Genesis 2-3Notes: Genesis 2-3(mobile)

Genesis 2

The creation of male and female humans is found in Genesis 1:27; details of that creation are found in Genesis 2. Remember this style as your read the Bible. Often a subject or person is introduced briefly, and then details follow.

Remember also that chapter divisions in the Bible were added apart from God’s inspiration and at a much later time; and sometimes these man-made divisions should be ignored lest continuity of thought be disrupted.

1-3: A 7th day of rest, a Sabbath. Surely God wasn’t tired and in need of physical rest. What God did here, and what so often happens throughout the history of God’s directing His people, is designed to teach them a lesson about God. The 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) looks back to this event as the example of resting from our labor in order that we might worship God regularly.

3: Was this 7th day of rest the conclusion forever of God’s creativity?

4-7: Do not assume that the “laws of nature” on earth have not changed. We know by experience what rain is; but there was no rain in the Garden of Eden. God, who created the earth and the “science” behind it, can suspend or change the “laws of nature” in whatever manner and for whatever duration suits His holy, wise, and beneficent purposes. Remember that God is always a “hands-on” Creator and you will better understand subsequent events. We call them “miracles”, but they are normal activities for an all-powerful God.

7: Man was but a statue of dust until God breathed life into him and man became a living soul. All creatures receive their life from God (Acts 17:25; Job 12:10, 33:4); and should God withdraw His breath, Man will die (Psalm 104:29).

8-15: The garden of Eden must have been a sizeable place.

9: Two special trees in the middle of the garden—the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

15: Man’s occupation. Is Man still responsible to dress and keep his environment?

16-17: The first commandment? Permission granted to freely choose to eat the fruit from all the trees except one. Here is Man’s free will expressed and encouraged by God. But with limitation.

17: Violation of the commandment will bring certain punishment—death. Many a child has pilfered fruit and received a thrashing—but death?

18-25: While the products of the six Creation days were declared good, and Man’s existence deemed “very good”, yet God wasn’t finished. God’s design was for male and female humans to interact in a special relationship, helping one another.

19: Adam was not a caveman. He demonstrated intelligence and verbal skills in the recognition and naming of the animals.

19-20: Many animals were available, but God would not have Man be attached to them. (Clearly bestiality is unnatural; and one wonders about those who become overly attached to pets.)

21-23: While Adam was asleep and unaware, God was preparing just the right wife for him. When God brought the woman to the man, Adam quickly (and wisely) accepted her as one with him.

24: This first marriage was intended to be a pattern for all subsequent marriages. God had united them; and He had no intention of allowing them or anyone else to break that union (Matthew 19:4-6).

24: The oneness of this union has ramifications for those who seek sexual gratification outside of marriage (1 Corinthians 6:16).

25: Nakedness and shame. Keep reading into chapter 3 to see how this changes.

Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:33; 10:11).

 

Genesis 3

It seems like only yesterday that Adam and Eve were comfortably settled in Paradise. And today they lose it all for a little piece of fruit.

This chapter can be summed up by the following New Testament commentary:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 )

 

1: A talking serpent who questions God’s commandment.

2-3: And a woman who adds her own rules to God’s. Many churchmen today do the same thing—adding their own rules and regulations to God’s. See Revelation 22:18-19.

4-5: The father of lies at work. See John 8:44. First he denies the truth of God’s word, and then he suggests that God is guarding His position by denying Adam and Eve the knowledge of good and evil.

6: As we all know, the woman looked and took some of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband. Napoleon is reported to have said “I came, I saw, I conquered.” How much sin could be avoided if we were mindful of the children’s song that teaches “Be careful little eyes what you see.”

7-8: What newfound knowledge did they possess? That they were naked before God. That they had disobeyed God. That they should be covered. Innocence lost can never be reclaimed.

And what did they do? The tried to cover up their shame, their nakedness with aprons of fig leaves; and they tried to hide from God when they heard Him approaching—the same things that children have been doing for centuries when faced with being discovered in disobedience: they try to cover it up and they try to hide from consequences.

9: God asked this question for Adam’s sake. We need to hear God ask this question of us, too: Where are we? Are we right with God or are we in a sinful state of estrangement from our Creator?

Are we hiding in the bushes, or are we walking in the Light with our glorious God?

11-13: How often do you blame others for your sin?

 

1 Timothy 2

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

14: God doesn’t question the serpent; would you expect the serpent to answer truthfully?

15: The gospel in Genesis. Here is the promise that one born of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. This “seed” of the woman is Christ, who will suffer at the hands of the serpent, but who will ultimately triumph over sin.

16: The woman will have pain in bearing children and yet it is via child-bearing that her ultimate salvation is accomplished. Further, her relationship to her husband is to be submissive to his leadership.

17: The man must now work, and work hard, to provide for his family. And the work of tending to plants is complicated by the effect that Man’s sin has had on the world around him. The easy life has come to an end.

19: Remind me where I came from…

20: All of us are from the same blood.

21: Sinful Man must be covered; but the product of his sinful hands can never be sufficient covering. The material was ill-suited and the style was corrupt.

22-23: Adam and Eve were evicted for having broken the terms of occupation—they ate forbidden fruit and now they must leave.

24. Yet God mercifully placed Cherubim and a flaming sword at the east end of the garden to keep the way back to God.

 Genesis 2

The creation of male and female humans is found in Genesis 1:27; details of that creation are found in Genesis 2. Remember this style as your read the Bible. Often a subject or person is introduced briefly, and then details follow.

Remember also that chapter divisions in the Bible were added apart from God’s inspiration and at a much later time; and sometimes these man-made divisions should be ignored lest continuity of thought be disrupted.

1-3: A 7th day of rest, a Sabbath. Surely God wasn’t tired and in need of physical rest. What God did here, and what so often happens throughout the history of God’s directing His people, is designed to teach them a lesson about God. The 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) looks back to this event as the example of resting from our labor in order that we might worship God regularly.

3: Was this 7th day of rest the conclusion forever of God’s creativity?

4-7: Do not assume that the “laws of nature” on earth have not changed. We know by experience what rain is; but there was no rain in the Garden of Eden. God, who created the earth and the “science” behind it, can suspend or change the “laws of nature” in whatever manner and for whatever duration suits His holy, wise, and beneficent purposes. Remember that God is always a “hands-on” Creator and you will better understand subsequent events. We call them “miracles”, but they are normal activities for an all-powerful God.

7: Man was but a statue of dust until God breathed life into him and man became a living soul. All creatures receive their life from God (Acts 17:25; Job 12:10, 33:4); and should God withdraw His breath, Man will die (Psalm 104:29).

8-15: The garden of Eden must have been a sizeable place.

9: Two special trees in the middle of the garden—the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

15: Man’s occupation. Is Man still responsible to dress and keep his environment?

16-17: The first commandment? Permission granted to freely choose to eat the fruit from all the trees except one. Here is Man’s free will expressed and encouraged by God. But with limitation.

17: Violation of the commandment will bring certain punishment—death. Many a child has pilfered fruit and received a thrashing—but death?

18-25: While the products of the six Creation days were declared good, and Man’s existence deemed “very good”, yet God wasn’t finished. God’s design was for male and female humans to interact in a special relationship, helping one another.

19: Adam was not a caveman. He demonstrated intelligence and verbal skills in the recognition and naming of the animals.

19-20: Many animals were available, but God would not have Man be attached to them. (Clearly bestiality is unnatural; and one wonders about those who become overly attached to pets.)

21-23: While Adam was asleep and unaware, God was preparing just the right wife for him. When God brought the woman to the man, Adam quickly (and wisely) accepted her as one with him.

24: This first marriage was intended to be a pattern for all subsequent marriages. God had united them; and He had no intention of allowing them or anyone else to break that union (Matthew 19:4-6).

24: The oneness of this union has ramifications for those who seek sexual gratification outside of marriage (1 Corinthians 6:16).

25: Nakedness and shame. Keep reading into chapter 3 to see how this changes.

Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:33; 10:11).

 

Genesis 3

It seems like only yesterday that Adam and Eve were comfortably settled in Paradise. And today they lose it all for a little piece of fruit.

This chapter can be summed up by the following New Testament commentary:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 )

 

1: A talking serpent who questions God’s commandment.

2-3: And a woman who adds her own rules to God’s. Many churchmen today do the same thing—adding their own rules and regulations to God’s. See Revelation 22:18-19.

4-5: The father of lies at work. See John 8:44. First he denies the truth of God’s word, and then he suggests that God is guarding His position by denying Adam and Eve the knowledge of good and evil.

6: As we all know, the woman looked and took some of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband. Napoleon is reported to have said “I came, I saw, I conquered.” How much sin could be avoided if we were mindful of the children’s song that teaches “Be careful little eyes what you see.”

7-8: What newfound knowledge did they possess? That they were naked before God. That they had disobeyed God. That they should be covered. Innocence lost can never be reclaimed.

And what did they do? The tried to cover up their shame, their nakedness with aprons of fig leaves; and they tried to hide from God when they heard Him approaching—the same things that children have been doing for centuries when faced with being discovered in disobedience: they try to cover it up and they try to hide from consequences.

9: God asked this question for Adam’s sake. We need to hear God ask this question of us, too: Where are we? Are we right with God or are we in a sinful state of estrangement from our Creator?

Are we hiding in the bushes, or are we walking in the Light with our glorious God?

11-13: How often do you blame others for your sin?

 

1 Timothy 2

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

14: God doesn’t question the serpent; would you expect the serpent to answer truthfully?

15: The gospel in Genesis. Here is the promise that one born of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. This “seed” of the woman is Christ, who will suffer at the hands of the serpent, but who will ultimately triumph over sin.

16: The woman will have pain in bearing children and yet it is via child-bearing that her ultimate salvation is accomplished. Further, her relationship to her husband is to be submissive to his leadership.

17: The man must now work, and work hard, to provide for his family. And the work of tending to plants is complicated by the effect that Man’s sin has had on the world around him. The easy life has come to an end.

19: Remind me where I came from…

20: All of us are from the same blood.

21: Sinful Man must be covered; but the product of his sinful hands can never be sufficient covering. The material was ill-suited and the style was corrupt.

22-23: Adam and Eve were evicted for having broken the terms of occupation—they ate forbidden fruit and now they must leave.

24. Yet God mercifully placed Cherubim and a flaming sword at the east end of the garden to keep the way back to God.

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Genesis 1Notes: Genesis 1(mobile)

Notes for January 1, 2012

Reading the final chapters of the Bible, and then reading the opening chapters, sets before us the unity of God’s revelation for we see how in the beginning God created a beautiful place where He could walk with Man, and how in the end God creates a new, beautiful place where He can walk with Man. Milton called it Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained (http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/milton/index.htm). The latter, eternal Paradise is far different from, and far superior to, the original.

Genesis 1
Without controversy, the Bible teaches that God ordered the creation of heaven and earth and life as we know it. While many argue about how or how long God accomplished this work, none can deny that the Bible teaches that God existed before earth and life on earth, and that He is responsible for Man’s existence.

Further the Bible teaches that this Creator God maintains control over His work and that nature is not an accident and Man is not left to conjure up his own path through life.

If we would understand the origin of the human species and why we are here, then let us begin our reading of Genesis.

1. Six days of creation, with Man being created on the sixth day. Much discussion has taken place about the length of these days. For sure, each of them had an evening and a morning.
2. Whatever else one may say of creation, God declared it to be good.
3. Something should be said about how the various plants and animals were designed to reproduce themselves without the aid of laboratories or human intervention and how life is carried forth in the seed.
4. God spoke that things should be, and it was so. Is that still the case?
5. Our concept of time is based on astronomical bodies and events, verse 14.
6. With plants created one day earlier than the sun, one might wonder how photosynthesis could take place if the creation days were actually thousands or millions of 24-hour days. But then, we know that plants can grow beneath artificial light. With light being created on the first day, it seems that our sun may also just be artificial light.
7. Nothing is stated here about the creation of the suns and moon of other planets; for that matter nothing is said here about God’s creative work relative to any place other than earth.
8. Man (verse 26) is given dominion over all other living creatures. Has God taken that dominion away from Man? (Modern theologians speak of a Cultural or Creation Mandate; and they suggest that Man is still obliged (and gifted) to subdue the earth, verse 28.)
9. Man was created in God’s image. What does this mean? Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10.
10. Originally Man and animal life was vegetarian (verse 29).
11. It was very good (verse 31). Of course it was. How could it be otherwise?Notes for January 1, 2008

Reading the final chapters of the Bible, and then reading the opening chapters, sets before us the unity of God’s revelation for we see how in the beginning God created a beautiful place where He could walk with Man, and how in the end God creates a new, beautiful place where He can walk with Man. Milton called it Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained (http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/milton/index.htm). The latter, eternal Paradise is far different from, and far superior to, the original.

Genesis 1
Without controversy, the Bible teaches that God ordered the creation of heaven and earth and life as we know it. While many argue about how or how long God accomplished this work, none can deny that the Bible teaches that God existed before earth and life on earth, and that He is responsible for Man’s existence.

Further the Bible teaches that this Creator God maintains control over His work and that “nature” is not an accident and Man is not left to conjure up his own path through life.

If we would understand the origin of the human species and why we are here, then let us begin our reading of Genesis.

1. Six days of creation, with Man being created on the sixth day. Much discussion has taken place about the length of these days. For sure, each of them had an evening and a morning.
2. Whatever else one may say of creation, God declared it to be “good”.
3. Something should be said about how the various plants and animals were designed to reproduce themselves without the aid of laboratories or human intervention and how life is carried forth in the seed.
4. God spoke that things should be, “and it was so.” Is that still the case?
5. Our concept of time is based on astronomical bodies and events, verse 14.
6. With plants created one day earlier than the sun, one might wonder how photosynthesis could take place if the creation days were actually thousands or millions of 24-hour days. But then, we know that plants can grow beneath “artificial” light. With light being created on the first day, it seems that our sun may also just be “artificial” light.
7. Nothing is stated here about the creation of the suns and moon of other planets; for that matter nothing is said here about God’s creative work relative to any place other than earth.
8. Man (verse 26) is given dominion over all other living creatures. Has God taken that dominion away from Man? (Modern theologians speak of a Cultural or Creation Mandate; and they suggest that Man is still obliged (and gifted) to subdue the earth, verse 28.)
9. Man was created in God’s image. What does this mean? Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10.
10. Originally Man and animal life was vegetarian (verse 29).
11. It was very good (verse 31). Of course it was. How could it be otherwise?

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Notes: Job 38-39

English Language Bible Study Guide for January 24, 2008

Here the Lord answers Job and asks what Job knows about creation. Apparently Elihu wasn’t too far off in his last comments.

Job 38

1: Out of the whirlwind. A grand entrance for a grand God.

2-3: Is the Lord speaking of Elihu, Job’s friends, or Job? For sure, to “darken counsel by words without knowledge” is a bad thing.

An encyclopedia of nature follows. At every turn Job is asked what he knows about the subject, and what part he had in it’s creation. What do you know about these subjects?

  • 4: the foundations of the earth
  • 5: the dimensions of the earth
  • 6: how the earth hangs in space
  • 7: when the universe began
  • 8: how oceans work
  • 9: clouds and darkness
  • 12: daytime
  • 16: the source of ocean water
  • 17: death
  • 19: the source of light
  • 22: snow, hail
  • 24: wind
  • 25: lightning, thunder
  • 26: rain and plant growth
  • 28: why it rains
  • 29: why it snows or frosts
  • 31: stars, constellations
  • 34: commanding the clouds
  • 35: sending lightning
  • 37: count the clouds
  • 38: draught
  • 39: feeding lions
  • 41: feeding ravens

(Job 39)

  • 1: how goats reproduce
  • 5: how animals survive in the wild
  • 9: taming unicorns
  • 13: peacocks and ostriches
  • 19: horses
  • 26: hawks and their flight patterns
  • 27: eagles and their nests

And how much more is there that could be mentioned!

As God has created and governs His creation, we should bow before our Maker.

 

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Notes: Genesis 2-3

Genesis 2

The creation of male and female humans is found in Genesis 1:27; details of that creation are found in Genesis 2. Remember this style as your read the Bible. Often a subject or person is introduced briefly, and then details follow.

Remember also that chapter divisions in the Bible were added apart from God’s inspiration and at a much later time; and sometimes these man-made divisions should be ignored lest continuity of thought be disrupted.

1-3: A 7th day of rest, a Sabbath. Surely God wasn’t tired and in need of physical rest. What God did here, and what so often happens throughout the history of God’s directing His people, is designed to teach them a lesson about God. The 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) looks back to this event as the example of resting from our labor in order that we might worship God regularly.

3: Was this 7th day of rest the conclusion forever of God’s creativity?

4-7: Do not assume that the “laws of nature” on earth have not changed. We know by experience what rain is; but there was no rain in the Garden of Eden. God, who created the earth and the “science” behind it, can suspend or change the “laws of nature” in whatever manner and for whatever duration suits His holy, wise, and beneficent purposes. Remember that God is always a “hands-on” Creator and you will better understand subsequent events. We call them “miracles”, but they are normal activities for an all-powerful God.

7: Man was but a statue of dust until God breathed life into him and man became a living soul. All creatures receive their life from God (Acts 17:25; Job 12:10, 33:4); and should God withdraw His breath, Man will die (Psalm 104:29).

8-15: The garden of Eden must have been a sizeable place.

9: Two special trees in the middle of the garden—the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

15: Man’s occupation. Is Man still responsible to dress and keep his environment?

16-17: The first commandment? Permission granted to freely choose to eat the fruit from all the trees except one. Here is Man’s free will expressed and encouraged by God. But with limitation.

17: Violation of the commandment will bring certain punishment—death. Many a child has pilfered fruit and received a thrashing—but death?

18-25: While the products of the six Creation days were declared good, and Man’s existence deemed “very good”, yet God wasn’t finished. God’s design was for male and female humans to interact in a special relationship, helping one another.

19: Adam was not a caveman. He demonstrated intelligence and verbal skills in the recognition and naming of the animals.

19-20: Many animals were available, but God would not have Man be attached to them. (Clearly bestiality is unnatural; and one wonders about those who become overly attached to pets.)

21-23: While Adam was asleep and unaware, God was preparing just the right wife for him. When God brought the woman to the man, Adam quickly (and wisely) accepted her as one with him.

24: This first marriage was intended to be a pattern for all subsequent marriages. God had united them; and He had no intention of allowing them or anyone else to break that union (Matthew 19:4-6).

24: The oneness of this union has ramifications for those who seek sexual gratification outside of marriage (1 Corinthians 6:16).

25: Nakedness and shame. Keep reading into chapter 3 to see how this changes.

Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:33; 10:11).

 

Genesis 3

It seems like only yesterday that Adam and Eve were comfortably settled in Paradise. And today they lose it all for a little piece of fruit.

This chapter can be summed up by the following New Testament commentary:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 )

 

1: A talking serpent who questions God’s commandment.

2-3: And a woman who adds her own rules to God’s. Many churchmen today do the same thing—adding their own rules and regulations to God’s. See Revelation 22:18-19.

4-5: The father of lies at work. See John 8:44. First he denies the truth of God’s word, and then he suggests that God is guarding His position by denying Adam and Eve the knowledge of good and evil.

6: As we all know, the woman looked and took some of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband. Napoleon is reported to have said “I came, I saw, I conquered.” How much sin could be avoided if we were mindful of the children’s song that teaches “Be careful little eyes what you see.”

7-8: What newfound knowledge did they possess? That they were naked before God. That they had disobeyed God. That they should be covered. Innocence lost can never be reclaimed.

And what did they do? The tried to cover up their shame, their nakedness with aprons of fig leaves; and they tried to hide from God when they heard Him approaching—the same things that children have been doing for centuries when faced with being discovered in disobedience: they try to cover it up and they try to hide from consequences.

9: God asked this question for Adam’s sake. We need to hear God ask this question of us, too: Where are we? Are we right with God or are we in a sinful state of estrangement from our Creator?

Are we hiding in the bushes, or are we walking in the Light with our glorious God?

11-13: How often do you blame others for your sin?

 

1 Timothy 2

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

14: God doesn’t question the serpent; would you expect the serpent to answer truthfully?

15: The gospel in Genesis. Here is the promise that one born of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. This “seed” of the woman is Christ, who will suffer at the hands of the serpent, but who will ultimately triumph over sin.

16: The woman will have pain in bearing children and yet it is via child-bearing that her ultimate salvation is accomplished. Further, her relationship to her husband is to be submissive to his leadership.

17: The man must now work, and work hard, to provide for his family. And the work of tending to plants is complicated by the effect that Man’s sin has had on the world around him. The easy life has come to an end.

19: Remind me where I came from…

20: All of us are from the same blood.

21: Sinful Man must be covered; but the product of his sinful hands can never be sufficient covering. The material was ill-suited and the style was corrupt.

22-23: Adam and Eve were evicted for having broken the terms of occupation—they ate forbidden fruit and now they must leave.

24. Yet God mercifully placed Cherubim and a flaming sword at the east end of the garden to keep the way back to God.

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