2026 Bible Study Thread

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Happy New Year brothers. Here is our new Bible study thread for this year. Last year, we covered Genesis, Job, Jonah, Judges, Hosea, and Micah from the Old Testament. We also covered Romans, John, James, 1 John, Titus, Jude, and Hebrews from the New Testament.

I recommend that for this thread, when you cite the Bible, use a Bible translation that is in the public domain. Examples of these would be the King James Version, American Standard Version, Geneva Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Douay-Rheims, and others. Newer Bible translations can be used under fair use but they usually require that you cite the copyright in a disclaimer, such as this:

“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”

For [other] digital media, such as social media posts, blogs, or email the abbreviation (LSB) may simply be used along with the quotation provided it is a click-enabled web link to www.LSBible.org, when possible.

With that out of the way, which book would you like to cover next? Since we closed out last year with the New Testament's Hebrews, I think we should start this year with something from the Old Testament. My personal vote goes to Exodus.

 

[Matsufubu]

Exodus, then Numbers. God has a sense of humour!

 

[Wutang]

I would like Acts to be covered at some point.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus reading schedule:

January 10, 2026: Chapter 1
January 11, 2026: Chapter 2
January 12, 2026: Chapter 3
January 13, 2026: Chapter 4
January 14, 2026: Chapters 5, 6
January 15, 2026: Chapter 7
January 16, 2026: Chapter 8
January 17, 2026: Chapter 9
January 18, 2026: Chapter 10
January 19, 2026: Chapter 11
January 20, 2026: Chapter 12
January 21, 2026: Chapter 13
January 22, 2026: Chapter 14
January 23, 2026: Chapters 15, 16
January 24, 2026: Chapter 17
January 25, 2026: Chapter 18
January 26, 2026: Chapter 19
January 27, 2026: Chapter 20
January 28, 2026: Chapter 21
January 29, 2026: Chapter 22
January 30, 2026: Chapter 23
January 31, 2026: Chapter 24
February 01, 2026: Chapters 25, 26
February 02, 2026: Chapter 27
February 03, 2026: Chapter 28
February 04, 2026: Chapter 29
February 05, 2026: Chapter 30
February 06, 2026: Chapter 31
February 07, 2026: Chapter 32
February 08, 2026: Chapter 33
February 09, 2026: Chapter 34
February 10, 2026: Chapters 35, 36
February 11, 2026: Chapter 37
February 12, 2026: Chapter 38
February 13, 2026: Chapter 39
February 14, 2026: Chapter 40

This schedule is not a stringent plan but an organic frame of reference. I believe we will finish the book ahead of schedule.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 1

[7] And the children of Israel brought forth fruit and increased in abundance, and were multiplied, and were exceeding mighty, so that the land was full of them.

Picking up where Genesis left off, the Hebrews were in the land of Egypt. They were "fruitful and multiplied." This was God's blessing for man in the beginning, before the fall and the curse. The Bible is consistent in using fruit as an analogy for procreation and life, this is a blessing of God; in the Song of Solomon, the procreative organs are described as fruit. The Old Testament was much more pro-sex than later ascetic movements would reflect, given that it was done according to God's Lawful manner of course.

[8] Then there rose up a new King in Egypt, who knew not Joseph. [9] And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are greater and mightier than we. [10] Come, let us work wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that if there be war, they join themselves also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them out of the land.

Satan is the archetypal villain of the Bible. All of the other villains, such as the Pharoah, are types that follow the archetype. It is fitting that the Pharoah's crown was adorned with an image of the serpent. Notice that the Pharoah's villainy is driven by fear, fear that the Hebrews would overthrow him. In trying to prevent this, the Pharoah sets in motion the events that will cause his greatest fear to come true. Since the serpent feared defeat by Christ, since God foretold it to him, the Pharoah as his agent persecuted the Hebrews.

[11] Therefore did they set taskmasters over them, to keep them under with burdens. And they built the cities Pithom and Raamses for the treasures of Pharaoh. [12] But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grew. Therefore they were more grieved against the children of Israel. [13] Wherefore the Egyptians by cruelty caused the children of Israel to serve.

The Egyptians became harsh taskmasters over the Hebrews so that their work became a begrudging obligation. Remember that in Genesis, work was not created by God to be this way; but under the curse work has become a begrudging obligation, one that results in futility and death for man. The Egyptians became a curse to the Hebrews even though the Hebrews were a blessing to the Egyptians. As it was then for the people of God, so it is even now.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 2

[3] But when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark made of reed, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and laid the child therein, and put it among the bulrushes by the river’s brink.

The Pharoah started killing the Hebrew newborn sons to cull their numbers. Moses was saved by being placed in an ark. This is obviously reminiscent of Noah. Just as Noah's ark was "covered" in pitch, so too was Moses' ark. This covering is a symbol of the righteousness of Christ. The imagery goes all the way back to God covering Adam and Eve with animal skins. To live in God's sight, we too must be covered. We must be "clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ" as Paul says.

[11] And in those days, when Moses was grown, he went forth unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; also he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. [12] And he looked round about, and when he saw no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. [13] Again he came forth the second day, and behold, two Hebrew’s strove; and he said unto him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? [14] And he answered, Who made thee a man of authority, and a judge over us? Thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? Then Moses feared and said, Certainly this thing is known.

Moses "chose the sufferings of Christ over the riches of Egypt" as Hebrews says. From the start, Moses was a deliverer of his people from their oppression, though he received no thanks for it here. A prophet is without honor in his own country.

[16] And the Priest of Midian had seven daughters, which came and drew water, and filled the troughs, for to water their father’s sheep. [17] Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses rose up and defended them, and watered their sheep.

Not only was Moses a savior of the Hebrews, but to Gentiles as well. He prefigures the Savior of the world. Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was not a Hebrew but was what the New Testament calls a God-fearing Gentile, he worshiped YHWH. He was not unlike Job in this way.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 3

[1] When Moses kept the sheep of Jethro his father in law, Priest of Midian, and drove the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the Mountain of God, Horeb, [2] Then the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

We should not interpret the Bible by importing external ideas into the text. We should avoid eisegesis. For example, some people believe that Moses was tripping on DMT. This is not what the text is presenting. Rather, we want to interpret the text according to it's own merits, and if need be, through the lens of the whole Scripture. The best interpretive lens for any Scripture is the Scriptures themselves. The text says that Moses saw an angel, a messenger. Recall that Hebrews cites this passage from Psalms when talking about the angels: "He makes the winds His messengers, and His servants flames of fire."

[12] And he answered, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee, After that thou hast brought the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this Mountain.

God reveals Himself and His purpose to Moses. God will save and Moses will be His representative, His prophet. The "holy ground" that Moses stands on is a type of the Promised Land. By Law, God could only be worshiped on that holy ground. In 2 Kings, there is a story of a Syrian who takes basketfulls of dirt from Israel with him so that he could worship YHWH. In the same vein, God tells Moses "you shall serve (worship) God upon this mountain." This is Mount Sinai, where Moses will later receive the Law after delivering the Hebrews from Egypt. In juxtaposition with this, recall what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4: "The hour is coming and now is when you will no longer worship God on this mountain or in Jerusalem but the true believers will worship the Father in spirit and truth." The Law is so strict but the Gospel is so easy.

[14] And God answered Moses, I AM THAT I AM. Also he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. [15] And God spake further unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath sent me unto you. This is my Name forever, and this is my memorial unto all ages.

This is where God reveals His covenant name: YHWH. Do not understand this to be a statement about the ontology or nature of God. It would be anachronistic to interpret Exodus according to Platonic categories. This is not a statement about what God is, but a statement about who He is.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 4

[10] But Moses said unto the LORD, Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither at any time have been, nor yet since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. [11] Then the LORD said unto him, Who hath given the mouth to man? Or who hath made the dumb, or the deaf, or him that seeth, or the blind? Have not I the LORD?

Initially, Moses did not want to accept the call of God. He too was dead in his trespasses and sins until God made him alive. The deafness and blindness refers to the capacity to believe. Whoever is able or unable to believe and come to God, God is sovereign over. It is not based on the preacher, but on God's will that one should hear the word of God and follow. On that basis, Moses the preacher had nothing to fear. As Jesus says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father draws them."

[21] And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou art entered and come into Egypt again, see that thou do all the wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thy hand; but I will harden his heart, and he shall not let the people go.

Everything that happens in Exodus happened as God foretold in this chapter. Moses will succeed in liberating the Hebrews. The Hebrews will plunder the Egyptians. God will harden Pharoah's heart. Why does God do this? Because He desires to demonstrate the power of the Law against Pharoah and Egypt, He wants to avenge the Hebrews for the crimes that the Egyptians subjected them to. Exodus 9 will pick up on this, God wanted to make an example out of Pharoah, which Paul also expounds on in Romans 9.

[22] Then thou shalt say to Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn. [23] Wherefore I say to thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; but you have refused to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

This passage is very important. This is the first time in the Bible that God is likened to a Father, with Israel being His firstborn son. We have the great benefit of knowing who the true Son of God is. Since Christ is the representative of Israel, understand that God treats the Egyptians as if they had kidnapped, enslaved, and afflicted His very own Son, Christ. Under Grace, God will forgive and give up His firstborn Son so that you may be saved. Under the Law, He will take vengeance and kill your firstborn son. The contrast and yet the harmony between the Law and the Gospel is truly amazing.

[24] And as he was by the way in the Inn, the LORD met him, and would have killed him. [25] Then Zipporah took a sharp knife, and cut away the foreskin of her son, and touched his feet with it, and said, Thou art indeed a bridegroom of blood to me, with reference to the circumcision.

Even Moses fell short of the Law's lofty standard and came under God's wrath. God sought to kill him for not circumcising his son. This is the fierce and exacting character of the Law. So the wife of Moses circumcised their son and God was appeased. This is propitiation. Later in Exodus 9, the blood of the lamb "touched" the door posts of the Hebrews, just as Zipporah "touched" the feet of Moses with the foreskin. Now may the blood of Jesus touch you so that you may live under God's forgiveness.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 5

[15] Then the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? [16] There is no straw given to thy servants, and they say unto us, Make brick! And lo, thy servants are beaten, and thy people is blamed. [17] But he said, Ye are too much idle (lazy, lazy!) ; therefore ye say, Let us go to offer sacrifice to the LORD.

Pharoah refuses to let the Hebrews go and doubles their workload in response. The victims are treated as victimizers by the true victimizers. Whereas the Hebrews are looking to enter God's rest, the Pharaoh is as works-based as it gets.

[20] And they met Moses and Aaron, which stood in their way as they came out from Pharaoh, [21] To whom they said, The LORD look upon you and judge, for ye have made our savor to stink before Pharaoh and before his servants, in that ye have put a sword in their hand to slay us.

Moses and Aaron are crucified, figuratively, for doing the right thing. The Jews said the same thing to Jesus, that He made them look bad to the Romans and to Caesar. In this fallen world, being a hero will make you look like a villain to everyone else. A prophet is without honor in his own country, as the Lord says.

[22] Wherefore Moses returned to the LORD, and said, Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? Wherefore hast thou thus sent me? [23] For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name, he hath vexed this people, and yet thou hast not delivered thy people.

From the beginning, man has never been wont to take the blame but ultimately shifts the blame back onto God. Out of fear, man shifts the blame onto others but ultimately onto God even though he is guilty. Out of love, Jesus took the blame for your sins willingly even though He is innocent. Be like Jesus and do not be like Adam.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 6

[2] Moreover God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD, [3] And I appeared unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob by the Name of God Almighty, but by my Name YHWH (Jehovah) was I not known unto them. [4] Furthermore as I made my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers

In the original context, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew God as El Shaddai, God Almighty. It was in this name that He cut the Abrahamic Covenant with them. On the basis of the Abrahamic Covenant, God will ratify the Mosaic Covenant in Exodus, having revealed His name, YHWH, to Moses. No matter how bleak things looked to the Hebrews, under no circumstance would God ever let them perish under the Egyptians since He had already promised greater things for them in the Abrahamic Covenant. The only question is if the Hebrews had the faith to believe that God would be faithful to His own word, His own covenant, which most of them did not. As Paul says, even if we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself.

[6] Wherefore say thou unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD (YHWH), and I will bring you out from the burdens of the Egyptians, and will deliver you out of their bondage, and will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and in great judgments. [7] Also I will take you for my people, and will be your God; then ye shall know that I the LORD your God bringeth you out from the burdens of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you into the land which I sware that I would give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it unto you for a possession; I am the LORD. [9] So Moses told the children of Israel thus, but they hearkened not unto Moses, for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage.

God will deliver the Hebrews with an "outstretched arm." A hand of power. Likewise, you were delivered by the outstretched arms of Christ, if you have faith in Him, to be His people, and for Him to be your God. How marvelous the Exodus was, the Gospel is even more marvelous.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Exodus 7

[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, Behold, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy Prophet. [2] Thou shalt speak all that I commanded thee, and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he suffer the children of Israel to go out of his land. [3] But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that I may multiply my miracles and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Moses is set as God to Pharaoh, that is he represents God to the Pharaoh. However Pharaoh relates to Moses, he relates to God, and he becomes increasingly irate and hardened towards Moses. Moses' brother Aaron is then set to be Moses' representative, a mediator upon a mediator. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart so that He may "multiply his signs and wonders." It is fair to surmise that Pharaoh would've let the Hebrews go sooner than he eventually did in order to save his own skin and his own kingdom. However, God wanted to make an example out of him for all time. Praise be to God.

[10] Then went Moses and Aaron unto Pharaoh, and did even as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron cast forth his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it was turned into a serpent. [11] Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and sorcerers, and those charmers also of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments, [12] For they cast down every man his rod, and they were turned into serpents. But Aaron’s rod devoured their rods. [13] So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not to them, as the LORD had said.

As Paul says, Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. Obviously, the serpent is an image of Satan so it is curious that God would use a serpent to destroy the serpents of the magicians. But a similar theme is found in the Gospel. Christ destroys death by death. He becomes a satan (enemy) to Satan (the Enemy).

[20] So Moses and Aaron did even as the LORD commanded. And he lifted up the rod, and smote the water that was in the river in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the river, was turned into blood. [21] And the fish that was in the river died, and the river stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river. And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

The first plague, turning the Nile into blood. What was life for Egypt has become the stench of death, a blessing turned into a curse. Decreation, not creation. God is not only casting judgment on the Egyptians, Pharaoh and his subjects, but He is also casting judgment on the god of the Nile.