Creation

The Holy Threat of God

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Genesis 4:1-26 continuing…

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” Genesis 4:6-7 (KJV).

When God is approached by us, and we attempt to worship Him our own way it soon becomes evident. Cain certainly was not pleased that God had rejected his offering. Had Cain been ignorant of the form required, or the attitude of his heart, yet been willing to learn and yield he would have submitted to God’s correction. He would have confessed his sin, repented, and maintained fellowship with God, and his brother Abel.

Cain may have been somewhat concerned of his rights as the elder brother (NOTE v. 7b). God reasons with Cain, and warns him of the “lion” of sin which lies at the door waiting to pounce on and devour him (1 Peter 5:8). Sin, thus, enslaved Cain because he refused to heed God’s warning. The holy threat of God must needs be carried out to the finishing of sin.

The Accepted Sacrifice

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 4:1-26 continuing…

“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” Genesis 4:3-5.

The question could be asked here, “Where did they get the idea for making an offering?”, and my answer to that would be assuming that Adam and Eve must have taught the same, and done the same, because they had seen God make the offering for them.

In this chapter there is much focus on Cain. It might be called, by some, a very negative chapter. There is truth here, however, that God wants to make definitely clear. There is only one way to approach God, and worship Him. That One way is His way.

Cain and Abel seem to have gone to the one place where their mother and father had gone. The one place showing us that there was one place of worship. It seems that the two of them also went to that place at the same time, thus, giving a prescribed day. In that, one offering was offered and received by God, and the other rejected implying to us a prescribed means of worship which is acceptable to God. Thus we have 1) One place; 2) One time; and 3) One acceptable offering; equalling one acceptable means of worship. It is the place where God is. It is the time of worship – NOW. The offering God accepts is the offering of His Son. When all these conditions are met it is the acceptable means of worship. Cain failed to meat these requirements in full. Abel met them.

This place of worship for the Adamic family could very well have been at the entrance to the garden of Eden. Eden itself being the dwelling place of God – that is where He walked with Adam and Eve – and the Cherubim and flaming sword forming a “Mercy seat” on which to get a “Foretaste of glory divine”, by the worshippers of the thrice holy God. The true place of worship for those who would approach God and have a personal relationship is at the mercy seat of the cross of Jesus Christ where His blood was shed.

The time they worshipped was most likely the “Seventh day” – that was the day God rested from creating. In that Cain and Abel were there together shows that God approves of corporate worship. That is what Christians do on each Sunday we gather together. There is to be individual worship the other days of one’s life as well. Of Cain and Abel which one would you pick as the one who was a full time worshipper of God? Why? The answer is two-fold: 1) The attitude of the giver/worshipper, and 2) The form of the gift.

Cain came with the wrong attitude; without a submissive heart and full of pride in his own labors. His offering/sacrifice was without blood (Heb. 9:22). It was an attempt to cover with ‘Fig leaves” all over again. Surely Adam and Eve had taught the boys the proper offering.

Needless to say God rejected Cain’s sacrifice. Because God accepted Abel’s and rejected his; Cain became angry. The way God accepted the offering of Abel was, most likely by fire from Heaven (Lev. 9:24). Cain showed no faith in God’s Word or dependence on the sacrifice of a substitute.

…A Man from the LORD

/ Tim A. / 5 Comments

Genesis 4:1-26 continuing…

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground” Genesis 4:1-2.

As we begin looking at the life of the man and the woman outside paradise, and outside the best of God, we find Adam and Eve filled with promise and hope. Remember they had had a perfect environment, only to reject God, and to be cast from it for the entire remainder of their natural lives.

We have in these first two verses the first evidence of their copulating and bringing children into their world. We do know that they produced more children. For one thing we will see later is that Cain marries a wife. She had to come from somewhere. That is going to turn some people away to think that a man married his sister, but that was at that time the only way to propagate the race of man. At that time their would have been no problem with marrying so close of kin as there is now. The Word of God later forbids a man marrying his sister, but until that law was given, it was allowed.

We do not need to be alarmed by this chapter and learning of the brother sister marriages and such. After all it was the LORD God who commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and fill the earth. That is what they were doing. There are some who believe that sexual intercourse was the “Original sin” which caused the fall of the man and woman. That is not so, because God had already given them commandment to multiply, and fill the earth. Sex is a God honored act of marriage between a husband and his wife, a wife and her husband. In the book of Hebrews we read, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4 NKJV).

The phrase, “Adam knew Eve his wife” is refering to the intimate, pleasurable act of marriage. It is a means of pleasure between a man and his woman in marriage, and for the purpose of procreation.

In these two verses God fulfills a promise. In chapter three and verse 16 we read, “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children…”. Though it seems a bit shadowed by the curse there is within it the promise of “children”. The promise of children was not only a promise of continuation of the human race, but also the promise of a Savior. What good, or what count would this life be without the hope of a Savior who would come and be our substitute for sin? Expecting pain in the childbearing, she still looked longingly for that time those children would be born.

The birthing of that first son, Cain, gives her encouragement, meaning, and purpose for living. While Adam tills the ground “From whence he was taken” by God’s hand, “So Eve the woman with divine help produced the man, Cain. She sees in creating Cain the realization of her divinely assigned role.” KENNETH A. MATTHEWS, N.A.C. Commentary Vol. 1a, page 265. The woman is God’s instrument of continuation. She is the one who endures nine months of pain, excess weight, and the agony of the birth. Yet, she is joyful all through this time, full of expectation and hope. God’s promise fulfilled in the woman’s bearing children (1 Timothy 2:15).

Eve brought forth another son. The first, Cain, and Eve could have expected him to be the deliverer, but she soon learns otherwise. The second son is Abel.

Cain is a tiller of the ground walking in his father’s footsteps. Abel is a shepherd. Remember, God has cursed the ground (3:17). To labor in the field is the efforts and works of the man. The sheep on the other hand, another form of farming or ranching, grow as they are blessed by God. This is in no way to denegrate farmers or agriculture. This way of living is one of the most honorable and rewarding of all forms of vocations or occupations. There is no other, whether it is the raising of cattle, or the sowing of seed, that requires more work, faith, patience, and endurance. Anyone who has ever planted a garden seed could tell you the truth of the curse of the ground. Weeds spring up and choke off, and/or hinder the growth of the seeds planted, unless there is a tending to that garden, and weeds are pulled, cut back and/or destroyed.

Cast Out of the Garden

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 3:1-24 conclusion

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” Genesis 3:22-24

“The man is become as one of us…”. The MacArthur Study Bible on this note reads, “This was spoken out of compassion for the man and woman, who only in limited ways were like the Trinity, knowing good and evil — not by holy omniscience, but by personal experience (cf. Is. 6:3; Hab. 1:13; Rev. 4:8).” From pg. 21. When God made man in His image, it was with the ability to reason, will, and think, also to create [from what was already made]; which in God’s Creating was from nothing.

Look at the LORD God’s concern now for the man and woman. Can you imagine living in sin unable to die? Would you want to live in such miserable conditions? Think about these conditions. A body being consumed by a cancer, stricken with pain. Growing older and older, and older, with the joints of the body growing more and more painful each day. Some of these things are hard for us to imagine, but without death, these would be possible. God drives (v. 24) the man and woman from the garden. He tells us why, “…Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever…” (v. 22).

The garden of Eden is shut off to the man and woman after they are driven out. It is kept secure by Cherubims [angelic beings], and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep them from the tree of life. Adam was now to till the soil, plant the seed, then keep it weeded, and the soil nurtured through some growth processes to help the seeds grow. There were the insects now that afflicted them and their crops.

The garden was a place of LORD God’s constant presence. The two made in the image and after the likeness of God were cast out of His presence the labor, toil, and judgment their disobedience had brought them. Death is separation – not cessation. In the expulsion they experienced a death worse than anything – separation from God.

Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden in judgment. They awaited a day when the LORD God would send a Savior, the Substitute, in order that the way to the Tree of Life might be open once again. All who trust the Substitute for sin, Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection will have access to the Tree of Life, in that final garden the “Heavenly Paradise” (Rev. 22:1-4).

Beginning Monday April 23, 2007; the Lord Willing, we will begin in chapter four, and Genesis will be a Monday publication, and the Gospel of Matthew a Friday publication.

Hope With Covering

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” Genesis 3:20.

We find here the name of the woman whom God had given to Adam. It does seem that her name is not given until after the sin which cursed all things created. She has just been called ‘Woman’ and ‘Wife’, but without a name. That leads me to assume that the time following her creation and the time of the fall were a short period of time just following her presentation to Adam. This naming of Eve following the curse is an expression of faith by Adam; believing that God in His grace would provide a way for them and their descendants.

“Mother of all living”, and, “…In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children…” are expressions of hope. God in His grace gives mercy to Adam and Eve and provides a way of salvation through the bearing of children (1 Timothy 2:15), eventually to lead to the coming of the Savior of the world – Jesus Christ.

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” Genesis 3:21

God had warned Adam that in the day they ate from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die. There may be some who would say, “Well, they didn’t die that day”. What most do not understand is that there is more than one way to die. Most times when we think of death we think of the physical body, the body going back to the dust of the ground; but there is a death far worse than that, and that is separation from God. Death is separation. Speaking of physical death it is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit. Speaking of spiritual death we speak of separation from God. Speaking of eternal death we speak of an eternal separation from God.

The death of Adam and Eve on that day was a spiritual death which also led to physical death a few hundred years later. They were meant to live forever physically, but now they would not. At least not in this physical state.

Because of sin the father and mother of all people was required to see death upclose and personal. At least, that is my belief. The LORD God would, most likely, have killed an animal or two [probably sheep] to clothe Adam and Eve in the garments that were pleasing to Him. Remember figleaves were not sufficient to please Him. The figleaves represented their rebellion and pride in their own abilities, and was no where near the standard which God required.   Death was the requirement for sin.  For the justice, holiness, and righteousness of God something must die.

Adam and Eve would have seen the blood flow from the “lamb” as the LORD God took their lives in the stead of Adam and Eve. God’s clothing [Righteousness, holiness, justness] required death’s blood. The man and woman had sinned. In His grace He claims a substitute.

Can we not see them standing before the LORD of all the earth, as the blood of the lamb was shed on the altar of the earth, for their sins. Compelled to watch. Compelled to look as the blood flowed, and the skins were prepared to cover their nakedness.

What a glorious picture we can see in this of the day when the God of all creation became a man, and went to the cross as a dying Lamb for the sins of mankind, and there, too, God offered His holy and sinless Son a sacrifice for our sin. “…Striken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4). The guilt of the sinner; the unrighteous; placed on the account of the Righteous [Jesus], and the Righteousness of the Righteous One placed in the account of the sinner (2 Cor. 5:21). Clothed no longer in the ‘fig leaves’, but in the Righteousness of the Lamb of God.

The Curse of Sin

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Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” Genesis 3:14-19.

We have already looked at the ‘Edenic Covenant’ in chapter one verses 29 – 31. In these verses of chapter three we have what has been called the ‘Adamic Covenant’. Things have drastically changed. Adam and Eve are no longer innocent; they are in fact vile sinners, and the Adamic Covenant is basically nothing but the results of sin’s curse. The curse has been put on all of creation. We see this when the apostle Paul writes, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” Romans 8:20-22.

Let’s take a look now at the results of the curse of sin: 1) The serpent would move on his belly; 2) There is enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman (although this enmity is found in every child and sensible men, this speaks more clearly of the enmity between Christ and satan); 3) The woman would experience sorrow in child bearing: NOTE: the mysterious promise of the continuation of humanity (“in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”); 4) The man’s judgment was a curse on the ground – where the ground had once been fertile and fruitful, it would now be hard, toilsome and less fruitful; 5) Death, man would return to the dust from which he was made – this does not mean the man ceases to exist; it does mean his body will return to the dust. Since God “Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”, thus making him an eternal being; 6) The animal kingdom would rise up against one another and mankind, and some would become carnivores – the lion and the lamb would not be eating together anymore; the calf and the wolf would not eat from the same place any longer; and 7) The whole universe would be in turmoil, especially seen on the earth with storms, earthquakes, etc. though these would probably not come for several years yet.

Even though there is sin in the world there is still an answer. We must turn to our Creator. The One who made all things and holds them together. He is the same one who went to the cross, paid our sin debt, and rose from the grave. “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made” John 1:3. See also John 1:1, 14 and Colossians 1:16-17.

Naked and Afraid

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Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat” Genesis 3:9-13

The question God asks as He calls out to Adam is not because He needs information. He already knows where Adam is. He wants Adam to know where Adam is. Now there may be some reading that statement who will not realize what that means. Adam knew he was hiding from God among the trees of the garden. What had probably not ‘hit home’ with Adam yet, was where he was in his relationship with the LORD God. If God was asking him where he was, things were not good between them.

It is now confession time. “I heard Thy voice…, and I was afraid…, I was naked; and I hid myself”. This best part about Adam’s confession is that he heard God’s voice. It goes downhill from there. Sin is what makes us afraid of God. It was sin that made Adam and Eve naked and ashamed; hiding themselves. Whether we realize it or not we are all physically covered with figleaves, made from manmade materials, and materials grown from the ground; such as polyester, and cotton.

God questions Adam and Eve concerning the knowledge of their nakedness. Again, this is not for His information. God already knows these things. There is nothing new He can learn. Adam begins to accuse God for the giving him the woman Eve, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me…” Adam is not just blaming Eve; he is outrightly blaming God for giving him the woman. Blaming others for our mistakes is more than a human thing, it is a sin thing. They had never done this before. Eve, then, blames the serpent. Someone has said, “The poor serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on”. :>)

When we are in sin we will always try to blame others for our mistakes and errors. No one wants to take responsibility for their own. When Jesus comes into one’s life there is a driving desire to be right with God, and to be right with others. When we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we are living right with Him we will take responsibility for our actions and sins. We will take them to the Lord in repentance, and we will receive the forgiveness only the Father can give.

The Voice Walking

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Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” Genesis 3:8.

Adam and Eve had just eaten what God had commanded them not to eat. They now have had their first experience with sin, and it will not be their last. They have met their sin master. Previous to this they have had sweet communion with the LORD God. Walks in the garden. Peace in the garden. Comfort in the garden. Now, there is fear, especially when they hear, ‘…The voice of the LORD God walking in the garden…’. Rather than going to Him as they most likely did previously, they now hide.

Who is this “Voice… walking in the garden”? It must be none other than the preincarnate Son of God; ie. Jesus the Christ. They know they have sinned. They also know the LORD God will not be pleased. They also know that they have shattered His glory in their lives. They even know the fig leaf coverings they have made are insufficient to approach holy God. So, they hide.

The initial response of a child who has disobeyed a parent and knows Mom and Dad will be angry with them is to hide. How tragic that is. Most parents would be understanding, forgiving, and the discipline would probably be less severe if the child would come running to the parent or parents saying I have disobeyed, please forgive me.

Oh, how tragic the events in the garden were on that eventful day. To hide from the ‘…Presence of the LORD God…’ is one of the saddest statements in the Bible. Can we not see that sin drives us from God and godliness. Sin causes us shame, guilt, despair, and ruin. Oh, that the sinning man, woman, boy or girl would not flee and hide from God, but, rather flee toward Him, because the Father has made a way through the Lord Jesus Christ. Rather than fleeing from God and hiding from Him; Make a bee line and FLEE TO THE CROSS.

Adam, Say Something

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Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” Genesis 3:6-7.

So many times and far too much of the time we are a fickle lot of people. We see, hear, and believe only what we want to. The lie of the devil was very enticing, but it was a desire and longing in Eve’s heart that overcame what she knew to be right. “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15). Turning, and walking away from what tempts us is so difficult, because, what is tempting us to sin, is what we are desiring, even if we know it is wrong, and evil.

There are three phases of temptation – Adam’s and Eve’s and our’s; 1) “The lust of the flesh…’; 2) ‘the lust of the eyes’; and 3) ‘the pride of life” (1 John 2:15-17). Notice how this appealed to Eve: 1) It was appealing for the satisfaction of the physical; 2) it was attractive to look upon; and 3) it offered to make her powerful. These things are very hard to resist. They have appeal to all of us. It seems especially so in the world today. We want immediate gratification NOW, so what ever appeals to our pride, longing for beauty, or satisfaction of physical appetites we do. If you look at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) you will see that the devil used these same three temptations to try and tempt Jesus away from and around the cross.

Remember Eve was innocent. Innocent does not mean incapable of sin. She was unfamiliar with temptation. Eve was like a very young child who is told not to touch a hot stove. It is, most times, experience that teaches them why they should not touch it. Eve’s temptation had far greater consequences than a child touching a hot stove, but by becoming disobedient to God mankind has felt the heat.

Where was Adam while this was going on? Apparently, he was there “with her” according to the text (v. 6b). We have no clue as to Adam’s silence, but this is certainly one point where silence was not “golden”. Reading this text makes me want to scream, “ADAM, SAY SOMETHING. SAY NO! JUST SAY NO!” He could have taken Eve by the arm and said, “Let’s go”, but he did not do it. It could be in their innocence that neither had a place of ‘rulership’ over the other, but stood equal, and because of this Adam remained silent. We really do not know.

We can certainly learn that as men, as husbands and fathers there are times as the prophets, priests and kings in our families we must speak up. Our wives and children need clear direction fromt he Lord, and often times the way they receive that is through us. We must speak or let our families go to ruin.

The saddest state of all is their pride. They realize that they had sinned and were disobedient to the commandment of God. They know they are not alone – God is there. They make themselves a covering of “Fig leaves”. Maybe good enough for man’s and religion’s approval, but not God’s (Isaiah 64:6). It was a fig tree which Jesus cursed. A curse upon the works of righteousness which man can do. A curse of empty religion. Cursed because of fruitlessness (Matthew 21:18-20), offering nothing pleasing to God, or for the real hunger of mankind.

Fig leaves will not cover sufficiently, nor effectively; only the shed blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ can cover our multitude of sins.

The Absence of God’s Presence

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Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” Genesis 3:4-5.

The devil is a liar, and of that I am sure. Jesus said he is a liar, and that he is the ‘father of lies’ (John 8:44).

In the first verse we are confronted with the devil’s deception by beauty, cunning and guile. In our present verse we have a bald-faced lie. The devil knew the consequences of Adam and Eve eating the fruit. Who knows; he may have ever heard the LORD give them the commandment. His lie, “Ye shall not surely die…” is the old serpents attempt at making God out to be the liar.

He even goes so far as to say to Eve, that God is withholding His best from you. “Your eyes will be opened, and ye shall be as gods [or could be ‘like God’], knowing good and evil.”

The devil knows when to hit. At the moment Eve was admiring the tree; at the moment of her weakness; at the moment we drop our guard; LOOKOUT!!! The devil will attack. That is why Paul the apostle tells us to, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Part of the man’s responsibility in the garden was to “Keep it” (Gen. 2:15); guard and protect it from the onslaughts of the enemy. The garden represents the presence of God the LORD. We ought to guard our lives, the place where we are in the presence of the LORD God.

Which Tree Is It?

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

“And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” Genesis 3:2-3

The serpent had implied in verse one that God had said they could not eat from every tree of the garden, not just the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve being innocent caught the “error”, and proceeded to correct the snake. Surely, she found it fascinating that a serpent was able to speak in the first place. It was, most likely, not an event that was supposed to happen, except in this rare event. There must have been questions racing through Eve’s mind – ‘Where did this serpent with the ability to speak come from?’; ‘Is this the only one, or are there others?’; ‘Is this the only beast that can speak or can all the others?’ All these racing through her mind and distracted from the deception that was taking place.

Eve does answer the serpent correctly in this first phase of her answer. “We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden…” God had not forbidden Adam and Eve from eating any of the fruits of the garden, except the one tree. We must remember there were two trees in the “midst of the garden” (Genesis 2:9). In this part of the answer Eve’s answer becomes a little unclear. She says, “…Of the fruit of the tree which is in the MIDST OF THE GARDEN, God hath said,,,”. Now, which tree was she speaking of? Her answer there is unclear. She did not specify which tree. The serpent had her in his grasp. She was not clear on what God had said, or at least had not quoted God correctly, then, she goes on and adds more it seems. Since these last words she uses, “…Neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” are not mentioned previously it seems that she has added to God’s Word; on that the serpent has her again. It would have probably been a good thing to not touch the fruit lest the temptation be stronger, but to add it as a commandment of the LORD God was a mistake.

Let’s have a refresher on what God had said, ” And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” Genesis 2:16-17. Eve was in error of not saying which tree in the midst of the garden, and she was in error for confronting the devil with what she may have assumed to be God’s Word. The MacArthur Study Bible note for this phrase, “Nor shall you touch it” states, “An addition to the original prohibition as recorded (cf. Gen. 2:17). Adam may have so instructed her for her protection“. I do believe that Eve had her own fellowship with the LORD God not based on Adam’s. If Adam did tell her this without instructing her that it was his own words and not the LORD God’s then, Adam was in error in doing so.

We can learn much from these two verses. One is that when we are tempted we better know the Word of the Lord. We cannot stand in this fallen world without God’s Word hidden in our hearts and lives. It is given us for our protection and keeping. “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, according to Thy Word” Psalm 119:9. “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11. Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Thy truth; Thy Word is truth” John 17:17. None of us can face the devil/serpent alone. We, as Christians, have the Spirit of Christ Jesus within us and the Word of God directing and cleansing us.

Liar of All Liars

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 3:1-24 continuing…

If you are somewhat like me you sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have lived in the Garden of Eden in a state of innocence. The temperature was perfect. The atmosphere was perfect. There was a human strength that would probably been unbelievable compared to our strengths and abilities. The air was clean. There were no battles, no wars, not even between Adam and Eve. The lion and the lamb came and drank from the same pool of water, and at the same time and there was no fear in the lamb, and no aggression in the lion. The wolf and the kid [goat] ate together, slept near one another, and none was aggressive, and none was fearful. In the whole of the garden, there was no fear. What a world. Then something dreadful, terrible, sad, and deadly happened.

In verse one we read, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The first thing we read about in the third chapter is a serpent; a snake; and that this serpent is “more subtle than any beast of the field…” Did God create this snake to be subtle, that is cunning, crafty, and could even add prudent? It appears so. Subtle does not always mean a bad thing, but when it comes to the meaning of the serpent in this case it does. This serpent was used by a more intelligent being. One thing I do want to point out here is that there is no mention that this ‘serpent’ is Satan or the devil as we often call him. We can rightly assume this is a serpent who has been possessed by the devil or Satan. In the book of Ezekiel we find a description of the devil in chapter 28. It is also a reference to the king of Tyre. The king of Tyre was being influenced; if not empowered; by the devil. Notice in Ezekiel verse 13, “You were in Eden, the garden of God…”, also in verse 14, “You were the anointed cherub who covers…”, and then in the Revelation he is referred to as “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years…” (20:2). That is part of the places we are justified in calling this serpent in the garden an associate of the devil.

The snake is stealthy, sneaky, and can kill. This snake of our text begins with a question intended to deceive. Not only was this beast subtle, but also had a cunning beauty about him. If you can look closely at some snakes today, there is some of that beauty still with them. Even the deadly rattlesnake, or the not as venomous copperhead, have a beauty in the patterns of their skins. That is why we are warned in the New Testament that “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” 2 Corinthians 11:14.

The devil has no love for any of God’s creation, because he has no love for God. He is seeking to destroy God’s creation, especially the creation which God made in His own image. It fits very well that one of the most beautiful of angels, having lost his position would choose a beautiful creature to deceive and destroy.

The lie of the serpent is one of casting doubt. Questions when dealt with rightly, and in faith can strengthen the faith. Satan, the old serpent, loves casting doubt on the Word of God. He loves it even more when doubt breeds unbelief. He appears often as that “angel of light” mentioned above for the purpose of deception. It is easy to identify many of the devil’s works in the world – murder, heresy (though this one is becoming very controversial due to pluralism, pragmatism, and political correctness), hatred, homosexuality (kind of in the same category with heresy), adultery, premarital sex, envy, greed, injustice, mercilessness, no fear of God, etc., but it is more difficult to identify his work when he appears as an ‘angel of light’. That is why Jesus commanded us to “Watch”.

To get Eve’s attention he implied that none of the trees could be eaten from. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Twisting the Word of God is a tool of the devil, and he will use that to destroy you. Jesus used the Word of God against the attacks of the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). We must learn how to do so also.

The First Wedding

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Genesis 2:1-25 concluded..

These verses begin by showing Adam performing his God ordained task, as a matter of fact, he is showing a God-like quality. Just as God named the earth, the heavens, and man; Adam is given the ressonsibility to name the animals. This shows man in his ability to reason and to rule.

“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” (v. 20). As these animals pass before Adam he is shown that there is none like himself. This shows us that man is himself unique, and needs a unique help meet.

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (vv. 21-22). In these verses we find the first surgery performed, and the FIRST MARRIAGE. This was a very unique surgery. A rib is removed from Adam. The rib taken from Adam is then, ‘Built’ into the likeness of Adam in female form. The way she is designed is even unique. Instead of being formed from the dust of the ground she is built from the side of the man “For Adam was first formed, then Eve” 1 Timothy 2:13. It has been said, “Woman was not taken from man’s feet to be trampled by him, or from his head to rule over him; but from his side, to be near his heart, and loved by him”. UNKNOWN. In name and nature man and woman were made for one another.

In type [portrait] we see Christ giving His life for His Bride. Here is how it can be seen; 1) Deep sleep – death; 2) the side opened – the spear thrust into His side, and the blood and water flowed. Jesus died on the cross. His side was opened by a soldier’s spear (John 19:34). Even as Adam awoke; Jesus arose from death and the grave. When Adam awoke he discovered the most beautiful of all of creation. When Jesus arose from death He had prepared the way for the building of His bride. Just as God brought Eve to Adam, God brings us to Christ, also ultimately into the garden (Rev. 22:1-2).

The first husband and wife are truly one – Eve was taken out of Adam. Just for noting: Adam does not name give the woman the name “Eve” until the twentieth verse of chapter three, and that is after the fall. They were one in purpose, one in flesh, one in God and in worship.

In their innocence they were unashamed. They were open. Everything was revealed. They expressed genuine love for one another without shame or fear of reprisal. Their communication with one another, and with God was straight forward. There was no need for politics, political correctness, diplomacy or tact. It must have been wonderful. There is no way at all we can begin to understand the joy they shared together.

Here in this portion of Scripture is given direction for all marriages to come. The man begins his own family and is to, himself, become the head of his wife; not his mother, father of her mother and father.

God performed the first wedding ceremony. If God were allowed to be central of every wedding/marriag, and the couples; there would be no spousal abuse, divorce, adultery, etc., except because of sin.

It seems that in this year of 2007 Domestic abuse or Spousal abuse is up over much of our country. O, that those who are married would love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25ff). Too many times the husbands are always expecting to receive from the wife, when it is our privilege to give to the wife the very best that we can give, even to our lives.

But Not That Tree

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Genesis 2:1-25 continuing…

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” Genesis 2:16-17.

The very first commandment is given by LORD God to the man and his wife. Adam was put by God into the garden for and with a purpose. Part of that purpose was to guard and till the garden. It needed guarded from the onslaughts of the devil. Adam’s family needed guarding also. It seems uncertain whether Adam was aware of a devil or not, but God was aware, and guarding seems implied by the words, “To keep”. In other words Adam was to be alert, and “On his toes”. The LORD God was warning Adam to pay attention – even in this time of innocency.

Adam was free to eat of every fruit, herb, and vegetable in the garden with the exception of one. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was the exception. The law God gave Adam was, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (v. 17). This is still part of the first covenant which began in chapter one verse 28. Death is something Adam would have known nothing about. All around him was life, beauty, health, and wealth. He seemed to have no worry or problems.

“Where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15). If we were to take away the laws of the land and the laws of God, then let everyone live like they wanted there would be no transgressors – no lawbreakers. Everyone would remain innocent; even in cases of killing another, or imagine what you will.

Adam was given one law to obey. He would not remain innocent, nor guiltless. Neither are you or I.

In the Gardens

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“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8-9 and verses10 – 15.

For the sake of commentary we must mention that there are four gardens mentioned in Scriptures which have a great importance for us. The first garden is Eden which we will see shortly in Genesis; the second is Gethsemane found in John 18:1, and was the garden where Jesus prayed on His last evening; then, there was a garden at Calvary according to John 19:41-42 – that is the place where Jesus was laid after His crucifixion; and finally, there is the garden of the Heavenly Paradise found in the Revelation of Jesus Christ 22:1-2 – it is not there called a garden, but the Tree of Life is there and it is bearing fruit; it is surely a new Garden of Eden.

Of the first and the last gardens the only way into these is by God’s placing them/us therein. God created Adam and placed him in Eden. He makes us a New Creation, and places us, by His grace, into His heavenly paradise. The cross of Christ has made all things new in those who trust and believe Him.

There were two trees in the midst of the garden; the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The first was for eternal life, the second brought death.

This garden [Eden], as is also the Heavenly Paradise, is watered by a river which flows through and out of these gardens. The river which flows out of Eden is said to disperse into four rivers. Not much can be known of all these rivers, except one still has its original name [Euphrates], and Hiddekel is thought to be the Tigris River.

This river which flowed through the garden was a source of life. The river of water flowing through, from the throne of God, the Heavenly Paradise, is a source of eternal joy, and life.

We learn here, that God is the Giver of life and eternal life. “He that believeth on Me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”, Jesus said, in John 7:38. Also see John 4:14. Jesus is the source of life, and those who drink from Him are the branches of water which go out to the rest of the world.

JUST AS THE LORD God PREPARED A PLACE FOR ADAM AND EVE HE HAS A PREPARED PLACE FOR ALL WHO TRUST HIM.

The LORD God

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 2:1-25 continuing…

‘These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” Gen. 2:4-7.

As has already been noted; there is no contradiction between chapters one and two. Rather they complement one another. Chapter two gives us details, concerning the creation of man, that is not mentioned in chapter one. One such item is that “LORD God’… ‘Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became of living soul”. This is not said of any of the rest of creation.

The Word has given us the progress of the creation of the heavens and the earth, and now tells us, in verses five and six how the garden was watered before man was made, and for a time thereafter. If we will notice, the earth was watered by a mist. It had not rained, and most likely did not rain until the time of the flood. The idea of “Rain” was probably a foreign thought to the people of Noah’s day.

Note, in verse four the use of the new name for God. “LORD [YHWH] God”. This is its first usage in Scripture. “God” or ‘Elohim’ which is a plural showing/teaching us the trinity of God has been used until this point, showing the work of the fullness of the Trinity [Father, Son and Holy Spirit]. Now, God reveals Himself as an involved Deity. Involved in the care of the universe, the earth, its creatures, and especially the creature He created in His own image, and after His own likeness. God did not create the world and leave us alone in it. This name, Jehovah [YHWH] God lets us know this. He becomes personal. This name is used at least 10 times in chapter two alone.

Jehovah [YHWH] God who is involved in the affairs of mankind is more involved in our lives than many want to give Him credit for. He is so involved that He sent His Son Jesus to redeem us, deliver us from our sin and transgression. You can trust the LORD God through His Son Jesus Christ.

On the Seventh and The Eighth Day

/ Tim A. / 4 Comments

Genesis 2:1-25 continuing…

For some reason there are some who read chapter two of Genesis and see contradiction. I suppose that it because they want to find contradiction within God’s Word. However, there is none. When you come to Scripture with a hatred for God and anything He might say it will be a very biased look. There have been many cases of avowed athiest who have ventured into the journey of reading God’s Word to prove it is full of errors, contradictions, and that it is only the words of men to only find the truth of Jesus Christ and trusted Him as their Lord and Savior. One of those is Lee Strobell, and another is Josh McDowell. Both of these men are now devoted Christian men and great apologist for the Word of God.

What I find in this chapter of Genesis is a further explanation of the Creator’s creation. It is a greater clarification of the creation of man, and his place and ministry on the earth.

We also find here the first mention of the Seventh day, or Sabbath day as a day of rest; it is the day God rested from creating. According to the Deist God created all that is and then left it with us and does not intervene into the affairs of men. It seems to me that the rest of Scripture quickly puts this thought to silence. We will see, very quickly, in the text that God walked with Adam in the garden. That does not sound to me like He distanced Himself from His creation.

In veres 1 – 3 we find the FIRST SABBATH. This is actually a continuation of the creation events of chapter one. God had created everything that was necessary to sustain life on earth. In particular to sustain, benefit, beautify, and fulfill the lives of the creation which is made “In our [God’s] image,after our [God’s] likeness”.

After making all things for man’s physical well being He teaches us a wonderful lesson. A lesson of rest and also for us a lesson of worship. Was God exhausted from all the work He had done? Not hardly. Did He take a leave of absence and leave the world and His whole creation on its own? Again, not at all.

His rest shows a completion to all that He began; “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” Philippians 1:6. It gives us promise and hope that as His New Creation in Christ He will complete what He began.

If we are genuinely resting in Him we will have times of personal, individual fellowship with Him. We will also seek every opportunity to learn more of Him His power and glory, His Son, His Spirit, His Word, and His work in our own and other’s lives. We do this through God’s institution of the local church.

We cease from our own laboring to please God and our own way, and rest in His arms of grace. We realize all our efforts, works and “…righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), and only His will suffice.

The Sabbath – a day of rest – is for our enjoying the benefits of a week long job and work well done, and especially for the worship of God Almighty, who made it all. That Sabbath rest is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and He arose on the first day of the week, having finished the works of the Law. On the Eighth day, which is the First day of a brand new week we worship the One who rose again. The law was completed in Him.

And On the Sixth Day…

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 1:14-31 concluded

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Gen. 1:24-25.

On the beginning of the sixth day God created the final part of His creation before He created His crowning achievement.. He made all the provisions, necessities for human life, and comfort before He created the one made after Himself. When we see ourselves as we were originally made we will have a higher view of God, and eventually of ourselves, and others.

When the false teachers of evolution tell us that we are nothing more than a glorified animal, if even given that much credit, we find that there is no purpose for life, living, and that there is really no need for law. It would really come down to the teaching of THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. If we would take an honest look at our world and societies of the day we would find that people are becoming more and more unkind to one another. The evolutionits try and tell us that man is progressively getting better and better. If we are honest about it, though, we must conclude that there is little concern for human life. There is more concern for our life comforts, pleasures, conveniences, personal health and success, than there is for the unborn child. “The female of our species” can determine that this “thing” growing inside of her is nothing more than a mass which needs to be removed, comparing it to cancer. That is the result of being nothing more than another of the animal “species”, rather than having been created in the image and likeness of our Creator – God.

Often times, we as Christians, do not value the life of other created beings in the way that we should. I must say there have been times I was guilty of that. We should have a respect for all of life; even the life of the whale, dolphin, deer, elk, moose, cattle, horses, and all livestock, etc. However, that must be held within the perimeter of God’s Word. We have been told that, “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Gen. 9:3-4 – of course we must realize this permission was given after the flood of Noah’s time. We are also told in the Proverbs, “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious” Proverbs 12:27. I may aggravate a lot of hunters when I say this, but I will write it anyway. If you are a “Trophy hunter” and you waste the meat, and hunt for only the purpose of having a trophy, then you are nothing but a killer; a taker of precious life. There is nothing wrong with hunting and bringing in the meat for food, but when it is only for a trophy you fit into the role of “The slothful man”.

God has given to the creature created in His image and likeness the ability to think, to rationally think things through, to be logical, to dream, to achieve, to create – from materials which exist, and to build. The ultimate thing which God has given us is freewill with which to worship and adore Him.

When God made these cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth after his kind…we are told that, “God saw that it was good” Can you imagine this animal kingdom at peace with one another? The lamb and the lion feeding together; the ox and the tiger laying under the shade in the heat of the day sun; the child playing over the serpents den. This is the way it was in the beginning. There was peace in the “Animal kingdom”. The lamb and the lion; the ox and the tiger were eating the produce of the ground; “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” (vv. 29-30).

Of man God says, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (v. 28). Nowhere does this mean mistreatment of animals, and nowhere does this mean they have as much or more value than human life. Of man God also tells us, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (2:7).

In verses 29 – 31 we find what has been called the Edenic Covenant. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Sometimes a covenant may have conditions on both parties, or it can have conditions for only one of the parties. In the case of the Edenic Covenant God placed conditions on Adam and Eve in order for them to stay in Eden. These conditions are, 1) To multiply and fill the earth; 2) To subdue the earth for human use and the glory of the Lord; 3) To rule/have dominion over the animal creation, for their keeping and well being; 4) To eat herbs and fruits brought forth by the trees and vegetation in the garden; 5) To till and care for – Keep (Guard) – the garden; 6) To abstain from eating the fruit from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”; and 7) With the understanding of the penalty of death for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree.

Though we were made in the image and likeness of God; this image and likeness was later marred by sin when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. The bond between Adam and God was shattered by sin; by disobedience; and this image was restored by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It was not until the creation of the crown of His creation that God said, “It is very good”, and He said it of all that He created. Just think, if He could say that about the creation of the natural, what He will say when the New Creation is completed. The New Creation being every individual who has come to God through Jesus Christ’s shed blood, burial and resurrection. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” 2 Cor. 5:17. The evening and the morning were the sixth day.

On Day Five

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Genesis 1:14-31 continuing…

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day” Genesis 1:20-23 (KJV).

 

We come now to the creation of the Fins [life within the waters], and creating of the Feathers [life of the fowl] (vv. 20-23). “Let the waters bring forth abundantly…”. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” John 4:10. Jesus also said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” John 7:37-38. It was the fifth day that life was given in the waters of the earth. Remember who is doing the creating. The voice of God; the Living Word, and the Living Water.

In looking at these verses it almost would appear that the recent declarations by some evolutionists concerning fish and birds coming from the same form of life could have some merit. The only ‘merit’ I give them is that these were both created on the same day, and it does almost seem that you could make an argument for them coming from the water. I will not give them that, though. It does tell us that each was made “After his kind”. The fish was made for and after the fish. The bird [fowl] was made for and after the bird. It did not take hundreds, thousands, or millions of years to make these or any other part of creation. We are told this creating was all done in a period of six days. It is measured by the “rising and setting” of the sun, or one rotation of the earth. God tells the fish and creatures of the waters to fill the waters, and He tells the fowl to fill the earth. This was the fifth day.

Remember God’s order! 1. The heaven and the earth was created; 2. Light is created, ordered for the earth; 3. God puts a protecting sphere or canopy over the earth made of water; 4. Plants begin to grow, ‘After his kind’; 5. The light giving bodies are created becoming the permanent sources of light; 6. Aquatic and fowl life are created to reproduce “After his king’; 7. The land creatures are created – the cattle, horses, etc. – this also includes the creature created in ‘God’s image’. When there is such order how can anyone with a reasoning, thinking, mind of logic see anything but a Creator?

The Fourth Day

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Genesis 1:14-31 continuing…

By way of introducing this segment of the creation study; let me remind you of the second and third days. The second day has no mention of “God saw that it was good”. It was a day of separation when the waters were divided with a firmament between the water over the land and the water in the air over the firmament. The third day was similar to a resurrection, because the waters receded and land was revealed. There was a revelation of land. Just as on the third day Jesus came forth from the grace around four thousand years later. On this third day it is mentioned ‘God saw that it was good’ twice; making it extra important.

 

Covering Genesis 1:14-19 –

On the fourth day we see the lights which God made for the sustenance and warmth of the earth. As I wrote earlier this is a mystery to me. Light created on the first day, and here we are told that God made the sun, moon and stars. The sun, of course to “rule” the day, and the moon to “rule” by night, and these were given for signs and seasons, days and years. I do believe what God says here, but it is a mystery that will probably not be satisfactorily answered until we see Jesus. Then, it probably will not matter.

“…The conflict which some have imagined between the creation of light on day one (v. 3) and the creation of sun, moon and stars on the fourth day (vv. 14-19) is imaginary. The light created in v. 3 has a source other than the specific sources provided on the fourth day. For example, the moon is termed a ‘light giver’ in v. 16, but the light from the moon is totally derived from another source. The moon does not create its own light: yet is is termed a ‘light giver’ just as the sun. Obviously, more than one method of providing light is available to God. Therefore, God provided light and its cycle for day and night on the first day, while on the fourth day He provided the luminaries that would become the permanent sources of light for the earth.” Note of verse Gen. 1:14 from THE CRISWELL STUDY BIBLE 1979, pg. 4.

When Jesus arose from the dead on the third day that was not all that there was for Jesus to do. He still must be seated at His Father’s right hand. The scene changes from earth to Heaven. In looking at Arthur Pink again, he writes, “In the fourth day’s work our eyes are removed from the earth and all its affairs and are turned to the heavens!” pg. 26. It would do us good to read Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”.

As we lift our eyes heavenward we will see two great lights – the sun by day, and the moon by night. The sun in its ever burning brightness typifies the Son of God. The moon, as only a reflector of light, is dependent upon the sun for its light. The moon, then, would typify the believer. As the moon has no power/radiance of its own, so it is with the child of God. We are only reflectors of that light as we have His presence within. There are times when the earth comes between the sun and the moon, and this is what is called an lunar eclipse. This is what happens to the Christian who allows the things of the world to take a higher priority in their lives than the Lord Jesus. There are also times when the moon comes between the sun and the earth. This is called a solar eclipse. When the Christian begins to think they are pretty special, there is pride, and Jesus is not being seen, and His light is being blocked by our haughtiness, or by doing things which call greater attention to ourselves; and God is robbed of His glory. The lights above are awesome reminders of who God is, and our place within His creation.

The function of these great lights are “To give light upon the earth” (v. 15), and “To rule over the day and over the night” (v. 18). Thus, it is for Christ and all those who trust Him. This was the fourth day.

On the Third Day

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

Genesis 1:3-13 concluded…

“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day” Genesis 1:9-13

The third day we find an unveiling, even a resurrection. The waters covered the earth, and on this day land emerges from under the waters.

A. W. Pink writes, “These verses bring before us God’s work on the third day, and in harmony with the meaning of this numeral we find that which clearly speaks of resurrection” From GLEANINGS IN GENESIS pg. 19. Certainly, just as in the ordinance of baptism the coming up out of the water symbolizes resurrection, we can see the symbol here. The land emerges from the waters, brings forth life – grass, herbs, trees – and all “After their kind” brought forth fruit.

Those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are trusting Him. A continued trust is the main fruit – evidence – of true faith. It is the resurrected life which is no longer submerged under the waters of the world and death, but has been brought to new life in the resurrection of Christ. Each herb, tree, and blade of grass “…Yielding seed after his kind”.

It is interesting to notice that on the Third Day it is said, “God saw that it was good” twice. Surely, this could take us to Romans 1:4 “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 3) …And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”. Where the Holy Spirit omitted “God saw that it was good” on the second day, He doubly asserts the goodness of the third day. O, the blessing of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

After three days, Jesus arose and came out of the grave.

The Second Day

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Genesis 1:3-13 continuing…

“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day” Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV).

On day two the waters of the earth were to be divided. The water of the surface of the land, and the waters in the sky. This does leave us with the knowledge that there is water above us, even in our time. We know that because of clouds, rainfall, snowfall, icefall, etc. On this second day of creation this water above the earth seems to have been much more massive than that of today.

One thing that should be noticed is the orderly fashion in which God created. Of course, it is obvious to us that it should be done this way. However, far too many times we humans get the proverbial “Cart before the horse”. This is further evidence of the All-Wise, All-Powerful Creator.

This second day is a recorded day of division. It should also be noted that this is the only day where it is not recorded that “God saw that it was good”. It seems that there is something of a sadness on this day. Could it be possible that this division typifies the cross of Jesus? The separation of man from God? The separation of the God-Man from His father as He becomes the sins of the world, and becomes the brunt of His Father’s judgment? “We believe that the ‘firmament’ here typifies the cross and sets forth its twofold aspect. There our blessed Lord was divided or separated from God Himsell — ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’; and there also He was separated from man– ‘Cut off out of the land of the living'”. A. W. PINK Gleanings In Genesis pg. 24. One thing we must realize when we recognize “Types, shadows, etc.” is that a type does not deny the historicity or truth of the text. If we can see this here, then, truly glory is given to the Creator, and we magnify Him. This may be the reason why there is no acknowledgement of , “God saw that it was good”, His heart was grieved, because He saw the price that He would be paying to redeem fallen man.

It should be noted that at the last day of creation we are told, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (v. 31). At the completion of God’s New Creation he will be able to say, through His Son Jesus, “Well done Good and faithful servant. His creation is “Good”. The completion of creation – the New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17) – is “Very good”. Man, not the material things, are the priority of God’s glory.

The First Day

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Genesis 1:3-13 continuing…

On the first day of the beginning of the “Painting of the canvas” God creates light for this new creation (vv. 3-5). What this light is is somewhat of a mystery; at least to me. The reason I say that is because, the sun and moon will not be created until day four. My only explanation for this light could be that it is light of God Himself giving life to this creation. There is Day and there is Night. The light is called Day, and the darkness called Night, and darkness would be the place where there is no light.

At any rate we are told on this first day of creation, “And God saw the light, that it was good”. Could it be also that these things – sun, moon, stars were created, but not visible to the earth until the fourth day? That would only be conjecture; as is the first thought. There is much about the beginnings which we do not know; and is quite possible we may never know; at least until we see Jesus.

It is with joy that we can see that God saw the light, “That it was good”, and does not say that of the darkness. “God is light; and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). When you are trusting Jesus, you are trusting the Father and you are walking in the Light.

The Voice of God

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AND GOD SAID…Genesis 1:3-13

 

“In the beginning God…” clearly refutes all things which exalt themselves against God. “Pantheism” says all things are god and god is all things, but this is clearly refuted because if ‘all things are god’ then, how did they come to be? If God is all things, then, why create?

“Atheism” is repudiated by the Bible’s declaration of God.

“Materialism” is refuted because God’s material creation are distinguished as being separate by Scripture.

In these first few words God is seen as the All-Powerful (Omnipotent) One who is before all things and holds all things in His hand. It is declared that “…He is infinite and omnipotent, for no finite being possesses the power to ‘create’, and none but an Omnipotent Being could create ‘the heaven and the earth’.” A. W. PINK, From Gleanings In Genesis.

If we are to find the answers to the questions of life we must begin with God, as has been stated in the previous message. We must begin with Him, because it all began when He spoke things; seen and unseen; into existence.

There are those who follow the C. I. Scofield belief of a “Gap theory” between verses one and two. They believe this was the time of the dinosaurs, and gives allowance for the seeming contradiction of earth’s age, and other things, between science and Scripture. A look at Revelation 21:1, without question disputes the ‘gap theory’. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea”.

The earth ‘without form and void’ would be much like a painters canvas. The artist has a picture in his mind, but no one else can see it until the work is almost finished. This was a creation which was only beginning. The painter had not yet began His work.

There does seem to be Scriptural evidence which supports the existence of large dinosaurs on earth, even during the time of Job. In Job chapter 40 we see a creature called ‘Behemoth’ beginning in verse 15 – “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron” Job 40:15-18. Some commentators say this is speaking of something like a hippopotamus. The description sounds to me to be much more than a hippo. In chapter 41 another creature call “Leviathan” is seen as a “fire breathing” creature, “By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth” Job 41:18-21. The Bible teachers of a few years ago declared that this was a crocodile. “Flame goeth out of his mouth…” a crocodile? Now, come on. Job must have lived sometime after the flood. This would have been when these creatures died off, because of the change of environment, after the flood.

At the initial creation the earth was covered with water. There was no light until the Spirit of God “Moved upon the face of the waters”. The Holy Spirit brooded, like a hen sits on her eggs bringing forth the desired result. PLEASE NOTE – God did nothing without the work of the Holy Spirit, or His Word which became flesh (John1:1, 14). This is so of individuals who find their lives void, and without purpose or meaning. God was not pleased with the darkness on the ‘deep’, and He is not pleased when our hearts are dark and void. God’s Spirit broods, and stirs our hearts to move us to God.

Without the moving of the Spirit there would be no light. NOTICE THE TRINITY AT WORK IN CREATION – 1. “God created…; 2. The Spirit moved…; and 3. God said…”; the Word went forth. When the Word went forth there was light.

Just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were at work in the first creation, they are also fully at work in the New Creation bringing purpose, meaning and light into every life who is drawn to God’s grace and salvation.

The Beginning…

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The book of beginnings…

I have been posting these at the Watchman’s Trumpet, but I got away from its theme doing so. I will start over here. Forgive me if you have already read these first few posts.

 

THE BEGINNING… GODGenesis 1:1-2

If anyone is to know who they are, their purpose in life, where they came from, and where they are going, we must go back to the ‘Beginning’. No one will fully understand these life questions until they come to grips with the reality of the ‘Beginning’ of all things.

The Bible never argues the existence of God. It presents His reality, His person, power, and glory. The very first verse declares Him – “In the beginning God…”. ‘In the beginning…’ does not declare the beginning of God, but His creation; the things which He has made. For those who would say all things are god, then how did all things come to be? For those who would say, “There is no God”, their belief is repudiated by the declaration “…God created…”. For those who would cling to materialism and worldly possessions we see them as being separate in the created order, and mankind being the highest of the created order. Who is she/he that would elevate things over our fellow man? God has not done so, but has rather given to us all these good things to sustain us and for us to enjoy.

The answer to the four questions: WHO AM I? WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHY AM I HERE? WHERE AM I GOING? could also be followed with the question, HOW DO I GET THERE? To answer these questions we must begin with God. The unholy, unscientific theory of evolution leaves us asking still more questions like, ‘What came first the chicken or the egg?’ That is a foolish question when you understand God created the chicken full grown and layed eggs and to tend them. If we begin with God the question is answered. In man’s limited thinking everything has to begin small and grow larger. With God’s creating He began with a full grown earth – grown vegetation, vegetables, fruits, animals, and full grown human beings – a full grown Adam and a full grown Eve taken from Adam’s rib. Since God created a full grown creation that explains the age problems that “Science” seems to have with the Biblical account. If you begin with God there is no problem with creation. If you begin with evolution all you have is questions without answers.

Too many people want to interpret the Bible by science, when in reality we shoul interpret science through God and His Word – the Bible. When “Science” contradicts Scripture, then, science is in error; not the Scriptures. True science starts with something to study. Evolution – a human theory – begins with absolutely nothing, but human thought. You could even call it “Demonic thought” because it was the devil himself who asked the first doubting question, “Yes, hath God said…?” Ever since that day there has been a demonic thought in the mind of every man to doubt what God says, and to dethrone Him (See Psalm 2). It did not; it has not; nor will any plot of demon or man, ever overthrow the throne of God.

God was not just, “In the beginning”; He is the beginning, and He is the ending. He is the First and the Last. He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8, 11, 17; 21:6; 22:13).

Without God we have no beginning, identity, purpose or destiny. We are nothing more than evolutionary puppets on a string of chance, ie., if the Evolutionists are right. Nothing more than animals controlled by our passions, and lusts. God forbid!!!!

We can see by the order of the events in creation that there was a Supreme Being in control. The earth, planets, sun, moon, and stars are first; then, the separation of water and land, and the earth and sky; then, vegetation on earth, life in the oceans and waters; then, the birds of the air; then, the cattle and beasts of the field; and last of all man. This could not be an act of chance. If any of this would have been out of order it would have failed – at least by looking at it logically. How do the people who watch the stars, planets, and such (Astronomers) know when there is going to be an “alignment of planets”, an eclipse of the moon or the sun; and tell us to split second accuracy it is going to happen? Because there is order in God’s created universe. Things like that do not “Just happen”.

There is a better chance of winning a 350 million dollar lottery jackpot, with only one ticket, than all these things just happening without a Master-builder/Designer. You could probably say that there is a better chance of winning a 350 million dollar lottery jackpot ten times in a row, with one ticket each time, than these things “Just happening” without a Master Builder/Designer.

God Himself is the cause and effect of all that is. When you begin with God you will find who you are, where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going.