If you have continued with the daily the readings through today
you would have read Genesis 1-11. This portion of Scripture covers
about 2000 yrs of human history and God's involvement in it. Notice
that God does not give us every detail in each account recorded,
only what He wanted for us to know. Here are some of my
observations on these chapters.
Genesis 1 - 2 - God creates the heavens and the
earth in 6 days. Literal days. That is the normal meaning of 'and
there was evening and morning...' 1:5, 8. 13, ect. Why did God take
six days to do this when He could have done it all in a single
moment ? Can it be He was showing us a pattern to follow 2:1-3 of
work and rest with God as the focal point. Also God is the God of
order. Nothing He does is without purpose, but has a reason and
function which points us back to Him.
Genesis 3 - THE FALL - Adam & Eve were
already created in the 'likeness' of God, yet the serpent suggested
there was more 3:4. God knows good -evil on a level we can never
know, though we experience it and even express it ourselves.
3:22.
God provides the covering for Adam & Eve which speaks of
sacrifice and death of a substitute a foreshadowing of Jesus
sacrifice for our sins 3:21.
The Fall changed everything. Just read on in chapter 4. Cain
kills his brother Able. 4:8,10.
How Cain was 'marked' by God I do not know. 4:15. God did this
for his protection. Cain is the builder of a city 4:17. How might I
build things to make a name for myself ?
Descendants of Cain develop Farming and Agriculture 4:20, The
Arts 4:21, and Industry 4:22. None of these are bad, if God is part
of the process and plan. However man, left to himself will corrupt
everything.
Genesis 5 - Gives the lineage from Adam to
Noah. The oldest man to live Methuselah was 969 years old. Enoch,
his father, 'walked with God' - which speaks of relationship - and
then God took him - to heaven. He did not see death. (see Hebrews
11:5). Maybe a foreshadowing of those who will be alive when the
Lord Jesus returns for His own and are caught up to be with Him in
the air, not seeing death ? (see 1 Thessalonian 4:13-18) Maybe we
are that generation ? Even so come Lord Jesus !
Genesis 6-9 - THE FLOOD. Humanity had become so
corrupt that God brought His judgment against them. 6:5-7. God who
is infinitely holy must judge sin. The Flood wiped everyone out
7:21-22. Which indicates it was universal. No one can escape the
judgment of God. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and was
kept safe through the judgment. - If I am in Jesus (the ark of
safety) I can be confident that I will not face God in wrath and
judgment - Romans 8:1, 1 Thessalonians 1:10.
After the Flood God was pleased with a sacrifice Noah made
(sacrifice of praise ?) 8:20.
The Lord was pleased with this and 'said in His heart' 8:21 This
must be divine revelation because who can know what is in the heart
of God ? God makes a promise to never again destroy all living
creatures. He even made a Covenant with Noah, the earth and us that
He would never destroy the entire earth with a flood again. Every
rainbow should remind you and me that God keeps His word and
fulfills all His promises. 9:8-17. Also we need not fear global
warming or an Ice age, God's got everything under His control
8:22
God provides the seed and the harvest. Praise His Name !
Genesis 10 - Has been called the 'Table of the
NATIONS'. If I were to take the time to trace these out I would
find that these individuals named are the forefathers of the
nations and countries of the world. We are go back to Noah 10:1 and
then back to Adam. 4:1,5:1-5.
Nimrod 'a mighty hunter before the Lord' 10:8-10 and founding of
Babylon. The Middle East today Iran and Iraq. Amazing how the focus
of the world has again shifted to these ancient places.
Genesis 11 - God confuses the people by
creating various languages 11:7. He does this to stop their
'united' attempt at defying God and and making a name for
'themselves' 11:4. Note that in Acts 2 God brought nations together
using languages / tongues. The focus was set right as Peter
preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen again. But before
God's plan came to its fullness in Jesus, God called Abram and
began a nation that would bring forth the Messiah / Christ. We have
in 11:10-32 the lineage of Shem (Noah's son) to Abram, who God
called. Beginning with chapter 12 -50 we will focus on four
persons.
A Good way to think through Genesis 1-11
1-2 Creation
3 the Fall
6-8 the Flood
10-11 the Nations
Keep reading ! Pastor Joseph