Genesis 14
14:2 What I see as interesting here is that each city seemed to have its own king. Typically when we think of a kingdom, it has many cities and other such districts.
14:4 The picture I'm getting here is Kedorlaomer conquered these five cities and they paid tribute to him, but after 12 years they decided enough was enough. They rebelled and Kedorlaomer with some allies went to squash the rebellion. Seems reasonable enough.
14:7 I'm not sure why they conquered these cities since they are not the ones that rebelled. Maybe it was just opportunity, maybe they were just out on a scheduled conquering spree that was more or less prompted by the rebellion by the five kings. I don't know, but it does show that these kings were powerful.
14:10 Just like that we see how the battle goes. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and were dumb enough to fall into the tar pits. Chances are they chose that field because they thought the tar pits would be to their advantage. I wonder what happened to the other three kings of Admah, Zeboiim and Bela?
14:12 So Lot did not participate in the battle and stayed in the city, but since the city fell Lot got taken anyway. Why did they take him when they just took the goods of the rest of the people? All it says is because he was living in Sodom. Perhaps they did take others but they aren't main characters so they aren't mentioned. Just kidding, though I'm sure back then this was a huge event and I shouldn't be making fun of it.
14:13 If other villagers were taken, this could be one of them, or if it was just Lot it could have been one of his servants. Either way, the man knew who to go to. Perhaps he was guided by providence, but he went straight to Abram.
14:14 I wonder if there is significance to the 318 men? Actually it is interesting since most numbers in the Bible seem to be fairly well rounded off, whether it really ended up that way or if it was approximated. This is exact. Actually the apostolic writer of the Letter of Barnabas sees significance here, though it is a bit far fetched. He says, "Understand ye that He saith the eighteen first,
and then after an interval three hundred In the eighteen 'I' stands for ten, 'H' for eight. Here thou hast JESUS (IHSOYS). And because the cross in the 'T' was to have grace, He saith also three hundred. So He revealeth Jesus in the two letters, and in the remaining one the cross." (Barnabas 9:7) I include this here as reference, not because I believe it.
14:15 The armies of man defeated by the household of God. Even though these kings plundered and conquered on their way, they were defeated by a few hundred.
14:16 And the fact that he recaptured everything means a great deal. This wasn't just run in and get Lot, it was an all out victory. It does make me wonder what happened to the armies. From the sound of it, they just fled without any booty.
14:18 Here is the first of very few references to a man known as Melchizedek. This man was somehow priest of the same God that appeared to Abram and to whom Abram built the altar. It is also interesting that Melchizedek brings out bread and wine, as if to celebrate the Lord's table. When Jesus teaches his disciples about the Lord's table it is in reference to his own coming sacrifice. We celebrate it in light of that sacrifice. What was Melchizedek doing? Was he looking forward to the sacrifice of the Lord's Anointed? It does make me wonder what the Jews think of this when they read this passage.
14:20 This is the institution of the tithe, though it wasn't known as law. Abram must have known that the Lord's hand was on him as he fought the battle, and the appearance of Melchizedek confirmed it further. Giving offering to this man was not frivolous nor was it unjust.
14:24 This was also a wise thing for Abram to do. Perhaps he knew the reputation of the men of Sodom, or perhaps he just wanted to keep the Lord at the center of his dealings. Either way, we have this as an example of Abram's faith.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Genesis 13
Genesis 13
13:1 Think about Lot for a moment. How old is he? Why is he traveling with Abram and Sarai? He has been with this family as their "only child" for a very long time. What impression would be made on him by the way Abram acted in Egypt? Do you think Lot acted the same way when he lived among the men of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-29)? Think about it!
13:4 Did Abram think that God was only in this place? It just makes me wonder what his faith was like at this point. Maybe he lost his way for a while and when he came across the alter he made before he remembered God and bowed the knee.
13:7 It is not hard to think what the herdsmen quarreled about. It's more surprising that their quarreling isn't mentioned until now. I guess it just came to a head and the split was imminent.
13:7 Why the need to remind us that there were natives? Sometimes we need a reminder that we are not alone, and that others are watching. Maybe the neighbors were contributing to the disagreements? Always remember that we are known by the way we handle this kind of predicament. When you are confronted with opposition, remember that we are Christians (!), and the Lord is an ever present help (Psalm 46).
13:9 Look how Abram handled the situation. Abram and Lot had been through much together, and now it is time to choose a path and follow it. In life, we do not have to be exclusive. Though our path and the path of our parents may not be the same, but we still have the obligation to behave rightly and justly.
13:11 Was it wrong for Lot to choose the way that looked fruitful? When I read this passage, I am tempted to condemn Lot for thinking only of worldly gain. I must realize that worldly gain is not evil in itself, but our heart attitude toward that gain is what matters. Lot is shown to be faithful after this when he chooses to believe God and leaves all his wealth behind to destruction (Genesis 19:23) even when his wife did not (Genesis 19:26). See 2 Peter 2:7-8 for more on Lot.
13:15 The promise is still alive!! Time had passed since Abram was here receiving the promise in Genesis 12:2-3. It is incredible to me how God remains faithful to his promises even when we have forgotten them. Abram may not have forgotten, but it is amazing when you read a passage that shows God's faithfulness that you know you knew but did not remember until that moment.
13:17 The command to "Go" is just as powerful here as it is in Matthew 28. What have we to do except obey?
13:1 Think about Lot for a moment. How old is he? Why is he traveling with Abram and Sarai? He has been with this family as their "only child" for a very long time. What impression would be made on him by the way Abram acted in Egypt? Do you think Lot acted the same way when he lived among the men of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-29)? Think about it!
13:4 Did Abram think that God was only in this place? It just makes me wonder what his faith was like at this point. Maybe he lost his way for a while and when he came across the alter he made before he remembered God and bowed the knee.
13:7 It is not hard to think what the herdsmen quarreled about. It's more surprising that their quarreling isn't mentioned until now. I guess it just came to a head and the split was imminent.
13:7 Why the need to remind us that there were natives? Sometimes we need a reminder that we are not alone, and that others are watching. Maybe the neighbors were contributing to the disagreements? Always remember that we are known by the way we handle this kind of predicament. When you are confronted with opposition, remember that we are Christians (!), and the Lord is an ever present help (Psalm 46).
13:9 Look how Abram handled the situation. Abram and Lot had been through much together, and now it is time to choose a path and follow it. In life, we do not have to be exclusive. Though our path and the path of our parents may not be the same, but we still have the obligation to behave rightly and justly.
13:11 Was it wrong for Lot to choose the way that looked fruitful? When I read this passage, I am tempted to condemn Lot for thinking only of worldly gain. I must realize that worldly gain is not evil in itself, but our heart attitude toward that gain is what matters. Lot is shown to be faithful after this when he chooses to believe God and leaves all his wealth behind to destruction (Genesis 19:23) even when his wife did not (Genesis 19:26). See 2 Peter 2:7-8 for more on Lot.
13:15 The promise is still alive!! Time had passed since Abram was here receiving the promise in Genesis 12:2-3. It is incredible to me how God remains faithful to his promises even when we have forgotten them. Abram may not have forgotten, but it is amazing when you read a passage that shows God's faithfulness that you know you knew but did not remember until that moment.
13:17 The command to "Go" is just as powerful here as it is in Matthew 28. What have we to do except obey?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Genesis 12
Genesis 12
12:1 Where was Abram's "country?" Was it Ur of the Chaldeans or was it Haran? I would guess its Haran since God also commands him to leave his "father's household." This would suggest then that Abram may have lived in Haran for quite a while.
12:3 This seems like a simple continuation of the blessing, just like Noah. The thing to remember is a lot of time has passed between the blessing Noah received and this one, close to 400 years. The only event between the two that we have recorded that God took notice of is Babel. I was just noticing that this blessing seems to come out of nowhere, even though it is only a couple chapters apart as we read in the Bible.
12:3 What was so special about Abram that warranted such a blessing? I want to think that he was known for his faithfulness and godliness, but I can't be sure of that. Abram is mentioned in Hebrews 11:8 as one who by faith obeyed the command to go without knowing where he was off to. I think the only thing we can know for sure is that he was a mortal man and a sinner, and that God chose him without warrant.
12:4 I don't know why exactly Lot went with Abram, but throughout the following chapters we do see that they were very close, even after they separated.
12:5 This substantiates the idea that Abram spent considerable time in Haran.
12:7 Why did he build an alter here but not in Haran when the Lord appeared to him there? It is also interesting that Abram went toward Canaan without knowing that's where God wanted him. Chances are Abram built an alter because God's appearing signified the end of an unknown journey.
12:9 Now hang on, I thought Canaan was the land Abram was to inherit. Why did he continue traveling?
12:10 I guess this is the answer. It's just funny the way it is worded, that Abram went to the Negev and then we are told there is a famine.
12:13 Remember that Sarai is pushing 65 years old. It's hard to think of it today, but the aging back then couldn't have been as speedy as it is in our time. I don't think Sarai ended up living all that long in comparison, the rest of the people in this time lived well into their 100's. They must have kept their beauty much longer than we do today.
12:13 Why did Abram feel the need to play this card? Did he have some insight into the way Egyptians acted? Was he just scared of the unknown? I wouldn't think it would be the latter, and the former has some credence.
12:15 Well, it seems the Egyptians really did place a high value on physical beauty. The next verse says that he was treated well because of her. Though, one would think that if she was a sister rather than a wife then there would be MORE cause for concern, but maybe not.
12:17 Having a beautiful woman in the midst of those people that value beauty would certainly cause lustful thoughts in the men. This is sinful and does not make God happy. God chooses to address it in a way only He can.
12:20 Wow, a lot worse things could have happened here, and leaving with all your stuff was the best of all possible outcomes.
12:1 Where was Abram's "country?" Was it Ur of the Chaldeans or was it Haran? I would guess its Haran since God also commands him to leave his "father's household." This would suggest then that Abram may have lived in Haran for quite a while.
12:3 This seems like a simple continuation of the blessing, just like Noah. The thing to remember is a lot of time has passed between the blessing Noah received and this one, close to 400 years. The only event between the two that we have recorded that God took notice of is Babel. I was just noticing that this blessing seems to come out of nowhere, even though it is only a couple chapters apart as we read in the Bible.
12:3 What was so special about Abram that warranted such a blessing? I want to think that he was known for his faithfulness and godliness, but I can't be sure of that. Abram is mentioned in Hebrews 11:8 as one who by faith obeyed the command to go without knowing where he was off to. I think the only thing we can know for sure is that he was a mortal man and a sinner, and that God chose him without warrant.
12:4 I don't know why exactly Lot went with Abram, but throughout the following chapters we do see that they were very close, even after they separated.
12:5 This substantiates the idea that Abram spent considerable time in Haran.
12:7 Why did he build an alter here but not in Haran when the Lord appeared to him there? It is also interesting that Abram went toward Canaan without knowing that's where God wanted him. Chances are Abram built an alter because God's appearing signified the end of an unknown journey.
12:9 Now hang on, I thought Canaan was the land Abram was to inherit. Why did he continue traveling?
12:10 I guess this is the answer. It's just funny the way it is worded, that Abram went to the Negev and then we are told there is a famine.
12:13 Remember that Sarai is pushing 65 years old. It's hard to think of it today, but the aging back then couldn't have been as speedy as it is in our time. I don't think Sarai ended up living all that long in comparison, the rest of the people in this time lived well into their 100's. They must have kept their beauty much longer than we do today.
12:13 Why did Abram feel the need to play this card? Did he have some insight into the way Egyptians acted? Was he just scared of the unknown? I wouldn't think it would be the latter, and the former has some credence.
12:15 Well, it seems the Egyptians really did place a high value on physical beauty. The next verse says that he was treated well because of her. Though, one would think that if she was a sister rather than a wife then there would be MORE cause for concern, but maybe not.
12:17 Having a beautiful woman in the midst of those people that value beauty would certainly cause lustful thoughts in the men. This is sinful and does not make God happy. God chooses to address it in a way only He can.
12:20 Wow, a lot worse things could have happened here, and leaving with all your stuff was the best of all possible outcomes.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Genesis 11
Genesis 11
11:1 It would make sense that men had a common language if we all descended from one man and woman. So how did our languages develop? Well, we shall see!
11:2 Shinar is in the region of Babylon, or modern day Iraq. If they were moving east, then they had to have started west. Maybe they were following the Euphrates river? If so, then they would be coming from the northwest, which points toward Ararat. Some wonder where the ark of Noah is today, and typically we hear of the mountains of Ararat in Turkey, but really it could be anywhere in the region northwest of Babel, or Babylon.
11:3 This makes me wonder who it was that figured out how to make bricks. If this says they used it instead of stone, then prior to this stone would be the primary building material. Bricks are probably easier to use, and easier to make since they can be molded to manageable pieces.
11:4 So much easier, in fact, they thought they could build a structure that reached the clouds! I wonder if they would have been successful? In comparison, the tallest building in the world (at current) is just over 2700 feet tall. That's over half a mile high! But the goal would have to push 10,000 feet (about 2 miles) to get into "heavenly" territory, since that's the height of about mid-high level clouds. The entire atmosphere is between 5 and 9 miles high, so just think about that! Considering modern buildings are made of steel and have very deep foundations, I'm not so sure they would have actually been able to make a brick structure that reached the heavens.
11:5 God did not need to come down to see the structure, so I wonder why He chose to do so. The only thing that comes to mind (thank you, Ada) is the same idea when a parent knows their child is doing wrong, but still kneels down and asks what they are doing. They know good and well that the child is doing wrong, but sometimes the way the child admits it reveals their heart.
11:6 All the comments above lead to this. Could the men have reached the heavens? Probably not, but they may have found a way. The point is that they were arrogant enough to make themselves gods out of it. Why did God come down? To make that heart condition all the more obvious. This is the state of man, and it hasn't even been that long since the flood!
11:6 Since the time of Babel, men have had different languages. Now, it is very easy to get translators and even write computer programs to do the translation for us. We are beginning to have one language again, and wickedness is gaining exponentially. Does this mean information is evil? Not necessarily, only what men do with the information can lead that way.
11:7 Ah, this is the explanation from the Bible of how we get language.
11:8 What would you do if suddenly you couldn't understand most people around you? You would probably seek out those you could understand and live near them. As the people grew, their languages kept them apart. It is conceivable that this is when Native Americans moved north and came to North America. The flood having just passed would have wreaked havoc on climates, and would have caused something like the Ice Age. This is so they could get to the western continents. I love learning how the Bible makes scientific sense!!
11:26 I wonder which of these men were alive when the tower of Babel was happening? We see in verse 28 that Abram was from Ur of the Chaldeans, which is also Babylon, so this line was kept from wandering.
11:30 Being barren was a very bad thing for a woman. At this point in history, children were looked at as blessings. Unfortunately, it was usually for bragging rights and accumulation of wealth. Nowadays we have the wealth and don't want to share it with the kids. What a contrast.
11:31 Maybe this is part of the mystery. There is no explanation as to why Terah left Ur of the Chaldeans in the first place, so maybe this is when Babel occurred. It is purely a guess, but it would make some sense.
11:1 It would make sense that men had a common language if we all descended from one man and woman. So how did our languages develop? Well, we shall see!
11:2 Shinar is in the region of Babylon, or modern day Iraq. If they were moving east, then they had to have started west. Maybe they were following the Euphrates river? If so, then they would be coming from the northwest, which points toward Ararat. Some wonder where the ark of Noah is today, and typically we hear of the mountains of Ararat in Turkey, but really it could be anywhere in the region northwest of Babel, or Babylon.
11:3 This makes me wonder who it was that figured out how to make bricks. If this says they used it instead of stone, then prior to this stone would be the primary building material. Bricks are probably easier to use, and easier to make since they can be molded to manageable pieces.
11:4 So much easier, in fact, they thought they could build a structure that reached the clouds! I wonder if they would have been successful? In comparison, the tallest building in the world (at current) is just over 2700 feet tall. That's over half a mile high! But the goal would have to push 10,000 feet (about 2 miles) to get into "heavenly" territory, since that's the height of about mid-high level clouds. The entire atmosphere is between 5 and 9 miles high, so just think about that! Considering modern buildings are made of steel and have very deep foundations, I'm not so sure they would have actually been able to make a brick structure that reached the heavens.
11:5 God did not need to come down to see the structure, so I wonder why He chose to do so. The only thing that comes to mind (thank you, Ada) is the same idea when a parent knows their child is doing wrong, but still kneels down and asks what they are doing. They know good and well that the child is doing wrong, but sometimes the way the child admits it reveals their heart.
11:6 All the comments above lead to this. Could the men have reached the heavens? Probably not, but they may have found a way. The point is that they were arrogant enough to make themselves gods out of it. Why did God come down? To make that heart condition all the more obvious. This is the state of man, and it hasn't even been that long since the flood!
11:6 Since the time of Babel, men have had different languages. Now, it is very easy to get translators and even write computer programs to do the translation for us. We are beginning to have one language again, and wickedness is gaining exponentially. Does this mean information is evil? Not necessarily, only what men do with the information can lead that way.
11:7 Ah, this is the explanation from the Bible of how we get language.
11:8 What would you do if suddenly you couldn't understand most people around you? You would probably seek out those you could understand and live near them. As the people grew, their languages kept them apart. It is conceivable that this is when Native Americans moved north and came to North America. The flood having just passed would have wreaked havoc on climates, and would have caused something like the Ice Age. This is so they could get to the western continents. I love learning how the Bible makes scientific sense!!
11:26 I wonder which of these men were alive when the tower of Babel was happening? We see in verse 28 that Abram was from Ur of the Chaldeans, which is also Babylon, so this line was kept from wandering.
11:30 Being barren was a very bad thing for a woman. At this point in history, children were looked at as blessings. Unfortunately, it was usually for bragging rights and accumulation of wealth. Nowadays we have the wealth and don't want to share it with the kids. What a contrast.
11:31 Maybe this is part of the mystery. There is no explanation as to why Terah left Ur of the Chaldeans in the first place, so maybe this is when Babel occurred. It is purely a guess, but it would make some sense.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Genesis 10
Genesis 10
10:11 Nineveh is where Jonah was told to go when he rebelled and was eaten by the great fish. It is also where Nahum goes 100 years after Jonah to prophesy their final condemnation and destruction. Actually, scholars didn't believe Nineveh even existed because there was no real evidence besides the Bible. Eventually though they did find archaeological proof of its existence. So the Bible contains the rise and fall of entire nations! It is really a remarkable testament to the reliability of the Bible.
10:25 I was wondering to myself why Peleg is noted as having his time on earth divided. I remember that Peleg is in the line of Abraham, so I looked ahead to Genesis 11:16-19, and it looks like there is a major cut of lifespan. Peleg's father lived 464 years, and his grandfather lived 433 years, but Peleg lived only 239 years, almost half! After Peleg, lifespans shorten further, but between Peleg and his father is a huge jump.
10:11 Nineveh is where Jonah was told to go when he rebelled and was eaten by the great fish. It is also where Nahum goes 100 years after Jonah to prophesy their final condemnation and destruction. Actually, scholars didn't believe Nineveh even existed because there was no real evidence besides the Bible. Eventually though they did find archaeological proof of its existence. So the Bible contains the rise and fall of entire nations! It is really a remarkable testament to the reliability of the Bible.
10:25 I was wondering to myself why Peleg is noted as having his time on earth divided. I remember that Peleg is in the line of Abraham, so I looked ahead to Genesis 11:16-19, and it looks like there is a major cut of lifespan. Peleg's father lived 464 years, and his grandfather lived 433 years, but Peleg lived only 239 years, almost half! After Peleg, lifespans shorten further, but between Peleg and his father is a huge jump.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Genesis 9
Genesis 9
9:2 If you remember, the previous edict was to rule the earth, now the animals will be afraid of men. This suggests that previously animals knew that men were their masters and were respectful and not afraid. In a sense, this was more of a curse than a blessing. The master/servant relationship was converted to owner/property or hunter/hunted.
9:3 Compare this with Genesis 1:29. Men were all vegetarian, now they are carnivorous. There is a fundamental change going on here, and they probably realized what was being said.
9:5 I wonder what this means by demanding an account:11 of the blood from every animal? Does this mean that animals will be judged or does this mean that the animal's blood is what is demanded for the blood of man? If it is the former, I don't understand, but if it is the latter then it sets up the sacrificial system quite nicely.
9:6 Capitol punishment anyone? Also we can see an application of our image-bearing nature.
9:7 God really did mean for Noah and his sons to repopulate the earth. But do you think it really needed to be said? One would think that it would be the natural thought that follows a catastrophic event.
9:11 This is something to note: another covenant made by God to Noah and his family (and, to us since we are all descendants of this one man). We will not be destroyed by flood. On the one hand, we know that the earth will not be destroyed by a meteor crashing into the ocean and destroying the planet. But on the other hand, it only means that water will not be the method of the earth's demise. The New Testament shows that we will be judged by fire. (2 Peter 3:6-7)
9:16 Rainbows are fascinating, but it is important to note that this is why we have them. Through the study of optics, we can show how a rainbow is created by simple math, but that is the method God uses to communicate to us through Creation. Remember Romans 1:20! It is amazing how many scientists see the work of Creation all around them and still deny the Creator!
9:21 Why did Noah plant a vineyard and make alcoholic beverages? They were the only ones on the planet and he did that! It is interesting here how a man that found favor with God can fall just like anyone else. Noah was found to be faithful, yet the Bible still records his misdeeds. This is one thing the Bible does that very few if any other religious texts can claim - God works through people that don't deserve it, and shows in the Bible that they were ordinary men with faith.
9:27 It never made sense to me why Noah would curse his son for looking on his nakedness by accident. It seems to be Noah's own fault for being in such a situation to allow this to happen in the first place. It does work out later since Ham was the father of Canaan, whose land was to be ruled by Israel. That still doesn't explain the curse though. For reference, Israel is of the line of Shem.
9:29 Noah actually lived almost as long as his grandfather Methuselah. After this we will see man's life deteriorating fast based on the declaration by God earlier. Now there is a big push to expand life, to understand this on a genetic level and conquer death through science. Let me tell you here and now that it will never happen. We may make advances, but death will not be conquered. It is one of the enemy's chief weapons, why would he permit that?
9:2 If you remember, the previous edict was to rule the earth, now the animals will be afraid of men. This suggests that previously animals knew that men were their masters and were respectful and not afraid. In a sense, this was more of a curse than a blessing. The master/servant relationship was converted to owner/property or hunter/hunted.
9:3 Compare this with Genesis 1:29. Men were all vegetarian, now they are carnivorous. There is a fundamental change going on here, and they probably realized what was being said.
9:5 I wonder what this means by demanding an account:11 of the blood from every animal? Does this mean that animals will be judged or does this mean that the animal's blood is what is demanded for the blood of man? If it is the former, I don't understand, but if it is the latter then it sets up the sacrificial system quite nicely.
9:6 Capitol punishment anyone? Also we can see an application of our image-bearing nature.
9:7 God really did mean for Noah and his sons to repopulate the earth. But do you think it really needed to be said? One would think that it would be the natural thought that follows a catastrophic event.
9:11 This is something to note: another covenant made by God to Noah and his family (and, to us since we are all descendants of this one man). We will not be destroyed by flood. On the one hand, we know that the earth will not be destroyed by a meteor crashing into the ocean and destroying the planet. But on the other hand, it only means that water will not be the method of the earth's demise. The New Testament shows that we will be judged by fire. (2 Peter 3:6-7)
9:16 Rainbows are fascinating, but it is important to note that this is why we have them. Through the study of optics, we can show how a rainbow is created by simple math, but that is the method God uses to communicate to us through Creation. Remember Romans 1:20! It is amazing how many scientists see the work of Creation all around them and still deny the Creator!
9:21 Why did Noah plant a vineyard and make alcoholic beverages? They were the only ones on the planet and he did that! It is interesting here how a man that found favor with God can fall just like anyone else. Noah was found to be faithful, yet the Bible still records his misdeeds. This is one thing the Bible does that very few if any other religious texts can claim - God works through people that don't deserve it, and shows in the Bible that they were ordinary men with faith.
9:27 It never made sense to me why Noah would curse his son for looking on his nakedness by accident. It seems to be Noah's own fault for being in such a situation to allow this to happen in the first place. It does work out later since Ham was the father of Canaan, whose land was to be ruled by Israel. That still doesn't explain the curse though. For reference, Israel is of the line of Shem.
9:29 Noah actually lived almost as long as his grandfather Methuselah. After this we will see man's life deteriorating fast based on the declaration by God earlier. Now there is a big push to expand life, to understand this on a genetic level and conquer death through science. Let me tell you here and now that it will never happen. We may make advances, but death will not be conquered. It is one of the enemy's chief weapons, why would he permit that?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Genesis 8
Genesis 8
8:1 Don't worry, God didn't forget Noah at any point. I think it is just saying here that it had been a while since Noah was in the ark and maybe he felt like it was about time.
8:4 The mountains of Ararat are often thought to be in Turkey, but I thought someone found evidence that it is in Iraq. Either way, it is in the middle east. It is my opinion that Eden was actually somewhere in central Africa, and there were rivers there called Tigris and Euphrates, and during the flood Noah traveled quite far. Once he got out, the whole face of the earth was changed and he (or the descendants) came across the two great rivers in Mesopotamia and named them Tigris and Euphrates, either after the original ones or because they were confused. There is scientific evidence that links mitochondrial DNA to Africa as the earliest known ancestors. This may be evolutionary nonsense, but I think it fits. The study that I read talking about this mentions that the line just seems to end with no reason, namely because the mitochondrial DNA is transferred in the X chromosome, which always comes from the female. Thus, Eve's DNA actually resides unchanged within you and me, and tracing it back as far as it has been so far, it gets all the way back to Africa and then just stops. I think this is really interesting.
8:11 The dove and the olive leaf is really a beautiful picture here. Remember that there were seven of each kind of bird (Genesis 7:3), so it's not like Noah sent off the one and only male or female dove.
8:20 Again, I wonder where Noah got the idea that animal sacrifice was the way to please God. He must have received it through some revelation or was taught it by others.
8:21 Imagine if God had not made this promise. What would it look like today? Would God find you faithful?
8:22 Unfortunately, this will lead to men saying that things continue from the beginning and what use is there in believing that there is more to it. As for me, praise God! I am sure I would have been destroyed long before now, but instead I was given the chance to repent and believe.
8:1 Don't worry, God didn't forget Noah at any point. I think it is just saying here that it had been a while since Noah was in the ark and maybe he felt like it was about time.
8:4 The mountains of Ararat are often thought to be in Turkey, but I thought someone found evidence that it is in Iraq. Either way, it is in the middle east. It is my opinion that Eden was actually somewhere in central Africa, and there were rivers there called Tigris and Euphrates, and during the flood Noah traveled quite far. Once he got out, the whole face of the earth was changed and he (or the descendants) came across the two great rivers in Mesopotamia and named them Tigris and Euphrates, either after the original ones or because they were confused. There is scientific evidence that links mitochondrial DNA to Africa as the earliest known ancestors. This may be evolutionary nonsense, but I think it fits. The study that I read talking about this mentions that the line just seems to end with no reason, namely because the mitochondrial DNA is transferred in the X chromosome, which always comes from the female. Thus, Eve's DNA actually resides unchanged within you and me, and tracing it back as far as it has been so far, it gets all the way back to Africa and then just stops. I think this is really interesting.
8:11 The dove and the olive leaf is really a beautiful picture here. Remember that there were seven of each kind of bird (Genesis 7:3), so it's not like Noah sent off the one and only male or female dove.
8:20 Again, I wonder where Noah got the idea that animal sacrifice was the way to please God. He must have received it through some revelation or was taught it by others.
8:21 Imagine if God had not made this promise. What would it look like today? Would God find you faithful?
8:22 Unfortunately, this will lead to men saying that things continue from the beginning and what use is there in believing that there is more to it. As for me, praise God! I am sure I would have been destroyed long before now, but instead I was given the chance to repent and believe.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Genesis 7
Genesis 7
7:3 God could easily have recreated all the animals, so why build the ark in the first place? I wonder if it was for Noah's sake that He did this, as a task that Noah could not do on his own. Some have said that over 10,000 animals could have lived on the ark based on its size, which further says that Noah couldn't have done this by himself.
7:4 Ha, and God gives him seven days to do it! Prior to this, the command was just to build the ark and that there would be animals in it.
7:4 There are some that believe there was no rain up until this point in history, and they point to the water covering as the interpretation of Genesis 1:6. If this is true, imagine being Noah and not really knowing what God was talking about. As if building the ark in the desert took enough faith, this stretches that even more.
7:9 Here is the fulfillment of the covenant given in Genesis 6:18. Not only that, but God delivers on the animals too. It makes no mention of Noah going out and gathering animals, God simply commanded them to come. God's word is always reliable.
7:11 At the Creation Museum there is a great video on this event. It shows people going about their business, and then suddenly there is a great rumbling and a tidal wave covers the planet. But think about it: this is the effect of sin on the world, just what is taking place in this passage. Compare this with Revelation and these people were lucky to go so fast. The Bible says, "During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them" (Revelation 9:6).
7:16 It may come to you that if Noah had a large door in the side of the ark that it might leak, so how did Noah get in the ark? The answer is here in verse 16. God sealed them in. No worries about leaks there!
7:20 This is massively high. Think about the amount of water it would take to cover the mountains? Actually though, I believe that the mountains at that time weren't quite as high as they are now. This would mean that the total amount of water on the planet today could accommodate such a feat.
7:24 Not even flying animals could last 150 days in the air.
7:3 God could easily have recreated all the animals, so why build the ark in the first place? I wonder if it was for Noah's sake that He did this, as a task that Noah could not do on his own. Some have said that over 10,000 animals could have lived on the ark based on its size, which further says that Noah couldn't have done this by himself.
7:4 Ha, and God gives him seven days to do it! Prior to this, the command was just to build the ark and that there would be animals in it.
7:4 There are some that believe there was no rain up until this point in history, and they point to the water covering as the interpretation of Genesis 1:6. If this is true, imagine being Noah and not really knowing what God was talking about. As if building the ark in the desert took enough faith, this stretches that even more.
7:9 Here is the fulfillment of the covenant given in Genesis 6:18. Not only that, but God delivers on the animals too. It makes no mention of Noah going out and gathering animals, God simply commanded them to come. God's word is always reliable.
7:11 At the Creation Museum there is a great video on this event. It shows people going about their business, and then suddenly there is a great rumbling and a tidal wave covers the planet. But think about it: this is the effect of sin on the world, just what is taking place in this passage. Compare this with Revelation and these people were lucky to go so fast. The Bible says, "During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them" (Revelation 9:6).
7:16 It may come to you that if Noah had a large door in the side of the ark that it might leak, so how did Noah get in the ark? The answer is here in verse 16. God sealed them in. No worries about leaks there!
7:20 This is massively high. Think about the amount of water it would take to cover the mountains? Actually though, I believe that the mountains at that time weren't quite as high as they are now. This would mean that the total amount of water on the planet today could accommodate such a feat.
7:24 Not even flying animals could last 150 days in the air.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Genesis 6
Genesis 6
6:2 It might sound strange where it says "sons of God" and "daughters of men" because it would seem there is more here than simply men and woman being attracted to one another. It seems TOO obvious. One interpretation that I have heard is that the "sons of God" are angels of some kind, maybe fallen angels. Although angels could look like men (Genesis 18, Hebrews 13:2), they are definitely not called "sons of God" (Hebrews 1:5!!). Another interpretation that seems more credible is that the "sons of God" were the sons of Seth and the "daughters of men" were of Cain's lineage. We can see that sexual immorality is a weakness even to noble men (Numbers 25:1-2, Revelation 2:14), so this is possible. Or, perhaps this is when polygamy began, as we see is common (though never condoned) throughout Scripture. Either way, the following verses show that the results of such attraction was probably overdone to the point of being sinful.
6:3 The lifespan of man was limited because of the wickedness of the heart.
6:4 The Nephilim were probably giants. This can be attested to because the Israelites claimed to see the Nephilim in Canaan when they went to explore Canaan for the first time (Numbers 13:33).
6:5 Has this changed at all since Noah's time? I remember thinking before I was saved that I wasn't all that bad of a guy, that mankind was generally good, and that there was no reason I should be condemned. Now I know the truth, that I inherited original sin that needed cleansing, and that without that cleansing there was nothing I could do to please God (Isaiah 64:6, Psalm 14:1-3) - a cleansing that can only be achieved through the blood of Christ Jesus.
6:6 Can we really cause God grief? We sure can! Think of your sin and then see it as a personal insult to your maker. Is He not just in his judgments?
6:8 How can it be that one man can find favor with God when the whole world is condemned? Imagine the whole world today going about their business just as things have been done "as it has since the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:4) and then some guy in the desert says he hears God talking and telling him to build a boat. How would you feel if that man turned out to be right? Sometimes we get self-righteous and wonder why nobody followed Noah. When you think of the culture and the true state at which Noah lived, maybe it makes more sense.
6:9 It is possible that Noah had more sons, but we are only given the names of those that followed him.
6:13 The flood that God was planning at this point will change the landscape of the earth completely. It is true when God says that he will destroy "both them and the earth." All cultures will be destroyed, all cities and other structures that were built, rivers will be formed, continents will shift, mountains will be raised up and the oceans will be lowered, the list goes on. When the flood is over, a whole new land will exist for a whole new people.
6:15 Think of the ark like the length of one and a half football fields, four stories high. Bigger than you'd think, but not enormous.
6:18 The thing to note here is the part about the covenant. God is making a covenant that will not be broken. Always take note of these things.
6:21 Some claim that it would be impossible to get every kind of animal on an ark that size. To answer, I would say keep a few things in mind. First, God commanded it, so of course it was possible. Second, not every minute species was needed, only one representative of the "kind." This would then be used to populate sub-species. And third, if you still aren't convinced, then just believe it by faith! After all, this is what the Word of God says.
6:22 It's funny to see it simply put this way. "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." What you need to read between the lines is that this ark and the preaching ministry that accompanied it took about 100 years to complete. Can you comprehend that idea? God calls you to do something specific, you have no idea how to do it, you won't be able to test it, your family and friends will not believe anything you say, and it will take 100 years to complete. Now that's dedication!
6:2 It might sound strange where it says "sons of God" and "daughters of men" because it would seem there is more here than simply men and woman being attracted to one another. It seems TOO obvious. One interpretation that I have heard is that the "sons of God" are angels of some kind, maybe fallen angels. Although angels could look like men (Genesis 18, Hebrews 13:2), they are definitely not called "sons of God" (Hebrews 1:5!!). Another interpretation that seems more credible is that the "sons of God" were the sons of Seth and the "daughters of men" were of Cain's lineage. We can see that sexual immorality is a weakness even to noble men (Numbers 25:1-2, Revelation 2:14), so this is possible. Or, perhaps this is when polygamy began, as we see is common (though never condoned) throughout Scripture. Either way, the following verses show that the results of such attraction was probably overdone to the point of being sinful.
6:3 The lifespan of man was limited because of the wickedness of the heart.
6:4 The Nephilim were probably giants. This can be attested to because the Israelites claimed to see the Nephilim in Canaan when they went to explore Canaan for the first time (Numbers 13:33).
6:5 Has this changed at all since Noah's time? I remember thinking before I was saved that I wasn't all that bad of a guy, that mankind was generally good, and that there was no reason I should be condemned. Now I know the truth, that I inherited original sin that needed cleansing, and that without that cleansing there was nothing I could do to please God (Isaiah 64:6, Psalm 14:1-3) - a cleansing that can only be achieved through the blood of Christ Jesus.
6:6 Can we really cause God grief? We sure can! Think of your sin and then see it as a personal insult to your maker. Is He not just in his judgments?
6:8 How can it be that one man can find favor with God when the whole world is condemned? Imagine the whole world today going about their business just as things have been done "as it has since the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:4) and then some guy in the desert says he hears God talking and telling him to build a boat. How would you feel if that man turned out to be right? Sometimes we get self-righteous and wonder why nobody followed Noah. When you think of the culture and the true state at which Noah lived, maybe it makes more sense.
6:9 It is possible that Noah had more sons, but we are only given the names of those that followed him.
6:13 The flood that God was planning at this point will change the landscape of the earth completely. It is true when God says that he will destroy "both them and the earth." All cultures will be destroyed, all cities and other structures that were built, rivers will be formed, continents will shift, mountains will be raised up and the oceans will be lowered, the list goes on. When the flood is over, a whole new land will exist for a whole new people.
6:15 Think of the ark like the length of one and a half football fields, four stories high. Bigger than you'd think, but not enormous.
6:18 The thing to note here is the part about the covenant. God is making a covenant that will not be broken. Always take note of these things.
6:21 Some claim that it would be impossible to get every kind of animal on an ark that size. To answer, I would say keep a few things in mind. First, God commanded it, so of course it was possible. Second, not every minute species was needed, only one representative of the "kind." This would then be used to populate sub-species. And third, if you still aren't convinced, then just believe it by faith! After all, this is what the Word of God says.
6:22 It's funny to see it simply put this way. "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." What you need to read between the lines is that this ark and the preaching ministry that accompanied it took about 100 years to complete. Can you comprehend that idea? God calls you to do something specific, you have no idea how to do it, you won't be able to test it, your family and friends will not believe anything you say, and it will take 100 years to complete. Now that's dedication!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Genesis 5
Genesis 5
5:5 Some people wonder how men could live so long, as though these time lines had to be metaphoric. Later on, God decides to limit the lifespan of men to 120 years (Genesis 6:3), so we can't use normal context arguments to claim anything other than a literal interpretation of these dates. Instead, let us assume it is true and go from there. In fact, the presence of these lifespans is how creationists determine that the earth is only about 6,000 years old. It also gives us a historical lineage of the first men in existence.
3:23 Enoch being taken away is very strange, especially the way it is just thrown in here in the middle of a genealogy. Some people are tempted to skim these parts and just get back to the prose. I have to believe there is something here, and Enoch's sudden disappearance is certainly something to take notice of. Some think Enoch is one of the witnesses recorded in Revelation, but I'm not totally convinced. Regardless, we are told that Enoch was a righteous man, a champion of faith (Hebrews 11:5-6). This was not simply an early uncommon death, he was taken up in much the same way that Elijah was taken (2 Kings 2:11).
3:27 Methuselah was the longest person to live according to the records in the Bible. Imagine living for 962 years! What would you come to learn? How many skills could you master? Also, we who live less than one measly century debate the meaning of life and how fragile it is. How would you think of those questions had you been pushing 900 and still had a "lifetime" ahead of you?
3:27 A while ago I was doing a study on these dates and found that Methuselah actually died the same year as the flood. It is conceivable then that he died IN the flood. What a way to go, after living so long to drown in catastrophic judgment. And that after your grandson preached to you for 100 years! Astounding.
3:29 This completes the lineage from Adam to Noah. The creationist and evangelist Jay Seegert gave me a translation of these names, which I will provide as follows:
Adam - Man
Seth - Appointed
Enosh – Mortal
Kenan – Sorrow
Mahalalel – The blessed God
Jared – Shall come down
Enoch – Teaching
Methuselah – His death shall bring
Lamech – Despairing
Noah – Comfort and rest
And you thought those names were just weird! It turns out there is hidden revelation in these names, pointing to the coming life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Praise God for His wonderful faithfulness! "[Jesus Christ] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:20)
5:5 Some people wonder how men could live so long, as though these time lines had to be metaphoric. Later on, God decides to limit the lifespan of men to 120 years (Genesis 6:3), so we can't use normal context arguments to claim anything other than a literal interpretation of these dates. Instead, let us assume it is true and go from there. In fact, the presence of these lifespans is how creationists determine that the earth is only about 6,000 years old. It also gives us a historical lineage of the first men in existence.
3:23 Enoch being taken away is very strange, especially the way it is just thrown in here in the middle of a genealogy. Some people are tempted to skim these parts and just get back to the prose. I have to believe there is something here, and Enoch's sudden disappearance is certainly something to take notice of. Some think Enoch is one of the witnesses recorded in Revelation, but I'm not totally convinced. Regardless, we are told that Enoch was a righteous man, a champion of faith (Hebrews 11:5-6). This was not simply an early uncommon death, he was taken up in much the same way that Elijah was taken (2 Kings 2:11).
3:27 Methuselah was the longest person to live according to the records in the Bible. Imagine living for 962 years! What would you come to learn? How many skills could you master? Also, we who live less than one measly century debate the meaning of life and how fragile it is. How would you think of those questions had you been pushing 900 and still had a "lifetime" ahead of you?
3:27 A while ago I was doing a study on these dates and found that Methuselah actually died the same year as the flood. It is conceivable then that he died IN the flood. What a way to go, after living so long to drown in catastrophic judgment. And that after your grandson preached to you for 100 years! Astounding.
3:29 This completes the lineage from Adam to Noah. The creationist and evangelist Jay Seegert gave me a translation of these names, which I will provide as follows:
Adam - Man
Seth - Appointed
Enosh – Mortal
Kenan – Sorrow
Mahalalel – The blessed God
Jared – Shall come down
Enoch – Teaching
Methuselah – His death shall bring
Lamech – Despairing
Noah – Comfort and rest
And you thought those names were just weird! It turns out there is hidden revelation in these names, pointing to the coming life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Praise God for His wonderful faithfulness! "[Jesus Christ] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:20)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Genesis 4
Genesis 4
4:5 We see later on that both grain offerings and animal burnt offerings are part of the sacrificial system, so it makes me wonder why exactly God looked with favor on Abel and his offering and not on Cain and his offering. The only real explanation is the heart condition of these two men. The offering itself wouldn't make a difference, but the manner in which it was given would. Given that often a downcast demeanor is the result of damaged pride, it is probable that this was Cain's attitude, and if so, God's disfavor is just.
4:7 I really like the way this is put. Sin crouches at the door of everyone since we are told Satan seeks out those whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8), and trust me he is diligent! Peter says to "resist him" (1 Peter 5:9), which would then correspond to the command "you must master it."
4:8 God really gave some sound advice to Cain in the previous verse. In fact, Cain should have been honored to be addressed by God directly anyway, since this is not a common thing in the Bible. How does Cain respond? Blatant disregard. But this is interesting since Cain's jealousy was in regards to God's favor. We ought not to see God's favor in the way of Cain since God's favor is not limited to one person, rather view God's favor as something the be greatly desired and cherished, and attainable.
4:9 Did God not know where Abel was? Of course He knew. The question was meant to reveal Cain's heart, as it surely did.
4:9 What is the direct answer to Cain's rebuttal? YES! You are your brother's keeper! Can you hear the pride in Cain's voice when he says this? The antagonism drips from his lips.
4:9 This is the first time a person dies in the Bible. Prior to this, the only evidence that death even existed was when animals and plants would perish. It makes me wonder what Cain was thinking when he killed his brother. Perhaps he honestly didn't know if he would die or not? Hm, even so, he still would be guilty of the crime.
4:10 A person's life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). I don't know why, but this verse came to mind when I read this passage.
4:12 What was Cain's punishment? By cursing the ground so it would not yield crops to Cain, this dealt with his livelihood. By casting him away as a wanderer on the earth, this dealt with his family. The only thing he has left is his name, and at that he will always be remembered as a murderer. Cain's response to this is not surprising. But we must keep in mind that the wages of sin is not loss of livelihood, family and reputation. It is death (Romans 6:23). Sin would be a lot less appealing if we received its full punishment immediately.
4:14 Did Cain actually think that God would not be with him wherever he went? This also shows Cain's lack of faith.
4:14 Who was Cain scared of? This is similar to the question of where Cain got his wife. The answer to both of these questions was his family. Cain was scared of his family, fearing one of them would take revenge. Cain got his wife from his family, insomuch as he married his sister. Since they were the only humans living at the time, this is the only explanation. But it is not too fantastic to understand. Being only one generation from a pure genetic source, each sibling would be significantly diverse genetically to be free of anomaly. There are other reasons, but I suggest reading books from Answers in Genesis for further study.
4:15 I don't think this mark was anything mystical. In fact it could have been a physical deformation so others would know for sure that it was Cain and not some other man down the road.
4:17 Cain built a city? I thought Cain's curse was to wander the earth? Perhaps this was his pride again, rebelling further by disobeying God's command. I just have to shake my head. How could he live if he settled down in a city but could not work the land? Maybe he set himself up as leader and had others work for him? This may be taking it too far, but I wouldn't put it past him.
4:21 So we do have something for which to thank the descendants of Cain. They gave us musical instruments! Nifty.
4:24 We see here that the pride of Cain was not lost on his descendants. I wonder if the wound Lamech received from this young man was similar to the mark Cain received from God? At least then the saying here could have some credence. My gut feeling, though, says Lamech was simply attempting to claim the protection as his own for pride's sake.
4:26 It is good to see that the Lord is being called upon, though we do not know in what regard the calling takes place.
4:5 We see later on that both grain offerings and animal burnt offerings are part of the sacrificial system, so it makes me wonder why exactly God looked with favor on Abel and his offering and not on Cain and his offering. The only real explanation is the heart condition of these two men. The offering itself wouldn't make a difference, but the manner in which it was given would. Given that often a downcast demeanor is the result of damaged pride, it is probable that this was Cain's attitude, and if so, God's disfavor is just.
4:7 I really like the way this is put. Sin crouches at the door of everyone since we are told Satan seeks out those whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8), and trust me he is diligent! Peter says to "resist him" (1 Peter 5:9), which would then correspond to the command "you must master it."
4:8 God really gave some sound advice to Cain in the previous verse. In fact, Cain should have been honored to be addressed by God directly anyway, since this is not a common thing in the Bible. How does Cain respond? Blatant disregard. But this is interesting since Cain's jealousy was in regards to God's favor. We ought not to see God's favor in the way of Cain since God's favor is not limited to one person, rather view God's favor as something the be greatly desired and cherished, and attainable.
4:9 Did God not know where Abel was? Of course He knew. The question was meant to reveal Cain's heart, as it surely did.
4:9 What is the direct answer to Cain's rebuttal? YES! You are your brother's keeper! Can you hear the pride in Cain's voice when he says this? The antagonism drips from his lips.
4:9 This is the first time a person dies in the Bible. Prior to this, the only evidence that death even existed was when animals and plants would perish. It makes me wonder what Cain was thinking when he killed his brother. Perhaps he honestly didn't know if he would die or not? Hm, even so, he still would be guilty of the crime.
4:10 A person's life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). I don't know why, but this verse came to mind when I read this passage.
4:12 What was Cain's punishment? By cursing the ground so it would not yield crops to Cain, this dealt with his livelihood. By casting him away as a wanderer on the earth, this dealt with his family. The only thing he has left is his name, and at that he will always be remembered as a murderer. Cain's response to this is not surprising. But we must keep in mind that the wages of sin is not loss of livelihood, family and reputation. It is death (Romans 6:23). Sin would be a lot less appealing if we received its full punishment immediately.
4:14 Did Cain actually think that God would not be with him wherever he went? This also shows Cain's lack of faith.
4:14 Who was Cain scared of? This is similar to the question of where Cain got his wife. The answer to both of these questions was his family. Cain was scared of his family, fearing one of them would take revenge. Cain got his wife from his family, insomuch as he married his sister. Since they were the only humans living at the time, this is the only explanation. But it is not too fantastic to understand. Being only one generation from a pure genetic source, each sibling would be significantly diverse genetically to be free of anomaly. There are other reasons, but I suggest reading books from Answers in Genesis for further study.
4:15 I don't think this mark was anything mystical. In fact it could have been a physical deformation so others would know for sure that it was Cain and not some other man down the road.
4:17 Cain built a city? I thought Cain's curse was to wander the earth? Perhaps this was his pride again, rebelling further by disobeying God's command. I just have to shake my head. How could he live if he settled down in a city but could not work the land? Maybe he set himself up as leader and had others work for him? This may be taking it too far, but I wouldn't put it past him.
4:21 So we do have something for which to thank the descendants of Cain. They gave us musical instruments! Nifty.
4:24 We see here that the pride of Cain was not lost on his descendants. I wonder if the wound Lamech received from this young man was similar to the mark Cain received from God? At least then the saying here could have some credence. My gut feeling, though, says Lamech was simply attempting to claim the protection as his own for pride's sake.
4:26 It is good to see that the Lord is being called upon, though we do not know in what regard the calling takes place.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Genesis 3
Genesis 3
3:1 Thinking of all the "wild animals" you know, would you consider any of them "crafty?" Would that term even cross your mind??
3:1 Here is the first words of the evil one in the Bible. "Did God really say...". This is a temptation that crosses all our minds when we are confronted with a decision. What DOES God say about it? The only problem is that typically when the question comes up it is because we know what the right decision is and don't want to do it. What were Adam and Eve being confronted with? There was a command given, only one. Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In computer hacking terms, this was Satan's one and only attack vector, and he used it. Social Engineering at its finest.
3:4 Thus we see that the woman (and the man) knew the command. The confrontation was not one of ignorance, but one of willful choice.
3:5 What exactly were Satan's motives for saying this? Certainly he was tempting them. Was this a lie? It was a lie of omission in a way. Will they die physically from eating the fruit of the forbidden tree? No, well, not immediately. Will they be like God knowing good and evil? Yes. So what was wrong about this? First, the death here means two things: spiritual separation from God (effectively spiritual death), and the aging process. Second, it was misleading enough to cause the woman (and the man) to second guess what they were told. But the question remains, what was Satan's motive? The only answer is hatred.
3:6 We see in a very visual way here the idea of desire being conceived (James 1:15). It seems so innocent, but often sin is clothed in innocence.
3:8 This is a lesson. When you sin, do not hide from God as Adam and Eve did. Rather, confess your sin to Him and "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). And do not be blind to the fact that God is omnipresent and omniscient. God walked in the garden away from Adam and Eve in just the way to stir in them the feeling of guilt. Note that this doesn't mean that God causes our guilt, rather God reveals our guilt to us. And the guilty feeling is not a bad thing if it draws you to repentance.
3:10 This substantiates the idea that the man and woman were ashamed of their nakedness because of God and not because of each other.
3:11 The accusation and...
3:12 The redirect. This sounds like me when I'm being accused. Adam isn't denying that he indeed ate, rather he's making an excuse. Does this make it better? Not at all.
3:13 True enough, but it still doesn't change the fact that the sin has fully matured and has already led to death. (James 1:15)
3:15 This is the first prophesy in the Bible. God says the seed of the woman will crush the serpent, and the serpent will wound the seed of the woman. This speaks of the cross of Christ and His resurrection.
3:16 I have a hard time interpreting the idea that part of the curse is man ruling over the woman. The role each gender plays is crucial, and 1 Corinthians 11 talks about headship and how this same idea symbolizes the Trinity. Apparently the question is not a unique one. In looking at this, I found an 11-page paper written on this one question: Here.
3:18 Keep in mind, prior to this time there were no thorns and thistles. Evolution teaches that thorns and thistles evolved as a means of protection. Once again, it cannot be both ways.
3:19 So, they will die after all. Imagine being Adam just then and hearing this from your best friend.
3:21 The animals used to make the clothing can be considered the first animal sacrifice. It is sad to think, but it feels like a parting gift.
3:22 This same tree of life that was then taken from them will once again be made available to us in the new heavens. Revelation 22:14 talks about the event itself, but several times prior to that in the book of Revelation mentions this same tree.
3:23 So Adam was made from the ground outside the garden and then brought in? A more careful reading of Genesis 2:15 does in fact confirm this.
3:1 Thinking of all the "wild animals" you know, would you consider any of them "crafty?" Would that term even cross your mind??
3:1 Here is the first words of the evil one in the Bible. "Did God really say...". This is a temptation that crosses all our minds when we are confronted with a decision. What DOES God say about it? The only problem is that typically when the question comes up it is because we know what the right decision is and don't want to do it. What were Adam and Eve being confronted with? There was a command given, only one. Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In computer hacking terms, this was Satan's one and only attack vector, and he used it. Social Engineering at its finest.
3:4 Thus we see that the woman (and the man) knew the command. The confrontation was not one of ignorance, but one of willful choice.
3:5 What exactly were Satan's motives for saying this? Certainly he was tempting them. Was this a lie? It was a lie of omission in a way. Will they die physically from eating the fruit of the forbidden tree? No, well, not immediately. Will they be like God knowing good and evil? Yes. So what was wrong about this? First, the death here means two things: spiritual separation from God (effectively spiritual death), and the aging process. Second, it was misleading enough to cause the woman (and the man) to second guess what they were told. But the question remains, what was Satan's motive? The only answer is hatred.
3:6 We see in a very visual way here the idea of desire being conceived (James 1:15). It seems so innocent, but often sin is clothed in innocence.
3:8 This is a lesson. When you sin, do not hide from God as Adam and Eve did. Rather, confess your sin to Him and "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). And do not be blind to the fact that God is omnipresent and omniscient. God walked in the garden away from Adam and Eve in just the way to stir in them the feeling of guilt. Note that this doesn't mean that God causes our guilt, rather God reveals our guilt to us. And the guilty feeling is not a bad thing if it draws you to repentance.
3:10 This substantiates the idea that the man and woman were ashamed of their nakedness because of God and not because of each other.
3:11 The accusation and...
3:12 The redirect. This sounds like me when I'm being accused. Adam isn't denying that he indeed ate, rather he's making an excuse. Does this make it better? Not at all.
3:13 True enough, but it still doesn't change the fact that the sin has fully matured and has already led to death. (James 1:15)
3:15 This is the first prophesy in the Bible. God says the seed of the woman will crush the serpent, and the serpent will wound the seed of the woman. This speaks of the cross of Christ and His resurrection.
3:16 I have a hard time interpreting the idea that part of the curse is man ruling over the woman. The role each gender plays is crucial, and 1 Corinthians 11 talks about headship and how this same idea symbolizes the Trinity. Apparently the question is not a unique one. In looking at this, I found an 11-page paper written on this one question: Here.
3:18 Keep in mind, prior to this time there were no thorns and thistles. Evolution teaches that thorns and thistles evolved as a means of protection. Once again, it cannot be both ways.
3:19 So, they will die after all. Imagine being Adam just then and hearing this from your best friend.
3:21 The animals used to make the clothing can be considered the first animal sacrifice. It is sad to think, but it feels like a parting gift.
3:22 This same tree of life that was then taken from them will once again be made available to us in the new heavens. Revelation 22:14 talks about the event itself, but several times prior to that in the book of Revelation mentions this same tree.
3:23 So Adam was made from the ground outside the garden and then brought in? A more careful reading of Genesis 2:15 does in fact confirm this.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Genesis 2
Genesis 2
2:2 It is important to note that God doesn't rest because He needs to. This is intentional, as a way of showing the created beings that rest is part of life. It is also important to note that God could have created everything in one day, or two days, or a whole year. He chose six days of work and then a seventh for rest. Thus the Scripture is upheld, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27).
2:4 Here the Bible takes a step back and the narrative examines in more detail the events during the creation process. Some scholars like to see this as a contradiction, that chapter 2 mixes into chapter 1 and may not seem logical. There is no contradiction here. This is simply detailing the events in a more personal level. Chapter 1 is generic and explains what was going on during the first six days and then the Sabbath, and Chapter 2 begins a closer look at the creation process from a human perspective.
2:5 No rain on the earth? First, this doesn't mesh with evolution since evolution teaches the earth started as a hot ball of magma that cooled by rain. Second, imagine the world at that time!
2:7 Mankind is unique. God breathed into us the breath of life. I wonder what connections can be made to 2 Timothy 3:16 ("All Scripture is God-breathed")?
2:14 The Tigris and Euphrates are known but the other two are not. Based on the area covered by these rivers, it is thought that Eden was quite large. I wonder though about this. I'm not saying Eden wasn't large, but there are some things to consider. First it had to be cultivated by one man. Second, the rivers could have changed after the Flood. Third, there is no other evidence in Scripture of where this might be. I don't know if it matters though, since the Garden itself is not important. The thing to get out of this is that God and Man were in fellowship at this point.
2:17 This is the first and only commandment at this point in history. Notice that only the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is forbidden. The tree of life stood nearby and was not forbidden. How often is it that we see two roads, one that leads to life and the other to death?
2:20 Yes, Adam did name all the animals. He didn't even have a wife telling him what to say! (Ha, just kidding!) Notice how God says, "It is not good for man to be alone," and then to address that issue He sends the animals to Adam to show him how they all had mates except him? Why didn't He just say, "Here, Adam, have this woman."? This is the way God works, and I'm glad He does. It is much more visual, much more personal.
2:24 We see here why God chose to create woman in such a unique way. Once again, visual and personal. It was done to illustrate that man and woman are made to be joined as one flesh.
2:25 Were they not ashamed because they had not yet sinned or because they needn't feel shame? I always thought it was because they had not yet sinned because when they do sin the first thing they do is cover up. But I don't see why a man and wife need to feel shame at this, as long as it is within the bounds of marriage. If this is the case, then why was it significant that they felt no shame? It could be a variety of reasons, but I think it is to demonstrate their innocence.
2:2 It is important to note that God doesn't rest because He needs to. This is intentional, as a way of showing the created beings that rest is part of life. It is also important to note that God could have created everything in one day, or two days, or a whole year. He chose six days of work and then a seventh for rest. Thus the Scripture is upheld, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27).
2:4 Here the Bible takes a step back and the narrative examines in more detail the events during the creation process. Some scholars like to see this as a contradiction, that chapter 2 mixes into chapter 1 and may not seem logical. There is no contradiction here. This is simply detailing the events in a more personal level. Chapter 1 is generic and explains what was going on during the first six days and then the Sabbath, and Chapter 2 begins a closer look at the creation process from a human perspective.
2:5 No rain on the earth? First, this doesn't mesh with evolution since evolution teaches the earth started as a hot ball of magma that cooled by rain. Second, imagine the world at that time!
2:7 Mankind is unique. God breathed into us the breath of life. I wonder what connections can be made to 2 Timothy 3:16 ("All Scripture is God-breathed")?
2:14 The Tigris and Euphrates are known but the other two are not. Based on the area covered by these rivers, it is thought that Eden was quite large. I wonder though about this. I'm not saying Eden wasn't large, but there are some things to consider. First it had to be cultivated by one man. Second, the rivers could have changed after the Flood. Third, there is no other evidence in Scripture of where this might be. I don't know if it matters though, since the Garden itself is not important. The thing to get out of this is that God and Man were in fellowship at this point.
2:17 This is the first and only commandment at this point in history. Notice that only the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is forbidden. The tree of life stood nearby and was not forbidden. How often is it that we see two roads, one that leads to life and the other to death?
2:20 Yes, Adam did name all the animals. He didn't even have a wife telling him what to say! (Ha, just kidding!) Notice how God says, "It is not good for man to be alone," and then to address that issue He sends the animals to Adam to show him how they all had mates except him? Why didn't He just say, "Here, Adam, have this woman."? This is the way God works, and I'm glad He does. It is much more visual, much more personal.
2:24 We see here why God chose to create woman in such a unique way. Once again, visual and personal. It was done to illustrate that man and woman are made to be joined as one flesh.
2:25 Were they not ashamed because they had not yet sinned or because they needn't feel shame? I always thought it was because they had not yet sinned because when they do sin the first thing they do is cover up. But I don't see why a man and wife need to feel shame at this, as long as it is within the bounds of marriage. If this is the case, then why was it significant that they felt no shame? It could be a variety of reasons, but I think it is to demonstrate their innocence.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Genesis 1
Genesis 1
1:1 Do you believe this? If "God created the heavens and the earth," how does evolution fit in? As can be seen in the coming verses, this is just the beginning. God's creative work is not only in the simple "being," but also in the development of everything that comes out of that being. If you claim to believe the Bible, then you must start with the Bible. Evolution (as the origin of species) is a matter of faith, just as this is, but we have a book that was written by the Spirit of God. By starting with the Bible, we see that God is the author of Creation, God is the author of all life, and God is the author of all history. The choice to believe in God creating is not a difficult one.
1:2 I've always wondered what the Earth looked like at Creation. I can imagine it as just a globe of water with no dry land and covered in darkness, but it's hard to think about.
1:4 Notice that the sun and moon are not yet created (that happens on day 4). So where does the light come from? In Revelation, we are told that the new Jerusalem will be lit by God's presence alone, but that can't be the case here since God was present before the light was created. Science tells us that light is simply electromagnetic radiation, so maybe that's all this is. God flooded the empty universe with radiation. Interesting thought.
1:5 Some have pointed to the word "day" and given it other meanings to fit in evolution. Why is it so hard to just believe that God is capable of doing these things miraculously?
1:7 I saw a picture of this once where the sky was a canopy of water and there was dry land and lakes and such below, based on this passage (and the one following). It could also be the atmosphere that was made of water vapor and other chemicals, since the "sky" is what is being created here. It doesn't really matter though because I believe God could have done it either way.
1:12 This provides evidence that plant life was the first life to be created. Science tells us this too, but for different reasons.
1:19 Note that the plants were created BEFORE the sun and moon. This is fun to think about because plants need sunlight. Two things come to mind: 1. It was only one day! A plant can live a day in darkness, don't worry. 2. Even if they couldn't live for a day in darkness, remember that God already saturated the place with light! All they needed was a renewable source of that light, which they got the very next day.
1:22 Now we have animals. Yes, if God can create the Earth and the sun and the stars and the whole universe, He can also create all animal life in a day. Again, if you believe one thing, believing the rest shouldn't be that hard.
1:26 Ah, this is one thing that changed my outlook on Christology. God said "our" image! Who could He be talking to? Angels? From the way angels are described throughout the Bible (Isaiah 6 comes to mind), they don't look like we were created in their image. So who else could God be talking about/with? Only a proper view of the Trinity explains this. God is referring to Himself, as the triune God - Father/Son/Spirit, three in one. Jesus Christ was with God from the beginning, and "through Him all things were made." (John 1)
1:27 Again, this addresses the previous point. We are made in God's image. He didn't say "God and angels" or "God and the rest of the heavenly host" or anything like that. Just God.
1:27 How can we be made in God's image, and be different male and female? Jesus addresses this in Matthew 19:4, using this passage to define marriage. You see, this image-bearing element is spiritual in nature! While our spirits are made in God's image, our physical makeup takes the form of male and female genders. But, when we unite in marriage, "the two become one flesh." How awesome is that! Now, I am married, and it is amazing how true this is. Before my wife and I were married, we were two very different people, though we shared mutual interests. Since we've been married, I can't believe how we have been able to mesh through good times and bad. I don't even think of her as a separate person, but rather as a different appendage of myself. She'd probably laugh if she heard me call her an appendage, but I'm an appendage of her as well. We are truly one flesh. For those who aren't married, do not fret! You have the spiritual image-bearing gift and it is your responsibility to recognize and nurture the gifts God has given you. Pursue Christ and remember that gender is merely physical.
1:28 Man was given authority over Creation. I wonder what that authority could look like today if things hadn't been corrupted by sin...
1:30 All creatures were vegetarian when they were created. This is important when we come to the Fall, since sin introduced much pain in the world, death and sickness and predatory instinct all.
1:1 Do you believe this? If "God created the heavens and the earth," how does evolution fit in? As can be seen in the coming verses, this is just the beginning. God's creative work is not only in the simple "being," but also in the development of everything that comes out of that being. If you claim to believe the Bible, then you must start with the Bible. Evolution (as the origin of species) is a matter of faith, just as this is, but we have a book that was written by the Spirit of God. By starting with the Bible, we see that God is the author of Creation, God is the author of all life, and God is the author of all history. The choice to believe in God creating is not a difficult one.
1:2 I've always wondered what the Earth looked like at Creation. I can imagine it as just a globe of water with no dry land and covered in darkness, but it's hard to think about.
1:4 Notice that the sun and moon are not yet created (that happens on day 4). So where does the light come from? In Revelation, we are told that the new Jerusalem will be lit by God's presence alone, but that can't be the case here since God was present before the light was created. Science tells us that light is simply electromagnetic radiation, so maybe that's all this is. God flooded the empty universe with radiation. Interesting thought.
1:5 Some have pointed to the word "day" and given it other meanings to fit in evolution. Why is it so hard to just believe that God is capable of doing these things miraculously?
1:7 I saw a picture of this once where the sky was a canopy of water and there was dry land and lakes and such below, based on this passage (and the one following). It could also be the atmosphere that was made of water vapor and other chemicals, since the "sky" is what is being created here. It doesn't really matter though because I believe God could have done it either way.
1:12 This provides evidence that plant life was the first life to be created. Science tells us this too, but for different reasons.
1:19 Note that the plants were created BEFORE the sun and moon. This is fun to think about because plants need sunlight. Two things come to mind: 1. It was only one day! A plant can live a day in darkness, don't worry. 2. Even if they couldn't live for a day in darkness, remember that God already saturated the place with light! All they needed was a renewable source of that light, which they got the very next day.
1:22 Now we have animals. Yes, if God can create the Earth and the sun and the stars and the whole universe, He can also create all animal life in a day. Again, if you believe one thing, believing the rest shouldn't be that hard.
1:26 Ah, this is one thing that changed my outlook on Christology. God said "our" image! Who could He be talking to? Angels? From the way angels are described throughout the Bible (Isaiah 6 comes to mind), they don't look like we were created in their image. So who else could God be talking about/with? Only a proper view of the Trinity explains this. God is referring to Himself, as the triune God - Father/Son/Spirit, three in one. Jesus Christ was with God from the beginning, and "through Him all things were made." (John 1)
1:27 Again, this addresses the previous point. We are made in God's image. He didn't say "God and angels" or "God and the rest of the heavenly host" or anything like that. Just God.
1:27 How can we be made in God's image, and be different male and female? Jesus addresses this in Matthew 19:4, using this passage to define marriage. You see, this image-bearing element is spiritual in nature! While our spirits are made in God's image, our physical makeup takes the form of male and female genders. But, when we unite in marriage, "the two become one flesh." How awesome is that! Now, I am married, and it is amazing how true this is. Before my wife and I were married, we were two very different people, though we shared mutual interests. Since we've been married, I can't believe how we have been able to mesh through good times and bad. I don't even think of her as a separate person, but rather as a different appendage of myself. She'd probably laugh if she heard me call her an appendage, but I'm an appendage of her as well. We are truly one flesh. For those who aren't married, do not fret! You have the spiritual image-bearing gift and it is your responsibility to recognize and nurture the gifts God has given you. Pursue Christ and remember that gender is merely physical.
1:28 Man was given authority over Creation. I wonder what that authority could look like today if things hadn't been corrupted by sin...
1:30 All creatures were vegetarian when they were created. This is important when we come to the Fall, since sin introduced much pain in the world, death and sickness and predatory instinct all.
Introduction
As a means of introduction, a friend of mine said he was working on blogging through the Bible, so I thought I would attempt the same. It sounded interesting, plus it is a way to develop a commentary of my own in digital format, online, and available to the world. So here we go!
I intend to use the New International Version, mainly because that is what I have nearby, and because its pretty common among Evangelicals. I would like to read an ESV or NASB, but I actually don't own those! I have read KJV, NKJV and RSV, and I like them but only the RSV is in a standard format, and my first commentary that is stored away in notebooks was while reading the RSV and I wanted to do something different.
So without further delay, let us begin!
I intend to use the New International Version, mainly because that is what I have nearby, and because its pretty common among Evangelicals. I would like to read an ESV or NASB, but I actually don't own those! I have read KJV, NKJV and RSV, and I like them but only the RSV is in a standard format, and my first commentary that is stored away in notebooks was while reading the RSV and I wanted to do something different.
So without further delay, let us begin!
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