One book down, 65 to go! Yes, completing chapter 50 this morning means that I have now summarised the whole of Genesis.

It's been a crazy few weeks! Bible Summary has taken off beyond my imagination and lots else has happened in life besides. Through it all I've been living in the story of Genesis. Each day I'm thinking about today's chapter and looking forward to tomorrow's. The project is certainly achieving its initial aim of getting me deeper into my daily reading.

I've become aware of so many major themes in Genesis: the chain of blessing that links all the key characters, the events that echo in several different lives, the journey from Eden to Egypt, the repeated promise of the land...

Eden to Egypt is a sad journey in many ways - there are already so many things going on that seem at odds with God's character and aims - but Genesis is also brimming with hope for redemption. God is faithful even when people are faithless, he gives his unmerited blessing again and again.

The book ends with Joseph telling Israel that eventually God will lead them out of Egypt and back to the land he promised to Abraham.

We're moving towards the Exodus. Of which, more tomorrow...