Day 5- Genesis 10-13; Psalm 2

Genesis 10 is, let's say it, boring.  Its kinds of like reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the paragraphs of fish names.  However, Matthew Henry provides some insight in explaining that there is no well-preserved genealogy so Genesis is the best we've got.

Why would God see something working so well and want to come and mix it up?  Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel story is disturbing.  The author to the Bible I am reading says that this is a beautiful literary hourglass device.?  And then, further indicates that God dispersed the people because of their rebellious pride to prove that they cannot win over God?  He then goes on to explain that people built the tower to dominate over God's creation.  Now, I get it.  He also explains that, chronologically, Genesis 11 came before Genesis 10.  Then why not just write it that way?  Geesh.  Acceptance is difficult. 

Genesis 11 really exemplifies that although God destroyed man kind with the flood, there still exists the sons of "men" and the sons of "God."

Genesis 12 sets forth a seven step promise from God to Abram as such:
1) I will make you a great nation
2) I will bless you
3) [I will] make your name great
4) you shall be a blessing
5) I will bless those who bless you
6) the one who curses you, I will curse; and
7) in you all of the families of the earth will be blessed.

The author indicates that this, God's original blessing, is restored and fulfilled through Abram and his offspring (Isaac, Jacob and Moses).  A second author and commentator explains that here, the Holy Ghost enters and now, it is almost Abram and his seed that are the sole account and subject moving forward.

Genesis 13 describes how Abram continued in his godliness by allowing Lot to choose where he would live because Abram's wealth would come only from God.  The author in my Bible indicates Lot and Abram are  easily contrasted, Lot by his selfishness and coveting and Abram as blessed and acting only upon the commands of God.

Psalm 2:5 indicates that God is angry and; therefore, expresses his Righteousness.  I think that many people express an invalid righteousness when they are angry and this makes God seem somewhat human to me.

These are some questions that we can consider in the review of Genesis.

1. With what do the first eleven chapters deal?
2. What single character is next described?
3. Why is Abraham important in the history?
4. What promises were made to Abraham?
5. What descendants of Abraham are described in the remaining part of Genesis?
6. How long a period is covered by the events of this book?
7. How did the first Old Testament book receive its present name?

  So, I think with end with the story telling us that greed and hastiness will result in exactly what we would expect them to result in and waiting to hear God's Word will result in grace.  See you tomorrow!

Day 4: Genesis 7-9; 2 Peter 3

Sorry - I think I copied my plan wrong and we should have read 2 Peter 1 then 2 and then 3.  Go back and read 1 -- it has an interesting comment on stating that "no prophecy on scripture" is a matter of one's own interpretation because no prophecy is made of human will rather he was moved by the Holy Spirit. 

Further exploration of Genesis 7 and of the inclusion of Noah's some "Ham," who ended up being evil, is meant to be an indication that some children profit from their parent's Godliness, that there is always a mixture of good and bad on Earth and in every family a mixture as well.  The author points out that in Noah's family, there was Ham and in Christ's family there was Judas.  So goes the saying, "there is one in every family."

Krista, in contrast to your ideal that God feels remorse or regret, I think Genesis 8 is indicating - "did you get my point?"  As we may remember from Bill Cosby "I brought you into this world and I can take you out."  I think from this point forward God has indicated to each one of you that sins your own punishment will come, in fact proscribes certain penalties for each different type of evil sin.

I do love the rainbow "bow" in the clouds.  An explanation of a "silver lining."  But again, God delivers the subtle message - I created the floods and remember I can do that again.  Did you catch that God also says I created you in my own image -- so He sort  of says if you tarnish that image through evil, I will tarnish you.

Do you think that there is a rainbow in Charlie Brown's cartoons when the grey cloud follows above?  Till' tomorrow!

Day 3: Genesis 5-6; Psalms 1 and 93 and 2 Peter 3

Some days, folks, its gonna have to be short, with less study and simple reading.  Today is a day like that.

Okay, so Genesis 4 seems to really concern me because the times make no sense.  My author's interpretation seems to be that either the years were exaggerated or were actually days in a year. I guess 5:3 lends credence to our parents saying they hope we experience what they did with our own children.  I do notice 5:22 wherein the difference should be noted of "walking with God" versus merely"living."

Genesis 6 made me think of Krista's comments on when God decided that was it.  And I think this is exactly what Genesis 6 says.  Do you wonder why the serpent was brought on board Noah's ark?  The end seems to say that not only "you are what you reap, but what you reap is stuck with you."

Peter 3 also speaks to some of your comments, Krista.  It tells us in 3:8 time is relative to the watcher.  God waits patiently, while we are impatient and see 3:10 indicates that these things are sometimes figurative or distorted because they are trying to describe the indescribable.  And heed the warning of 3:11 that this transitory existence and indescribable time should be the reason that we want to live lives of holiness now.

Well, I am intrigued and ready to read more tomorrow.  Sorry so short today -- promise more length and analysis tomorrow!

Day 2: Genesis 3-4, Psalm 92, 2 Peter 2

From the very outset, do you wonder how much time passed between Genesis 2 and 3?  When reading a story where time has passed, traditionally, an author tells us if the next page is the following hour, day or a passage of decades.  Here, we are not given a clue as to the passage of time. 

Tricky little serpent, huh?  He promises Godliness to Eve by tempting her with three evils -- goods for the stomach, the eyes and the mind.  Of course, we know that the result was anything but that.  She already had those things, but did not know the opposite.  Its by contradiction, it seems, that she learns -- who of us does not experience this daily?  I am reminded of the grace God has given us, when I disparage something I feel is "disgraceful." 

I find myself asking as I read Genesis 3 - Where did the great deceiver come from?  Did you catch it in verse 22 that God says, "the man has become like one of Us", who is He talking to and who is Us?  As I moved on to Peter, I think he must be talking to the angels?  What do you think? 

Have you read, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God?" (Jonathan Edwards, theologian - July 8, 1741)  God seems both angry and yet a little witty when he rhetorically asks Adam, "where are you?"  I think this is said by God to point out to Adam that before eating the apple, he would not have even understood to behave this way - he would never have thought to hide and now he is hiding his body by clothes and by trees.  Did you notice the other rhetorical question in our readings today?  In Genesis 4, Cain rhetorically asks God "What, am I my brother's keeper?"  I think that we rhetorically ask God these things all the time. "Was I not supposed to eat the whole pie?"  "Was I not supposed to buy that thing I cannot afford?"

Did you notice another common theme in our current society -- Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent and no one takes their own blame in Genesis 3.

I find myself again questioning, how am I to believe this when the Bible cannot even tell me where this is happening -- the land of Nod in Genesis 4.  Did you find yourself wondering does my family stem from the Cain or Abel branch of the family tree?  Seems like, before the Resurrection, it may have made a huge difference, maybe not so much now.

Today's reading also touches on the current fodder for religious difference - homosexuality, monogamy and adultery.  Genesis 4:19 and 2 Peter 10.

Moving on to Psalms.  I am not grasping the Psalms.  They are pretty, but I don't get it.  Anyone?  I had to seek out other sources to get the point of Psalm 92.  I mean the basic introduction - this is to be said on the Sabbath - that was easy, but why? 

Matthew Henry a theologian who wrote a complete commentary in 1706 indicates that verses 1-6 are a reminder to thank God for his grace of the night by prayer in the morning and likewise thank Him at night for his graces throughout the day.  He indicates of verses 7 - 15

The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness. 

I find 2 Peter 2 to be a great passage for us to read as we are at the beginning of this Bible study.  It is open to the public and what I or you find on the Internet could provide a false message.  We should be weary of false prophets, false teachers and false messages.

The commentary to verse 3 in my version of the Bible states "Although delay makes it seem that [deceivers] have escaped God's judgment, destruction is a reality that is sure to come upon them."  Great, but we need to continue to vest ourselves with the Right Word to make sure we can uncover these wolves in sheep's clothing.  And with that...I leave you until tomorrow (reserving my right for further comment.)  Have a great day!

Oh, and if you have any comments or suggestions to make sure you stay interested and involved, please let me know.

Day 1: Genesis 1-2 and Psalms 95-96

I have relied on the following sources, along with the Bible, in forming thoughts and questions about today's readings, as follows: 

1. http://www.bibletruths.net/Archives/BTAR133.htm
2. http://www.tonyhj.ca/Writing/Handbook/Biblhndbk02.html#Commentaries
3. http://www.jhom.com/topics/rivers/eden.htm
4. http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/bibleReadingGuide.asp?book=Ps#95
5. http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/psalms/96.html

Apparently, throughout the Christian and other communities, some people claim that there are differences in Genesis 1 and 2 that are so drastic that they cannot be assimilated.  Likewise,  this is used to support the theory of evolution and discredit Creationism.  For example, in Genesis 1, it is written that God created Man and Woman and then Genesis 2 states that Eve was created from Adam's rib.   

After a close consideration of these alleged contradictions between chapter one and two of the Genesis' account of creation, there are essentially five supposed discrepancies (the following was arranged and succinctly worded by the scholar Kalisch). I shall now state them and then examine them. (1). In chapter one, vegetation is immediately produced by the will of God; in the second "account," its existence is made dependent on rain and mists; (2) in the first the earth emerges from the waters and, therefore, contains necessary moisture; in the second it appears dry and sandy; (3) in the first man and his wife are created together; in the second the wife is formed later, and from a part of man; (4) in the former man bears the image of God, and is made ruler of the whole earth; in the latter his earth-formed body is only animated by the breath of life, and he is placed in Eden to cultivate and to guard it; (5) in the former the birds and beasts are created before man; in the latter man before birds and beasts. These five comparisons constitute the so called insoluble contradictions between chapters one and two.

The commentary in the New American Standard Bible that I am reading indicates that the differences may be explained by comparing the days of "formation" versus the days of "filling."  Do you think that the days of formation were 24-hour days or indefinite periods?  What difference does it make  until there was actually light and dark and cultivation related to the seasons?  Did you  find yourself intrigued by the different ways to interpret "sea monsters" in Genesis 1 verse 21? Isn't Genesis 2:2 overwhelming?  His work was completed and it was "perfect."  It did not have to be repeated, repaired or revised and he rested "to commemorate it."

Look again at Genesis 1:27.  This is our first glimpse at poetry in the Bible, which overall is about 40 percent poetry.  Did you get that feeling when you read it the first time?

Did you find yourself wondering where are we?  Apparently, the location of two of the four rivers (Pishon, Gihon) and their current names. 

Ponder these questions in relation to Psalm 95:
What reasons to worship are we given in this Psalm?
What warnings and why are they issued in verses 8-11?

And consider these questions when reading Psalm 96:
What does it mean to ascribe to God attributes of glory and strength and what happens if we fail to do this?
In what sense is praise to God fitting or worthy?

Did you catch in 95:6-11 that the method of kneeling is proscribed and a mere genuflection is insufficient?
Did you get the message from 95:8 that we are reminded no to "quarrel" or "test?"

I think that a wonderful passage for us is 96:13 wherein we are reminded that in the Old Testament righteousness was only a promise and not yet the establishment and that we now benefit from the establishment of his righteousness. 

I think that is a perfect way to end today's blog post- take some time to reflect on the fear of the Old Testament followers, bleak and weary and how we benefit from their faith.