I found is that it is similar to placing ones' hand on the Bible like we do today taking an oath in the courtroom.  That was placement of the hand on the circumcision, which was a holy and highly sacred tradition.  You can read more where I found this answer:(http://www.joelnothman.com/blog/2007/12/20/india-and-ibn-ezra/)  What great honor and respect must have come with this oath.  I feel that as  Americans, we are often absent of respect and honor for legacy or tradition.  There are some that God has given still.

Before Unrealized to me: 

1. Definition of provender (as in Gen.24:25):   "mispo" or fodder, feed...from an unused root meaning to collect.  (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4554&t=KJV)
2. sod pottage:  to boil up (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2102&t=KJV) soup (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5138&t=KJV)
3. Luz -- Bethel:  almond tree (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3870&t=KJV) -- house of God (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1008&t=KJV)  Genesis 28:19 - Significant perhaps to Aarons' rod that budded...the almond branch in the ark of the covenant...and the NT ark being the House of God...US!
4. Isaac made the same mistake Daddy Abraham did...telling Abimalech that his wife was his sister!  (Gen.26:10)
5. Mandrakes: love-apple (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1736&t=KJV)  (Gen.30:15)  Powerful fruits that got Leah a night with Jacob and her next son.  Wow!  No, it's a different fruit than what Eve ate (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6529&t=KJV) which actually looks to be pronouced closer to "pear"
6. Leah's sons:  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun
7. Leah's Handmaid Zilpah's sons: Gad, Asher
8. Rachel's sons:  Joseph and Benjamin [meaning son of the right hand] (who she wanted to name Ben-oni, meaning son of my sorrow) 
9. Rachel's Handmaid Bilhah's sons:  Dan & Naphtali
10. The Sons of Israel had 4 Moms.  I guess I realized it but it just seems different reading it this way now.
11. Jacob wrestled with the angel and received the name change to Israel on his way to see Esau again after stealing his birthright. (His name went from Heel Holder to God Prevails.)
12. Dukes of the sons of Esau (Gen.36:15)  friend, intimate, chiefs (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H441&t=KJV)

Still unrealized to me:
How could Jacob not know that it was Leah instead of Rachel until the morning after spending the wedding night with her??? (Gen.29:23)

Wow.  It changes everything when the notes you are taking are not for something you are taking a test on, but something you actually care about.  Ha!  After all those years note-taking in school and here we are with more notes!  I want to document all that I am learning now, and I hope you are learning too!

This week I will continue reading through Genesis 41-Exodus 10.  This will bring me 30 more pages to page 92 [out of 1581] in my Bible.  Be encouraged and keep reading!  Maybe you will read it in 2 years, but keep reading!  I know I will! 

Reflections (p.30 in my Bible)

Completion of 1st week

Holy Ghost teach me

I am amazed at how many of the fundamental Bible stories are in the very beginning of the Scriptures. Adam & Eve, Noah's Ark, Abraham & Isaac, Melchisadek, Sodom & Gomorrah...wow. Hundreds of years go by in 30 pages.

I am also presenting the opportunity to read by the week. The number of pages in your Bible (mine has 1,581) divided by 52 (weeks in a year), is 30.4 pages per week. I have read through Genesis 20 and intend to read 30.4 more pages this week, bringing me through chapter 40.

Some interesting things I hadn't noticed before: Noah was commanded to bring 7 of every clean animal into the ark. After the flood ended, he offered up one of every animal as a burnt offering to the Lord, leaving 6 of every clean animal. 3 pairs of male & female.  2)  Abram encountered Melchisadek after defending his nephew, Lot.  Abram defended Lot after they had separated ways.  3)  The angels the Lord sent to Lot had to take Lot's family by the hand to get them to leave in time to save their life.

As questions and curiosities arise during my reading, I enjoy looking up words and definitions on www.blueletterbible.org.  It is a wonderful tool to use as an online concordance. Every time a word is listed in the scripture, it is accounted on this website. It allows you to look up the original Hebrew meanings and then even the root words of those Hebrew words. You can even listen to the Bible being read online!

The Lord has really blessed me this week as I have begun this journey with you! My grandmother asked Jesus into her heart one month shy of her 91st birthday! Let us continue boldly into our reading this year! It's worth it!

If you have any tips on templates for blog background on this, please share! Thank you!

Day 1: Genesis 1 & 2 (pages 2-6 in my Bible)

"Holy Ghost teach me as I read." This session began as I awaited someone for a long time in the car. I was not in the library, my office, or somewhere one would imagine would be the ideal place to begin reading the Bible in a year, and yet I was. The place I was in was a place that caused me to realize there is no time like the present. We can't always wait for the perfect opportunity to start something...otherwise that time might not ever come...or if it did, would we even know it? So there I am sitting cross-legged in the front seat with my Bible in my lap and my earphones in my ears listening to Alexander Scourby's wonderful British accent reading the Scripture into my ears as I read them with my eyes. As for the Scripture text, I can't believe I didn't know what "firmament" meant! The Holy Ghost Anointing began teaching me only 6 verses into the Bible! It means expansion in Hebrew...among other things as all Hebrew words have multiple meanings. The intention and vision of this blog is not to explain what is read, but to share the experience of following through with the instruction of the Lord. I will share my thoughts as I go about this journey and leave it to you to hear the Father's voice as you read. This week's daily 4.3 page passages: Day 2: Genesis 3-5 (pages 6-10) Day 3: Genesis 6-8 (pages 10-14) Day 4: Genesis 9-11 (pages 15-19) Day 5: Genesis 12-15:10 (pages 19-23) Day 6: Genesis 15:11-18 (pages 23-27) Day 7: Genesis 19-21 (pages 28-32)

Hallelujah!  Truly this is a vision becoming reality.  I am very excited to be beginning this journey of the Bible in One year all the way through!  The Lord impressed upon my spirit several weeks ago to make this an open invitation to whosoever will go with us.  Since then, I found a little booklet called "Reading Through the Bible in One Year".  It had exact chapters and verses to read every day of the year to finish in exactly one year.  I was anxiously awaiting my tent revival to be completed to begin going through that book together, and then when the time came this week to actually start, it was nowhere to be found.  So I said, "Lord, what is this?  I can't wait to begin and where's that silly book?"  And you know what?  God's Spirit of Wisdom came to me revealing that all I had to do was figure out how many pages to read per day.  

So, here is a picture of the Bible I will be reading through in one year.  It has a total of 1,581 pages from Genesis to Revelation.  There are 365 days in a year.  1,581 / 365 = 4.33 pages per day.  Whatever Bible you are reading from, just do the same thing.  Divide the total number of pages by 365 and you will have your per day number of pages to read.  Or you can follow as I record what the 4.33 pages are every day that I read.  

My Bible is a study Bible, which means that some pages are more "study" than "Bible", but others it is more "Bible" than "study" (or notes).  The important thing to me is the actual Scriptures.  

As I read, I will ask "Holy Ghost, teach me," in accordance with 1 John 2:27 

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.   

No matter what your education level is, the Holy Ghost, or the anointing, will teach you.  This is my seminary, Glory to God!  Holy Ghost on the Main Line!