Good morning, dear friends!
I'm not sure where exactly we'll go with this chapter about Adam's line of progeny. Chapters 6 through 9 concern Noah and the flood, which will take us a while, so I don't feel the need to arbitrarily assign a full week to this genealogy. However, I'm so glad I looked at Jon Courson's commentary on this chapter, because it was illuminating. This genealogy skips right past Cain and Abel and focuses on the continuing, righteous line of Adam. Right at the beginning, we see something curious, as we get a summary of the creation of man. Verse 2 says of this act of creation, He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them "man." Courson points out that Adam and Eve had become one, and that's how God saw them - He called them, not him, "man." That's why no one is to divide a husband and wife. What God has joined let no one divide!
We're told in verse 3 that Adam had Seth (meaning "appointed") at the age of 130. He had more sons and daughters, lived 800 years longer, then died at 930 years of age. Remember that many believe that, prior to the flood, the earth was surrounded by a water canopy that blocked the harmful rays of the sun. So we see here that man lived for many more years. However, each of the men mentioned in this chapter, except for Enoch, have this punctuation point at the end of their time: "...and then he died." God had warned Adam and Eve in the Garden, that on the day that they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. Now, they apparently lived longer than that day, but spiritually, they died. Courson points out, however, that in God's time, according to 2 Peter 3:8, a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day. So, looks like Adam died on the "day" he ate the fruit! :)
Adam was 235 before he became a grandfather through Seth - and you thought you had to wait a long time! Seth was the father of Enosh, or Enos in the KJV version [I point that out to my daughters, because Enos is their paternal grandmother's middle name]. It means "subject to death." And don't we all believe somehow that we AREN'T subject to death??? It seems to take us all by surprise!
I heard a sermon online the other day in which the speaker talked of eternity. He used the illustration of a rope that wrapped around the earth a few times then went way out into space on into eternity. The beginning of that rope had about a 5 inch segment that was painted red. He said that the red part was our life on earth - and the rest of the rope represented our eternal life. His point was that we spend so much time worrying about our life here on earth instead of planning for eternity! So true! We need to get perspective, folks! Because no matter how long our life here, it will certainly end with the line, "...and then he died." We don't want to miss the bigger picture of what God wants to accomplish through us for eternity because we are grasping at this temporal life we're living now - this measly five inches of red!
Hold onto the meanings of these names as we finish this chapter tomorrow. We'll tie them all together at the end. Off to work!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Genesis 4:20-26
Good morning!
Yesterday we were introduced to Lamech, the husband of two wives. He had three sons, Jabal, Jubal, and Tobalcain. Jabal is the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock - the nomadic people - wanderers. Jubal is the father of those who play musical instruments for entertainment, rather than for worship. I'm making that last leap, because there is no indication that this family in any way worshiped God. Tubalcain forged tools (which would include weapons) from bronze and iron. This is a line that seems to be very busy working apart from God for themselves.
In verses 23 and 24, we read that Lamech, like Cain, murdered a man who had injured him in some way. Whatever the cause, there seems to be an attempt to justify his actions. His concern is that if Cain would be avenged seven times, he would be avenged seventy-seven times. I don't know about you, but I immediately thought about Matthew 18:22 where Jesus responds to Peter's question about how many times he should forgive someone. Instead of taking vengeance seventy-seven times, Jesus says we need to forgive seventy-seven times. This is why God says we are to leave vengeance with Him. When God judges, it is always by His righteous character, and is with the intent to lead to repentance and restoration. Our job is to forgive as we have been forgiven. In fact, if forgiveness is something with which you struggle, Matthew 18 is very pointed in reminding us that we MUST forgive, because we have been forgiven so much. We will always be able to find a justification for holding onto anger, bitterness, resentment, but choosing to do so will kill us and do damage to all around us.
Forgiveness is NOT a feeling - it is an action. God does not call us to FEEL forgiving, He calls us to forgive - to extend forgiveness by our actions in obedience to Him. When we begin to act out forgiveness, the feelings WILL follow. I'm ready to take this step! Need to move on it now! How about you?
After reading about the decline of Cain's line, as his family follows him in a defiant independence from God, it is so great to read the last two verses of chapter 4:
Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.
Jon Courson says the literal meaning of the last line is that they were a people who were called by the name of the LORD. In other words, their identity was in Him, even as we are called Christians, because we follow Christ. Finally, a ray of light in the darkness! The name Seth means "appointed." He was appointed to take the place of Abel and to lead this line in the worship of God. You and I have been appointed to lead our families in the worship of God. How are we doing? I'm not asking you to turn around to see who's following. I'm just asking you, and myself, are we leading???
Have a great weekend!
Yesterday we were introduced to Lamech, the husband of two wives. He had three sons, Jabal, Jubal, and Tobalcain. Jabal is the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock - the nomadic people - wanderers. Jubal is the father of those who play musical instruments for entertainment, rather than for worship. I'm making that last leap, because there is no indication that this family in any way worshiped God. Tubalcain forged tools (which would include weapons) from bronze and iron. This is a line that seems to be very busy working apart from God for themselves.
In verses 23 and 24, we read that Lamech, like Cain, murdered a man who had injured him in some way. Whatever the cause, there seems to be an attempt to justify his actions. His concern is that if Cain would be avenged seven times, he would be avenged seventy-seven times. I don't know about you, but I immediately thought about Matthew 18:22 where Jesus responds to Peter's question about how many times he should forgive someone. Instead of taking vengeance seventy-seven times, Jesus says we need to forgive seventy-seven times. This is why God says we are to leave vengeance with Him. When God judges, it is always by His righteous character, and is with the intent to lead to repentance and restoration. Our job is to forgive as we have been forgiven. In fact, if forgiveness is something with which you struggle, Matthew 18 is very pointed in reminding us that we MUST forgive, because we have been forgiven so much. We will always be able to find a justification for holding onto anger, bitterness, resentment, but choosing to do so will kill us and do damage to all around us.
Forgiveness is NOT a feeling - it is an action. God does not call us to FEEL forgiving, He calls us to forgive - to extend forgiveness by our actions in obedience to Him. When we begin to act out forgiveness, the feelings WILL follow. I'm ready to take this step! Need to move on it now! How about you?
After reading about the decline of Cain's line, as his family follows him in a defiant independence from God, it is so great to read the last two verses of chapter 4:
Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.
Jon Courson says the literal meaning of the last line is that they were a people who were called by the name of the LORD. In other words, their identity was in Him, even as we are called Christians, because we follow Christ. Finally, a ray of light in the darkness! The name Seth means "appointed." He was appointed to take the place of Abel and to lead this line in the worship of God. You and I have been appointed to lead our families in the worship of God. How are we doing? I'm not asking you to turn around to see who's following. I'm just asking you, and myself, are we leading???
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Genesis 4:17-19
Good morning, dear friends!
In today's verses, we see the ongoing "fruit" of Cain's defiance. As we look at the line of Cain, the names are very illuminating, since their meanings clearly reflect an attitude. I was thinking this morning how working with children makes teachers very aware of how names affect kids. There are certain names you would never want your children or grandchildren to have because of the former students and their behaviors that you associate with them. Pretty much any boy whose names starts with a "J" is going to be a rascal! :) And we've certainly seen an evolution of names. Don and I went on a cruise two years ago where all of the names of the passengers (who were mostly in their 50's and 60's) were Bob, Dave, John, Don, Nancy, Susan, Carol, Diane, etc. Names you NEVER hear anymore (just like Ethel and Mabel in our grandparent's generation). Now you can barely pronounce the names: Caeden, Jaeden, Hayden, Aiden, Kayle, Usama, Parastoo, Shae, Alanni, etc. So, in this list of the progeny of Cain, who had no book of baby names to refer to, it is interesting to note the meanings.
But first, Jon Courson writes that a question arises immediately from the first part of verse 17: "Cain lay with his wife..." He says he has had more people ask him, "Where did Cain get his wife?" He laments that they don't instead ask like the Philippian jailer in Acts 16, "What must I do to be saved?" We'll see later that Adam lived to be 930 years old, so he and Eve probably had many more children, so Cain's wife must have been related. There is much detail the Bible leaves out (or we would not be able to lift it to read it), but all matters dealing with salvation and those things which God WANTS us to know are in here. I have a feeling that when we meet Him face to face, we will not care a bit about where Cain found his wife! :)
Apparently God wants us to pay attention to these names, however! The first child of Cain is named Enoch (comes from the Hebrew word, hanak, which is a verb meaning "to dedicate or begin"). This is NOT the same Enoch who is known for walking with God. I'm wondering if Cain's purpose was to begin his own life away from God, because the rest of the names indicate that kind of independence from God. Enoch's son is Irad, meaning "fugitive" or "wild ass." Irad "begat" "Mehujael," which Jon Courson says means, "Blot out that Yah is El," or "wipe out the name of God."
Mehujael has a son named, Methusael, which seems to be a mocking name meaning, "They are dead who are of God," or "Those who believe in God are dead." The next name given here is Methusael's son, Lamech, which means "poor and lowly." Now, who gives their children these kinds of names??? They surely became self-fulfilling prophecies! It's like naming your daughter "Bambi" and wondering why she's a pole dancer instead of a CEO of a corporation!
We're told Lamech took two wives, the first example of polygamy. We were told in Genesis 2 that a man should "leave and cleave." How do you "cleave" to TWO wives? Anyway, even the names of the wives are instructive about Cain's line. Adah means "ornament" (anyone thinking "trophy wife?"), and Zillah can mean either "seductress" or "shabbiness." Now THAT I find interesting!! Makes me completely speculate that he was seduced into taking the second wife, who then became shabby, because I have seen this happen so many times when men leave the first wife for the younger gal. She eventually becomes a hag! :) God is just...
We'll leave the sons of Lamech for tomorrow! Thinking about the legacy of Cain's rebellion is mind-boggling! Off to work!
In today's verses, we see the ongoing "fruit" of Cain's defiance. As we look at the line of Cain, the names are very illuminating, since their meanings clearly reflect an attitude. I was thinking this morning how working with children makes teachers very aware of how names affect kids. There are certain names you would never want your children or grandchildren to have because of the former students and their behaviors that you associate with them. Pretty much any boy whose names starts with a "J" is going to be a rascal! :) And we've certainly seen an evolution of names. Don and I went on a cruise two years ago where all of the names of the passengers (who were mostly in their 50's and 60's) were Bob, Dave, John, Don, Nancy, Susan, Carol, Diane, etc. Names you NEVER hear anymore (just like Ethel and Mabel in our grandparent's generation). Now you can barely pronounce the names: Caeden, Jaeden, Hayden, Aiden, Kayle, Usama, Parastoo, Shae, Alanni, etc. So, in this list of the progeny of Cain, who had no book of baby names to refer to, it is interesting to note the meanings.
But first, Jon Courson writes that a question arises immediately from the first part of verse 17: "Cain lay with his wife..." He says he has had more people ask him, "Where did Cain get his wife?" He laments that they don't instead ask like the Philippian jailer in Acts 16, "What must I do to be saved?" We'll see later that Adam lived to be 930 years old, so he and Eve probably had many more children, so Cain's wife must have been related. There is much detail the Bible leaves out (or we would not be able to lift it to read it), but all matters dealing with salvation and those things which God WANTS us to know are in here. I have a feeling that when we meet Him face to face, we will not care a bit about where Cain found his wife! :)
Apparently God wants us to pay attention to these names, however! The first child of Cain is named Enoch (comes from the Hebrew word, hanak, which is a verb meaning "to dedicate or begin"). This is NOT the same Enoch who is known for walking with God. I'm wondering if Cain's purpose was to begin his own life away from God, because the rest of the names indicate that kind of independence from God. Enoch's son is Irad, meaning "fugitive" or "wild ass." Irad "begat" "Mehujael," which Jon Courson says means, "Blot out that Yah is El," or "wipe out the name of God."
Mehujael has a son named, Methusael, which seems to be a mocking name meaning, "They are dead who are of God," or "Those who believe in God are dead." The next name given here is Methusael's son, Lamech, which means "poor and lowly." Now, who gives their children these kinds of names??? They surely became self-fulfilling prophecies! It's like naming your daughter "Bambi" and wondering why she's a pole dancer instead of a CEO of a corporation!
We're told Lamech took two wives, the first example of polygamy. We were told in Genesis 2 that a man should "leave and cleave." How do you "cleave" to TWO wives? Anyway, even the names of the wives are instructive about Cain's line. Adah means "ornament" (anyone thinking "trophy wife?"), and Zillah can mean either "seductress" or "shabbiness." Now THAT I find interesting!! Makes me completely speculate that he was seduced into taking the second wife, who then became shabby, because I have seen this happen so many times when men leave the first wife for the younger gal. She eventually becomes a hag! :) God is just...
We'll leave the sons of Lamech for tomorrow! Thinking about the legacy of Cain's rebellion is mind-boggling! Off to work!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Genesis 4:11-16
Good morning, all!
In today's verses we see tremendous mercy in the judgment of God given to Cain:
Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth. (verses 11-12)
Cain was to be driven out from the land that was his home and was condemned to being a nomad, "a restless wanderer." What he deserved was capital punishment; instead he would be always seeking and never finding, never satisfied or fulfilled, but continually restless, having a permanent void in his life. Hmmm, maybe that's worse! Cain thought so! Notice in his response there is no remorse or acceptance of his responsibility for his behavior, only a moan of "That's not fair!"
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." (verses 13-14)
Wow! Look at the personal pronouns in there! Seven times he speaks of "I, me, my..." I have seen many students like this in my classroom over the past 19 years! There is not a shred of remorse when they are found guilty of any infraction, just blame, resentment, and the refrain of "Not fair!" It is scary to see such sociopathic behavior in children at the age of 10 or 11 - and it does not bode well for their futures! Always playing the victim, rather than repenting of their own abhorrent behaviors, these kids, too, may find a life of restless wandering if they continue on that path! But notice that God extends grace to Cain even in the punishment:
But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
We have no idea what the mark was that God placed on Cain, but the result was it told anyone who saw it, "Don't touch!" Talk about amazing grace!! Does Cain get it? No way! We are told that Cain "went out from the Lord's presence." As Jon Courson says, "Cain could have pressed in to the presence of the Lord. Instead he went out from the presence of the Lord - to Nod, literally, 'Wandering.' "
What a tragedy when we refuse God's grace! Cain was not the only murderer in the Bible. Moses killed an Egyptian, and David had Uriah killed. But they chose to repent and receive God's limitless mercy. Cain had a choice, and he made it. Tomorrow we'll look at some of the consequences of his choice.
What have we learned about God here? He is not only the righteous Judge of the universe, but, even in punishment, He provides a way of escape. Amazing!
Have a great day!
In today's verses we see tremendous mercy in the judgment of God given to Cain:
Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth. (verses 11-12)
Cain was to be driven out from the land that was his home and was condemned to being a nomad, "a restless wanderer." What he deserved was capital punishment; instead he would be always seeking and never finding, never satisfied or fulfilled, but continually restless, having a permanent void in his life. Hmmm, maybe that's worse! Cain thought so! Notice in his response there is no remorse or acceptance of his responsibility for his behavior, only a moan of "That's not fair!"
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." (verses 13-14)
Wow! Look at the personal pronouns in there! Seven times he speaks of "I, me, my..." I have seen many students like this in my classroom over the past 19 years! There is not a shred of remorse when they are found guilty of any infraction, just blame, resentment, and the refrain of "Not fair!" It is scary to see such sociopathic behavior in children at the age of 10 or 11 - and it does not bode well for their futures! Always playing the victim, rather than repenting of their own abhorrent behaviors, these kids, too, may find a life of restless wandering if they continue on that path! But notice that God extends grace to Cain even in the punishment:
But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
We have no idea what the mark was that God placed on Cain, but the result was it told anyone who saw it, "Don't touch!" Talk about amazing grace!! Does Cain get it? No way! We are told that Cain "went out from the Lord's presence." As Jon Courson says, "Cain could have pressed in to the presence of the Lord. Instead he went out from the presence of the Lord - to Nod, literally, 'Wandering.' "
What a tragedy when we refuse God's grace! Cain was not the only murderer in the Bible. Moses killed an Egyptian, and David had Uriah killed. But they chose to repent and receive God's limitless mercy. Cain had a choice, and he made it. Tomorrow we'll look at some of the consequences of his choice.
What have we learned about God here? He is not only the righteous Judge of the universe, but, even in punishment, He provides a way of escape. Amazing!
Have a great day!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Genesis 4:8-10
Hello, all!
This morning's verses are serious and convicting! Yesterday we saw Cain stewing in anger - in today's verses it boils over! Verse 8 says, Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field.'" You can almost visualize this scene in a movie - darkening sky, foreboding music. It appears to me, although the text is not explicit, that Cain is luring Abel out into a remote area to get rid of him - premeditated murder -because there is no mention of an argument between the two: And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. God had warned Cain about controlling his bent toward sin, but it seems that Cain chose to just go with it. He actually plotted it.
And there was no remorse or repentance: Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” There is a callousness and defiance here that is shocking. Yet, Jon Courson points out, this is the kind of bitterness that we often harbor against those who have wronged us, whether a family member, co-worker, or neighbor. Cain just wanted Abel out of his sight! We justify the same feelings, because someone has wronged us. We, too, would be just as glad if they disappeared. Jude 11 warns us not to take the way of Cain. Don't let bitterness, even when we feel it's justified, master us! The damage is far-reaching.
In verse 10, God confronts Cain: What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Courson says that in the Jewish tradition, if someone was killed, it was generations that were killed - all those who would never come from the victim. Conversely, they teach that if you save one life, you also save generations (I remember hearing that in Schindler's List ). Abel would have no children or grandchildren. Abel's blood was calling out for justice. In Hebrews 12:4 it says that Jesus' blood "speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Jesus' blood speaks forgiveness and grace. So our bitterness toward another, can have far-reaching repercussions, affecting many more than just the one with whom we are angry. It draws in others. It destroys our witness and eats at our own soul. In the same way, forgiveness affects many more than the one we forgive. It frees us from bondage and confirms our witness for Christ. And it is the right thing to do! Jesus told us that if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us!
Tomorrow we'll look at God's punishment for the murder and the effects of Cain's sin on his own family. For this morning, I'm convicted of the feelings in my own heart. I don't think there is bitterness (although I need God to search for it), but I definitely have had the attitude of "Am I my brother's keeper?" I have wanted difficult people in my life to just disappear... OUCH!!! Anyone else feeling that way??
Have a good morning! I'm off to a field trip to the San Juan Capistrano Mission with my nine fourth graders (while my fifth graders stay with my partner and the principal)!
This morning's verses are serious and convicting! Yesterday we saw Cain stewing in anger - in today's verses it boils over! Verse 8 says, Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field.'" You can almost visualize this scene in a movie - darkening sky, foreboding music. It appears to me, although the text is not explicit, that Cain is luring Abel out into a remote area to get rid of him - premeditated murder -because there is no mention of an argument between the two: And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. God had warned Cain about controlling his bent toward sin, but it seems that Cain chose to just go with it. He actually plotted it.
And there was no remorse or repentance: Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” There is a callousness and defiance here that is shocking. Yet, Jon Courson points out, this is the kind of bitterness that we often harbor against those who have wronged us, whether a family member, co-worker, or neighbor. Cain just wanted Abel out of his sight! We justify the same feelings, because someone has wronged us. We, too, would be just as glad if they disappeared. Jude 11 warns us not to take the way of Cain. Don't let bitterness, even when we feel it's justified, master us! The damage is far-reaching.
In verse 10, God confronts Cain: What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Courson says that in the Jewish tradition, if someone was killed, it was generations that were killed - all those who would never come from the victim. Conversely, they teach that if you save one life, you also save generations (I remember hearing that in Schindler's List ). Abel would have no children or grandchildren. Abel's blood was calling out for justice. In Hebrews 12:4 it says that Jesus' blood "speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Jesus' blood speaks forgiveness and grace. So our bitterness toward another, can have far-reaching repercussions, affecting many more than just the one with whom we are angry. It draws in others. It destroys our witness and eats at our own soul. In the same way, forgiveness affects many more than the one we forgive. It frees us from bondage and confirms our witness for Christ. And it is the right thing to do! Jesus told us that if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us!
Tomorrow we'll look at God's punishment for the murder and the effects of Cain's sin on his own family. For this morning, I'm convicted of the feelings in my own heart. I don't think there is bitterness (although I need God to search for it), but I definitely have had the attitude of "Am I my brother's keeper?" I have wanted difficult people in my life to just disappear... OUCH!!! Anyone else feeling that way??
Have a good morning! I'm off to a field trip to the San Juan Capistrano Mission with my nine fourth graders (while my fifth graders stay with my partner and the principal)!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Genesis 4:1-7
Good morning, all!
It didn't take long for things to go from bad to worse once sin entered the picture. In this chapter we'll look at the rebellious murderer, Cain, and his family line. We're told in verse 1 that Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Eve. His name means, "the man," and Jon Courson points out that Eve may have been hopeful that his was the man who would crush the head of the serpent. But she had missed that God had said that the "seed of the woman" would do this. Cain was the seed of man, Adam. She may have been disappointed with Cain early, because she gave her second-born a less-promising name. "Abel" means "vanity" or "empty."
We aren't given the picture of their childhood years and all that led up to the rivalry Cain felt. But like all children, they were unique in personality and in their gifts. Abel became a shepherd, a keeper of flocks, while Cain was a farmer. At some point, they both brought offerings to the LORD: Cain brought "some of the fruits of the soil," while Abel brought "fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock." We're told that God "looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. Was it the actual ingredients of the offerings that was the difference? We know that sin requires death, therefore a blood offering, and this was the type of offering instituted by God Himself in the Garden of Eden. However, we are also told in Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
So it seems that the reason Abel's offering was acceptable was because of his heart attitude. Abel offered the best of his firstborn animals, while Cain just brought in some of his fruit. And certainly we see in Cain a dark heart! When God does not look on his offering with favor, instead of repenting, we read that "Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast." He wasn't just upset - he was VERY angry, to the point of depression. God reminded him that he had a choice: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Just do the right thing, Cain! It's that simple: obedience leads to joy!
Jon Courson lists several verses in which we see how active, positive choices can result in joy and drive out anger and bitterness:
Choose to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa 61:3)
Choose to rejoice in the LORD (I Thes 5:16)
Choose to pray without ceasing (I Thes 5:17)
Choose to give thanks in everything (I Thes 5:18)
Choose to think on whatever is pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8)
and I'll add my favorite mental health verse, choose to trust in the LORD and do good (Psalm 37:3)
However, we all know what Cain chose to do. We'll read about that tomorrow! In the meantime, today make some good choices for yourself, because sin is crouching at the door!
It didn't take long for things to go from bad to worse once sin entered the picture. In this chapter we'll look at the rebellious murderer, Cain, and his family line. We're told in verse 1 that Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Eve. His name means, "the man," and Jon Courson points out that Eve may have been hopeful that his was the man who would crush the head of the serpent. But she had missed that God had said that the "seed of the woman" would do this. Cain was the seed of man, Adam. She may have been disappointed with Cain early, because she gave her second-born a less-promising name. "Abel" means "vanity" or "empty."
We aren't given the picture of their childhood years and all that led up to the rivalry Cain felt. But like all children, they were unique in personality and in their gifts. Abel became a shepherd, a keeper of flocks, while Cain was a farmer. At some point, they both brought offerings to the LORD: Cain brought "some of the fruits of the soil," while Abel brought "fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock." We're told that God "looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. Was it the actual ingredients of the offerings that was the difference? We know that sin requires death, therefore a blood offering, and this was the type of offering instituted by God Himself in the Garden of Eden. However, we are also told in Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
So it seems that the reason Abel's offering was acceptable was because of his heart attitude. Abel offered the best of his firstborn animals, while Cain just brought in some of his fruit. And certainly we see in Cain a dark heart! When God does not look on his offering with favor, instead of repenting, we read that "Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast." He wasn't just upset - he was VERY angry, to the point of depression. God reminded him that he had a choice: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Just do the right thing, Cain! It's that simple: obedience leads to joy!
Jon Courson lists several verses in which we see how active, positive choices can result in joy and drive out anger and bitterness:
Choose to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa 61:3)
Choose to rejoice in the LORD (I Thes 5:16)
Choose to pray without ceasing (I Thes 5:17)
Choose to give thanks in everything (I Thes 5:18)
Choose to think on whatever is pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8)
and I'll add my favorite mental health verse, choose to trust in the LORD and do good (Psalm 37:3)
However, we all know what Cain chose to do. We'll read about that tomorrow! In the meantime, today make some good choices for yourself, because sin is crouching at the door!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Genesis 3:21-24
Happy Friday, all!
We come to the end of Genesis 3, and the end of Paradise on Earth. After pronouncing the consequences for Adam and Eve, God now makes provision for them. Adam and Eve had attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves. Have you ever seen or felt fig leaves? Sure, they're big, so they could definitely work to cover them, but they are sticky and scratchy!!! Anything we try to do in our own strength is just about as ill-fitted to cover over our sins and redeem us in God's eyes. We cannot make God love us more by praying more, worshiping more, reading the Bible more, or by doing good deeds for others. God's love for us is perfect and constant and is not affected by what we do. His love is dependent upon His character, not ours.
As Jon Courson points out in his commentary here, you would expect God to dress them down for their behavior. But, instead, He dresses them up! God provides the blood sacrifice, and dresses Adam in Eve in the skins of the sacrificed animal to replace their silly fig leaves. In grace, God banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating of the Tree of Life, which would have caused them to live eternally in their fallen condition. Verse 24 says that God "drove" them out of the garden. You can imagine they did not want to go! I wonder if they begged to stay and promised to be "good" if He'd just let them have another chance... But God knew He had to protect them from themselves, so out they went, and cherubim and a flaming sword were placed to "guard the way back to the tree of life." Now there would be no way back to God unless God provided it. The good news is that He did!
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) He is the ONLY way back to the Father. Peter told the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:4, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Jesus also told us that the way would be narrow and few would find it: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt 7:13-14) There aren't "many roads" that lead to Heaven. There ARE many roads offered - and all but one lead to the same place: eternal destruction. The narrow road - that FEW will find - is through Jesus. While the way to the Tree of Life was blocked - the Bread of Life opened that way to the Father back up for us when He died for us.
People accuse Christians of being narrow. Guilty! But we did not make this stuff up! Jesus said it was narrow. We're stuck with what He said - and, Hallelujah, we're blessed by what He provided.
So, what's the lesson? Quit striving! It amazes me how quick I was to receive grace when I was first saved, but then how I keep trying to live by my own strength and abilities!!! How futile! It is just striving! It is time to rest, to be still and know that HE is God, not me. Time to be led by the still waters. Time to give Him my burdens - to cast my cares on Him, because He loves me. (I Peter 5:7)
Thank you, God, for your incredible, unmerited provision of the Way!
We come to the end of Genesis 3, and the end of Paradise on Earth. After pronouncing the consequences for Adam and Eve, God now makes provision for them. Adam and Eve had attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves. Have you ever seen or felt fig leaves? Sure, they're big, so they could definitely work to cover them, but they are sticky and scratchy!!! Anything we try to do in our own strength is just about as ill-fitted to cover over our sins and redeem us in God's eyes. We cannot make God love us more by praying more, worshiping more, reading the Bible more, or by doing good deeds for others. God's love for us is perfect and constant and is not affected by what we do. His love is dependent upon His character, not ours.
As Jon Courson points out in his commentary here, you would expect God to dress them down for their behavior. But, instead, He dresses them up! God provides the blood sacrifice, and dresses Adam in Eve in the skins of the sacrificed animal to replace their silly fig leaves. In grace, God banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating of the Tree of Life, which would have caused them to live eternally in their fallen condition. Verse 24 says that God "drove" them out of the garden. You can imagine they did not want to go! I wonder if they begged to stay and promised to be "good" if He'd just let them have another chance... But God knew He had to protect them from themselves, so out they went, and cherubim and a flaming sword were placed to "guard the way back to the tree of life." Now there would be no way back to God unless God provided it. The good news is that He did!
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) He is the ONLY way back to the Father. Peter told the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:4, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Jesus also told us that the way would be narrow and few would find it: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt 7:13-14) There aren't "many roads" that lead to Heaven. There ARE many roads offered - and all but one lead to the same place: eternal destruction. The narrow road - that FEW will find - is through Jesus. While the way to the Tree of Life was blocked - the Bread of Life opened that way to the Father back up for us when He died for us.
People accuse Christians of being narrow. Guilty! But we did not make this stuff up! Jesus said it was narrow. We're stuck with what He said - and, Hallelujah, we're blessed by what He provided.
So, what's the lesson? Quit striving! It amazes me how quick I was to receive grace when I was first saved, but then how I keep trying to live by my own strength and abilities!!! How futile! It is just striving! It is time to rest, to be still and know that HE is God, not me. Time to be led by the still waters. Time to give Him my burdens - to cast my cares on Him, because He loves me. (I Peter 5:7)
Thank you, God, for your incredible, unmerited provision of the Way!
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