196 passages · God
God sends a wind and closes the springs of the deep and the heavens' floodgates. The waters recede, the ark rests on the mountains of Ararat, and mountaintops become visible later.
God makes a covenant never again to destroy all life by flood and sets the rainbow in the clouds as a sign of it.
Because of famine, Abram goes to Egypt and asks Sarai to say she is his sister. Pharaoh takes her, but the Lord afflicts his household, and Pharaoh sends Abram away with his wife and goods.
The Lord does for Sarah what he promised, and she bears Isaac. Abraham circumcises him at eight days, and Sarah says God has made her laugh.
Sent away with bread and water, Hagar despairs when the water runs out. God hears the boy, opens her eyes to a well, and promises to make Ishmael a great nation.
The angel calls again, saying God swears by himself to bless Abraham and multiply his descendants like the stars because he obeyed. All nations will be blessed through his offspring.
The servant recounts to Rebekah's family his master's wealth, Abraham's oath, his own prayer, and how Rebekah met the sign. He then asks for a plain answer whether they will agree.
During a famine Isaac goes to Gerar. God tells him not to go to Egypt but to stay in the land, and repeats to him the promises made to Abraham of land, many descendants, and blessing for all nations.
Isaac farms, grows very rich, and the Philistines become envious and block his father's wells. After moving and reopening the wells, he moves on until he digs one that is not disputed.
Jacob senses Laban's changed attitude, and God tells him to return home. He explains to Rachel and Leah how Laban cheated him and how God has protected him, and they agree to go.
Jacob protests his innocence and lists his twenty years of faithful, hard service for Laban, including changed wages. He says God's help alone kept him from leaving empty-handed.
In Egypt, the Lord is with Joseph, and Potiphar puts him in charge of his whole household. God blesses Potiphar's house on Joseph's account.
Even in prison the Lord shows Joseph kindness, and the warden puts him in charge of the other prisoners. Everything under his care succeeds.
At age thirty Joseph tours Egypt and stores grain in vast quantities. Before the famine he has two sons, whose names express how God eased his past hardship and made him fruitful.
The book opens by listing the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob. After Joseph's generation dies, their descendants multiply until the land is full of them.
Years later the king of Egypt dies, but Israel still groans under slavery. God hears their cry and remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
About 600,000 men on foot, plus women, children, a mixed crowd, and livestock, set out from Rameses. The text notes their unleavened bread and the 430 years of the stay, and calls it a night of vigil.
The manna is described as white like coriander seed and tasting like honey wafers. An omer is kept in a jar before the Testimony as a reminder, and Israel ate manna for forty years.
A cloud covers the tent and the glory of the LORD fills it, so Moses cannot enter. The cloud's lifting or staying guides the Israelites' travels, and fire is in it by night.
God pardons them but says none of that generation who tested Him will see the land, except Caleb, who followed Him wholeheartedly. They are to turn back to the wilderness.
A Canaanite king attacks Israel and takes prisoners. Israel vows to the LORD to devote the enemy's cities to destruction, and God grants victory; the place is named Hormah.
Balaam says God is not a man who lies or changes His mind, and that God has commanded a blessing he cannot reverse. No spell can stand against Israel, whom God brought out of Egypt. Balak then says to neither bless nor curse.
Moses writes down each stage of Israel's journey out of Egypt at the LORD's command. It begins with leaving Rameses the day after Passover as the Egyptians buried their firstborn.
The worshiper recites Israel's story: a wandering forefather, slavery in Egypt, God's rescue, and the gift of the land. He presents the firstfruits, bows down, and rejoices with the Levite and the foreigner.
Moses gathers all Israel in Moab for a covenant beyond the one at Horeb. He reminds them of the wonders in Egypt, forty years of care in the wilderness, and victories over Sihon and Og, yet says they still lack understanding.
Moses, at 120, says he can no longer lead and will not cross the Jordan. He assures Israel that the LORD himself will go ahead of them with Joshua and tells them to be strong and courageous.
Moses' song calls heaven and earth to listen and praises the LORD as the Rock, perfect and just. It contrasts his faithfulness with Israel's corrupt behavior and asks whether this is how they repay their Father.
The song recalls God finding Israel in the wilderness and guarding them like the apple of his eye, like an eagle carrying its young. He led them alone and fed them richly in the land.
Moses closes by praising the God who rides the heavens to help Israel, whose everlasting arms carry them. He declares Israel blessed as a people saved by the LORD, who will drive out their enemies and live in security.
Moses climbs Mount Nebo, and the LORD shows him the whole land from Gilead to the Western Sea. The LORD says this is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but Moses will not cross into it.