Week 15

April 9 – 15, 2011[1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
–Tom Truex]

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

Themes and stories: Moses blessed all the tribes. Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo. God pointed out the promised land, but reminded Moses he was not permitted to cross over to it. Moses died and was buried in a valley in the land of Moab. He was 120 years old. No one knows the exact burial site.

[10] And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, [11] none like him for all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, [12] and for all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (RSV)

Joshua. After Moses’ death, God spoke to Joshua. God told him to cross the Jordan River. God promised that no one would ever be able to defeat Joshua’s armies. Joshua prepared the Israelites to cross into the promised land. First, they sent out two spies to view the land they were about to conquer. The spies entered the house of Rahab, the prostitute. The king found out about the spies, and sent men to inquire as to what Rahab knew. Rahab lied and told the King’s men that the spies had departed. After the king’s men left, Rahab hid the spies on her roof overnight. She told them she had helped them, because she knew the power of the Israelites’ God. She asked them to spare her family when they returned with their army. They agreed, and told her to tie a crimson cord in her window, as a sign to leave her home undisturbed. She helped the spies escape with a rope through her window. Rahab lived in a house on the outer side of the city wall, and she resided within the wall itself.

Back at the Israelites’ camp, Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves. He told the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant in front of the people. Each of the tribes was to select a man to help carry the Ark. The twelve men carried the Ark into the Jordan river. As they went forward, the water piled upstream, so that there was a dry path across the river. All of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. Joshua 3:17. They took 12 stones from the middle of the riverbed, and used them to build a monument on the side of the river to honor God. The Israelite’s enemies panicked when they heard about this miraculous crossing of the Jordan River.

Many of the young Israelite men, who were born after the exodus, had not been circumcised. God told Joshua to stop and circumcise them all, before they proceeded forward. They celebrated Passover in that spot. On the day after Passover, they ate produce from the land. The manna ceased that day too.

As Joshua prepared to lead the Israelites into battle against Jericho, he was met by an angel. God told Joshua to have his army go forward and to march around Jericho once every day for the next six days. On the seventh day, the Israelites were to march around Jericho 7 times. At the seventh time, the trumpets sounded and the people shouted. And the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. The Israelites rushed in and captured the city. Everyone except Rahab, and her family was killed. “[T]hey utterly destroyed all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and asses, with the edge of the sword.” Joshua 6:21 (RSV)

Achan disobeyed God’s directions, and keep some of the loot from Jericho. Because of this sin, the Israelites lost their next battle against the city of Ai. God told Joshua that someone had keep property pillaged from Jericho. Joshua investigated. Achan confessed. Achan, his children and livestock were all killed by the Israelites as punishment.

Joshua’s army defeated the people from Ai. Joshua took a break and read all of Moses’ law to the Israelites.

The people from Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them. Although the Gibeonites lived on land Joshua was to capture, they told Joshua they lived far away. They wore old tattered clothes and had old, dusty supplies to prove their story. After making the treaty, Joshua learned of their dishonesty. Joshua honored the treaty, but made these people their servants. A deal is a deal.

Some of the Israelites’ other enemies attacked Gibeon. Joshua intervened and killed the aggressors. Joshua asked for the Sun to stand still, so the Israelites would have enough daylight to finish the attack before their enemies could flee. The Sun and Moon stood still, extending the day, and permitting Joshua’s army to rout their enemies. Joshua’s army continued to fight and defeat their other enemies as well.

Discussion points:

1. The inhabitants of Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them. Why did Joshua honor the treaty once he learned it was a trick?
2. During the battle with the Amorites, God made the Sun and the Moon stand still. What was the point of this occurrence; and are we to take this story literally? (i.e. did the Sun and Moon actually stop moving, or is this just a figure of speech?)

Psalms: Psalm 78:65 – 84:12

Proverbs: Proverbs 12:25 – 13:6

Themes and stories: Jesus told the people to repent. Jesus cured a woman with a spirit, who had been crippled for 18 years. The religious leaders were upset that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath—which they considered a serious matter. Jesus taught more about the kingdom of God. Jesus healed another man on the Sabbath. This time the Pharisees were afraid to challenge Jesus.

Jesus told the parable of the man whose honored guests made excuses for not attending his feast. He had his servants bring in random people from off the street to enjoy his feast. Luke 14:15-24. In like manner, many people will refuse God’s offer to enter his kingdom. But God’s offer of salvation is open to all.

Jesus tells his followers that if they follow him, they may expect to suffer for their dedication to him.

Jesus told more parables:

• The lost sheep. The shepherd leaves his flock to save one lamb.
• The lost coin. The owner is happy to recover the one that was lost.



• The prodigal son. The father was happy at the return of the son who he thought was lost.
• The shrewd manager. Whoever the master can trust with a little, can be trusted with more.
• The rich man and the beggar. It was better for the poor man, who went to heaven, than the rich man, who ended up in Hades. It was too late for the rich man to warn his brothers.
  Jesus healed ten men with leprosy. Only one of them took the time to thank Jesus.

Jesus told the Pharisees about the coming kingdom of God. He warned them it may happen any time. Be prepared.

Discussion points: The rich man who went to Hades wanted to warn his brothers about this place of torment. Why was his request denied?

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, April 16, 2011 are now online — ”Things Are Not Always What They Seem”. One of our discussion points this week is the treaty Joshua made with the inhabitants of Gibeon. They tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them, which essentially violated God’s instructions to destroy all the inhabitants of the lands the Israelites were to inhabit. Why didn’t Joshua consider the treaty void, after he learned of their deception? Discussion verses: Joshua 9:3-21; Joshua 10:12-14; and Luke 16:19-31

A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.

Week 12

March 19-25, 2011[1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
–Tom Truex]

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

Themes and stories: God specified the offering for Passover, Pentecost, Festival of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Festival of Booths.

God told the Israelites not to break their promises. A woman was responsible for her promises only if her father (if unmarried) or husband heard the promise and did not express disapproval when he first heard it. A widow or divorced woman was responsible for her promises.

God told Moses to conquer the Midianites in battle. A thousand men from each of the 12 tribes (12,000 total) prepared for war. The Israelites killed every male Midianite, including their kings and Balaam, who owned the talking donkey. The Israelites took the women, children, and cattle and as captives. They burned the Midianite’s towns. Moses was angry with the leaders of his army for allowing the women to live. So at Moses’ command, they killed the male children, and all of the women, except virgins. The warriors got to keep half of the spoils of war. The rest of the Israelites split the other half.

Two tribes among the Israelites, the Reubenites, and the Gadites asked Moses if they could settle on the land they had already conquered, rather than in the land of Canaan. Moses was angry. He thought they would not help conquer the promised land; and would discourage the rest of the Israelites. But the leaders of the Reubenites, and the Gadites assured Moses this was not their intent. In fact they offered to leave their cattle and children in the land they wanted; and they would lead the Israelite attack, until they had conquered the promised land. Only after their victory would the return to their land. Moses agreed to this arrangement. In the end, Moses gave the Reubenites, and the Gadites—plus the half tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph—the lands that were conquered from King Sihon and King Og. Two and a half tribes agreed to settle in land before the promised land, though they must help all the Israelites fight in the coming battles.

God told Moses that when the Israelites enter the promised land they must get rid of all signs of the previous inhabitants. Destroy their idols and other religious symbols. Drive out all of the people. God warned them that any people who were not driven out of the land would be a source of trouble to the Israelites in the future.

God told Moses how Canaan would be divided amongst the remaining Israelites. The Levites were to get 48 towns—6 of them cities of refuge. A city of refuge was a place where a person who had accidentally killed someone could go.

Moses was again asked to address the matter of the inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters. He previously addressed the issue of the four daughters whose father died with no sons in Numbers 27:1-11.

Deuteronomy. Moses reviews what God has done for the Israelites. He reminded them of the twelve spies sent out to the Land of Canaan. They reported it was a good land, but the Israelites lacked faith. They were afraid of the people who inhabited the promised land, because they were big and strong. Due to their lack of faith, only the two men who advocated taking the promised land, would live to see it be done. They were Caleb and Joshua. The Israelites were obliged to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses also reviewed the battles the Israelites had fought.

Moses told the people to obey God. Moses emphasized the prohibition against idols. Throughout history, people have worshiped other gods, but none of them have performed the signs and wonders of the one true God, who the Israelites worshiped.

Psalms: Psalm 62:1 – 68:18
Proverbs: Proverbs 11:18 – 28

Themes and stories:
Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his work. But first, Luke traces the ancestor’s of Jesus back to “…Adam, son of God.”

Luke 4:3-13 (RSV) – [3] The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” [4] And Jesus answered him, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone.'” [5] And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, [6] and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. [7] If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.” [8] And Jesus answered him, “It is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'” [9] And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; [10] for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’ [11] and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” [12] And Jesus answered him, “It is said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'” [13] And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Jesus returned to Galilee to teach. Jesus was rejected in his own home town of Nazareth. The people couldn’t believe that Jesus, the son of an ordinary carpenter, could be anything special. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country.” Luke 4:24 (RSV) They were going to throw Jesus off a cliff, outside town. But Jesus simply walked through the mob to leave.

Jesus went to Capernaum, in Galilee. He taught with great authority. People were astounded. Jesus cast out demons, and healed many people. The crowds grew. There were so many people that, in order to be heard, Jesus sat in a boat a little way off in the water, and taught the people on the shore. Later he told the fishermen who owned the boat to go back out to cast their nets. The miraculous haul of fish was so great that it almost tore the fishermen’s nets and swamped their boat.

Jesus healed a man with leprosy. The crowds grew. Some men brought their friend to be healed by Jesus. The man was paralyzed. Unfortunately, the crowd was so great, they could not get anywhere near Jesus. They cut a hole in the roof of the home where Jesus was teaching, and lowered the paralyzed man to him.

Luke 5:20-25 (RSV). [20] And when he saw their faith he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” [21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” [22] When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? [23] Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, `Rise and walk’? [24] But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the man who was paralyzed — “I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home.” [25] And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God.

The Pharisees did not like the what Jesus said. They were not looking for the truth; but for ways to trap Jesus. They also disagreed with Jesus’ practice of eating in the homes of sinners. Jesus told them, [31] … “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; [32] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32.

Jesus disciples picked wheat on the Sabbath—technically considered work, and a violation of the Sabbath, according to the Pharisees. Jesus also healed a man with a withered hand—also technically considered work and what the Pharisees considered a violation of the Sabbath. The Pharisees were more interested in justifying the status quo than in learning the truth about God’s law and God’s son. So they could not understand what Jesus tried to teach them in these matters.

Jesus chose his twelve disciples: “Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.”

As Jesus was teaching and healing, he spoke on a number of things that were blessed. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies. He also taught about judging others–”Judge not, and ye shall not be judged…” Luke 6:37 (KJV).

You would not expect a Roman soldier to have faith in Jesus. Yet a Roman Centurion demonstrated great faith. The centurion’s slave was very sick. Jesus heard about his illness and started to go to the centurion’s house. But the centurion knew that Jesus did not have to physically see or touch the slave. Jesus’ mere word was sufficient to heal the slave. Jesus healed the slave without going to the centurion’s house.

Old Testament: When the Israelites defeated the Midianite army, the military commanders killed all of the enemy men and burned their towns. This sounds harsh, by modern standards, though common in the ancient world. Also common was the military commanders’ decision to take the women and children as slaves. Why did Moses command that the male children and women (other than virgins) from the Midianite captives be killed? Do we know if this order was carried out?
New Testament: Most of us were taught as children to stay away from the “wrong crowd.” So why was it OK for Jesus to associate with sinners. Are Jesus’ actions in this matter a blanket endorsement for us to associate with unsavory people in unsavory places?

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, March 26, 2011 are now online — ”The ‘Wrong’ Element”. God’s rule with the Midianites was to take (almost) no prisoners. Literally. God did not want the Israelites to be corrupted by the sinful influence of the Midianites. Yet Jesus made a point of dining with sinners, because they needed to hear his word. What’s going on here? Should be a good discussion this week! Discussion verses: Numbers 31:7-18 and Luke 5:29-32

A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.