I had several thoughts about Ch 20... my first one was a very human thought: wow, Sarah must have been in great shape for being 90! Then, I thought about how Abraham had a bad habit of repeating past problems (see Gen 12:10-20)... but I know I struggle with this, too... I think I've mastered an area of my life, and then, Bam!, I do the same dumb, sinful thing all over again!... and it's those half-truths that can really get me, because I want to justify them by saying, well, I didn't exactly lie... but we find out in Ch 21, that that can really catch up to us (more about this below). Also, I thought it was cool that God upheld Abraham even though Abraham had messed up again... God tells Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet and that through Abraham's prayers, Abimelech's family would live (and we find out later, be healed... verses 7, and 17-18).
The study notes also said that Abimelech represents a kind of "accountability partner"... one who bravely sets you straight (verse 9-10)... thank-you for helping us in this area and holding us accountable! We all need people who are willing to do this. :)
Chapter 21: Both God and Abraham fulfill parts of their treaty.... I thought Sarah's reaction to having a baby was so sweet (verse 7), I was like, AWWWW. :)
In verses 8-21, I thought it was cool how God uses everything for His good and as a part of His plan... even when we mess up, it doesn't thwart God, He just continues in the blessings... of course there is consequence for sinful actions (like the jealousy and heartbreak over two wives and two sons, etc). I also liked how it says that God was with Ishmael (verse 20)... even though he was abandoned by his own family, he still had God by his side. Oh, and an interesting note... I always thought that Ishmael was a very young boy when I read just this part in the past (the way it talks about Hagar taking the stuff, the boy crying, and her taking him by the hand - verses 14, 16-18), but when I calculated the years, Ishmael was actually 15.
I thought it was interesting that Abraham and Abimelech were still friends after the half-truth (or we'll just call it what it was: a lie) Abraham told him about Sarah (Ch 20)... but it did strike me, also, that Abraham's past lie still characterized him to some degree, because Abimelech asked Abraham if Abraham was going to deal falsely with him (verse 23)... so, just because God has forgiven us, does not mean that the people we hurt in the past have fully healed from the wounds we gave them... I want to make sure I remember this and do my best not to inflict the wounds of my sin on others in the first place.
Chapter 22: The idea of Isaac can be paralleled to Jesus... I have heard these references given by others in the past: Isaac carried his own wood for the sacrifice, like Jesus carried His own cross to the crucificion (although, I could not find a reference for this, as all said that Simon was told to carry it for Him, but it could be tradition that Jesus carried it before Simon as was customary... any references or higher theological thoughts on this???); also, Abraham was asked to give up his ONLY son, just like God gave up His ONLY son for the sacrifice (John 3:16); Hebrews 11:17-19 makes a mention that Abraham believed God could raise his son from the dead if Abraham sacrificed him, which is what God did for us when He raised Jesus from the dead (Luke 24:6-7); also, the Study Notes say that Jesus can also be seen as the ram substitute, for us (verse 13-14).
Also, I thought it was cool that God swore by Himself (verse 16), and in Hebrews 6:13-14, it states that He did this because there was nothing greater for Him to swear by. :) This chapter made me think about how God doesn't just want us to follow and obey Him in some things, He wants us to obey Him in all things with all of our being... He wants us to love Him more than His gifts... put Him first in all things... and realize that God does not bless us just because we try to bless ourselves... it is His blessing, so He will provide it.
I liked Chapter 23, because it was a good model for how we should be when we go to another culture: we should not go thinking they owe us something or that we know everything or are all that, instead, we should be humble, fair regardless of our prestige or position, and love God so much that our love pours out on those around us erasing all unnessary lines dividing us: so we become like members of the family to them, and they to us. The study notes say that this chapter reflects many Hittite laws and customs, plus one wheeler-dealer who seems generous, but is truly greedy.
Hope you have a very wonderful New Year, full of blessings... just remember what we have learned about God and His blessings through our look into Abraham... He who promises is faithful and will provide (Psalm 145)!
In His Love,
sandJ
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Genesis 16-19 today... Genesis 20-23 tomorrow...
Ok, today is going to be short because the kids are just not cooperating well, and it is hard to write when I just keep thinking (and saying), "Cut it out, stop arguing!" etc...
The first thing that came to mind about Chapter 16, was "duh!". Of course Sarai was going to get angry about the whole situation... I know I would... so why even put yourself in that situation... but then I got off my judgemental soap box and realized that I have done this same basic thing many times before... not quite in this way, but I have had my best intentions blow up in my face because I didn't follow God's leading, and instead tried to lead myself... then, I, too have found myself trying to shift the blame off myself because I felt yucky enough about things already.
Also, just the obvious comment about the fighting between the jewish and arabian people going back to this time.
Chapter 17: I liked the side notes in my bible that commented that circumcision then did not confer salvation any more than baptism does today. Interesting note.
Chapter 18: I thought it interesting that Abraham must not have told Sarah about the baby thing prior to this... which made me wonder what she must have been thinking when he went through the whole circumcision/name change thing. I also wondered why Abraham didn't just ask God outright to save the city, if he was going to be bold and ask anyway. I don't think I would have had the guts to even ask, though, at all, so kuddos to Abraham... and thank God for being merciful... which ties into my thoughts on Chapter 19...
The side notes gave a reference to 2 Peter 2:7, which was an encouragement that when we are in despair about living in a fallen world, we must remember that God will save His children (if not presently, then at least eternally). Also, there was a reference note to Ezekiel 16:49 (and on), as to why God destroyed Sodom... scary when comparing to the US now, especially the "overfed and unconcerned" part.
Sorry that I have to go but look forward to reading Genesis 20-23 tomorrow.
God Bless,
sandJ
The first thing that came to mind about Chapter 16, was "duh!". Of course Sarai was going to get angry about the whole situation... I know I would... so why even put yourself in that situation... but then I got off my judgemental soap box and realized that I have done this same basic thing many times before... not quite in this way, but I have had my best intentions blow up in my face because I didn't follow God's leading, and instead tried to lead myself... then, I, too have found myself trying to shift the blame off myself because I felt yucky enough about things already.
Also, just the obvious comment about the fighting between the jewish and arabian people going back to this time.
Chapter 17: I liked the side notes in my bible that commented that circumcision then did not confer salvation any more than baptism does today. Interesting note.
Chapter 18: I thought it interesting that Abraham must not have told Sarah about the baby thing prior to this... which made me wonder what she must have been thinking when he went through the whole circumcision/name change thing. I also wondered why Abraham didn't just ask God outright to save the city, if he was going to be bold and ask anyway. I don't think I would have had the guts to even ask, though, at all, so kuddos to Abraham... and thank God for being merciful... which ties into my thoughts on Chapter 19...
The side notes gave a reference to 2 Peter 2:7, which was an encouragement that when we are in despair about living in a fallen world, we must remember that God will save His children (if not presently, then at least eternally). Also, there was a reference note to Ezekiel 16:49 (and on), as to why God destroyed Sodom... scary when comparing to the US now, especially the "overfed and unconcerned" part.
Sorry that I have to go but look forward to reading Genesis 20-23 tomorrow.
God Bless,
sandJ
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Genesis 12-15 today... Genesis 16-19 tomorrow...
Today's reading started off with the great chapter 12... where we find the Biblical Basis for Missions (as explained through the Perspectives Course: http://www.perspectives.org/site/pp.aspx?c=eqLLI0OFKrF&b=2806295). The main idea is that Abram (and us) are blessed to be a blessing to others (Gen 12:1-3). I know that I struggle with this one as I like to forget and think that I am blessed either because of something I have done (like I created my wealth or something), or I think that I am blessed to make me happy... both are incorrect, as God is the supplier of everthing I have, and He gives it to me so I can share it (and His love) with others.
Now, the second half of Chapter 12 annoyed me (being honest here)... Abram gave up his wife to save his heiney... and then, he acted like it was for his wife's own good. Not cool! Anyway, it kind of made me laugh, because if God could keep Pharoh from killing Abram when he found out the truth about Sarai, then I am pretty sure God could have kept Abram safe without the lie. A good lesson for me to remember, as sometimes I think that I need to "help" God in order to accomplish His plan... duh to me: it is HIS plan, not mine... He doesn't need my help, especially when I sin to help Him.
Chapter 13 was about Lot and Abram separating and taking different parts of land. The study guide suggested that we should be careful about our decisions, as it can be a slippery slope... Lot didn't choose the land he did in order to end up a captive from SIN CITY (Sodom-See Chapter 14), but then we don't take the first drink to end up an alcoholic, or the first gamble to end up broke and beat up... etc...
Chapter 14 was mostly about Abram saving Lot's rear... however, an important point to note is that Abram was very cautious about who he was allied with... Abram accepted friendship from other men of God (Melchizedek-verse 18-20), but did not mince words with the king of Sodom. A friend of ours told me one time that we should surround ourselves with people we want to be like, because those we surround ourselves with is who we will become like.
Also, a couple other notes about Chapter 14 (which I got from a very smart theologian: King Melchizedek is priestly bloodline that Jesus is from (see Hebrews 7)... Jesus came from this line and not from the line of the Levites. Also, Chapter 14:20b is the establishment of tithing.
In Chapter 15, we find an answer to our question yesterday about "What is righteousness"... we discover that it is believing God (see Chapter 15:6, and also Romans 4:18-25 and Galatians 3:6-9). I find it interesting, and encouraging, too, that as I read through Chapter 15, Abram says he believes God, but then asks for reassurance... I know that sometimes I feel this way... I want to believe, and I try to believe, and on many levels I do believe in the things that I know God is promising... but then some doubt about the "hows" and "whens" and "whats" begin to creep in and I find myself asking God for reassurance. If reminds me of the man who says "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:14-32).
And last thought for today... in verse 11 of Chapter 15, Abram protects his offering to God... it made me think about if I protect my offering to God... do I set aside money first thing each paycheck to God and make sure that no matter what it is not touched... do I protect my time to assure that I have it to give to God when He directs me... do I protect my kids ears and eyes and hearts, as they are my life's offering to God... I could go on, but the overarching answer would have to in all honesty, "NO"... so, my challenge to myself, and to you if you feel you need challenged in this area, is to be more intentional in identifying what my offering to God is (my life,right?) and protecting it (living it in such a way as to keep it pure for Him).
Look forward to reading Genesis 16-19 with you tomorrow.
Much Love,
sandJ
Now, the second half of Chapter 12 annoyed me (being honest here)... Abram gave up his wife to save his heiney... and then, he acted like it was for his wife's own good. Not cool! Anyway, it kind of made me laugh, because if God could keep Pharoh from killing Abram when he found out the truth about Sarai, then I am pretty sure God could have kept Abram safe without the lie. A good lesson for me to remember, as sometimes I think that I need to "help" God in order to accomplish His plan... duh to me: it is HIS plan, not mine... He doesn't need my help, especially when I sin to help Him.
Chapter 13 was about Lot and Abram separating and taking different parts of land. The study guide suggested that we should be careful about our decisions, as it can be a slippery slope... Lot didn't choose the land he did in order to end up a captive from SIN CITY (Sodom-See Chapter 14), but then we don't take the first drink to end up an alcoholic, or the first gamble to end up broke and beat up... etc...
Chapter 14 was mostly about Abram saving Lot's rear... however, an important point to note is that Abram was very cautious about who he was allied with... Abram accepted friendship from other men of God (Melchizedek-verse 18-20), but did not mince words with the king of Sodom. A friend of ours told me one time that we should surround ourselves with people we want to be like, because those we surround ourselves with is who we will become like.
Also, a couple other notes about Chapter 14 (which I got from a very smart theologian: King Melchizedek is priestly bloodline that Jesus is from (see Hebrews 7)... Jesus came from this line and not from the line of the Levites. Also, Chapter 14:20b is the establishment of tithing.
In Chapter 15, we find an answer to our question yesterday about "What is righteousness"... we discover that it is believing God (see Chapter 15:6, and also Romans 4:18-25 and Galatians 3:6-9). I find it interesting, and encouraging, too, that as I read through Chapter 15, Abram says he believes God, but then asks for reassurance... I know that sometimes I feel this way... I want to believe, and I try to believe, and on many levels I do believe in the things that I know God is promising... but then some doubt about the "hows" and "whens" and "whats" begin to creep in and I find myself asking God for reassurance. If reminds me of the man who says "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:14-32).
And last thought for today... in verse 11 of Chapter 15, Abram protects his offering to God... it made me think about if I protect my offering to God... do I set aside money first thing each paycheck to God and make sure that no matter what it is not touched... do I protect my time to assure that I have it to give to God when He directs me... do I protect my kids ears and eyes and hearts, as they are my life's offering to God... I could go on, but the overarching answer would have to in all honesty, "NO"... so, my challenge to myself, and to you if you feel you need challenged in this area, is to be more intentional in identifying what my offering to God is (my life,right?) and protecting it (living it in such a way as to keep it pure for Him).
Look forward to reading Genesis 16-19 with you tomorrow.
Much Love,
sandJ
Monday, December 28, 2009
Day 3 Monday December 28, 2009
I woke up this morning with the 5 children and helped the little ones change their clothes. I asked everyone to brush their teeth. I walked out into the living room as Isaac asked me to make over easy eggs for him. I stated yes and asked if he like to have one or two eggs and one or two toast? He wanted two for both. Then I asked him to do a load of laundry. Then, he asked if he had to fold the clothes too? This gave me an opportunity to sit and talk with Isaac. I had the opportunity to teach him about love. Look for the opportunities that God gives you and take time to LOVE.
I read Chapter 9-11 on audio. I really like the voice expressions that Max McLean uses during the reading. I will most likely read the bible through the audio the whole time. So, from now on, I will refer to as I read the bible. The kids were really good this morning. The younger three played well with each other, while I was reading the bible with the older two. They had lots of questions about Noah. This was a good lesson for all of us to learn together.
This was the time when God scattered the people over the earth and created different languages (tower of babel).
This was the time when Abram was introduced through the genealogy of his fathers.
Have to go… no more time to write.
Sandj
I read Chapter 9-11 on audio. I really like the voice expressions that Max McLean uses during the reading. I will most likely read the bible through the audio the whole time. So, from now on, I will refer to as I read the bible. The kids were really good this morning. The younger three played well with each other, while I was reading the bible with the older two. They had lots of questions about Noah. This was a good lesson for all of us to learn together.
This was the time when God scattered the people over the earth and created different languages (tower of babel).
This was the time when Abram was introduced through the genealogy of his fathers.
Have to go… no more time to write.
Sandj
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Day 2 Sunday December 27, 2009
I listened to the audio on Genesis Chapters 4-9. Yes, we planned on reading only Chapters 4-8. I was very much into learning more about Noah and his 3 son; Shem, Ham, and Japheth. I wanted to keep going, and I chose to stop one chapter later. The reading was during the afternoon, and was thankful to the children giving us time to do bible study while experiencing their time of arguments and fighting.
Chapter 4 was about Cain and Abel. This made me think; I realized that siblings will fight, and that is true in our home too. I have learned that fights are usually verbal, but sometimes can be physical. I just learned that I need to set ground rules. “If you want to fight, you must go outside to do it.” If I don’t give them my attention, the fight will be less interesting. “If you fight at a meal, you must leave the table. When you have worked out your problems, you may return.” If they don’t return by the time meal is over, they have missed it. I need to make sure there are no special meals for them. The GOAL is to teach them that fighting has no benefits.
Chapter 5 was about the genealogy of Adam to Noah. Can you imagine living almost a millennium? Adam lived 930 years, Adam’s son Seth lived 912 years, many others mention lived 900+ years, and Noah lived for 950 years. This was ONE life time for them. Now think about this year, 2009, it doesn’t seem that long anymore. We could be arriving into the third or fourth generation of a family. Think about IF your grandfather or great grandfather was born just over 2000 years ago. What it would be like? My grandfather was born in early 1900s and died in late 1990s. This just makes you think about how big God really is.
Chapter 6 was about the Great Flood and God spoke to Noah to build an ark that was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
Chapter 7 was about Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives living in the ark during the rain for 40 days and 40 nights. The water flooded the earth for 150 days
Chapter 8 was about Noah coming out of the ark. He was 601 years old at this time.
Chapter 9 was about God’s Covenant with Noah. A rainbow will be a sign that of the covenant and never again will flood destroy all life. This chapter is the beginning of the sons of Noah and the roles which has been told.
As you can see I am getting tired of writing. My summaries were short and simple for the last few chapters. My brain needs a break from this, so I need to end it. I have notice this take quite a long time to do this blog stuff and actually getting into the Word takes time. You must make time for the Word!
Good Night,
Sandj
Chapter 4 was about Cain and Abel. This made me think; I realized that siblings will fight, and that is true in our home too. I have learned that fights are usually verbal, but sometimes can be physical. I just learned that I need to set ground rules. “If you want to fight, you must go outside to do it.” If I don’t give them my attention, the fight will be less interesting. “If you fight at a meal, you must leave the table. When you have worked out your problems, you may return.” If they don’t return by the time meal is over, they have missed it. I need to make sure there are no special meals for them. The GOAL is to teach them that fighting has no benefits.
Chapter 5 was about the genealogy of Adam to Noah. Can you imagine living almost a millennium? Adam lived 930 years, Adam’s son Seth lived 912 years, many others mention lived 900+ years, and Noah lived for 950 years. This was ONE life time for them. Now think about this year, 2009, it doesn’t seem that long anymore. We could be arriving into the third or fourth generation of a family. Think about IF your grandfather or great grandfather was born just over 2000 years ago. What it would be like? My grandfather was born in early 1900s and died in late 1990s. This just makes you think about how big God really is.
Chapter 6 was about the Great Flood and God spoke to Noah to build an ark that was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
Chapter 7 was about Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives living in the ark during the rain for 40 days and 40 nights. The water flooded the earth for 150 days
Chapter 8 was about Noah coming out of the ark. He was 601 years old at this time.
Chapter 9 was about God’s Covenant with Noah. A rainbow will be a sign that of the covenant and never again will flood destroy all life. This chapter is the beginning of the sons of Noah and the roles which has been told.
As you can see I am getting tired of writing. My summaries were short and simple for the last few chapters. My brain needs a break from this, so I need to end it. I have notice this take quite a long time to do this blog stuff and actually getting into the Word takes time. You must make time for the Word!
Good Night,
Sandj
Genesis 4-8 today... Genesis 9-11 tomorrow...
Ok, I don't know about you, but I am really finding this exciting so far. :) To be honest, it has been a struggle for me to actually take the time to sit down and read (sad, I know... especially since it is only the 2nd day into it)... but once I start reading, it is really exciting. I found myself almost sad that I was done with the reading today... the kids were happy to be done with "quiet time", but I found myself looking forward to what tomorrow's section will hold.
Now, I am going to try to make this entry shorter than yesterdays, so, right to the point...
First, I found it interesting to see whose names where mentioned in the bloodline of Cain, and also in the geneology from Adam and Seth, on to Noah. Some of the names were the same, but the people they belonged to were so different!
I also thought it was really cool in Gen 4:26b, where it said that people began to call on the name of the Lord (or proclaim, as the footnote said)... so this must be when "evangelism" or "missionary work" first started? It was also when God seems to have started laying the bloodline from Adam (to David, and then on to Jesus)... it seems like evangelism started then, because God was starting to call everyone back to Himself and laying the very first part of the foundation for the redemption of man. Pretty cool how God orchestrated Salvation right from the beginning, not long after the fall! :)
I was amazed at the words of Genesis 6:5, where it said that "... EVERY inclination of the thoughts of [man's] heart was ONLY EVIL ALL THE TIME..." We think about how bad it is now, but there is more than one person who loves God in the world today... I can't even imagine EVERYONE being evil ALL the time!
But then, after the flood, when Noah makes the offering to God (Genesis 8:20-21), God restates that every inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood. It is amazing to think that God knew what kind of heartache He was setting Himself up for by allowing Noah and his family to continue on... Yes, Noah was righteous, but God knew it was only a matter of time before mankind turned against Him again... now that is love... God knew how much we would hurt Him, but knew that having the relationship with us was worth it... Wow! That is humbling to me, because I know that I do not help things most of the time, and give God tremendous heartache... and He knew I would, but created me anyway... I plan to be more intentional in trying to stop giving into the evil inclinations of my heart.
Kind of a random thought, but I liked verse 4:7.
I also liked Genesis 7:13, where it states that "On that very day ..."... the day that the rain started... that was the day that God had Noah and his family get on the ark. I liked that part because it made me think about how God IS so faithful, and His timing IS so perfect... He will deliver us at EXACTLY the right time, we just need to trust in Him, and patiently and obediently prepare as we wait on Him to show us the next thing to do. That was a very encouraging reminder. :)
I did not know that it took Noah apparently 1 year and 3 months to get off the ark, once the rain started. (Genesis 7:6, 8:13-14) Just and interesting fact to know. :)
And finally, I thought it was a good personal reflection that the first thing Noah did after God delivered him was to praise God... but not just with a flippant "Thanks" or something... no, instead, Noah put some effort and action into his worship and thanksgiving... he build a whole alter and made a sacrifice and everything... I have to admit that there are many times that I forget to thank God at all for all the many blessings He gives me... and when I do thank Him, I can be sure that it is almost always a brief, "By the way... thanks again..." kind of thing. I really need to work on becoming more intentional and exert more effort to express an appropriate and reverential "thankyou"... afterall, it is the Creator of the Universe that helped me!
On to Questions (and answers to yesterdays questions)...
First off, I did get some answers to the questions I posted yesterday...
The question about the wording in Gen 1:2, can be answered that "... the earth was formless and empty...", meaning, yes, there was nothing before... the fancy latin term for this is: "ex nihilo"... which means "out of nothing"... everything was created out of nothing. The explanations I got about what the word "became" means, are: 1.) that God had to create the idea of "form" in order for the earth to be "formless"... so, in essense, the earth "became" formless, because God created the idea of "formlessness", and/or 2.) prior to God putting everything in order, there was chaos, so when it says "became", it means that God made everything move from chaos to order. I think I am explaining that right, but please feel free to add to or correct anything that I have just said.
The second question I asked was about where the water above the expanse (sky) went (Gen 1:6-10)... this answer I got (I think) from today's reading... I think that the water above the sky was the same water described in Genesis 7:11-12, as the "floodgates of heaven". I believe that I remember hearing people say that there wasn't anything like rain prior to the flood and that there was a water barrier of some such around the earth, so it must have been let loose during the flood, and then became part of our atmosphere (through evaporation, clouds, etc), and part of our water of earth (oceans, lakes, etc). If you think something different, or have other references, please let me know... I would value your input. :)
I do have some questions for today, too:
1.) In Gen 6:3, it says that God numbered man's days to 120 years. Now I had always heard that God was numbering the length of time that any person could live (like we would die before we hit 120 years old)... but after reading through the flood chapters, I think that it might be referring to the number of years from the time God decided to wipe man out, to the time that He sent the flood (carried out His plan)... any thoughts, comments, or theological references on this???
2.) Also, just after that, in 6:4, it talks about the Nephilim... who were these people?
It says that they (or their decendents) were the "heroes of old"... does that mean that the Nephilim (or their decendents) were the basis for the stories of legends like Hercules, Gilgamesh and other ancient tales of lore... or are there other specifics about them?
And finally, it refers to the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men", both in this verse, and just above it (6:2)... who were the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men", and how were they related to the Nephilim? Were they the decendents of Cain (maybe the sinful "men"), and the decendents of Seth (those who followed in the image of God and the image of Adam, etc-Gen 5:1,3)?
Anybody know any theological references or philosophies about these things?
3.) And, for the last question, it talks about Cain's great-grandson making tools out of bronze and iron (4:22)... does anyone know what the educated thinking is on the time tables that are being given?... What else do we know, if anything, from other historical and archeological findings, as to what else might have been happening at this time? What year do the scholars think the flood happened? Etc...
We have been reading The Story of the World for our history in school (with the kids), and it talks about the earliest people being nomads... would these be Cain and his family, or does anyone have any ideas about that kind of thing?
Ok, sorry that this is so long again. :) Hope you are enjoying your reading and keeping up with it. We'd love to hear what you have to say about the things we've posted here, or anything you found while you were reading. We will be in Genesis 9-11 tomorrow. Have a fantastic night!
In His Love,
sandJ
Now, I am going to try to make this entry shorter than yesterdays, so, right to the point...
First, I found it interesting to see whose names where mentioned in the bloodline of Cain, and also in the geneology from Adam and Seth, on to Noah. Some of the names were the same, but the people they belonged to were so different!
I also thought it was really cool in Gen 4:26b, where it said that people began to call on the name of the Lord (or proclaim, as the footnote said)... so this must be when "evangelism" or "missionary work" first started? It was also when God seems to have started laying the bloodline from Adam (to David, and then on to Jesus)... it seems like evangelism started then, because God was starting to call everyone back to Himself and laying the very first part of the foundation for the redemption of man. Pretty cool how God orchestrated Salvation right from the beginning, not long after the fall! :)
I was amazed at the words of Genesis 6:5, where it said that "... EVERY inclination of the thoughts of [man's] heart was ONLY EVIL ALL THE TIME..." We think about how bad it is now, but there is more than one person who loves God in the world today... I can't even imagine EVERYONE being evil ALL the time!
But then, after the flood, when Noah makes the offering to God (Genesis 8:20-21), God restates that every inclination of man's heart is evil from childhood. It is amazing to think that God knew what kind of heartache He was setting Himself up for by allowing Noah and his family to continue on... Yes, Noah was righteous, but God knew it was only a matter of time before mankind turned against Him again... now that is love... God knew how much we would hurt Him, but knew that having the relationship with us was worth it... Wow! That is humbling to me, because I know that I do not help things most of the time, and give God tremendous heartache... and He knew I would, but created me anyway... I plan to be more intentional in trying to stop giving into the evil inclinations of my heart.
Kind of a random thought, but I liked verse 4:7.
I also liked Genesis 7:13, where it states that "On that very day ..."... the day that the rain started... that was the day that God had Noah and his family get on the ark. I liked that part because it made me think about how God IS so faithful, and His timing IS so perfect... He will deliver us at EXACTLY the right time, we just need to trust in Him, and patiently and obediently prepare as we wait on Him to show us the next thing to do. That was a very encouraging reminder. :)
I did not know that it took Noah apparently 1 year and 3 months to get off the ark, once the rain started. (Genesis 7:6, 8:13-14) Just and interesting fact to know. :)
And finally, I thought it was a good personal reflection that the first thing Noah did after God delivered him was to praise God... but not just with a flippant "Thanks" or something... no, instead, Noah put some effort and action into his worship and thanksgiving... he build a whole alter and made a sacrifice and everything... I have to admit that there are many times that I forget to thank God at all for all the many blessings He gives me... and when I do thank Him, I can be sure that it is almost always a brief, "By the way... thanks again..." kind of thing. I really need to work on becoming more intentional and exert more effort to express an appropriate and reverential "thankyou"... afterall, it is the Creator of the Universe that helped me!
On to Questions (and answers to yesterdays questions)...
First off, I did get some answers to the questions I posted yesterday...
The question about the wording in Gen 1:2, can be answered that "... the earth was formless and empty...", meaning, yes, there was nothing before... the fancy latin term for this is: "ex nihilo"... which means "out of nothing"... everything was created out of nothing. The explanations I got about what the word "became" means, are: 1.) that God had to create the idea of "form" in order for the earth to be "formless"... so, in essense, the earth "became" formless, because God created the idea of "formlessness", and/or 2.) prior to God putting everything in order, there was chaos, so when it says "became", it means that God made everything move from chaos to order. I think I am explaining that right, but please feel free to add to or correct anything that I have just said.
The second question I asked was about where the water above the expanse (sky) went (Gen 1:6-10)... this answer I got (I think) from today's reading... I think that the water above the sky was the same water described in Genesis 7:11-12, as the "floodgates of heaven". I believe that I remember hearing people say that there wasn't anything like rain prior to the flood and that there was a water barrier of some such around the earth, so it must have been let loose during the flood, and then became part of our atmosphere (through evaporation, clouds, etc), and part of our water of earth (oceans, lakes, etc). If you think something different, or have other references, please let me know... I would value your input. :)
I do have some questions for today, too:
1.) In Gen 6:3, it says that God numbered man's days to 120 years. Now I had always heard that God was numbering the length of time that any person could live (like we would die before we hit 120 years old)... but after reading through the flood chapters, I think that it might be referring to the number of years from the time God decided to wipe man out, to the time that He sent the flood (carried out His plan)... any thoughts, comments, or theological references on this???
2.) Also, just after that, in 6:4, it talks about the Nephilim... who were these people?
It says that they (or their decendents) were the "heroes of old"... does that mean that the Nephilim (or their decendents) were the basis for the stories of legends like Hercules, Gilgamesh and other ancient tales of lore... or are there other specifics about them?
And finally, it refers to the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men", both in this verse, and just above it (6:2)... who were the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men", and how were they related to the Nephilim? Were they the decendents of Cain (maybe the sinful "men"), and the decendents of Seth (those who followed in the image of God and the image of Adam, etc-Gen 5:1,3)?
Anybody know any theological references or philosophies about these things?
3.) And, for the last question, it talks about Cain's great-grandson making tools out of bronze and iron (4:22)... does anyone know what the educated thinking is on the time tables that are being given?... What else do we know, if anything, from other historical and archeological findings, as to what else might have been happening at this time? What year do the scholars think the flood happened? Etc...
We have been reading The Story of the World for our history in school (with the kids), and it talks about the earliest people being nomads... would these be Cain and his family, or does anyone have any ideas about that kind of thing?
Ok, sorry that this is so long again. :) Hope you are enjoying your reading and keeping up with it. We'd love to hear what you have to say about the things we've posted here, or anything you found while you were reading. We will be in Genesis 9-11 tomorrow. Have a fantastic night!
In His Love,
sandJ
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Genesis 1-3 Today... Genesis 4-8 tomorrow
Hello! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! ... We will read Genesis 4-8 for tomorrow...
Today is the beginning of our journey together through the Bible. It just seemed fitting since it is the day after we celebrate the Word coming into the world. :)
Anyway, we're just going to post some things that we thought about as we were reading through the first 3 chapters... and remember that we run on the pretense that any "idiot" can post something on the web, so we do not claim to be experts on any level... just cracked pots looking to allow the Light to fill us, and hopefully, shine through. Also, we're sure there will be days when these postings are shorter or longer, so sorry in advance for the inconsistencies.
We hope that you will have a chance to post your thoughts, too.... there is not a required format or length or anything, so please just feel free to post away on anything you feel led to share. Please also feel free to comment on any thing we post... feel free to add to, disagree with, provide insights on, or just post other thoughts entirely...
and just a side note: we can really benefit when we all keep it real and honest, but please remember to always keep it clean and glorifying to God.
Oh, and one other "intro" note... if you ever miss a day (or start up later on), please just join on in where we are... you are always a welcome blessing... and it's never a bad day to start (or continue to) read God's Word!
So, here goes for today...
The main thing that we were reminded of was that we are ALL made in God's image (Gen 1:26). We decided that we need to be reminded of this, because that means that even on days when we feel really insignificant or unimportant... we are still made special in God's very image (see Psalm 139, too).
The other part of this, is that even the people we do not know... AND those we may not like, or struggle to get along with (our enemies, the guy who took the parking spot, the lady who always has advice on how we should raise our kids, etc) are ALSO made in God's image... and God loves them JUST AS MUCH as He loves us... He died for them and their sins, too. Now, that is an ouch. :) But we are thankful that it is true, because when the shoe is reversed, we are happy to be given His grace and love, too.
But we do have to remember that we were made in God's image, not God made in our image... and sometimes we get this backward, and think God should fit in our box.... hmmm.
Another thing we noticed was that the first two blessings that God gave involved procreation (Gen 1:22, 28)... we're not saying that animals and people are equal, as it is clear from reading these 3 chapters that they are not; however, we found it interesting that both blessings had the same intention... this reminds us that children are a blessing from God. And it is also interesting to note that all 3 of the first blessings (see Gen 2:3 for third one), had intentions behind them... we guess we selfishly thought blessings were about us (at least on some level), but really, they are not just about making us happy... they have extended purposes. :)
In Chapter 2, we had never noticed before that man was given a job right off the bat (Gen 2:5)... so that means that work is not a curse, just the pain of toil (Gen 3:17-19), but work itself is part of who we are and who we were made to be... made in God's image: God did/does create, and cultivate, etc; so we suppose we should not have been surprised by this. :)
In Chapter 3, the Bible we have brought up some interesting questions (NIV Seredipity Bible for Study Groups)... The first one was: "How does Eve hedge, fixate upon and amplify God's commandments? How does that play into Satan's schemes?" The answer we came up with really made us think about how we should stop complaining about what we do not have, because if we, like Eve, focus on what we can't or don't have, we will want it more, and we are likely to look for a reason to justify our desire, even when we know we really shouldn't have or do it... Satan, or even our own weak human nature, can easily provide a reason (see Gen 3:6)... we have set ourselves up to be pushed easily over into the realm of sin. Wow! We never thought that mild complaining (or even harboring "if only"s, or dwelling on God's "No"s) could be the foothold needed to give sin a stronghold in our lives!
It is also interesting to be reminded that no matter who placed blame on who, everyone was punished, because we are all responsible for our OWN choices (Gen 3:11-13).... and sometimes we can limit or stifle the fullness of God's blessings because of our sin... for example: having children and expanding families was a blessing, but pain in childbearing was added as a result of Eve's sin (Gen 3:16)... her blessing was impeded because of her poor choice and disobedience... the same with Adam. This made us wonder how many times we stand in our own way of receiving all that God really wants to bless us with. On a side note, the "reflection" section of our notes suggested comparing Eve's temptation with that of Jesus (in Luke 4:1-13)... it was worth comparing, because it reminded us that we can stand up to any temptation that the devil offers us, when we trust God and rely on His Word for truth and instruction (see also James 4:7-8).
Finally, we thought is was a pretty cool reminder in Gen 3:21, that even in our sin, God still cares and provides for us... this reminds us of Romans 5:8, where it says that even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us... the Message version says that He did this while we were of no use whatsoever to Him... now that is love! Do we always show that same kind of love to those in our life?
Just Some Questions of Curiosity... your insight is much appreciated! :)
1.) We thought it was interesting that in verse 1, where it says, "... the earth was formless and empty..." that the bottom note says that "was" could also be translated "became". Now, we certainly do not ascribe to some "alternate universe" theory, or some other such Sci-Fi thing, but we did wonder if anybody had some theological insight into this and knew if there was some Biblical reference for what was around before creation (Genesis 1-2)... also, when did the fall of Satan and the angels come into play... was it before creation (as described in Gen 1), during, or sometime after? Just wondered.
2.) When God separates the water (Gen 1:6-10), what happens to the water above the sky? Is that the clouds or atmosphere of the sky? Or something else? Sorry... this is probably obvious, but we weren't really sure.
Today is the beginning of our journey together through the Bible. It just seemed fitting since it is the day after we celebrate the Word coming into the world. :)
Anyway, we're just going to post some things that we thought about as we were reading through the first 3 chapters... and remember that we run on the pretense that any "idiot" can post something on the web, so we do not claim to be experts on any level... just cracked pots looking to allow the Light to fill us, and hopefully, shine through. Also, we're sure there will be days when these postings are shorter or longer, so sorry in advance for the inconsistencies.
We hope that you will have a chance to post your thoughts, too.... there is not a required format or length or anything, so please just feel free to post away on anything you feel led to share. Please also feel free to comment on any thing we post... feel free to add to, disagree with, provide insights on, or just post other thoughts entirely...
and just a side note: we can really benefit when we all keep it real and honest, but please remember to always keep it clean and glorifying to God.
Oh, and one other "intro" note... if you ever miss a day (or start up later on), please just join on in where we are... you are always a welcome blessing... and it's never a bad day to start (or continue to) read God's Word!
So, here goes for today...
The main thing that we were reminded of was that we are ALL made in God's image (Gen 1:26). We decided that we need to be reminded of this, because that means that even on days when we feel really insignificant or unimportant... we are still made special in God's very image (see Psalm 139, too).
The other part of this, is that even the people we do not know... AND those we may not like, or struggle to get along with (our enemies, the guy who took the parking spot, the lady who always has advice on how we should raise our kids, etc) are ALSO made in God's image... and God loves them JUST AS MUCH as He loves us... He died for them and their sins, too. Now, that is an ouch. :) But we are thankful that it is true, because when the shoe is reversed, we are happy to be given His grace and love, too.
But we do have to remember that we were made in God's image, not God made in our image... and sometimes we get this backward, and think God should fit in our box.... hmmm.
Another thing we noticed was that the first two blessings that God gave involved procreation (Gen 1:22, 28)... we're not saying that animals and people are equal, as it is clear from reading these 3 chapters that they are not; however, we found it interesting that both blessings had the same intention... this reminds us that children are a blessing from God. And it is also interesting to note that all 3 of the first blessings (see Gen 2:3 for third one), had intentions behind them... we guess we selfishly thought blessings were about us (at least on some level), but really, they are not just about making us happy... they have extended purposes. :)
In Chapter 2, we had never noticed before that man was given a job right off the bat (Gen 2:5)... so that means that work is not a curse, just the pain of toil (Gen 3:17-19), but work itself is part of who we are and who we were made to be... made in God's image: God did/does create, and cultivate, etc; so we suppose we should not have been surprised by this. :)
In Chapter 3, the Bible we have brought up some interesting questions (NIV Seredipity Bible for Study Groups)... The first one was: "How does Eve hedge, fixate upon and amplify God's commandments? How does that play into Satan's schemes?" The answer we came up with really made us think about how we should stop complaining about what we do not have, because if we, like Eve, focus on what we can't or don't have, we will want it more, and we are likely to look for a reason to justify our desire, even when we know we really shouldn't have or do it... Satan, or even our own weak human nature, can easily provide a reason (see Gen 3:6)... we have set ourselves up to be pushed easily over into the realm of sin. Wow! We never thought that mild complaining (or even harboring "if only"s, or dwelling on God's "No"s) could be the foothold needed to give sin a stronghold in our lives!
It is also interesting to be reminded that no matter who placed blame on who, everyone was punished, because we are all responsible for our OWN choices (Gen 3:11-13).... and sometimes we can limit or stifle the fullness of God's blessings because of our sin... for example: having children and expanding families was a blessing, but pain in childbearing was added as a result of Eve's sin (Gen 3:16)... her blessing was impeded because of her poor choice and disobedience... the same with Adam. This made us wonder how many times we stand in our own way of receiving all that God really wants to bless us with. On a side note, the "reflection" section of our notes suggested comparing Eve's temptation with that of Jesus (in Luke 4:1-13)... it was worth comparing, because it reminded us that we can stand up to any temptation that the devil offers us, when we trust God and rely on His Word for truth and instruction (see also James 4:7-8).
Finally, we thought is was a pretty cool reminder in Gen 3:21, that even in our sin, God still cares and provides for us... this reminds us of Romans 5:8, where it says that even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us... the Message version says that He did this while we were of no use whatsoever to Him... now that is love! Do we always show that same kind of love to those in our life?
Just Some Questions of Curiosity... your insight is much appreciated! :)
1.) We thought it was interesting that in verse 1, where it says, "... the earth was formless and empty..." that the bottom note says that "was" could also be translated "became". Now, we certainly do not ascribe to some "alternate universe" theory, or some other such Sci-Fi thing, but we did wonder if anybody had some theological insight into this and knew if there was some Biblical reference for what was around before creation (Genesis 1-2)... also, when did the fall of Satan and the angels come into play... was it before creation (as described in Gen 1), during, or sometime after? Just wondered.
2.) When God separates the water (Gen 1:6-10), what happens to the water above the sky? Is that the clouds or atmosphere of the sky? Or something else? Sorry... this is probably obvious, but we weren't really sure.
3.) We guess we had always thought that the snake was Satan (Gen 3), but it does not say that... does anyone know what the references are for that line of thinking?
Ok, well, we have a ton of other notes written, but this is already getting really long, so we will let you go for today. We will read Genesis 4-8 tomorrow... we know it is long, but it kind of all goes together, so let's just do it! :) Have an awesome day!
God Bless,
sandj
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dear Friends,
We will begin reading and posting on Dec 26, 2009. There are 1,186 chapters in the Bible (O.T. + N.T.) If we read 3-4 chapters each day, we should be able to complete the Bible in a year. Our first day, we'll read Genesis chapters 1-3. If you are not a reader, please view our profile for a link to audio downloads for each chapter so you can join in, too. We look forward to reading your thoughts each day, and hope we can mutually encourage each other as we take advantage of the great privilege we have to read God's Word, and pass the knowledge of His free gift of Salvation through Jesus on to others. Have a very Merry Christmas!
In His Love,
SandJ
We will begin reading and posting on Dec 26, 2009. There are 1,186 chapters in the Bible (O.T. + N.T.) If we read 3-4 chapters each day, we should be able to complete the Bible in a year. Our first day, we'll read Genesis chapters 1-3. If you are not a reader, please view our profile for a link to audio downloads for each chapter so you can join in, too. We look forward to reading your thoughts each day, and hope we can mutually encourage each other as we take advantage of the great privilege we have to read God's Word, and pass the knowledge of His free gift of Salvation through Jesus on to others. Have a very Merry Christmas!
In His Love,
SandJ
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