Month: January 2021

Job 17-20

~ Patricia ~ 8 Comments

I know we just started the read-through, PLEASE do not get discouraged.  This is a HARD book.  I often read a whole chapter and say “Ummm,  I didn’t get that”.  But then I go back and I read it slower and I can put some of the verses together.  Even if just ONE verse makes sense sometimes, hone in on that.

The first verse says so much: 1 My spirit is broken,

Job is mentally and physically deteriorating.  At the same time, the “friends’ words get more aggressive.  Job begins to spiral down. As his friend’s words get harsher, we see the affliction also comes from his community:

6 “God has made me a byword to everyone,
    a man in whose face people spit.

The community he once was known for having integrity, riches and wisdom now talks about him and spits on him (in ancient days it was the highest form of disrespect).

18 Bildad

I had to read this several times and I was struggling to make sense of it.  So I grabbed my pen and began circling all the horrible words he was saying to Job. Example: anger, abandon, snuffed-out, dark, weakened, wander….) Bildad is not preaching a message of repentance, he has moved to conviction.  He thinks he is an “expert” on God.  (I know a few of these people if you don’t just look on Facebook 😂)

THEN I got to verse 16-21 and I became angry.  Verse 16 is the rebuttal to Job’s response in chapter 14 (I think).  I flipped back to find when Job spoke about having Hope because even a tree lives again:

14:7 “At least there is hope for a tree:
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots will not fail.
8 Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump die in the soil,
9 yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant.

Bildad hearing this in Job’s rebuttal now says: (was this supposed to encourage him)??

16 His roots dry up below
    and his branches wither above.
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;
    he has no name in the land.
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness
    and is banished from the world.
19 He has no offspring or descendants among his people,
    no survivor where once he lived.
20 People of the west are appalled at his fate;
    those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;
    such is the place of one who does not know God.”

Upon hearing that Job digs his heels in, and at his lowest,  he proclaims the most beautiful scriptures in the Bible.

First, he summarizes the state of his life: (chapter 19)

  • no one answers my call for help
  • I can only see darkness
  • stripped of his honor
  • he feels surrounded by his enemies, like in a time of war
  • friends and family have deserted him
  • people I welcomed into my home refuse me
  • my wife won’t even come near me
  • children mock me
  • closest friends have turned against me
  • my health is so bad, I am holding on by the skin of my teeth

He begs for pity from his friends words.  They are relentless.  THEN

23 “Oh, that my words were recorded, (They were!  We are reading them!)
    that they were written on a scroll, (In my Bible!)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!  (Yes!!)

25 I know that my redeemer lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
    with my own eyes—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns within me!

The word redeem, redeemer, or redemption is used 149 times in the Old Testament.  I know we use these “Christianese” words all the time but let’s look at it for a minute:

  • brings back something that was lost or taken away
  • restored to original state
  • one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs.
  • someone who redeems or buys back
  •  to compensate for or cancel out the faults of
  • bought back

Let’s take a step back for a minute before we start humming the Hillsong version of “My Redeemer Lives”.  These are ancient times.  Job does not have the scriptures, a pastor, a church, podcast, internet to learn about redemption.  The Hebrew word Job is using for redeemer is gaal-a near relative whose role is to assist a family in dire straights like lost property, murder, or lack of a kinsman.  This “family advocate” or “righter of wrongs” is what Job was referring to. Job is confident that the gaal is alive and ready to take up his case for him, BUT Job will, with his own eyes, see God face to face.  (Because we do not live in ancient times, we know who the real Gaal is!!!!)

Chapter 20.  After reading chapter 19, Zophar’s words fell on deaf ears for me:

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.
3 I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

(I read his reply and then I went back and reread 19 ❤️)

Click here if you would like to end with a song in worship

And another 😁  Click here

Job 14-16

~ Patricia ~ 7 Comments

WHY is this book written?  WHY has God chosen to write this in length?  I use to think it was too long, now I think it is not long enough.

As early as the days of Job, people hold to a belief in retribution theology. Retribution theology is basically the idea that you get what you deserve.  What goes around comes around.  (Ouch, I have said that)

If Job were living today and had a social media account it might have been tagged #blessed.  He had a huge family, a great job, and a successful business.  However, Job was chosen because of his integrity to dispute this theology so that we can have comfort in our suffering.  He is a righteous sufferer.  He (and his friends) do not have the knowledge of why this is happening. When Job speaks, He asks God why, but always defends God’s Sovereignty.  As the friends speak, they adhere to a “You must have done something to deserve this”.  So why is this book 42 chapters?  Because it is important that we hear all the bad theology from his friends so that we can recognize bad theology today.

So as you read this book, God is letting us know the wicked will prosper in this life, and sometimes the righteous will suffer in this life (we will see it throughout the entire Bible).  The key is ‘in this life’.  Every person, wicked or righteous will ultimately be judged by a God that is just and right.

Job still speaking:

Chapter 14:-Amazing Chapter.

One scripture that gives me hope is that my life is in God’s hands, not the enemy.

v4: 5 A person’s days are determined;
    you have decreed the number of his months
    and have set limits he cannot exceed.

(Go back to Chapter 1, what was the one thing Satan was NOT allowed to do?)

Job 14:17 and you will see Hope starts to rise up (pun intended 😂).  Through nature, Job has seen a tree cut to a stump, but at the scent of water, it regrows.  Job speaks to God, if only you will remember me the same way,  if only I will be resurrected.

13 “If only you would hide me in the grave
    and conceal me till your anger has passed!
If only you would set me a time
    and then remember me!
14 If someone dies, will they live again?
    All the days of my hard service
    I will wait for my renewal to come.
15 You will call and I will answer you;
    you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16 Surely then you will count my steps
    but not keep track of my sin.
17 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
    you will cover over my sin.

Chapter 15- Even though Job has begged them to remain silent, they will each make another speech.   Eliphaz now attacks his character and basically says Job has lost everything because he lived in rebellion against God and a self-indulgent life.

I am skipping to Chapter 16 because it is so good I am unglued!

Job’s advice-givers decided to use this as an opportunity to “teach” “preach” or “rebuke” Job.  And in chapter 16, Job starts with “You windbags!  If this were happening to you, I would comfort and console you!” (paraphrase of course).

Now for the GOOD part. Job recounts his suffering but knows in the end, he will be restored.  Maybe not in this life. 

The Foreshadow of Christ.

16:19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
    my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend
    as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

22 “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.

What should we do when someone is mourning?  Love them.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:14-16

and Pray with them.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Job 10-13

~ Patricia ~ 8 Comments

We know that Job had a wonderful habit of worship, but I wonder if his suffering has brought to the surface true worship.  I reflected on my very weak prayer life this morning.  But when times get tougher, I speak to God more frequently.

Chapter 11 is short because Zophar is blunt.  Zophar- the know it all!  I am going to call my husband Zophar and see if he laughs😂   Zophar is saying, Job actually deserves worse,

5 If only God would speak;
    if only he would tell you what he thinks!
6 If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom,
    for true wisdom is not a simple matter.
Listen! God is doubtless punishing you
    far less than you deserve! NLT

Zophar is the man with the plan.  He gives Job the “steps” to the solution stating in 11:13

  1. Yet if you devote your heart to him
  2. stretch out your hands to him
  3. you put away the sin that is in your hand
  4. allow no evil to dwell in your tent,

then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
    you will stand firm and without fear.

Although not bad advice, Zophar assumed he knew “why” this was happening.  No one knew of the interaction God had with Satan.  Not every trial and suffering is from a sin we committed.

What should his friends look like?

Proverb 15:1 says:

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

1 Peter 3:15 says:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Job’s response to Zophar: 😂 (I love sarcasm)

“You people really know everything, don’t you?
    And when you die, wisdom will die with you!

Job’s description of God in Chapter 12:13-25 gave me chills (and I got to use the preacher’s voice again!).

Again, Job turns his voice away from his “friends” and speaks to the Lord:

22 Now summon me, and I will answer!
    Or let me speak to you, and you reply.
23 Tell me, what have I done wrong?
    Show me my rebellion and my sin.
24 Why do you turn away from me?
    Why do you treat me as your enemy?

Again, I ask: what do we have that Job doesn’t?  We have the Holy Spirit.  Job is sitting in silence on the inside, and hearing false accusations on the outside.

Well, you met the 3 friends.  It’s a good time to reflect on how you counsel others or are being counseled.   Moreover, who is THE Counselor?!

Round 1 is over and I think it is worth noting that all 4 of them do agree on one thing: God is Almighty,  and worthy of our praise, regardless of the circumstances we are in.

Job 6-9

~ Patricia ~ 8 Comments

So here is the deal, we all have our favorite version of the Bible to read.  When I have a teen Bible study I use CSB, when I am at church I often open ESV,  when I study by myself I use NIV.   I know some people get really passionate about why one is better than the other  BUT…if God can talk through a donkey to speak to Balaam, surely a different version can be used sometimes.

So the next 2 weeks you might glance at the schedule and think…”how long are we in Job….I am ready to get back to Genesis!”  So if you need to switch it up a little, look at a different version.  (You know you are getting old, when these switching versions is the craziest thing you did all day 😂)

Here is a side by side of 2 different versions to try…..

Job 6-9 agenda:

  • Job replies to Eliphaz
  • Bildad takes a turn at giving advice
  • Job will reply again

Eliphaz is suffering and wants God to just end his life to stop the pain BUT he has one comfort:

10 At least I can take comfort in this:

    Despite the pain,
    I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Job says to Eliphaz:

Honest words can be painful,
    but what do your criticisms amount to?

Hmmm, do I slip in criticism when I counsel a friend in a trial?  😞  Too often!

When God described Job he said:

  •  “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

When you read Job’s responses, look for wisdom and truth that you may need:

17 “What are people, that you should make so much of us,
    that you should think of us so often?
18 For you examine us every morning
    and test us every moment.
19 Why won’t you leave me alone,
    at least long enough for me to swallow!

Even though he begs God to step back for a moment he recognizes that God thinks so much of us, every day, every moment He is with us.

(There were many gems in his response)

Chapter 8:   Next, Bildad takes the talking stick:

The book of Job is a good reminder that we cannot be a “single” scripture Christian.  Dangerous.  We need to know who is saying it, why, and in what context. (See below)

4 Your children must have sinned against him,
    so their punishment was well deserved.
5 But if you pray to God
    and seek the favor of the Almighty,
6 and if you are pure and live with integrity,
    he will surely rise up and restore your happy home.

I just read the NT and I don’t recall this ever being stated.  JUST like when getting advice from friends we need to filter it through God’s character as a whole before taking it. 

Well! Put your PREACHER voice on for Chapter 9!  You know the one I am talking about (I use the voice from the preacher in that Eddie Murphy movie “Coming to America”) Because JOB comes back STRONG! “His wisdom is profound, his power is vast…He moves Mountains without their knowing it…

Well, my voice says ” His wisdom is profounda , his power is vasta….He moves Mountainsaaaah”

I know some of you weren’t even born in 1988 so if you want to be able to know what I am talking about…here you go! Click here for the voice.

I hope you know that any “light jokes” I make is just because I feel great when I am in the Bible!

 Chapter 9 might be your favorite chapter ❤️ Click here to reread it.

If Job (you) was taken to court, and God was the Judge what would the verdict be?  What do you have that Job does not?

Job 9:

29 Whatever happens, I will be found guilty.
    So what’s the use of trying?
30 Even if I were to wash myself with soap
    and clean my hands with lye,
31 you would plunge me into a muddy ditch,
    and my own filthy clothing would hate me.

32 “God is not a mortal like me,
    so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33 If only there were a mediator between us,
    someone who could bring us together.
34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,
    and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35 Then I could speak to him without fear,
    but I cannot do that in my own strength.

From the earliest days, we have an innate desire for a mediator, a comforter.  Without realizing it, Job is pointing forward to Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

1 John 2:1 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

2 Cor. 1:5 “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

One more for my friend Randall:

Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

 

 

Job 1-5

~ Patricia ~ 8 Comments

Chapter 1: This story is a narrative, and chapter 1 is easily read so I will just point out small things I took note to:

  • Job has a habit of worship in his everyday life.
  • Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
      • not perfect or sinless, he put his trust in God, lived a life of integrity
  • He was wealthy
  • He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
      • He was wise
  • “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”
      • Without meaning to, we sin.  Lev. 4 will talk about unintentional sin.
  • Satan may be here on earth since being cast out of Heaven, but the scriptures affirm he is not everywhere at every time
  • Satan still falls under God’s authority
  • God knew Job. (He knows you).  God knew his by name, his possessions, and his heart (He knows yours ❤️)
  • God was the one that offered Job.  He knew him so well He had confidence in him.  (hmmm, would He have confidence in me?)

God takes Satan’s challenge that if Job was stripped of his wealth, his servants, his business, and his children, Job will remain faithful.

And it happens in a day!  What does Job do?  What does he not do?

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing

Score: Satan 0      Job 1

Chapter 2.  So now Satan says…OK, you can take everything away from man BUT mess with his HEALTH and you will lose him!  So God ALLOWS Satan to give him boils so bad from head to toe that he uses broken pottery to scratch them!

The icing on the cake is Mrs. Jobe!  NOW we know why Satan left her!  😤

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Just sin greatly and get the show on the road!)

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” ❤️

 

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Score: Satan 0      Job 2

Chapter 3:  I read chapter 3 several times.  Correct me if you think I am wrong but it does not say “I wish I was never born”, instead it says “I wish I died when I was born”.  The difference is Job knows there is an afterlife.  (Look at verse 3:13-19…thoughts?) ❤️

21 to those who long for death that does not come,
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22 who are filled with gladness
    and rejoice when they reach the grave?

Reminded me of Paul, in prison:

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Phil 1:21

Chapter 4- Eliphaz (cheat sheet)

Today we read the first conversation with Eliphaz who suggests that Job is suffering because he is being punished for a sin he must have committed and that if he takes his case to the Lord and repents all will get better.

“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?

Listen, I am Eliphaz.  “No wonder “that” is happing in her life, look at how she is living”. “This wouldn’t be happening right now if she was living for the Lord”.  As if I know!  I have an ugly heart.

12 “A word was secretly brought to me,
    my ears caught a whisper of it.

Me: sitting at church “Oh, I hope Linda is here!  This message is for her!”  or better yet “I was doing my devotional and I got a Word for you”.  (I really am buying a shirt that says “I am Eliphaz”.

Ch 5

8 “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.

As If!!  As if God would choose him for this mission?  Clearly, the score would not be 0-2.   “Hey girl, go have some quiet time and take it to God”  (Well, that is good advice BUT Eliphaz is assuming that if he goes to the Lord and repents…all will be right and this trial will be lifted..

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
    so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

This is where in my “advice-giving” I throw some scripture on it to get that warm and fuzzy feeling.

27 “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it and apply it to yourself.”

What?  I wasn’t aware that Eliphaz knows the Big Picture of the events taking place.  Oh that’s right.  He doesn’t!

Tomorrow Job will speak again and then Bildad will respond.

Job Overview

~ Patricia ~ 5 Comments

Listen, I am going to be transparent.  I LOVE the Bible.  However, when I think about 2 weeks in a book of Poetry I am not motivated.  If there was ever a time to encourage me…this is it!  I am determined to dig deeper in this book.  

Tomorrow we jump into Job (pronounced Jobe).  Job in Hebrew is Iyyov meaning “persecuted” or “where is thy divine father?”

The only time I heard the name Job was on the Tom Cruise film: Mission Impossible.   When I was checking out churches (to fit in, un the South), I heard his name mentioned in church, and I was like “the agent on Mission Impossible??”  Well, we all started somewhere, right?

Here is your visual:

Image result for book of job timeline

On the surface, the book of Job is a simple story: Job, devoted to God, is struck down in the prime of his life.  He and his friends strive to understand the reason for his sudden trials.  God appears and he is restored.  Clearly it’s not that simple…not at all! 

Satan accused the righteous of being faithful to God only for what they could get.  Satan’s confidence that he could turn Job probably came from his small victory in Heaven when he was able to turn holy angels to rebel once.  God allows Satan to try to prove his point but fails.  True Faith is unbreakable.  I am reminded that Jesus said in John 10: 

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

I am going out on a limb but I think we have all asked ourselves “If God is a loving God, then why do good people suffer?”

We need to keep in mind that believers will suffer because of sin, for correction, for strengthening, and sometimes to reveal His comfort.  But there are times that suffering occurs for purposes that we will never be able to discern.

Job and his friends want to sit around and analyze Job’s suffering to determine the “cause” and “solution”.  Not only were their ideas wrong, but they also made matters worse for Job.  Our “fancy” word for the day is “Theodicy”.  “Theodicy is a branch of philosophy dealing with the issue of evil in light of the existence of God. If God is just and holy and good, then how do evil and misery exist? That’s the question theodicy wrestles with.  So does Lex Luther in the movie Batman vs. Superman 😂.

Here is your cheat sheet:

  • Job: patient under suffering, his Faith was allowed to be tested by God.
  • Eliphaz- friend- believed Job was suffering because of his sins.
  • Bildad- friend- believed Job had not repented of his sins (and until he does he will suffer).
  • Zophar- friend- believed Job should have been suffering more for his sin.  
  • Elihu- (the quiet one) stood up to the 3 friends- believed God was using suffering to mold Job’s character.

So Job will take us  12 days to read. Why do the righteous suffer?  This book will show the power of Satan.  Satan may be mighty, but God is ALMIGHTY.  This book will show the limit of Satan, and the Sovereignty of God.

11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.- James 5:11

 

Genesis 8-11

~ Patricia ~ 7 Comments

So if it is ok with you I would like to go back a little.  First, let’s quickly go back to 6:17-18

17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—

This is the first time Covenant is “said” in the Bible.  There are different types of Covenants from God, this one is Unconditional.  God is making a promise that is one-sided.  But  every covenant has a:

  1. The promise
  2. A sealing (sacrifice)
  3. A sign to remember it

The names of the Covenants are:

  • Noahic (Noah)
  • Abrahamic (Abraham)
  • Mosaic (Moses)
  • Davidic (David)
  • Messianic (Jesus)

Moving on to Chapter 7…..our timeline begins. After making this Ark we begin the familiar Flood story.  Here is a timeline so that we stop thinking this is a 40-day cruise.

Flood

Chapter 8: Here is your map 🙂

Image result for mount ararat topographic map

Why is this map important you ask? Because this was not a local flood, this was a worldwide flood.   Mt. Ararat is over 17,000 feet above sea level.

(BTW, it is killing me not to break down every scripture….)

Let’s go back to Covenant….we have the promise…now let’s seal it. (always with a sacrifice)

8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done

Chapter 9: you will need a pencil (or at least re-reread it)  It begins with a new beginning. Now, go through Chapter 9 and underline or circle the word Covenant (many times).  God refers to it as His Covenant.  It is unconditional.  This is a one sided contract. And yes….as we predicted, we had the promise, the sealing, and of course…the sign.  Image result for rainbow

Chapter 9.  OK, so I didn’t grow up in church but I knew a guy named Noah was on an ark with giraffes (always giraffes in the pictures). But what I did not know was how the story ended! 

Image result for noah drunk

Noah has 3 sons.  Japeth, Ham, and Shem. You need to know this…here is how you are going to remember who is who…

  • Japeth “J” sound=Gentiles (me and you)
  • Ham “Pigs smell and are mean”- Cursed nations- Canaan (enemies of God)
  • Shem-starts with an S…Salvation!- The Hebrews

Ham disgraced his Father pointing out and mocking his sin.  The consequence to Ham and his descendants is everlasting.

“Cursed be Canaan! (Canaanites)
    The lowest of slaves
    will he be to his brothers.”

26 He also said, (insert the words if it helps)

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem! (Hebrews)
May Canaan (enemies) the slave of Shem. (Hebrews)
27 May God extend Japheth’s (Gentile’s)territory; 
may Japeth (Gentiles)  live in the tents of Shem,(Hebrews)
and may Canaan (enemies) be the slave of Japheth.”(Gentiles)

LOOK AT THIS….It will make sense to some.  If it doesn’t it will!

Image result for noah genealogy

Chapter 10 Table of nations…. (In an effort to keep this blog from going on forever, here is an abbreviated version of Chapter 10.  However if you ponder on it now, I think it will make sense.

  • Shem (26 nations)- Assyria, Syria, Asia Minor area
  • Ham (30 nations)- Africa, Middles East, Ethiopia, Libya area
  • Japheth (14 nations)- Europe, Iran, India, Central Asia

(70 total nations- I will break some down in comments in case anyone wants some extra information on this)

The line that we are going to follow for most of Genesis will be the nations of Shem

Chapter 11- The Tower of Babel: (Bab El means the Gateway to God)

Image result for ziggurat

Back in Chapter 9:1 is says-“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”

11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar (modern day Iraq)  and settled there. (why??  I thought you were supposed to populate the earth?)

3 They said to each other, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. (why are you making your own resources God clearly said he would provide for you) 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city,(a monument to yourself?  Not a temple to worship God like most ziggurats were used for)  with a tower that reaches to the heavens (God already has a plan for that), so that we may make a name for ourselves (Uggg); otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Umm, Like God told you to??)

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let usImage result for orange triangledown and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Us verse Image result for orange triangle  situation!

End of Post:  If you decide to read the last part you are officially a Bible Geek.  (join the club, we are fun at parties.) 🤪

Since this year I feel that some of you are ‘geeky’ like me I followed this scripture: 10:25

25 Two sons were born to Eber:  One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

Why that one?  Good question!  The name Eber is possibly where the word Hebrew originated.  So which line did the Hebrews come from?  Peleg or Joktan? Draw an arrow in your Bible (if you are a geek 🤓) to 11:18  “When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of…    (then to) 26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

Ok, one more cool one for those who may have read the Bible before 2021 🤓: Nimrod!

8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.

Why is this another cool one to look at?   Nimrod means “Rebel” in Hebrew.  He was a mighty warrior ‘before the Lord’ means ‘in front of or against the Lord’.  Nimrod was the 1st ruler of two major cities Babel (Babylon) and Nineveh (Assyria).  The two nations that will take Israel into Captivity in 722 and 586!

I am going to stop at 11:26 and pick that up in a visual when we get back to Genesis!

Genesis 4-7

~ Patricia ~ 24 Comments

Chapter 4: Cain and Abel.  All I can say right now is the reason I committed to this Bible read-through is that I relate more to Cain than I do Abel.  How sad my offerings have become.   My time, my gifts, my money, my service….

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

A few weeks ago God grabbed me by the shirt collar and gave me this to chew on…

 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17

So let’s get to Genesis 5…such fun!  Have a pencil and your Bible in hand.  I know the genealogies can be boring, and we tend to look at how long they lived but there are hidden gems throughout the Bible. This is just one of them…

In your Bible, in this Genealogy, write the Hebrew translation above the names…

  • 3 When Adam  (Man) had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
  • 6 When Seth (Appointed) had lived 105 years, he became the father[k] of Enosh.
  • 9 When Enosh (Mortal) had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.
  • 12 When Kenan (Sorrow) had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 1
  • 15 When Mahalalel (The Blessed God) had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared.
  • 18 When Jared (Shall come Down) had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch.
  • 21 When Enoch (Teaching/Walking with God) had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 
  • 25 When Methuselah (His Death Shall Bring)  had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 2
  • 28 When Lamech (Despairing) had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah
  • 32 After Noah (Comfort, Rest)  was 500 years old,

Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow (but) The Blessed God shall come down teaching.  His death shall bring (the) despairing comfort.

There are 2 people ever in history to be taken up to heaven by the Lord without dying…do you know them? One was in this reading….Enoch.  Who is the other? 😁

Noah, the son of Lamech (Lamech: the very man that bragged that you could kill someone and God would protect you (4:24) clearly he misunderstood God).  (read in comments why this was crossed out) Even if you do not go to church, you may have heard of Noah.  If you have gone to church all your life, know that you can read this story and still see something new.   I have read this chapter many times and each time I am like “What??? that wasn’t in there the last time I read it.”

We now know from this document that people knew how to worship the Lord (proven with Cain and Abel).  Cain had to suffer the consequences, however, God still blessed him with a family and a hedge of protection.   I can just picture Enoch and Methuselah sitting around talking to his family about sacrificing an innocent animal to “atone” for our sins just as God modeled in Eden for us.

Chapter 6 & 7

Hebrews 11:7 sums up the entire account of Noah: : By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

What is Faith?  Hebrews 11:1  “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

– So Noah, the man who God knows as blameless (not perfect, but righteous) is the only one on earth found righteous because he had faith, confidence, and hope when given such a task.

So this man is asked to make a box called an Ark.  In this box Noah and his family will get in it (IGod will give him 120 years to get the Ark made and bags packed). Oh, and he will share it with every animal possible (some in a set of 2, some in a group of 14).  Why would we need sets of 14? 😁  Some will be used for sacrifices.

6:22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him

FAITH!  He didn’t tell him why or what was going to happen…until after Noah obeyed.

  • go back and underline in your Bible 6:18-the 1st time the word Covenant is used (out of 332 times)

The flood is a foreshadow of final judgment.  This Ark, about the size of the Titanic, was a foreshadow of salvation.

I purposely left out some interesting things just to see if I can get some comments. 😂

Genesis 1-3

~ Patricia ~ 11 Comments

Well, here we are at 3 chapters you may or may not have read before.  But that is not a reason to skim!  Read them like you have NEVER read them before!  No doubt you will see something new.

Chapter 1: Look at the correlation between day 1 to 4,  then 2 to 5 and 3 to 6.  The first were “forming days” the next “filling” days:The necessity for believing in six literal days - creation.com

When you read the Bible, it is fun to look for things like the presence of the Trinity.  An example is Gen 1:26.  –  When I see the Trinity (God, Jesus, Spirit) I put a in the margin. Genesis 1:26 says:  “Let US make man in OUR image”-1:26.   So how do we know it is the Trinity…go back to

1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Sooo that’s 2 out of 3?  Nope, Jesus was there. Flip to the book of John chapter 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2.  

Who was John writing about?  Jesus. was at the Creation.  ❤️

Chapter 2

SOAK IN EVERY WORD.  Why?  Because there are only 4 chapters in the WHOLE Bible that show us what life with God ‘was’ and ‘will be’ without sin.  The first 2 chapters of Genesis and the last 2 chapters of Revelation.  Everything in between is a hot mess!!

During the Creation, God would say “and it is good”.    It was Perfect! –  BUT when man was alone, God said in verse 18: “it is not good”.  It was not Perfect! Adam did not know it was not good, God did.   So God made woman.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”- Genesis 2:18 NIV

The word translated “helper” is the Hebrew term ‘ezer. This word is even used of God, sometimes, noting that He is our Helper (Psalm 115:9-11).  God was Adam’s helper (but superior) and the animals were his helpers (but inferior).  God desired a helper that was equal to Adam.  I researched the different versions and the Hebrew translations and they all concluded “suitable/helper” suggests something that completes.  (Makes me think of Jerry Maguire’s “You complete me”). 😂

Chapter 3

Right from the beginning of Chapter 3 (the 3rd word), we have the serpent. This serpent has been waiting for an opportunity such as this.  The serpent is Satan.   Satan was once a beautiful angel, called the morning star.  One day he wanted to BE God.  God cast him out of heaven for some time and eventually he will be cast again- next time into Hell.  But from Chapter 3 until Revelation 19, he will be roaming Earth doing everything in his power to usurp God’s plan.

  • Did you notice the serpent (satan) spoke to Eve about the tree? Why? Because the direct instruction from God was NOT given to her.  Go back to 2:16:

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God gave this command to Adam. So of course the serpent was so crafty he went straight to her.  False Religion is taking a portion of what God says and then twisting it just enough to steer us away from what God asks of us.    Eve says to the serpent:  3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

See how not hearing something directly from the Word of God can get ‘twisted’ so quickly!  He never even said you would die if you TOUCHED IT.

After they ate the fruit they knew they had sinned.  How? (and note that with one sin, it spiraled down with each action)

  1. They gained knowledge of what Sin is when they ate it.  That dark feeling did not exist in them before. The discernment of good verse evil.
  2. They tried to cover their own Sin (with man-made covering)
  3. They thought they could hide from God.
  4. 51] Genesis 3 Summary – The Redemption of SinAdam threw Eve under the bus (3:12). She gave it to me!!
  5. Eve blamed the serpent for deceiving her.

This moment is the saddest moment in History.  This brings the word “death’ into creation.

John 8:44-He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

After God speaks directly to Adam and Eve pointing out their role in the disobedience of listening to God…guess what happens???  He shows us how much He loves us regardless of our sin! ❤️ He offers a substitute for that death.  He will cover our sin so that we can be with him again.  The fancy word is “Substitutionary Atonement” (I am fancy sometimes!).  We see the First Foreshadow of the Crucifixion.  

3:21 The Lord made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

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We see God’s Covenant of a substitutionary death. God killed something innocent to COVER them (that is where the skin came from).  The word atonement means to COVER.  The death of another covered their sin.  God set in motion the foreshadow of the Cross right here in Genesis 3

OK, one more thing I have to talk about or I will burst.  Look at the LAST verse of today’s reading.

After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.  Gen 3:24

Repent: The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand | Getting to Know Jesus in the 21st Century

WHY??  Why did GOD  HAVE to guard the tree??  The Tree of Life was in the garden for immortality.  God could spend eternity with us before sin was in the world.  But God is Holy and  everything changed.  God cannot be in community with sin and it created a separation between us and Him.

So God states in 3:19 ‘until you return to the ground….’ Death is now a part of this fallen world.  Good or Bad?  Well, here is the deal: If God chose to leave the Tree of Life for us, we would live forever separated from God.  However, God loves us so much that he has placed an Angel to hide the Tree of Life from us so that one day we will all have a death and be reunited with God (and the Tree) and be in community with Him again. Forever.

So I ask you… Will we see this tree again in the Bible?  The Tree of Life?  We already read 2 of the 4 chapters in the Bible that show us in perfection…the other 2 are at the end ( flip to the last chapter of Revelation 🙂.  We eat from the Tree of Life in Heaven giving us eternal life again with the Lord. ) Pretty cool huh.

Revelation 22: 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.