On the eve of the 2nd day of this new year - I sit in the corner of my great room, in my favourite chair, with my "comfort" pad lol (heating pad) and there are many thoughts swirling in this brain of mine! Normally they say to page dump first thing in the morning - but here I am about to page dump because otherwise I will no doubt crawl into bed with the same thought swirling, and that never serves me well!
So here I go. Many of the thoughts come from the combination of my reading for today (Thanks Kilcona for encouraging this) and for the thoughts that came out while I was walking (yep, I began again so I am again #barefootinblundstones)
We are going through the Bible from Genesis, and include 1 Psalm, but most of my thoughts are from the stories in the first Book of the Bible. Today the focused reading was Genesis 4-7
Here is what I noted:
Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd and God loved Abel's offering. I don't think this is about meat vs grain. But I believe it was about giving God our offering off the top!
Cain killed his brother! WHAT? How does blood do that to blood? Later as I read it says that Lamech who is like the great great great grandson of Cain - also murdered a man. Is this the first we see of generational sin?
Cain killing his brother was about jealousy! It was around here that the verse came into reading about "sin is crouching at the door eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Okay, this got me to thinking about some of my struggle with weight and specifically with food. This was not what God was talking to Cain about (food) but I can not help but think of how this verse would/could apply to me today. My struggle with weight, and with eating too much is not a new revelation to anyone who knows me. And this verse sort of made me think about food. I do not believe that eating or that any food in itself is sinful. However I believe that when I make food my idol, and/or run to food to fill a need in my life, then I think that is wrong, and definitely not helpful. This is a much bigger conversation that I may or may not every have with people but suffice to say, I think that the enemy longs to use whatever he can to cause me to give in, to make something my "go-to" instead of God and I think that is where the problem lies, and where sin can be crouching at my door!! It made me think of when we lived in Anola and we had barn cats. There was one in particular that would crouch by the door, and take every opportunity to run in when the door opened a crack. I think this is what the Scripture is saying ... sin is there crouching, waiting for the smallest crack. Scripture says "sin is eager to control you" but you have a part of play in this! The enemy is not the victor!
Cain killed Abel but then God "marked" Cain so that no one would kill him. Today I wondered - what did the mark look like. It was obviously visible. What are your thoughts? The mark was enough for people to leave him alone.
Have you ever wondered if the seal of the Holy Spirit upon you, is visible to others?
I loved hearing about Enoch and how he walked with God and then God took him. He didn't die. he just walked with God and then he was gone! Imagine if God did that today - what would YOUR family think? Would people look for you? Or would people just know - here today and then gone with God! What a thought!
Noah - oh boy - how incredible to be him. He was blameless and loved the LORD GOD enough to do exactly as God told him. OKAY remember that it had not ever rained like that before. Noah had no clue what would happen other than what God told him. And then the skies opened and the rain fell - and fell and fell and fell and fell ....' And inside the floating barn - what did that sound like? smell like? Can you imagine? We plug our noses when we pass a farmer spreading manure on his property ... what did that floating ark smell like?
If there was an ark to be built today - who would God find to build it. How did Noah have the courage to just jump right in and do what God asked. Noah - build an ark. Okay God
At one point, God decreases the number of years for people to live, to 120. Interesting. But even more so that Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth. I. could. not. even. imagine! I am tired enough at 64, without giving birth to children. But 500 years old? With years like that - when would someone say they were having a mid life crisis!! lol ...
NOW - chapter 6 and the word "giant Nephrites" and that they lived on earth and fathered children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times" ... I think I need to do some more reading on this verse!! HOWEVER the verse a couple verses later that talks about the LORD being sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth and that it broke his heart!! WOW ... and then came the flood!
There are so many questions - or so many ways that I can imagine when I read Scripture. There are places to drop into the story and imagine ourselves and perhaps try to imagine our response. Let's face it, most of us like to know what is ahead, and like to have the plan. Too bad life just isn't so predictable.
This is day 2 of the reading plan and these stories although very familiar, continue to bring out a new thought or question or inspiration. So, looking forward to tomorrow's reading.
Just a few thoughts on Genesis 4-7. Are YOU reading through a plan? Maybe you want to join. It is always more fun when you can talk about the Scripture portion, and joining the group gives you the chance to do just that!! Thanks Alexis Tjart for administrating the group!!
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