Category: Genesis-BibleTrekToday
Trek through Genesis
The Confused Tower Builders!
January 5th Scripture Reading: Genesis 10-11
In preceding chapters of Genesis we saw that God chose Noah to start the population of the world all over again. His three sons and their wives were all that were saved from the world-wide flood. Did you ever wonder how we got all the different nations of the world? Did you wonder where all the languages and nationalities came from? This would not be understandable if it were not for Genesis 10 and 11.
God blessed Noah and told him and his family to be fruitful and multiply and fill the whole earth. (Genesis 9:1) Noah’s grandson born to Ham, Nimrod, led a rebellion around 100 years after the flood. The rebellion consisted of gathering family members together on the plain of Shinar (Ancient Babylon, current Iraq). They decided to build a tower that would reach to the heavens and to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered over the face of the earth as God had commanded. (Genesis 11:1-4) This seemed harmless enough, except it was in rebellion to God’s will and plan.
God came down! Man had built himself a tall tower, reaching to the heavens but God still came down. Man could not come close to reaching heaven on his own or with his own strength and plans. Pride was behind this, the very sin that got Satan removed from heaven. In fact, it was the very sin that got man removed from his daily walk with God in the beautiful Garden of Eden (delights). God realized that with one language and rebellious leadership that nothing would be impossible for them. He confused their language and scattered them over the earth and they stopped their building.
God did one more thing that insured that they would not get back together for rebellion. Genesis 10 is a genealogy of the son’s of Noah. One of Shem’s grandsons, Eber, had a son Peleg. Peleg means “division” and verse 25 states that “in his time the earth was divided. . “. Some creation scientists believe that this is when God could have separated the continents following the judgment at the tower of Babel. Those scattered people groups represented by the 70 family groups of Genesis 10 formed the nations of the world that we see in existence today. (see The Genesis Record by Dr. Henry Morris, pages 260-261)(also book review page and sidebar). A side note is that “Eber” is probably where the name “Hebrews” was derived. The concentration of genetics in each group through mating could have resulted in the races and nationalities we see today.
God truly works out everything for our good and accomplishes his plans! Take time today to thank Him for your heritage and for showing mercy in judgment at the Tower of Babel.
“From one man he (God) made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27
Sunday Rest and Reflection
January 4th–Sunday of Rest
Each Sunday, the devotional Bible I am following this year offers a time to catch up and reflect on the journey so far. I liked the idea and thought it was good. Catch up today and rest in the Lord. This walk is not a race. We are involved to build a relationship with the Lord and want to know His heart.
As I reflect on these first three days, I am excited at what I am learning and insights that I have gotten that help me on the way. God created the heavens and earth and man and then he took one day to rest. That day was man’s first full day on earth and he was to spend it with the Lord, enjoying creation and the loving God who created it for his pleasure.
I think about Enoch who walked with God so closely that God just took him to be with Him. The birth of a child to Enoch and his wife, caused him to begin to prophesy about the Lord coming again in judgment. He was 365 years old when the Lord took him directly to heaven–one of only two in the Old Testament who didn’t die physically! Oh, for that close a walk! In fact, this is just what we are to be ready for today in the rapture of the church at the last trumpet! Noah walked with God and rode the ark over the waters to a new world! What an exciting walk! The God we serve is worthy of our worship and service. It’s just a drop of worship compared to the oceans of his mercy!
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
I ATE IT.
January 2nd reading: Genesis 3-5
I remember in my early childhood taking my dad’s pocketknife from the stand by his favorite chair and carving pictures on the bedroom door. It was great fun and my sister liked the pictures too. Dad and Mom were out doing chores on the farm and it was still dark outside. After a while, I knew they would come in soon and slid Dad’s chair in front of the door to try and hide the “sin”. I didn’t understand it but they caught on right away when they came in the house! I initially tried to blame my younger sister for being the instigator, but was found out! I was rightfully afraid of punishment and soon reaped what I had so unwisely sown. (That was before the days when spanking was termed abuse!) Genesis 3 came alive personally to me and I would bet every one of us has learned this lesson the hard way!
As I read this section of scripture, I am introduced to the “serpent” who was “more crafty” than any of the other animals that God had made. This “serpent” talks to the woman Eve. His words contradict or twist what God had told Adam and Eve. They are words designed to appeal to desire for that which is forbidden by God. The words appeal to pride and a desire to know what God knows from a source that God warns them would cause them to die. Crafty is the ability to “craft” a plan that gets around truth. It is a lie with some chocolate covering it. Eve is taken in by this “craft” and takes the forbidden fruit. She gives it to her husband who eats as well. She is deceived and he deliberately eats. They suddenly are aware of their nakedness and hide, covering themselves. Fear has entered with death and, rather than being clothed with God’s Glory, shame now clothes them with a fig leaf!
God is walking in the garden. He is reaching out to those made in His image. He is calling to them and seeking those who are now lost! He knows what they have done but is trying to help them get free. When they emerge shaking in fear, God asks them who told them they were naked and if they had eaten from the forbidden tree. Each answer is an attempt to blame someone else or God himself! No one wants to confess or admit guilt. Sin not only brings guilt and shame, but it causes fear of punishment.
Today, do a quick survey of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are things you are doing that you need to take responsibility for. Confess them to the Lord and ask for forgiveness and cleansing. It’s the only way I know to get rid of sin and its consequence, death! “I ate it.”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me–she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:9
“In the Beginning, God”!
Today’s reading: Genesis 1-2
The journey begins! May the Lord bless your new year and walk with you each step of the way!
I am so thankful that you have chosen to trek with me through the Bible this year. We are starting at the beginning and I just love these first chapters of Genesis. To think that Moses recorded this for us about 1500 years before Christ is amazing! According to Scripture, he was moved on by the Holy Spirit and wrote down a message given him by God. (2nd Peter 1:19-21) This record of creation is given to us by the only one who was there to witness it all! Without this record, we could only speculate about where we came from and why we are here in the type of world that we live in. In fact, that kind of speculation is what is going on with many intellectuals today who deny God exists or that He can be known by us. It is being taught in our school systems to our children and they are confused!
God made all that is simply by speaking! What powerful words! As He spoke, out of nothing, creation appeared! Psalm 33:6 states: “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” We serve a God who breathes out stars, constellations, and galaxies that stretch out for countless millions of light years in every direction from the earth! (Recommended Resource–How Great is Our God by Louis Giglio)
Even more amazing is man himself! Man made in the image of God! Man created by God for a relationship! Man walking with God and sharing rulership of creation with God. The Trinity is implied here in the “our image”. God creating man as male and female for a relationship with each other is also noteworthy! His design has brought companionship and pleasure to man, who could not find what he needed with any of the animals! We are special and unique! Thank Him for your uniqueness and His purpose for your life. Invite Him to walk with you today and this year! It will be the most exciting way to begin a new year! In His Love, Pastor John
Then God said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them.”–Genesis 2:26-27