It’s wise to take a guide

Encounter

Encounter
God every day for a year
You wouldn’t plan to climb a high and challenging mountain without
taking a skilled guide with you. It’s the same with the Bible. Everyone

God

with
needs a little help, especially when we’re talking about understanding with every day for a year
difficult passages and applying them to contemporary living.

Here is some of the best writing in Encounter with God over the past
four years - providing a stimulating, in-depth approach to Bible reading.
Writers include: Dennis Lennon, Alastair Campbell, John Taylor

Encounter with

God
every day for a year

exposition from some of today’s best Bible teachers,

including Michael Baughen, Steve Motyer, Jo Bailey Wells,
Howard Peskett, and Jonathan Lamb
Exodus
an introduction to all the main literary genres in the
Psalms
Bible: law, history, psalms, prophecy, apocalyptic,
gospel, epistle Isaiah
Luke
key biblical books covered: Exodus, Isaiah 1-39,
Ephesians
Luke, John, Ephesians, and Hebrews
Hebrews
an overview of God’s wonderful plan of salvation

Enjoy the exhilaration of gaining new

understanding of God’s eternal purposes!

www.scriptureunion.org.uk

ËxHSLIPJy9 6706z
ISBN
ISBN978
97811 85999
85999 670
670 6
6

365 daily Bible readings

00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 2

Scripture Union, 207–209 Queensway, Bletchley, MK2 2EB, England.

www.scriptureunion.org.uk

Scripture Union is an international Christian charity working with churches

in more than 130 countries providing resources to bring the good news
about Jesus Christ to children, young people and families – and to
encourage them to develop spiritually through the Bible and prayer.
As well as our network of volunteers, staff and associates who run
holidays, church-based events and school Christian groups, we produce a
wide range of publications and support those who use our resources through
training programmes.

© Scripture Union 2002

Reprinted 2007
ISBN 978 1 85999 670 6

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior permission of Scripture Union.
Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible New International
Version © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Anglicisation copyright © 1979, 1984, 1989. Used by permission of
Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.
Scripture quotations taken from The Message © by Eugene H Peterson
1993, 1994, 1995. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Cover design mhm grax
Printed and bound in China by 1010 Printing International Ltd.
00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 3

Preface
T he Bible can be understood in many ways. It is, of course, the
inspired and living Word of God, our primary authority on all
questions of faith and Christian lifestyle. It is our mission
statement and our vision, our insight into the will of God for us. It
is also a collection of writings of vastly different styles written over
a period of many hundreds of years. Simply reading the Bible is
enough to change people’s lives, yet who would say they could not
benefit from new insights into its stories, adventures, prayers
and prophecies?
Bible reading notes help readers place each book of the Bible in its
historical, cultural and biblical context and give guidance on how
we may respond to God’s Word in our daily lives. Published by
Scripture Union every three months, Encounter with God offers daily
notes on every book of the Bible: our syllabus covers the New
Testament in four years and the Old Testament in six.
Encounter with God: every day for a year represents some of the best
writing produced for our Bible reading notes over the last four
years. Our international team of writers, which includes top schol-
ars, and well-known Bible expositors and pastors, have drawn on
their learning and practical experience to trace the story of our
redemption.
In Exodus we learn how God delivered his people from bondage in
Egypt; chapters 1–39 of Isaiah include prophecies concerning the
coming of the promised Messiah; the Gospels of Luke and John
portray the life and ministry of Jesus, while Ephesians and
Hebrews spell out the significance of his death and resurrection for
believers. Other books fill out the picture and give us a taste of the
varied literary genres the Bible contains.
We do hope you will encounter God in his Word over the next year
in the company of our gifted writers.

Andrew Clark and Venetia Horton

Editors, Encounter with God

If you would like to know more about Scripture Union, or would like to subscribe to
Encounter with God, please contact us at www.scriptureunion.org.uk or write to us
at 207/209 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2EB.
00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 4

Contents
Exodus 1–6 Richard Harvey 009
6–18 Dennis Lennon 020
19–24 Desmond Alexander 039

John 1–4 Dick France 050

5,6 Jonathan Lamb 064
7,8 Rikk Watts 073
9,10 Peter Kimber 082
11,12 Ian Coffey 090
13–17 Hans Lindholm 100
18–21 Morris Stuart 112

Psalms 42,43 Andrew Clark 127

44–55 Ken Edgecombe 128

Exodus 25–31 Richard Harvey 140

32–40 Grace Thomlinson 148

Hebrews 1–6 Steve Motyer 162

7–10 Dennis Lennon 172
11–13 Michael Baughen 181

Psalms 56–66 Evelyn 190

Miranda-Feliciano

Ruth Jo Bailey Wells 201

Luke 1,2 Robert Willoughby 207

3–5 Steve Motyer 216
6,7 Ross Pilkinton 225
8,9 Merryl Blair 233
10,11 Whitney Kuniholm 245
00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 5

Nehemiah John Grayston 255

Ephesians Alastair Campbell 270

Psalms 67–80 Rosemary Linton 284

Luke 12,13 John Fieldsend 298

14–17 Peter Kimber 308
18–21 Jonathan Lamb 319
22–24 Andrew Clark 331

Isaiah 1–12 Andrew Clark 341

Song of Songs Jennifer Turner 359

James Paul Goodliff 368

Isaiah 13–27 Howard Peskett 382

28–39 John Taylor 391

Psalms 81–92 Pauline Hoggarth 404

00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 6

The Writers
Dr T Desmond Alexander is currently Director of Christian
Training for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. He is author of From
Paradise to the Promised Land (Paternoster); The Servant King (IVP), and
The Pentateuch (Paternoster).
Rt Rev Michael Baughen is the retired Bishop of Chester and a
former Rector of All Souls Langham Place. He is the author of a
number of books including The Prayer Principle and Your Marriage.
Rev Merryl Blair is Lecturer in Old Testament studies at Churches
of Christ Theological College, Melbourne.
Rev Dr Alastair Campbell was until recently pastor of the
Kathmandu International Christian Church. Before that he taught
the New Testament at Spurgeon’s College in London.
Dr Andrew Clark is commissioning editor of Encounter with God.
He previously taught in Bible colleges in Hong Kong as an OMF mis-
sionary. He is the author of Parallel Lives, a study of literary parallels
between characters in the book of Acts.
Rev Ian Coffey is a preacher, teacher and writer. He is Senior
Minister at Mutley Baptist Church, Plymouth, and also leader of the
Spring Harvest leadership team.
Ken Edgecombe is a freelance writer and editor. His latest book, on
adolescent faith, is Will they or won’t they? (SU). He is a former
National Director of Scripture Union in New Zealand.
Rev Dr Dick France is an Anglican clergyman and New Testament
teacher. Now retired, he is the former principal of Wycliffe Hall,
Oxford. He has written a number of books including the Tyndale
commentary on Matthew.
Rev John Fieldsend is an Anglican clergyman and a Messianic Jew.
He was born in Czechoslovakia. Now retired, he was previously
director of the Centre for Biblical and Hebraic Studies.
Rev Paul Goodliff is Baptist Union General Superintendent for the
Central region of England. He tutors in pastoral counselling for St
John’s College Extension Studies, and is author of the book Care in a
confused climate.
John Grayston is Director of Bible Ministries for Scripture Union in
England and Wales. He enjoys skiing.
Richard Harvey lectures at All Nations Christian College. He has
an MA in Hebrew and Jewish studies, and was formerly the UK
director of Jews for Jesus.
Dr Pauline Hoggarth is International Bible Ministries Co-ordina-
tor for Scripture Union. Her interests include cooking, gardening,
cinema, and conversation.
00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 7

Peter Kimber was until recently Chief Executive and Team Leader
of Scripture Union in England and Wales. Now retired in Edinburgh,
he enjoys golf.
Whitney Kuniholm is the President of Scripture Union in the USA.
He has written a number of books in the area of personal and group
Bible study.
Jonathan Lamb is Associate General Secretary of the International
Fellowship of Evangelical Students, with special responsibility for
Europe. He is a member of the Council of the Evangelical Alliance
and the Keswick Convention.
Rev Dennis Lennon was previously Evangelism Adviser to the
Anglican Diocese of Sheffield. He is married to Sonja and his books
include Weak enough for God to use (SU).
Rev Hans Lindholm is pastor of Lötenkryken, Uppsala, and chair
of Scripture Union in Sweden. Formerly he was General Secretary of
the Swedish IFES-affiliated movement.
Rosemary Linton teaches Christian Spirituality at All Nations
Christian College. A native of Northern Ireland, she taught
missionaries’ children in the Philippines for nine years.
Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano is a best-selling Filipina Christian writer
and a lecturer with the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and
Culture (ISACC).
Rev Dr Steve Motyer is Lecturer in New Testament and
Hermeneutics at London Bible College. He enjoys cycling and
gardening and the company of his teenage children, and is the
author of several books including The Bible with Pleasure (IVP).
Rev Howard Peskett is Vice-Principal at Trinity College, Bristol.
Formerly Research Director of OMF, his publications include Trusting
God in Troubled Times and Isaiah (SU Lifebuilder guide).
Rev Ross Pilkinton is a former Scripture Union worker in New
Zealand. Until recently he lived in Nepal, where he and his wife
Marcelle ran a missionary guest house. He also had pastoral responsi-
bilities with the International Nepal Fellowship.
Morris Stuart serves as pastor of the Truth and Liberation Concern
Community Church in Melbourne’s Outer Eastern suburbs.
Rt Rev John B Taylor is the former Bishop of St Albans, and a
writer on the Old Testament. He is also Honorary Assistant Bishop in
the Diocese of Ely and the Diocese of Europe.
Grace Thomlinson is involved in Christian resource production
and community learning at World Vision, Australia. She has lectured
on Christian Ethics and the Old Testament, and shares music min-
istry with her husband Geoffrey.
00 Prelims.qxd 05/09/02 10:32 Page 8

Rev Dr Jennifer Turner is Minister of Dianella Church of Christ,

Western Australia, lecturer in Pastoral Theology at the Baptist
Theological College, and a writer with a special interest in the Bible
and small groups.
Rev Dr Rikk Watts is Associate Professor of New Testament at
Regent College, Vancouver. An Australian, he is the author of a book
on the use of Isaiah in Mark.
Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells is Lecturer in Old Testament and Biblical
Theology at Ridley Hall college in Cambridge. Formerly Dean of Clare
College, Cambridge, she is the author of God’s holy people; a theme in
biblical theology. She relaxes by walking her dog with her husband
and young daughter.
Robert Willoughby lectures on the New Testament at London
Bible College. He is a keen lover of books, music and sport.
01 1-9.qxd 05/09/02 10:30 Page 9

Exodus 1–6

From bondage to freedom

E xodus chronicles the key event in the Old Testament,

the escape of the slaves from Egypt. Under the leader-
ship of Moses, the Israelites leave their place of bondage
and set off for the land of freedom – Canaan. On the way
they camp at Mount Sinai, where Moses receives the Law.
The covenants and promises God made to Abraham in
Genesis are confirmed through Moses. The celebration of
the first Passover brings Israel to birth as a nation. The
Passover sacrifice brings the people of Israel into covenant
relationship with God. The Law that will be received on
Mount Sinai gives the ground rules for life in the Promised
Land – in social, spiritual and personal terms.
The book of Exodus can be divided into three sections: the
escape from Egypt, the wanderings in the desert and the
receiving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The story has all the
thrills of an adventure. The plot twists and turns, as the
Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron interact on a knife-edge of
tension. The atmosphere is charged with the Israelites’ cries
to God. Miraculous events accompany their escape.
The name of the book, Exodus (meaning ‘going out’), is
derived from the Greek version of the Old Testament, the
Septuagint. In Jewish tradition the book is called after the
Hebrew words that begin the first chapter, ‘ve’eleh shemot’ –
‘These are the names’. This shows a clear continuation of
the story of the patriarchs, which ended in Genesis 49 and
50 with Jacob blessing his sons before dying. The blessing
on Judah contains a clear prophecy of the Messiah who
would come to restore sovereignty to Israel (Genesis 49:10).
Yet Exodus 1 opens with a very different scene – that of
oppression and attempted genocide. The promises to the
patriarchs are forgotten, as a new king arises who ‘knew
not Joseph’ (AV).
In Jewish life the story of Exodus comes alive each year at
Passover. Each year, at a special meal of unleavened bread,
bitter herbs and four cups of wine, the story of Passover is
recounted, with joy and celebration. The hero of the story

9
01 1-9.qxd 05/09/02 10:30 Page 10

is Moses. These early chapters show him in his humanity

and weakness, in contrast with God’s almighty power and
love.

Lessons for us
As Christians we have much to learn from Exodus. Not only
did God go to even greater lengths to rescue his people, the
church, from slavery to sin, but in Jesus – the Lamb of God
who also was sent to die at Passover – one greater than
Moses came in weakness and humanity, to reveal the power
and love of God.
It is not enough to rely on the witness of previous genera-
tions, or on our own early experience of God’s love. We
need to encounter daily the reality of God. We may face
difficulties today in our life, our work, our health or our
relationships, but this should not cause us to lose hope. We
have in Jesus the strong assurance of God’s presence with
us, and his ability to bring us through our difficulties.
Jewish tradition speaks of the suffering of the slaves, and
reminds us that they looked forward to the promises of God
that would one day be fulfilled: even the most bitter form
of slavery is made sweet with the promise of redemption.
The book of Exodus reveals God in his power, his choosing
of Israel and his instructions to them. It shows the need for
redemption and forgiveness of sin. It teaches us that God is
faithful to his promises, and will provide deliverance from
bondage – whether bondage in Egypt or bondage to sin – to
those that trust in the ‘blood of the Lamb’. As we follow
Moses from his birth to his challenge to Pharaoh to let the
people go, we see the hand of God in all aspects of the story.
We, like Moses, are called to serve a redeeming God.

Richard Harvey

10
01 1-9.qxd 05/09/02 10:30 Page 11

Promise, fulfilment, problem!

Day 1
Moses’ long life is filled with Joseph’s dying hope: ‘God will
surely come to your aid’.1 Spend some time reflecting on
this promise.
Exodus 1: 1–22

T he list of those who went to Egypt with Joseph

four hundred and thirty years previously (Gen 46:8) is
repeated (v 1). Exodus begins with what God has already
done, setting the scene for what he has yet to do.
God’s promise of descendants to Abraham has been
abundantly fulfilled (although notice that it has taken a very
long time)2 – the land of Egypt is literally ‘swarming’ (verse
7 – the Hebrew sharatz usually refers to animals) with them.
But this very abundance – the blessing of God – has a nega-
tive impact, and the Israelites are now unwelcome guests in
Egypt. Can you identify areas in your (or your church’s)
experience where God’s blessings have also brought trouble?
The new Pharaoh subjects the Israelites to forced labour,
and then attempts the first recorded genocide of the Jewish
people. Male offspring were necessary to continue the line
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to its culmination in the birth
of Jesus the Messiah. Only then would the promise of bless-
ing to all nations be kept.
The midwives did not obey Pharaoh’s command. They
‘feared God’ (v 17), standing in awe of the Almighty and
wanting to be in right relationship with him. Their courage
is an example to us not to compromise our faith or commit
ungodly acts, whatever pressure we may be facing. How 1 Gen 50:24
easy do you find it to reconcile their actions with instruc- 2 Gen 12:1–3;
tions given to us in the New Testament about obedience to 15:4–6,13–16
authorities?3 3 Eg Rom
13:1–7;
God will intervene to protect his people and keep his prom- 1 Pet 2:13–17;
ises. The promise of land has yet to be realised. The scene is Acts 4:19;
set for the birth of Moses. 5:29

How can God’s faithfulness be demonstrated in the problems you

face today?
11
01 1-9.qxd 05/09/02 10:30 Page 12

God’s preparations
Day 2
Looking back, we can see that God has prepared us for the
situations we find ourselves in today. Think of examples
of this in your own life.
Exodus 2:1–10

M oses is born to parents from the tribe of Levi. He

comes from the line that will function as priests
before God on behalf of the people. But he is wrenched
away from all of that, to experience a very unusual
upbringing. Pharaoh’s order (1:22) puts his life in danger;
Pharaoh’s daughter, of all people, rescues him and so guar-
antees him safety; and his own mother nurses him (and
gets paid for it!).
Moses, as his name suggests, has the best of both worlds: in
Hebrew, the play on words (v 10) links the name ‘Mosheh’
with the Hebrew for ‘draw out’; the name is also common
in Egyptian, meaning ‘boy child’. Moses was blessed with a
dual identity: a member of the Egyptian royal family, and
from the priestly family of Israel. But this blessing must
have brought its own tensions – did he sometimes feel
cursed, rather than blessed, with a mixed identity?
In Pharaoh’s household Moses would have learned the arts
of politics and warfare, receiving an education far above his
enslaved compatriots.1 At his mother’s knee he must have
learned that he was an Israelite, and something of what
that meant – putting him in touch with his roots and
teaching him about the God of his fathers. From the
priestly line, eventually he will exercise a role as prophet,2
mediator,3 lawgiver,4 judge5 and commander.6 Moses has
been prepared by God for the fulfilment of his plans. No
1 Acts 7:22
2 Deut
part of our life or experience is ever wasted for God, no
18:15–18 matter how unlikely it may seem.
3 Exod 32:31,32 His birth and upbringing uniquely qualify Moses for the
4 Exod 34
task God has for him: to lead his people from slavery to
5 Exod 18:25,26
6 Num 31:6 freedom.

God has a special task for each one of us. What is God calling you
to today?
12
 It’s wise to take a guide

Encounter

Encounter
God every day for a year
You wouldn’t plan to climb a high and challenging mountain without
taking a skilled guide with you. It’s the same with the Bible. Everyone

God

with
needs a little help, especially when we’re talking about understanding with every day for a year
difficult passages and applying them to contemporary living.

Here is some of the best writing in Encounter with God over the past
four years - providing a stimulating, in-depth approach to Bible reading.
Writers include: Dennis Lennon, Alastair Campbell, John Taylor

Encounter with

God
every day for a year

exposition from some of today’s best Bible teachers,

including Michael Baughen, Steve Motyer, Jo Bailey Wells,
Howard Peskett, and Jonathan Lamb
Exodus
an introduction to all the main literary genres in the
Psalms
Bible: law, history, psalms, prophecy, apocalyptic,
gospel, epistle Isaiah
Luke
key biblical books covered: Exodus, Isaiah 1-39,
Ephesians
Luke, John, Ephesians, and Hebrews
Hebrews
an overview of God’s wonderful plan of salvation

Enjoy the exhilaration of gaining new

understanding of God’s eternal purposes!

www.scriptureunion.org.uk

ËxHSLIPJy9 6706z
ISBN
ISBN978
97811 85999
85999 670
670 6
6

365 daily Bible readings