The One Year Adventure with the God of Your Story

introduction

DECEMBER 31 • day 0

WELL, HERE WE ARE. Together at the beginning. You may be feeling daunted by the idea of reading through the entire Bible over the course of this next year. And the Bible is an ancient, oversized book, to be sure. That’s the problem most of us face when approaching it. We struggle to know how (or where) to begin. Part of that is because the Bible isn’t one singular book, but rather a collection of sixty-six different writings, originally inspired in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek over millennia. Those different writings contain historical narrative, poetry, apocalyptic literature, wisdom tradition, public and private letters, prophecy, and Gospel narratives. Of course it’s confusing! The Bible is a massive corpus that spans thousands of years of time and covers thousands of miles of geography.

But the Bible is a lot more approachable than we might think. You see, the Bible captures and preserves the account of God’s unwillingness to be left out of the human story—and when we realize that, we soon discover that God is also unwilling to be left out of our own story. Understanding this changes everything, because the stories found in Scripture mirror our own lives profoundly.

If we approach the journey ahead as a relationship rather than a chance encounter or as a symphony rather than a pop song, we will quickly settle into a rhythm that will carry us from the first verse of Genesis to the final phrase of Revelation. And believe me, you will find much treasure between those two points as the God of your story reveals Himself.

Using these daily readings in conjunction with your own daily reading from The One Year Bible, you will be able to enjoy and appreciate the entire Bible without getting lost—and perhaps for the first time, the Bible will speak to you on its own behalf. Each day, we’ll conclude with something to further think about or a moment of worship or prayer.

Obviously, we’ll encounter all the famous stories we learned growing up. We’ll also pass through all the famous passages that we quote to one another continually—but we’ll experience them in their native context and understand why they were written in the first place, which is surprisingly important to how we understand their power in our lives. Even if we’re students of the Bible who have spent much time and energy attempting to distill theological understandings, we still must remember to slow down and allow God’s Word to unpack us, rather than the other way around.

If we’ll settle into this rhythm, over the next year, the Bible will begin to have its own voice—and it will be the voice of a friend who is always honest. Many days, we will wonder how we ever negotiated life without this daily honesty in our lives.

This is the journey we are about to embark on. Our voyage will take 365 days and will be the journey of a lifetime. It’s much easier to dream about than to do, I admit. But this can be your year. You really can do this. All you have to do is show up every day. The Bible you might have been avoiding is about to become the best friend you’ve ever had.

Having said all that, a final word of counsel before we begin: Look in the mirror. Look at yourself inwardly and consider how your life feels right now. Perhaps you are anxious about the future. Maybe, for the first time, you feel lost within your own being. Perhaps the past year has brought you bloodied and limping to the Bible as a final hope. It doesn’t matter. You are here now. Right now matters. Everything that comes next matters. Take a mental snapshot and remember this moment and how it feels. Three hundred and sixty-five days from now, you will look in the mirror and see a different person—if you show up every day.

This book comes from fourteen years of showing up every day, seven days a week, and allowing the Bible to speak as I’ve given it voice on the Daily Audio Bible.[1] It also comes from two hard years of distilling what has come from that spoken work into written form. I have done my best to show up and offer a pathway through the Bible that will allow irreversible change from within. The rest is in your hands. The choices you make over the next 365 days will determine the story of your year. Make the Bible a daily decision. The journey awaits.

[1] For ease of understanding, I sometimes interject the speaker’s name when quoting Bible passages in daily readings.

January

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31

JANUARY 1 • day 1

Genesis 1:1–2:25; Matthew 1:1–2:12; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6

OUR JOURNEY BEGINS as all must—at the start, or in the beginning. Today’s reading is an important first step, because knowing where we’ve come from gives us the context we need to properly observe our own life’s story.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). These words launch us into the grand adventure. In one year, we will travel many dusty miles and meet deeply fascinating people who will become meaningful friends—for they are our spiritual ancestors. In their stories, our own hearts will be revealed.

Since we’re at the beginning, let’s orient ourselves to the territory we will first encounter in the Old Testament. Genesis is part of a larger grouping of writings that encompass the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). This grouping is called the Torah, or the Pentateuch. When we consider the book of Genesis, normally we think about the Creation story. But Genesis covers more time than any other book of the Bible—more time than the remainder of the Old Testament combined. Within the first eleven chapters of Genesis, we will cover a couple of millennia and a couple of thousand miles before slowing things down and focusing on several specific generations of people who fundamentally shape the rest of the Bible and influence our world today.

On this first of 365 days, we see God’s care and intentionality with all His creation. Our human experience has been fashioned in God’s own image, deriving its animating life source from the breath of God Himself. According to the Scriptures, we exist not by chance but by intention. Each of us is supposed to be here, and we each bear the image of a God who is intertwined with our story much deeper than cells and atoms.

Today we get an amazing and rare view of how things were always supposed to be for us: a perfect world with perfect people created in God’s image. When we contrast this image of perfection with the world we currently live in, we get a sobering sense of how the story has turned over the millennia—but we’ll get to that over the next few days.

Together, we’ll be surprised by how often what we read in the Bible will mirror our own hearts and motives. And we’ll be delighted to understand that God is not a distant and uninterested Being. He is deeply invested in the human story and deeply in love with what He has fashioned.

MEDITATION:

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the

LORD

, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

PSALM 1:1-3

JANUARY 2 • day 2

Genesis 3:1–4:26; Matthew 2:13–3:6; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9

TODAY’S READING UNVEILS one of the saddest stories in the Bible. We know this story as the fall of man, and it reveals the trajectory of the rest of Scripture. This story is the beginning of the larger story: the reason for God’s willingness to come here in the person of Jesus to rescue His creation.

In the Garden of Eden, God offered Adam and Eve the tree of life and prohibited them from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It’s easy to wonder at the purpose of a prohibited fruit. But this tree gives us an incredible picture of how deeply invested God is in a first-person relationship with us. True love isn’t something that can be faked. Enslavement can shape someone’s behavior—if the consequences are dire enough—but authentic and true love can only be offered freely from the heart. Love can’t be true if there is no way out. And the tree of the knowledge of good and evil appears to be exactly that.

Unfortunately, a deception was hatched, and our first mother and father dreamed of becoming like God, tragically forgetting that they already were. Adam and Eve chose to eat, contrary to God’s command, with devastating repercussions. The catastrophic depths of this choice is revealed in God’s heartbreaking question: What have you done? (Genesis 3:13).

I was naked, so I hid,[2] was the response. We have been hiding ever since. We see it every day in the way we interact with each other. We curate and present our best selves while hiding who we really are. The trade was perfection and true love in exchange for knowledge, and we have attempted to use that knowledge to imitate Sovereignty—with frightening and terrible results.

Throughout history, humankind has worked to remain self-directed, but this has not brought us back to God. We will not find our way back to God. Only God can bring us back to Himself, and He is. This is the story of the Bible.

MEDITATION:

Serve the

LORD

with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.

PSALM 2:11

[2] Author’s paraphrase.

JANUARY 3 • day 3

Genesis 5:1–7:24; Matthew 3:7–4:11; Psalm 3:1-8; Proverbs 1:10-19

IN OUR FIRST few days, we’ve gained a context for the stories that are beginning to unfold before us. Yesterday, we learned of humankind’s fall from perfection and complete intimacy with God. Murder and death entered the human story—things we were never intended to endure.

Today in Genesis, we jumped a millennium into the future and saw the devastating results. Humankind had become so corrupt that they acted as animals and had only evil intentions. God regretted creating them. To see us so far from our created state of perfection and intimacy grieved His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). But there was one righteous man: Noah. And we saw a redemptive thread weaving its way into the story as a reset of the earth came by way of a great flood.

Since we took a moment a couple of days ago to orient ourselves to the book of Genesis, we should also consider the first book of the New Testament, and the first of a grouping of four books known as the Gospels: Matthew.

When Matthew became a disciple of Jesus, he left his prosperous former life altogether. He had to. He had previously been a tax collector and was considered a betrayer of his people, the Jews.

Although Matthew appears first in the New Testament, it is likely the second Gospel chronologically, with Mark being first (we’ll get to that later). Matthew was written in Greek but was originally intended for a Jewish audience. We know this because it quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) more than any other Gospel and reveals Jesus as the Hebrew Messiah by demonstrating the ways in which Jesus fulfilled Hebrew messianic prophecies.

In today’s New Testament reading, we followed Jesus as He went into the wilderness, where Satan challenged Him. While in the wilderness, the evil one tempted Jesus with an invitation to abort his mission and inherit the earth the easy way. All Jesus needed to do was bow to him. Jesus was the first perfect person to walk on the earth since Adam, and Satan put the same type of humanity-twisting temptation before him. But Jesus made a different choice: He rebuked the evil one and sent him away.

We confront similar temptations every day. And we either respond to them like Adam and Eve—or like Jesus. Each of us daily choose whether to eat of forbidden fruit or to know God by intimately walking with Him in every thought, word, and deed. How will you choose today?

WORSHIP:

You, O

LORD

, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

PSALM 3:3

JANUARY 4 • day 4

Genesis 8:1–10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23

TODAY IN GENESIS, we watched the floodwaters recede and Noah and his family once again place their feet on dry ground. Scripture unfurls a list of the generations that followed, revealing the ways in which the earth’s population grew and spread.

In Matthew, we saw Jesus’ earthly ministry begin and how He called together men who left everything behind to follow Him. We’ll get to know them well, for they become the band of brothers who will walk alongside Jesus throughout His ministry.

Our reading from Psalms today hits us between the eyes, but before we get to that, let’s begin to understand what we are reading when we read from the psalms. Believe it or not, Psalms is actually five books in one, and we’ll notice when we’re moving into another book because it’s announced. The books are largely separated by author, theme, or purpose, and from antiquity, the Psalms have been considered a priceless collection of 150 of the most beautiful songs, hymns, congregational singings, individual songs, and poems of worship the world has ever seen.

A voice we will truly get to know in the Psalms will be that of Israel’s second king, David. Although we will be offered an intimate portrait of this courageous and deeply human king in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, the Psalms will reveal his heart.

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent, the poet-king David told us in the Psalms today (4:4). David will teach us a lot about ourselves in the days ahead. After all, how often are we reactionary, as if life is happening to us rather than the other way around? David gave us compelling advice that echoes across the millennia. Imagine the immediate effect it would have on our daily lives if each of us was not controlled by anger and allowed for silence and perspective instead.

Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise, we read in Proverbs, as if to bring the point home (Proverbs 1:23). May we accept this invitation and make space in our lives for wisdom to guide us.

MEDITATION:

You can be sure of this: The

LORD

set apart the godly for himself. The

LORD

will answer when I call to him.

PSALM 4:3

JANUARY 5 • day 5

Genesis 11:1–13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28

IN OUR READING from Genesis, humankind planned to build a tower to the heavens as a memorial to themselves. But again, God intervened. We were never intended to be sovereign unto ourselves. Self-sufficiency is contrary to our true nature, which is to be intimately connected with God. So God disrupted the plans at Babel—He confused the language of the people, and humans spread across the earth as a result.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus began to teach one of His foundational messages, known as the Sermon on the Mount. This disruptive message describes a world that we long for but have no idea how to achieve—which may be the point. Like the people at the tower of Babel, we cannot achieve the life we long for by our own cunning and ingenuity. We may accomplish marvelous things, but without a total dependence on God, we are completely unable to fill the void within ourselves. Jesus spoke of the countless blessings for those who reach the end of their own strength and ability, only to find God there. We are happiest when we depend on God for everything we are and everything we ever will be.

May we truly depend on God today in every choice we make and word we speak, knowing that we are safe in His care when we live in the light and walk in truth. It’s our choice.

In Proverbs today, we see that this choice has always been before us:

I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.

Proverbs 1:24-25

These words resonate because we know we’ve been that person. But this is a new day. May we pay vigilant attention to the voice of Wisdom as we move forward. We’ll be surprised at how often it will snap us awake and clearly speak clarity into immediate situations.

PRAYER:

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

PSALM 5:11

JANUARY 6 • day 6

Genesis 13:5–15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33

YESTERDAY, WE GOT a brief introduction to a man named Abram, who we’ll get to know much better in the coming days. Eventually, his name will become Abraham, and the reverberations of his life echo until today—for it is through him that the faith we freely enjoy finds an anchor.

God called Abram to a land he did not know and promised him that the land—as far as he could see in all directions—would one day belong to his family. This land would eventually become known as the Promised Land. There was a problem, though: Abram was getting old and had no children to inherit the land, regardless of the promise. God invited him outside and, against the backdrop of an immense sky of stars, told him:

Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!

Genesis 15:5

Abram had faith in God at that moment, and God considered him righteous because of it (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s faith is going to become very, very important when we begin to explore Christian doctrine through the eyes of the apostle Paul.

The next time you have a moment of uncertainty regarding your faith, go outside and look at the stars. Remember that God is faithful to those who trust Him.

In the Proverbs today, the voice of Wisdom shows us the alternative to trusting God:

They hated knowledge and chose not to fear the L

ORD

. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.

Proverbs 1:29-31

We have a choice in this. We can fall into the overwhelming grace of a loving God by doing nothing more than trusting and intimately walking with Him, or we can choke on our own schemes. This is always the choice before us, but it’s not because God is pompous or tyrannical. It’s because this is how we were made—to know and be known by God.

PRAYER:

Return, O

LORD

, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.

PSALM 6:4

JANUARY 7 • day 7

Genesis 16:1–18:15; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

ABRAHAM RECEIVED A promise from God that his progeny would one day inherit a Promised Land. But Abraham had no children. And in today’s reading, God told Abraham how He was going to fulfill His promise.

I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son! God told Abraham (Genesis 18:10).

Sarah overheard this and laughed to herself because she was too old to have children. But God confronted her and reiterated that she would in fact bear a son.

What have you been holding out hope for in life? What if you were promised, About this time next year . . .? Would hope rise? Or have you been laughing at the impossible?

In our New Testament reading, Jesus has much to teach us about living in the Kingdom of God. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus was the picture of true servanthood, and His words point us to how we should live:

If you’re going to help somebody, don’t make a big deal about it, broadcasting your good deeds so that you get praise and affirmation. If that’s what you’re after, then you already have your reward. But if you want to find a correct heart’s posture, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Do it in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.

When you pray, don’t be fake and proclaim elaborate and complex prayers so everyone can see how godly and spiritual you are. Go into your private room, pray to your Father in secret, and he will hear you.[3]

And then—a statement that we ignore at our own peril: If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15).

Mic drop. Jaw drop.

Forgiveness is not an option in God’s Kingdom. But forgiveness does not mean that we pretend things didn’t happen. Rather, it means that we have a place to release those people and events in our lives that may have sabotaged us for too long. Forgiveness is a command—yes—but it’s also an invitation to the emancipation of our souls. When we forgive, we are forgiven.

WORSHIP:

I will thank the

LORD

because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the

LORD

Most High.

PSALM 7:17

[3] Author’s paraphrase of Matthew 6:1-5.

JANUARY 8 • day 8

Genesis 18:16–19:38; Matthew 6:25–7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15

IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT reading today, we witnessed the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God came and verified for Himself the evil reputation of the civilizations in the Jordan valley, and He did not let their sin stand.

But as devastating as the scene is, we find amazing beauty in how God engages with Abraham here. Abraham’s nephew Lot was among those living in the valley, and God first asked, Should I hide my plan from Abraham? (Genesis 18:17). Was this a rhetorical question? Why would God ask if He didn’t want to share His heart? And why would He want to share His heart if He didn’t want Abraham to know it?

A conversation ensued in which Abraham asked God if He would spare the towns if fifty righteous people were present. Then forty-five. Then forty. Then thirty. Then twenty. Then ten. What’s beautiful about this exchange is that God was willing to have the conversation. As Abraham continued to negotiate lower numbers, God’s response revealed the truth: God wasn’t interested in indiscriminately causing destruction. The presence of the righteous could certainly hold off the judgment people were bringing on themselves. But sadly, not even ten righteous people were there.

Meanwhile, Jesus spoke intimately about our daily lives. His words in today’s reading alone offer us another penetrating look in the mirror and an example of what it looks like to be one who follows Jesus.

Jesus instructed us clearly not to worry about what we’ll eat or what we’ll wear. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? He asked (Matthew 6:27). Don’t worry about tomorrow. . . . Today’s trouble is enough for today (Matthew 6:34).

As encouraging as these words are, though, Jesus’ teachings became more sobering: Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2). In other words, all those reactionary assumptions and opinions we form about others is the standard by which our lives will be measured.

In the end, Jesus tied all that He was saying into an attitude we must cultivate and live into if we want to find a life of wholeness, become Christlike, and know God:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. . . . Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. . . . The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Matthew 6:33; 7:12-14

Knowing and following God is a choice—a difficult one, because it requires utter vigilance and awareness of what is going on around us, and all our heart, mind, and strength. But nevertheless, the choice is ours. May we be one of the few who find the narrow path that leads to life.

MEDITATION:

What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

PSALM 8:4-5

JANUARY 9 • day 9

Genesis 20:1–22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

TODAY WE READ of the fulfilment of a promise: a son named Isaac, born to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was born because Sarah gave her servant Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate. As disturbing as this arrangement might seem to us now, it was a common practice of the day. But Sarah’s choice displayed her lack of trust in God’s promise, and the decision resulted in relational problems. Sarah demanded that Hagar and her son be sent away after the birth of Isaac, but God rescued and provided for them.

Soon, it appeared as if Abraham would also lose Isaac, for God asked Abraham to travel to Moriah and sacrifice Isaac to Him. This is certainly an unsettling story, but it begins to reveal not only the covenant that Abraham and God shared but also Abraham’s unflinching trust in and devotion to God—for which he became a patriarch of the faith. In a covenant, nothing can be withheld. And because Abraham was in a covenant with God, he would not withhold the gift of Isaac, even though he was a promised child. In the end, God provided the offering. He never intended to have Isaac sacrificed.

Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, God said, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me (Genesis 22:16-18).

We can easily see the tension in the story. Putting ourselves in this position seems impossible. And yet, much later, God stepped into the place of the Father sacrificing his Son. He loved us so much that He would not withhold His only Son to save His people. This is how much we are loved.

WORSHIP:

I will praise you,

LORD

, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

PSALM 9:1-2

JANUARY 10 • day 10

Genesis 23:1–24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6

ALTHOUGH WE’RE ONLY a week and a half into the adventure through the Bible this year, we’ve covered significant ground. We’ve moved through more than a millennium in time and a thousand miles together—but before we move forward, let’s recap briefly. In Genesis, we’ve discovered our origin story, which gave us context for how things in the world got the way they are. We’ve journeyed through the story of Adam and Eve and humanity’s spiral downward, which resulted in a great flood. We’ve read the story of Noah. We’ve also met Abraham, whose family touches everything else that happens in most of the Bible.

Today, the second generation after Abraham took center stage as Isaac’s mother, Sarah, departed in death. Abraham secured a family burial field and cave called Machpelah, among the Hittites in the city of Hebron. The city still exists today, as does the burial cave; it’s one of the holiest places in the world for Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike.

Abraham had become a very old man with little time left on his human journey. But before he died, he wanted to ensure that Isaac had a suitable spouse, not only to carry forward the family tree but also to protect the promise. The dramatic search back into Abraham’s former homeland introduced us to the lovely Rebekah.

In the New Testament, a ranking Roman officer—a man acquainted with and accustomed to power—came to Jesus, pleading for healing for his servant. He didn’t order (or even ask) Jesus to leave what He was doing to travel to heal the servant. Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home, he said. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it (Matthew 8:8-9). Jesus was astonished at the officer’s faith, and the bedridden servant was healed.

In both our Old and New Testament readings today, the counsel of the book of Proverbs was lived out in living color:

Trust in the L

ORD

with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

With these examples, we are given a road map for our own lives. From this proverb, we receive a succinct encapsulation of the underlying wisdom. This will often be the case with Proverbs because it is the centerpiece of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible. Wisdom Literature speaks in a direct but poetic manner, as opposed to narrative style, in which a story is told and meaning is gleaned. Wisdom Literature speaks volumes in sentences.

To truly appreciate the sayings in Proverbs for what they are, we must understand that these are the collected wisdom of the ages distilled and disseminated largely by Israel’s third king (who is renowned to this day for his wisdom), Solomon.

Using surprisingly few words, these proverbs have the power to cut through the clutter and shake us awake. If we’ll pay attention to the proverbs each day, take hold of them, and guard them as the key to life (Proverbs 4:13), they will rescue us when we’re about to step into foolishness and lead us wisely in every decision we make.

MEDITATION:

The

LORD

is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

PSALM 9:16

JANUARY 11 • day 11

Genesis 24:52–26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8

IN OUR READING from Genesis today, after 175 years of life on earth, Abraham died. The God of Abraham became the God of Isaac. Meanwhile, Isaac and Rebekah married and had twin sons of their own—Jacob and Esau.

The sons in your womb will become two nations, God told Rebekah. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son (Genesis 25:23). We will watch this dramatic struggle unfold in the coming days.

In Matthew, Jesus calmed a Galilean storm as His terrified disciples watched in speechless astonishment. Why are you afraid? He asked them. You have so little faith! (Matthew 8:26).

If we’re paying attention, we’ll begin to see the theme of faith everywhere in both Old and New Testaments. It’s either spoken or demonstrated in the lives of the people we meet in the Bible. Faith is the glue in these stories and is no less a requirement to know God and live a life within His presence today.

We have a much easier time masking our lack of faith when it is within our power to act out of our own strength. But within the torrent of a storm like the one Jesus calmed, the truth is always revealed. We either panic and blame God for something He had nothing to do with or reach in faith toward God. It might seem as if this call to dependence is unkind on God’s part, but God is fathering us in this process. We would be profoundly unloving and unkind if we did not guide and parent our own children into maturity, and those of us who are parents understand the challenges involved in protecting, nurturing, and disciplining our children. For our children to thrive, they must have faith in our love and protection. The next time we go kicking and screaming to God because things have moved beyond our control, let’s remember the kicking and screaming of our toddlers and calm down. Perhaps we are simply being presented with an opportunity to grow up. God loves us and wants us to become mature sons and daughters of His Kingdom. But maturity is impossible to attain without faith—and the Bible will continue to show us this as the larger story of redemption continues to progress.

MEDITATION:

The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.

PSALM 10:2

JANUARY 12 • day 12

Genesis 26:17–27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10

ISAAC WAS AGING and losing his eyesight. The first generation after Abraham was rapidly moving toward the grandchildren’s generation, and the tension foretold by God between Jacob and Esau was on full display. In today’s Old Testament reading, we saw a generous amount of trickery between the brothers. Esau had previously sold Jacob his birthright for a bowl of stew, but in today’s reading, Rebekah and Jacob conspired to get Isaac’s final blessing before his death—and they succeeded.

But all was not well and good for Jacob after this. He had to go on the run from Esau’s rage, fleeing back toward his ancestral homeland. In the process, he missed the later years of his father’s life, the love of his mother, and the comfort of his home.

Meanwhile, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus had confrontations of His own to deal with. Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven, Jesus told a paralyzed man who had been brought before Him in hopes of healing (Matthew 9:2). This proclamation of forgiveness set off the teachers of religious law. They accused Jesus of one of the most grievous offenses possible: blasphemy. Despite this, He healed the man right in front of them, saying, Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? (Matthew 9:5). This kind of behavior would eventually turn the religious establishment against Jesus and would become the grounds for sentencing Him to death. But Jesus didn’t have a lot of tolerance for hypocrisy, as we see in the many confrontations He had of this nature.

Jesus always entered a person’s story. He was more than willing to buck the system to get to a person’s heart. After the healing of the paralyzed man, He met a man named Matthew (whose Gospel we are currently reading). The people of Israel detested Matthew because he was a tax collector, and yet Jesus ended up at his house, along with other tax collectors and sinners.

Why does your teacher eat with such scum? the Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 9:11).

If we’re honest, we find that we’ve held similar attitudes. The Pharisees prided themselves on avoiding interactions with sinners and people of ill repute—and sometimes, so do we. But Jesus never did. He always found the plot behind the story in a person’s life. Jesus said:

Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. Then he added, Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.

Matthew 9:12-13

Had the Pharisees paid attention to Jesus’ words, they would have discovered that they weren’t as healthy as their outward appearance indicated. But before we judge them, we must first examine our own lives—because we may be no better off. Too often, we, too, present a false image. Let’s consider the ways in which we are the Pharisees in this story. Considering ourselves rightly will lead us toward fundamental and necessary changes. After all, our pursuit is to be like Jesus, and we will never grow in that direction if we spend our energy judging others and pretending to be something we’re not.

MEDITATION:

Honor the

LORD

with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

PROVERBS 3:9-10

JANUARY 13 • day 13

Genesis 28:1–29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12

AS JACOB FLED to the north and away from his brother, Esau, he stopped at the city of Luz to sleep. Here the God of Abraham and Isaac revealed Himself to Jacob in a vision of a stairway to heaven, reaffirming His promise that one day He would give the land to the family of Abraham.

"Surely the L

ORD

is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! Jacob said when he awoke (Genesis 28:16). Jacob renamed the place Bethel, which means, house of God" (Genesis 28:19). Its ruins remain today, and the terraced terrain indeed looks like a stairway.

Jacob made a vow at Bethel:

If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the L

ORD

will certainly be my God.

Genesis 28:20-21

And thus, the God of Abraham and Isaac became the God of Jacob.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus stepped into a funeral that was a bit premature. A synagogue official’s little daughter was gravely ill, and the desperate father sought Jesus out. But the girl died before they could return. A crowd of people had assembled, and the funeral dirges were already underway.

Jesus chased everyone off. The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep, He said (Matthew 9:24). And these words turned their mourning into laughter, but not in a good way. The people mocked Jesus because they’d seen the girl, and as far as they were concerned, she was dead. But Jesus approached her and lovingly reached for her hand. She stood up, to the obvious amazement of the onlookers.

Our reading today invites us to ponder many of the impossible situations in our lives. Would our mourning turn to mocking laughter if we heard the words It’s not dead; it’s only asleep? Or would we, like Jacob, declare, "Surely the L

ORD

is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it"?

MEDITATION:

The

LORD

corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

PROVERBS 3:12

JANUARY 14 • day 14

Genesis 30:1–31:16; Matthew 10:1-23; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15

IN OUR READING from Genesis yesterday and today, Jacob arrived in his ancestral homeland and was welcomed by his uncle Laban. He fell in love with Laban’s daughter Rachel and offered to work seven years to marry her, but the morning after the wedding brought quite a surprise—Rachel’s older sister, Leah, was lying next to him. He’d slept with the wrong girl! Laban made Jacob work another seven years for Rachel, his true love.

In the end, the sisters Leah and Rachel were married to the same man, and only one of them was loved. This favoritism caused conflict and initiated a war between the sisters to provide the most children. But these children are extremely important to the biblical narrative, as we shall soon see.

As deliberately cunning as Laban was toward Jacob, God used Jacob’s time in Laban’s household to eventually make Jacob very wealthy. But Jacob longed to return to the land of his father, Isaac—which would be no small task. Jacob and his wives made a plan and left secretly while Laban was away.

Today in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus sent His disciples out for some on-the-job training, effectively giving them instructions for what to do after He was gone. Essentially, He said: Go. It doesn’t have to be far away; there’s no need for fanfare or publicity. You don’t need anything to do it but your presence. Go to the adrift, perplexed people around you. Tell them that the Kingdom is near. You’ve been treated generously, so live generously. Jesus gave us this same permission and instruction to go out into our neighborhoods—into our spheres of influence—and tell people about the incredible offer of salvation. And Jesus’ words complement today’s reading from Proverbs, which says that having wisdom—operating in life with clarity and direction—is worth far more than money or power or anything else we could desire.

Know and walk with God today, and live with purpose. Hear the words of Jesus, and go.

MEDITATION:

Wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

PROVERBS 3:14-15

JANUARY 15 • day 15

Genesis 31:17–32:12; Matthew 10:24–11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18

IN OUR GENESIS reading today, we witnessed an anxious time for Jacob. He, his wives, their children, and the entire household fled Laban, and Laban gathered his men and pursued them. Despite plenty of drama in the following events, the two men eventually formed a tense treaty and parted on good terms.

Once he’d dealt with the concern behind him, Jacob had to immediately turn to the apprehension in front of him: his brother, Esau. Although a couple of decades had passed, the brothers had not parted on good terms. Jacob had shrewdly purchased Esau’s birthright and stolen his father’s blessing. The relationship between them, as it had been left, was unhealthy, to say the least.

Jacob sent messengers ahead of the caravan to try to get clarity on what he was about to run into. When the messengers returned, the news was not good. Esau was on his way to meet them with four hundred of his men.

We’ve all encountered situations like this—when we’ve been overwhelmed by anxiety, stumbling over a new problem as soon as we’ve solved an existing one. Our reading in Psalms shows us that King David felt this way as well: "O L

ORD

, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?" (Psalm 13:1).

The times that test our faith have purpose: They are a barometer for our souls. Who do we really believe in? In whom are we actually placing our trust? We must imitate the posture and prayer of Jacob as he faced the prospect of losing everything:

"O L

ORD

, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. . . . O L

ORD

, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. . . . But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’"

Genesis 32:9-12

WORSHIP:

I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the

LORD

because he is good to me.

PSALM 13:5-6

JANUARY 16 • day 16

Genesis 32:13–34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20

JACOB’S FEAR OF his brother, Esau, was front and center today in Genesis. Jacob obeyed God by returning to the land of his birth, but the circumstances were dire. Knowing that Esau and four hundred men were on their way to meet him was daunting. Jacob divided his camp so that if they were attacked, perhaps some could escape.

That night, Jacob wrestled with an unnamed man until daybreak. Let me go, for the dawn is breaking! the man shouted at Jacob, to which Jacob replied, I will not let you go unless you bless me (Genesis 32:26).

Jacob received a blessing, but he also received a name change. And this change snaps many of the pieces of the Old Testament thus far into place, clarifying where the road ahead is leading us.

‘Your name will no longer be Jacob,’ the man told him. ‘From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won’ (Genesis 32:28).

To this point, Jacob had been blessed with eleven sons, given to him by his two wives and their maidservants. He would eventually have a twelfth son. Before this night, those sons were known as the sons of Jacob. But after the name change, we immediately realize that these are Israel’s sons—the children of Israel! And the lineage from each of these sons will become the twelve tribes of Israel. But we’ll have to wait for that story. There are many miles we must travel beforehand.

Today in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus told us,

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Like Jacob (Israel), we all face times when we do not understand the road in front of us. We also go through seasons when it feels as if we’re wrestling with God. In these times, our heart’s posture is a true measure of our faith. Jesus offered us an extraordinary invitation: We don’t have to navigate our lives to avoid anxiety and hardship. Yes, both will visit each of us from time to time. But we can find rest in Jesus. This means that if we can follow Jesus’ example of humility and gentleness of heart, then we will be walking the pathway that leads to rest for our souls.

MEDITATION:

The

LORD

looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.

PSALM 14:2

JANUARY 17 • day 17

Genesis 35:1–36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 3:21-26

AFTER JACOB AND Esau were reunited as brothers, Jacob moved within the land that had been promised to him. Jacob and Esau were both so prosperous that one region was too small for them both. As we moved along with Jacob and his family through Genesis today, we also said good-bye. Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachel, died in childbirth. The child was the twelfth son of Jacob (Israel), and he was named Benjamin (Genesis 35:18). And so today, we read the first recap of the first children of Israel—the names of the sons of Jacob.

Knowing these names and where they came from is important. In the future, these men’s names will become the tribes of Israel, and we will cross paths with them frequently as we move forward through the Scriptures.

But we have one more good-bye. Jacob’s father, Isaac, died in today’s reading as well, at the ripe old age of 180. Jacob and Esau buried him together. Abraham’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren now lead the way forward.

In our Psalms reading today, we received answers to questions we’ve probably asked ourselves (and God) at times: How do I make this faith journey work? What does a person who is doing it right look like? Or as King David put it, "Who may worship in your sanctuary, L

ORD

? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1).

Thankfully, the Scriptures answer this question:

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the L

ORD

, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

Psalm 15:2-5

MEDITATION:

Don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.

PROVERBS 3:21-22

JANUARY 18 • day 18

Genesis 37:1–38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32

JOSEPH WAS ONE of the two sons of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife. Today, we saw Joseph’s story begin to take shape, and we’ll be chasing his story in the coming days. Joseph plays a pivotal role in the promise of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but—as we often discover in our own lives—his route was not laid out in a straight line.

Because Rachel was Jacob’s favored wife, Joseph was his favored son—and his brothers were jealous. Somehow, the jealousy was tolerable . . . until Joseph started having dreams. His dreams seemed to indicate that one day, his brothers would all bow down to him. We can only imagine the new levels of tension this brought to the family.

One day, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers, who were shepherding their flocks far to the north. When they saw him coming, they decided to kill him. Thankfully, they did not carry out that plan. However, they did something nearly as unspeakable—they trafficked their own brother into slavery. Joseph ended up a long way from home: in Egypt, where he was purchased by Potiphar, who happened to be Pharaoh’s captain of the guard.

We all walk through seasons that do not seem fair. Perhaps we’ve endured a heartbreaking betrayal or another kind of injustice. In these times, our faith is tested—and we should look at testing for what it is. In science, something is tested to find out its composition or to discern if it is pure. Testing is not a bad thing. It gives us answers. And in the case of faith, testing shows us what we are really made of.

Often, in times of testing, we misinterpret what is happening and find ourselves wandering into bitterness. As the story of Joseph unfolds, we will find ourselves staring into our own soul. Joseph was a young man who had every right to be bitter. What happened (and will happen) to him was certainly unjust and unfair. But let’s watch his responses at every turn, for they will inform and instruct our own.

PRAYER:

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the

LORD

, You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you. . . .

LORD

, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. . . . I know the

LORD

is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.

PSALM 16:1-2, 5, 8-9

JANUARY 19 • day 19

Genesis 39:1–41:16; Matthew 12:46–13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35

WE PICKED UP the story of Joseph today in Genesis. Joseph had been trafficked into slavery by his brothers, who faked his death. His father, Jacob, deeply grieved the loss of his favored son. Meanwhile, Joseph quickly found favor with Potiphar in Egypt. In a short time, Joseph ran Potiphar’s entire household. It could have been a decent life—if not for Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was a young, attractive, and well-built man, and Potiphar’s wife lusted for him. Over and over, she attempted to get him into bed, but he would not betray Potiphar. Eventually, he had to flee the woman, leaving behind his cloak. Scorned, Potiphar’s wife used the cloak as evidence against Joseph, landing him in an Egyptian prison.

Joseph had done nothing wrong, but things went from bad to worse. If anyone had a right to claim injustice and become bitter, it would have been Joseph. But God was with him. In short order, Joseph was in charge of the prison.

Joseph began interpreting dreams while in prison—and he was accurate. He rightly foretold the execution of one of Pharaoh’s officials while predicting the restoration of another. But still, two years passed, and Joseph remained hidden and forgotten. He had plenty of time to give up hope and sink into bitterness and depression—but he didn’t.

When Pharaoh had a dream that his magicians could not interpret, the restored official remembered Joseph. But we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens next.

As the story continues to unfold, we begin to see that there was more going on than Joseph could have known. The circumstances he was living in