M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Jacob Returns to Bethel

35 ^(A) God told Jacob, “Return to Bethel, where I appeared to you when you were running from your brother Esau. Make your home there and build an altar for me.”

² Jacob said to his family and to everyone else who was traveling with him:

Get rid of your foreign gods! Then make yourselves acceptable to worship God and put on clean clothes. ³ Afterwards, we'll go to Bethel. I will build an altar there for God, who answered my prayers when I was in trouble and who has always been at my side.

⁴ So everyone gave Jacob their idols and their earrings,^[a] and he buried them under the oak tree near Shechem.

⁵ While Jacob and his family were traveling through Canaan, God terrified the people in the towns so much that no one dared bother them. ⁶ Finally, they reached Bethel, also known as Luz. ⁷ Jacob built an altar there and called it “God of Bethel,” because that was the place where God had appeared to him when he was running from Esau. ⁸ While they were there, Rebekah's personal servant Deborah^[b] died. They buried her under an oak tree and called it “Weeping Oak.”

God Blesses Jacob at Bethel

^9-11 (B)(C) After Jacob came back to the land of Canaan, God appeared to him again. This time he gave Jacob a new name and blessed him by saying:

I am God All-Powerful, and from now on your name will be Israel^[c] instead of Jacob. You will have many children. Your descendants will become nations, and some of the men in your family will even be kings. ¹² I will give you the land that I promised Abraham and Isaac, and it will belong to your family forever.

¹³ After God had gone, ^14 (D) Jacob set up a large rock, so that he would remember what had happened there. Then he poured wine and olive oil on the rock to show that it was dedicated to God, ¹⁵ and he named the place Bethel.^[d]

Benjamin Is Born

¹⁶ Jacob and his family had left Bethel and were still a long way from Ephrath, when the time came for Rachel's baby to be born. ¹⁷ She was having a rough time, but the woman who was helping her said, “Don't worry! It's a boy.” ¹⁸ Rachel was at the point of death, and right before dying, she said, “I'll name him Benoni.”^[e] But Jacob called him Benjamin.^[f]

¹⁹ Rachel was buried beside the road to Ephrath, which is also called Bethlehem. ²⁰ Jacob set up a tombstone over her grave, and it is still there. ²¹ Jacob, also known as Israel, traveled to the south of Eder Tower, where he set up camp.

^22 (E) During their time there, Jacob's oldest son Reuben slept with Bilhah, who was one of Jacob's other wives.^[g] And Jacob found out about it.

Jacob's Twelve Sons

^23-26 Jacob had twelve sons while living in northern Syria.^[h] His first-born Reuben was the son of Leah, who later gave birth to Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Leah's servant Zilpah had two sons: Gad and Asher.

Jacob and his wife Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel's servant woman Bilhah had two more sons: Dan and Naphtali.

Isaac Dies

^27 (F) Jacob went to his father Isaac at Hebron, also called Mamre or Kiriath-Arba, where Isaac's father Abraham had lived as a foreigner. ^28-29 Isaac died at the ripe old age of 180, then his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Esau's Family

36 Esau, also known as Edom, had many descendants. ^2 (G) He married three Canaanite women: The first was Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite; the second was Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; ^3 (H) the third was Basemath, who was Ishmael's daughter and Nebaioth's sister.

^4-5 Esau and his three wives had five sons while in Canaan. Adah's son was Eliphaz; Basemath's son was Reuel; Oholibamah's three sons were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

⁶ Esau took his children and wives, his relatives and servants, his animals and possessions he had acquired while in Canaan, and moved far from Jacob. ⁷ He did this because the land was too crowded and could not support him and his brother with their flocks and herds. ⁸ That's why Esau made his home in the hill country of Seir.

^9-14 Esau lived in the hill country of Seir and was the ancestor of the Edomites. Esau had three wives: Adah, Basemath, and Oholibamah. Here is a list of his descendants: Esau and Adah had a son named Eliphaz, whose sons were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. Timna was the other wife^[i] of Esau's son Eliphaz, and she had a son named Amalek.

Esau and Basemath had a son named Reuel, whose sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

Esau and Oholibamah had three sons: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Chiefs and Leaders in Edom

¹⁵ Esau and Adah's oldest son was Eliphaz, and the clans that descended from him were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, ¹⁶ Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These and Esau's other descendants lived in the land of Edom.

¹⁷ The clans that descended from Esau and Basemath's son Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

¹⁸ The clans that descended from Esau and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah were Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. ¹⁹ All of these clans descended from Esau, who was known as Edom.

²⁰ Seir was from the Horite tribe that had lived in Edom before the time of Esau. The clans that had descended from him were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, ²¹ Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

²² Lotan's sons were Hori and Heman; his sister was Timna.

²³ Shobal's sons were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

²⁴ Zibeon's sons were Aiah and Anah—the same Anah who found an oasis^[j] in the desert while taking the donkeys of his father out to pasture.

²⁵ Anah's children were Dishon and Oholibamah.

²⁶ Dishon's sons were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

²⁷ Ezer's sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

²⁸ Dishan's sons were Uz and Aran.

²⁹ The clans of the Horites were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, ³⁰ Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan, and they lived in the land of Seir.

^31-39 Before there were kings in Israel, the following kings ruled Edom one after another:

⁴⁰ The clans that descended from Esau took their names from their families and the places where they lived. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, ⁴¹ Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁴² Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel, and Iram. These clans descended from Esau, who was known as Edom, the father of the Edomites. They took their names from the places where they settled.

The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus

(Matthew 13.53-58; Luke 4.16-30)

6 Jesus left and returned to his hometown^[a] with his disciples. ² The next Sabbath he taught in the synagogue. Many of the people who heard him were amazed and asked, “How can he do all this? Where did he get such wisdom and the power to work these miracles? ³ Isn't he the carpenter,^[b] the son of Mary? Aren't James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon his brothers? Don't his sisters still live here in our town?” The people were upset because of what he was doing.

^4 (A) But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family.” ⁵ Jesus could not work any miracles there, except to heal a few sick people by placing his hands on them. ⁶ He was surprised that the people did not have any faith.

Instructions for the Twelve Apostles

(Matthew 10.5-15; Luke 9.1-6)

Jesus taught in all the neighboring villages. ⁷ Then he called together his twelve apostles and sent them out two by two with power over evil spirits. ^8 (B) He told them, “You may take along a walking stick. But don't carry food or a traveling bag or any money. ⁹ It's all right to wear sandals, but don't take along a change of clothes. ¹⁰ When you are welcomed into a home, stay there until you leave that town. ^11 (C) If any place won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave and shake the dust from your feet^[c] as a warning to them.”

¹² The apostles left and started telling everyone to turn to God. ^13 (D) They forced out many demons and healed a lot of sick people by putting olive oil^[d] on them.

The Death of John the Baptist

(Matthew 14.1-12; Luke 9.7-9)

^14 (E) Jesus became so well-known that Herod the ruler^[e] heard about him. Some people thought he was John the Baptist, who had come back to life with the power to work miracles. ¹⁵ Others thought he was Elijah^[f] or some other prophet who had lived long ago. ¹⁶ But when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “This must be John! I had his head cut off, and now he has come back to life.”

^17-18 (F) Herod had earlier married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. But John had told him, “It isn't right for you to take your brother's wife!” So, in order to please Herodias, Herod arrested John and put him in prison.

¹⁹ Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she could not do it ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew that John was a good and holy man. Even though Herod was confused by what John said,^[g] he was glad to listen to him. And he often did.

²¹ Finally, Herodias got her chance when Herod gave a great birthday celebration for himself and invited his officials, his army officers, and the leaders of Galilee. ²² The daughter of Herodias^[h] came in and danced for Herod and his guests. She pleased them so much that Herod said, “Ask for anything, and it's yours! ²³ I swear that I will give you as much as half of my kingdom, if you want it.”

²⁴ The girl left and asked her mother, “What do you think I should ask for?”

Her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist!”

²⁵ The girl hurried back and told Herod, “Here and now on a serving plate I want the head of John the Baptist!”

²⁶ Herod was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests. ²⁷ At once he ordered a guard to cut off John's head there in prison. ²⁸ The guard put the head on a serving plate and took it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother.

²⁹ When John's followers learned that he had been killed, they took his body and put it in a tomb.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

(Matthew 14.13-21; Luke 9.10-17; John 6.1-14)

³⁰ After the apostles returned to Jesus,^[i] they told him everything they had done and taught. ³¹ But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place^[j] where we can be alone and get some rest.” ³² They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. ³³ But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.

^34 (G) When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.

³⁵ That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it's already late. ³⁶ Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat.”

³⁷ Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”

But they asked him, “Don't you know it would take almost a year's wages^[k] to buy all of these people something to eat?”

³⁸ Then Jesus said, “How much bread do you have? Go and see!”

They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread^[l] and two fish.” ³⁹ Jesus told his disciples to tell the people to sit down on the green grass. ⁴⁰ They sat down in groups of 100 and groups of 50.

⁴¹ Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. He also divided the two fish, so everyone could have some.

⁴² After everyone had eaten all they wanted, ⁴³ Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish.

⁴⁴ There were 5,000 men who ate the food.

Jesus Walks on the Water

(Matthew 14.22-33; John 6.15-21)

⁴⁵ At once, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. ⁴⁶ Then he told them goodbye and went up on the side of a mountain to pray.

⁴⁷ Later in the evening he was still there by himself, and the boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake. ⁴⁸ He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came toward them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat.

⁴⁹ When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming. ⁵⁰ All of them saw him and were terrified. But at this same time he said, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.” ⁵¹ He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely confused. ⁵² Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.

Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret

(Matthew 14.34-36)

⁵³ Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and brought the boat to shore near the town of Gennesaret. ⁵⁴ As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. ⁵⁵ So they ran all over that part of the country to bring their sick people to him on mats. They brought them each time they heard where he was. ⁵⁶ In every village or farm or marketplace where Jesus went, the people brought their sick to him. They begged him to let them just touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.

Job Loses His Health

2 When the angels^[a] gathered around the Lord again, Satan^[b] was there with them, ² and the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?”

Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.”

³ Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil. And he hasn't changed, even though you persuaded me to destroy him for no reason.”

⁴ Satan answered, “There's no pain like your own.^[c] People will do anything to stay alive. ⁵ Try striking Job's own body with pain, and he will curse you to your face.”

⁶ “All right!” the Lord replied. “Make Job suffer as much as you want, but just don't kill him.” ⁷ Satan left and caused painful sores to break out all over Job's body—from head to toe.

⁸ Then Job sat on the ash-heap to show his sorrow. And while he was scraping his sores with a broken piece of pottery, ⁹ his wife asked, “Why do you still trust God? Why don't you curse him and die?”

¹⁰ Job replied, “Don't talk like a fool! If we accept blessings from God, we must accept trouble as well.” In all that happened, Job never once said anything against God.

Job's Three Friends

¹¹ Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, and Zophar from Naamah^[d] were three of Job's friends, and they heard about his troubles. So they agreed to visit Job and comfort him. ¹² When they came near enough to see Job, they could hardly recognize him. And in their great sorrow, they tore their clothes, then sprinkled dust on their heads and cried bitterly. ¹³ For seven days and nights, they sat silently on the ground beside him, because they realized what terrible pain he was in.

Dead to Sin but Alive because of Christ

6 What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's gift of undeserved grace will show up even better? ² No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? ³ Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? ^4 (A) When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.

⁵ If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. ⁶ We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. ⁷ We know sin doesn't have power over dead people.

⁸ As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. ¹⁰ When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. ¹¹ In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.

¹² Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires ¹³ or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. ¹⁴ Don't let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God's undeserved grace and not by the Law.

Slaves Who Do What Pleases God

¹⁵ What does all this mean? Does it mean we are free to sin, because we are ruled by God's gift of undeserved grace and not by the Law? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. ¹⁷ You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you followed the example set forth in the teaching you received. ¹⁸ Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God.

¹⁹ I am using these everyday examples, because in some ways you are still weak. You used to let the different parts of your body be slaves of your evil thoughts. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him.

²⁰ When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. ²¹ But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. ²² Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. ²³ Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.