Complimentary Story
Editor, Wisconsin Christian News:March 2025
“Have you read the Bible?” I have asked many people that question, usually prompted by some comment they made about it. Mostly their replies just make me sad. The majority are either secular agnostics, that weren’t exposed to the Scriptures early on, or apostates that perhaps were dragged to church by their parents, wandering away as I once did.
Most have done little Bible reading and much of their Bible knowledge is secondhand from poor sources. Then there are the atheists. I haven’t met one yet that didn’t proudly claim they had read it all at least once. As they did so with closed hearts and minds, they may as well have paged through an empty notebook. They’ll mention all the “contradictions,” but when asked, “Tell me about one,” they never get around to it.
As I said, sad. However, what makes me angry is encountering Biblical ignorance among believers, even at the highest levels of clergy and academics. A few of many verses come to mind. That seems to be the root of the problem. They cite one or two and then prattle on about their interpretation. Yet, no Bible verses stand alone, they all need to be considered in the greater context.
In that regard, I tried a little test. I wondered, if I took just one hour, how much of the Bible could I read from and learn? This was just casual reading, not bogging myself down by consulting other resources as Hebrew dictionaries or commentaries. In that time, I read from Genesis 11:27 through Genesis 26:25. I began with that particular section because it begins the story of Abraham, “Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, ...”. Later, GOD renames him, “Abraham.” (Genesis 17:5). One verse of those few is Genesis 22:2, “And HE said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mounts, which I will tell you of.’”
This whole story is referred to as the, “Akeda” by Jews. By their tradition, it took place on mount Moriah where Solomon’s temple would later be built, but read it carefully. Does GOD actually say, “Go to mount Moriah?” No! Abraham is sent to the “land” of Moriah and a then undisclosed mount. From my Christian perspective, this is not a squabbling upon words or grammar. The reason it was not a simple straightforward direction is on purpose — GOD would spare Abraham’s beloved son Isaac, but HIS beloved SON would not be spared upon this very same mount.
Another verse that is often cited, especially with current events is Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you...”. Often omitted is the last part, “... and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed” — almost always it is applied to the Jews as GOD’s chosen people.
Before you slander me as an “antisemite,” hear me out. I’m definitely not a terrorist flag waver, spouting genocidal drivel such as, “from the river to the sea.” I doubt most even know what river or sea they are referring to. I also think the modern nation of Israel has every right to exist where it is as it is. I just don’t believe that the cited verse has much to do with that. Why? Well if you will actually take the time (about one hour) to read that portion of Genesis carefully, you should figure that out. If you go on just a few more verses, you may learn that Abraham is in many other verses made similar promises by GOD, Genesis 12:7, 13:14 & 17, 15:5, 13 & 18, 17:6-8.
In 17:18-21, before his son Isaac was even born, GOD promises him, HE will also bless Ishmael, his son by Sarah’s servant, Hagar. I could go on, but the point hopefully is made, Read the Bible! Carefully!, not just a verse here and there.
Now, regarding those slogan spouting, terrorist supporters, read the promise in Genesis 15:18 carefully, where Abraham is told, “... from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” Unfortunately, I have read or heard many a Bible expert claim this was never fulfilled; because even at the height of David and Solomon’s kingdoms, the Jews never possessed all those lands. Overlooked is the phrase, “many nations” in many of these promises.
Besides Ishmael, were not the Edomites descended from Abraham’s grandson Esau? The Midianites from a son by another wife, Ketura. Moses even marries a Midianite woman, not an Israelite. If somehow I have misrepresented the Scriptures, I will gladly acknowledge my error. It only took an hour, I wasn’t trying to speed read. In about that same time, I could probably cover the stories of Isaac and Jacob.
Overall it is sad, that so many will put that time in to read the latest book by some religious scholar. But not the Word of God itself! Please, Read the Bible! Carefully. Amen.
-Bill Behringer,
Winneconne, Wis.
