Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 272: Trusting God

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Zechariah 8-14.

Today's reading was once again about how God will intervene and save His people from those who oppress and attack them once His people return to Him. Sometimes it gets a little repetitive, reading the same concept back to back, but it's also a nice concept too.

God fights for His people. He saves them. He protects them. And all they have to do is trust Him instead of themselves, instead of their own power, their own possessions.

And to me, that's an amazing concept. It's also a good lesson.

I don't always trust God the way I should. But it's a concept I'm working on. I learn and grow every day. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying. I fail, just like everyone else, but God is merciful, understanding, and forgiving.

Just as He was when Israel was in a big mess, just as He always will be.

I encourage you to read today's chapters for yourselves, and see if you take the same thing from it that I did.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Malachi 1-4.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 271: Washed Clean

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Zechariah 1-7.

In today's reading, God spoke to Zechariah and told him what to tell the people.

The people were instructed to repent and turn back to God. They did not.

Then, Zechariah was shown visions. I'll be honest, I didn't understand all of them again. But these at least have less confusing imagery than the ones from the other books of the prophets.

In the visions, angels were patrolling the earth, riding horses. They stated that the earth was peaceful. Quiet.

Another angel, the one showing Zechariah the visions, cried out to God asking for compassion for His people - Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. God answered the angel, comforting him, reminding him that He is a jealous God, and that He will not allow His people to be trampled forever.

Then there are visions about horns and a measuring rod, which I did not understand.

And that's only in chapter one.

Basically, God acknowledges that He sees the plight of His people, and that even though they have refused to repent for now, He will not allow them to suffer forever. They will eventually return to Him, and He will save them.

I thought this was the most fascinating because of the angel crying out to God on behalf of His people.

Angels sent to patrol the earth. Angels interceding for us.

Well, now Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God, the Father.

I'm not sure if angels intercede in exactly the same way, but I found this very interesting. Even they can cry out for mercy for us.

Another interesting thing happens in chapter 2.

Satan comes before God, bringing with him Joshua the priest. Joshua is clothed in dirty clothes. God rebukes Satan, and then demands that Joshua's dirty clothes be removed, and clean garments be put on him.

And then God declares that He has taken away the iniquity, and washed him clean.

The filth that Satan wants to put on us cannot stay when God declares it must go. When we declare it must go. When we come before God and repent, we are washed clean.

And that's the image I want to leave you with today. I encourage you to read this book for yourself. I will definitely be reading it again.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Zechariah 8-14.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 270: Rebuilding the Temple

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Haggai 1-2.

Today's reading is set during the second year of King Darius.

God told Haggai to tell the people that it was time to rebuild the temple. God asks why the people live in houses when He Himself has no house. So Haggai instructs the people.

Zerubbabel and Joshua (son of the high priest, not affiliated with Jericho) obeyed God and began rebuilding the temple.

God declares that this temple will be better than the first one, built by Solomon.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Zechariah 1-7.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 269: The Visions of Habakkuk and Zephaniah

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Habakkuk 1-3, and Zephaniah 1-3.

Today's chapters were more visions about God's wrath, punishments, and forgiveness.

So, I'm going to share just a few verses that really stood out to me. I encourage you to read the chapters for yourselves so you can see the verses in context.

Habakkuk 1:2 - How long, O LORD, will I call for help, and You will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save. 

It's nice to know other people feel this way. Even the prophets sometimes felt like God wasn't listening.

Habakkuk says that even if destruction happens and the world falls apart around him,

Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places (Habakkuk 3:18-19).

In Zephaniah, God says that He will remove all things from the earth, and no amount of silver or gold will be able to save the people.

Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the LORD's anger.

Zephaniah 3:1 - Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city!

Zephaniah 3:4 - Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.

Zephaniah 3:12 - "But I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD."

God's anger is fierce, but His mercy is greater.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Haggai 1-2.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 268: God is Awesome

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Nahum 1-3. Today's blog title is taken from the heading in chapter one.

God is awesome.

I'm going to share a few verses from this chapter today, but please read it all on your own too. Nahum is a cool book.

Nahum 1:3 - The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Nahum 1:5 - Mountains quake because of Him and the hills dissolve; Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence, the world and all the inhabitants in it.

Nahum 1:7-8 - The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of its site, and will pursue His enemies into darkness.

Nahum 1:9 - Whatever you devise against the LORD, He will make a complete end of it. Distress will not rise up twice.

There is so much more to the book of Nahum, and I look forward to read it again in more depth.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Habakkuk 1-3.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 267: God Tramples Sin

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Micah 1-7.

I won't go over the whole reading. Basically, Micah was sent to warn Israel to repent. But there are a few verses I want to share.

Micah 7:18-20 - Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from the days of old.

God forgives our sins. When we repent, He destroys it under His feet, and it is like we never sinned at all. Such is His power. Such is His mercy.

I hope you will join me tomorrow when I read Nahum 1-3.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 266: Jonah

Good morning, everyone!

So, yesterday when I said I was going to read Obadiah 1? I didn't realize I was also going to read Jonah 1-4.

So today I'm going to talk about Jonah. It will be a familiar story to anyone who grew up in church.

God tells Jonah to go to Ninevah and tell them that destruction is coming to them. Jonah doesn't want to, so he flees to Tarshish by ship.

A great storm comes up and the ship is about to sink. The sailors are praying to their gods, but Jonah is sound asleep below deck. A sailor wakes him and tells him to pray to his God.

Jonah is forced to confess that he is the reason the storm has come, and tells them to throw him overboard. At first, the sailors refuse, not wanting his death on their hands. They try to make it to shore, but the storm rages and the waves thrash the ship. Finally, the sailors pray to God to forgive them, and, with no other choice, they throw Jonah overboard. The sea calms and the storm abates, and the men fear God and worship Him.

Jonah lands in the sea, and is swallowed by a great fish. He is in the fish's belly for three days and three nights.

Finally, he prays to God and agrees to go to Ninevah.

So, the fish spits him out on dry land. Jonah goes to Ninevah, a three day walk.

Now, I'm going to stop here, because my Sunday school teacher had an addition to Jonah.

"Can you imagine," she'd say, "what he must have looked like? After no sunlight, that storm, and sitting in the fish's belly? He was probably pale, he smelled bad, and his clothes were probably torn. So," she'd continue, "when Jonah showed up crying out 'Repent!' the people were probably terrified."

Now, I don't know what Jonah looked like when he got out of the fish. Probably not good. My bible said the fish "vomited" him out. Gross.

But what he looked like isn't the point. It's just an interesting aside.

Jonah goes to Ninevah and preaches and the whole city repents. Even the king repents and commands everyone to put on sackcloth and fast and turn from their wickedness.

God saw their repentance and forgave them, relenting about the calamity.

Whew. That's good, right?

Well, not to Jonah.

Jonah 4:1 - But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.

Jonah became angry because God didn't destroy the wicked city of Ninevah.

Does that make sense?

Well, I have to confess that I know some people who have done bad things, and once upon a time I wouldn't have cared whether they asked for God's forgiveness or now. I confess that I haven't always been as forgiving as I should be.

And this was a whole city. Still, Jonah was one of God's prophets, right? And he should have been happy that the city had repented. But he wasn't. He wanted God to destroy them.

So, Jonah tells God that he knew this would happen and that's why he fled to Tarshish. Uh oh. Jonah didn't flee just because he didn't want to go to Ninevah. He knew if he went the people would listen and God would forgive them. Uh oh. Jonah really wanted Ninevah to be destroyed.

Jonah is so unhappy, in fact, that he begs for death. But God won't kill him.

So Jonah goes out of the city and builds a shelter where he can see the city. Basically, Jonah is pouting. So God causes a plant to grow so Jonah can have shade.

Jonah 4:6b - And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant.

But God sends a worm to destroy the plant. Then He makes the sun beat down on Jonah's head and sends a scorching wind from the east. And Jonah begs for death. Again.

Then God tells Jonah that if he can have compassion for a plant, God can have compassion for a whole city.

I'm not sure if Jonah learned his lesson, but it's a good lesson for us. We all have to care about people. Even when we don't want to. Maybe God doesn't tell us to go to a wicked city like Ninevah, but what about our families? Our friends? Our coworkers? Shouldn't we pray for them, even when they hurt us?

What about people who have wronged us in the past?

Take a lesson from Jonah. Don't wish calamity on anyone. Pray for them instead.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Micah 1-7.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 265: Amos

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Amos 6-9.

As you recall, the book of Amos is set during the days of King Jeroboam. Wickedness abounds in Israel and the surrounding kingdoms.

God shows Amos His judgment for Israel.

Amos intercedes, and God relents. Twice.

The third time, however, Israel has turned so far from God that He will not change His mind.

By the way, Amos wasn't a prophet. He was a shepherd.

I confess, I don't know all the historical information, and I haven't studied these books very closely. But it made me wonder. Were there no prophets at this time? God had to choose a shepherd. 

Well, I shouldn't say it like that, should I? David was a shepherd. And God chose him to be king.

I guess the point could be that you don't have to be considered "special" by the world. When God calls you, all you have to do is obey.

So, Amos interceded twice and God changed His mind. The third time He wouldn't. 

In fact, even the priests were corrupt. They called Amos before them to demand that he stop prophesying against Israel. In fact, Amaziah the priest told the king that Amos had conspired against him.

Basically they told him to lie or get out. But Amos continued to tell the truth, as God showed him.

Now, I know I haven't had a lot to share lately because the chapters have been a bit repetitious of Israel's sin and God's punishments, but this always amazes me.

In the old testament we find people like Amos, Daniel, and Moses, who go where God tells them to and do as He says, even sometimes at the risk of their own lives.

In the new testament we find apostles like Peter and Paul who do the same thing. Oh, and Stephen.

And it's amazing to me. What faith they must have had to do as God commanded even in the face of certain death. It's inspiring.

I know I don't always live my life for God the way I should. And I know that just because it's hard doesn't mean I have an excuse. But I want to. These heroes of the Bible (for they were heroes) truly inspire me. I want to be brave as they were. Bold as they were. And have faith as they did.

It's a process. I'm learning and growing every day. And I hope as you read your Bible and talk with God that you will grow too. Perhaps my blog may help in some way also.

If you have any questions or comments, leave them below and I'll do my best to answer.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Obadiah 1.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 264: Seek Good and Not Evil

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Amos 1-5.

Today's reading is set during the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. If you don't remember them, we learned about them in the books of the kings and the chronicles of the kings.

Today's reading is about God's judgment. If you remember anything from our readings in the Chronicles, you'll know that pretty much all of the kings were wicked. Not just from the surrounding kingdoms either, but also in Israel and Judah.

So, God promises judgment. But if His people will repent and return to Him, He will forgive them.

Forgiveness is a big theme throughout the Bible, because God is very merciful.

Amos :14 - Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, just as you have said!

Seek good and not evil.

Well, how do we know?

First of all, the Bible tells us what is good. God is good. His laws are good. Even the ones we don't understand.

Also, our own conscience will tell us when we do something wrong. Even when we don't acknowledge it, it still tells us.

So, let's all strive to seek good rather than evil. Don't worry about being perfect though. We're human, and we can't be perfect. We still have to try our best though, just like always.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Amos 6-9.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 263: The Book of Joel

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Joel 1-3.

In today's reading, God details what will happen if His people continue in sin.

But then He says that if they will repent, He will relent, and He will no longer be angry, but will forgive them and protect them from their enemies.

There was more, but I didn't understand all of it. Another book I need a study guide for.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Amos 1-5.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 262: God's Anger and Mercy

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Hosea 8-14.

It details Israel's sins, God's anger, and His forgiveness.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Joel 1-3.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 261: Hosea Takes a Wife

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Hosea 1-7.

Hosea is God's chosen prophet, and God instructs him to marry a harlot, so that he can better understand how God feels about Israel cheating on Him with other gods.

Hosea obeys, and they have children. God instructs Hosea to name them specific names that show God's displeasure with His people.

To better understand the book of Hosea, I recommend a movie. That's right. A movie. 

In Amazing Love, a confrontation in a youth group leads to a youth retreat in the mountains where the youth leader shares the story of Hosea. Through this story, we learn the greatness of God's love, the depth of His sorrow, and the wonder of His forgiveness.

If you want to understand how God feels when we turn from Him, read the book of Hosea. And check out this movie. It tells the story in more modern terms.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Hosea 8-14.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 260: The Last Vision in the Book of Daniel

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Daniel 10-12.

In today's reading, Daniel has a vision that terrifies him. He sees "a man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult" (Daniel 10:5-6).

An angel of God.

And wow! What a sight! Can you even imagine that? I can't even picture it. How amazing and terrifying that must have been for Daniel.

Daniel's vision this time is about the "latter days" and about wars and kingdoms conquering other kingdoms. Even Daniel has questions about this vision, such as "when will this happen," but the angel doesn't answer all of Daniel's questions. He sends him on his way, with instructions that not everything he showed Daniel should be revealed at that time.

I still don't completely understand everything I read today, but I feel like I learned anyway.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Hosea 1-7.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 259: Daniel's Visions

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Daniel 7-9.

In today's reading, Daniel has a couple visions, the first being of the four beasts. I understood that the vision was about kings and kingdoms and countries and their rises and falls, but beyond that...

I just didn't get it. This is like a Revelation level vision, and it went way over my head.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Daniel 10-12.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 258: The Lion's Den

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Daniel 4-6.

A lot happens in today's reading, but I'm mainly going to focus on one part. But first, a brief overview.

So, Nebuchadnezzer was in sin, and even after the furnace, hadn't acknowledged God, so he was punished to wander around like an animal for a while. When he returned, he acknowledged that God was the only god, and he served Him.

Meanwhile, Daniel has favor with the king.

Later, Belshazzar becomes king. He throws a party, and a man's finger appears, writing on the wall. Everyone is pretty freaked out, and the queen mentions Daniel, so he comes to interpret the writing.

The writing said: God had numbered Belshazzar's kingdom and ended it; Belshazzar was weighed and found deficient; and his kingdom will be divided between the Medes and the Persians.

That very night, the king was slain.

Darius, the Mede, becomes king.

Daniel is in favor with Darius and is a trusted adviser.

However, Darius' other advisers are jealous and devise a plot to overthrow Daniel. They talk the king into making a law that says people can only make petitions unto the king and worship the king, but cannot worship any other besides the king.

Darius signs the contract.

Daniel is caught praying to God. Three times a day.

Darius is distraught, but the law must be obeyed, so he has Daniel thrown into the lion's den. As he is shutting the door, he tells Daniel that he knows Daniel's God will save him.

Sure enough, Darius comes to Daniel first thing in the morning, and Daniel is safe. The lions didn't even open their mouths against him. Probably not even to yawn.

Because of their wicked scheme, Darius threw the other advisers and their families into the lion's den instead, and Daniel retained favor with the king.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Daniel 7-9.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 257: Four Men in a Furnace

Good morning, everyone!

I meant to post this yesterday, but the day kind of got away from me.

So, I read Daniel 1-3.

The setting: Babylon.

The time: Third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah

Israel is taken captive by the Babylonians. The choice young men are chosen to serve the king: Nebuchadnezzer.

Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, are also chosen. These young men are selected to be given the food sacrificed to the Babylonian gods, so they will grow strong. This, however, is a direct violation of God's laws, so Daniel, who is in favor with their overseer, speaks with him about giving himself and his friends only vegetables for a time as a test to see which group is stronger.

Daniel and his friends do not break God's law.

Guess which group is strongest, most knowledgeable, and most fit for service.

If you guessed Daniel and his friends, you're right! They were the most fit of all the Babylonian captives because they did not break God's law.

So, Daniel and his friends find favor with the king, and are appointed into the king's service.

Later, the king has a dream, which only Daniel can interpret, because he does not rely on magic or anything else. He knows that only God interprets dreams, and says so. Thus, God gives him the interpretation.

Nebuchadnezzer's dream is about the future of the kingdoms, from his own, to the Greeks, to the Romans, and so forth, until the final kingdom - God's kingdom - which will destroy all the others and will not be shaken.

Still later, King Nebuchadnezzer makes a decree that everyone should worship only the golden statue which he made of himself.

Daniel and his friends refuse. Of course. Well, Daniel's friends, now named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, are caught not worshiping the statue.

So they're sentenced to die by fiery furnace. The fire is so hot (heated seven times hotter than normal) that it devours the men sent to open the doors.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown in. As the king and his advisers are looking in, one of them says: "Hey, didn't we throw in three guys? Why are there four?"

The king looks and sure enough, four men are standing in the furnace, completely unharmed. The fourth, the advisers said, had the appearance of one of the gods.

So, the king calls out to the three and bids them come out of the furnace, declaring that they are servants of the Most High God, and they are pardoned.

Now, based on the declaration of the fourth man's appearance, we can only agree that his countenance was holy, or not exactly like ours. Later in the chapter, Nebuchadnezzer declares that it was an angel sent from God.

Some people think it was Jesus Himself.

But is that really the most important part of the story? Three men went into a fiery furnace. Four walked around in the fire. Three came out and were pardoned. They did not burn because of their obedience to God.

That's the story.

I hope you'll join me also when I read Daniel 4-6.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 256: Offerings

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 46-48.

In today's reading, God outlines rules for offerings in the new temple, specifically offerings from the prince. These include which door to enter from and which door to leave from, so that the temple may be kept holy.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Daniel 1-3.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 255: Rebuilding

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 43-45.

And as I hoped yesterday, the reasons for the measurements are revealed. Ezekiel is to tell the measurements to the people. He is also to tell them of his vision of the glory of God entering the temple from the east gate. No other is to enter through that gate.

Then God details rebuilding. Rebuilding of the temple. Rebuilding of a home for the Israelites. Rebuilding of a place for their princes to live so they do not covet other lands.

God details everything, and commands Ezekiel to tell the people.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 46-48.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 254: Measurements

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 40-42.

In today's reading, Ezekiel is given another vision. In this vision, a man with a measuring rod is measuring the Temple in Israel. At this time, the Israelites have been in exile for 25 years.

You can read the measurements for yourself, as it would take a really long post, and I don't want to just copy all of the chapters. I'm not sure why the measurements are important right now, but that may be revealed in tomorrow's reading.

I hope you'll join me then, when I read Ezekiel 43-45.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 253: Dry Bones

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 37-39, and I finally get to share my favorite part of Ezekiel.

Dry bones.

God gives Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones. God asks Ezekiel if the dead and dry bones can come back to life, and Ezekiel wisely responds that only God Himself knows.

Ezekiel 37:4-10 - "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.' Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'" So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise and a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked and behold, sinews were on them and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."" So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

When we are in sin, we are like these bones. Dead. Dry. Lifeless. And when we accept Jesus' salvation, God breathes new life into us.

Now, I'm going to stop talking and share a couple songs with you. I've been waiting for this since I started Ezekiel! I hope you enjoy the songs, and that they speak to your heart. Please join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 40-42.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 252: Shepherds

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 34-36.

In today's reading, God gives Ezekiel a prophecy against Israel's shepherds, or their leaders. God declares that they have been looking after themselves rather than His flock. They have not healed the sick, found the lost, or fixed the broken. Thus, their time is at an end. God will deliver His own flock, even from the shepherds.

And then He will restore Israel.

What a powerful reminder of how leaders are meant to look after God's people, of how we all are meant to treat one another.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 37-39.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 251: Pharaoh

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 31-33.

In today's reading, Pharaoh is warned about God's punishment if he doesn't repent and behave. He has exalted himself and does not fear God.

Honestly, I didn't get a lot out of today's reading either. Still, I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 34-36.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 250: A King Who Exalts Himself

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 28-30.

In today's reading, God says that the king of Tyre considers himself like a god, and has exalted himself. He has wisdom, except that he thinks himself like God. Because of this, God will send invaders to destroy him.

Can you think of people who think they are better than God? I can think of three just off the top of my head.

God also declares judgment for Sidon and Egypt.

He also promises restoration for Israel. He will call them from the other nations and draw them back to their homeland and restore them.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 31-33.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 249: Israel's Enemies

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 25-27.

In today's reading, God goes into detail about His judgment for the nations who have persecuted His people.

From those who profaned His sanctuaries, to those who sought or took revenge, His punishments are made clear.

Even though He is angry with Israel because of their sin, and He will punish them, He still won't allow another nation's actions against them to go unpunished. He may allow Israel to be taken into captivity because of their sins, but once Israel turns back to Him and repents, He will deliver them and punish that nation that sought their lives in the first place.

One sin doesn't excuse another.

Just because Israel had sinned, doesn't excuse the other nation's sin against them.

That's what I learned today. God still takes care of His people, even when He is angry with them. He protects them, even though He allows punishment to come upon them during their sins.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 28-30.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 248: Parables for Ezekiel

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 23-24.

In today's reading, God gives Ezekiel two parables. The first is about two women who committed adultery with their enemies, and their lust could not be contained. Israel and Judah have turned from God.

The second is about a boiling pot. I think it's a metaphor about Israel not being cleansed no matter what - because it mentions rust that won't come out of the pot- since they won't turn from their sins and repent. But I didn't completely understand it.

If you have any insights, I'd love to hear them!

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 25-27.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 247: Israel is Still in Trouble

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 21-22.

In today's reading, God tells Ezekiel about the sins of Israel and their punishment.

I didn't really learn anything new today, but the reading of Ezekiel really reinforces how much I don't want to make God angry. 

I know sometimes I mess up, but I don't want to do it on purpose anymore. I want to be sure to repent if I do. And I don't want to mess around with sin anymore.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read 23-24.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 246: Individuals

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 18-20.

In today's reading, God says that He will deal with the Israelites as individuals, and each person will reap the judgment for themselves, whether for righteousness or for sin.

Ezekiel 18:30-32 - "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the LORD GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the LORD GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."

God wants everyone to repent and live with Him forever, but He wants us to choose that, so He gave us free will. A good parent wants their children to choose to do good, to choose love over hate, and hopes that, even when they make mistakes, they will ask forgiveness for their mistakes, and choose not to make the mistakes any more.

God is the same. Only, He can see everything that will happen, and it makes Him very sad when He knows someone will not choose repentance and eternal life.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 21-22.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 245: Cheating on God

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 16-17.

In today's reading, God scolds Israel for their disobedience, likening them to a harlot.

Did you ever think of it like that? When we sin, it's like we're cheating on God. Take a moment to let that sink in. That's a vivid detail.

And bear in mind, this isn't just one person. It's a whole nation that has ignored God's commandments and turned to other gods.

So God scolds Israel and describes their punishment. But He also describes His grace. He says that He will reach out and save His people; He will cleanse them, and they will return to Him, and He will forgive them.

This is the message He gives to Ezekiel.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 18-20.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 244: False Prophecies

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Ezekiel 13-15.

In today's reading, God tells Ezekiel about the false prophets in Israel and how their prophecies benefit evil men, telling them that what they are doing is right and blessed.

God then details the destruction He will bring upon these prophets and the elders who will not listen to Ezekiel and stop their disobedience.

He then goes on to say something that amazed me.

He says that even though Noah, Daniel, and Job pleaded for Israel they could not save it. Their righteousness could only save themselves.

Do you remember in Abraham's story where he pleads with God for the city of Sodom? God agreed that if He found fifty righteous there that He would spare the whole city. Abraham continued to plead, and the number went down. Until the number reached ten. But if you remember the end of this story, the city was not spared. There were not even 10 righteous people there.

Now, God is saying that even if three very righteous men - Noah, who was one of the only righteous people left in the whole earth; Job, who never lost faith in God despite the horrible things that kept happening to him; Daniel, who kept God's laws and did not conform even though he was a slave and could have been beaten or killed for it - plead for the whole nation of Israel, their righteousness would only be able to save themselves.

Wow. Israel is in big trouble.

But God still promises Ezekiel that He won't destroy everyone. He will keep a remnant for Himself, and the righteous men He finds will be spared because of their own righteousness. Though in previous chapters He also said that these righteous could be in other countries, rather than actually in Israel.


But all of these false prophets are about to be in big trouble.

Did you know there are false prophets even today? False prophecies even today? We have to be careful to read God's word and know what He says about everything, so that we aren't fooled by what someone else says.

And we have to be careful of what we say, especially if we say it is from God.

We don't want to get in big trouble with God like the Israelites did.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 16-17.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 243: Destruction of Jerusalem

Good morning, everyone!

Today, I read Ezekiel 9-12.

In today's reading, Ezekiel is shown a vision of the destruction of Jerusalem.

God sends forth an angel to mark those who still love and fear Him, those who see the evil around them and despise it, and then He sends forth angels to destroy all those who are not marked.

And the way I understood the vision, Ezekiel sees that everyone is destroyed, not one person is left. Meaning that not one person is appalled by the evil going on around them.

Thus, God sends Ezekiel to speak His word to the people. God instructs him to carry a burden on his back, and tunnel out of the city wall, in order to show what will happen even to their princes, who will tunnel out and not look around them.

It's a very powerful vision, a powerful example of God's wrath. But He still sent Ezekiel to speak with the people.

I hope you read it for yourself, and that you'll join me tomorrow when I read Ezekiel 13-15.