Friday, September 30, 2005
Genesis 8
Genesis 8
“The Flood”
In Chapter 7, Noah entered the ark, and God flooded the Earth. All of Humanity, less the 8 people on the ark, were destroyed. God flooded Earth, killing all of the wickedness of Humanity.
Vs. 1 “But God remembered”
God remembered Noah and the animals on the ark. I can’t imagine what it must be like to destroy all that you have created and loved because it turned against you, but that is what God had to deal with. Humanity had become haters of God, the One who created them. So God preserves a small section of Humanity and animals for reproducing after the flood had taken all the others.
Consider this:
Let’s look at it from Noah’s view. One day you are living life as you always had, not living to please God, and then God interrupts all life as you know it and changes your heart (Gen 6:8). Now, you are one who cares about what God thinks but no one else around you really does. Then God drops the bomb on you that He is going to destroy all that you see around you (Gen. 6:13); every living thing that breathes. God tells you that you have been chosen to propagate the Earth after the flood (Gen. 6:18). A few things overwhelm you: one is that you are not going to die; the other is that everything and everyone else is!
How would you respond?
Well it gets worse. Noah is called to tell people that life is going to end, for 120 years this is what Noah does(Gen. 6:3, 1 Pet. 3:20). No one believes him, because nothing happens. 120 years of nothing happening, yet Noah continues to build anyway. Then at the first sign of rain, Noah is told to get his family on the ark. I am sure as they began to load up people laughed at him. “Do you think this RAIN will kill us all?” they mock. But when the waters rise, they begin to cry out to Noah, but the doors of the ark have already been closed by God. Then the worst happened. Noah had to hear his neighbors, all of his extended family, and all the people that he had known die (Gen 7:21-24). Did they scratch at the sides of the ark? Did they yell and cry out until they sunk underwater? And then, all that was is no more. Noah had to wait until all was over before he could get off the ark. When the ground finally showed itself again (Gen. 8:3-14). God calls to Noah, and tells him to come out. He and his family step out of the ark (Gen. 8:18).
How does a man deal with this?
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD” - Gen 8:20
Noah dealt with it the only way he could. He recognized that God has the power to both create life, and to end it. It doesn’t have to make sense to us, it just is. Noah may have dealt with being mad at God. Noah may have been scared, angry, confused, or any combination of feelings. BUT! At the end of the day, Noah knew it was right to worship God.
What are the floods in your life?
How do they challenge your faith?
Better yet, how do worship God when it is all over?
Gen 8:20-21
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”
“The Flood”
In Chapter 7, Noah entered the ark, and God flooded the Earth. All of Humanity, less the 8 people on the ark, were destroyed. God flooded Earth, killing all of the wickedness of Humanity.
Vs. 1 “But God remembered”
God remembered Noah and the animals on the ark. I can’t imagine what it must be like to destroy all that you have created and loved because it turned against you, but that is what God had to deal with. Humanity had become haters of God, the One who created them. So God preserves a small section of Humanity and animals for reproducing after the flood had taken all the others.
Consider this:
Let’s look at it from Noah’s view. One day you are living life as you always had, not living to please God, and then God interrupts all life as you know it and changes your heart (Gen 6:8). Now, you are one who cares about what God thinks but no one else around you really does. Then God drops the bomb on you that He is going to destroy all that you see around you (Gen. 6:13); every living thing that breathes. God tells you that you have been chosen to propagate the Earth after the flood (Gen. 6:18). A few things overwhelm you: one is that you are not going to die; the other is that everything and everyone else is!
How would you respond?
Well it gets worse. Noah is called to tell people that life is going to end, for 120 years this is what Noah does(Gen. 6:3, 1 Pet. 3:20). No one believes him, because nothing happens. 120 years of nothing happening, yet Noah continues to build anyway. Then at the first sign of rain, Noah is told to get his family on the ark. I am sure as they began to load up people laughed at him. “Do you think this RAIN will kill us all?” they mock. But when the waters rise, they begin to cry out to Noah, but the doors of the ark have already been closed by God. Then the worst happened. Noah had to hear his neighbors, all of his extended family, and all the people that he had known die (Gen 7:21-24). Did they scratch at the sides of the ark? Did they yell and cry out until they sunk underwater? And then, all that was is no more. Noah had to wait until all was over before he could get off the ark. When the ground finally showed itself again (Gen. 8:3-14). God calls to Noah, and tells him to come out. He and his family step out of the ark (Gen. 8:18).
How does a man deal with this?
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD” - Gen 8:20
Noah dealt with it the only way he could. He recognized that God has the power to both create life, and to end it. It doesn’t have to make sense to us, it just is. Noah may have dealt with being mad at God. Noah may have been scared, angry, confused, or any combination of feelings. BUT! At the end of the day, Noah knew it was right to worship God.
What are the floods in your life?
How do they challenge your faith?
Better yet, how do worship God when it is all over?
Gen 8:20-21
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”
Monday, September 26, 2005
Genesis 7
Genesis 7
Getting on the Ark
At the beginning of Genesis 6, God tells Noah that He is finished contending with Humanity. God gives man 120 years to hear His message, that sin is killing them, and they need to turn their life around.
“Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." - Genesis 6:3
Peter tells gives us insight about the times of Noah in his 2 letters. He says that “God waited patiently in the days of Noah” – 1 Peter 3:20; and he tells us that “Noah was a preacher of righteousness” – 2 Peter 2:5. So we know what happened in the 120 years while Noah built the ark. God waited patiently, Noah preached the message of God, and humanity didn’t listen.
Chapter 7
Vs. 1 “The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family”. The time came for Noah to get into the ark, and the only people that went with him were his family. God had waited patiently, and Noah had told the people what was going to happen, but nobody listened…just Noah’s family. Imagine the disappointment of Noah that no one else listened. So, Noah loads the ark with the animals and supplies that God has told him to bring.
Vs. 5 “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” The difference between Noah’s family, and all of creation, was obedience. Noah did what God told him to do. When given the command to build an ark, Noah got to work. When told to tell others of coming destruction, Noah warned the people. Even though nobody listened, Noah had been obedient. Now the time to enter came, and Noah got his family on board.
Vs. 6-23, the rains begin to fall. Their comes a day when it is too late. Anyone who was not on board when God Himself shut the door didn’t get on.
Vs. 24 “The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.” For the next 5 months God flooded the Earth just as he had told Noah, and just as Noah had told others. There comes a day when it is too late, and this was the day. Almost all of Humanity died in this, in fact most of the entire world died. Only 8 people survived on the entire planet. It wasn’t that they had not been warned, but that they did not listen.
What do we not listen to?
What is God saying to us today?
Is God telling you something, and you are not listening?
Closing thoughts:
Maybe God is calling you to come to know Him for the first time. Maybe you have known God all your life, and He is just calling you to change your life in some way. There will come a day, when God will quit asking, and time will be up.
Job 36:11-12“If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.”
Getting on the Ark
At the beginning of Genesis 6, God tells Noah that He is finished contending with Humanity. God gives man 120 years to hear His message, that sin is killing them, and they need to turn their life around.
“Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." - Genesis 6:3
Peter tells gives us insight about the times of Noah in his 2 letters. He says that “God waited patiently in the days of Noah” – 1 Peter 3:20; and he tells us that “Noah was a preacher of righteousness” – 2 Peter 2:5. So we know what happened in the 120 years while Noah built the ark. God waited patiently, Noah preached the message of God, and humanity didn’t listen.
Chapter 7
Vs. 1 “The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family”. The time came for Noah to get into the ark, and the only people that went with him were his family. God had waited patiently, and Noah had told the people what was going to happen, but nobody listened…just Noah’s family. Imagine the disappointment of Noah that no one else listened. So, Noah loads the ark with the animals and supplies that God has told him to bring.
Vs. 5 “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” The difference between Noah’s family, and all of creation, was obedience. Noah did what God told him to do. When given the command to build an ark, Noah got to work. When told to tell others of coming destruction, Noah warned the people. Even though nobody listened, Noah had been obedient. Now the time to enter came, and Noah got his family on board.
Vs. 6-23, the rains begin to fall. Their comes a day when it is too late. Anyone who was not on board when God Himself shut the door didn’t get on.
Vs. 24 “The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.” For the next 5 months God flooded the Earth just as he had told Noah, and just as Noah had told others. There comes a day when it is too late, and this was the day. Almost all of Humanity died in this, in fact most of the entire world died. Only 8 people survived on the entire planet. It wasn’t that they had not been warned, but that they did not listen.
What do we not listen to?
What is God saying to us today?
Is God telling you something, and you are not listening?
Closing thoughts:
Maybe God is calling you to come to know Him for the first time. Maybe you have known God all your life, and He is just calling you to change your life in some way. There will come a day, when God will quit asking, and time will be up.
Job 36:11-12“If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.”
Friday, September 23, 2005
Genesis 6
Genesis 6
“Favor in the Eyes of the LORD”
We left off last chapter talking about what God had to say about the rebellion of Humanity. “Every inclination of their heart is only evil all the time” says the LORD.
It is a sad and desperate place of hopelessness that we find our early historical fathers in.
Vs. 8 “But Noah found FAVOR in the eyes of the LORD”
This word is the turning point for humanity. Favor in this passage is the Hebrew word “khane” (OT 2580) meaning grace. Noah found grace in the eyes of God. God showed great favor to Noah. So, why Noah? Most will tell you that Noah was a righteous man, in fact it says so in verse 9. The problem with that is that it isn’t true. Noah was not righteous until God gave Noah grace! It is by God’s grace that Noah is seen as righteous. Noah gets the gift of salvation from God Almighty.
Vs. 9
Then Noah becomes a righteous man. The result of God’s grace interacting in our life is righteousness. Not perfection, but righteousness. The difference is our own guilt being paid for. Then the next words of the verse ring a familiar tune from the last chapter. Noah then “walked with God”. Noah continued on in his life with the Creator of the Earth. It goes down in the annals of history as Noah, a man who walked with God.
Vs. 11-21
“Now the Earth was corrupt”, says the text, “and full of violence”. God has allowed life to walk so far away from Him, that He even grieved creating the whole of Humanity. So God calls Noah to build an ark. Noah, through the grace of God, will be the salvation of his family. Eight people will survive the flood, because Noah walked with God.
Vs. 22
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him”
That is what walking with God looks like. Obedience. That is our charge. God will only tolerate disobedience for a time. We don’t ever know how long, or when it will end, but we can know that we are safe. We do this by receiving God’s grace, and then walking with God.
What a legacy to leave to the children of Noah. He left them the legacy of life. He walked with God, and they were able to live.
“Favor in the Eyes of the LORD”
We left off last chapter talking about what God had to say about the rebellion of Humanity. “Every inclination of their heart is only evil all the time” says the LORD.
It is a sad and desperate place of hopelessness that we find our early historical fathers in.
Vs. 8 “But Noah found FAVOR in the eyes of the LORD”
This word is the turning point for humanity. Favor in this passage is the Hebrew word “khane” (OT 2580) meaning grace. Noah found grace in the eyes of God. God showed great favor to Noah. So, why Noah? Most will tell you that Noah was a righteous man, in fact it says so in verse 9. The problem with that is that it isn’t true. Noah was not righteous until God gave Noah grace! It is by God’s grace that Noah is seen as righteous. Noah gets the gift of salvation from God Almighty.
Vs. 9
Then Noah becomes a righteous man. The result of God’s grace interacting in our life is righteousness. Not perfection, but righteousness. The difference is our own guilt being paid for. Then the next words of the verse ring a familiar tune from the last chapter. Noah then “walked with God”. Noah continued on in his life with the Creator of the Earth. It goes down in the annals of history as Noah, a man who walked with God.
Vs. 11-21
“Now the Earth was corrupt”, says the text, “and full of violence”. God has allowed life to walk so far away from Him, that He even grieved creating the whole of Humanity. So God calls Noah to build an ark. Noah, through the grace of God, will be the salvation of his family. Eight people will survive the flood, because Noah walked with God.
Vs. 22
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him”
That is what walking with God looks like. Obedience. That is our charge. God will only tolerate disobedience for a time. We don’t ever know how long, or when it will end, but we can know that we are safe. We do this by receiving God’s grace, and then walking with God.
What a legacy to leave to the children of Noah. He left them the legacy of life. He walked with God, and they were able to live.
Genesis 5
Genesis 5
“1656 years from Adam to Noah”
In Genesis 1 and 2 Humanity is created and is obedient. Nothing goes wrong until Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve disobey God. There rebellion is bad enough, but we see an escalation of the next generation as one brother kills another brother. Then in the same chapter we see a man by the name of Lamech, who is also the first polygamist, kill men and brag about it. Rebellion continues to escalate as it always does as we draw further and further away from God.
Vs. 1
Moses, the author of Genesis, writes about our original state as he starts the genealogy of Adam.
Vs. 3-32
These verses are leading reading the white pages of the phone book! Names of men, who have sons, and then die. Live, have sons, and die… live, have sons, and then die. That is the main progression from one verse to another. To quote another pastor, “Each man gets on the stationary bicycle of life and peddles until he dies. Then, when he is done, he falls off only to be succeeded by his son who does the same.” (Mark Driscoll)
People tend to believe that we are becoming better, or more moral, or even closer to God as we live. The Bible doesn’t tell us this. In just a few short chapters of Genesis we see each generation become more corrupt than the one before it. It gets so bad that God will decide to destroy the Earth in the following chapter.
Genesis 6:5-8
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth — men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air — for I am grieved that I have made them.”
So, in 1656 years Humanity goes from Created in the Image of God, to one sin of disobedience, to murder, to “every inclination of man’s heart is only evil all the time”. We slide off to a place so vile that God’s own heart is grieved that he made Humanity at all.
One notable thing stands out in Genesis 5.
Vs. 21-24 “Enoch walked with God”
Of all the generations of men who were born, one man stands out among the crowd, Enoch. Enoch walked with God. The Bible tells us that one man, significantly, in 1656 years walked with God.
Jude 14 tells us that Enoch was a prophet. He warned those who were disobedient and rebellious to turn to the God who created them. The author of Hebrews calls Enoch a man of faith.
Walk with God!
In almost two millennia one man stood out among the rest as one who walked with God. He did so by faith, and by being one who told others about the God who created them. May we be the ones that stand out in this generation.
Hebrews 11:5-6
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
“1656 years from Adam to Noah”
In Genesis 1 and 2 Humanity is created and is obedient. Nothing goes wrong until Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve disobey God. There rebellion is bad enough, but we see an escalation of the next generation as one brother kills another brother. Then in the same chapter we see a man by the name of Lamech, who is also the first polygamist, kill men and brag about it. Rebellion continues to escalate as it always does as we draw further and further away from God.
Vs. 1
Moses, the author of Genesis, writes about our original state as he starts the genealogy of Adam.
Vs. 3-32
These verses are leading reading the white pages of the phone book! Names of men, who have sons, and then die. Live, have sons, and die… live, have sons, and then die. That is the main progression from one verse to another. To quote another pastor, “Each man gets on the stationary bicycle of life and peddles until he dies. Then, when he is done, he falls off only to be succeeded by his son who does the same.” (Mark Driscoll)
People tend to believe that we are becoming better, or more moral, or even closer to God as we live. The Bible doesn’t tell us this. In just a few short chapters of Genesis we see each generation become more corrupt than the one before it. It gets so bad that God will decide to destroy the Earth in the following chapter.
Genesis 6:5-8
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth — men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air — for I am grieved that I have made them.”
So, in 1656 years Humanity goes from Created in the Image of God, to one sin of disobedience, to murder, to “every inclination of man’s heart is only evil all the time”. We slide off to a place so vile that God’s own heart is grieved that he made Humanity at all.
One notable thing stands out in Genesis 5.
Vs. 21-24 “Enoch walked with God”
Of all the generations of men who were born, one man stands out among the crowd, Enoch. Enoch walked with God. The Bible tells us that one man, significantly, in 1656 years walked with God.
Jude 14 tells us that Enoch was a prophet. He warned those who were disobedient and rebellious to turn to the God who created them. The author of Hebrews calls Enoch a man of faith.
Walk with God!
In almost two millennia one man stood out among the rest as one who walked with God. He did so by faith, and by being one who told others about the God who created them. May we be the ones that stand out in this generation.
Hebrews 11:5-6
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Genesis 4
Genesis 4
“How We Worship God Matters”
In this chapter, Humanity has been restored to God and worship of God continues. Our ancient parents have their first two children (verses 1-2), and the family unit begins to grow. Cain and Abel are born.
Genesis 4:2-5
“…Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”
So many times I have heard it was what Abel brought that was better than what Cain brought. People have said that it was supposed to be a living animal offered to God, not “fruits of the soil”. Both are untrue.
Vs. 4 “offering”
What Cain and Abel were both doing was worshipping God with “offering”. This was not a sin sacrifice. This was an act of worship. Cain worked the ground, and Abel kept the flocks. That is what they did. Neither one was better than the other they were just simply different.
Vs. 3-4 “some verses best”
These verse shed light on the true issue at hand. Cain brings some, while it says that Abel brought the fat portions. Able knew what it was to worship the God who created the universe, and he was honored by God. Cain, brought what he thought was ok.
The eventual outcome is tragic. Cain becomes jealous of God’s approval of Abel, and kills him because of it. When, the entire time, it is an issue of Cain’s heart towards God that needs to be fixed.
We in the Church in America have much the same problem, if not worse. We believe that if we go to church, maybe put some money in the basket, and say our prayers we are ok. We bring some, most often very little or nothing. Cain brought some. He just didn’t bring his best. Abel brought his beast to God and was honored for it.
What do you bring to God?
Do you bring some?
Or, do you bring all?
1 Samuel 15:22“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
“How We Worship God Matters”
In this chapter, Humanity has been restored to God and worship of God continues. Our ancient parents have their first two children (verses 1-2), and the family unit begins to grow. Cain and Abel are born.
Genesis 4:2-5
“…Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”
So many times I have heard it was what Abel brought that was better than what Cain brought. People have said that it was supposed to be a living animal offered to God, not “fruits of the soil”. Both are untrue.
Vs. 4 “offering”
What Cain and Abel were both doing was worshipping God with “offering”. This was not a sin sacrifice. This was an act of worship. Cain worked the ground, and Abel kept the flocks. That is what they did. Neither one was better than the other they were just simply different.
Vs. 3-4 “some verses best”
These verse shed light on the true issue at hand. Cain brings some, while it says that Abel brought the fat portions. Able knew what it was to worship the God who created the universe, and he was honored by God. Cain, brought what he thought was ok.
The eventual outcome is tragic. Cain becomes jealous of God’s approval of Abel, and kills him because of it. When, the entire time, it is an issue of Cain’s heart towards God that needs to be fixed.
We in the Church in America have much the same problem, if not worse. We believe that if we go to church, maybe put some money in the basket, and say our prayers we are ok. We bring some, most often very little or nothing. Cain brought some. He just didn’t bring his best. Abel brought his beast to God and was honored for it.
What do you bring to God?
Do you bring some?
Or, do you bring all?
1 Samuel 15:22“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Genesis 3
Genesis 3
“The Fall of Humanity”
In quoting the great King Solomon of Israel, “there is nothing new under the sun”. We find that to be as true today as it was 3000 years ago when it was written. It seems that we often see today what has happened time and again in the past.
Genesis 1 and 2 shows us how we were created to be from the beginning. It also shows us the plan of intimacy for our lives. However, in Genesis 3 we see how we tend to all foul up the plan.
Vs. 1 “did God really say...”
How many times have people fallen prey to this type of question? The evil enters when humanity begins to question God. Do we get the right to question the boundaries set in place by the God that created us? Since God created us, and God loves, which is what Genesis 1 is about; and God has an intimate plan for our lives, which is what Genesis 2 is about… then God gets to designate all the boundaries, since He knows what is best for us. As soon as we begin to question God, we are looking at the beginning of the end. Now this does not mean that we are to go blindly into obedience. God wrote the entire Bible to answer the questions we have, but to actually question the Creator of the universe on whether or not He is right is a dangerous venue.
Vs. 4 “you will not surely die”
Now the narrative moves us from questioning God, to outright denying the truth of God. How often we think we know better than the One who created us. IF we decide that God is wrong, then we have inevitably placed ourselves above our Creator in authority. WE decide, WE choose what is right or wrong, then WE act on it as WE have decided to. Our historical parents decide to buy into the belief that they know better than God.
Vs. 6
Disobeying God always has a pleasing look. If it didn’t we would never choose to disobey. Vs. 6 says that the fruit “looked pleasing to the eye”. This one bite will turn out to be the most bitter decision ever made by these two people. Yet, it looked to be so sweet.
Vs. 7
This verse takes us back to the end of Chapter 2 where it says “the man and woman were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). The essence of being naked shows innocence, just like an infant or toddler will often run around naked and feels no shame, because there is innocence there. Here in chapter 3 we see the first couple feel shame, and it is recognized in their seeing themselves as naked for the first time. So they tie fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Vs. 10-13
With the first disobedience come the first desire to not take the blame or accountability that come with it. The man blames the woman, the woman blames the manipulative serpent. It is a never ending cycle of “it’s not my fault”.
Vs. 19
The most sorrowful verse in the bible is here where death enters into humanity. We were created to live forever in worship of the God who created us, but death entered in with disobedience.
Vs. 20
Adam learns his lesson, as does Eve. The very next verse we see is Adam naming Eve. Just as it was designed to be, Adam takes his place of leadership and names his wife. Today we see this played out as people get married. The woman traditionally gives up her maiden name, and takes the family name of the man. It is a symbol of her giving her allegiance to her husband, and he taking his place of leadership in his new family. The image of the family is beginning to be restored.
Vs. 21
Since the time of the fall, Adam and Eve were covering their own shame with fig leaves. God now enters in and claims His place of authority by teaching the early parents that they were not able to cover their own shame. So God kills an animal, and covers the two in the skins. God teaches a lesson that day to the reconciled people, God covers our sins, we cannot do it ourselves.
So how does the story end?
Are we no longer created in God’s image?
How are we ever to reconcile with God?
Does God no longer care about His creation?
The story is forever changed, but it doesn’t end here. In fact the first promise for the future is in the middle of all the negative part of Genesis 3.
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
We have the promise that Jesus will come, and we will be restored to God. God continues to care about us, and desires to see us walk intimately with Him.
“The Fall of Humanity”
In quoting the great King Solomon of Israel, “there is nothing new under the sun”. We find that to be as true today as it was 3000 years ago when it was written. It seems that we often see today what has happened time and again in the past.
Genesis 1 and 2 shows us how we were created to be from the beginning. It also shows us the plan of intimacy for our lives. However, in Genesis 3 we see how we tend to all foul up the plan.
Vs. 1 “did God really say...”
How many times have people fallen prey to this type of question? The evil enters when humanity begins to question God. Do we get the right to question the boundaries set in place by the God that created us? Since God created us, and God loves, which is what Genesis 1 is about; and God has an intimate plan for our lives, which is what Genesis 2 is about… then God gets to designate all the boundaries, since He knows what is best for us. As soon as we begin to question God, we are looking at the beginning of the end. Now this does not mean that we are to go blindly into obedience. God wrote the entire Bible to answer the questions we have, but to actually question the Creator of the universe on whether or not He is right is a dangerous venue.
Vs. 4 “you will not surely die”
Now the narrative moves us from questioning God, to outright denying the truth of God. How often we think we know better than the One who created us. IF we decide that God is wrong, then we have inevitably placed ourselves above our Creator in authority. WE decide, WE choose what is right or wrong, then WE act on it as WE have decided to. Our historical parents decide to buy into the belief that they know better than God.
Vs. 6
Disobeying God always has a pleasing look. If it didn’t we would never choose to disobey. Vs. 6 says that the fruit “looked pleasing to the eye”. This one bite will turn out to be the most bitter decision ever made by these two people. Yet, it looked to be so sweet.
Vs. 7
This verse takes us back to the end of Chapter 2 where it says “the man and woman were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). The essence of being naked shows innocence, just like an infant or toddler will often run around naked and feels no shame, because there is innocence there. Here in chapter 3 we see the first couple feel shame, and it is recognized in their seeing themselves as naked for the first time. So they tie fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Vs. 10-13
With the first disobedience come the first desire to not take the blame or accountability that come with it. The man blames the woman, the woman blames the manipulative serpent. It is a never ending cycle of “it’s not my fault”.
Vs. 19
The most sorrowful verse in the bible is here where death enters into humanity. We were created to live forever in worship of the God who created us, but death entered in with disobedience.
Vs. 20
Adam learns his lesson, as does Eve. The very next verse we see is Adam naming Eve. Just as it was designed to be, Adam takes his place of leadership and names his wife. Today we see this played out as people get married. The woman traditionally gives up her maiden name, and takes the family name of the man. It is a symbol of her giving her allegiance to her husband, and he taking his place of leadership in his new family. The image of the family is beginning to be restored.
Vs. 21
Since the time of the fall, Adam and Eve were covering their own shame with fig leaves. God now enters in and claims His place of authority by teaching the early parents that they were not able to cover their own shame. So God kills an animal, and covers the two in the skins. God teaches a lesson that day to the reconciled people, God covers our sins, we cannot do it ourselves.
So how does the story end?
Are we no longer created in God’s image?
How are we ever to reconcile with God?
Does God no longer care about His creation?
The story is forever changed, but it doesn’t end here. In fact the first promise for the future is in the middle of all the negative part of Genesis 3.
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
We have the promise that Jesus will come, and we will be restored to God. God continues to care about us, and desires to see us walk intimately with Him.
Genesis 2
Genesis 2.
God's Intimacy:
So if in Genesis 1 we see God create all of the world and creation as we know it, including of course humanity, why does Genesis 2 tell it a different way? The answer is in the language. Genesis 2 is all about the intimate creation of Humanity. Genesis 1 is like looking down from an airplane and viewing Creation, while Genesis 2 is like looking in a mirror and viewing Creation.
Vs. 7
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Last chapter we learned that we are created in God’s image. The Imago Dei is one of the most highly discussed topics in man’s creation. We are made in God’s image. There is no higher image to be created in than God’s. However, before we begin to get to carried away with our creation of highest nobility, we are also told we are created from the dust of the ground. Somewhere between knowing we are created in God’s image, and understanding that we are formed from the dirt, is a right self-understanding, and a right self-image.
Next, we see that God “breathed” life into humanity’s nostrils. The language here is so intimate as God presses His lips to our very own face and breathes the “breath of life” into His favorite creation, humanity. The intimacy with which God created us is the intimacy in which we are to live in throughout our lives. God never would have created us so intimately if we were not supposed to remain in intimate relationship with Him.
Vs. 15
Man is given a vocation and a purpose. God placed our early father Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to care for it. He was to take care of the things around him, not because the Earth around him was more valuable to him, but because it was his place of responsibility. Adam was given Eden as a gift, and by that he was created to care for it.
Vs. 18
“It is not good for man to be alone” is the next way we see God remaining intimate in Man’s life. Our early patriarch of humanity was not left to fend for himself, God was looking at his needs with an eye to care for him. So God commits to finding the right “helper” for Adam (vs. 18b). Then, when all is said and done, Eve is created by God.
Vs. 21-22
Eve is our first woman, and created differently than Adam was. She was created for a specific purpose, not less than or greater than Adam, but different from. She was created out of the side of Adam, where she should remain. Again, not above or below, but out of the side.
Vs. 24
Among the many things created by God is marriage.
Closing thoughts:
We are not a thing that accidentally spun off from some other life form, nor are we a life form that God created and then has left alone to do as we please. We were created to be intimate with our Creator.
God's Intimacy:
So if in Genesis 1 we see God create all of the world and creation as we know it, including of course humanity, why does Genesis 2 tell it a different way? The answer is in the language. Genesis 2 is all about the intimate creation of Humanity. Genesis 1 is like looking down from an airplane and viewing Creation, while Genesis 2 is like looking in a mirror and viewing Creation.
Vs. 7
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Last chapter we learned that we are created in God’s image. The Imago Dei is one of the most highly discussed topics in man’s creation. We are made in God’s image. There is no higher image to be created in than God’s. However, before we begin to get to carried away with our creation of highest nobility, we are also told we are created from the dust of the ground. Somewhere between knowing we are created in God’s image, and understanding that we are formed from the dirt, is a right self-understanding, and a right self-image.
Next, we see that God “breathed” life into humanity’s nostrils. The language here is so intimate as God presses His lips to our very own face and breathes the “breath of life” into His favorite creation, humanity. The intimacy with which God created us is the intimacy in which we are to live in throughout our lives. God never would have created us so intimately if we were not supposed to remain in intimate relationship with Him.
Vs. 15
Man is given a vocation and a purpose. God placed our early father Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to care for it. He was to take care of the things around him, not because the Earth around him was more valuable to him, but because it was his place of responsibility. Adam was given Eden as a gift, and by that he was created to care for it.
Vs. 18
“It is not good for man to be alone” is the next way we see God remaining intimate in Man’s life. Our early patriarch of humanity was not left to fend for himself, God was looking at his needs with an eye to care for him. So God commits to finding the right “helper” for Adam (vs. 18b). Then, when all is said and done, Eve is created by God.
Vs. 21-22
Eve is our first woman, and created differently than Adam was. She was created for a specific purpose, not less than or greater than Adam, but different from. She was created out of the side of Adam, where she should remain. Again, not above or below, but out of the side.
Vs. 24
Among the many things created by God is marriage.
Closing thoughts:
We are not a thing that accidentally spun off from some other life form, nor are we a life form that God created and then has left alone to do as we please. We were created to be intimate with our Creator.
Genesis 1
Genesis 1.
The beginning. It is the beginning of our heritage from God, and a beginning to how God wants to be in community with us. It dispells the beliefs that we are some form of lucky accident, and that our origins are less than divine design. We are created, intentionally and specifically, and we are very good.
Vs. 1
This is a very powerful Theological statement. This is the History of God, there is no beginning, there is no before. God already was...in the beginning.
Vs. 27
Now a very impacting statement is made about Mankind. Humanity is created in God's own image. Many theologians have spent much time and effort on describing the "imago dei" (Latin for image of God). Think of the ways you are created in God's image: ability to decide, think, and learn; knowledge of right and wrong; desire for things eternal; an understanding of the fact that there is more to life.
This separates us from any other type of created thing on Earth. We are different! We are created in God's image.
Vs. 28
We are a people with purpose. God has created to live with a purpose. Does your dog or cat seem to have a purpose? No, of course not. In fact, their sole purpose is to please us. We however were created to have a purpose. Here it is from Gen. 1:28: be fruitfull - figure out what God has intended for you and do it; increase in number - raise up families, children are a blessing from God; fill the Earth - don't try and stay still, go out and share what you know with others; subdue it (the Earth) - go take on life as it was meant to be and live radically as it was designed to be lived; rule over the animals - we are not "plants that got lucky and became animals that became people, we are above that, in fact we are designed to be rulers here on Earth under God's command and blessing.
Now go out and live as if you were a blessed people with a purpose!
Vs. 31
"and it was very good" says God! If you read the entire chapter you will see that after each major creation God says that things are good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). God created each of these things different from the things before, each with its own purpose, and each thing was good. But, when God created and blessed man, He looked upon His creation, and it was very good.
Remember! You are designed by God to be very good.
The beginning. It is the beginning of our heritage from God, and a beginning to how God wants to be in community with us. It dispells the beliefs that we are some form of lucky accident, and that our origins are less than divine design. We are created, intentionally and specifically, and we are very good.
Vs. 1
This is a very powerful Theological statement. This is the History of God, there is no beginning, there is no before. God already was...in the beginning.
Vs. 27
Now a very impacting statement is made about Mankind. Humanity is created in God's own image. Many theologians have spent much time and effort on describing the "imago dei" (Latin for image of God). Think of the ways you are created in God's image: ability to decide, think, and learn; knowledge of right and wrong; desire for things eternal; an understanding of the fact that there is more to life.
This separates us from any other type of created thing on Earth. We are different! We are created in God's image.
Vs. 28
We are a people with purpose. God has created to live with a purpose. Does your dog or cat seem to have a purpose? No, of course not. In fact, their sole purpose is to please us. We however were created to have a purpose. Here it is from Gen. 1:28: be fruitfull - figure out what God has intended for you and do it; increase in number - raise up families, children are a blessing from God; fill the Earth - don't try and stay still, go out and share what you know with others; subdue it (the Earth) - go take on life as it was meant to be and live radically as it was designed to be lived; rule over the animals - we are not "plants that got lucky and became animals that became people, we are above that, in fact we are designed to be rulers here on Earth under God's command and blessing.
Now go out and live as if you were a blessed people with a purpose!
Vs. 31
"and it was very good" says God! If you read the entire chapter you will see that after each major creation God says that things are good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). God created each of these things different from the things before, each with its own purpose, and each thing was good. But, when God created and blessed man, He looked upon His creation, and it was very good.
Remember! You are designed by God to be very good.
