Another Genealogy.  This time the descendants of Noah.  And what did I notice as I took time to read them?  That the descendants of Ham settled some very familiar places, not because the people were faithful to God, but rather enemies.  In this list we find Babylon, Sodom, Gomorrah, we see the Philistines, the Hittites, the Amorites and many more that will become big players in the story of Israel.  Ham was Noah’s youngest son, of whom it is recorded in today’s reading how he disgraced his father and tried to get his brothers to participate in that dishonor.  The two older sons however would not partake in the sin of their brother.  You can read all about it in Genesis 9:20-27.  I think we have another glimpse into the lives of people who choose to live apart from God.  It is not easy to contemplate the result our actions may have on future generations.

What really strikes me today however, the thing I hear God saying to me, is found in Matthew where Jesus begins calling His disciples.  First, He comes to Peter and Andrew as they are casting their nets into the sea: “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:19-20) Then He finds James and John in a boat with their father and He calls out to them to come too and this is their response: “Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:22) It is the response of the disciples that I am focused on.  Their immediate response to Jesus.  They left everything they knew-their comfort zone so to speak-and immediately responded to Jesus by following Him.  They didn’t get distracted by anything else-their lives were now to be totally entwined with Jesus’.  And I wonder about me?  Do I leave everything comfortable to follow Him?  Do I jump up in the morning to spend time with Him?  Because He is the best thing in my life.  Do I love to sit at His feet and listen to His word?  Because His words are life for me.  Am I too in love with the world to leave it all behind and follow Jesus?  Not tomorrow, but today, this very moment.   I call myself a follower of Jesus, but do I live like one?  Do I live like He is the Lord of my life?  Do I really let Him have complete control over my life?

May grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ be upon you dear reader.
Debra

Genealogies can be a bit of a chore to read.  I admit I am often tempted to just skim over them. I encourage you to actually read them this year, slowly, word for word. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

I submit to you that this must then include even genealogies.  But what is the point of the one we find in Genesis 5?  I’m not sure I have all the answers here but let me share what did strike me this morning.  First, I noticed that this genealogy starts with God’s creation of Adam and Eve.  This genealogy then is tied very closely to the One who created us.  It is also very detailed giving the ages at the time of the named son’s birth and how long the individual lived after the birth of that son.  There is great controversy about these genealogies when it comes to just how much time actually passed, but I do find it interesting to note that if there are no gaps in Genesis 5 then Noah was alive during the lives of everyone listed except for Adam, Seth and Enoch.  Imagine knowing your great, great, great, great, great grandfather!

While I only ever remember five of these men’s names, a new one is standing out to me today…Lamech, Noah’s father.  The reason it stands out is because yesterday in chapter 4 I read about another Lamech; the great, great, great grandson of Cain.  The genealogy of Cain found in Chapter 4 of Genesis is a much shorter record and not at as detailed as the one found in Genesis 5. The Lamech in Cain’s line does not to appear to be a good person and is the only one written about in any detail, but we learn that he too was a murderer as well as the first polygamist mentioned in the Bible.  And here is where I saw a purpose in the genealogies.

First, we have Cain’s, a man who has been separated from God and is living life on his own terms.  His family follows suit, and though they are credited with great accomplishments as nomadic farmers and for developing music and metallurgy, they do everything apart from God.  Their focus is on worldly success.

Second, we have the Lamech in Adam’s genealogy, the genealogy of a family that has chosen to live as God designed-in marriage as well as in valuing life.  We don’t read of any great worldly accomplishments, but we do read of Enoch who enjoyed a close relationship with God and was “taken” by God one day in a way other than death.  And then we have this Lamech who fathered Noah and imparted to him a love for the Lord. 

What a striking contrast between these two family lines-one chose a life away from God that leads to death-as all of Cain’s descendants were killed in the flood- the other chose a life of faithfulness to God which leads to life; as Seth’s descendants were spared (important to note here that Methuselah and Lamech both died before the flood.) to continue the family line that would eventually bring us the Messiah.  Here is the Gospel in a genealogy.

I would like to close with a verse from Matthew.  It is Jesus’ response to Satan when He was being tempted:” People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” (Matthew 4:4, NLT)  Oh, let me encourage you to feed on EVERY word of God.

May grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ be upon you dear reader.
Debra

“Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” These words from my reading in Proverbs today are a great reminder of where I should always start…with the LORD, with the Maker of heaven and earth, with the One who created me in the image of God.  In this particular case fear can also be translated as reverence, a profound respect and love for God.  This year as I read once again through the Bible, I have decided to underline all of the references to God that I come across, whether it be God the Father, God the Son, or the Holy Spirit.  My goal in reading my Bible is simply to know God more and so I want to slow down this year and really consider what I learn about Him as I read.

So what did I learn today? (And these things don’t have to be new things, just what the text reveals)

God made everything, including the serpent who tempted Eve.

God walked in the Garden of Eden and He talked with the people He created. He was present with them in a way that I long for and wait for.  What a thought! To walk and talk with God in person!

God as the Creator, made the rules that were to be followed and He also chose the punishment for disobedience-punishments unique to the individuals involved.  The serpent, Adam, and Eve did not all get the exact same result for their disobedience and lack of reverence for God. But all resulted in hardships that would forever impact them.

God knows everything, both good and evil.

Today’s reading also brought my focus on my obedience to God.  He speaks to me very clearly through His word and the question for me is, how do I respond.  Do I serve Him with a reverent fear?  Do I submit to His Son as I should? (Psalm 2:11)  Cain and Abel’s story is a perfect example of this kind of heart for God.  Abel had it and brought his best as a sacrifice to God.  It was actually a sacrifice on his part because it cost him something of value.  Cain on the other hand brought God less than his best, his offering was not a sacrifice that cost him anything.  It is after God corrected Cain that his troubles really began, he did not respond well to the correction.  Instead of returning with an offering that truly reverenced God he became angry and dejected.  Even after God warned him that he was heading down a dangerous path with his response.  God tells him very pointedly that if he responds correctly God will accept him, but if not that sin is waiting to attack and destroy Cain.  I can’t help but think of the different ways I have responded to God when He has needed to correct me-and that is pretty much on a daily basis by the way.  Sometimes I still choose sin, even after all that has been done for me by the blood of Jesus whom I call my Lord.  I do not reverence Him enough even now.  And while I know that I have been saved from the result of sin in my life, it still has daily impacts when I let sin rule over me instead of submitting to God.  Psalm 2 paints a picture for us of those very choices.  By choosing to serve the Lord with reverent fear and rejoice with trembling, by submitting to God’s royal Son we will find our joy in Him as our protector, our Savior, but there is a dire warning within the Psalm for those who make a different choice.

May grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ be upon you dear reader.
Debra