D A I L Y R E A D I N G P L A N

January 18: Genesis 6:5-22 January 19: Genesis 7–8 January 20: Ezekiel 14:12-14; Matthew 24:36-39 January 21: Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:18-22

God floods the earthNoah builds the arkHumankind becomes completely corrupt

NOAH AND THE FLOOD

20 Chapter 1: Prehistory Noah and the Flood 21

T HERE IS NO GOOD W IT HOU T GOD. The ancient world before the great flood was evil beyond our imagination. Allowed to be free agents, unfettered by God’s direction, humankind created a totally inhuman society. The further one runs from the heavenly, the more hellish life becomes.

IT IS P O S SIBL E TO S TA ND AGA IN S T T HE CROW D. Noah was not perfect. The Bible is very honest about his shortcomings. But Noah was willing to stand against the totally depraved moral climate of his day and to refuse to make him-self the god of his own life.

GOD’S PRIM A RY WORK IS S AV ING, NOT DE S T ROY ING. The emphasis of the account of Noah is not on God’s wrath, but on his mercy. God did not need to destroy the ancient world. Left on its own, humankind would surely have done that! It was saving the world, not destroying it, that required God’s intervention. This act of mercy would foreshadow God’s final plan for reaching into human history and offering shelter from destruction for all humankind.

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When it happened... Before recorded history

ITS PA RT IN GOD’S PL A N Adam and Eve got their wish—independence from God for themselves and for their descendants. But complete independence from God resulted in a human race totally devoid of redeeming value. God intervened in this downward spiral and chose Noah to be his agent to save the world from human beings seeking to be their own gods.

Re je c t ing God , humanit y had sunk in to compl e t e d e cadence . God chose Noah t o con s t ruc t a barge (ark) tha t would conta in the bio l og i ca l bui l d ing b l ock s fo r a c l ean sed wor ld . Noah bui l t an ark t o God ’ s spe c i f i ca t ion s ,

God f i l l ed the boat with animal s , and he pr e s e r ved the s e voyage r s through a ca tac l y smic d e luge .

Cultures all over the world have a story of a great flood, leading one to believe they all come from the memory of a single historical event. But unlike the Noah account, many are very fanciful:

According to a myth of aboriginal Australians, a frog drank all the water in the world, then caused a flood when other animals made him laugh.

In Hindu mythology Vishnu, in the form of a fish, warned Manu of an impending flood. Manu built a boat, and he alone survived.

In Incan mythology, the creator god Viracocha sent a flood to destroy giants on the earth.

D A I L Y R E A D I N G P L A N

March 7: Exodus 12:31-51; 13 March 8: Exodus 14 March 9: Exodus 15, 16

The last of the ten plagues was leveled against the god-claims of Pharaoh. By taking Pharaoh’s f irstborn son, God took away Pharaoh’s heir to the throne. Though Pharaoh at f irst allowed the Israelites to go, he quickly changed his mind and sent his army to cut them of f at the sea . But God rescued his people by providing a path through the water. As was true in the days of Noah, God saved

his people f rom the water that proved to be the doom of those who challenged him. Af ter crossing the sea , the Israelites broke into songs of celebration. But then reality set in. How would a nation survive in a desert? Yet God was faithful by providing water and actually scheduling regular food deliveries to them!

EXODUS FROM EGYPTWhen it happened... 1446 !"

Where it happened... Goshen in the Nile Delta of Egypt and the Sinai peninsula

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50 Chapter 3: Law and Land Exodus from Egypt 51

ITS PA RT IN GOD’S PL A N The most famous slave uprising in history is also the most unusual. The people of Israel did not bear a weapon against the Egyptians, but thoroughly trounced an empire’s army. The slaves left captivity, not as paupers, but with silver, gold, and the finest clothing given to them by a fearful populace. The leader of the escape was not a brash young general, but an eighty-year-old retired shepherd whose greatest asset was an unwavering faith in an all-powerful God.

1446 BC Moses leads Israel across the sea to escape

from Egypt

From c. 1450 BC Brahma worship in India

c. 1440 BC First metalworking in South America

c. 1400 BC Maize (corn) cultivated in Mesoamerica

GOD DOE S NOT L E A D HI S PEOPL E IN TO DE A D!END S T REE T S . As one would expect of the army of a great empire, Pharaoh’s generals were brilliant tacticians. They drove their fleeing slaves into a trap, bounded by water on one side and an army on the other. But they failed to grasp that the sea was God’s creation that he could manipulate as he pleased. No obstacle is insurmountable for those who dare to be led by the Creator of all.

A GOD W HO SPECI A L IZE S IN JUDGMEN T IS A FRIGH T ENING T HOUGH T. The idea that God punishes sinners sounds attractive until we realize that we are among that number! The spectacle of Pharaoh’s army drowning in the sea caused celebration. Yet a sobering thought soon struck the people of Israel. What if we anger God? Do we have any reason to believe we will not be destroyed? The message of the Bible is that love, not judgment, is the primary characteristic of God. Judgment is a necessity born of the need to save those he loves.

S OME T IME S T HE ONLY LOGIC A L WAY TO RE AC T TO GOD IS W I T H C OM!PL E T E A S TONISHMEN T. In order to feed his people, God created a food that never existed before and has not existed since. For six days a week, the Israelites would awaken to find a breadlike substance covering the ground surrounding them. This food they called manna could be prepared in a variety of ways and provided for all their nutritional needs. The name—meaning “What is it?”—showed the Israelites’ utter amazement at the saving work of God.

While Saul was traveling to Damascus to persecute the church, Jesus appeared and spoke to him. Saul was struck blind and was ordered to meet Ananias, a believer from Damascus. After Ananias restored Saul’s sight, Saul was baptized, ate some food, and regained his strength.

Saul f led to Arabia, later returned to Damascus, and finally met with church leaders in Jerusalem. He went home to Tarsus, where he remained until Barnabas sent for him to help minister in the Antioch church, which contained both Jewish and Gentile believers.

PAUL BECOMES A CHRISTIAN

190 Chapter 12: Paul and the Early Church Paul Becomes a Christian 191

AT TACK ING T HE CHURCH IS AT TACK ING JE SUS. On the road to Damas-cus, Jesus asked why Saul was persecuting him. Jesus takes attacks on the church personally! We do well to remember that harsh treatment of Christians from inside or outside the church is an attack on those whom Jesus literally loves to death.

GOD A SK S BEL IE V ER S TO TA K E BIG RISK S. Christians knew of the relent-less campaign of Saul against the church. When God told Ananias of Damascus to go to the place Saul was staying, he was justifiably concerned. Why would God ask a Christian to befriend such a dangerous man? But Ananias took the risk, and history would be changed.

CHRIS T I A N S A RE C A L L ED TO GOD’S T IME TA BL E , NOT T HEIR OW N. God would use Saul in remarkable ways. But after Saul’s first attempts to teach others about Jesus, he was run out of town! To protect him, the church in Jerusalem sent Saul back to his hometown, where he remained until Barnabas sent for him a few years later. But the wait was worth it.

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ESD A I LY R E A D I N G P L A N

November 5: Acts 9:1-9; 22:6-11 November 6: Acts 9:10-19a; 22:12-16 November 7: Galatians 1:15-24 November 8: Acts 9:19b-31; 22:17-21 November 9: Acts 11:19-30

When it happened... c. !" 35

Where it happened... On a road outside Damascus (present-day Syria)

ITS PA RT IN GOD’S PL A N Saul of Tarsus would become one of the most prominent figures in the church of the first century. But it took time before Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle and teacher in the church in Antioch. And that was only the beginning.

c. AD 35 Saul of Tarsus (Paul) meets Jesus on the way to

Damascus

c. AD 35 Saul meets Ananias at

the house of Judas

c. AD 35 Saul goes to

Arabia

c. AD 38 Saul returns to

Damascus

c. AD 38 Saul returns to Tarsus

c. AD 45 Barnabas seeks Saul to work with him

in Antioch

c. AD 38 Saul visits church leaders in

Jerusalem

C. S. Lewis (AD 1898–1963) was an outspoken atheist intellectual who embraced Christianity. His books, including Mere Christianity and #e Chronicles of Narnia series, continue to influence generations of believers.

Charles Colson (AD 1931–) was a ruthless politi-cian under President Nixon and was imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal. Since coming to Christ, he has written many powerful books and founded Prison Fellowship, a worldwide ministry.

Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–430), a pagan intellectual, converted to Christianity and became an e$ective theologian.

History tells of other unlikely converts to Christianity:

Lew Wallace (AD 1827–1905), an influential statesman, was asked to write a book disproving Christianity once and for all. In the process he became a Chris-tian and penned the novel Ben-Hur.

James, the half brother of Jesus and a leader in the Jerusalem church, wrote to encourage Jewish Christians scattered around the known world. The book of Hebrews (attributed by many to Paul although it is unsigned) also addressed Jewish

Christians, arguing that Jesus was superior to Moses, angels, and the priesthood. Peter wrote to Christians who were fearful of coming persecution, urging them to continue serving God faithfully.

THE CHURCH IS ENCOURAGED

204 Chapter 13: Toward the End of the Story !e Church Is Encouraged 205

T ROUBL E C A N M A K E US S T RONGER . We generally want an easy life. God, on the other hand, wants us to grow to more resemble his nature. These two desires are in obvious conflict! While difficulties are unpleasant, God can help us persevere and can shape us to be what he wants us to be.

C OMPROMISE NE V ER M A K E S T ROUBL E GO AWAY. Early Christians were tempted to form alliances with the rich and powerful or to turn away from their new faith and return to a more socially acceptable religion or philosophy. We must think twice before rejecting the call of an all-powerful God in favor of pleasing mere mortals.

T HE L IFE OF FA IT H OV ERC OME S A L L T ROUBL E S. Trouble is nothing new. The great men and women of faith in the Old Testament are excellent examples of trusting God in the worst of circumstances. The perfect example of faith in the face of trouble is Jesus himself. He endured difficulties though he—unlike the rest of us—had the power to make them go away!

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When it happened... Sometime between !" 40–70

Where it happened... Various locations

Sometime between AD 60–70 !e book of Hebrews encourages Jewish Christians not to return

to Judaism

Sometime between AD 40–50 James encourages Jewish

Christians with practical advice for living out their faith

Sometime between AD 60–64 1 Peter is written to encourage Christians (in many congregations

started by Paul) not to fear persecution

AD 66–73 First Jewish-Roman War results in the destruction of the temple and death of Jewish insurgents

27 BC #e Roman senate awards the emperor the title of Caesar Augustus (“the revered one”), giving the emperor the right to be worshiped as a god

AD 40 Roman emperor Caligula orders that an idol of his likeness be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, but is later persuaded to change his mind

AD 79 Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum

D A I LY R E A D I N G P L A N

December 23: James 1:2-8; 2:5-7; 5:7-20 December 24: Hebrews 1:1-4; 3:1-6; 4:14-16; 11:32–12:11 December 25: 1 Peter 3:8-22; 4:7-19

ITS PA RT IN GOD’S PL A N #e full power of Rome was not turned on the entire church until the latter part of the first century, but life was not easy for the first believers. Jewish Christians faced hatred from the Greco-Roman world in addition to social and economic isolation from the Jewish community. Rumors of Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome caused believers to anticipate a widespread purge. But Spirit-led followers of Christ encouraged the church with letters that were soon passed from congregation to congregation.