Through the Bible in 66 Days - 1 Samuel

This book starts the history of Israel’s monarchs. Israel had become bored with having Judges and they wanted to be like everyone else. In the ancient world there were many city states that were led by kings. Powerful families led regions and countries as a quick read of Genesis chapters 10 and 14 make clear. It would seem that the plan of the creator had been for humans to respect Him as king and leader. He used men like Abraham, Moses etc to lead on his behalf but the ideal wasn’t a king as they generally soaked up resources and became rich at the expense of others, 1 Sam. 8. 10-18. 

How unlike the Lord Jesus Christ (King of the Jews, John 19.19, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Rev 17.14, 19.16) who instead of taking wealth from others bringing them into poverty became poor that we through His poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. This is a veiled reference to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, he left the wealth and perfection of heaven to live in a life of poverty in this world. But, it goes even deeper than that. The poverty of Jesus took Him to the death of the cross. He died for our sins, to bring us to God. His poverty is the reason we can have the riches of God’s kindness and grace if we are prepared to repent and believe the gospel.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Deuteronomy

 

After 40 years in the desert, God's people are on the very edge of the Promised Land. It took a long time to get here; it should have taken 11 days to cross the desert, but due to their lack of faith, they ended up wandering as nomads for 40 years. Often, we take the hard road by not listening to God, not trusting Him and making life much more difficult for ourselves.

Eventually, they are finally ready for life to get better and to enjoy the amazing life that God has for them but they must adhere to His promises. In Deuteronomy, Moses repeats God's laws for Israel. The name of the book itself reminds us that this is the second time the law has been presented to the people.

How many times has God had to tell you the truth and you refuse to listen? Thankfully, He comes back time and again so that we can eventually understand. The Bible states that God speaks once and then twice, but that man often fails to grasp it.

Through Moses' words, God reveals His heart. He loves the nation of Israel and wishes them to love and trust Him in return. However, God doesn't want people who are simply robotic; He wants a genuine relationship with us. In fact, Deuteronomy feels almost like a wedding, where God binds Himself to this nation with promises of love and faithfulness. They responded with a dramatic mountain experience, pledging to be faithful to Him and to keep His law. While this was a promising start to their new life, their history shows it was not ultimately followed through.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Numbers

 

Unless you're a toddler or a maths teacher, the book of Numbers may not sound like an exciting read. However, several chapters in this book are particularly engaging, so don't be fooled. The events in Numbers are filled with drama, unexpected plot twists, and life lessons that are very relevant for today!

The book of Numbers continues to narrate the journey of God's people (Israel) through the desert as they travel to a new land. A journey that could have taken 11 days if they had listened to God and obeyed Him took forty years. Eventually, Moses brought them right to the edge of the Promised Land. Instead of entering it and trusting in God's power and promises, the people focused on all the dangers. You may remember the story of the twelve spies sent to explore the land. As children, we used to sing a song that said, "Ten were bad, two were good." The essence of the story teaches us that they should have believed that God could lead them into the land and protect them from their enemies. Ten of the spies focused on the problems and viewed the situation as an absolute disaster. This is often how people approach life: some see the positives, while others only see the problems. The bottom line is that God had promised to lead them from Egypt through the Red Sea, across the desert, and into the Promised Land, but they didn't trust Him.

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Exodus

The Book of Exodus narrates one of the most thrilling stories in history. It follows the Book of Genesis, which left us anticipating the arrival of someone who would come to rescue the world. This figure is beautifully foreshadowed in the character of Joseph and other prominent heroes from that book.

However, before this rescue can unfold, God must first save His people, Israel, from a serious predicament. At the end of Joseph's life, the Israelites are growing and multiplying rapidly in a foreign land, posing a potential problem on the horizon—a nation developing within a nation.

Soon, an Egyptian king arises who is unfamiliar with Joseph's legacy. He chooses to enslave the Israelites, believing himself to be greater than God. Throughout history, there have always been individuals who think they are above God, but they eventually face His might and are humbled. We will see a similar occurrence later in the story of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible.

Exodus depicts one of the greatest showdowns in world history: the most powerful man on earth against the God of heaven. This confrontation escalates with plagues of blood, boils, hail, thunderstorms, locusts, and darkness, culminating in the death of the firstborns. The battle continues until God parts the Red Sea, creating a path to freedom, and then closes it upon the Egyptian army, destroying them entirely.