7-13 September 2026 (Genesis, Mark, Psalms)
Bible Reading Plan
Monday: Genesis 42:1-38
Tuesday: Genesis 43:1-45:28
Wednesday: Genesis 46:1-47:31
Thursday: Mark 13:1-14:31
Friday: Mark 14:32-16:20
Fluid (fit in any time): Psalm 11:1-7
Reflection and Discussion Questions
Monday (Day 1): Genesis 42:1-38
Genesis 42:6 states that Joseph was governor and sold food to all the people of the land. Why do you think he made it his responsibility to sell the food?
Tuesday (Day 2): Genesis 43:1-45:28
What do you think when you hear how protective Jacob is about Benjamin? Is it admirable, understandable, awkward, embarrassing, depressive? What do you think?
How would you feel being one of the twelve sons? Choose one and share your thoughts.
What brother stayed behind in Egypt? What did the brothers find in their sacks when returning for Benjamin? How did Israel tell then to handle this? Did Joseph receive the actions well?
Wenham offers the following insights in his comments about 44:7-9:
The brothers protest their innocence in the most outspoken terms. They point to their past behavior: their return of the money on their previous trip. Their wild offer, that if any of them is a thief, he should die and the rest of them be enslaved, shows their confidence in their innocence. But in the total perspective of the Joseph story, the punishment of theft with slavery or death has echoes of their treatment of Joseph; the brothers are now offering to suffer as they made him suffer. So they are being fairer than they realize in making such an offer. (p. 424)
Do you agree with his thoughts?
Do you think Genesis 44:7-9 (and indeed the rest of the chapter) is also relevant to the dream Joseph had earlier? (cf. Gen. 37:5-11)
Did Genesis 45:25-28 make you think of Jesus and the disciples? Hamilton (1995) comments:
Only one item is recorded in vv. 25–28 about the brothers’ return to Jacob: Joseph is still living! Once he hears that, Jacob has little concern about the new clothes, Benjamin’s purse, or even the grain carried by the animals. In ch. 37 Jacob did believe his sons when they were lying to him. In ch. 45 Jacob disbelieves his sons when they are being truthful with him. Bad news he accepts; good news he rejects. Jacob’s response on hearing that Joseph is alive is parallel to the response of the disciples when they were told that Jesus was alive—shock, unbelief, which eventually turns to uncontrollable joy. (p. 587)
Psychologically, why do you think it might be more tempting to be more willing to accept the bad news rather than the good?
Wednesday (Day 3): Genesis 46:1-47:31
Where abouts in Egypt did the Hebrews settle? Why? Was Pharaoh happy for them to settle?
What do you think about Borgman’s (2001) words on Genesis 46:1-27? In particular, what are your thoughts in response to the words emphasised in italics?
Israel journeys. The verb used does not suggest what we might expect, that “he arose and set out.” This is a verb of wandering, of journeying and migration—as in Abraham’s story throughout.1Is the state of heart more important in this Genesis story than the place one ends up, than even the land promised? [Emphasis added] Because God’s purposes for global blessing include land for Israel, place is important. But in each of the three major narratives of Genesis, journeying is a literal fact and a possible metaphor: each of the main protagonists undergoes significant reorientation of normal ways of being in the world.
For the third time, Jacob/Israel experiences “visions of the night” (46:2). “Fear not to go down to Egypt,” God says to Jacob. “I Myself will go down with you to Egypt and I Myself will surely bring you back up as well” (46:3, 4). This person who fled in fear as a youth must put aside fear as an old man and journey down to Egypt. God seems to be ever mindful that, for Jacob at least, fear doesn’t just go away, ever. [Emphasis added] (pp. 213-214)
Why does Israel (Jacob) ask Joseph in 47:29 thigh to place his hand under Israel’s thigh? Does Israel demand or request this of Joseph?
Thursday (Day 4): Mark 13:1-14:31
What do you find interesting about Mark 13? Are there any passages or thoughts that are of particular interest? Why?
Do you think faithful discipleship is an important theme in Mark 13?
Reflecting on Jesus’ anointing at Bethany (Mk 14:3-9), do we all think the same way about how things should be done? Is there always only one right way? Where does the heart fit into our actions in our service to God? What do you find special about this passage?
Which disciple went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them?
Is the feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover the same thing? If there is a difference. what is it?
Friday (Day 5): Mark 14:32-16:20
Repeat the reading of the prayer in Gethsemane (Mk 13:32-42), reading it at least twice and potentially more. Think and consider what Jesus was feeling? Looking at was to come, was he supported? Was he strong? Was he positive? Was he willing? Was he looking forward to the crucifixion? Was it about glory? Was it about love? Was it about mission? Was it about purpose? When he was showing love to others, was it reciprocated? If so how? These are just some of the questions that may come to you as you reflect on Jesus position at Gethsemane, and what an enormous task he was facing. Consider for yourself what Jesus may have felt, and what his mission was in the context of human existent, and the history of the world as we know it.
Should Jesus have acknowledged himself as the Christ before the Sanhedrin? Why?
What does Christ mean? What does the name Jesus mean? Who were the Sanhedrin?
What are your thoughts on the response of Jesus acknowledging himself as Christ?
Can you empathise with or relate to the type of pressure and circumstance Peter found himself in denying his affiliation with Jesus? How do you think Peter would have felt before and after realising his repeated denials of Christ?
Was it just (fair) for Pilate to order that Jesus be flogged and handed over to be mocked and crucified? Why or why not?
Psalm 11
What are your thoughts on Psalm 11?
References
Borgman, P. (2001). Genesis: The Story We Haven’t Heard. IVP Academic.
Hamilton, V. P. (1995).The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50(Vol. 2). Word, Incorporated.
69 See H. M. Jackson, “Why the Youth Shed His Cloak and Fled Naked: The Meaning and Purpose of Mark 14:51–52,” JBL 116 (1997): 273–89.
70 See J. M. Ross, “The Young Man Who Fled Naked,” IBS 13 (1991): 170–74, who maintains that Mark records the event because it happened and because it indicated that the crucifixion was “the Day of the Lord” foretold by Amos 2:16.
