Right from the start, I love that the Bible starts with the assumption of God's existence. There is never a moment in which His existence is ever really questioned in this book. Genesis 1 is the account of creation from the beginning of the world, and it starts with, "In the beginning God...". It shows us God from the start.
Not only does it show us God from the start, but it also shows us God as the Trinity from the start. I am not going to get into a discussion about how the Trinity exists because I really don't know how to explain it. No where in the OT is the Trinity named. But right from the start in Genesis 1, the Trinity is described. Verse 2 mentions the Spirit of God. Later in 1:26 it states, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...". Again, in 3:22, this same kind of speech is found that shows us the existence of the Trinity right from the start of creation.
I love the short story of Enoch in the genealogy found in chapter 5. Enoch is the first person (and only 1 of 2) that we are told that never dies. He is also described as walking with God. Could you imagine getting to physically walk with God on this earth. That would be so much fun! Verse 24 of chapter 5 states, "Enoch walked with god; then he was no more, because God took him away". WOW!
Another thing that really stuck out to me is something that I don't think I had ever realized before. I know I have read this part before, but this had never dawned on me. Methuselah, who is the person that lived the longest on this earth at the age of 969, is actually the grandfather of Noah, who built the ark. I don't know why, but that is just a really cool fact to me, and one that might show up on Bible Baseball sometime in Sunday school (hint).
Now in chapter 6 is the first time I get to something that is really a little challenging to describe or even understand. I actually tried to do a little research on this as well, and I don't feel too bad about not being able to explain it because there is still a lot of debate on what these people that are mentioned really are. 6:2 talks about the "sons of God" marrying the "daughters of men". Some would argue that these "sons of God" are actually sons of kings and some even argue that they are angels. I don't know what they are, but I will be trying to get a little more info on them. The other group that is mentioned in chapter 6 are found in verse 4. "The Nephilim...". This is a cool group. From all the research that I could do today on this group, one thing is made clear. THESE WERE HUGE MEN! Or better yet, they were people of great size and strength. The Hebrew word means 'fallen ones.' They were viewed by people as 'the heroes of old, men of renown,' but in God's eyes they were sinners ripe for judgement. I know this might sound a little strange, but these "Nephilim" sound like characters right out of the "Lord of the Ring" movies to me.
There are two really cool things that I want to point out about the flood narrative found in chapter 7. First, the fact is that there were actually more than just two of every animal found on the ark. Some animals there was up to 7 pairs on the ark. Don't believe me? Go look back at 7:2 and read that real close again. The second thing I want to point out here is about the rain. Up until the day the rain started for the flood, it had never rained on the earth. Could you imagine the fear of the people of Noah's day when all of the sudden water starts falling from the sky. Up until this day, the plants of the ground had been watered by a gentle mist and springs from the ground.
One last thing, and then I'll let you all start posting, I hope. Do you realize that before the flood, all of creation was vegetarian? In the creation account, God tells Adam and Eve that they may eat from any tree or plan in the garden (except for a couple) but eating animals was never mentioned...until chapter 9. In 9:3, God states, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything". I guess that's one of the great things that came out of the flood along with the promise that God would never destroy the earth again like He had just done!
Well there you have it. There is what really stuck out to me on this first day of B90X. I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. Please ask any questions you have or discuss how you see things. God bless and keep reading!
There was one thing that really stuck out to me in the reading today and that was 8:21 where he said "never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. But what about revelation (end of time)???? This may not be a very good question as I am a newer christian and new at learning to read and study the bible and have never read through the entire bible. Will the answer to this be revealed later in the bible. Thanks I am really enjoying this.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great question and I am so glad you asked it. Actually, in my understanding of it at least, the answer to your question is found in the very next chapter. Chapter 9 holds God's covenant with Noah and with the rest of creation. The answer is held in 9:11-15. God says, "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth...This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life". So, my understanding is His promise is not to destroy all life with a flood again. In Revelation it says, as you will see when we get there, that the earth will be destroyed finally by fire. I hope this helped and let me know if you have any other questions.
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