Knowable Word

Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible

Copyright © 2012–2017 DiscipleMakers, except guest articles (copyright author). Used by permission.

Understanding the Story of Joseph in Genesis

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Samuel Emadi wrote a piece on the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Sometimes we read that story and zero in on a few ideas about innocent suffering or the sovereignty of God. But Emadi does a great job examining the full narrative and following its train of thought.

Moses gives Joseph more time in Genesis than he does any other character—a striking fact given the significance of Genesis’s other main characters: Adam, Noah, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This prominence is even more striking considering the apparent insignificance of Joseph in the rest of Scripture.

What then do we make of the Joseph story? Why is it so prominent in Genesis?

Many Christians fail to notice how Joseph’s story contributes to the Genesis narrative and to redemptive history in general. Within Reformed circles, preachers often use Joseph merely to illustrate how divine sovereignty and human responsibility intersect, focusing almost exclusively on Genesis 50:20: “What you meant for evil God meant for good.” Certainly, we are meant to read Joseph’s life in light of this verse. God’s sovereignty is a major theme in Genesis 37–50, and Joseph himself intends for us to interpret his life in light of God’s providence (cf. Gen. 45:1–9).

But reducing the story to an illustration for the doctrine of compatibilism misses the rich contribution Joseph’s life makes to the storyline of Scripture. God’s sovereignty figures largely in the Joseph story because God wants us to see how he puts himself in impossible situations and yet finds a way to keep his covenant promises. Joseph highlights how God’s providence secures God’s promises.

In this light, we can see how Joseph uniquely contributes to Scripture’s opening book.

Check it out!

Above All Earthly Textbooks

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It’s mid-August, which means it’s textbook season. This is bliss for some students and drudgery for others, but there’s no way around it. A student’s world revolves around books.

And in the stress of student life, it’s easy to obsess about textbooks and forget the Bible, the most important book on the shelf.

I understand the pressures. They are real and they can be heavy.

But today, I plead with you: Hold fast to the Bible!

A Student’s Temptation

Life comes at students quickly. The next paper, exam, or project deadline is always crouching at the door.

It’s easy to get tunnel vision. You want your work to be excellent, so that upcoming grade becomes your focus. Everything else fades into the background.

Before you know it, you’re a wreck. You’re not getting enough sleep, haven’t exercised in days, and can’t remember what a vegetable looks like.

When you feel pressed for time, your devotional life is often the first thing to go. It feels like a luxury, something “extra” you can pick up again when the calendar clears.

But time with God is not a luxury! Your Father knows what’s best for you, and he wants you to spend time with him.

Why You Must Hold Fast

Over the course of a school year, you’ll give hundreds of hours of attention to your courses. You’ll learn history and philosophy, chemistry and civics, music and mathematics.

But you must not neglect the Bible.

Don’t misunderstand. The Bible is not a history or science textbook. Your academic success does not depend on your attention to the Bible.

No—your need for God’s word is far deeper than academics!

The Bible stands above all textbooks. In its importance and authority, nothing exceeds the Bible. As you read and study the Bible, you get to know the God who created all music! You grow closer to the One who sustains the universe and makes the study of chemistry possible!

Christian students shouldn’t read the Bible because it will change their grades. They should read the Bible because it will change them.

Pride will give way to humility. Arrogance will yield to love. Foolishness will be replaced with wisdom. And as you are controlled by the grace of Jesus, he will make you a student who is no longer controlled by grades.

How to Hold Fast

What does it look like to give priority to the Bible? Here are three ideas.

  • Commit yourself to Bible intake. Whether reading, studying, meditating on, or listening to the Bible, make God’s word a regular part of your diet.
  • Commit yourself to a Bible-believing local church. Part of God’s design is for us to be in a community of worshipers. If you’re in middle school or high school, this probably means going to church with your parents. But for those in college, make sure you find a good church in your area. College campus ministries can be wonderful, but the best ministries aim to assist—not replace—the church.
  • Commit yourself to a small group. In addition to a vibrant, Bible-believing church community, seek out a close group of friends with whom you can discuss life and the things of God. Study the Bible together, talk about your temptations and doubts, encourage each another in the faith. This small group might be your family, friends from youth group, or a small group Bible study through your church. The best small groups help us apply the Bible thoroughly and joyfully.

More Than Information

The Bible is not just information. It’s the very food by which we live (Matthew 4:4).

When the table is set and the food is served, don’t turn away. Feast. Draw near to God in his word, and he will draw near to you. Then he will equip you to pick up your other textbooks to his glory.

Exodus 19-24: A Blood-Tinged Taste of Paradise

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Step Back

When our Bible study focuses intently on each passage, one after another, we may find it difficult to step back and see how they fit together. But we must remember the Bible is a work of literature. It was not written to be scrutinized in bites; it was written to be devoured in gobbles. We should remember to read the Bible as we’d read any other book: moving through it at a reasonable pace and recognizing ongoing themes, climax, resolution, and character development. When we hit milestones in the text, we should take the opportunity to survey where we’ve been and how it fits together.

So, now that we’ve seen God finally make his covenant with the people of Israel, it’s a good time to catch our breath. From this point in Exodus, we’ll see God working out the implications of that covenant and establishing a home with his people. But where have we been so far?

Review

Let me list the main points I’ve proposed for each passage in this section:

  • Exodus 19:1-25: The purpose of God’s deliverance is to make something special out of an utterly undeserving people.
  • Exodus 20:1-21: God makes a treaty with his redeemed people, inspiring them to fear and obey, so they might draw near to him.
  • The case laws
    • Exodus 20:22-21:32: God’s kingdom is different from the world’s kingdoms in that all its citizens have rights, and justice is the cost of living.
    • Exodus 21:33-22:15: It is good and God-like to pay restitution for damage done to others’ property.
    • Exodus 22:16-31: Social justice is rooted in God’s just character, and it flows from maintaining purity before him.
    • Exodus 23:1-19: God’s people diligently employ truth and rest to do good for others.
    • Exodus 23:20-33: How you trust God’s angel determines how God treats you.
  • Exodus 24:1-18: It costs both personal sacrifice and substitutionary death to draw near to God in covenant.

In addition, my overview of the whole book led me to this overall main point:

Who is Yahweh, and why should you obey him? He is the God who 1) demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15), 2) prepares to rebuild (Ex 16-18), and 3) builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

The main idea of Act I (Ex 1:1-15:21) was that Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery. He does this in two parts:

  1. He trains up a qualified mediator to deliver (Ex 1:1-7:7).
  2. He delivers his people from their enemies into a frightful joy (Ex 7:8-15:21).

And the main idea of Act II (Ex 15:22-18:27) was that Yahweh prepares the house of his people by showing them they need his law to know him.

Pull It Together

Now what do these things show us about the flow of thought in chapters 19-24? We are in between the need for the law and the instructions for the tabernacle. In giving the law, how does God begin building his house?

  • Act I describes God’s deliverance of his people. Act II shows how God prepares them for a covenant relationship with him. Act III now constructs that covenant relationship.
  • Exodus 19:1-25 tantalizes them with assurance of becoming something special.
  • Exodus 20:1-21 causes them to have second thoughts.
  • Exodus 20:22-23:33 defines what it means to be special, unlike the other nations:
    • Every member of society has basic rights.
    • Property is respected.
    • Justice goes together with purity, just like it does in God.
    • Truth and rest are not for selfish ends but for the good of others.
    • Everything hinges on whether you trust God’s angel.
  • Exodus 24:1-18 closes the deal by offering them the blood of a substitute and a meal with God.

These chapters show the making of a special people. They’re brought close, but not too close lest they die. They’re informed of Yahweh’s impossible standards. They’re given a picture of a community that reflects God’s glorious, gracious, and generous character. They decide to move forward with this deal, but not without a reminder that something has to die to make it possible. And that those who “see God” can get only as close as the pavement under his majestic feet.

When we read these chapters as a unit, we can’t help but see that obeying the law will never make us righteous before God. Instead, obeying the law is like enjoying a bit of utopia, or biting into a juicy fruit of paradise—but only when covenant blood has been shed to bring us near. Without the blood, the law inspires only dread and defensiveness.

Wasif Malik (2012), Creative Commons

 

We can flesh out our outline of the book a little further:

Act I: Yahweh demolishes the house of slavery (Ex 1-15).

Introduction: Nobody can prevent Yahweh from keeping his promises, but we’re not sure how he’ll do it (Ex 1).

Part 1: Yahweh appoints a mediator and ensures he is fully qualified and trained for the task of deliverance (Ex 2:1-7:7).

Part 2: Yahweh delivers a deserved destruction to his enemies and a frightful joy to his people (Ex 7:8-15:21).

Act II: Yahweh prepares to rebuild by exposing how deeply his people need his law to know him (Ex 16-18).

Act III: Yahweh builds his house in the midst of his people (Ex 19-40).

Part 1: God architects a perfect paradise for the community of his people, so he can bring them near through the blood of a substitute (Ex 19-24).

Gaze Upon Jesus

Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). This is great news, because he then offered his blood of the covenant to cover us and cleanse us forever (Matt 26:28). Through him, we have full access to the Father (Heb 4:14-16). By giving us his Spirit, he’s now working out paradise in the community of his people (Gal 5:13-26).

Apply

Head: Do not expect law, education, wealth, or community service will ever bring paradise on earth. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can do that.

Heart: Do you love God’s law because it enables you to find Christ? Do you want to become more like him? Do you want your church or neighborhood to reflect his character? Or do you just want more stuff, or to be left alone?

Hands: Walk by the Spirit, and don’t gratify the desires of your flesh. Let the law show you how to keep in step with the Spirit, not being conceited, neither envying nor provoking (Gal 5:16-26). And keeping in step with the Spirit means most of all that your allegiance is to none but Christ, God’s true angel/messenger (1 John 5:11-12).

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

Responses to Difficult Questions for Exodus

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I’ve really enjoyed letting you into my study as I work through Exodus. I’ve focused on the main ideas of each passage, and I’m always trying to keep the big picture in front of me.

But there’s also a time for digging into the details and asking all the hard questions. Such as:

  • Why does God harden Pharaoh’s heart?
  • Why can we trust Exodus as history?
  • Did God expect Israel to obey all those laws?
  • What was manna?
  • Can we recognize any symbolism in the tabernacle?

The guys at the Bible Project do more than make really great videos. They also have a podcast where they expand on the stuff in their videos. They have two podcast episodes (also available as YouTube videos), where they answer difficult questions about the book of Exodus. They’re great students of the Bible. They observe, interpret, and apply with much skill. If you’d like to understand Exodus further, you would do well to listen to their discussion of it.

Check it out!

Exodus 24: Drops of Blood, Drips of Wine

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Moses has now received the Ten Words (Ex 20:1-17) and the many rules to apply them (Ex 20:22-23:33). The goal of obeying these words and these rules is to make these rescued people into Yahweh’s treasured possession among all peoples, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19:5-6). To this end, Yahweh wishes to make a covenant (a binding agreement, a treaty) with them (Ex 19:5). When the people heard this plan, they quickly promised to do all Yahweh would say to them (Ex 19:7-8). Will they feel the same way now that they hear the full extent of the words and rules?

Observation of Exodus 24:1-18

Most repeated words: Moses (14 times), Lord (11x), mountain (8), people (8), all (7), Israel (7), up (7), said (6), come (5)

  • A glance at the repeated words show the focus landing back on the characters of the story: Moses, the Lord, and the people of Israel.
  • The mountain itself takes special prominence
  • I’ll watch for a broad scope (frequent use of “all”)

The genre shifts from instructional monologue back to narrative. Looking ahead, I see this is the last narrative until we get to chapter 32. Many more instructional monologues (seven, to be exact) are on the way in chapters 25-31.

  • With a shift back to narrative, we shouldn’t be surprised by a renewed focus on elements like characters, plot, setting, climax, and resolution.

The instructions of chapters 20-23 are called “The Book of the Covenant” (Ex 24:7), divided into two main sections: the “words” and the “rules” (Ex 24:3).

  • Apparently, this book represents the covenant between God and Israel.
  • This book defines the treaty between them.
  • As they did earlier (Ex 19:8), the people promise to obey (Ex 24:3)—apparently seeking to become God’s treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation (Ex 19:5-6).

The chapter’s structure wraps around the mountain itself:

  • God delineates 3 zones for the mountain – Ex 24:1-2
    • The people must stay at the bottom (Ex 24:2).
    • The elders will “come up” with Moses (Ex 24:1).
    • Moses alone will “come near” (Ex 24:2).
  • At the mountain’s foot, Moses and the people establish the covenant with sacrificial blood – Ex 24:3-8
  • At the mountain’s mid-point, Moses and the elders experience the covenant with a meal – Ex 24:9-11
  • At the mountain’s peak, Moses enters the cloud of Yahweh’s glory – Ex 24:12-18

    Tony Heyward (2014), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 24:1-18

Some possible questions:

  1. Why is the covenant-making ceremony so gruesome?
  2. What do the elders experience on the mountain once the covenant is made?
  3. What does Moses experience on top of the mountain?
  4. Why is the mountain divided into three zones with differing degrees of access?
  5. So what ought we to understand about God’s covenant with us?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

  1. The use of ritual sacrifices when making a covenant doesn’t begin here. We see it clearly in Genesis 15:7-21, where God makes a covenant with Abram after Abram cuts a few animals in half. Jer 34:18-20 provides historical background on the practice: symbolizing the curse pronounced on those who might violate the treaty. The practice also possibly goes back to Gen 3:21, though the word covenant isn’t used there. A substitute must shed blood to threaten the people of what happens if they violate their agreement. Therefore, the Israelites are covered with the blood of the covenant (Ex 24:8), being united with the sacrifice, along with with the altar, the place of sacrifice (Ex 24:6).
  2. The elders “saw” God (Ex 24:10) and “beheld” him (Ex 24:11). But who knows what he actually looked like? All they saw of him was but the pavement under his feet (Ex 24:10). That’s the closest they could get. But they also enjoyed a meal in his presence, and he did not lift his hand to destroy them (Ex 24:11). Great deal!
  3. The glory of Yahweh, appearing as a cloud (Ex 24:16). A devouring fire that all could see (Ex 24:17). Here is a more terrifying version of the burning bush from Ex 3:2, which burns but does not consume Moses.
  4. This mountain is now the place where heaven and earth meet; God and men are meeting together. The three zones may allude to the 3 zones of the created cosmos (heaven, earth, waters under the earth – Ex 20:4, 11), and to the three decks of Noah’s ark (Gen 6:16), which was a miniature cosmos, preserved for a new creation. Perhaps at Sinai, God is making another new creation, as he makes this nation into his people and sets them on a path to expand his rule on earth. We’ll see plenty more creation imagery in the next few chapters to confirm this connection.
  5. God’s covenant is not something to take for granted. It cannot be made without blood, but it draws us into God’s presence to eat and drink with him. God is all-glorious in himself; yet, astonishingly, he gets even more glory when he includes people in his purposes. God’s covenant is gracious; we do not deserve to enter into it with him. And yet he still expects something of us; he is not indifferent to our life choices. God’s presence is something to be terrified of without a proper bloody substitution.

Train of thought:

  • Yahweh’s man comes down to establish the covenant with the people.
  • Yahweh’s man comes up to experience the covenant with the elders.
  • Yahweh’s man come higher to enter into God’s glory alone.

Main point: It costs both personal sacrifice and substitutionary death to draw near to God in covenant.

Connection to Christ: Jesus’ blood of the covenant was shed once for all (Heb 9:17-26, and we proclaim this Lamb’s death every time we eat and drink with him (1 Cor 11:28). God’s covenant with us through Christ is only by his grace (Heb 13:20-21, 25). Yet it requires great personal sacrifice (Mark 1:15), and we must never take it for granted by going on sinning deliberately (Heb 10:26-30).

My Application of Exodus 24:1-18

Oh, how much I take for granted. Grace is so abundant and so free, and I forget all about it. I drift into self-sufficiency, which requires me to compare myself to others and do better than them. Then I get petty and demanding when I’m unable to keep up. And the bitterness sets in when I see others doing better than me. It doesn’t take long for me to start biting and devouring.

But the blood of the new covenant was shed for me, once for all. I need to “remember Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:8) daily—not just so I can teach others about him, but so I can see him more clearly, worship at his feet, and rely only on his righteousness and not my own.

The heavenly Mount Zion has no zones. We’re all granted equal access. I have nothing to be ashamed of, and I have nothing to hold over another person. Ever.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

How Much of the Bible Should I Study?

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measurement

Arek Socha (2016), public domain

It’s a natural and practical question. When you’re studying the Bible, how much should you study at once?

On this blog we write a lot about studying the Bible. But most of these articles presume you already have a section of Scripture to study. Today we’ll talk about choosing that section of Scripture.

As you read, keep in mind this is more art than science. What you’ll find below are suggestions, not rules.

Units of Thought

Though inspired by the Holy Spirit, the biblical authors were humans. In some ways, their writing is similar to ours.

Recall your most recent email. Though your message had an overall purpose, each paragraph had its own function. So it is with the biblical texts. Authors usually have one overarching point for writing. But the author builds his case for that main point by assembling arguments and examples. At the smallest level, think about these as units of thought—an author stacks and arranges these units to form larger points, all supporting the main point of the book.

When mapping out a Bible study, this is where I begin. Study complete units of thought.

The length (number of verses) will vary across genres, and remember, there’s no right answer. Your small group might study five verses in an epistle or two chapters in a historical book. The key is to identify and respect these units of thought.

Here’s a simple example. Suppose an author’s main point rests on supporting points A and B. Perhaps A is established by a, b, and c, while B is established by d and e. Your Bible study might consist of just the text for point a (one unit of thought) or for points a, b, and c (three units of thought forming one larger unit). I’d advise against studying the texts for points a–d all at once.

Finding the Units of Thought

If an author’s units of thought are so important, how do we find out what they are? The simple answer is to read the entire book as many times as possible. This is part of what we suggest when completing a book overview.

The more you read the text, the more you’ll understand the author’s flow of thought. You’ll see the transitions and the divisions in the text will become clearer. Some of these markers are obvious—a change of location or main character, a shift in topic, a transition word. Some authors use structural cues to signal their units of thought. These were more obvious to the original audiences of the writing, but we have to work a bit harder to see them.

Here are two of the often-overlooked structural tools used in the Bible.

  • Inclusio — An inclusio occurs when an author places the same idea, word, phrase, or character both at the beginning and end of a unit of thought. What falls between these two markers should be included (inclusio!) in the same unit of thought. Without the space to explore this further, I’ll point you to these two pages for more explanation and examples.
  • Chiasm — In a chiasm an author presents a series of ideas and then repeats them in the opposite order. This can be used to mark off the text or to emphasize the point in the middle. The structure might look like A-B-C-B‘-A’. In this case A and A’ would share something in common, as would B and B’. This would help the reader identify the author’s focus on C. (Here’s a short reference on chiasms.)

Wisdom from Others

When you’re trying to decide how much of the Bible to study at once, don’t be afraid to ask for help! God has placed us in a body of believers across space and time, so we’re not in this by ourselves. Here are some resources to consider.

  • Book outlines in your study Bible or in other reference material can help you see a book’s structure.
  • Bible commentaries can be a great aid. Devotional or pastoral commentaries are usually more helpful than academic commentaries on this front. (Check out our recommended list of commentaries.)
  • The chapter divisions in the Bible can be helpful. They aren’t divinely inspired, but they weren’t inserted at random either.
  • Don’t ignore your church! Ask your elders, friends, and family for help in setting up your Bible study. In addition to offering you wisdom, sometimes talking through the matter with a friend can help you understand a book more clearly.

In Service of the Main Point

Deciding how much of the Bible to study might seem like a small matter, a tiny decision before you get to the “important stuff.”

But in fact, this is one of the key parts of studying the Bible! If your divisions follow the author’s flow of thought, you’ll be swimming with the current of the book, making it easier to see the main point of each passage.

And if you can understand and apply the main point of a Bible passage, genuine change in your life is next!

Exodus 23:20-33: The One Relationship You Must Never Neglect

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Moses stands upon Mount Sinai, having received many case laws to apply the ten commandments. Before he goes back down to the people, however, Moses must hear one last thing, an epilogue to the case laws.

Observation of Exodus 23:20-33

Most repeated words: land (5 times), not (5x), out (5), drive (4), all (3), enemy (3), gods (3), make (3), send (3), serve (3)

  • This section has mostly to do with what will happen when the people enter their new land.
  • The case laws now look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promise to settle them in the land promised to Abraham.

Verse 20 makes a sudden shift from what the people ought to do (case laws) to what God is doing (“I send an angel before you…”).

  • This section includes instructions for the people:
    • Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice – Ex 23:21
    • Carefully obey his voice and do all that I say – Ex 23:21
    • You shall not bow down – Ex 23:24
    • You shall serve Yahweh – Ex 23:25
    • You shall make no covenant – Ex 23:32
  • But it gives even more space to what God will do if they obey
    • I will be an enemy to your enemies – Ex 23:22
    • I blot them out – Ex 23:23
    • He will bless your bread and water – Ex 23:25
    • I will take sickness away – Ex 23:25
      • And 9 more actions in Ex 23:26-31

Though the passage begins with God’s angel (Ex 23:20), and mentions the angel again in Ex 23:23, there is an awkward alternation of pronouns between “he” (Ex 23:21, 22, 25) and “I” (Ex 23:23, 25, 26, etc.).

  • A prime example of the awkward alternation is right in verse 25: “You shall serve Yahweh your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.”
  • Another example is verse 22: “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say…”

Clearly all the actions of God in Ex 23:25-31 hinge on the obedience of the people to the angel of God (Ex 23:22).

Barbara Skinner (2012), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 23:20-33

Some possible questions:

  1. Who is this angel sent by Yahweh?
  2. Why is the activity of God in the land dependent on the people’s obedience to the angel?
  3. Why do the case laws end with this epilogue?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

  1. There is much overlap in identity between the angel and God himself. “My name is in him” (Ex 23:21). This angel has authority to pardon transgression (Ex 23:21). Obeying the angel’s voice (Ex 23:22) is practically the same as serving Yahweh (Ex 23:25). So this angel is simultaneously distinct from God (because God “sends” him) and the same as God (“obey his voice and do all that I say”). This angel plays a critical role as a manifestation of God’s presence among the people.
  2. The argument of the passage goes like this: “If you obey my angel, you obey me. And if you obey me, I will give you prosperity and success in the land of Canaan.” Great blessings come with obedience to God’s appointed representative. The way you treat God’s angel (the manifestation of his own presence) determines how God will treat you.
  3. This section deeply personalizes the body of instruction in Exodus 20-23. The point is not so much about following a set of principles, or about trying to keep God happy by doing the right things. The point of the laws is to bring the people of Israel closer to a person, the angel of Yahweh. The laws are meant to guide and shepherd the people into a closer relationship with God himself. Those who are close with God experience unspeakable blessing. Here is life: Life comes not from your performance or activity, but as a result of your steadfast trust in the one God sent to give you life.

Train of thought: See answer to question 2.

Main point: How you trust God’s angel determines how God treats you.

Connection to Christ: I have no problem saying this angel is Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. But, because the original audience had no concept of “the second person of the Trinity,” it might be more precise to say that this angel shows them exactly the role Jesus Christ would eventually have to play. He is the messenger sent by God, pardoning our transgression. How God treats us hinges on whether we give Jesus our allegiance. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:12).

My Application of Exodus 23:20-33

The path of blessing will never come through obedience to a code of ethics or body of rules; it comes only through fiery allegiance to the one God has sent to pardon transgression. This truth should more deeply penetrate my leadership and parenting.

If I live according to this truth, I won’t merely multiply rules for my children; I will draw them close in relationship to Jesus Christ (and thus to me). I won’t be so disappointed when my will is crossed. I won’t be so quick to scold when expectations go unmet.

And, even when we study God’s law together, my church and small group ought not come away with only a list of things to do better (though this is not a bad thing). We will come away with inflamed passion and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, the one sent by God to take away the sin of the world. We never grow out of our need to work on this one relationship.

Click here to see what I’m doing with this sample Bible study and why I’m doing it.

The Best Advice on Becoming a Better Bible Reader

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David Mathis has the best advice I’ve ever heard on how to become a better Bible reader:

Read the Bible.

Seriously. You don’t need a degree or huge theological library. The very best thing you can do is develop the habit of daily Bible reading. Mathis’s short video will encourage you in this practice.

Check it out!

Your Turn to Study Exodus

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For many weeks, I’ve let you in on my study of Exodus. Last week, I got to the end of the specific case laws in Exodus 21-23; but there remains an epilogue, which gives the people a vision for entering the land of promise.

Since I’m on vacation this week and don’t have time to write, it’s your turn. Why don’t you try to study Exodus 23:20-33 on your own?

For help with your study, you can refer to the Basic Bible Study Skills booklet on the resources page.

  • Just observe the words, grammar, structure, genre, and mood.
  • Ask some interpretive questions, and answer them from the text.
  • Determine the author’s main point and connect it to Christ. See what you can come up with before you look at any study notes or commentaries.
  • Then apply it to yourself, your family, and your positions of influence with others.

I’d love to hear what you come up with. Comment below with your guess at the main point of Exodus 23:20-33, and I’d love to interact with you!