Month: January 2025

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Exodus 15:19-17:7
  Matthew 22:1-33
  Psalm 27:1-6
  Proverbs 6:20-26

Exodus 15:24 — Murmur is used 10 times in this passage, and this passage is the only time murmur is found in Exodus. Murmuring is not open, blatant rebellion; it’s a quiet grumbling – more like half-hearted obedience (or half-hearted disobedience). How do you think God feels about murmuring?

Exodus 16:15 — Manna will be feeding the Israelites from now until Joshua 5:12. It’s mentioned in Nehemiah 9:20 and Psalm 78:24. According to Hebrews 9:4, it was stored in the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus talked about it in John 6:31, John 6:49, and John 6:58. Wonder what it tastes like? Overcome and you can eat of the hidden manna (Revelation 2:17)!

Matthew 22:7 — About 40 years after they slew the Servant (Matthew 12:18), the armies of Titus burned up the city of Jerusalem.

Matthew 22:13 — John Bunyan footnotes this verse in Pilgrim’s Progress (Chapter 36: The Fearful End of Ignorance).

Matthew 22:19 — What did the coin look like? Probably like this:

Emperor Tiberius Denarius – Tribute Penny

Matthew 22:29 — Congratulations on being committed to not erring! The way you can avoid erring is by knowing the Scriptures; by the way, reading through the Bible is a great way to know the Scriptures!

Psalm 27:1 — Frances Allitsen’s composition based on Psalm 27:1 (two words off) is beautiful to listen to.

Proverbs 6:24 — Again, we see the Evil/Strange Woman in contrast to the Wise Woman (Prov. 1:20) and the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

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Image Credit: DrusMAX, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Exodus 13:17-15:18
  Matthew 21:23-46
  Psalm 26:1-12
  Proverbs 6:16-19

Exodus 13:19 — Joseph’s 400-year-old bones. Remember reading a few days ago about the promise that Joseph forced his family to make (Genesis 50:25-26)?

Exodus 14:12 — Many people would rather live serving the devil than risk death to serve the Lord.

Exodus 14:21 — Where did the Red Sea crossing occur? There are 5 major routes for the Exodus in one study Bible (and that isn’t even an exhaustive map) and many interesting arguments for many different sites and routes.

The Route of the Exodus

Many secularists attack the very idea of a Red Sea crossing; others attack the timing of the Exodus (but thankfully conservatives defend a biblical date for the Exodus occurring in 1446 BC). Why is there so much confusion about the Exodus? The best explanation is that we’ve done very little research. Despite all of the Bible colleges in the world, there is not even one “Professor of Exodus Studies.” However, there is some great promising work. Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) is a great source; take time to read their articles on Amenhotep II and the Historicity of the Exodus Pharaoh, Recent Research on the Date and Setting of the Exodus, etc.

Exodus 15:1 — Have you praised the Lord when He has delivered you?

Matthew 21:31 — Sadly today, publicans and harlots will go into the kingdom of God before many pastors and deacons. Being religious is not enough. Following Jesus is enough.

Psalm 26:1 — The psalmist is asking God to defend him because he walked in integrity. If your prayers aren’t being answered, check this psalm to see if you meet the conditions of integrity. Additionally, Grace To You has collected 15 reasons for unanswered prayer.

Proverbs 6:16-19 — The Seven Deadly Sins – add these to your list of things that God hates. Check through them from time to time to see if you are living a life that God will bless, or one that He will chastise.

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

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Image Credit: ssl.bhpublishinggroup.com/PDF/9781433677076_EOT_sampCh.pdf

TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
  Exodus 12:14-13:16
  Matthew 20:29-21:22
  Psalm 25:16-22
  Proverbs 6:12-15

If you read this devotional online at www.biblereadingchallenge.org, you can hover over the references, and the verse will pop up!

Exodus 12:24 — Pharaoh wanted to kill the sons (Exodus 1:22), but he settled to keep the sons (Exodus 10:11). God wanted to teach the sons (Exodus 12:24-27; Exodus 13:8, Exodus 13:14).

Exodus 12:29 — The Pharaoh who killed the sons (Exodus 1:22) lost his own son (Proverbs 26:27).

Exodus 12:41 — 430 years … just as God told Abraham (Genesis 15:13)!

Matthew 20:34 — We noted this earlier, but if you are keeping track of the attributes of God this year, mark His compassion!

Matthew 21:1 — The Messiah would enter through the Eastern Gate. The current Eastern Gate/Golden Gate was built in 520 AD, closed in 810 AD, reopened in 1102, walled up in 1187, rebuilt in 1541, and has stayed sealed since then. However, according to Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, the Eastern Gate at the time of Jesus was in a different location (in line with the current Dome of the Rock).

Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, 2019

Matthew 21:9 — How did the shouts from the crowd sound in Hebrew? Maybe like this song:

Psalm 25:16-19 — In your journal, make note of these verses for the next time you are afflicted. If you’re afflicted now, pray with the psalmist!

Proverbs 6:15 — The wicked shall not always prosper!

Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.

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Image Credit: Jiří Bubeníček, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons