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At the end of our last episode, Joseph had just emerged from prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. After predicting years of abundance followed by years of famine, Joseph suggests that Pharaoh appoint someone wise to oversee the collection of crops to sustain the population during years of famine. After losing it all when he was falsely accused of assault by Potiphar’s wife, he now gains more than ever could have dreamed when Pharaoh appoints him to this noble position. Actually, I take that back: it’s exactly how he dreamed, because the Lord revealed to him what would take place before he was betrayed by his brothers. Once God’s plan becomes clear, the Scriptures say that Joseph forgets his former trouble. Genesis 42 - 4:58 .  Genesis 43 - 12:02 .  Psalm 21 - 18:16 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Today’s episode contains some adult themes, parental discretion is advised. Our episode begins with Judah’s sons who are so atrocious that the Lord puts them death, and soon thereafter we learn that their father is not quite a moral giant himself. Then we’ll return to the storyline of Joseph. It’s clear that something about the experience with his brothers’ betrayal has changed Joseph. Having been sold into slavery, he loses it all, then gains it all, then loses it all again, but time and again he maintains his integrity. Where many would have given into temptation or despair, Joseph proves to be a man of upstanding character, unlike the family he grew up in. Genesis 38 - 1:05 .  Genesis 39 - 7:00 .  Genesis 40 - 10:40 .  Genesis 41 - 14:25 .  Psalm 20 - 20:49 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

As we continue to get to know the sons of Jacob, you’ll start to realize that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Having learned the art of deception from their father, they use it to their own advantage time and again. In our last episode, they tricked a local chieftain into circumcising every man in town, and in vengeance, they struck down the entire population of men. When Joseph, Israel’s favorite son, begins to have dreams where he is exalted above the rest of his family, he uses them as an occasion to gloat. The rest of his brothers then plot and scheme to rid themselves of their pesky brother. They sell him into slavery and deceive their own father by making it look like he was killed. Genesis 35 - 1:02 .  Genesis 36 - 5:39 .  Genesis 37 – 12:25 . Psalm 19 - 19:14 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Today’s episode contains violence against women, parental discretion is advised. Jacob and his father-in-law get into an argument and go their separate ways. Soon thereafter, Jacob wrestles with a man who is also somehow a representative God, and the Lord renames him “Israel” b/c he has wrestled with both man and God and won. Jacob’s daughter Dinah is violated by a man from another tribe, and when her brothers find out about it, they devise a scheme to take vengeance, not just on one man, but on the entire population. Genesis 32 – 8:22 .  Genesis 33 – 13:27 .  Genesis 34 - 16:32 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Today, Jacob completes his journey and meets Rachel. Jacob and his father-in-law Laban simply don’t get along, and let’s be honest, it’s not because they are morally upstanding people with a difference of opinions, it’s because they both practice deception to their own advantage. The daughters of Laban aren’t too dissimilar, and their pettiness is made apparent in today’s text. As a means of trying to gain flocks for himself, Jacob practices strange husbandry, proving not only that he has no idea how breeding works, but that it is by the grace of God, not by Jacob’s skills, that his flocks increase. Genesis 29 - 1:01 .  Genesis 30 - 7:29 .  Genesis 31 - 13:54 .  Psalm 18 - 17:03 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Today, Jacob the deceiver lives up to his name. With the help of his mother Rebekah, he goes to great lengths to disguise himself from his blind and aging father, tricking him into thinking that he is older brother Esau so that he might receive his father’s blessing. Jacob and Rebekah come up with a way to trick Isaac yet again, and Isaac sends Jacob to another country to get a wife for himself, thereby escaping the wrath of Esau. Later, Jacob dreams of a stairway that reaches heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. The Lord promises to give the land to Jacob and his descendants, vowing to be with him and watch him wherever he goes. Genesis 26 - 1:00 Genesis 27 - 6:33 Genesis 28 - 16:16 ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

When concluded our last reading, we found ourselves in the middle of an account concerning Abraham’s servant and Isaac’s future wife Rebekah. Abraham didn’t want Isaac marrying a Canaanite woman, so he sent a messenger to find a wife for his son from among his own people. The servant recounts what happened in the last episode almost verbatim, so if you get a bit of déjà vu, don’t worry. We’ll see that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree as we read about Isaac and Rebekah. Later, we’ll be introduced to Isaac’s sons: Esau & Jacob. Genesis 24:29-67 - 1:06 .  Genesis 25 - 8:39 . Psalm 17 - 14:11 . ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

God calls Abraham to do something that most of us would consider unthinkable, especially because we have the privilege of knowing God’s character through the whole counsel of Scripture: He asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as an offering to the Lord. Abraham trusts the Lord, and as the author of Hebrews later notes, “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” As you listen, consider the parallels between this sacrifice and the sacrifice of Christ, who did not have a ram to be His substitute, but who, instead, was the sacrifice Lamb who became our substitute. Genesis 22 - 1:01 . Genesis 23 - 5:36 . Genesis 24 - 8:52 . ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Today’s episode contains adult themes, parental discretion advised. In our last episode, the Lord visited Abraham by sending three messengers to his home. In today’s episode, those angels are sent to Sodom and Gomorrah, because the wickedness of the people has grown so severe that it calls for complete annihilation. Lot shows the angels hospitality, but when the crowd presses against the door to assault his guests, his cowardice is revealed. The angels rescue Lot, but as we will soon see, sin continues to flourish in Lot’s family. Later, a son is born to Abraham and is named, “Isaac,” which means, “He laughs.” ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

In our last episode, Abram told the Egyptians that Sarai was his sister in order save his own skin, and today things get even messier. Sarai suggests they try to help God’s plan along by pulling a slave girl into Abram’s bed. And Abram says, SURE. Yikes. It would be hard to argue that the Lord chose Abram because of his upstanding moral qualities, because the Bible highlights his flaws rather than covering them up. Abram doubts, wavers, makes poor decisions, but ultimately he responds to the Lord’s instruction. The Lord makes promises, not because Abram deserves it or because His holy hands would be tied without Abram’s cooperation; instead, through his work in Abram’s life God will show the world his steadfast love and sovereign provision. Genesis 16 - 1:02 . Genesis 17 - 4:44 . Genesis 18 - 10:56 . Psalm 15 - 17:42 . ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Today, we’re introduced to Abram, a man who is called by God to leave his family and his country and venture to a land that God will show him. While we know Abram lineage, what we know of Abram’s character only begins after the Lord calls him to go. We learn that Abram is a man capable of great faith and great cowardice, as puts his wife in a compromising situation in order to save his own skin. Later, the Lord confirms his covenant with Abram by way of an ancient practice that would have been understood by the culture. By passing between the split carcasses of a series of animals, the one committing to covenant is basically saying, “May I become like this if I don’t fulfill my vow.” Genesis 12 - 1:02 . Genesis 13 - 4:34 . Genesis 14 - 8:26 . Genesis 15 - 13:07 . Psalm 14 - 17:23 . ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

Job has justified himself in his own sight, repeating again and again that God has been unjust, bemoaning his fate and complaining that a man should be able to take God to court. In today’s episode, God puts Job in his place by asking him a series of questions. This inquisition is designed to help Job see how finite, weak, and limited he is, while painting a vibrant picture of God’s power and authority. Job can’t even direct a wild animal to work for him, let alone conceptualize, create, and oversee the entirety of creation. In the end, Job relents and his relationship with God is restored to one of fruitful abundance. Job 39 - 1:10 . Job 40 - 4:45 . Job 41 - 7:50 . Job 42 - 12:35 . Psalm 13 - 16:17 . ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

The young man named Elihu continues to present a case against Job and his friends, saying that the Lord doesn’t listen to empty cries or baseless claims to injustice. Moreover, the God who created all things is accountable to no one; in other words, He doesn’t owe anything to anyone– therefore nobody can say that He is unfair or unjust. The God who made all things also sees all things, knows all things, and will rightly judge all things. Man, with his limitations, cannot know or understand these things and therefore cannot claim to be a better authority than a sovereign God. As we reach chapter 38, we begin to hear a rebuke from God Himself. Job 35 - 1:01 .  Job 36 - 2:56 .  Job 37 - 6:56 .  Job 38 - 11:05 .  Psalm 11 - 15:56 .  Psalm 12 - 17:02 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

As Job concludes his remarks on sin and suffering, he maintains that he has been faithful to the Lord, abstaining from lust and from adultery, that he has cared for those in need, and has kept himself from the worship of false gods such as the worship of sun and moon. When Job concludes his words, a young man named Elihu, who has yet to speak, begins to voice his anger. He has respectfully waited until those older than him have had their say, but they have argued inadequately against Job and Job has spoken with a self-righteous posture. Job 31 - 1:01 .  Job 32 - 6:50 .  Job 33 - 9:43 .  Job 34 - 13:36 .  Psalm 10 - 18:22 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]

It won’t be long before Job receives a proper rebuke from Elihu and then from God Himself, but until that time comes, Job continues to vent and express frustration with the situation he finds himself in. His friends have told him to repent of his evil, assuming that his sin is the cause of his current state. Meanwhile, Job continues to declare himself as pure, which is also untrue, but in his state of despair he doesn’t see his self-righteous posture. Job thinks so highly of himself that he unabashedly accuses God of not executing justice properly, and in so doing, exalts himself above His Maker. At times he gives God his due with words, but in his heart, Job is sure that God has treated him unfairly. Job 27 - 1:01 .  Job 28 - 3:47 .  Job 29 – 8:04 .  Job 30 – 11:04 .  Psalm 9 - 15:34 .  ::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible. facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible [email protected]