So I started this bible in 90 days reading plan and today in the first 16 chapters of Genesis. This is what our faith is founded on. The last verse of chapter 2 talks about how Adam and his wife (she does not yet have a name) are both naked, yet feel no shame. This shows that they are living in a "perfect world" A world with no sin, imagine?
It is in the next chapter that Eve is tempted by the serpent. He tells her she will be like God, she will see the difference between good and evil, never before did I realize how true this is. The serpent may represent the devil, but he certainly did not lie to her. It is after this that they realize they are naked and begin to feel ashamed. I wonder how differently the world would be today had this event not occurred.
Around the end of chapter 3 is also when we see the wrath of God. He curses Adam and Eve for their disobedience.
The fourth chapter introduces us to the birth of Cain and Abel. When Cain is distraught his offering was not looked upon favorably he murders his brother, what seems to be the first vengeful act. Eve also has a son named Seth, and Cain has many offspring.
In the introduction of the fifth chapter it reinstates the fact that when God created us, He created us in his likeness. We are to be like Him. Noah's father, when he was born stated "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed."- a prophesy of what is to come.
In the 6th chapter God wants to wipe all humans from the earth, but Noah found favour. I couldn't imagine what would happen to the earth if humans weren't around to mess it up. Would animals evolve? Would climate change still occur? Also, the faith of Noah is admirable. He had to put his complete trust in God, he built an ark at an old age and trusted that God would take care of him and his family.
Is it a coincidence that the number seven occurs several times in the seventh chapter? i know it occurs in a lot of other circumstances too, like on the seventh day he rested, and Revelations is full of the number seven. Seven appears to mean the end, or completion of an event. Also, as kind of a side note, the patience of Noah must have been incredible, to sit on an ark as long as he did with all those animals, at 600 years of age is quite the feat.
It is at the end of the eighth chapter that God promises to never again punish all of mankind, despite the fact we are bred with evil right from birth. He promises, as long as the earth endures, that day and night will never cease.
The covenant of the rainbow is mentioned in chapter 9. It is an everlasting promise to never again destroy life with a flood. Noah drinks wine and passes out? But isn't drinking bad? When we see the clans of Noah's sons in Chapter 10, it is clear that the land truly is ours, and that we are free to spread out.
Up until this point the world has one language, one dialect. The people plan to build a tower to reach the heavens. When God sees this he realizes that through common speech we can accomplish anything, so he confuses the language and scatters the people. Why would he do this? If nothing is impossible, that would be a pretty fulfilling and easy life. Imagine how much we could accomplish if nothing was impossible, how fewer challenges we would have if we all spoke the same language and were able to understand each other and were willing/able to cooperate. There would be so much less challenge, is that why God choose to do this? To challenge us?
Abraham is introduced in chapter 12. He is another man who has great faith in God. He left his people and home behind, taking only his wife and his nephew and a few possessions He enters Egypt during a time of great famine, and tells his wife to pretend she is his sister for the sake of their lives. When God punishes the Pharaohs household for being with Abraham's wife, they are sent on their way. Throughout the next few chapters Abraham continues to serve God, parting ways with Lot, building alters to honor Him, rescuing Lot and defeating Kedorlaomer.
In chapter 15, God tells Abraham "do not be afraid, I am your shield, your very great reward." He is our shield, he will protect us, that's something to take comfort in. Abraham is also promised decedents in this chapter. Finally comes Chapter 16- the last for tonight, which is probably a good thing seeing as it is almost two and I will have to wake up early tomorrow to revise my paper and study anatomy and sports psych. Hopefully this and the other work i did tonight actually makes sense in the morning.
The final chapter for tonight tell of Abraham and his slave with whom he conceived a child. It tells of her misery with her mistress, Sarai. This kind of makes the slave an unsung hero in the bible. She put up with the suffering doled out by Sarai to produce offspring, and for this the Lord has heard her cries.
Well that's it. Time for bed, I think most of the caffeine has worn off by now.
Until tomorrow,
Britt
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