By Mike Peek

What shall I write today? What do I have in my heart and on my mind to say? I just read Genesis 8-11, which gives us the historical record from Noah to Abram and Lot the son of Abram’s brother Haran. They moved with their father Terah to a city, Haran, near to the land of Canaan. Canaan was the son of Ham whom Noah cursed because Ham saw his father’s nakedness and did not cover him up. Do you believe that Genesis is history and if not history what? The book of Genesis must be taken as history because it is a historical record but should be read understanding its purpose. The purpose of this historical record is to point to God as the author of life and to trace the historical record of a people Israel. However, the historical record will not end with the people Israel. The record will continue to the birth of the Son of God and the birth of the church of Jesus Christ. We are now living in the historical record between the inauguration of Christ as Lord and his returning to sit down on ...

My reading this morning comes form Genesis 4-7. Cain killed Abel because he was jealous. Cain’s line was followed for a while but then a third son from Adam and Eve by the name of Seth was born. This family lines descends to Noah and his sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The Lord God destroyed all life on the earth with a flood, except Noah and his wife, with their sons and their wives, and the animals that were taken aboard the ark. The Lord God destroyed the earth because the earth had become corrupt in his sight, for the earth was filled with violence because of man. I do not think that I will ever understand men who claim the name of Christ, yet promote or sanction violence. Jesus taught peace, not only peace with God but peace among men. Men think that evil is the answer for evil. “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Evil cannot be overcome with evil. The only way to overcome evil is with good. My favorite television show is “The Andy Griffith Show.” It was a television show ...

God created the heaven and earth and sea and all that they contain. God created everything that exist in orderly fashion. God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. God gave to them marriage, to populate the earth, to subdue the earth and rule over the creatures of the earth. God gave the man and woman the fruit of the trees as food. God put them in a garden to cultivate it and keep it. In the garden were many trees that grew fruit but there were two special trees; the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Mankind was commanded by God to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, though they could eat from any other tree in the garden, including the tree of life. However, they choose to disobey the command of God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They choose what would kill them rather than life. It has been theorized by many as to the tree of the knowledge of go...

What does it say?  Genesis 48 - Israel became sick and was dying; therefore Joseph went to see his father with his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim. When Joseph brought them close, Israel put his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his left hand as Manasseh’s head. He adopted the brothers as his own, to receive and inheritance in Israel as one of his sons, in the land of Canaan by the oath of God. Israel gave Ephraim, the younger, the greater blessing than Manasseh the younger.  Genesis 49 - All of the sons of Israel came forward and Israel spoke about each of them and what was to come. He negated the rights of the three eldest sons who are Rueben, Simeon and Levi. Reuben because he defiled his fathers bed and slept with his fathers concubine. (cf. Gn. 35:22) Simeon and Levi because of the violence they did to Hamor and his son Schechem and the people of their city after making a covenant with them. (cf. Gn. 34:25-30) Israel gave the blessing of the eldest to Judah, who was actuall...

What does it say? Genesis 46 - When Israel wanted to worship God and offer sacrifices he did so at Beersheba because this was were he meet God when he was a young man. (cf. Gn. 28:10) Just like when he was a young man God spoke with Israel at Beersheba in the visions of the night. God told Israel not to be afraid to go down to Egypt, for he would make a great nation from Israel. God promised that he would go down to Egypt with Israel and bring Israel up again. Their Jospeh his son will close his eyes. Jacob took his family, and went to the land of Goshen in Egypt, the place where Joseph directed them to go. There were 70 persons from the house of Jacob who went came to Egypt. It was here that Israel’s, in his old age, saw his son Joseph again.  Genesis 47 - Joseph told Pharaoh that his family came down from Canaan and settled at Goshen. Five of his brothers and his father were presented before Pharaoh. When Pharaoh asked Israel how old he was, Jacob said, “The years of my sojourn...

What does it say? Genesis 43 - Israel and his sons had eaten all of the grain that they brought from Egypt, so Israel command his sons to return to Egypt and buy more grain. He was reminded that the man who was lord of the land of Egypt said, “return with your youngest brother Benjamin.” Israel was grieved and refused but when Judah vowed to be surety for his brothers life, Israel consented. Simeon their brother was returned to them. When Joseph saw Benjamin, his younger brother, he wept. After gaining his composure he dined with his brothers but separated from them.  Genesis 44 - Joseph had his steward hide his special cup in Benjamin’s bag, then go after his brothers. When the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag, all of the brothers followed Benjamin back to Egypt. Joseph told Israel’s sons that Benjamin would stay and be his slave; however, Judah told Joseph about his father Israel and his vow to be surety for his brother . Genesis 45 - Joseph wept! He then revealed himself to hi...

What does it say? Genesis 40 - While Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh became angry and placed his chief baker and his cup bearer in the same prison. These two men dreamed and Joseph interpreted their dreams for them by God. The cup bearer was restored to his office and the chief baker was hanged to his death. He had asked that the cup bearer remember him. Genesis 41 - Two years later, Pharaoh had two dreams that disturbed him greatly. He dreamed that seven sleek and fat cows, were eaten by seven ugly and gaunt cows. He dreamed that seven plump ears of grain, were eaten by seven ears, scorched by the wind of the desert. The cup bearer told Pharaoh about Joseph. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. He said that God was revealing to Pharaoh that seven abundant years would be followed by seven years of famine. The seven years of famine would be so divesting that no one would remember the seven abundant years. He also told Pharaoh that he should appoint a man to save one-fifth of all the prod...

What does it say? Genesis 37 - Joseph’s brothers were jealous of Israel’s love for him and even more so, when Israel gave him a special tunic. Jospeh related to them a dream in which their sheaves bowed down to their sheaves. This enraged his brothers. He also had a second dream in which the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to him. Joseph was sent by their father to his brothers. His brothers captured him and sold him to Ishmaelite traders who sold Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s bodyguard.  Genesis 38  - After this, there is an interluded, in which the story is hold of how Perez was born. (Perez and his mother Tamar are listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [cf. Mt. 1:3]) Perez and Zerah were born to Judah from an elicit union. Judah had sex with his daughter in-law Tamar, who had disguised herself as a prostitute because Judah did not give her to his youngest son as wife, his eldest son, Tamar’s husband was dead and his middle...

What does it say? Jacob’s sons were treacherous! Dinah the daughter of Leah laid with Schechem the son of Hamor the Hivite who coerced her. Hamor and Schechem came to Jacob to ask for Dinah’s hand in marriage, suggesting that the sons of Jacob take their daughters as wives. Jacob sons agreed but with treachery in their hearts because they suggested that Hamor, Schechem and all the men of the city be circumcised like Jacob’s sons. On the third day, while the Hivites were in pain, Jacob’s sons killed every male in the city, took back their sister, looted the city, the fields, the wealth, took their little ones and their wives. This worried Jacob because he could no longer have favor among the people of the land; therefore, he moved with his sons to Bethel, the place where he meet God when he fled from Esau’s anger. Jacob worshiped the God whom he meet at Bethel and walked with him during the time he was working for Laban. The Lord changed his name to Israel and told him that he would be ...

What does it say? Jacob no longer had favor with laban; therefore, he took all that he acquired while working for Laban and departed for the land of Canaan. Rachel, his wife, stole idols from Laban and hid them. Laban chased after Jacob but did not attack because he was warned by God in a dream; therefore, he made a covenant with Jacob. He made Jacob swear before God but did not do so from his own fear of the Lord but Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. Jacob feared Esau, so he sent before him a gift of livestock and divided his positons and persons, so that all could not be attacked at once. Jacob wrestled with God all that night and God changed his name to Israel, for he wrestled with God and with men and prevailed; however, Jacob was injured and limped thereafter. Esau received Jacob and received Jacobs gift; therefore, Jacob entered the land and settled near the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan.  What does it mean? Life is a struggle and it is impossible to live i...

There are two main ideas in this text: Man is sinful and God is righteous. One cannot read the things that either Jacob or Laban did and be proud of either. Scripture is amazing because here is a story that paints the nation of Israel in a bad light. The law prohibits marrying two sisters, yet the nation of Israel began this way. Jacob desired Rachel but he was given Leah as a wife first. Leah would bare six of the twelve tribes of Israel, namely Levi and Judah; Levi would become the priestly line and Judah the royal line through whom David and Jesus came. Because of the rivalry of two sisters having the same husband, each used her maid, which Jacob took as wives also, and each maid bore him two children a piece. Rachel remained barren but eventually she gave birth to Joseph, Joseph would become two tribes in the northern kingdom and be divided from his brother Judah in the southern kingdom. We would hear no more of Joseph after the exile but Judah, Leah’s son. would become prominent. ...

What does it say? Isaac had it in his mind to go to Egypt because a famine struck the land of Canaan but God commanded that he stay in the land and He reaffirmed the promise that He made to Abraham with Isaac and his descendants. Isaac lived among the Philistines in Gerar, and lied, saying that Rebekah was his sister but Abimelech saw Isaac caressing his wife; Abimelech rebuked Isaac because one of his people might have sinned and brought guilt upon the community. The Lord made Isaac prosperous and the Philistines became jealous. They quarreled over the wells that Isaac dug and he moved each time, untll he came to a well that no one quarreled over. Isaac went to Beersheba and the Lord appeared to him, and spoke to him, and said that He would bless Isaac for Abraham’s sake; therefore, Isaac worshiped the Lord. Abimelech of the Philistines came and made a covenant with Isaac at Beersheba because he saw that God was blessing Isaac. Esau married two Hittite women, and this brought grief to...

What does it say? Abraham sent his oldest and most trusted servant to take a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac from among Abraham’s relatives but not from the Canaanites. Abraham believed that the Lord would guide his servant to the woman whom Isaac would marry. Abraham’s servant took 10 camels and a variety of goods to the city of Nahor, Abraham’s brother; when he arrived at the well, he asked the Lord to reveal the woman when she showed him kindness by offering him and his camels water from the well. Rebekah was Isaac’s second cousin and she came to draw water which she offered to Abraham’s servant and she watered his camels. He gave her jewelry and asked if he might lodge with her family and she gladly agreed. Laban, Rebekah’s brother took care of the man’s needs, feeding and bedding his camels, and when they all sat down to eat a meal together, the man revealed his purpose for coming. He also revealed his prayer by the fountain of water regarding the woman who would show him kindness by...

What does it say? Again, Abraham lied about his wife Sarah, telling  Abimelech that Sarah is his sister, so Abimelech took Sarah into his house. God had compassion on Abimelech and spoke to him in a dream, keeping him from sinning against God by sleeping with Sarah. Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham along with livestock and slaves, then he questioned why Abraham would do this and cause Abimelech to make a decision that would be sin against God. The answer that Abraham gave was self-preservation. Sarah conceived and bore a son for Isaac at the appointed time and named him Isaac. When the child was eight days old, Abraham circumcised Isaac just as the Lord commanded. Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and her son away. The Lord told Abraham to trust him, and do as she says, for his descendants would be named through Isaac but God would also make a great nation of the maid Hagar’s son. Hagar and her son were dying of thirst in the desert and God heard their cries; therefore, He...

What does it say? Three men appeared and Abraham asked that he might treat the Lord hospitably. They Lord asked for Sarah and she was in the tent. The Lord told Abraham that in one year, He will return and she will have a son. Sarah laughed because of her age and the Lord said: “Is there anything to difficult for the Lord.” Abraham questions the justice of God. Will the Lord destroy the righteous with the wicked? Abraham gives the Lord scenarios beginning with 50 righteous persons, all the way down to 10 righteous person and in each case the Lord answers that He will not destroy Sodom if righteous persons are found in it. Suffice it to say that the Lord deals justly with His created beings. However, the under lying reason for Abraham’s questioning the justice of the Lord is that Abraham’s son Lot lived in Sodom with his family. The two angels who appeared as men to Abraham, with the Lord, came into the city and Lot asked that he might show them hospitality, they agreed after he urged t...

What does it say? The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Abram longed for a son because one of his servants would be his aire. God told him in the vision to look at the stars and if he could count them, that is the number of his descendants. I cannot image the stars visible to the eye, in a desert, before electric lighting. Abram believed in the word of the Lord; the Lord reckoned it to him as righteous. The Lord reckons the man who believes His word as righteous. Paul and James relate Christian belief in Christ to this passage. (Rom.4:3; Gal.3:6; Jam.2:23) Abram sacrificed animals and cut them in two and laid them separated, as the Lord commanded. God told Abram that His descendants would be enslaved but He would rescue them and bring them into the land of Canaan. After the sun had set and it was very dark, the Lord passed between the halves and was visible, as a smoking oven and a flaming torch. Since she could not conceive, Sarai reasoned to give Hagar, her Egyptian made, t...

What does it say? The Lord spoke to Abram. Was it audible or was it a vision? I do not know but I do know that the Lord made his will known to Abram and His will was that Abram observe His commandments and the Lord would bless Him; thereby blessing Abram, all of the families of the earth would be blessed. Abram departed his family, as the Lord commanded, to the Land of Canaan. He took Lot his nephew, the son of his dead brother Haran, Sarai his wife, all of the wealth and servants that they accumulated in Haran. The Lord told Abram that He would give the land to his descendants. Abram went to Egypt because there was a famine in Canaan. He lied to the Egyptians and told his wife to lie and say that she was his sister. Pharaoh took Sarai into his household and gave Abram livestock. The Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with plagues because of Sarai; therefore, when Pharaoh heard what Abram had done, he drove him and his wife away. Abram went to the altar that he made between the cities o...

What does it mean? God blessed Noah and his sons in much the same way that He had blessed the first man and woman in Gn.1:28. He told them to be fruitful and multiply; however, instead of telling them to rule over the living creatures of the earth God put the fear of man into the creatures. Also, instead of giving them the vegetation of the earth for food, God gave them the living creatures for food but not while they still had life in them. There is also a remembrance that above all creatures, man is special because man was made in the image of God; therefore, man shall not be killed. God then made a covenant for man and all living things, that He would never again destroy all flesh with a worldwide flood again. As a sign of the covenant God created the rainbow. Through Noah’s sons the entire earth was populated. This means that every person on the earth has a common ancestry in Noah and his wife. It did not take long before sin entered into the family. Noah cursed Canaan but blessed ...

What does it mean? Genesis 6 Men and women began to multiply greatly on the earth and God was not pleased with man; therefore, he restricted man’s life to 120 years. God was sorry that He made man because man was corrupt and his wickedness became abundant; therefore, God decided to destroy man, and all living things but for some reason, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man, he was considered blameless in a time that the earth was corrupt and filled with violence; therefore, his finding favor with God would indicate his non-violence as the possible reason. God told Noah that he was going to destroy the men of the earth with the earth. God planned to cause a great flood. Noah would not have known what this meant and God gave him specific instructions on how He wanted Noah to build the ark which would house him and Noah’s family. The arc would also hold birds, animals and creeping things of every kind, a male and a female of every kind. Noah had never seen a ...

What does it say? The serpent took the word of God and twisted it, so the woman did what was in her heart, she took from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate; she also gave to her husband and he hate. The man and woman hid themselves from the Lord and when the Lord questioned the man about eating from the tree, he blamed the woman and the woman blamed the serpent. The Lord God told the serpent that he is cursed and He will put a state of hostility between him and the woman and between his seed and her seed; her seed will bruise the serpent on the head, yet the serpent will bruise His heel. The Lord told the woman and the man that childbirth would now be increasingly difficult but she would continue to bear children because she would desire her husband and he will rule over her. Adam had been given a garden but now he is to eat through very hard work and overcoming much difficulty; at the end of the days he will return to the dust, the dust that he came from and toiled wit...