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"More Faithful than Our Failure" January 26 Readings: Exodus 31-35

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Exodus 31-35 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The key story in today's reading is the Golden Calf saga. Moses is on the mountain receiving the law of God, and Aaron is cowed by the people to build an idolatrous image and worship it. Moses returned and broke the tablets to represent that the people broke God's law. God dealt with them, then sent Moses back up the mountain to start again. We see a powerful contrast of leadership styles. One man is on the mountain seeking God's will to bring to the people, while another is ...

"The Holy of Holies" January 25 Readings: Exodus 25-30

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Exodus 25-30 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Let's be honest - readings such as today's are what make "through the Bible" readings tough. This is a specification list for the Tabernacle, and it carries powerful symbolism about Christ, but it can be tough to read. There is great content and power in these readings, but you have to dig a little harder for the treasure today! Background:     The Tabernacle, ordered here by God to Moses, was no simple sanctuary. It was the dwelling of God, fraught with symbolism. I will include some diagra...

"Separated" January 24 Readings: Exodus 19-24

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Exodus 19-24 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The Ten Commandments are the basis of God's law. In reality, there are only two laws. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. The first four commandments explain how to love and honor God, and the last 6 are about honoring our neighbors as ourselves. The rest of the laws of the Old Testament are designed to expand on the Ten Laws, which expand on the two. The laws we read in chapters 21-24 have several key purposes, besides expanding and illuminating ...

"Winning the War" January 23 Readings: Exodus 13-18

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Exodus 13-18 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     There are three parts to today's reading. First, we see the actual Exodus, God's saving act of grace to Israel when he took them out of Egypt by his grace through the Sea and eventually to the Promised Land. Then, we see Moses' song of praise in chapter 15 after the horse and rider were thrown into the sea. Our God is a warrior who defeats his enemies and ours to accomplish his work in us. The third section is a study of human nature. Israel saw the greatness of God's love an...

"The Cross and the Passover" January 22 Readings: Exodus 9-12

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Exodus 9-12 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The plagues escalate throughout these readings until the climactic moment when the tenth and greatest one approaches, as the Death Angel passes through Egypt. The Passover is heavy in the symbolism of the death of Christ. If you ever watch TV shows about the Exodus, they try to give natural explanations for the plagues. A volcano dropped ash in the Nile that turned it red, driving the frogs out. They died, drawing flies and causing disease, etc. Those of us who believe in a so...

"When It All Goes South" January 21 Readings: Exodus 5-8

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Exodus 5-8 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     When you do the right thing and serve God, everything will work out fine, right? If you believe that you haven't read today's reading. Moses finally gave in and went to Egypt in obedience to God, confronting Pharaoh - that's when Murphy's Law took over. Anything that could go wrong did go wrong. Pharaoh did not accept Moses' terms and heaped a greater burden on Israel. Now they had to make their full quota of bricks, but gather their own straw. They turned on Moses pretty ...

"Get Someone Else" January 20 Readings: Exodus 1-4

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :     Exodus 1-4 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     We enter the book of Exodus, perhaps the most dramatic book of the Bible. As the Cross is the focus of our salvation experience, the Red Sea was Israel's. Over and over again, God would remind Israel of his love and faithfulness demonstrated to Moses and the people as he led them out of Egypt, through the Sea on dry ground, and eventually to the Promised Land. In these first four chapters, we meet Moses, born under oppression as a Jewish slave. He is hidden by his mother...