Historical Record

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 his glorious throne to judge the earth. I love history because the finger of God is all over it. You can see God in history and see where he is guiding mankind when you read history. 

God commanded Noah and his sons and his daughter’s in-law to be fruit and multiply and fill the earth. However, they congregated in one place, in the area that is the country Iraq today. They were not spreading out on the earth as the Lord had commanded. They built a tower to heaven to show how great a people they were; therefore, God confused their language, so that they could not communicate and work together, causing man to spread out over the face of the earth. After this, the historical record traces Noah’s son Shem’s family line to Abram the son of Terah.

My family line came from one of the sons of Noah, probably Japheth given what the historical record indicates. Of Japheth’s descendants, Genesis 10:5, “From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.”

I am not a descendant of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob but Jesus came to redeem a people for himself; people from every tribe, tongue and nation on the earth. We are the people of God in Jesus Christ.

The Earth is Corrupt with Violence

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 from the 1960’s. My favorite character is Andy’s deputy Barney Fife. Barney is not very smart and he is prideful. The things that he says and does are for the sake of comedy but they also expose the way that men really think. In a certain episode, Barney asks a group of young boys a rhetorical question: “How do you fight fire?” The boys answer, “With a hose!” Barney says, “No, no no! You fight fire with fire.” The intention was comical and the mess that Barney winds up in because of fighting fire with fire is comical but men really do this when attempting to fight evil with evil.

Fighting evil with evil only causes evil to abound. Evil will never defeat evil, you can only defeat evil with good. The earth was destroyed with a world wide flood because the earth had become corrupt in the sight of Lord because of the violence of man. After the flood and men spread out on the earth, violence returned to the earth. Jesus taught his disciples to not resit an evil person (Matthew 5: 39) and he demonstrated what he taught at the cross.

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He did not open His mouth;

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,

And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,

So He did not open His mouth.

Whom Do You Choose to Follow

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 good and evil. What was its fruit? What was original sin? I think that these are the wrong questions. It was not a particular sin as we know but a choice to rebel against the command of the Lord our God. It is a deciding for oneself what is good and what is evil. It is making oneself Lord rather than listening to the word of God. We should remember that Genesis 1-3 was written by Moses through whom the law was given.

The man and woman were to have children and multiply. They were to fill the earth and subdue it. They were to rule over the creatures of the earth. However, they choose to listen to the creature, rather than the creator. They choose to do what they wanted to do rather than have eternal life in the garden. The apostle John said in 1 John 3:4, “Sin is lawlessness.” 

Lawlessness is transgression of the law. The apostle Paul wrote, Romans 5:18-21, “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Moses said at the conclusion of his writing, Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.” Whom do you choose to follow: The disobedient man or the obedient man? Adam or Jesus Christ?

Genesis 48-50

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 actually his fourth son from his wife Leah. The other sons followed in order of birth with the blessing of Israel and prophecy. Before Israel died, he charged his sons with burial in the grave site of his father’s where his wife Leah was buried. 

Genesis 50 - As the Lord promised Jacob, Joseph was at his side when Israel died. His body was embalmed and placed in the cave where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and now Jacob and Leah are all buried. After the burial, Joseph’s brothers thought that Joseph would be against them, now that their father was dead but Joseph loved his brothers and forgave their sins. He told them, that they meant evil but God meant it for good. At his death, Joseph requested to be buried in the land of Canaan when God takes the sons of Israel out of Egypt and gives them the land. 

What does it mean?

Israel had twelve sons but there were actually thirteen tribes in Israel because Joseph was counted as two tribes Manasseh and Ephraim. Ephraim would become greater than Manasseh and control the northern kingdom. Levi would be disbursed throughout Israel and not have a land of their own. There are earthly consequences for the sins done in the body. Reuben’s, Simeon’s and Levi’s sins had ramifications in the lives of their descendants. Judah would become the leading tribe. Israel’s body was taken to the grave of Abraham and Isaac. This is a for showing of the exodus to come. It is noted that though Israel took Rachel as his wife, Leah was his true wife, the wife God intended; this is seen in his burial with Leah in the cave of his fathers. Marriage is between one man and one woman and God chooses whom we are to marry. Joseph forgave his brothers. He loved his enemies, he did good to those who hated him, blessed those who cursed him and prayed for those who mistreated him. (Lk. 6:27-28) Joseph trusted the Lord’s oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is seen in his request to take his bones when God takes Israel to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

What shall I do?

I shall walk through this life knowing that all of my sins are paid in full by the atonement of Jesus Christ but I shall not go on sinning, the things that I do in the body can hurt other people, especially my children. I shall trust the Lord in what he has promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ. He has promised to return and raise us from the dead, to eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth. I shall show mercy and grace to others, regardless of how they may treat me or what they actually deserve. All human beings should be treated with dignity because they bare the image of God. 

Genesis 46-47

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 sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.” (Gn. 47:9 [NASB]) Pharaoh gave Israel the land of Goshen to settle and heard their flocks, he also charged them with his flocks. During the course of the famine Joseph acquired all of the money, livestock and land in Egypt for the house of Pharaoh. For this reason, the people who work the land gave one-fifth of the produce to Pharaoh as payment for using the land. Only the priest did not have to pay, for Pharaoh gave them an allotment. 

What does it mean?

There is an inkling of the Temple in this text. A designated mountain, where all of Israel would gather, to meet, and offer sacrifices to God. God promised to make Israel a great nation and bring the nation out of Egypt. God is trustworthy! God always delivers on his promises. Israel’s confession: Life is short and is difficult. It should be noted that the Egyptians, except the priest, paid Pharaoh one-fifth of all the produce of the land. The tithe that the Lord would enact in Israel is holy to the Lord. (cf. Lev. 27:30) 

What should I do?

I shall remember that the Lord our God is holy, his commands are not burdensome, his word is always trustworthy and true. If God says that he is going to do something, I can be rest assured that he will do it. God in his Son, Jesus Christ, has promised eternal life, in the new heaven and the new earth at his second coming, for all who believe in him. Life on this earth is short and often difficult but I have hope in the Lord, Jesus Christ for eternal life in the new heaven and new earth; there will no longer be any death, mourning, crying, or pain. (cf. Rev. 21:4) I see a great deal of these now while a care for the sick and injured but the new heaven and new earth will be free of these. I shall wait on the day of the Lord because the day of the Lord will come as promised.

Genesis 43-45

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 his brothers and they rejoiced. They were sent back to their father Israel carrying many gifts from the land of Egypt. When Israel heard that his son Joseph was alive his spirit revived and he made plans to go see him.

What does it mean?

First, the brothers new that they had sinned. They viewed what was happening as a result of their sin. They believed that Benjamin was being enslaved because of their sin committed, when they sold Jospeh into slavery. This is a type of our guilt. Second, Judah, from whom the Christ would come, vowed to his father, “I will be surety for the lad.” Judah is a type of Christ. He was sent by his father in exchange for the life of his brother. Third, Joseph, whom they thought was dead was alive. It as if he had been raised from the dead. When they saw him, they rejoiced. This is a type of Christ’s resurrection and his appearance to his brothers. Lastly, the brothers went and told the good news to their father. When he heard, he rejoiced and desired to go see him. This is a type of the disciples telling others the good news.

What shall I do?

I know that I was created in the image of God but have sinned and fall short of his glory. The Father God sent his son Jesus to be surety in my place. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 [NASB]) After Jesus’ death and burial, he made several appearance to the disciples, alive after his suffering, by many convincing proofs. (Acts 1:3) The disciples rejoiced when they saw him. (John 20:20) They were sent by Christ, to the world, to be his witnesses. (Acts 1:8) When Israel received news that Joseph was alive, his spirit revived and he desired to go see him. When I heard that Christ died for my sins and is alive, I rejoiced and I long to go see him. I shall remember the sins that I have committed and loath myself because of them. I shall remember that the Son of God was went buy the Father God to be surety for me. I shall rejoice because my sins have been paid in full and Jesus has risen from the dead to sit on his glorious thrown. I shall be glad because he has promised me a place in his Father’s house. 

Genesis 40-42

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 produce during the seven abundant years, for food during the seven years of famine. Pharaoh appointed Joseph steward of Pharaoh’s house. Joseph became lord of the land, for his commands were second, only to Pharaoh’s. Joseph was given a wife and she bore him two sons: Manasseh the oldest and Ephraim the younger. 

Genesis 42 - Jacob sent his sons, except Benjamin, to the land of Egypt to by food for famine was in the land of Canaan. Jospeh recognized his brothers and told them that they could not return without their youngest brother Benjamin, he held Simeon hostage until they returned. This upset Jacob greatly, who cried out saying, “All of these things are against me.” Reuben offered his two sons for the life of Benjamin but Jacob refused him.

What does it mean?

Firstly, God is sovereign, not Pharaoh, nor any man. God is all powerful, all knowing and all good. Previously, what Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, God allowed for good. Joseph became lord of the land. If God wants man to know what he is going to do, he will reveal his plans to man but if not, it remains a mystery. Secondly, all that is produced during the abundant years of life should not be devoured. Years of famine come to everyone. We should save during the abundant years, so that we have during the years of famine. At some point, we will become old and sick; therefore, unable to work. We should save while we are young for substance when we are old, one-fifth is a good saving plan during our working years. Lastly, Jacob believed that all was against him but God was for him, for his son Joseph was being restored to him. 

What shall I do?

I shall trust that the Father God is all powerful, all knowing and all good. I may not understand God’s plan but I trust that he has a plan; his plan will work for good because he is good, his plan will be accomplished because he is all powerful, and he knows my thoughts because he is all knowing. Secondly, I shall save one-fifth of my income now because I know that I will reach a point in life when I am unable to work because of sickness or old age. I shall do this, not for myself only but also for my wife and family. Lastly, I shall remember that even though things might seem against me, the reality may be different than what I perceive.

Genesis 37-39

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 son was dead as well. 

Genesis 39 - We return to Joseph and his story. Joseph became steward of the house of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s bodyguard. By the hand of the Lord Joseph prospered in Potiphar’s house. He was put in charge of everything in the house. Potiphar’s wife was the only thing in the house that was withheld from Joseph. Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him and when he did not she lied and Potiphar put Jospeh in prison. The jailor favored Joseph because the Lord was with him.

What does it mean?

There is much typology in these three stories. In Joseph’s story he is a type of Christ. However, the antitype would eventually come from the union that Judah had with his daughter in-law Tamar. Like Jesus, Joseph, was sent by his father, to his brothers but they did not receive him. They sold him! In the story of Judah and Tamar we see how God will use evil for good. Through this union Perez is born, who is the descendant of David and Jesus Christ. Joseph’s story parallels Adam’s story in the garden; however, instead of eating the forbidden fruit, Jospeh is unjustly accused. Jesus would be unjustly accused and would be more than imprisoned; Jesus would suffer and die for the sins of Adam and all of mankind. 

What shall I do?

I shall realize that God’s will be done despite the wicked plans of men. Men do evil things all of the time but God is always working for good. God can use anything for good. At this point in Joseph’s story it does not seem for good but we will see that it will. To use a modern gospel phrase, which is often used incorrectly, God has a wonderful plan for Joseph’s life. The reason that I say, “the phrase is often used incorrectly.” God’s wonderful plan may not seem wonderful at the time. God had a wonderful plan to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. All of Jesus’ apostles suffered and all but John were martyred. God had a wonderful plan for their lives. I work at the bedside in intensive care. I see a great deal of human suffering and death. I do not always see what God’s plan is for my life and for my patients but I shall trust the word of the Lord and know that God has a wonderful plan.

Genesis 34-36

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 a nation; and that a company of nations and kings would come from him. He also promised him and his descendants the land which he gave to Abraham and Isaac his fathers. Debrah the mother of two of his sons died on the journey to Bethel. Rachel also died while giving birth to his twelfth son Benjamin. After this, Isaac died and the two brothers, Jacob and Esau buried him; therefore , the sons of Jacob are named and the descendants of Esau are named. After the death of Isaac, Jacob and Esau separated. The descendants of Esau became the Edomites and the descendants of Jacob the Israelites. 

What does it mean?

Two wrongs do not make a right but God will use evil for good. What Schechem did was wrong but what the sons of Jacob did was even more wrong. They lied, murdered, pillaged and enslaved many for the wrong done to their sister. Was it wrong that Schechem forced Dinah to have sex with him? Absolutely! However, it was Schechem whom they needed to deal with and not an entire city and not the innocent. Murdering many men because of the wrong done by one man treacherous. Taking the wealth that belongs to those men and there children. Taking their children and their wives, likely as slaves, is just unspeakable treachery and I think that the law agrees. Exodus 22:16-17 (NASB) “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the dowry for virgins.” God uses man’s evil to bring about good. This caused Jacob to depend on the Lord and move his family to Bethel where he worshiped the Lord and he taught his children to worship the Lord.

What Shall I do?

Jesus said in Luke 6:27-31 (NASB) “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Should men take the law into there own hands? Jesus Christ was marred more than any man. Jesus’ arrest, suffering and death by crucifixion was the worst wrong ever committed. While on the cross Jesus said, Luke 23:34 (NASB) “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” I shall not follow the sons of Jacob but I shall follow Jesus Christ. Anger is such an easy response but the noble way is to love ones enemies.

Genesis 31-33

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 in this world without some contention. If you work hard and prosper, someone will be jealous. If you live obedient to the word of the Lord, someone will call you pious or self-righteous. If you proclaim the word of God, you may be called judgmental. It is impossible to live in this world without contention. The best that we can do is live according to the Word of the Lord, observing all that Jesus commanded. Christian children are taught to observe the Word of the Lord and they may do so, from our fear of the Lord and not their own. Every believer must meet the Lord. Jacob saw the Lord as the God of his fathers. He first meet the Lord at Bethel and saw that the Lord caused him to prevail while working for Laban. Jacob still struggled with unbelief. He wrestled with the Lord and came face to face with God. A child may observe the Word of the Lord because of his/her parents fear but at some point they will need to wrestle with the Lord face to face. 

What shall I do?

There are two things that the early church did: They told people about a man and a gift. The man is Jesus and the gift is eternal life in the kingdom of God. I shall not worry about the struggles in this life and all who might contend with me. I shall tell people about the free gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. I cannot make anyone believe. Everyone must come face to face with God. Everyone struggles with God and with man. Belief in Jesus Christ means piece with God but it will cause difficulties with the flesh. The flesh and the spirit never get along. However, I shall wrestle with the flesh but only in Jesus Christ shall I prevail. 

Genesis 29-30

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. Children can be born from fornication, adultery and many other sinful unions but marriage is between one woman and on man for life. Though Jacob desired Rachel, it was God’s will that he should marry Leah and he used Laban’s deception to bring this about. It was also God’s will to prosper Jacob and the Lord used Laban’s greed to prosper Jacob by turning Laban’s plan to Jacobs favor.

I understand that the Lord works in mysterious ways. God is sovereign over all things, which includes the affairs of the heart and the economy of man. I do not understand what is happening in our world today. There is a global pandemic that has spread from a single place in China to the entire world. It has been somewhat squelched by the government’s influence but now another situation has occurred where large numbers of people are rioting together in the city against the police. Will this cause the virus to spread wildly? How will the Lord use the anger of these people to bring about his will? I do not know the answer to these questions but I do know that I shall trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NASB) 

Much in the story of Jacob, Laban, Leah and Rachel are so very strange to us. However, relationships are still strange and men are still greedy. These things are just played out today, in differing ways, in a different culture. The main idea that we should glean from this text: Though man is by nature sinful, God is Sovereign over all and His will, will be done.

Genesis 26-28

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 his parents. When Isaac became old he set it in his mind to bless his older son Esau. Rebekah wanting Jacob to receive the blessing, disguised him to smell and feel as Esau. Jacob deceived his father Isaac, and lied, saying that he was Esau; Isaac believed that he was Esau and gave Jacob his blessing. When the deception was found out, Esau wept because his father had made his brother Jacob master. Isaac prophesied that Esau will serve Jacob but will become restless and break away from Jacob’s rule. Esau hated Jacob, so his mother sent Jacob to her brother Laban until Esau’s anger subsides. Isaac blessed Jacob and sent him away to live with Laban, Jacob’s uncle and obtain a wife from his cousins. When Esau saw that his wives displeased Isaac and Rebekah he took a third wife but this time from the daughters of Ismael. Jacob stopped at a crossroads and slept, there he dreamed and saw a ladder between earth and heaven; the angles ascended and descended on the ladder with God at the top who spoke and affirmed the covenant that he made to Abraham and Isaac with Jacob. Jacob anointed the stone that he had rested his head on with oil and called it the house of God. He vowed that if the Lord kept him on his journey, then the Lord would be his God and he vowed to give a tenth back to the Lord. 

What shall I do?

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all lied to protect themselves and to gain for themselves. Should I emulate their behavior because God did bless these three men? God blessed them despite of their deceptive ways. The Lord had a plan to bless all of the nations of the earth (cf. Gn.26:4) and that plan went through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s plan would not be detoured by their lying ways. In fact, the Lord used their lying to bring about His greater good. The question remains, should I be a liar like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? The answer is no! God is truth and Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and not a follower of these men. Jesus, through Mary, his mother, descended from Jacob but He is not like Jacob, He is like the Father God. Why did God go about blessing the entire world in this way? I do not know; however, I trust that He did, and I shall follow, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is God in human flesh. I shall give my body as a living and holy sacrifice to God, which is my spiritual service of worship. I shall not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the Word and Spirit of God. 

Genesis 24-25

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 giving him a drink of water from her jar, also drawing water for his camels. He told them while he was yet praying these things to the Lord Rebekah arrived and did as he asked the Lord; therefore, he worshiped the Lord on the spot. Laban, Rebekah’s brother and Bethuel, her mother saw Rebekah’s calling as from the Lord; therefore, they would not question it. The servant of Abraham feasted with Rebekah’s brother and mother along with the men who came with him. He also gave to Rebekah, Laban and Bethuel gifts. Rebekah willingly departed her family to become the wife of Isaac and her family gave their blessing that she might prosper in the marriage. The servant brought Rebekah to Isaac and he loved her and took her as his wife. Abraham took a wife named Keturah after Sarah’s death; she bore him six sons but only Isaac, the son of Sarah received the inheritance. Abraham died at the age of one hundred and seventy-five; Ishmael and Isaac together buried him in the cave with Sarah. Ishmael settled east of Egypt and lived one hundred and thirty-seven years, his settling was in defiance of his relatives. Rebekah gave birth to twin boys after a difficult pregnancy and the Lord told her that two nations would come forth from her womb. Esau was a hunter and Jacob stayed near the tents; Esau was Isaac’s favorite and Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite; Esau sold Jacob his birth rite for a bite of stew. 

What shall I do?

Abraham’s servant was given a great responsibility and did what he was assigned to do, for which he received no glory because he is unnamed in the story. Though Abraham had a son from Hagar, Sarah’s maid, and took another wife, Keturah after Sarah’s death, he was buried with Sarah, his one true bride. Marriage is between one man and one woman for life. Children might come from fornication, adultery, or multiple marriages but only one marriage is from the Lord. I have been studying how the gospel spread during the first three centuries of the church. It was not spread by the apostolic writers that followed after the apostles, but was spread by men and women unnamed in the historical record. They received no glory, for the glory belongs solely to the Lord. First, I shall serve the Lord, expecting nothing in return. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:5, “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.” I have already been given what I do not deserve. I have the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Second, I shall love Darlene, the wife of my youth, all the days of my life on earth. She was given to me as a wife from the Lord. She is my one true bride and there will never be another. I shall love her always, as I love myself. 

Genesis 20-23

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 provided them with water to drink and the lad grew strong while living in the wilderness under the protection of God. Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech before God, that they would not attack one another. God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt on a mountain that He would designate. When Abraham was about to kill Isaac, the Lord stopped him form killing Isaac and provided a ram as a substitute offering. The Lord blessed Abraham because he had feared God and obeyed His voice. Abraham received word that his brother Nahor was given many children. Sarah died at the age of 127 and Abraham purchased a field, with a cave from the Hittites to bury her. The field with the cave faced the city Hebron and Abraham buried his wife Sarah in it. 

What shall I do?

I shall love my neighbor as myself and give them the information that is best for their decision making, which may not be what is best for myself. Lying is always selfish. The liar always has self-interest at heart when he/she lies to another. The Lord will always do what He has said that He will do. The Lord told Abraham that Sarah would conceive and give Abraham a son from his loins. The Lord did exactly what He told Abraham He would do and at the appointed time. The Lord told Abraham to trust Him with his two sons. First , his son through Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian made. Second, his son Isaac, his son through Sarah his wife. When Sarah wanted Abraham to send away Hagar with her son, the Lord told Abraham to trust the Lord to take care of his son and do what Sarah demanded. Then the Lord commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only remaining son, his only son through his wife Sarah. Abraham obeyed the voice of God and the Lord provided a substitute. I shall trust the word of the Lord, for the Lord our God will always do what He has promised to do and the Lord our God will always do what is right. God did what was right in stopping Abimelech from sinning, God did what was right in taking care of Ismael in the wilderness. God did what was right in stopping Abraham from killing Isaac and even provided a substitute offering. However, the Lord expects us to trust His word and do what He commands, even when it makes no logical since. I shall trust the word of the Lord our God in Jesus Christ, the only begotten God, the word who become flesh. I see people die all of the time in the intensive care unit but I have never seen someone rise from the dead. The Lord has promised to return and raise us from the dead and give us eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth which is yet to come. I shall trust the voice of God!

Genesis 18-19

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 them strongly. After eating the feast that Lot prepared, the men of the city came to Lot’s whom and demanded that he give them the two men, so that they might have sex with them. For this reason, homosexuals in the near past were often called sodomites, a term that has departed from us. The men became angry that Lot would judge them regarding the desire of their hearts. Lot even offered his virgin daughters to the attackers but they wanted the men instead. Lot showed the two angels dressed as men hospitality but the other men of the city desired to degrade them. The righteous treat others with dignity and the unrighteous treat others shamefully. The men who came to Lot’s door were struck with blindness which was also their spiritual condition. The two angels told Lot to take his family and escape, or they would be swept up with the destruction of the city. They commanded Lot to run and not look back. We should run away from sin and not look back. However, Lot’s wife looked back and she was turned into a pillar of salt. Looking back longly of sin will destroy us. When Lot arrived at Zoar, the Lord reigned down hell (fire and brimstone) from heaven on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham saw the destruction from a great distance away. The Lord saved Lot because of Abraham. Again, we have a prohibition against drunkenness in Scripture. Lot became drunk and did what he would not normally do, he had sex with his two daughters. The text says that he did not know when they laid down with him, or when they got up. Two nations: the Moabites and the Ammonites were born from incest.

What shall I do?

I shall trust the word of the Lord for He will always do what He has said that He will do. God can do whatever He wants to do, however, he wants to do it. It is a miracle that a 90 year old woman and a 100 year old man could conceive and have a child. It is a miracle that God could take out my heart of stone and give me a soft heart. It is a miracle that He is transforming me from with in by His word and His Spirit. And it is a miracle that He should do what He has promised in His word to do; raise me from the dead, in a glorified body to live in His kingdom eternally with Christ. I have not seen the resurrection and the resurrection is as incredible to me as the thought of conceiving and giving birth at the age of 90 must have been for Sarah. I shall treat all human beings with the dignity deserved as image bearers of almighty God and I shall treat others hospitably. Shall run from sin and not look back. I shall not drink alcohol because it can take away my ability to think.

Genesis 15-17

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, to give Abram a child. Abram listened to the voice of his wife, he went into Hagar and she conceived but the Sarai became jealous and treated Hagar harshly. Let us not forget that the Lord God cursed the ground because Adam listened to the voice of his wife rather than the word of the Lord. Hagar fled but the Angel of the Lord told her to return and submit herself to Sarai but assured her that her descendants through Ismael would be to many to count and they would live east of his brothers and no one would get along with (them) him. Hagar’s descendants would be a thorn in the side of Sarai’s descendants. Abram was 86 years old when Ismael was born. When Abram was 99 years old, which would make Ismael 13 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and told him to walk before Him and be blameless. Abram fell on his face and the Lord walked with Abram to make him a multitude of nations. The Lord changed his name to Abraham. The Lord covenanted to give the land as an everlasting possession to Abraham’s descendants through his wife Sarai; however, Abraham and his descendants must be circumcised. Because he listened to his wife Sarai and tried to fulfill the word of the Lord through the flesh. The covenant for the land of Canaan and all the the Lord had promised to Abraham would come, not through Ismael but through Isaac whom Sarah would bear. The Lord changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. Abraham said, that God should make Ismael great, He agreed, but told him that the covenant would be fulfilled through his wife Sarah, not Ismael. Abraham, Ismael and all of the male servants were circumcised as the Lord commanded. 

What shall I do?

I shall believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and learn to observe all that He commanded. Jesus Christ has promised eternal life to all who believe in Him. This promise was given to the Jew first and also to every tribe and tongue and people and nation. The Lord has promised eternal life for me and all who believe. However, though all of my sins are paid in full and I have been saved from the penalty of sin, I will always remember my sins and loath myself because of them. Abraham was circumcised of the flesh and I am circumcised of the heart. Abraham bore his shame on the flesh and I bear my shame in the heart. I know that the Lord is transforming me and I will receive what I do not deserve, eternal life in glory. I shall wait on the Lord just as Abraham waited, when he divided the animal halves. I shall not seek my own righteousness through works done in the flesh but shall trust in the righteous given by the grace of God, through faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ our Lord.

Genesis 12-14

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 of Bethel and Ai and worshiped the Lord. Is this the site of the temple mount? Lot and Abram separated. Lot went to the Jordan Valley eastward and Abram to the land of Canaan westward. Once in Canaan, the Lord spoke to Abram. Vision? Audible? He told Abram that He will give him and his descendants the land and will make his descendants more numerous than can be numbered. What an incredible thing to hear when you have no children, your wife is barren and you are already an old man. There was war among the kings. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated. The victors took the spoils, which included Lot and his possessions. When Abram heard that Lot had been captured, Abram took his men, defeated the captures, brought back lot with all of his possessions and the goods a persons of Sodom. When Abram brought back the goods, he was meet by the king of Sodom and Melchizedek king of Salem who was a priest of God. Melchizedek gave Abram a blessing and Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods. Abram gave back all that was taken to the king of Sodom.

What shall I do?

The Lord God chooses to whom He will be gracious and to whom He will show compassion. No one deserves the blessings of God. Abram was not righteous in that he never sinned. Abram was a liar. He lied to Pharaoh about his wife Sarai and Pharaoh made a bad decision based on Abram’s lie. God punished Pharaoh but blessed Abram. Why? Only God knows! However, I do know that if God says to do something, I should do it, and if God makes a promise, He will do it. God promised Abram land and many descendants. God fulfilled this promise to Abram. God also told him that in him all of the nations of the earth would be blessed. Jesus Christ is the descendant of Abram by whom God would bless every family on the earth. At this point in the redemptive journey, the promise is not fully disclosed but will find fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. I cannot comprehend what it will by like at the consummation, when heaven and earth are made new, and God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Like Abram, I have difficulty seeing but I trust the word of the Lord. I shall walk through this life by faith in the promises of the Lord and not by sight; I presently see with my human eyes. The patients that I take care of are broken but they were created in the image of God. I work at the beside as a registered nurse, ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of broken people. This is what the Lord God has given me to do for His kingdom and I shall do this for Jesus’ sake. Nursing is the occupation that God has called me too; therefore, I shall understand this calling as ministry.

Genesis 9-11

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 shem and Japeth before he died. The sons of Noah and their sons separated and populated the earth after the flood. However, they were not willing to separate but instead began to build a city and exalt themselves, so God gave them different languages and scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Why were there people in North and South America when the explorers came across the Atlantic? The answer is God scattered them there. The word of God then focuses on the family of Shem to his descendant Terah the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot but Haran died. Abram’s wife was Sarai and Nahor’s wife was Milcah. The text makes special note that Sarai was barren. Terah took his family and they settled in Haran. After separating the people of the earth God focused His attention on Abram the son of Terah and Abram’s barren wife Sarai. 

What Shall I do?

I know that the Lord is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. I shall trust the Lord our God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ the Lord. God has promised eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord; therefore, I shall trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to raise me from the dead and save me from hell. God started over with Noah but man quickly returned to sin and rebellion; therefore, of all the families that He scattered around the world He set is sight on Abram who He later called Abraham and his wife Sarai who He later called Sarah. Through this couple God would bring a people and a Savor, who is Christ Jesus the Lord. I do not understand what is happening on the earth today with the global corona virus pandemic and the actions of the worlds governments but I do know that God is sovereign and He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom.8:28) Therefore, I shall trust God: Father and Son and Holy Spirit. I also know that all persons are created in the image of God. Therefore, when I go to work today, I shall care for my patients with the dignity that they are images of our creator God. 

Genesis 6-8

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 flood before, yet he trusted the word of the Lord and obeyed His commandments. This is another reason that Noah might have found favor with God.

Genesis 7

The world would go on like it had for one more week. God told Noah to enter the arc with his family and the animals, a male and female of every kind but for the animals considered clean, he was to bring them in by male and female pairs of seven. The significance of seven pairs of clean animals and entering the arc seven days before the flood to destroy the earth would indicate perfection. Noah was 600 years old when he entered the arc, trusting the word of the Lord. After the seven days past the earth was flooded. Rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. This is looking ahead to Israel’s wonderings in the desert, and more so, the Lord’s time in the desert before beginning His earthly ministry. The arc was lifted up and rose above the earth. The righteous shall rise and meet the Lord in the air. (1Th.4:17) The water even covered the tops of the mountains. Every thing that breathes died, except those carried and protected in the arc. We must be in Christ when the day of destruction comes. 

Genesis 8

After 150 days the water began to decrease. It was on the 17th day of the 2nd month that Noah and his family entered the arc and it was on the 17th day of the 7th month that the arc rested on the mountains of Ararat. 5 months times 30 days equals 150 days but it was not until the 1st day of the tenth month that the tops of the mountains became visible. 40 days later Noah opened the window of the ark. From the time that Noah entered the arc until the earth was dried up was 1 year. The Lord command Noah to go out an he obeyed. Noah took of every clean and bird and burnt offerings to the Lord on an altar and the Lord was pleased. God said that He will never again curse the ground because of man for the heart of man is evil from his youth.

What shall I do?

The main idea is that God looks favorably on the non-violent, who trust His word to obey His commandments. Jesus commanded His disciples to do something that seems strange. He commanded that we should love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. He said to not return violence for violence and do not demand back what someone takes. (Lk.6:27-30) The teachings of the Lord are radicle to say the least. Should we trust in our own reasoning or should we trust in the word of the Lord? I shall trust in the word of the Lord. I cannot see the consummation of the ages now but I trust the Lord. The day of the Lord is coming. The corrupt and wicked of the earth will be destroyed and there will be a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness reigns. I cannot see it now, nor do I understand what it will be like but I shall trust in the word of the Lord and observe all that He commanded.

Genesis 3-5

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 with all the days of his life. Adam named his wife Eve and God sacrificed animals to cloth and protect their bodies. The Lord God drove the man and woman from the garden to keep them from the tree of life, lest they ate from it and live forever in a state of rebellion against God. Cain and Able were their children; Cain killed Abel because he was jealous because the Lord was pleased with Abels animal offering and not his fruit from the ground. The Lord made Cain unfruitful in farming; therefore, he became a vagrant wonderer but his life was still precious to the Lord. He settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain took a wife and had a son, his descendants are name through Lamech who exalted himself as greater than Cain who proceed him, though also a murder like Cain. Adam and Eve had a third son named Seth who begot Enosh; Enosh called on the name of the Lord. God had created man, He made them in His image, He created them male and female and blessed them. Adam lived for 930 years, though he had other sons, his descendants are remembered through his third son Seth. Though Seth and each of his sons had many sons and daughters it is remembered that Seth begot Enosh, who begot Kenan, who begot Mahalalel, who begot Jared, who begot Enoch (Enoch was taken by God, halfway through life), who begot Methuselah, who begot Lamech, who begot Noah. Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

What does it mean?

Men and women have dignity because we are created by God in His image. When Cain killed Able he said, “Am I my brothers keeper?” The answer is yes! We are our brothers keeper because every person on earth bears the image of God. The image is marred by sin and the results of sin, the curse, but all human beings should be respected and treated with dignity because all human beings bear the image of God. All human life is precious in the eyes of God; therefore, should not all human life be precious in our eyes? Human life is to be protected and sustained with loving hands to protect it. Even in rebellion against his commandments God showed lovingkindness towards Adam and Eve by sacrificing the life of an animal to cloth them. He also demonstrated his love for Cain’s life even though Cain murdered Abel. God’s protection for the Serpent is that the seed of the woman would crush His head. This is looking forward to the gospel, when God would demonstrate His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom.5:8) 

What shall I do?

I am called to the ministry of nursing. I have often misunderstood this calling and thought that I should do something that men call ministry. What men most think of is pulpit ministry but nursing is ministry. All human life is precious because all human beings bear the image of God who created us. All are marred by the fall but God demonstrated His own love for us at the cross. Should we not love our neighbors and care for there needs. Therefore, I shall continue my work at the beside and see to the needs of my neighbor because I am my brothers keeper. I shall point my patients to the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross for their redemption and give them hope in the consummation when all things will be made new.