Day 5 + read Genesis 37, 41, 50

"37:5 Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more."

"50:20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today."

Those two verses are a perfect introduction to the story of Joseph. It tells us two important things today:

1. How does God speak? Sometimes God speaks through dreams.

2. How does God act? Sometimes God redeems human actions.

You probably know the story of Joseph. His jealous brothers wanted to kill him, he was sold into Egyptian slavery, and he was thrown into prison.

God redeemed, however, what others intended for harm: By speaking to Joseph through dreams, God enabled Joseph to rise to power in Egypt. Joseph’s position as governor allowed Joseph to save his brothers -- and indeed, the fledgling nation of Israel!

What does God say?

Sometimes God speaks through dreams.

What does God say to us?

First and foremost, I am not about to suggest that every dream is from God!!!

Generally my dreams are too weird and selfish and generally irrelevant to be godly! Nevertheless, my dreams often draw up what’s pressing on my heart -- anxiety, insecurity, anger, greed, lust, or guilt.

One of the most helpful devotional practices I ever tried was to write down my dreams in the morning. Then I would write a prayer that addressed the concern that was subconciously weighing on me.

I offer this as an idea that you might wish to try ... or you might not.

Two tips if you do:

1. Don’t pretend you’re Joseph! If I thought most of my dreams were instructions from God, I’d probably be in jail before the end of the month! Use the dreams simply to spark your morning prayer.

2. Write them down before your feet ever hit the floor! If you do anything else first, the dream (and the emotions) are gone.

What does God say?

In Genesis 37, when Joseph dreamed of eleven sheaves of wheat bowing down to the one, God gave Joseph and his brothers a glimpse of their future.

In order to eat in the midst of a famine, the eleven would need to do the unthinkable -- bow down humbly to the one.

What does God say to US?

For the people of Israel, salvation came by bowing down. In what ways do you need to humble yourself and bow down?


(Hint: If you didn’t say, "Bow to God," now would be a very good time to say, "Oh, yeah, and humble myself before my Lord most of all!!!")

What does God say?

In Genesis 41, Joseph correctly interpreted the dream of Pharoah. Seven fat cows meant seven years of plenty, and seven slender cows meant seven years of famine.

What does God say to US?

God says there will be times of plenty in your life and there will be times that are lean. Using the wisdom from above, what should we do in times of plenty? What should we do in seasons of lean?


Please note that the principles from this dream are not just about rich seasons, lean seasons, and economic wisdom.

God tells us through his Word that there is "a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace" (Ecclesiastes 3:2-7).

Which of these principles do you need in your life most today? Why?

P.S.

"50:20Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it for good." God didn’t say that. Joseph did. That’s why I put this as a "P.S." instead of a "What does God say?" Nevertheless, this is one of the most important principles in life, spurring an important question ...

What harmful, painful, tragic, sinful thing has the world tried to work in your life that God has nevertheless redeemed and enriched you through?!



Thank God for his goodness!

Day 4 + read segments from Genesis

Genesis 33:1-12
then Back to 28:10-19
then to 32:22-30

What does God say?

Yesterday, we heard that Abraham had a son named Isaac. A generation later, Isaac too had a son named Jacob. Actually, Isaac had twins -- Esau the elder, and Jacob who came out clinging to his heel. In fact, Jacob would spend the rest of his formative years trying to grab hold of all the blessings intended for his older brother.

Our story picks up today after Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthrite (Gen 27).

Now, based on today’s readings, I’ve obviously told this story with the end first -- reconciliation between two brothers. The question is why did I tell it backwards?

Why? Because as powerful and instructive as any glimpse of reconciliation can be, we’re not looking (in this Bible study) to discover what humans do. We’re seeking to discover what God himself teaches and says.

Therefore, I wanted you to see the end of the story (reconciliation) and then go back and consider what might have moved the conniving Jacob to get to that point!

What moved Jacob?

A vision and a wrestling match.

God spoke to Jacob first through a vision. We call what he saw "Jacob’s Ladder." What it really depicted was God’s greatest desire. God desires to create a bridge between heaven and earth!

Some commentators go on to say that this ladder was really a prefiguring of the cross of Christ. The cross, after all, is the great connector between heaven and earth. God’s prophetic hands must not be ignored! Nevertheless, let’s stick with what Jacob knew for the moment: God desires there to be a living connection between heaven and earth.

Jacob’s second glimpse was a wrestling match with God himself!

Again, is this a prefiguring of Christ -- God in human form? But again, let’s stick to what Jacob knew ...

On the morning side of this wrestling match, what was God’s message? "32:28You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, [which means] you have striven with God ... and prevailed."

What does God say to us?

God’s message to us is, "strive and struggle with me." Wrestle with God!

Too often when we face trials, we seem to struggle either:

1. with ourselves and within our own mind, or

2. against God and heaven.

Many of us lack sufficient boldness to struggle with God ... to lay at his feet our anger ... to refuse to release him without an answer to our doubts.

Why do we hesitate?! Piety ... and pride. We’re either afraid to admit our vulnerability or unable to accept God’s love. But trust me -- a guy named after Doubting Thomas -- God is big enough to handle our questions and frustrations. All he wants is for you to wrestle with him until you "32:30see[] God face to face."

Right now in your life, do you feel like you’re seeing God face to face?

What do you need to wrestle with God about? Ask him about? Cry to him about? Shout at him about?

P.S.

If you have difficulty being brutally honest with God, remember Jacob’s ladder.

In the midst of Jacob’s self-induced exile, God set up a symbol (a ladder, a cross) as a bridge. Through it, our Lord was saying, "Friend, you are broken and on the run, but I still desire to forge a living connection between heaven and you."

Wrestle some more ... and when it’s time, thank God through Jesus Christ for the living connection that he has forged between heaven and you!

Day 3 + Read first verse of several chapters

Genesis 12:1-- 4
Genesis 15:1-- 6
Genesis 16:1-- 4
Genesis 17:1-- 8
Genesis 19:1-- 5 (15-- 26)
Genesis 21:1-- 4
Genesis 22:1-- 18

What does God say?

The story of Abraham and his family is long and important. We like to think of our Bible heroes as heroic. But several great characters in a row have let us (and God) down -- Adam ate the apple, Noah got humiliatingly drunk, and Abraham had a child with the maid.

What does God have to say about that?

"17:16I will bless [you]."

What a strange and wonderful God we have! He blesses broken people! (And I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely a blessing for me!)

What does God say to us?

Many of us live paralyzed lives. We’ve done something shameful in our past. We can’t forgive ourselves for that transgression; therefore, deep down, we fail to believe that God can forgive us for it.

But do you know what God said to Abraham and Sarah? It’s the same thing he says to you: "18:14Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"


Spend a moment or two confessing the big sins you cannot seem to forgive yourself for ...


Now spend more time thanking God for the power of his forgiveness!


What does God say?

"19:17Flee for your life [and] do not look back."

What does God say to us?

"When you flee from your sins, do not look back."

Wait ... God didn’t actually say that! Is using this verse in this way stretching it’s original intent? Probably! And yet, when we flee our past -- as Lot and his wife fled the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah -- I don’t think it’s stretching the truth to say that God wants us to leave it behind ... to not look back ... and to finally be set free.

What do you need to be set free from and leave completely behind?


What does God say?

"17:12I will make you ... 14[the father of many nations]*."

*"Abraham" means "Father of many nations."

What does God say to us?

In spite of your past, God wants to make something of you!

After having put your past behind you, start asking God what he desires to make of you!



What does God say?

"22:2Take your son, your only son Isaac, ... and offer him ... as a burnt offering."

What does God say to us?

For most of my life, I tried to ignore this story.

It sounded absolutely barbaric.

Therefore, this story quickly became one of those passages I wrote off as silly, old, out-dated literature that had nothing to do with the soft and squishy God of Niceness. (If you’re like me, as soon as you start labeling your non-favorite stories as silly and old, you soon have few hundred passages in that file. In fact, if you’re like me, as soon as you start taming God, your soft and squishy God of Niceness seems more like a marshmallow than the "consuming fire" that it talks about in Hebrews 12:29. Wait ... a consuming God of fire seems scary, let me put that in the old and irrelevant file too ... or should we not?!)

As barbaric as this story sounds, what is it really all about? Is God really asking Abraham to sacrifice his son?

No!

By the end of the story we see that God has been planning to provide a substitute all along.

So why bother asking such a terrible thing?

First, it’s a test. God wants to know if Abraham will really obey him or not.

Second, God wanted to show that he is different than all the other "gods." In Abraham’s day, the other gods frequently required child sacrifice. Thus, Abraham was saddened by God’s call, but he was not surprised. Fortunately, God had a magnificent surprise in store! He is wonderfully different than all the other gods we can turn to (or create in our own imagination). Not only does God not ask us to give our sons, but God, instead, gives his only begotten Son!

That’s a long introduction to finally ask, "Therefore, what does God say to us?"

Well, I hear God saying, "All of life is a test and a trust." Indeed, God says, "Like Abraham, I will ask you to do many things in this life. Some will make sense. Some may not. The question is, will you follow my calls and commands -- and my Word -- even when it doesn’t make sense to you?"

What hard thing is God asking you to do?

And do you trust him -- if you truly step out in faith -- to provide a ram, a solution, a hope, and a way?"

P.S.

At the beginning of today’s lesson, we talked about Bible "heroes" who let us (and God) down. In spite of all the failures along the way, our story today ends with Abraham’s faith and trust.

Has your life known failure? How can you begin writing a new ending today?

Day 2 + read Genesis 6,8,9

What does God say?

Yesterday we ended with a picture of God’s desire for fellowship, relationship, and intimacy with us. Adam and Eve broke that relationship and by doing so, broke God’s heart.

Genesis 6 begins with God’s heart again. What breaks it this time?

Sin ... again: "5The Lord saw that the __________ of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their ____________ was only evil continually." God’s Word goes on to say that "6the Lord was _________ that he had made humankind on the earth, and it __________ him to his heart."

What does God say about sin?

God reveals his hurt and his heart when he says, "7I will blot out ... human beings."

That’s a word of judgment, isn’t it?

I don’t know about you, but I’d often like to pretend that God doesn’t judge. Therefore, you and I have two choices for how we can respond to passages like this: 1) we can ignore it, saying, "I can’t believe in a God like that," or 2) we can embrace it.

Embrace it? Are you serious?!

Yes, we can choose to say, "God wants a relationship with me so passionately that he hates anything that puts a divide between us."

What does God say to US?

Scripture notes that "6:5every inclination of [those olden] hearts was only evil continually."

Now, I sincerely doubt that every inclination of your heart is evil. Nevertheless, if we’re honest, we may need to admit that our hearts struggle more than occasionally with sin. And we would certainly do well to remember that every sin hurts the heart of the Lord who simply wants a close relationship with us.

Therefore, now might be a good time to spend a few moments confessing your sins ...

What does God say?

Often one of the most hopeful words in all scripture is "but." In this case, we hear that all of humankind was wicked, "8but Noah found favor with God."

Over the next few chapters, God will ask the improbable (perhaps impossible) of Noah. For example, God says, "6:14Make for yourself a 15three hundred cubit long 14ark [and] 19bring two of every kind [of animal] into the ark."

What does God say to US?

Occasionally throughout our life, it may sound like God is asking us some strange, improbable, hard, and unsavory things. The question is: Will you respond like Noah?

Scripture doesn’t waste words on Noah’s obedience: "22Noah did this." What big and improbable thing do you know that God is calling you to do, and how are you responding?


What’s keeping you from just "d[oing] this"?


What does God say?

"18I will establish a ___________ with you."

We are back to God’s desire for a relationship with us again. A covenant is a promise, a contract, an oath, that seeks to formalize a relationship or bond. God promises to protect Noah through the midst of the biggest gullywasher of a trial that humanity has ever known.

What does God say to US?

God wants to forge a bond and relationship with you! What is the greatest trial you are currently facing in your life right now?


How might trusting in the God of the covenant who is with you through the storm, give you more confidence to face this trial?


Let’s end today by giving thanks to the God of covenants and relationships for providing us with everything we truly need in the midst of the storm. (Note: That, in fact, is a powerful way to pray. Praying "God be with me" is good, but an even better prayer may be: "Thank you that you are already with me ... already building a life raft ... already fashioning an escape route ... already setting my feet back on dry ground.")

P.S.

Did you notice how the story of Noah ended? The most faithful man in all the world planted a vineyard, got drunk, and shamed his sons.

No matter how perfect you try to be, you will fail. Let me say that again ... You will fail ... You will fail ... You will fail.

So where’s the good news? It’s in confession. Confession removes the divide between you and the God of relationship who stands ready to throw the life line!

Day 1 + read Genesis 1,2,3

What does God say?

I don’t know about you, but I like to do things my way.

I like to be in charge.

The three musketeers used to cheer, "All for one and one for all." Me, myself, and I were once the three musketeers, and "All for me and all for me" used to be the cheer.

Pondering creation, though, was the first step in silencing a little bit of self. When I finally contemplated the complexity and enormity of creation ... when I finally realized my tiny, temporary, fragile stature ... when I finally said "wow" to God and "whoa" to my pride ... I finally began to hear the magical sounds of God’s creation. I finally began to know God.

In Genesis 1 -- over and over -- what two things does God say?

1. To create, God simply says, "Let there _ _ . . . "

2. And when God surveys his creation, God says, "And it was _ _ ."

Did God need to rub two sticks together to create? No. He simply needed to speak a word, "and it was so" ... and "it was good!"

Then after making humans the crown and culmination of his creation, what does God say? "31It was _________ good."

What does God say to US?

If God calls humans "very good," then you are "very good." Wait ... write that in big, BIG letters: God’s view of me is: V____ G_______!

Some people suffer from low self-esteem. What keeps you from seeing yourself as very good?


On the other hand, others of us suffer from the opposite problem -- too much pride. How might the enormity of creation help keep your pride in check?


Why do we often believe in our assessment of ourselves rather than God’s assessment of us?


The invitation is to not believe in ourselves but to believe in God!


What does God say?

In Genesis 2, God mentions the first thing that is not good, "18it is not good for the man to be alone."

What does God say to US?

If it is not good for people to be alone, who do you know who is lonely and in need of your friendship? (List them ... then befriend them!)


What does God say?

In Genesis 3, we have a picture of "the way it’s supposed to be."

God wanders through the beauty of his garden and expects to encounter friendship and intimacy with Adam and Eve. He obviously doesn’t. They have broken a rule. And what happens when they break a rule? They break something even more valuable. They shatter their relationship with God.

That’s what sin does. It puts a wall between us and God. That’s what that fig leaf was -- a literal barrier, a shame-filled divide.

Therefore, when God cries, "9Where are you?," do you hear his heart? He longs for intimacy, but with that relationship shattered, his heart is broken.

What does God say to US?

"Where are you?" That’s been God’s cry to you for years and years! He loves you. He wants nothing more than deep friendship with you and with me.

As you begin this 60-day journey, begin by answering two questions:

1. "Where have you been?"... lately? ... in your relationship with God?


2. "Where would you like to be?" ... at the end of these 60 days?

Know God - intro

Introduction

It was 10:30 at night and the kids were crying when we finally pulled off the interstate and into the hotel.

My wife did all the feeding and bathing as I carted every suitcase, diaper bag, baby toy, food bag, pack ’n play, pillow, blanket, and teddy bear up three flights of stairs.

It had to be at least 11:30 by the time we laid the last one down and turned out the lights.

You’d think I would have fallen fast asleep because I was exhausted. But what I was really doing was listening for the sounds of sleep.

As my family slept, I crept into the bathroom to feed a growing addiction.

I sat on the cold bathroom floor as I pulled out all the necessary paraphernalia.

I rolled up my sleeves, and started to ... read the scriptures.

The Bible-in-a-Year!

Four-chapters-a-day.

I was addicted.

Never had life made so much sense as when I was in the Word every day. Seemingly "random passages" seemed to speak to every situation.

That’s my goal for you.

Maybe not addiction, but certainly life making more and more sense.

The Bible is a guide book. But it is so much more. As Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life."

God yearns to speak to us. Indeed, he yearns to pour life into us -- eternal and abundant. Therefore, in these next thirty days, we’re going to listen for God's voice. We’re going to survey the entire Old Testament (and on day thirty-one tell you how to get even more from the New Testament when you’re ready to make that part of your plan)!

But all this begs an important question: How will we know when it’s God’s voice and not just our own opinions?

In putting together this study guide, I followed a specific method: I looked throughout the Old Testament for wherever it tells us that "God says ..." That's what we'll study for the next 30 days! God spoke directly to Abraham, Moses, Elijah (and even to Balaam’s ass)! And if he spoke to a donkey, don't you know he yearns to speak to you too? As we begin to listen to what God said to them, we will begin to hear what God is saying to us too!

The method of this study is simple: Read three chapters a day (and trust me, these are some of the very best chapters in the entire Bible). Then read a page of the Know God commentary -- to help it make sense. That adds up to about twenty short minutes a day.

Actually, it adds up to a whole lot more than that! Hearing God more clearly in your life is one of the best gifts you can ever give yourself.

Let's listen in?!