Genesis 9:8-17

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8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. 11 I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

This is more than I usually take at one time, but it was a paragraph, so we will do it.

First - I think it is interesting that God establishes the covenant.  He declares the meaning, He gives the sign, and He explains it.

Second - I find it interesting that He says Himself that He places it there to remind Him of His covenant - not us.  That seems like a funny statement to me.  He will look upon it and remember.  Hmm.  Just hmmm.  I'm not sure I ever thought that God needed reminded of anything.  But, I know as a people we do make Him angry with our disobedience and evil ways. 

I like that God establishes a covenant with us at all.  He makes promises.  He keeps them. 

He reminds Himself to keep them.  Still funny to me.

I'm not sure that observation will leave my mind soon.

Thank You Lord for Your mercy and grace that we do not deserve.   Thank You for being the chief promise keeper.  Thank You for enduring the disobedience and the wandering we do.  Thank You for loving me through mine. 
In Jesus Name
amen

Genesis 9:1-7

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1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given. 3 Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. 4 Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood,

By man his blood shall be shed,

For in the image of God

He made man.

7 “As for you, be fruitful and multiply;

Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”

 

Be fruitful and multiply!  We have likely all heard that a time or two. 

 

"The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth" . . . into your hand they are given.  Maybe all the animals were easier to put in the ark because before this statement, the fear hadn't been placed in them for man at all.  Maybe. 

 

Here, man is given of all the animals to eat.  I am interested to note when that changes later, because it was a big deal in the new testament when they were again allowed to eat whatever.  I wonder what made the difference, why God changed the "rule" and then back again.  (Sometimes a "wonder why" mind leads to "squirrel!" moments)

 

God is also serious about man shedding another man's blood.

I think it is interesting that His reasoning for this seriousness is that we are made by Him in His image.

 

I wonder if it is more because we are made by Him, therefore shouldn't be "unmade" by anyone other than Him.  Or, if it is more because we are made in His image, and should be appreciated as His creation period.

 

Also, it makes me doubly sure that I should treat anyone I have contact with in such as way as to honor that fact that they were created in His image by Him, even if they aren't living up to my expectations at the moment.

 

It is obviously a wondering, rambling day of study.  I need no answers today, but have many questions.

 

Lord, please let Your word reveal You to us in the way You desire.  In Jesus Name - amen

Genesis 8:20-22

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

22 “While the earth remains,

Seedtime and harvest,

And cold and heat,

And summer and winter,

And day and night

Shall not cease.”

 

 

It is truly important to read the Bible through, in it's entirety, for ourselves.  I have learned so much already and we are only 8 chapters in! 

 

The very first thing Noah does is give a burnt offering to the Lord.  It seems weird to me, but it was the way it was.  I am assuming that the animals reproduced while on the ark or he wouldn't been able to offer any of them up for fear of losing the species.  The Lord responded to his sacrifice, his recognition of God in his moment, with a promise for EVERYONE, not just Noah.

 

So, it is possible that my simple act of obedience may change the situation for other people.  My simple act of recognizing God and thanking him, may go on to bless someone other than myself.  Hmmmmm, how important is my walk with God.

 

OK.  Also, AGAIN I learn the importance of reading from the word.  Teaching children from children's books is great but being simplified means things are sometimes left out.  I may have read this before, but it never sank in:  God did not just promise that He would not flood the earth again.  He promised to never again destroy every living thing.  He also promised that while the earth remains, we would have seasons and planting and harvest and day and night.  So, not only can I rest in the promise that He will not flood it all, but that He will maintain the seasons and the day and the night.  That until this Earth passes away, some things are just going to be.

 

It doesn't make them something to worship, but it makes Him someone to worship.  How much better and more full is that promise than just "I won't flood the earth again." 

 

Thank You Lord for the assurances You give us in Your word.  Thank You that Your promises are Yes and Amen.  Thank You for this (I think) first promise.  You are amazing, and Holy, righteous, and worthy of all my praise.  You are worthy of ALL of me, ALL of my obedience, ALL of my devotion, ALL of my love and ALL of my life.  You alone are worthy of that kind of devotion.  Thank You for Your promises.  Thank You for the written and freely available word.

 

In Jesus Name - amen

 

 

My Bible mentor noted:  the first promise is in chapter 3, the promise of a seed - which would be Jesus

 

and the clean animals were taken in 7s providing for the sacrifice.

Thanks for good leadership!

 

Genesis 8:13-19

13 Now it came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. 15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark.

How exciting it must have been for Noah to finally get to leave the ark, and how excited the animals must have been to go out and  stretch their legs a bit!  Noah had to wait a long time again from the bit of encouragement (seeing dry ground), to the time when he was allowed to get out on it. 

This is just my wonderings:  I wonder - was there grass again, did the Lord wait until some of the beauty had returned?  Did He ask Noah to wait until He could make the world more hospitable before he even got to see it?  Did he "prepare a place" for him?  Or was it still a big muddy mess?

I, being the optimist that I am, choose to believe that God was making it ready for Noah and the animals.  Unless, of course, I am proven wrong in the following chapters.

I love the straight up conversations that God and Noah have.  I guess it really doesn't tell us what Noah says to God.  I just like that God speaks to Noah so clearly. 

I find the obedience of Noah refreshing and the favor God shows him encouraging.

Genesis 8:6-12

6 Then it came about at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; 7 and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; 9 but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself. 10 So he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. 11 The dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth. 12 Then he waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; but she did not return to him again.


Okay, forgive me if this is either ignorant or wrong thinking.  You all know that I just speak it as it comes.

It doesn't say here that Noah heard a mighty voice of God saying - send out a dove.  It just says, he does it.  I mean, it seems like a reasonable thing to do - send out a bird and see if it comes back.  Seems as though Noah was using his God-given intellect or reasoning skills to his benefit.  I think sometimes I get all wrapped up in whether of not God is leading me to this or that.  Don't get me wrong, I think we should be led by God in all things - if He's leading.  But, just because I haven't heard his voice about where to eat lunch today, doesn't mean I shouldn't eat lunch today. 

I also think it is cool that the dove just went right back to Noah and he put out his hand and took her.  Wonder if that "animal whispering" was a gift from God to make possible the accomplishment of his task.  God is awfully good at equipping the ones he gives a job to do.  Hmmmm, something in that should encourage somebody.

Genesis 8:1-5

 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. 2 Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained; 3 and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased. 4 In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 The water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible.

 

 

So, two and a half months after the Ark hit the top of Ararat, the tops of other mountains were visible.

 

Right now, I feel very small and of very little faith.  You see, I think a day or two is a long time to wait for God to move in a situation, let me know that He is still there.  I am a decided member of the mircrowave society.  No slow cooker mentality here! 

 

Now, in reality I am probably more of the 30 minute meal kind of girl.  But, one thing is for certain - I would have been antsy after One hundred and fifty days.  Then after hitting the top of Ararat, I would have been even more antsy for the next two and a half months sitting there, wobbling around on the top of the tallest mountain, staring out at endless expanses of water.  With a boat full of noisy, stinky animals who would much rather have been out in the grass.  Never mind the whining I would have done in the storm. 

 

I am just being honest.  I have had to wait a half a year for answers, resolution etc for a situation I was in and praying so earnestly for.  It was a very difficult 6 months.  I whined a lot!  But, in the end, God did answer my prayer and move in the situation.  I had moments along the way that God sent things to encourage me. 

 

So, was the top of Ararat an encouragement to Noah?  You know, kind of "See Noah, there is still land under this water.  I am working on this for you." 

 

I also think it interesting that the Bible states it as:  God remembered Noah.

 

I am sure God didn't forget Noah, the only one who found favor in His sight on the whole planet.  But, maybe God thought to encourage his obedient and faithful servant. 

 

I see God's love in the encouragement of Noah, and the encouragement of my own situations. 

I am still in awe daily that he loves me in my whiny state.  He is encouraging me to whine less and trust more.  Partly by reminding me that He didn't leave Noah without encouragement.  He won't forget me either.

 

Hope that helps someone.

 

(A friend reminded me that, when I have to, I wait.  I prayed for 24 years for my husband's salvation, and it was worth the wait)

Genesis 7:17-24

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17 Then the flood fncame upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. 18 The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. 20 The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. 21 All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; 22 of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23 Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. 24 The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.

Well, it has been a while since I read the story from Genesis.  The water stayed on the earth 150 days.  I didn't realize it was that specific.

I know that I have read things where aquatic sea life fossils have been found in many high elevation mountain caves.  I find that reassuring.  I think God desires our faith and our belief, but He doesn't leave us too long without encouragement. 

How scary it must have been to see all that he had ever known disappear under the water.  Talk about new territory!  And how much faith he must have had that God really knew what he was doing.  I am sure that I would have deluged God with a list of questions.  Are you sure God?  Am I ever going to see trees again?  What will I eat?  How will I feed all these, how will it fit in the boat? 

I would like to think I am a "Noah", but in reality I am probably more like Moses with a list of reasons why I can't do what God desires of me.  Just being honest.

So glad and thankful that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  For without him, we would not be here!

Genesis 7:13-16

13 On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark, 14 they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds. 15 So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. 16 Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.
I think everyone who reads this, every pastor I have ever heard preach on it brings out this one detail:

God sealed the door. 

I say, after Noah had been obedient and done what the Lord had commanded him, after he had done all he was asked to do, all he could do - then God took care of him, sealed him safely inside.

Lord, please let me be obedient to all that You ask of me.  Please help me to always follow Your commands.  And, when the time is right, please help me trust You to seal the door.  In Jesus Name - amen

Genesis 7:6-12

6 Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. 7 Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood. 8 Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, 9 there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. 12 The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

First off, I just spent the better part of an hour practicing a song last night that goes:
let it rain, let it rain, open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain.
So, I think it is funny to be at this verse today.  I know last night we were singing of a spiritual floodgate.  Today it is the physical water floodgate.  I have some appreciation for the writer of that song.

I think it is interesting that it is written how many year, months, and days Noah is old when the water came on the earth.  How specific!  Time is important to God, even if He lives outside of it.

I can also remember thinking as a little kid how 40 days of rain flooded the whole earth.  I mean, it has rained for many days in a row since then, but it didn't seem conceivable to me that only rain would produce such a large scale flood.  I wasn't cynical in the thought at all, just trying to figure it all out.  I should have read closer.  The fountains of the deep were opened AND it rained for 40 days and nights.  See, they leave those fountains out of the Bible School songs.  It is good to read it for ourselves.  God has lots to teach us.

Love y'all!

Lord, please let Your word saturate our hearts that we might know You and what You desire from us.  Please help us to discern it well, and apply it to our lives.  Help us to remember as we study the old covenant, that there is a new covenant coming!

Genesis 7:1-5

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1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. 2 You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; 3 also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made.” 5 Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.

Now, again, I love that God gives very clear direction when the task is important.

I'm not sure that Noah's household even found favor in God's sight.  Here is says only Noah.  If that changes, I will be corrected. 

Noah found favor in God's sight.  I imagine that God knew that Noah would carry out the task because He knew Noah's heart.  What a task!  

How honored I should be, instead of afraid, if God asks me to do a task.  How often is that not my response!

One more thing.  Noah did all that God commanded him.  Oh, that I could say the same thing.  How often I fall short of doing all that God asks of me because I'm easily distracted into doing my own thing instead.

Lord, please help us to hear You clearly when You call on us to do something.  Please help us to discern Your voice from our own.  Please help us to finish the task joyfully.  Thank You for Your word, Your Son, and Your amazing love.
 

Genesis 6:9-22

9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. 10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

 

 

This was too much to do all at once.  so I will do it this way.  First - I think it is interesting to note that in all the other begats it would read one did or did not walk with God.  For Noah - it says he was righteous and blameless and he walked with God.  Obviously, he was special.

 

I also think it is interesting just how many times corrupt was used in one sentence.  That must mean it is important to understand, and it was very corrupt.  Also, I find it funny (not ha ha funny) that one of the reasons God wanted to destroy the earth's inhabitants was not just corruption, but also violence.  I find much of the old testament violent to be honest.  But, God must have a constructive violence, or a purpose to His violence that doesn't occur in this type of violence that made him grieve even creating men in the first place.  Interesting.

 

 

13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

 

Here God says that He is about to destroy man with the earth.  We know that He destroyed the face of the earth, but not the actual planet.  Just a note.

 

14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the details of God.  I don't know if God has ever required anything of any of you all before, but He has me.  I am always in awe that He would ask me and I beg for clarity.  I LOVE that if God wants us to get the details right, He gives them to us!  I would have been scurrying around for a pen, panicked saying "wait!  how many cubits?  Where do You want the window?"  I beg for this kind of detail when I feel like God is leading me.  When He requires, He provides what we need to do the job. 

 

17 Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

 

I wonder if Noah's wife ever complained that while the people around her seemed to have a list of sons, she only had three.  I wonder if that was God providing Noah a family that would fit into the boat? 

 

I will tell you that my small mind cannot imagine a zoo in a boat for such a long time.  My mind wants to see this recreated to scale.  I'm sure there is one out there, but I haven't seen it yet.  I want to get my mind around it. 

 

God is good, even in the destruction of the evil on the earth.  His mercy is already evident.  Lord, how much more the evil must be in this day.  Please Lord, forgive us.  Help Your people to reach the rest.

 

Genesis 6:1-8

The Corruption of Mankind

1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

 

 

There is a lot of information in this little 8 verse paragraph! 

 

Just for the record, I am very frustrated with windows 8 this morning.  Just had a whole paragraph accidentally get deleted!  So, I start again.

 

I have heard a theory or two about the sons of God and the daughters of men.  I don't know how much Biblical backing they have so I will leave that.  If one of my well studied friends wants to shed light, that would be great!  I find these first few verses intriguing.  The Nephilim are an interesting concept.  What were they exactly?  I will enjoy learning this in heaven.

 

I wasn't even there and I feel bad that man grieved God so completely.  I have to wonder if God doesn't sometimes want to forget his "never flood the earth again" promise.  I imagine that the evil that man does now a days is probably worse than in Noah's time.  I am also glad that God is a better promise keeper than we are.  Man grieved God so completely that not only did He want to wipe man out, He wanted to wipe out everything he had created on the earth!  I wonder if that was because the rest was made for man, to keep man, to feed man, to give man something to enjoy?  Just a thought.

 

Now, this next thing is super spiritual!  Get your Bible ready!

 

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord!

 

Everyone who has ever been a Sunday school or Bible school teacher - I remember that from when I was 4!  Can't remember the rest of the song, but I sure did learn that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord! 

 

(thanks for the answer:  He landed high and dry!)

 

Even when it looks like sin is going to win, there is hope

Genesis 5:28-32

28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son. 29 Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.” 30 Then Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.

32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

 

 

I don't think I realized that Noah was so soon after Methuselah.  (That's what I get for NOT loving the begats)  I am not one to read much into the Bible as I go.  But, Lamech lived 777 years.  Isn't 7 the number of completion?  How interesting.

 

Here we are introduced to Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  Noah's three sons.  I know the story of Noah enough to tell it to my grandkids.  It will be nice to read it straight from the Bible instead of the preschool version for a change.  I am excited.

 

Lord, please give me wisdom to understand Your word and find You in it.  Help me to continue to seek You in this way and hear Your voice when You speak to my heart. 

In Jesus Name

amen

 

 

I was looking at my "after comments" from this day.   Food for thought, the flood did not happen until Methuselah died.  Methuselah outlived his own son by 5 years. 

 

 

Genesis 5:18-27

18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch.
19 Then Jared lived eight hundred years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters.
20 So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.

22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.

23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.

26 Then Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters.

27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.

 

So, a very Godly lady reminded me some of the reasons for the begats.  For one thing, they give us a very clear timeline from Adam to Noah.  They establish the generations.   Thank You LaDonna for always being able to give me sound Biblical guidance.  Also, she said to take time to see who it says walked with God and who it doesn't.  Interesting to note

 

Now, these begats ARE cool!  Here you have Enoch.  If you ever did Bible drills in Sunday School, you always won points for knowing that Enoch did not die.  What I didn't realize until now, or realized and forgot, was that Enoch was the father of Methuselah.  Methuselah, another Bible drill question, was the oldest man.  If I am doing my math right that makes him 959years old.  Just trivia, but cool trivia.  (I was corrected, he was 969 years old)

 

We are working our way to Noah.  I am still intrigued by Enoch who walked with God and was not because God took him.  Wow, there must be SOME story there.  I will enjoy hearing that one when I get to heaven.  I wonder if it was because he was so precious or because he was just that close to God.  I wonder what made him different.  Just the wonders. 

 

Lord, please allow Your word to seep into our hearts and teach us Your character, teach us who You want us to become, and cause us to worship You on a deep, deep level. 

 

In Jesus Name

Amen

 

Genesis 5:6-17

6 Seth lived one hundred and five years, and became the father of Enosh. 7 Then Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after he became the father of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters. 8 So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.

9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. 10 Then Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after he became the father of Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters. 11 So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.

12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Then Kenan lived eight hundred and forty years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters. 14 So all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared. 16 Then Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years after he became the father of Jared, and he had other sons and daughters. 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.

 

18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch. 19 Then Jared lived eight hundred years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters. 20 So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

 

Now, I haven't developed my friend's love for the begats yet, but I have a feeling before we get out of the Old Testament I will at least develop a reasonable toleration of them.

 

I would like this better with a pen and paper where I could write out who belongs to who.  I might try that in the morning with pen and paper are within arms reach.

 

What strikes me is that people lived 900 years, they only name the oldest in the family, and it is kind of poetic.  I don't know if y'all have ever seen an ancestry chart, but at least this is easier to understand than one of those!  I also do not understand how here men lived more than a hundred years before they had their first child, but when we get around to Abraham and Sara 100 was old to have kids.  It has been a while since I have read the story of Abraham straight from the Bible.  Can't wait to get there! 

 

I know that every generation was important and the listing of them is important.  I just don't have much deep spiritual insight into them.  Important and valuable because they are part of scripture, no deep revelation about them. 

 

(added info:  My Bible friend suggests that we look for who "walked with God" and who did not.  I will be more conscious of that as I do the next run of begats.)

 

 

Thank You Lord for preserving Your word, for preserving the people of Isreal, for making a way for redemption.  Thank You for providing Your word for us to seek You through.  Please give us a desire to know You more fully and please You more completely through our obedience to Your Spirit. 

 

In Jesus Name

Amen

Genesis 5:1-5

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This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.

 

He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created

 

When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.

 

Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters.

 

So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

 

 

Ok, so here again we are told that Adam was made in the likeness of God.  I think that it is an important note to make.  Then, when we are speaking of Seth, we are told that Seth was in the likeness of Adam.  This seems to suggest that we are made in the likeness of God as sons are made in the likeness of their fathers.  So my son doesn't look exactly like my husband, but he sure couldn't deny that he was his.  He has similar features, he has his father's eyes, his hair, and his confidence.  Now, I have 4 naturally born children who could inherit characteristics of their father.  Each one has a different mix of his characteristics.  Since we are all made in the image and likeness of God, I assume God to have some similar form to man. 

 

I have always thought it weird that men in Genesis lived to be more than nine-hundred years.  Later in this book, I think God puts a limit on us.  I'm not sure, but I think I remember reading it at some point.  We will watch for it as we read on.

 

Lord, please let us see You in Your word.  Help us to find You as we seek.  Please give us Your wisdom to apply Your word to our lives and live in the full freedom of our relationship with You.  Thank You for Your word, for the instruction manual, for the love letter, for the history, for the way to know You better.  Thank You for preserving it through time and allowing us to own it freely in our homes.  Please help those who seek You to be able to find Your word, read it, memorize it.  Please help those who have difficulty obtaining Your word to safely receive it and be able to read it over and over.  Thank You for that privilege.

In Jesus Name - amen