
Loading summary
A
A reading from the Book of Exodus. Then Moses answered, but behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, the Lord did not appear to you. The Lord said to him, what is that in your hand? He said, a staff. And he said, throw it on the ground. So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and. And Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, put out your hand and catch it by the tail. So he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. That they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you again. The Lord said to him, put your hand inside your cloak. And he put his hand inside his cloak. And when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, put your hand back inside your cloak. So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. If they will not believe you, God said, or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. If they will not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and. And pour it on the dry ground. And the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground. But Moses said to the Lord, o.
B
My lord, I am not eloquent either.
A
In the past or since you have spoken to your serpent, but I am slow of speech and of tongue. Then the Lord said to him, who has made man's mouth, who makes him mute or deaf or seeing or blind, is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak. But he said, o my lord, please send someone else. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. And he said, is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you. And when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you both what to do.
B
He shall speak for you to the.
A
People, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him and take in your hand the staff with which you shall do these signs. Moses went back to Jethro, his father in law, and said to him, please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive. And Jethro said to Moses, go in peace. And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, go back to Egypt, for all the men who are seeking your life are dead. So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. And the Lord said to Moses, when you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son. And I say to you, let my son go, that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son. At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses feet with it and said, surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me. So he let him alone. It was then that she said, a bridegroom of blood. Because of the circumcision. The Lord said to Aaron, go into the wilderness to meet Moses. So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed. And when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. Afterward, Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness. But Pharaoh said, who is the Lord that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go. Then they said, the God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with a sword. But the king of Egypt said to them, moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens. And Pharaoh said, behold, the people of the land are now Many, and you make them rest from their burdens. The same day, Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, you shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks as in the past. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them. You shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, let us go and offer sacrifice to our God. Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it, and pay no regard to lying words. So the taskmasters and the foreman of the people went out and said to the people, thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves, wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least. So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt, and to gather stubble for straw, the taskmasters were urgent, saying, complete your work, your daily task each day as when there was straw. And the foreman of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday as in the past? Then the foreman of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, make bricks, and behold your servants are beaten. But the fault is in your own people. But he said, you are idle, you are idle. That is why you say, let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. Go now and work.
B
No straw will be given you, but.
A
You must still deliver the same number of bricks. The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, you shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task. Each day they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them as they came out from Pharaoh. And they said to them, the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to kill us. Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, o Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done.
B
Evil to this people, and you have.
A
Not delivered your people at all. A reading from the Book of Psalms of David.
B
The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid when evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries And foes it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble. He will conceal me under the COVID of his tent. He will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies, all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices. With shouts of joy I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud. Be gracious to me and answer me. You have said, seek my face. My heart says to you, your face.
A
Lord, do I seek.
B
Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off. Forsake me not, O God, of my salvation, for my father and my mother have forsaken me. But the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart take courage.
A
Wait for the Lord. A reading of the Gospel According to Mark he went away from there and.
B
Came to his hometown. And his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue. And many who heard him were astonished, saying, where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hand? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses, and Judas and Simon?
A
And are not his sisters here with us?
B
And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household. And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. And he called the 12 and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts. But to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you, and they will not listen to you when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. King Herod heard of it, for Jesus name had become known. Some said, john the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. But others said, he is Elijah. And others said, he is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old. But when Herod heard of it, he said, john, whom I beheaded has been raised. For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guest. And the king said to the girl, ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. And he vowed to her, whatever you ask me, I will give you up to half of my kingdom. And she went out and said to her mother, for what should I ask? And she said, the head of John the Baptist. And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done. And taught. And he said to them, come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them. And they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, this is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. But he answered them, you give them something to eat. And they said to him, shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat? And he said to them, how many loaves do you have?
A
Go and see.
B
And when they had found out, they said, five and two fish. Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up 12 baskets full of broken pieces. And of the fish and those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on.
A
The sea, they thought it was a.
B
Ghost and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid. And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over.
A
They came to land at Gennesaret and.
B
Moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was and wherever he came, in villages, cities or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment, and as many as touched it were made well.
Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry
Episode: January 30 (Exodus 4–5; Psalm 27; Mark 6)
Release Date: January 30, 2025
In this episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year," Jackie Hill Perry guides listeners through a profound exploration of Exodus 4–5, Psalm 27, and Mark 6. Balancing the Old and New Testaments with poetic reflection, Perry offers deep insights into Moses' early leadership challenges, the unwavering trust expressed in Psalm 27, and the impactful ministry of Jesus in Mark 6. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the discussions, key themes, and notable reflections presented during the episode.
A. Moses' Reluctance and God's Assurance
The episode begins with an in-depth reading of Exodus 4–5, where Moses grapples with self-doubt and fears of unbelief from the Israelites. Moses expresses his insecurities, saying, “I am not eloquent” ([01:27] B), highlighting his concern over his ability to lead effectively. God responds by reassuring Moses of His presence and provides signs to demonstrate divine authority, such as turning Moses' staff into a serpent and making his hand leprous ([00:01] A).
B. Appointment of Aaron as Moses' Spokesperson
Despite Moses' reluctance, God appoints his brother Aaron to assist him, emphasizing the collaborative nature of leadership. “He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth” ([02:15] A) underscores the importance of teamwork in fulfilling God’s mission.
C. Return to Egypt and Initial Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses returns to Egypt with Aaron to confront Pharaoh, tasked with demanding the release of the Israelites. The readings recount the escalating tension as Pharaoh refuses, leading to increased oppression of the Israelites. Notably, Moses laments, “Why have you done evil to this people?” ([07:06] A), revealing his frustration and sense of helplessness despite his obedience.
A. Declaration of Faith and Trust in God
Psalm 27 serves as a poetic counterbalance to the narrative tension in Exodus. David’s heartfelt prayers reflect profound trust and confidence in God's protection and guidance. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” ([07:16] B) encapsulates the Psalm’s central theme of unwavering faith amidst adversity.
B. Seeking God's Presence
David expresses his deepest desire to dwell in the house of the Lord, seeking continual communion with God: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” ([08:16] B). This pursuit underscores the importance of spiritual intimacy and reliance on divine strength.
C. Assurance of Divine Protection
The Psalm concludes with a powerful affirmation: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage” ([08:50] A), reinforcing the message of patience and resilience through faith.
A. Jesus' Ministry in His Hometown
Mark 6 highlights Jesus' experiences as He returns to His hometown, where He faces skepticism and lack of faith. “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives” ([08:58] B) reflects the recurring theme of unbelief despite witnessed miracles.
B. Commissioning of the Twelve Apostles
Jesus empowers His disciples, sending them out with authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Emphasizing simplicity and reliance on God, He instructs them: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff” ([09:19] A). This passage underscores the importance of faith and dependence on God’s provision.
C. Feeding the Five Thousand
A miraculous provision of five loaves and two fish results in the feeding of 5,000 men. Jesus’ blessing and multiplication of the loaves illustrate divine abundance and the power of faith: “He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people” ([13:03] B).
D. Walking on Water and Overcoming Fear
One of the most compelling narratives is Jesus walking on water, calming the fears of His disciples. When they see Him, they are terrified, thinking Him a ghost, but Jesus reassures them: “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid” ([14:01] B). This miracle emphasizes faith over fear and Jesus' mastery over nature.
E. Healing and Compassion
Jesus’ compassion is evident as He heals the sick and empowers His disciples to continue His work. The immediate recognition and response of the crowds seeking healing illustrate the transformative impact of Jesus’ ministry: “As many as touched it were made well” ([14:24] B).
A. Leadership and Doubt in Exodus
Moses’ initial reluctance showcases the human struggle with self-doubt even when called by God. The narrative emphasizes that divine support and collaborative leadership (through Aaron) are crucial for overcoming personal insecurities and fulfilling divine purposes.
B. Unwavering Faith in Adversity
Psalm 27 serves as a testament to maintaining faith amidst trials. David’s reliance on God’s protection and his desire for spiritual intimacy provide a model for enduring trust and resilience.
C. Empowerment and Mission in the New Testament
Mark 6 highlights the empowerment of believers to carry out God’s mission with faith and simplicity. The miracles performed by Jesus and His disciples underscore the importance of divine provision and the impact of compassionate leadership.
D. Overcoming Fear through Faith
Jesus' calming of the storm and His walk on water represent the triumph of faith over fear. These events encourage believers to trust in divine presence and power, even in seemingly impossible circumstances.
Moses' Self-Doubt:
“I am not eloquent either.” — Speaker B at [01:27]
God’s Assurance to Moses:
“He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth” — Speaker A at [02:15]
David’s Declaration of Faith:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” — Speaker B at [07:16]
Jesus on Faith and Provision:
“You give them something to eat.” — Speaker A at [12:30]
Jesus Calming the Storm:
“Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” — Speaker B at [14:01]
This episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year" masterfully intertwines narratives of leadership, faith, and divine intervention across the Old and New Testaments. From Moses’ hesitant beginnings and David’s poetic trust to Jesus’ miracles and compassionate leadership, Jackie Hill Perry illuminates timeless lessons on faith, resilience, and the power of divine guidance. Whether navigating personal doubts or witnessing miraculous provisions, listeners are encouraged to cultivate unwavering trust and active faith in their spiritual journeys.
This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the January 30 episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened while preserving the depth and richness of the original content.