Genesis 31

"May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other." (vs. 49) Although Jacob and Laban are making this covenant as a warning for misbehavior, I'd like to take this phrase and use it as a blessing. Since I've lived in 5 places over the last 10 years, I have friends all over the country. It is hard to nurture all of those friendships with the intensity I'd like. I wish all my friends from St. Louis, Chicago, DC, and Austin would up and move to Shreveport! But God is watching over us and our relationship...preserving those which ought to be preserved.

Genesis 30

There is a good deal of scheming in this chapter. Rachael vs. Leah and Jacob vs. Laban. God is shown to provide here for His chosen people even when they imagine that, through their wily ways, they are providing for themselves.

Genesis 29

I had a little computer trouble this weekend, so my posting didn't happen. I did read my chapters every day, so now I'll post my comments from my office computer.

Leah was not a desirable match because she had "weak eyes." (vs. 17) As a person with terrible eyesight, myself, I can imagine how debilitating it must have been to not have the assistance of eyeglasses! It is depicted here as being a real handicap. It is easy to take my glasses for granted, but tonight I thank God for them!!! Thank you, God, for inspiring human innovation!

Genesis 28

I wonder if Esau married a daughter of Ishmael's line to please his parents or to stick it to them...

God's promise to Jacob is that his "descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring." (vs. 14) If God is speaking of the Jews here, they have been spread through the earth, though not by their own desires. But, I hope we are all blessed by them...

Genesis 27

It is strange to me how conditional it seems Isaac's love is for Esau. Isaac has his son go and get him a "tasty" meal before he will give Esau his blessing. Maybe God sees this sin in Isaac's heart. I mean, we know that Esau's wives are a burden to his parents and his choices reflect on his character. Anyhow, it is in God's plan that Jacob should be the forefather of Christ, not Esau. And the imperfections in Jacob are apparent, as well. It is as if the contrast to Christ's perfections are deliberate...

Genesis 26

Abimelech fooled again! I guess men were prone to kill for other men's wives at this time...

As Isaac moved away from Gerar, he was forced to move along twice by others claiming his wells. That is, until he gets to be exactly where God wants him--where God can speak to him. As frustrating as those moves must have been at the time, they definitely had their purpose.

Genesis 25

Man, this has become a little family with drama! I imagine that these brothers don't understand or appreciate each other. I'm also picking up on a little strain between Isaac and Rebekah, with Isaac loving Esau and Rebekah loving Jacob. Ancient and Godly peoples were not immune to family discord.

"So Esau despised his birthright." (vs. 34) How like Man to throw our God-given assets aside!

Genesis 24

I really love this chapter. Everything goes so smoothly! God is faithful to provide Abraham's servant with exactly the sign for which he asks! How often are we looking for clear cut signs and directions from God? We shouldn't be amazed when they come. Also, how wonderfully Rebekah and her family accept God's providence! They say, "Yes, we see God's hand here and are not people to stand against it." Life is so simple when we let go and trust in the Lord!!!

Genesis 23

Sarah dies. Abraham purchases a field with a cave to bury her. My Student Bible tells me that this is the first recorded business deal. I'm sorry to say that I don't have anything to say about this one. Anyone else?

Genesis 22

Wow. I read this chapter while watching my son play in the bathtub. I can't imagine what Abraham was going through as he tied up Isaac for sacrifice. Man! The faith! And God was faithful, as well.

Genesis 21

This chapter describes the beginning of the conflict between Jews and Arabs. God protects Ishmael and promises to make a great nation of him, but God states again and again that His covenant is through Isaac's line. I'm sure that Abraham never imagined that his descendants would still be fighting after all these years!

Genesis 20

What is up with Abraham passing his wife off to other men?

The wondrous event in this chapter is that God protects Abimelech from sin. Abimelech never sleeps with Sarah while she is in his house.

I am grateful that God guides my heart.

Genesis 19

Well, if I had read the first verse of this chapter last night, my question would've been answered. It was God and two angels.

Lot wasn't awesome. He'd been hanging out with moral-less peoples, he offered his daughters up for gang rape (another tidbit of info which escaped the childhood stories), and he balked at the idea of fleeing that wretchedness. When he got away, he hid out in a cave and neglected to join up with society because of his disappointment and shame. He was only spared because Abraham loved him and God loved Abraham.

God also does things for us even when they don't forward His kingdom because he loves us.

Genesis 18

It is interesting to go back and read some of the old stories that I have known the gist of for so long. I didn't recall the first half of this chapter, which portrays the Lord as being amongst three men on their way to Sodom and Gomorrah. I can't tell whether or not the men know that the Lord is with them. Is He there as a man? Or does Abraham recognize the spirit of the Lord as being there? Or is He one of/all of the three?

Genesis 17

In the first verse of this chapter, God tells Abraham, "walk before me and be blameless." Rather than asking Abraham to follow Him, God directs him forward with the assurance that He is at Abraham's back, supporting him. And I wonder whether God is giving a commandment for Abraham to "be blameless," or whether God is telling Abraham that walking in this manner will make him blameless. Any thoughts?

Genesis 16

Abram & Sarah are growing impatient for God to fulfill his promise, so they try to help God out by using Hagar as the mother of Abram's children. So often we think we know the best way to fix the problems in our lives when God already has the perfect way laid out for us.

Genesis 15

I've recently studied the first half of this chapter in Small Group. Together we hit on a very important bit of symbolism that is easily missed. When God is trying to make Abram understand that there is no need to doubt His covenant, He takes Abram outside. Abram physically leaves a small man-made space to contemplate God's promises in the great wide open. The power of God is as limitless as the sky, and it is false to constrain it within human limits (in Abram's case, his and Sarah's age) .

Genesis 14

The king of Sodom offers Abram the spoils of war once Abram defeats the king's enemies and rescues Lot. Abram refuses them so as not to be associated with the king of wicked peoples. We should remember this forbearance when faced with shady choices in our own dealings. We are judged by others according to our associations.

Genesis 13

When Lot moves away from Abram, he moves towards Sodom where the people were "wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord." (vs. 13) I wonder if Lot knew what he was doing in moving that direction.

We men have a way of setting ourselves up for a fall. I watch my 18 month old son, who is still learning to control his impulses, stand right next to--or even gently place his hand upon--that which he knows is off limits. I know that I, myself, have put myself in those positions as an adult. Was Lot looking for a little change in his routine? Or testing himself? He sure is getting himself in a tight spot.

Genesis 12

Abraham exhibits great faith throughout his life and it starts in this chapter. God tells him to pick up and move along with no more information than promises of blessings. Abram knows no destination and has no particular goal. But, he goes along with no evidence of any struggle.

Not to say the man was perfect! What does he do next? Gives his wife over to Pharaoh! Man is sinful no matter who the man.

Genesis 11

God didn't want man to glorify himself. I wonder how God scattered them all over the earth. I don't imagine that He blew out His breath to spread man around. He used their lives and their circumstances to meet His righteous ends. Gave them ancient wanderlust, it seems. Any other possibilities?

Genesis 10

My Bible subtitles this chapter "The Table of Nations." It is an interesting perspective to think that there were these three brothers who were probably pretty close, who had children who were cousins and counted each other as kinsmen, who had children, who had children, who had children, etc. And at some point, these related people began to discriminate against each other and use each other and go to war with each other. And we're still doing it.

Genesis 9

vs. 5: " 'And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.' " God gave man a second chance by preserving Noah and his sons. But we are called here to make the lives God gave us worth the effort.

Genesis 8

Noah was so patient. He didn't jump out of the ark as soon as his eyes saw that the land was dry. Noah waited 1 month and 27 days (vs. 13-14) for God to give him the go.

God is so patient with us. It is hard for us, though, to be like Noah and wait for God.

Genesis 7

It rained and poured for forty day-sies, day-sies. And "the waters flooded the earth for 150 days." (vs. 24) Wow. Why?

The Lord was grieved at man's corruptness. Yet being God, and outside of time, He knew it was going to happen. It was His divine plan to press restart with Noah and his sons (and all of those animals!). In doing, He demonstrated His power and He showed compassion. What do others see here?

Genesis 6

Versus 1-4 are curious regarding the Nephilim (vs. 4 "They were the heroes of old, men of renown."). Ideas regarding the Nephilim can be found here. Thanks Wikipedia!

There is much to be amazed by in this chapter, and the most amazing thing to me is Noah's acceptance of God's decree and his faith in the covenant. It is so hard for us to believe that God has been, is, and will forever be faithful to his covenant with us as we go through our own tribulations. And here's Noah saying"Okay, it is going to rain, but God is going to save me in this big boat." When the thought of RAIN or BOAT have never been conceived!

And it is always amazing, though it shouldn't be, that God is faithful. Always. Every day. How do we question it?

Genesis 4

Genealogy. Why don't we live as long as the first men and women? Environmental factors? Spiritual? Does anyone know or have any theories or is it one of those mysteries to be solved in the hereafter?

Of note: Enoch did not die, but, "was no more because God took him away." Was Enoch so righteous that his presence amongst men was neither appropriate nor required for a greater purpose? It is curious. The only other place Enoch is mentioned (as more that just one man in the line from Adam to Jesus) is in Jude where his words are quoted regarding the judgement of mankind (Jude 1:14). Hmmm...

Genesis 4

(whew! cutting it close tonight!)

In verse 7, God says to Cain, " 'But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.' "

This continues on my reflections on shame and sin. God is saying that sin is stalking you WHEN you have already sinned. The Knowledge of Good and Evil causes us to be more vulnerable to slide down that slippery path once we have done wrong.

Beware. Fess up. Ask forgiveness.

Genesis 3

A couple of thoughts:

First, one my Student Bible points out in one of its many asides. When Adam and Eve eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they hide their bodies from each other and hide from God. "Ever since, human beings have been hiding from each other and from God." Is this shame the root of sin? Or the result of sin which leads to more sin? (Chicken or egg?) Either way, our knowledge of what is right and what is wrong leads us to shame and more wrong.

Second, God kicks Adam and Eve out of the Garden so that they are unable to eat of the Tree of Life. vs. 22: " 'He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.' " It seems cruel, but God knew if Adam and Eve were to live forever after the fall, they would live forever in sin and apart from Him. By barring their way to eternal life at this point, God made it possible for mankind to have the eternal life which Christ made perfect!

Genesis 2

Now, we don't get a lot of description on what our lives would've been like had man not fallen. Really, it is just this chapter and part of the next. We struggle so much in our lives because we were made in God's image, yet our sin fights against our purpose. In the beginning, there was direct interaction with God, the was no need to toil, there was no need for rain, there was no shame! Only the life, death, and resurrection of Christ gives us the opportunity to find out more.

Genisis 1

I've probably read this chapter of the Bible more than any other. The thing that stood out to me during this reading was time. God is outside of time. And today I've been thinking it is curious that God created the world little by little over the span of several days. He could've done it all at once, you know? Ta-Da! World. Done.

Most of the time, when asked the question "Why did God do that?" the answer is simply and amazingly "For us." But I can't work out how taking time to create the world is for any one's benefit. Thoughts?