January NUM (Year One)

Joseph couldn’t control himself anymore in front of all his attendants. He cried out, “Have everyone leave me!” So there wasn’t anyone with Joseph when he told his brothers who he was. He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. Everyone in Pharaoh’s house heard about it.

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers weren’t able to answer him. They were too afraid of him.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” So they did. Then he said, “I am your brother Joseph. I’m the one you sold into Egypt. But don’t be upset. And don’t be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me ahead of you to save many lives. For two years now, there hasn’t been enough food in the land. And for the next five years, people won’t be plowing or gathering crops. But God sent me ahead of you to keep some of you alive on earth. He sent me here to save your lives by an act of mighty power.

“So then, it wasn’t you who sent me here. It was God. He made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me master of Pharaoh’s entire house. God made me ruler of the whole land of Egypt. Now hurry back to my father. Say to him, ‘Your son Joseph says, “God has made me master of the whole land of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t waste any time. You will live in the area of Goshen. You, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you have will be near me. There I will provide everything you need. There are still five years to come when there won’t be enough food. If you don’t come down here, you and your family and everyone who belongs to you will lose everything.” ’

“My brothers, I am Joseph. You can see for yourselves that I am the one speaking to you. My brother Benjamin can see it too. Tell my father about all the honor given to me in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept. Benjamin also hugged him and wept. Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that, his brothers talked with him.

The news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come. Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Here’s what I want you to tell your brothers. Say to them, ‘Load your animals. Return to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your families back to me. I’ll give you the best land in Egypt. You can enjoy all the good things in the land.’

“And here’s something else I want you to tell them. Say to them, ‘Take some carts from Egypt. Your children and your wives can use them. Get your father and come back. Don’t worry about the things you have back there. The best of everything in Egypt will belong to you.’ ”

Then the sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them supplies for their journey. He gave new clothes to each of them. But he gave Benjamin more than seven pounds of silver. He also gave him five sets of clothes. He sent his father ten male donkeys loaded with the best things from Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies for his journey. Then Joseph sent his brothers away. As they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t argue on the way!”

So they went up out of Egypt. They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of the whole land of Egypt.” Jacob was shocked. He didn’t believe them. So they told him everything Joseph had said to them. Jacob saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back. That gave new life to their father Jacob. Israel said, “I believe it now! My son Joseph is still alive. I’ll go and see him before I die.”

So Israel started out with everything that belonged to him. When he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

God spoke to Israel in a vision at night. “Jacob! Jacob!” he said.

“Here I am,” Jacob replied.

“I am God. I am the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. There I will make you into a great nation. I will go down to Egypt with you. I will surely bring you back again. And when you die, Joseph will close your eyes with his own hand.”

Then Jacob left Beersheba. Israel’s sons put their father Jacob and their families in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. So Jacob and his whole family went to Egypt. They took their livestock with them. And they took everything they had acquired in Canaan. Jacob brought his sons and grandsons with him to Egypt. He also brought his daughters and granddaughters. He brought his whole family with him.

Here are the names of Israel’s children and grandchildren who went to Egypt. Jacob and his whole family are included.

Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son.

The sons of Reuben were

Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.

The sons of Simeon were

Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul. Shaul was the son of a woman from Canaan.

The sons of Levi were

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

The sons of Judah were

Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah. But Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan.

The sons of Perez were

Hezron and Hamul.

The sons of Issachar were

Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.

The sons of Zebulun were

Sered, Elon and Jahleel.

These were the sons and grandsons born to Jacob and Leah in Paddan Aram. Leah also had a daughter by Jacob. Her name was Dinah. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Leah was 33.

The sons of Gad were

Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.

The sons of Asher were

Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.

The sons of Beriah were

Heber and Malkiel.

These were the children and grandchildren born to Jacob and Zilpah. Laban had given Zilpah to his daughter Leah. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Zilpah was 16.

The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were

Joseph and Benjamin.

In Egypt, Asenath had Manasseh and Ephraim by Joseph. Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On.

The sons of Benjamin were

Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.

These were the sons and grandsons born to Jacob and Rachel. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Rachel was 14.

The son of Dan was

Hushim.

The sons of Naphtali were

Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.

These were the sons and grandsons born to Jacob and Bilhah. Laban had given Bilhah to his daughter Rachel. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Bilhah was seven.

The total number of people who went to Egypt with Jacob was 66. That number includes only his own children and grandchildren. It doesn’t include his sons’ wives or his grandsons’ wives. The total number of the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt was 70. That includes the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt.

Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph. He sent him to get directions to Goshen. And so they arrived in the area of Goshen. Then Joseph had his servants get his chariot ready. He went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as he came to his father, Joseph threw his arms around him. Then Joseph wept for a long time.

Israel said to Joseph, “I have seen for myself that you are still alive. Now I’m ready to die.”

Then Joseph spoke to his brothers and to the rest of his father’s family. He said, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh. I’ll say to him, ‘My brothers and the rest of my father’s family have come to me. They were living in the land of Canaan. The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They’ve brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ Pharaoh will send for you. He’ll ask, ‘What do you do for a living?’ You should answer, ‘We’ve taken care of livestock from the time we were boys. We’ve done just as our fathers did.’ It’s the practice of the people of Egypt not to mix with shepherds. So Pharaoh will let you settle in the area of Goshen.”

Yesterday’s Reading

The 6 Year Plan

Tomorrow’s Reading

March 18 (Year One)

Jesus came down from the mountainside. Large crowds followed him. A man who had a skin disease came and got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, if you are willing to make me ‘clean,’ you can do it.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing to do it,” he said. “Be ‘clean’!” Right away the man was healed of his skin disease. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone. Go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift Moses commanded. It will be a witness to everyone.”

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman commander came to him. He asked Jesus for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home and can’t move. He is suffering terribly.”

Jesus said, “Shall I come and heal him?”

The commander replied, “Lord, I am not good enough to have you come into my house. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. I myself am a man under authority. And I have soldiers who obey my orders. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those following him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. In Israel I have not found anyone whose faith is so strong. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west. They will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of heaven. They will sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But those who think they belong in the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness. There they will weep and grind their teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the Roman commander, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law. She was lying in bed. She had a fever. Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and began to serve him.

When evening came, many people controlled by demons were brought to Jesus. He drove out the spirits with a word. He healed all who were sick. This happened so that what Isaiah the prophet had said would come true. He had said,

“He suffered the things we should have suffered.
    He took on himself the sicknesses that should have been ours.” (Isaiah 53:4)

Jesus saw the crowd around him. So he gave his disciples orders to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Then a teacher of the law came to him. He said, “Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens. Birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Another follower said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus got into a boat. His disciples followed him. Suddenly a terrible storm came up on the lake. The waves crashed over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up. They said, “Lord! Save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “Your faith is so small! Why are you so afraid?” Then Jesus got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop. It became completely calm.

The disciples were amazed. They asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus arrived at the other side of the lake in the area of the Gadarenes. Two men controlled by demons met him. They came from the tombs. The men were so wild that no one could pass that way. “Son of God, what do you want with us?” they shouted. “Have you come here to punish us before the time for us to be judged?”

Not very far away, a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

Jesus said to them, “Go!” So the demons came out of the men and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned in the water. Those who were tending the pigs ran off. They went into the town and reported all this. They told the people what had happened to the men who had been controlled by demons. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their area.

Yesterday’s Reading

The 6 Year Plan

Tomorrow’s Reading

March 16 (Year One)

Abraham had married another woman. Her name was Keturah. She had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Abraham. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All of them were members of Keturah’s family line.

Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east.

Abraham lived a total of 175 years. He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died. Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him. They put his body in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite. Abraham had bought the field from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah. After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. At that time Isaac was living near Beer Lahai Roi.

Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah’s slave from Egypt.

Here are the names of the sons of Ishmael. They are listed in the order they were born.

Nebaioth was Ishmael’s oldest son.

Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

Hadad, Tema, Jetur,

Naphish and Kedemah.

All of them were Ishmael’s sons. They were rulers of 12 tribes. They all lived in their own settlements and camps.

Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined the members of his family who had already died. His children settled in the area between Havilah and Shur. It was near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. Ishmael’s children weren’t friendly toward any of the tribes related to them.

Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac.

Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean from Paddan Aram. She was also the sister of Laban, the Aramean.

Rebekah couldn’t have children. So Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. And the Lord answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to ask the Lord what she should do.

The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your body.
    Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated.
One nation will be stronger than the other.
    The older son will serve the younger one.”

The time came for Rebekah to have her babies. There were twin boys in her body. The first one to come out was red. His whole body was covered with hair. So they named him Esau. Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau’s heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had them.

The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter. He liked the open country. But Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac liked the meat of wild animals. So Esau was his favorite son. But Rebekah’s favorite was Jacob.

One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the open country. He was very hungry. He said to Jacob, “Quick! I’m very hungry! Let me have some of that red stew!” That’s why he was also named Edom.

Jacob replied, “First sell me the rights that belong to you as the oldest son in the family.”

“Look, I’m dying of hunger,” Esau said. “What good are those rights to me?”

But Jacob said, “First promise to sell me your rights.” So Esau promised to do it. He sold Jacob all the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.

Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left.

So Esau didn’t value the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.