Genesis 19 - God Destroys Sinful Cities

 

Genesis 19 – God Destroys Sinful Cities

 

Lot lived in Sodom, but he was never happy there.  It was a tragic day for him when he moved to Sodom because he lost his family to the sins of the city. There are many today who may be saved, but due to their lifestyle or where they live, they lose their family, influence, and testimony.  A person can trust Christ, but others may not see it in the life they live.

Two angels visit Lot in Sodom to pronounce judgment.  Lot was sitting in the gate.  The ones who sit in the gate of a city were judges.

Lot was a hospitable man.  When the strangers came, he invited them into his home.  At first, they said they would stay in the street all night.  Lot told them that it would not be safe in the street of Sodom.  The sins of Sodom were sodomy and homosexuality.  They were and still are awful sins.

When Lot first pitched his tent outside of Sodom, he had looked down and saw good land for his cattle.  He did not know what kind of city it was.  From the outside it looked good. The lesson of Sodom and Gomorrah is a lesson for us today.  God is not accepting this kind of church.  In Romans 6:1-2 Paul asks, “shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid?”

The men of Sodom are pressing against Lot, demanding that the men be turned over to them.  Lot begged them not to do this wickedness.  It was not a new morality to Lot, it was sin.  The three guests put their hands out and pulled Lot back into the house and blinded the men outside.  If they had not done this, both Lot and the guests would have been destroyed as was the intention of the wicked men.

Lot’s sons and daughters had married Sodomites and adopted their ethical standards.  When Lot learned of God’s intent, he went to his sons-in-laws and told them to leave before God destroys the city.  They took his warning as a joke.  Lot did not win anybody for the Lord in this city.  The same principle is true today.  When we stoop to others level, we do not win others to Christ.  Lot leaves the city with no one except his wife and two daughters.

Lot had become righteous because he had followed Abraham and offered sacrifices.  God extends mercy to Lot and saves him.  God destroys the two cities, but his wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.  She did not believe God.  When Abraham saw the destruction, I am sure he was sad for Lot.  He probably did not learn about Lot until later.  Abraham was not in love with the things of Sodom and the world.  “Love not the world, neither the things thar are in the world.”  I John 2:15

The world today indulges in the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. God sees and He is not pleased.

Sodom and Gomorrah- Genesis 18

 

Genesis 18 – Sodom and Gomorrah

 

This is an illustration of the Christian Life.  It seems strange to us to tell a visiting stranger to wash his feet and come in.  We would not quite say that today, but this is probably the oldest custom that is known.  Today, people remove their hats, more so than their shoes.

Abraham says, “Wash your feet.”  It was a token of real hospitality.  Abraham is entertaining three especially important guests.  He prepares a meal, during which he discovers these are royal guests.  “Some have entertained angels unawares.”  Hebrews 13:2. That was Abraham – he did not know whom he was really entertaining.

It was not proper in that day even in the East today for the wife to come out and be the one to entertain, especially since there were three male guests there.  But they ask about Sarah.  Sarah is in the tent probably with her ear to the wall.  She hears and asks herself, “Is it possible that I will have a son?”  Then she laughs.  I think this laughter is saying, “this is something just too good to be true, it just can’t happen to me!”

Once the meal was over Abraham walked a distance with these men, and down below there, they saw Sodom and Gomorrah.  It is a good thing that God told Abraham He was going to destroy these cities, because Abraham might have gotten the wrong impression of God.  Now Abraham has time to think about it.  The first thing that came to his mind, of course, is his nephew, Lot.  He asks God “What about the righteous?  He could not understand why God would destroy the righteous with the wicked.  Abraham starts with fifty righteous to save the city.  God answers “no” to fifty.  Abraham continues until he gets the number down to ten.

Whatever God does is right, and if you do not think He is right, the trouble is not with God, but with you and your thinking; you do not know that the judge of all the earth does right.  We are wrong; He is right.

In the end, we discover there was one righteous man and God knew him. That was Lot.  God said to Lot, “Get out of the city, I cannot destroy it until you are out.” 

Do you know the Great Tribulation period cannot come as long as the Church is in the world?  Jesus Christ already bore our judgment; and The Great Tribulation is part of the judgment that is coming.  This is the reason the church cannot go through it.  Sodom and Gomorrah are a picture of the world today.  Christ can come tomorrow, and it would be in keeping with the carrying out the picture which is before us here in Genesis.

 

god's Covenant Genesis 17

 

Genesis 17 – God’s Covenant 

 

This chapter is the key to the book of Genesis, and it may be the key to the entire Bible.

It was fourteen years after Ishmael was born that Abraham’s son, Isaac was born.

The Lord appeared to Abram for the fifth time.  He said, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect.”  God comes to reaffirm the promise of a son, that rules out Ishmael. Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90.  God says, “I am going to make you a father of many nations,” and He has made that promise good.  Abram means “high father” and now God changes his name to Abraham “Father of a multitude.”  Sarai was changed to Sarah.  Abraham was the father of a multitude by faith at that time and four thousand years later, he still is the father of a multitude. God’s covenant with Abraham was everlasting.  It is not going to run out.  God promised you and me an everlasting life if we will trust in Christ – that is a good covenant He has made.  The land of Canaan was an everlasting possession if they worshiped God alone.  Three times God predicted they would leave Canaan.  The first time was when they went to Egypt and was dispersed.  They were a family of seventy when they left Canaan and when they returned they were a nation of one and one-half million.  Secondly, God sent them into Babylonian captivity because of their idolatry.  Thirdly, in a.d. 70 they left Canaan when they rejected their Messiah.  When they return to Canaan they will never leave again.  This will be during the Millenium.

Because of the covenant there was circumcision.  It was a badge of the covenant.  The Israelites did not do this to become members of the covenant.  They did this because God told them to and because they had the covenant from God.

When God told Abraham, he was going to have a son, Abraham laughed. I think this laughter was from sheer happiness that this could happen.  “He considered not his 100-year-old body nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” He was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Abraham believed in God and is absolutely overwhelmed by the wonder and the goodness of God.

Ishmael was also Abraham’s son which he loved and said, “Oh that Ishmael

might live before you.”  God answered “no,” but God did bless him and promised him 12 princes that will multiply into a great nation. Abraham probably regretted his mistake with Hagar because that was a sin that caused trouble in the land since conception.  Sin is not something you get by with.  “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man soweth, that shall he reap.” Galatians 6:7

Genesis 16 - Lack of Faith

 

Genesis 16 – Lack of Faith

 

In life, there are times that our faith looks strong and there are times when we are lacking in faith.  Abram exercised a strong faith in God in chapter 15 but now, Abram and Sarai are older, and they have been in the land of Canaan for ten years.  Sarai is now thinking that either she cannot have children or God is withholding a child from her.  She now takes matters into her own hands and has given her maidservant to Abram as his second wife. It was customary in those days when a wife could not bear a child, there was a concubine.  God did not approve of this at all.  This was Sarai’s idea and Abram listened to her.  He surrendered his position of head of household.  This was not according to God’s will. We get it wrong if we think that just because it is recorded in the Bible God approves of it. The Bible is an accurate record, so there are many things God does not approve of that are recorded in the Bible.  The sin here in Abram and Sarai is that they did not believe God. They were impatient.

 

 God is not going to accept this offspring at all because it is wrong.  Sarai soon sees she has done wrong. When Abram told Sarai to handle Hagar as she sees fit, Sarai took her sin out on Hagar.  Then Hagar ran away and quit her job as a maidservant.  She ran into the wilderness where an angel stopped her and asked her where she was from and where was she going?  Hagar had a duty to fulfill, and she was leaving behind blessings in Abram’s tent. This is not Hagar’s sin, so God deals graciously with her.  She is overwhelmed by the fact that she is seen by God.  We may feel insignificant in the scheme of things, but God sees us as special. Hagar returns and gives birth to Abram’s son, Ishmael. The descendants of Ishmael are wild men, tribes of the desert which was the fulfillment of the prophecy that God gave.

Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

 

All of us come short of understanding and of knowing God. To know God is something that will secure a place in heaven with out Lord Jesus Christ.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary, NKJ Bible

God's Contract - Genesis 15

 

Genesis 15 – God’s Contract

 

After Abram received Lot, God appeared to him a fourth time.  He told Abram “I am your shield, and your great exceeding reward.”  In other words, God was telling him he did well by turning down the booty and now his relationship with God is his reward.

Abram did not need more riches, nor did he want them.  What he wanted was the son God had promised him.  God told him his offspring would be as numberless as the sands of the seashore and the stars in heaven. 

Abram actually had two seeds, his offspring- Israel and the church.  Paul told the Galatians that they were the sons of Abraham by Faith in Jesus Christ.  Galatians 3:29. 

Abram did not work for his righteousness, he just believed. God never saves us by our works or any other means except by Grace. If you ever get saved, and I hope you are, it will be because you believe God, accept Christ as your Savior, and believes that God provides salvation for you.  God will declare you righteous by simply accepting Christ and being baptized into His name. Therefore, those that are of faith are the children of Abraham.

God told Abraham to prepare a sacrifice.  In those days they made a contract by preparing a sacrifice.  They took the sacrifice and divided it and the men would walk through it. In this sacrifice, God will be walking through it since He is the one who is making the promise.  God put Abram into a deep sleep so that this could be done.  God’s contract with us was when His Son went to the Cross, and He died for our sins.  To believe God, is salvation. He is a gracious God and by His grace we will be saved.

 

 

 

 

Abram Saves Lot - Genesis 14

 

Genesis 14 – Abram saves Lot

 

It is recorded that the Kings of the East defeat the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The reason is because Lot, Abram’s nephew was captured while living in Sodom.  When word was brought to Abram he immediately began to pursue the enemy.  In Abram’s household, he could arm 318 men.  To have that many servants means that Abram was carrying on quite a business of raising cattle and sheep.  He divided his servants.  One group attacked while the other came around and helped with the attack.  As a result, Abram was victorious.  The enemy fled across the desert leaving the people and the booty they had captured.  They took the women as slaves.

 

About this time, Abram needed a blessing.  He was facing a temptation, so Melchizedek now enters the story.  He is the King of Salem and a priest of the Most High God.  All men had knowledge of the living and true God, but they did not worship Him, but worshiped His creation.

Melchizedek was the high priest for the world for that day.  He brought bread and wine.  Elements of the Lord’s Supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death until He comes.” I Corinthians 11:26.     Melchizedek is anticipating the death of Christ.  He is mentioned three times in the Bible, First in Genesis, then in Psalms 110:4 and several times in Hebrews.  There is no record of Melchizedek’s Father or Mother or beginning or ending of days.  That is because the priesthood of Christ is after the order of Melchizedek.  Christ had no beginning or ending.  Melchizedek is a perfect picture of Christ.  Christ is the High Priest for the world today. 

The temptation Abram faced was to take the booty and give the persons back to the King of Sodom.  If he had done this, the King of Sodom could have said God did not bless Abram and It was from the Kings hand that he received the booty. 

God always prepares us for any temptation that comes to us.  He says that He will never let any temptation come to us that we are not able to bear.  I Cor. 10:13.

God had prepared Abram for this one.  Abram told him that the men who went with him has earned their share of the booty but he would not take any of the booty for himself.

 

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary

Genesis 13 - Return to God

 

Genesis 13 – Return to God

 

Abram and Lot leave Egypt and return to Canaan.  Lot goes to Sodom.  God then appears to Abram for the third time.  He is now back in God’s grace now that he is no longer in Egypt and with his nephew Lot.

 

There is always a way for any man or woman to come back to God.

Before Abram and Lot separated, their herdsman began to fight, that led to an argument between Abram and Lot.  Being the generous man Abram was, he allowed Lot to choose the land he desired to live in.  The Canaanites and Perizites witnessed all this fighting.  They knew Abram worshiped God.

 

When there are internal fights in a church today, the unsaved man on the outside knows about it.  His thoughts may be “If that’s Christianity, I don’t want any part of it.” 

Jesus did not say to the church, you are my disciples if you are fundamental and organize a church. But He did say “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35.

 

There are a lot of people not being won today because of the strife that is inside the church.

Abram solved their differences by being generous and allowing Lot to choose the land. 

After Lot left, God told hm to “Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are at.  This is the land I will give you.”  God gave him very specific instructions as to where his land began and ended. 

Now Abram is in a good place in this story.  It is where God meant him to be.  It is an awesome feeling when you know you are in the right place and in communion with God.

 

God's Presence - Genesis 12

 

Genesis 12 – God’s Presence

 

Other than Adam and Abraham, God did not appear to anyone else throughout Genesis 1 – 11.  There are strong personalities throughout the rest of Genesis.  First, there was Abraham the man of Faith.  Isaac the beloved son, Jacob the chosen and chastened son and Joseph and his suffering and glory.

Today our focus is on Abram who was chosen by God.  He is one of the greatest men who lived on this earth.  More people have heard of Abraham than any President, movie star or Athlete.  One of his attributes was that he was a generous man.  He gave his nephew, Lot the choice of land.  When he dealt with the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, he told them he would not take the booty, not one bit because his focus was on God.  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”  Romans 4:3. God appeared to Abram seven times.  God also tested Abram four times and he failed at all of them.  Even we fall at times, but like Abraham we get up and start over again.  Even though, Abram had bumps in the road, God kept his promises to Abraham.  First of which, God promised him the land.  Secondly, God will make of him a great nation and bless him and make his name great.  Lastly, God promised to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. God made good his promises but had a contingency with the first one.  He told them that they could not have the land if they were disobedient to them.  Today they are away from Him and are having trouble in Israel.  The day will come when God puts the people back in the land of Israel.  They have a long way to go, but they will have it on God’s terms and in God’s appointed time.

In the light of God’s promises, Abram obeyed God and left his home, his business and the society of Ur, while not knowing where he was going. His first fall was taking his nephew with him.  He was to leave his kindred and his father’s house.  God never appeared to Abraham again until he entered the land of Canaan.  The Canaanites were barbarians and heathens.  Because there was a famine, Abraham left the land that God gave him.  That was Abraham’s second mistake.  God did not tell him to do that.  Abram traveled to Egypt and God did not appear to him while he was there.

When we are in opposition to God, it may feel like He left us, when in reality we left God.  God is always there, just as with Abram waiting for us to return to Him.  When we are obedient, we then can feel His presence in our life.   

In these chapters Abraham is called Abram until later in the book.

 J.Vernon McGee Commentary

Stand Up For God

 

Genesis 11 – Stand Up for God

 

In a 2,000-year span from Genesis 1 to Genesis 11 we have learned of the creation, the fall of man, the flood, and the tower of Babel.

The Tower of Babel is where man’s rebellion against God became prevalent.  In the beginning there was only one language, we do not know what language that was, but it is possible it will be the language we speak in heaven.  When they began the tower, they used brick since they had not stone in that area.  They used brick out of practicality.  Nimrod, son of Canaan led this movement in building a city and a tower that was to reach to heaven.  It was his dream to create a world empire that he would rule.  He wanted to make a “name for himself and his world”.  It went against God’s command which was to scatter over the earth and replenish the earth.  Instead, Nimrod was gathering the people together.  People began to worship the creation instead of the Creator.  Above the tower they worshiped the sun, moon, and stars in that there would be no more floods. 

God answered their rebellion by confusing them with different languages.  The language barrier is exceedingly high even in today’s time.  It is what separates people. At that time, the building of the tower stopped, and people scattered to all part’s of the world.  That was God’s intention in the first place.  Now He brings the Gospel to everyone in their own language.  No other book besides the Bible has been translated into so many languages.  In every language, God has demonstrated to man that he is in sin.  Cain demonstrated the sin of pride of life.  At the flood, people were given over to the sins of the flesh.  Then at the tower rebellion against God.  Today we rebel against God in many ways. Every time we insist upon doing things our way without God’s guidance and direction, we are in rebellion. Thus, we are in sin.  It is up to each individual to decide whether we stand up for God or stand against God.  There is only one decision that will reserve a place in heaven for eternity.  “Choose you this day, whom you will serve, as for me and my house, I will serve God.” Joshua 24:15

 

Personalities - Genesis 10

 

Genesis 10 – Personalities

 

Noah had Shem, Ham and Japheth.  Japheth had seven sons, three grandsons from Gomer and four grandsons from Javan.  Fourteen nations came from Japheth.

Ham had four sons, Mizraim gave him six grandsons and Cush gave him six grandsons. One of which was Nimrod, son of Canaan.  30 Nations came from Ham.  According to J. Vernon McGee Commentary, Nimrod tried to bring the human race together after the flood. He wanted to become a world ruler.  He was the likeness of the Antichrist who is yet to come.

Shem had five sons, one grandson, one great grandson, and two great, great grandsons. Fourteen of the fifth generation from the lineage of Arphaxad, son of Shem.  Four sons of the lineage of Aram. 26 Nations came from Shem.

 

After Chapter 11, Ham and Japheth is left behind and Shem’s generation goes forward in the remaining books up through the life of Jesus Christ.

 

From the beginning, God created a personality.  Every individual named in the Bible had a personality.  Some persons had stronger personalities than others.  I will speak of some of them in future lessons.  You and I have a personality.  It is important to find our identity in Christ.  Not just because we were created or named in our genealogy, but because our personality lives on longer than our lives.  God made each of us unique and special.  Our identity is what God purposed us to be.  If we know our personality and we match it up to what God wants from us, then we will soon discover our identity in Christ.  Searching through the scriptures, getting to know who God is, will help us form the identity we should have in Christ.

 

Thank you all for reading my posts.  I hope they inspire you to live your life according to God’s Word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

God's Promises - Genesis 9

 

Genesis 9 – God’s Promises

 

Never underestimate the power of one person, especially one who believes God’s promises.  One good man can turn the tide of history.  Long before the flood, Noah learned that reliance on God would keep him afloat through life. 

Noah received the divine order to build an ark because he found favor with God.  In a world drowning in sin, Noah was chosen to prepare for the safety of a handful.  God told Noah that because wickedness throughout the world was unrestrained, “everything that is on the earth shall die.  But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark – you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.” Genesis 6:17,18.

Noah believed God and followed His instructions, building a huge ship on dry land.  His neighbors could not imagine a purpose or need for such a vessel.  We can only imagine the ridicule he must have endured!  His ark became a monument to persistence.  His faithful obedience brought about the salvation of his family.  He became, like Adam, the second father of the human race.

After the flood, God created the first rainbow as a sign of His perpetual promise to Noah and his descendants that He would never again destroy the earth by water.  God’s promises are trustworthy.  God fulfills His promises even when we fail completely to hold up our side of the covenant.  The rainbow reminds us of one part of God’s commitment to us. 

We may often feel surrounded by the rising tide of immorality in today’s world.  God’s promises remain a safe vessel.  In spite of overwhelming odds and the temptation to discouragement, God’s faithfulness to Noah reveals that He will also keep the “great and precious promises” He has given us. 2 Peter 1:4

 

 

 

 

 

Study from J. Vernon McGee commentary

Noah's Deliverance

 

Genesis 8 – Noah’s Deliverance

 

yesterday we looked at Noah’s first 4 ½ months in the Ark.  All the people and animals are now bedded down and have their own space.  Then God made the winds to blow and the waters began to subside.  God stopped the rains.  At the end of the 150 days the waters decreased. On the 17^th day of the 7^th. month the ark rested on Mount Ararat.  Yet they could not leave the ark because even though they were parked, there was water all around them. It wasn’t until the first day of the 10^th month that the tops of other mountains were seen.  Forty days after that, Noah opened the window and sent out a raven who flew around until he found dry ground.  He also sent out a dove but the dove could not find a place to set down, so she returned to the ark.  Seven days later he sent the dove out again.  This time the dove returned with an olive leaf in her mouth. So, he waited another seven days and sent the dove again and the dove never returned.  So, on the first day of 601 bc.  Noah removed the covering of the ark and saw dry ground.  On the 27^th. day of the second month the earth was dried. Noah, his family and all the animals left the ark and offered burnt offerings to the Lord of every clean animal. The Lord smelled the aroma and promised never to curse the ground or destroy every living thing as He did then. 

Here we are today in a place where God has put us.  We, like Noah are waiting out our time here on earth.  Like Noah, we must practice patience and wait on the Lord to decide on what is next for us.  For some they are satisfied with their earthly home.  For others they are waiting to see their heavenly home.  I am sure when Noah sent out the Raven he was hoping it was time to leave the ark.  But God had other plans and made them wait until God showed them it was safe to leave.  Like Noah, we try to speed up God’s plan for us just to find out it won’t always work the way we hope and prayed it would.  More time and patience are needed.  In the end we will see God’s plan is the best plan.

 

 

The Great Flood

 

Genesis 7 – The Great Flood

 

Noah was 600 years old when the waters began to rain on the earth.  That means his three sons were 100 years old and they have not yet had children. Noah was righteous before God and obedient to God.  The Bible doesn’t say that Shem, Ham and Japheth was righteous or obedient but since they went along with Noah’s plan to build an ark and they entered it with their wives and Mother, we can assume they trusted in Noah’s faith and were obedient to their father and Mother.  All eight people were shut in the ark for 40 days and nights while the rain was coming down.  The waters covered all the hills and mountains.  The Ark rose with the waters and all existence outside of the Ark had died.  The waters stayed on the earth for 150 days, that equals to about 4 ½ months.  Because there was only one door and couldn’t be opened without God’s help, the only access to fresh air was from the one window.  Imagine living in a place where you smelled pitch (tar) all day, along with all the smells of the animals and your own body sweat.  Imagine having to take care of the animals in the ark and all their messes.  The Ark was three stories tall and I have been told it was the length of a football field (true or not, I don’t know).  That would be about the size of the building you are now living in with two more stories.  The window I believe was in the top floor.  Choose if you will, which floor do you want to live in.  Would it be the floor with the larger animals such as elephants, hippo’s, rhino’s, horses, cows.  Or the floor with the medium size animals such as lions, tigers, sheep, goats, etc.  Or maybe you would prefer the floor with the birds, snakes, insects and rodents.   Now imagine living there for 10 months as Noah and his family did.    Would you gripe and complain even though you knew this was God’s plan for you?  Or would you be grateful that He saved your life and are hopeful and encouraged of better things to come.  You can imagine what grief they must have shared losing their relatives and friends that were killed in the flood.  Now fast forward to today.  Suppose you live in a 40 room, single floor building with up to 95 residents. (nursing Home) Do you grumble and gripe that living conditions are horrible even though you know this is God’s plan for you?  Or are you grateful that you are still alive and being cared for with the promise that better things are ahead for you.  Do you hear the staff grumble about the messes they have to endure?  If you do, remind them of Noah and his family and the hardships they had.  Their job can’t be as bad as the job Noah and his family have.  The point of the matter is to be thankful for what we have because we could certainly have had worse.  This lesson I taught in a local nursing home.  J. Vernon McGee Commentary.

The Wickedness of Man

 

Genesis 6 – The Wickedness of Man

After Noah was born God saw all that was happening on earth.  He saw the wickedness of man and said he would not always strive with them because of their fleshly sins.  He shortened their life span to 120 years. God repented of having made man because of the evil intent of their hearts.  He decided to destroy all that He created. Noah was the only man on earth that found grace in God’s eyes. Noah walked with God and was a just man, perfect in his generations, Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth at the age of 500.  God instructed Noah to build an ark and prepare for the upcoming destruction. The Ark was to be made of Gopherwood.  300x50x30 cubits, three stories high.  It was to be covered with pitch inside and out.  It was to have one window and one door.  God told Noah how He was going to destroy the earth by flood, but He made a promise to Noah that Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives and of the living animals that Noah brings on the earth will survive the flood. He was to bring two of each animal, male and female and gather all the food he could gather and bring it into the ark.   All that God instructed Noah to do, he did.  One day we will all give account for the lives we live.  Are we doing all that God has instructed us to do?  We live in an age that is just as bad or worse than the days of Noah.  We have the same immoral issues now that they had back then.  God is looking over us.  He is measuring our thoughts and intents.  He alone is holding us accountable for our actions and thoughts.  What will you say when you stand before Him? 

 

Angry As Cain Genesis 4

 

Genesis 4 – Angry As Cain?

 

Cain had a problem with anger.  It wasn’t that he got angry.  God didn’t warn him because he got angry; God warned him because he stayed angry.  The incident that provoked Cain’s anger occurred during a worship service.  The brothers met to offer sacrifices to God.  Cain brought an assortment of farm goods as an offering; Abel presented an offering of special value.  Cain did his duty; Abel gave his best.  God was pleased with Abel’s offering, but rejected Cain’s.  The older brother was furious.

Cain’s original anger represented a positive response.  But the anger missed its target.  Cain should have been furious with himself.  Instead, Cain’s anger became a deadly weapon looking for a new target.  At that point, God intervened.  He corrected Cain’s misplaced anger and offered him another opportunity: “if you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.  And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it”.

Adam’s firstborn opened the door for sin.  Cain got angry at God and took it out on his younger brother Abel.  Anger became murderous jealousy.  Soon, Abel lay dead in a field.  Killing his brother did little for Cain’s anger.  When God approached him, Cain denied knowing or caring where his brother might be.  He represented the consequences of sin.  Cain displayed no remorse or repentance.  He became stuck in his anger.

As Cain demonstrates, anger must be ruled or it will rule.  Uncontrolled anger quickly becomes a destructive tyrant. When we invite God to help us identify the causes of our anger and take corrective measures, anger can become a servant rather than a master in our lives.  God’s word give powerful counsel when it says in Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin”.

 

 

 

Taken from J. Vernon Magee Commentary and “Why I Believe” by D. James Kennedy.                    https://sherrysouthard.blogsopot.com

 

Adam's Guilt, Adam's Shame

 

Genesis 3 – Adam’s Guilt, Adam’s Shame

 

When God got Adam’s undivided attention, God gave him some specific instructions: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die.”  God offered to Adam an opportunity to experience the full freedom that grows out of obedience.

Shortly after that. God introduced Eve to Adam.  The two of them received God’s blessing and began their perfect life together.  At this point there was no sin or suffering in the garden God gave them as a home.

One of Adam’s duties was to help Eve understand God’s instructions.  He apparently gave Eve the condensed version: “See that tree over there, honey?  God told us not to even touch it, Got that?” Eve was an easy prey for Satan because perhaps Adam didn’t tell her the whole story. That’s why God held Adam ultimately responsible for the sin that infected the human race when the couple ate of the forbidden fruit.

Even before God’s confrontation, however; Adam already knew he had sinned.  He felt that inner awareness of wrongdoing called guilt.  He also realized that fear of exposure called shame.  This powerful combination was given by God as an internal corrective.  It could have brought Adam to repentance and confession.  Instead, Adam tried to cope with guilt and shame by avoidance and denial.  Adam found himself suddenly terrified of God’s approach.  He hid in shame.  Gently questioned, Adan excused his behavior.  Eve followed Adam’s lead.  The rest of us have done the same thing.

As long as we blame others and refuse to take responsibility for our wrong actions, we remain mired in sin. Guilt and shame rule our lives and cut us off from God’s redemptive healing.  But God invites us to own our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   I John 1:9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from J. Vernon Magee Commentary and “Why I Believe” by D. James Kennedy.                    https://sherrysouthard.blogsopot.com

Life's lessons from Genesis 2

 

Genesis 2 – God rested

 

On the 7^th. day God rested.  But before He rested God provided an entire garden of fruit trees to satisfy Adam’s hunger as well as taste buds.  Adam, and Eve could eat freely of every tree.  But then God put one forbidden tree in the garden – just one- and told Adam, “You shall not eat” from that tree.  For there to be loving obedience, there had to be the option for disobedience.  Adam was given a clear boundary and a clear choice with clear consequences for disobedience.  We also face choices every day.  When we observe God’s boundaries, we show our Love for Him.

 

When God made a helper for Adam, it was an approval for marriage.  God was concerned for Adam’s loneliness, for He created people to have relationships – with Him and with others.  Single adults mean never married, separated, divorced and widow persons.  Though issues may differ, each one faces the potential problems of aloneness, such as isolation, insecurity, and feelings of rejection.  Being “unattached” can foster destructive response, or it can encourage the development of a relationship with God.  There’s nothing wrong with being single- just don’t go it alone.  At our age, we rely more importantly with our relationship with God.

 

When God finished His creation, God pronounced it all “very good.”  God created Adam and Eve as a relationship unit.  When He performed Adam and Eve’s wedding in the garden, He spelled out several aspects that make up the marriage relationship as He intended it.  That is to leave father and Mother and be joined together as one flesh.  Only Adam and Eve experienced the original version of married life.   And God said it was good.  They were united and not ashamed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from “Why I Believe” by D. James Kennedy and J. Vernon Magee commentary

 

Genesis 1

 

Genesis 1 – In the Beginning                                                          

Day 1- Light for Day – Darkness for night.

Day 2 – Firmament =Heaven

Day 3 – dry land- Earth, waters- seas, vegetation, herbs, fruits

Day 4 -lights in the sky – Sun, Moon, stars

Day 5- Moving creatures – fish life and birds of the air.

Day 6 – Animals- Cattle, beasts, every thing that creeps.  Man was given dominion over all the creation.

Day 7 – God rested.

When we think of God’s creation we believe that life has a purpose and an end.  Evolutionists do not believe this. In Psalms 19:1 it says “The firmament shows God’s handiwork”.  God Himself is a great architect, astronomer, chemist, physiologist, Psychologist and mathematician.  Consider this planet we live on.  It is placed just right.  Dr. Wallace, a known scientist says that if the earth were 10% larger or 10% smaller life would not be able to exist on it.  It is just the right distance from the Sun giving us the right amount of heat and light.  If the sun were further away, we would freeze.  If it were closer we would not be able to survive. Our planet is tilted at 23 degrees.  If there were no tilt the poles would gain too much ice and the center part of the earth would be intensely hot.  God made the moon the right size and right distance from the earth.  He provided the moon to clean up our oceans and shores.  Without the moon our shores would become one stench pool of garbage.  The tides provide oxygen for our fish.  Our atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% trace elements. If the air weren’t as thick as it is, we would be crushed by the debris and meteorites that fall continually on the planet. When lightning happens plant food is created from the nitrogen.  Snow stores water in the valleys, rain waters and cleans the earth.  Dust created the blue sky.  Then God created man.  He gave us eyes to see His beautiful creation; a nose to smell His fragrances of rain, plants, food, etc. He gave us blood to exist and limbs to give us mobility and the ability to tend to His creation.  God is so awesome that we cannot even fathom all that He has created and it is all for us to enjoy.

 

 

To get a more in depth study of the science of God’s creation you can read the book “Why I Believe” by D. James Kennedy

 

Self Respect

 Being a young person, as all of us are at heart, I want to express the need for values in our society.  What kind of boyfriend or girlfriend would you like to be to your date?  How high have you set your standards?  Consider the fact that God is your Father and He has already set the standards for you.  That is to be pure, holy, chaste in all ways.  Your body is God's temple.  It is important for us to strive to maintain purity.  First and foremost we must seek Godly mates.  When that s done, God will provide the protection and blessings needed in our relationships  Still it is up to us to not let fleshly desires to get in the way of our need for true Love.  God is present only when we acknowledge His presence.  

When we consider our wedding night, it should be considered as the first of many nights ahead.  We don't want to enter into a relationship thinking "been there, done that."  It kind of takes away the specialness of the day.  Even if this is the second or third marriage, don't you think we owe it to our new spouse to do it right this time.  To make everything first.  the first time he/she see my body.  The first time we show our love to each other.  I can go on and on but I think you see where I am going.  When we chose the right mate, and we plan our future together, it should be done with the choice of whether we want to bring blessings or curses into our marriage.  Doing it God's way is the only way we will receive the blessings in our marriage.  Any other way can only lead to future problems.  I'm not saying  there won't be problems in a blessed marriage, God teaches us many things through the problems that come our way, but to start out with God, we will always maintain the standards He sets for us and we set for our selves.  Please don't cheapen the relationship by living by worldly standards before the marriage.  Set for yourself high standards and keep your self respect in tact.  God bless all those who are seeking a relationship.  May it always be within God's Will. 

A Mother's Wages - Author Unknown

 If I would charge one cent each time, I washed my children's clothes, or tied a shoe or gave a bath or wiped a runny nose,

Or made a bed or acted as their judge or referee, It would be possible that I could live in luxury.

If I were paid a nickel for each diaper that I've pinned, For every band-aid I've applied when arms or legs are skinned,

For every toy that I've picked up and put back in its niche, There wouldn't be a single doubt -why I could be quite rich.

If just one dime would be my fee for giving them a pill, For makings meals and wiping up the milk they always spill,

For darning scores of tiny socks, for fixing things they break, It wouldn't be too long before a fortune I would make.

Although it's true I don't receive a solitary cent, Yet I'm repaid in many ways for all the time I've spent.

Their smiles, their love is my reward for this unending care, And I am richer, yes, by far than any millionaire.

Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good, Be Good

 Step 1 - Do you look Good?  Are you trying to lose weight or wishing for a make-over?  Let me ask this:  Who do you want to look good for?  Is it your spouse, your friends and family, yourself?  Might I suggest you do it for God?  We should want to look good for God. He is our spouse, our best friend.  He gave us our looks.  No, we will never be perfect, but if we focus our weight loss or make-over on doing it for God, then the steps will come.  We can ask God for help, but if we're not doing it FOR Him, it will be harder in the long run.  Doing it for Him will help you cut out sweets, pasta and starches.  You will focus more on meats, vegetables and fruits and wala! weight loss and a better complexion.

Step 2 - Maybe you want to feel better.  All kinds of ailments can cause our bodies, our minds, our spirits to feel sluggish.  We just want to rise up out of our tired slump but we feel dragged down to the point of no return.  Who is it we want to feel better for?  Certainly for our self, but is our family and friends suffering right along with us?  Why not focus on feeling better for God?  After all, God is to be praised for our bodies, our total being.  Let's start off with praising God and being good stewards of our health.  We got our bodies looking good, we feel better with the weight loss, but there is still that lingering Arthritis, diabetes, depression, etc.  Feeling better for God will cause us to exercise the proper fitness plan befitting the ailment.  And soon our praise to God will be genuine because Hallelujah we feel better!

Step 3 - Everyone wants to do good.  Are we living in a state of Why Me Lord?  Or is everything centered around our own needs, and we feel isolated from the world?  Try reaching out, do it for God.  This is the purpose God created us, to reach out to the poor, the sick, the widows, the orphans.  To encourage one another.  Become a volunteer.  Don't do it for your self or for the glory of others but do it for God.  When you do, it will become a mission, a ministry for the Lord.  Wow, what a wonderful feeling to do good, knowing that someday God will say "well done though good and faithful servant."

Step 4 - Okay, now we look good, feel good, do good.  All of this will cause us to be good.  We are special in God's eyes.  Once we step out of our selves and do these things for God and no one else.  We will want to be that shining example and will want others to see Jesus in us.  How great it is that we can give up our bad habits and be good for the Lord, Praise God!  We are living for God.  We look good, Feel Good, Do Good and by the Grace of God, we are Good!

Respect and Reverence In Church

 Growing up in church, my sisters and I were raised to be still and listen to God's Word.  There was no thought to leave my pew until services were over.  Even the children bussed in were taught how to sit still and listen.  To not get up to go to the restroom four or five times in one hour.  We were taught that church is where we go to listen, to learn, to love one another and to go out and spread the Good News.  

Nowadays, it appears that a movie theater has more respect and reverence that the sanctuary of a church.  My question would be; Where is our focus?  Is it on God's Words?  When we are singing, are we singing from the heart, listening to the praise we are singing to God?  When the speaker is in the pulpit, are we listening to the words God has put in the speakers voice?  if our focus is on  getting up to go to the restroom, or going out to smoke, then where is the focus?  Surely it is not on God and not on respecting those we disturb when we follow our own desires to leave during the hour we have put aside to worship God.  

It is understandable if you are holding a screaming baby or a squirming toddler.  Or even if you are elderly and have a weak bladder.  These things must be taken into consideration for everyone's comfort.  Otherwise, why do we go to church if we do not have the intention to worship God in a manner pleasing to Him.  Do we respect Him and those around us?  Are the words He gives us worth sitting still and listening to for just one hour.  Oh how I hope the answer you have in your heart is YES!  

My prayer is that we show reverence to the God who made us, to honor Him not only in church but in all that we say and do.  Love to all my brothers and sisters in Christ, both here and in your corner of the world.

Jesus is My Husband

 Jesus is my husband, He loves me like none other. He is always faithful.  He listens when I speak, He cuddles me when I cry.  He won't ever walk out on me.  he is a good Father to my children.  I can trust Him with all the decisions of my life.  I can trust Him to be honest with me and tell me what I need to know.  There is no better friend to me than He is.  I can see Him wherever He goes, it is in all His handiwork.  He is the greatest artist I know.  He provides for me even in the worst of times.  He clothes me with Salvation.  He lets me rant and rave and still He loves me.  He comforts me when I am afraid.  He allows me to grieve for those who have gone on before me and reminds me that there is still hope and someday I will see those who gone on to live in the Heavens with Him.  He cheers me when I am sad.  He makes me laugh through the blessings and sometimes even sorrows.  What more can I ask for.  He is EVERYTHING to me and I Love Him!

God is not just part of my life, He is all of my life!

God's Plans

 I have always known God has a plan for me.  Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you."  I have never thought of the bigger picture in that I am a part of God's plan.  That gives me a broader focus, not so much on me, but on all of us.  We are all a part of God's plan.  God's plan is for us to glorify Him in all that we say and do. 

 Writing blogs is part of God's plan to glorify Him and to reach out with encouragement and prayer to those who take time to read the blogs.  Relying on God to touch others hearts and souls so that they too can glorify God.  When we do our part in God's plan, He then, in turn will do His part in the plans He has for me, for each of us, individually.  We are born to bless and be blessed.

If you feel like your prayers are not being heard or answered, then ask yourself, "Am I doing my part in God's plan?"  Ask God if there is something in your life that you may or may not be doing that is keeping your prayers from being answered.  Keep in mind, God always answers our prayers, we just don't always see them.  God has a plan for you and you are a part of God's plan.  Working together we will see great and mighty things happen in our life.  God loves us unconditionally and our lives have a purpose.

Here are other blog experts you might be interested in:  Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. Charles Stanley, Max Lucado.  Many others on Feedspot.com

People in My Life

 What a glorious time to rejoice in the Lord!  I was thinking today of all my friends and family.  I was thinking of all the acquaintances I make on a daily basis, and those who just cross my path.  The place where I live, there are neighbors who come and go.  Some of them, I have met, others I have not. I also got to thinking about people who have come into my life that irritated the tar out of me.  Those people I could have definitely done without, but obviously God didn't think so.  Everyone who comes into our life, whether it be for a minute or a lifetime is part of us.  We were all created by the same hands.  They are there for a purpose.  

When the Israelites rebelled against God with their idolatry, God gave them over to Egypt and Ethiopia.  God used them to discipline the Israelites.  When His people turned back to God, He then paddled Egypt and Ethiopia.  

Is there someone in your life today that God may be using to discipline you?  Look into it, there may be a lesson to be learned by the person you are having hard dealings with.  Ask God for clarity so that you can learn this lesson.  Turn to Him and He will soon turn to paddle the person who is bothering you.  

God tells us "though we walk through deep waters, and through the fire, He will never leave us or forsake us." Isaiah 43:2 paraphrased.  I Praise God for all the people who come into my life, both to bless me and to discipline me because through God I will become stronger because of them.  Being more Christ-like is what we strive for each day.

Lead Me To The Cross

 Have you ever thought of the words "Lead me to the Cross"?  I heard a song with those words in it.  It got me to thinking that if I were a witness to Christ's walk up Golgotha, if I were to see his body having been beaten and all bloody; to see him struggle to carry the cross and then be dragged up the hill, how would I be?  Would I just be a curious onlooker or would I be one of the mockers to taunt him to save himself?  

No, I believe with all my heart, knowing that I love Jesus that I would want to follow Him and stay with Him until the end.  But would I have the strength to do so?  I know my heart would be breaking, I would feel too weak to walk on my own.  Someone would have to lead me, or better yet, carry me to the cross.  

I wonder how Mary had the strength to go all the way up the hill behind her son.  If it were any one of my sons, I would try with all my strength to walk the course right beside him.  To witness the cruelty Jesus suffered.  I can't imagine watching my child go through something so horrible.  It's bad enough when we sit by a loved one who's life is slowly slipping away from us.  To know that Mary, Mother of our Savior had the strength to go on gives me comfort in knowing that only through the strength of God could she have made it up that hill.  God offers that strength to us too as we walk through our daily lives.  "Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28