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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

The returned Judeans begin rebuilding the altar of the Lord so that they may resume offering sacrifices. The Judeans lay the foundation of the new temple. The people shout for joy, but many of the older Judeans weep loudly, remembering the grandeur of the first temple.

BibleGateway: Ezra 3 ESV Text: Ezra 3 Ezra 3 (Listen) Rebuilding the Altar 3:1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen,… 

History repeats itself when Abraham, just to save his own skin, lies about Sarah. The LORD steps in and saves Sarah’s honor, but once again we see that the people of the Bible needed God’s grace and forgiveness just as much as we do.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 20 ESV Text: Genesis 20 KJV Text: Genesis 20:1-18 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 20:      1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned… 

In the previous chapter Abraham pleaded with the LORD to spare the wicked cities, but not even ten righteous persons were found in the cities. In mercy the LORD sends two angels to rescue Lot and his family. The LORD knows how to rescue those who trust in Jesus as their Savior.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 19 ESV Text: Genesis 19 KJV Text: Genesis 19:1-38 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 19:      1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom:… 

Three mysterious men visit Abraham and Sarah. As we read on we discover that two are angels, and one is the LORD. Even though Sarah laughs, the LORD assures the aged couple that in one year Sarah will give birth to the long-awaited son. God always keeps His promises.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 18 ESV Text: Genesis 18 KJV Text: Genesis 18:1-33 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 18:      1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent… 

The LORD confirms His covenant with Abraham through the Old Testament rite of circumcision. Circumcision marked a person as one of God’s people, as well as believer in the promised Savior. The chapter also makes it clear that Isaac will be born from Sarah.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 17 ESV Text: Genesis 17 KJV Text: Genesis 17:1-27 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 17:      1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto… 

With still no heir, Abram and Sarai resort to Abram conceiving a child with servant Hagar. But the sinful plan backfires when pregnant Hagar despises Sarai, and Sarai in turn mistreats Hagar. God’s grace saves the day when He sends runaway Hagar back to her mistress, as well as assuring Hagar that He would bless her soon-to-be-born son.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 16 ESV Text: Genesis 16 KJV Text: Genesis 16:1-16 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 16:      1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name… 

The years are zipping by, and Abram still has no heir. The LORD dismisses Abram’s solution to the problem, promising him as many descendants as the stars in the sky. Abram believed the LORD and it was counted to him as righteousness. Even in Old Testament times, salvation came by faith alone.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 15 ESV Text: Genesis 15 KJV Text: Genesis 15:1-21 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 15:      1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not,… 

Abram shows his confidence in the LORD to provide by allowing Lot to have first dibs on the grazing land. We Christians are usually quick to express confidence in the LORD as our Savior, but sometimes we show a lack of trust in Him as our Provider. But as we seek God’s kingdom first, we can trust Him to provide for all our earthly needs.

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BibleGateway: Genesis 13 ESV Text: Genesis 13 KJV Text: Genesis 13:1-18 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 13:      1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and… 

Chapter 12 places our attention on one family, the family of Abram (Abraham). Through his family line the Offspring of the Woman (the Savior) will come one day as a blessing for all people. The chapter ends with the painful reminder that even believers like Abraham are prone to sin and great weakness. We ALL need a Savior!

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BibleGateway: Genesis 12 ESV Text: Genesis 12 KJV Text: Genesis 12:1-20 KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 12:      1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,…