Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13–17:9; Psalm 22:1-18; and Proverbs 5:7-14. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Genesis 50 - Exodus 2:10 (Contemporary English Version)
Genesis 50
1Joseph started crying, then leaned over to hug and kiss his father. 2Joseph gave orders for Jacob's body to be embalmed, 3and it took the usual forty days.
The Egyptians mourned seventy days for Jacob. 4When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the Egyptian leaders, "If you consider me your friend, please speak to the king [a] for me. 5Just before my father died, he made me promise to bury him in his burial cave in Canaan. If the king will give me permission to go, I will come back here." 6The king answered, "Go to Canaan and keep your promise to your father."
7-9When Joseph left Goshen with his brothers, his relatives, and his father's relatives to bury Jacob, many of the king's highest officials and even his military chariots and cavalry went along. The Israelites left behind only their children, their cattle, and their sheep and goats.
10After crossing the Jordan River and reaching Atad's threshing place, Joseph had everyone mourn and weep seven days for his father. 11The Canaanites saw this and said, "The Egyptians are in great sorrow." Then they named the place "Egypt in Sorrow." [b] 12So Jacob's sons did just as their father had instructed. 13They took him to Canaan and buried him in Machpelah Cave, the burial place Abraham had bought from Ephron the Hittite.
14After the funeral, Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else returned to Egypt.
The Egyptians mourned seventy days for Jacob. 4When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the Egyptian leaders, "If you consider me your friend, please speak to the king [a] for me. 5Just before my father died, he made me promise to bury him in his burial cave in Canaan. If the king will give me permission to go, I will come back here." 6The king answered, "Go to Canaan and keep your promise to your father."
7-9When Joseph left Goshen with his brothers, his relatives, and his father's relatives to bury Jacob, many of the king's highest officials and even his military chariots and cavalry went along. The Israelites left behind only their children, their cattle, and their sheep and goats.
10After crossing the Jordan River and reaching Atad's threshing place, Joseph had everyone mourn and weep seven days for his father. 11The Canaanites saw this and said, "The Egyptians are in great sorrow." Then they named the place "Egypt in Sorrow." [b] 12So Jacob's sons did just as their father had instructed. 13They took him to Canaan and buried him in Machpelah Cave, the burial place Abraham had bought from Ephron the Hittite.
14After the funeral, Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else returned to Egypt.
Joseph's Promise to His Brothers
15After Jacob died, Joseph's brothers said to each other, "What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?" 16So they sent this message to Joseph:
Before our father died, 17he told us, "You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you."
Now we ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.
When Joseph heard this, he started crying.
18Right then, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, "We are your slaves."
19But Joseph told them, "Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. 20You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing. 21Don't be afraid! I will take care of you and your children." After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better.
Before our father died, 17he told us, "You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you."
Now we ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.
When Joseph heard this, he started crying.
18Right then, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, "We are your slaves."
19But Joseph told them, "Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. 20You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing. 21Don't be afraid! I will take care of you and your children." After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better.
Joseph's Death
22Joseph lived in Egypt with his brothers until he died at the age of one hundred ten. 23Joseph lived long enough to see Ephraim's children and grandchildren. He also lived to see the children of Manasseh's son Machir, and he welcomed them into his family. 24Before Joseph died, he told his brothers, "I won't live much longer. But God will take care of you and lead you out of Egypt to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25Now promise me that you will take my body with you when God leads you to that land." 26So Joseph died in Egypt at the age of one hundred ten; his body was embalmed and put in a coffin.
Exodus 1
The People of Israel Suffer
1-5When Jacob went to Egypt, his son Joseph was already there. So Jacob took his eleven other sons and their families. They were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Altogether, Jacob had seventy children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren [c] who went with him. 6After Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else in that generation had died, 7the people of Israel became so numerous that the whole region of Goshen was full of them. 8Many years later a new king came to power. He did not know what Joseph had done for Egypt, 9and he told the Egyptians:
There are too many of those Israelites in our country, and they are becoming more powerful than we are. 10If we don't outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt.
11The Egyptians put slave bosses in charge of the people of Israel and tried to wear them down with hard work. Those bosses forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses, [d] where the king [e] could store his supplies. 12But even though the Israelites were mistreated, their families grew larger, and they took over more land. Because of this, the Egyptians hated them worse than before 13and made them work so hard 14that their lives were miserable. The Egyptians were cruel to the people of Israel and forced them to make bricks and to mix mortar and to work in the fields. 15Finally, the king called in Shiphrah and Puah, the two women who helped the Hebrew [f] mothers when they gave birth. 16He told them, " If a Hebrew woman gives birth to a girl, let the child live. If the baby is a boy, kill him!" 17But the two women were faithful to God and did not kill the boys, even though the king had told them to. 18The king called them in again and asked, " Why are you letting those baby boys live?"
19They answered, " Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born." 20-21God was good to the two women because they truly respected him, and he blessed them with children of their own.
The Hebrews kept increasing 22until finally, the king gave a command to everyone in the nation, " As soon as a Hebrew boy is born, throw him into the Nile River! But you can let the girls live."
There are too many of those Israelites in our country, and they are becoming more powerful than we are. 10If we don't outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt.
11The Egyptians put slave bosses in charge of the people of Israel and tried to wear them down with hard work. Those bosses forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses, [d] where the king [e] could store his supplies. 12But even though the Israelites were mistreated, their families grew larger, and they took over more land. Because of this, the Egyptians hated them worse than before 13and made them work so hard 14that their lives were miserable. The Egyptians were cruel to the people of Israel and forced them to make bricks and to mix mortar and to work in the fields. 15Finally, the king called in Shiphrah and Puah, the two women who helped the Hebrew [f] mothers when they gave birth. 16He told them, " If a Hebrew woman gives birth to a girl, let the child live. If the baby is a boy, kill him!" 17But the two women were faithful to God and did not kill the boys, even though the king had told them to. 18The king called them in again and asked, " Why are you letting those baby boys live?"
19They answered, " Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born." 20-21God was good to the two women because they truly respected him, and he blessed them with children of their own.
The Hebrews kept increasing 22until finally, the king gave a command to everyone in the nation, " As soon as a Hebrew boy is born, throw him into the Nile River! But you can let the girls live."
Exodus 2
Moses Is Born
1A man from the Levi tribe married a woman from the same tribe, 2and she later had a baby boy. He was a beautiful child, and she kept him inside for three months. 3But when she could no longer keep him hidden, she made a basket out of reeds and covered it with tar. She put him in the basket and placed it in the tall grass along the edge of the Nile River. 4The baby's older sister [g] stood off at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5About that time one of the king's [h] daughters came down to take a bath in the river, while her servant women walked along the river bank. She saw the basket in the tall grass and sent one of the young women to pull it out of the water. 6When the king's daughter opened the basket, she saw the baby and felt sorry for him because he was crying. She said, " This must be one of the Hebrew babies." 7At once the baby's older sister came up and asked, " Do you want me to get a Hebrew woman to take care of the baby for you?" 8" Yes," the king's daughter answered.
So the girl brought the baby's mother, 9and the king's daughter told her, " Take care of this child, and I will pay you."
The baby's mother carried him home and took care of him. 10And when he was old enough, she took him to the king's daughter, who adopted him. She named him Moses [i] because she said, " I pulled him out of the water."
Footnotes:- Genesis 50:4 the king: See the note at 12.15.
- Genesis 50:11 Egypt in Sorrow: Or "Abel-Mizraim."
- Exodus 1:1 seventy children. . . great-grandchildren: See Genesis 46.8-27.
- Exodus 1:11 Pithom and Rameses: This is the only mention of Pithom in the Bible; its exact location is unknown, though it was probably in the northern Delta of Egypt. Rameses is the famous Delta city that was the home of Rameses II; its exact location is also unknown.
- Exodus 1:11 the king: The Hebrew text has " Pharaoh," a Hebrew word sometimes used for the title of the king of Egypt.
- Exodus 1:15 Hebrew: An earlier term for " Israelite."
- Exodus 2:4 older sister: Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.
- Exodus 2:5 the king's: See the note at 1.11.
- Exodus 2:10 Moses: In Hebrew " Moses" sounds like " pull out."
So the girl brought the baby's mother, 9and the king's daughter told her, " Take care of this child, and I will pay you."
The baby's mother carried him home and took care of him. 10And when he was old enough, she took him to the king's daughter, who adopted him. She named him Moses [i] because she said, " I pulled him out of the water."
Footnotes:
- Genesis 50:4 the king: See the note at 12.15.
- Genesis 50:11 Egypt in Sorrow: Or "Abel-Mizraim."
- Exodus 1:1 seventy children. . . great-grandchildren: See Genesis 46.8-27.
- Exodus 1:11 Pithom and Rameses: This is the only mention of Pithom in the Bible; its exact location is unknown, though it was probably in the northern Delta of Egypt. Rameses is the famous Delta city that was the home of Rameses II; its exact location is also unknown.
- Exodus 1:11 the king: The Hebrew text has " Pharaoh," a Hebrew word sometimes used for the title of the king of Egypt.
- Exodus 1:15 Hebrew: An earlier term for " Israelite."
- Exodus 2:4 older sister: Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.
- Exodus 2:5 the king's: See the note at 1.11.
- Exodus 2:10 Moses: In Hebrew " Moses" sounds like " pull out."
Matthew 16:13-17:9 (Contemporary English Version)
Who Is Jesus?
(Mark 8.27-30; Luke 9.18-21)
13When Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, he asked them, "What do people say about the Son of Man?" 14The disciples answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah [a] or Jeremiah or some other prophet." 15Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter spoke up, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus told him:
Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn't discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. 18So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it. 19I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don't allow.
20Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
16Simon Peter spoke up, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus told him:
Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn't discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. 18So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it. 19I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don't allow.
20Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death
(Mark 8.31--9.1; Luke 9.22-27)
21From then on, Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, "I must go to Jerusalem. There the nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make me suffer terribly. I will be killed, but three days later I will rise to life." 22Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. He said, "God would never let this happen to you, Lord!"
23Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Satan, get away from me! You're in my way because you think like everyone else and not like God."
24Then Jesus said to his disciples:
If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. 25If you want to save your life, [b] you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it. 26What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul? 27The Son of Man will soon come in the glory of his Father and with his angels to reward all people for what they have done. 28I promise you that some of those standing here will not die before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.
23Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Satan, get away from me! You're in my way because you think like everyone else and not like God."
24Then Jesus said to his disciples:
If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. 25If you want to save your life, [b] you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it. 26What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul? 27The Son of Man will soon come in the glory of his Father and with his angels to reward all people for what they have done. 28I promise you that some of those standing here will not die before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.
Matthew 17
The True Glory of Jesus
(Mark 9.2-13; Luke 9.28-36)
1Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high mountain where they could be alone. 2There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. 4So Peter said to him, "Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!" 6When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. 7But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, "Get up and don't be afraid!" 8When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.
9On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.
Footnotes:- Matthew 16:14 Elijah: Many of the Jewish people expected the prophet Elijah to come and prepare the way for the Messiah.
- Matthew 16:25 life: In verses 25 and 26 the same Greek word is translated "life," "yourself," and "soul."
5While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!" 6When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. 7But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, "Get up and don't be afraid!" 8When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.
9On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 16:14 Elijah: Many of the Jewish people expected the prophet Elijah to come and prepare the way for the Messiah.
- Matthew 16:25 life: In verses 25 and 26 the same Greek word is translated "life," "yourself," and "soul."
Psalm 22:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 22
(A psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune "A Deer at Dawn." )
Suffering and Praise
1My God, my God, why have you deserted me?
Why are you so far away?
Won't you listen to my groans
and come to my rescue?
2I cry out day and night,
but you don't answer,
and I can never rest.
3Yet you are the holy God,
ruling from your throne
and praised by Israel.
4Our ancestors trusted you,
and you rescued them.
5When they cried out for help,
you saved them,
and you did not let them down
when they depended on you.
6But I am merely a worm,
far less than human,
and I am hated and rejected
by people everywhere.
7Everyone who sees me
makes fun and sneers.
They shake their heads,
8and say,
"Trust the LORD!
If you are his favorite,
let him protect you
and keep you safe."
9You, LORD, brought me
safely through birth,
and you protected me
when I was a baby
at my mother's breast.
10From the day I was born,
I have been in your care,
and from the time of my birth,
you have been my God.
11Don't stay far off
when I am in trouble
with no one to help me.
12Enemies are all around
like a herd of wild bulls.
Powerful bulls from Bashan [a] are everywhere.
13My enemies are like lions
roaring and attacking
with jaws open wide.
14I have no more strength
than a few drops of water.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
15My strength has dried up
like a broken clay pot,
and my tongue sticks
to the roof of my mouth.
You, God, have left me
to die in the dirt.
16Brutal enemies attack me
like a pack of dogs,
tearing at [b] my hands and my feet.
17I can count all my bones,
and my enemies just stare
and sneer at me.
18They took my clothes
and gambled for them.
Footnotes:- Psalm 22:12 Bashan: A land east of the Jordan River, where there were pastures suitable for raising fine cattle.
- Psalm 22:16 tearing at: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Why are you so far away?
Won't you listen to my groans
and come to my rescue?
2I cry out day and night,
but you don't answer,
and I can never rest.
3Yet you are the holy God,
ruling from your throne
and praised by Israel.
4Our ancestors trusted you,
and you rescued them.
5When they cried out for help,
you saved them,
and you did not let them down
when they depended on you.
6But I am merely a worm,
far less than human,
and I am hated and rejected
by people everywhere.
7Everyone who sees me
makes fun and sneers.
They shake their heads,
8and say,
"Trust the LORD!
If you are his favorite,
let him protect you
and keep you safe."
9You, LORD, brought me
safely through birth,
and you protected me
when I was a baby
at my mother's breast.
10From the day I was born,
I have been in your care,
and from the time of my birth,
you have been my God.
11Don't stay far off
when I am in trouble
with no one to help me.
12Enemies are all around
like a herd of wild bulls.
Powerful bulls from Bashan [a] are everywhere.
13My enemies are like lions
roaring and attacking
with jaws open wide.
14I have no more strength
than a few drops of water.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
15My strength has dried up
like a broken clay pot,
and my tongue sticks
to the roof of my mouth.
You, God, have left me
to die in the dirt.
16Brutal enemies attack me
like a pack of dogs,
tearing at [b] my hands and my feet.
17I can count all my bones,
and my enemies just stare
and sneer at me.
18They took my clothes
and gambled for them.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 22:12 Bashan: A land east of the Jordan River, where there were pastures suitable for raising fine cattle.
- Psalm 22:16 tearing at: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Proverbs 5:7-14 (Contemporary English Version)
7My son, listen to me
and do everything I say.
8Stay away from a bad woman!
Don't even go near the door
of her house.
9You will lose your self-respect
and end up in debt
to some cruel person
for the rest of your life.
10Strangers will get your money
and everything else
you have worked for.
11When it's all over,
your body will waste away,
as you groan 12and shout,
"I hated advice and correction!
13I paid no attention
to my teachers,
14and now I am disgraced
in front of everyone."
and do everything I say.
8Stay away from a bad woman!
Don't even go near the door
of her house.
9You will lose your self-respect
and end up in debt
to some cruel person
for the rest of your life.
10Strangers will get your money
and everything else
you have worked for.
11When it's all over,
your body will waste away,
as you groan 12and shout,
"I hated advice and correction!
13I paid no attention
to my teachers,
14and now I am disgraced
in front of everyone."
Thought for the Day
“Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 - Contemporary English Version) Life is full of temptations and distractions. It's challenging to stay focused on what's righteous and truth. But since we're called to follow the example of Christ, it's worth the effort.
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Quote for the Day
German-Swiss author, known for his biographies and study of historical "greats," Emil Ludwig wrote, “Many a person has held close, throughout their entire lives, two friends that always remained strange to one another, because one of them attracted by virtue of similarity, the other by difference.”
A Joke for Today
I decided to make sure my wife had a smile on her face every morning...
Now I can’t keep sharpies in the house anymore.
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That people are sensitive to the vulnerability of their neighbors.
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