Genesis chapter 7
God bids Noah and all his family to enter into the ark. There is no safety or guarantee outside of God's love and his son's Salvation. The ark represents God's love and safety. The ark represents escape from this world and sin. The ark represents life, while living in the world with an eminent doom represents death. God is calling everyone lost in sin to the safety of his Son's sacrifice and love.
Notice that Noah and his family are being delivered because of their righteousness and faith, not chance or happenstance. So God tells Noah once again what is expected of him and what he has to do to live. God is not leaving our details and he also reiterates that he will destroy all life from the planet.
After Noah puts his family and all the animals on the ark, the rain and floods start after seven days just as God had said. Be certain that God will fulfill and bring to pass all his promises. Now for forty days and nights it rains and causes this flood. No doubt this was a rain that would cause fear in our hearts if we were to see it. What makes it worse for that time was the fact that they had never seen it rain at all, must less a downpour of this magnitude.
Everything on earth is destroyed in the flood; all life, all civilization, everything dies.There are no homes, no people, no animals. After seeing the evil that is in our own time and God has so far spared us, to imagine the evil that existed then must almost purely evil. God must have had to protect Noah while he built the ark if such evil existed.
After it rained for forty days, the Bible says that the water prevailed for another one hundred and fifty days. Nothing could survive this but what was delivered by the hand of God. It will be no different for us.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Genesis 6
Genesis chapter 6
From the last chapter we have the 'righteous' line of Seth. We get that from the last verse of the forth chapter that says 'men began to call upon the name of the LORD. Now it appears that between the other children that Adam and Eve had, Cain's offspring, and even those from Seth's line, that evil people begin to embrace sin and therefore are destroying themselves and the world through their sin.
A lot has been said about the 'sons of God' and giants, men of renown, but we can infer that these were ordinary people, but that even the best, brightest, boldest of all earth married who they would and intermingled with whomever they wished. There were hardly any righteous left. This disgusted God and he repented that he had made man. Notice just after this though, that God had mercy and shows favor to Noah.
There are two things I'd like to point out here. When God destroyed the world the first time, when Christ was born upon the Earth, and when the Lord returns, it will most likely be the same. There will only be remnant left that truly serve God. Also, notice that God is ALWAYS patient and long suffering. Even though man had disgusted him, he yet had mercy on those that serve him. God will always have mercy for those that love him if only the mercy when we receive eternal life in heaven.
Noah is given instructions for his deliverance. Has not God given us the exact instructions for our redemption? Noah no doubt showed faith throughout the building of this ark. You know that he was mocked because the Bible says it had never rained upon the earth. So with faith following instructions Noah was delivered. It will be no different for us.
From the last chapter we have the 'righteous' line of Seth. We get that from the last verse of the forth chapter that says 'men began to call upon the name of the LORD. Now it appears that between the other children that Adam and Eve had, Cain's offspring, and even those from Seth's line, that evil people begin to embrace sin and therefore are destroying themselves and the world through their sin.
A lot has been said about the 'sons of God' and giants, men of renown, but we can infer that these were ordinary people, but that even the best, brightest, boldest of all earth married who they would and intermingled with whomever they wished. There were hardly any righteous left. This disgusted God and he repented that he had made man. Notice just after this though, that God had mercy and shows favor to Noah.
There are two things I'd like to point out here. When God destroyed the world the first time, when Christ was born upon the Earth, and when the Lord returns, it will most likely be the same. There will only be remnant left that truly serve God. Also, notice that God is ALWAYS patient and long suffering. Even though man had disgusted him, he yet had mercy on those that serve him. God will always have mercy for those that love him if only the mercy when we receive eternal life in heaven.
Noah is given instructions for his deliverance. Has not God given us the exact instructions for our redemption? Noah no doubt showed faith throughout the building of this ark. You know that he was mocked because the Bible says it had never rained upon the earth. So with faith following instructions Noah was delivered. It will be no different for us.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Genesis 5
Genesis chapter 5
In this chapter of Genesis we have all the generations of Adam to Noah. There are some noteworthy names in this chapter, but I want to cover the ages involved in this book. At the beginning of time, when sin had not done the damage to man and all living creation like it has done now, it is logical and easy ( for me anyway) to understand how men and women could live so long. We see now thanks to better diets and medical developments that the age of people does steadily creep upward. I realize that is a long way from hundreds of years old, but then again, sin has had thousands of years to shorten men's lives. To believe such things may be a matter of faith for you; it is for me.
It says in the forth chapter that starting with Enos people started to call upon the name of the Lord. For years and what must have been many of Adam and Eve's offspring, there was continued sin. Now, with this line of people, they decide to serve the Lord. This is not different than any other time in the bible or any other time in human history, it is the minority that serve God.
Enoch does something that only one other person in the bible does, and that is walk with God in such a way as to have God take him. We find out more about Enoch in the new testament, that he was faithful and a preacher. Then his son Methuselah is the longest living soul on earth. Methuselah wasn't taken by God, but he lived a long life that must have been a blessing for his service to the Lord.
After just a generation, we come to Noah and his sons. Notice also that is doesn't take long for the years a man lives to shorten quickly, and after Noah it becomes quicker still. Noah has a special name, evidently his father new that something had to change and he prophesied of some to come by naming his child Noah.
Just as thousands of years ago, it is also the same today that God blesses and smiles upon those that serve and love him. This will never change.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Genesis 4
Genesis chapter 4
It doesn't take long for sin to get out of control. Unless someone actively seeks God, they will drift further away from his mercy and protection. Sin was now in the world and it was going to get worse, as is often the case with sin. Pride and ego seemed to be present with the first sin, and now jealousy and greed are going to place a part in this next sin. The bible does not say if this was actually the second sin, so we can only speculate. No doubt this was the first murder, and to make matters worse it was between brothers.
Cain and Abel both took offerings to the Lord. It appears as if Abel took the best (first fruits) and Cain just took what was available. God is is jealous God and wants the best we have to offer him at all times. God wants the best we can offer because he deserves the best we have to offer. Today we live in a world with the plan of Salvation and that was the best heaven had to offer us, so we in turn need to offer our best.
Cain gets jealous of Abel and finally kills him after an argument. I'm sure Cain did not set out to kill Abel, but as sin so often does, it takes you further away from God than you intended. When God comes asking after Abel, Cain sarcastically says that he's not his brothers keeper. Oh, we are indeed our brothers' keeper and we should forever look after our loved ones and fellow saints. We are to lean on one another and there has to be a certain familiarity for that to take place.
Cain doesn't despair for his brother but laments for his own lot in life. Cain had selfishness down pat and he was going to continue on this path. People sometimes ask, in a 'gotcha' kind of way, where did the people come from Cain married and lived with. Obviously they were his own flesh and blood. We don't know how much time passed between the exit from the garden, Cain and Abel's birth, to the murder of Abel. Since God doesn't mention creating other people, we are left with only one conclusion. This is not mysterious or a case of the bible come up short. Evidently the author assumed we were smart enough to figure this part out. So God puts a curse on anyone who touches Cain (again, no need for a vow or curse if he is only one of three people on the planet) that they will see greater judgment then Cain did.
We have the generations of Cain as the chapter ends. We end up with hints of good people and hints of more sin. With the birth of Seth and his son Enos, the bible says that 'then men began to call upon the name of the Lord'. As always, God's mercy shows through to man and his condition.
It doesn't take long for sin to get out of control. Unless someone actively seeks God, they will drift further away from his mercy and protection. Sin was now in the world and it was going to get worse, as is often the case with sin. Pride and ego seemed to be present with the first sin, and now jealousy and greed are going to place a part in this next sin. The bible does not say if this was actually the second sin, so we can only speculate. No doubt this was the first murder, and to make matters worse it was between brothers.
Cain and Abel both took offerings to the Lord. It appears as if Abel took the best (first fruits) and Cain just took what was available. God is is jealous God and wants the best we have to offer him at all times. God wants the best we can offer because he deserves the best we have to offer. Today we live in a world with the plan of Salvation and that was the best heaven had to offer us, so we in turn need to offer our best.
Cain gets jealous of Abel and finally kills him after an argument. I'm sure Cain did not set out to kill Abel, but as sin so often does, it takes you further away from God than you intended. When God comes asking after Abel, Cain sarcastically says that he's not his brothers keeper. Oh, we are indeed our brothers' keeper and we should forever look after our loved ones and fellow saints. We are to lean on one another and there has to be a certain familiarity for that to take place.
Cain doesn't despair for his brother but laments for his own lot in life. Cain had selfishness down pat and he was going to continue on this path. People sometimes ask, in a 'gotcha' kind of way, where did the people come from Cain married and lived with. Obviously they were his own flesh and blood. We don't know how much time passed between the exit from the garden, Cain and Abel's birth, to the murder of Abel. Since God doesn't mention creating other people, we are left with only one conclusion. This is not mysterious or a case of the bible come up short. Evidently the author assumed we were smart enough to figure this part out. So God puts a curse on anyone who touches Cain (again, no need for a vow or curse if he is only one of three people on the planet) that they will see greater judgment then Cain did.
We have the generations of Cain as the chapter ends. We end up with hints of good people and hints of more sin. With the birth of Seth and his son Enos, the bible says that 'then men began to call upon the name of the Lord'. As always, God's mercy shows through to man and his condition.
Genesis 3
Genesis chapter 3
As we start out in the third chapter there seems to be something amiss from the beginning. Why is Eve or anyone for that matter having a conversation with an animal. Why is Eve talking with an animal much less debating one? The world must have been an interesting place before sin entered into it. No doubt many things were different before sin. To answer this strange situation, what else was Satan going to appear as? If we appeared as anything else other than what Adam and Eve were familiar with, no doubt they would have been afraid, or at the very least knew not to trust him. That also goes to the point that Adam and Eve probably had nothing to fear ever. So appearing as an animal and talking probably was the best way to entice Adam and Eve.
Some points we can take from this are obvious. Do not talk to mysterious strangers, do not argue with strangers, and do not debate Satan, ever! Our strength lies in our Lord and Savior, not our lousy debating skills. Debating or arguing with Satan will just lead us to lose every time. I'm also not saying I've ever spoken directly with Satan, but we all have those moments when we're trying to justify something deep down we know we should just give the benefit of the doubt to Jesus. Those are the moments I'm referring too.
Satan mixes in a bit of truth when he temps Eve. He says you won't 'surely' die? As soon as she ate of that fruit death was on its way, but she would not actually choke on it and die that instant. That is the way of our sins as well. When we first sin we are just planting the seed, the real fruit comes out later. Satan also tempted her since of pride. He told her she would know the difference between good and evil. Now that we have hindsight to help us with a conclusion, was Adam and Eve better off with that knowledge? Just some politicians will go on about the poor and injustice of American society, but will themselves will never mention that the 'poor' in this country are far richer than most of the population of this planet. It doesn't help their argument so they leave it out. Satan tempted Eve with true but useless information. What she gave up was far worse than what she gained. Just as people are better off trying to improve themselves then listen to the one-sided truth of a politician with selfish ulterior motives. (As a side note, I did not start out to compare some politicians to Satan, it just turned out that way).
Notice the big fight that Adam puts up when he is tempted? Notice how the verse makes it sound like he was there the whole time and didn't say a word? Adam didn't put up a fight whatsoever, he willingly and unflinchingly went along with the sin. Some sin will stop in its tracks if you just don't give in to it. Gossip is one of those cases where you are in control to stop with you.Oh, but Adam just goes on to blame it on Eve, not even taking responsibility for his own actions.
With their new found wisdom they realize they are naked. Again, I do not see how this makes them better off, because they are not better off. Satan gives us compelling ideas and desires for things we don't need in the first place; he is the consummate sales person. They cover themselves up and God comes looking for them. Here is an illustration that only the Saviors blood can hide our naked sin. God also has to make them clothes because the clothes they made are insufficient. This also is a precursor to show us we cannot earn our way to Heaven.
Make no mistake that God knew where they were and that they were not hiding from anyone. God knows our sins and he even knows before we commit them. As punishment Adam and Eve are kicked out of the Garden and hard work and travail in birth are also punishments. God lets them know that he still loves them and that there will one day be redemption for their sin. God always has mercy while we live.
As we start out in the third chapter there seems to be something amiss from the beginning. Why is Eve or anyone for that matter having a conversation with an animal. Why is Eve talking with an animal much less debating one? The world must have been an interesting place before sin entered into it. No doubt many things were different before sin. To answer this strange situation, what else was Satan going to appear as? If we appeared as anything else other than what Adam and Eve were familiar with, no doubt they would have been afraid, or at the very least knew not to trust him. That also goes to the point that Adam and Eve probably had nothing to fear ever. So appearing as an animal and talking probably was the best way to entice Adam and Eve.
Some points we can take from this are obvious. Do not talk to mysterious strangers, do not argue with strangers, and do not debate Satan, ever! Our strength lies in our Lord and Savior, not our lousy debating skills. Debating or arguing with Satan will just lead us to lose every time. I'm also not saying I've ever spoken directly with Satan, but we all have those moments when we're trying to justify something deep down we know we should just give the benefit of the doubt to Jesus. Those are the moments I'm referring too.
Satan mixes in a bit of truth when he temps Eve. He says you won't 'surely' die? As soon as she ate of that fruit death was on its way, but she would not actually choke on it and die that instant. That is the way of our sins as well. When we first sin we are just planting the seed, the real fruit comes out later. Satan also tempted her since of pride. He told her she would know the difference between good and evil. Now that we have hindsight to help us with a conclusion, was Adam and Eve better off with that knowledge? Just some politicians will go on about the poor and injustice of American society, but will themselves will never mention that the 'poor' in this country are far richer than most of the population of this planet. It doesn't help their argument so they leave it out. Satan tempted Eve with true but useless information. What she gave up was far worse than what she gained. Just as people are better off trying to improve themselves then listen to the one-sided truth of a politician with selfish ulterior motives. (As a side note, I did not start out to compare some politicians to Satan, it just turned out that way).
Notice the big fight that Adam puts up when he is tempted? Notice how the verse makes it sound like he was there the whole time and didn't say a word? Adam didn't put up a fight whatsoever, he willingly and unflinchingly went along with the sin. Some sin will stop in its tracks if you just don't give in to it. Gossip is one of those cases where you are in control to stop with you.Oh, but Adam just goes on to blame it on Eve, not even taking responsibility for his own actions.
With their new found wisdom they realize they are naked. Again, I do not see how this makes them better off, because they are not better off. Satan gives us compelling ideas and desires for things we don't need in the first place; he is the consummate sales person. They cover themselves up and God comes looking for them. Here is an illustration that only the Saviors blood can hide our naked sin. God also has to make them clothes because the clothes they made are insufficient. This also is a precursor to show us we cannot earn our way to Heaven.
Make no mistake that God knew where they were and that they were not hiding from anyone. God knows our sins and he even knows before we commit them. As punishment Adam and Eve are kicked out of the Garden and hard work and travail in birth are also punishments. God lets them know that he still loves them and that there will one day be redemption for their sin. God always has mercy while we live.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)