For Calvary Chapel Desert Streams

Last Update - April 19, 2025

January 1 - January 4, 2025

Primeval History

Pre-History - before 2166 BC

Week 1

• Jan 1: Genesis 1, 2 - the biggest miracle in the bible, the creation of the universe!
• Jan 2: John 1:1-3, Psalms 8, Psalms 104 - a review of the creation from the gospel writer John, including an introduction to Jesus and his role in the creation. Psalms 104 is perhaps the biggest creation narrative in the bible outside of the first chapters of Genesis
• Jan 3: Genesis 3-5 - the fall, where Eve is deceived by the snake, but God reveals his sovereign plan of salvation. We are also introduced to Cain and Abel, as well as Noah.
• Jan 4: Genesis 6-7 - the world continues to get more and more corrupt, so God wipes out humanity and starts fresh with Noah and his family.

Week 2

• Jan 6: Genesis 8-9, Psalms 12 - the flood subsides, and God makes a covenant with Noah that he will never destroy all life again as long as the earth exists. God then blesses Noah and his family and gives them instructions.
• Jan 7: Gen 10-11 - Men again focuses on evil, so God confuses their language at the Tower of Babel. We are also introduced briefly to Abram (Abraham)

Approximately 2100BC

• Jan 8: Job 1-5 - we don’t know exactly when the story of Job takes place, but it is one of the oldest in the bible. Some put it as late happening during the 400 years of slavery of the Israelites between Genesis 50 and Exodus 1, and others put it as early as being concurrent with the life of Abraham. We’ll pick it up here before we start with Abraham’s life. Job is a story of a righteous man put through a number of trials, and how at the end of the journey, he sees God more clearly.
• Jan 9: Job 6-9, Job continues to spar with his three ”friends” that are there to comfort him through chapter 31, which we will get to next week.
• Jan 10: Job 10-13
• Jan 11: Job 14-17

Week 3

• Jan 13: Job 18-21
• Jan 14: Job 22-24
• Jan 15: Job 25-28
• Jan 16: Job 29-32, a new character comes on to the scene - Elihu. He will speak through chapter 37. Notice a few things as you read Elihu’s speech:
  • In terms of length, it is second only to Job’s speeches in the book of Job, and it is larger than 12 books of the old testament, and 17 books of the new testament.
  • Elihu is considered by some to be a prophet from God, and Elihu’s speech is the only one not refuted by God when God begins to answer in ch 40.
  • Elihu has a different take for Job. Job’s friends think Job is suffering because he has sinned. Elihu argues Job is sinning because he has suffered.
• Jan 17: Job 33-36
• Jan 18: Job 37-39, Psalm 19

Week 4

• Jan 20: Job 40-42, Psalm 29, we conclude our story with Job where the Lord again challenges Job, and Job finally confesses God is totally sovereign over his creation, and Job had spoken of things he did not understand.

Est dates 2166BC to 1991BC

• Jan 21: Genesis 12-13, we pick back up in Genesis with the story of Abraham and his family where Abram ( original name) is called out from his land of Ur.
• Jan 22: Genesis 14-16, the covenant with Abram and God, and Ishmael is born to Hagar
• Jan 23: Genesis 17-19, God gives Abram his new name, Abraham. We also see incredible story of the destruction of Sodom. Man cannot resist doing evil. We also see the birth of the nations of the Moabites and Ammonites, both of which cause trouble for Israel for centuries to come.
• Jan 24: Genesis 20-23, finally, Abraham has his promised child, Isaac!
• Jan 25: Genesis 24-26, Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, enters the scene, and their children Jacob and Esau are born.

Week 5 (Still in the estimated range of 2166BC to 1991BC)

• Jan 27: Genesis 27-29, Jacob marries Rachel, and Leah, and we begin to see the birth of the children whom the 12 tribes of Israel are named after.
• Jan 28: Genesis 30-33, Jacob prospers. This is also when Jacob wrestles with God. He then returns home and meets Esau on the way back.
• Jan 29: Genesis 34-37, Jacob is blessed by God and renamed Israel. We are introduced to Joseph and his dreams.
• Jan 30: Genesis 38-40, the scene moves to Egypt where Joseph has several events, good and bad, occur.
• Jan 31: Genesis 41-43, Joseph rises to power becoming second in command only after Pharaoh, and his brothers venture to Egypt to get grain, as there is famine in the land.
• Feb 1: Genesis 44-46, Joseph reunites with his family as they all move to Egypt.

Week 6

Est date 1876

• Feb 3: Genesis 47-50, Jacob and family settle in Goshen during the great famine, and then dies, but makes his sons promise to take his remains back to where his fathers are buried

Est date 1446BC

(Note: the ESV Study Bible has a fantastic article on the date of the Exodus p33, showing the pros and cons for the two dates, 1446BC and 1260BC. 1446BC is the more commonly accepted date.)

• Feb 4: Exodus 1-4, we are introduced to Moses, and an entirely new chapter in the story of Israel
• Feb 5: Exodus 5-9, the plagues begin as God shows his power before Pharaoh
• Feb 6: Exodus 10-13, the tenth and final plague happens, and the Passover is established. The Exodus begins.
• Feb 7: Exodus 14-18, Israel crosses the Red Sea
• Feb 8: Exodus 19-21, Israel comes to Mount Sinai and Moses receives the Ten Commandments

Week 7

We are getting to some of the details of Jewish worship, long genealogies, or rules and regulations for how the Levitical priesthood should dress and organize the temple. Some consider these parts of bible tedious, and if we are honest, boring. We should step back and remember Paul’s words in 2 Tim 3:16 that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable…”

Rightly understood, there are no boring parts of Scripture though, but all of scripture culminates in the revelation of Jesus and his gospel. In these passages, God is telling his people he is very scrupulous. God created man, not the other way around, and he will go in great detail about how he is to be worshiped. We should read this with awe, wonder, and respect at how carefully God lays out his plans for his people to follow him. So stick with us through the next few weeks and keep this in mind.

Est date 1446BC - 1406BC

• Feb 10: Exodus 22-24 - Various laws about festivals, the Sabbath, and the promise of Canaan’s conquest
• Feb 11: Exodus 25-28 - We are shown the Ark of the Covenant, the golden lampstand, and the tabernacle
• Feb 12: Exodus 29-32 - The consecration of the priests. Pay attention to Oholiab and Bezalel too. They show up several times. What an honor! Oh, and the golden calf…
• Feb 13: Exodus 33-36 - The Israelites leave Sinai, and Moses gets new tablets. We also see the shining face of Moses
• Feb 14: Exodus 37-40 - Oholiab and Bezalel are tasked with leading the craftsmen in making the Ark, tabernacle, and other objects used in worship.
• Feb 15: Leviticus 1-4 - God lays out laws for various offerings

Week 8

Est date 1446BC - 1406BC

• Feb 17: Leviticus 5-7 - God continues to lay out rules so man can atone for their sins, but these are temporary, which is why they must make these offerings again and again. We should be thankful when Jesus made the final sacrifice, it was for all time. His sacrifice was perfect.
• Feb 18: Leviticus 8-10 - Aaron and his sons are consecrated as priests, though two sons, Nadab and Abihu, disobeyed God, and paid the price.
• Feb 19: Leviticus 11-14 - Laws regarding clean and unclean animals, as well as extensive practices around skin diseases, often called leprosy.
• Feb 20: Leviticus 15-18 - The Day of Atonement is established, as well as a number of rules around sexual relations (spoiler alert - this is meant to be between a husband and wife, and anything else isn’t permitted)
• Feb 21: Leviticus 19-22 - God addresses the evil of child sacrifice, which is a condemnation of Israel’s neighbors that worship Molech.
• Feb 22: Leviticus 23-25 - Various feasts and celebrations are established, as well as practices for the Sabbath year.

Week 9

Est date 1446BC - 1406BC

• Feb 24: Leviticus 26-27, Numbers 1-2 - We conclude Leviticus with God's covenant conversation with Moses on Mount Sinai, outlining blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to His laws. Numbers is an emphasis on God’s people as warriors, with an emphasis on counting and organizing Israel for military purposes.
• Feb 25: Numbers 3-5 - the focus is on maintaining holiness. The tribe of Levi are appointed to care for the tabernacle.
• Feb 26: Numbers 6-9 - more in the appointment and responsibilities of the Levites.
• Feb 27: Numbers 10-13, Psalm 90 - Israel leaves Sinai, and immediately start complaining! Elders are appointed to help Moses. Psa 90 is a prayer, and the only recorded Psalm written by Moses.
• Feb 28: Numbers 14-16, Psalm 95 The people are in outright rebellion, and Moses intercedes for them. Korah’s rebellion happens in ch 16. We also have a song of praise. We believe David wrote this based on Heb 4:7.
• Mar 1: Numbers 17-20 - More rules and regulations for the Levites, and Moses strikes the rock. This act will have severe consequences for him later on.

Week 10

Est date 1446BC - 1406BC

• Mar 3: Numbers 21-24 - Here we have the unusual story of Balaam’s donkey and their encounter with an angel
• Mar 4: Numbers 25-28 - Time for a full census of the people
• Mar 5: Numbers 29-32
• Mar 6: Numbers 33-36 - A recounting of the journey, and instructions for settling the land of Canaan
• Mar 7: Deuteronomy 1-3 - Moses recounts the history of the Israelites since leaving Egypt, and Moses is forbidden from entering the land himself
• Mar 8: Deuteronomy 4-7 - Moses delivers more regulations, and recounts the greatest of the commandments

Week 11

Est date 1446BC - 1406BC

• Mar 10: Deuteronomy 8-11 - Moses continues his summary of events, recapping the golden calf incident, new tablets, and more
• Mar 11: Deuteronomy 12-15 - The people are warned again against the evil of idolatry
• Mar 12: Deuteronomy 16-19 - the Passover and other feasts and rituals
• Mar 13: Deuteronomy 20-23 - laws governing warfare, and other miscellaneous laws
• Mar 14: Deuteronomy 24-27 - laws regarding marriage, divorce, tithing, and other miscellaneous laws
• Mar 15: Deuteronomy 28-30 - obedience and disobedience, repentance and forgiveness

Week 12

Est date 1405 BC

• Mar 17: Deuteronomy 31-34 - Joshua is appointed to replace Moses
• Mar 18: Joshua 1-2, Psalms 105 - Joshua assumes command of the Israelites, Rahab hides the Israelite spies. The psalm recounts God’s faithfulness to his people
• Mar 19: Joshua 3-6 - Israel crosses the Jordan river, and Jericho falls
• Mar 20: Joshua 7-10 - Israel once again forgets God and falls to their enemy Ai, yet God still remains faithful. Southern Canaan conquered
• Mar 21: Joshua 11-14 - Northern Canaan conquests begin
• Mar 22: Joshua 15-18 - Allotment of the lands to the tribes begin

Week 13

The Period of the Judges - 1,405-1,050 BC

From Joshua leading the conquest of Canaan until Saul becomes King (1050 BC or 1020 BC), ending the period of the Judges

• Mar 24: Joshua 19-22 - The inheritance for the tribes continue
• Mar 25: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1 -Joshua gives final rules to the leaders of the Israelite tribes - "Choose whom you will serve!"
• Mar 26: Judges 2-5 - Israel continues the conquest of Canaan, we are introduced to the first judge - Othniel, and others
• Mar 27: Judges 6-9 - the story of Gideon
• Mar 28: Judges 10-13 - Jephthah's story, and the birth of the most famous judge, Sampson
• Mar 29: Judges 14-18 - The tragic story of Sampson

Week 14

The End of the Judges, and the Story of Ruth, Samuel and Saul

The period of the Judges end with Samuel in 1051 BC, when he meets Saul. The dates of Ruth are likely around 1115 BC.

• Mar 31: Judges 19-21 - a disturbing event involving a Levite, and the resulting war of Israel with the tribe of Benjamin
• Apr 1: Ruth 1-4 - a short story of a woman that became a key figure in the ancestry of not only King David, but Jesus himself.
• Apr 2: 1 Samuel 1-3 - Samuel is born, and called by God to be a prophet, priest, and the final judge.
• Apr 3: 1 Samuel 4-8 - The Philistines make the mistake of capturing the Ark, and Israel makes the mistake of asking for an earthly king
• Apr 4: 1 Samuel 9-12 - Saul is chosen to be king, and Samuel delivers his farewell address as Israel's leader
• Apr 5: 1 Samuel 13-16 - Saul makes an unlawful sacrifice, dooming his kingship, but paving the way for David

Week 15

The Rise of David, the Fall of Saul

David is anointed by Samuel in 1025 BC, and made king in 1,012 BC.

• Apr 7: 1 Samuel 17-20, Psalm 59 - The famous story of David and Goliath, and the souring of the relationship between Saul and David
• Apr 8: 1 Samuel 21-24, Psalm 91 - David and the holy bread, a story we are reminded of in Matt, Mark, & Luke, and more of David's adventures
• Apr 9: Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, & 52 - David's psalms show his trust in God
• Apr 10: Psalms 56, 120, 140-142 - David cries out for deliverance
• Apr 11: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17 & 73 - the death of Samuel, and the conflict with Saul continues
• Apr 12: Psalms 35, 54, 63, & 81 - Praise from David for the Lord

Week 16

David ascends to the throne, Saul Dies

David's reign begins around 1010BC.

• Apr 14: 1 Samuel 28-31, 1 Chronicles 10 - Saul consults the medium of En-Dor, David's conflict with the Philistines, and Saul dies
• Apr 15: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130 - a number of Psalms praising God, and David crying out for help from the Lord
• Apr 16: 2 Samuel 1-4 - David hears of Saul's death, and grieves for Jonathan, begins his reigns in Judah
• Apr 17: Psalms 6, 9-10, 14, 16, 21 - several Psalms praising and looking for God, including one that mocks fools that say there is no God
• Apr 18: 1 Chronicles 1-2, Psalms 43-44 - a recounting of the genealogy of David, starting with Adam, and a plea for help from God
• Apr 19: Psalms 49, 84-85, 87 - a plea for help and revival, and praise

Week 17

Genealogies of David and his rise to king of Israel

David is anointed by Samuel in 1025 BC, and made king in 1012 BC.

• Apr 21: 1 Chronicles 3-5 - Genealogies of David and the tribes of Israel
• Apr 22: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77-78 - praise for God and seeking him when trouble comes
• Apr 23: Psalms 81, 88, 92, 93 - more praise for God as he reigns over all
• Apr 24: 1 Chronicles 7-9 - Continued accounting of genealogies
• Apr 25: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalm 133 - David is anointed king of Israel, and a song of ascents
• Apr 26: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23, 1 Chronicles 13-16 - a short but important lesson when Uzzah steadies the ark of God, and the journey of the ark until it is placed in a tent of David

Week 18

God Promises to Establish David's Kingdom Forever

David is anointed by Samuel in 1025 BC, and made king in 1012 BC.

• Apr 28: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47 - Praise psalms, including probably the most famous psalm of all
• Apr 29: Psalms 89, 96, 100-101, 107 - More praise
• Apr 30: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalms 1-2, 33, 127, 132 - God makes a covenant with David and will establish his kingdom forever!
• May 1: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18 - David shows kindness to Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul
• May 2: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75 - David continues to have victory against his enemies
• May 3: Psalms 65-67, 69, 70 - more praise, and a plea for help with a psalm that starts Save me, O God!