My grandchildren and I have begun a Bible study. I think it is the most important thing for them to have a knowledge of scripture. We began our studies in The Beginning, Genesis Chapter 1. I started here because it is the beginning. I also started here because I have recently read opinions that we should not discuss or teach Genesis creation, because it is a stumbling block to belief for most people. However, the beginning chapters of Genesis give us a wonderful spiritual knowledge and foundation. So, I thumbed my nose at the Genesis silencers, and we forged ahead. The kids found it fascinating. They pointed out that the Book title is "The First Book of Moses". I was able to explain to them that as Moses entered God's presence on the mountain, he received this revelation. In fact, he spent so much time in the presence of God, that his face shone with the glory light of God.
The first foundational truth we discussed is that God, as revealed in this chapter, is "Elohim". We find out immediately that God is a plurality from this name. We are introduced to the Word, Jesus, which Elohim spoke in order to create (Jn. 1:1-3), and we meet the Spirit of Elohim, who hovered over the void and deeply dark condition of the earth. The meaning of "hovered" is to fold wings around, to lovingly embrace. The Spirit of Elohim embraced and loved this mass of nothingness with its fathoms of deep darkness into the creative power, the Word, of Elohim.
We discussed that Elohim spoke creation into being, and how we also create and destroy with our words, requiring a large responsibility from each of us. "Death and life is in the power (yad-hand) of the tongue (wedge, slander, accuse); they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." (Prov. 18:21).
The fact that Elohim began His creation, or re-creation, by speaking light into being was also interesting to the kids and to me. As the created light (ore-light of life, light of a lamp, light of instruction, light of prosperity, light of day, lightning) of Elohim divided the darkness, we learned that light is always greater, more powerful, than darkness. We learned at this point that Jesus is the Light of the world, and He told us that we are also that same light. Darkness must retreat in the presence of light, and cannot overpower light (Jn. 1:1-5).
I also discovered and learned something from verses 11-18 as we read them. It was something I had not thought about before. I wondered why Elohim waited until the fourth day to create the sun, moon, and stars. In v. 11-13, on the third day, Elohim spoke vegetation into being on the earth. This vegetation must, by His command, contain the power of perpetual life. It must produce seed and fruit. This vegetation would eventually supply food for the animals and mankind that would be coming (v. 29-30).
Immediately thereafter, Elohim established the Light Cycle that would be needed to support the vegetation. One of the reasons He created the sun, moon, and stars in v. 14-18, was for the creation of seasons. Plants have a Vegetative Cycle, and a Flowering Cycle. For the Vegetative Cycle, the producing of stalks and leaves, a plant needs at least 16-18 hours of light, and 6-9 hours of darkness. This is the light required for photosynthesis to occur. This is the light/darkness that comes during spring and into summer. In order to switch from the Vegetative Cycle to the Flowering Cycle, to produce seeds and fruit, the hours of light and darkness must be balanced to about 12 hours each. This begins to happen as the summer season moves towards the fall. The hours of light and darkness needed for the growing cycle of plants must be regulated, and the sun and moon and stars provided this regulation of light. Various scientists did not discover the process of photosynthesis in plants until the 1600's-1700's, and it is still being studied and updated today (Calvin Cycle, UC, Berkeley). Elohim, of course, knew it all along, and showed it to Moses.
As interesting as this is from a scientific standpoint, I find it even more valuable from a spiritual standpoint. Elohim does nothing without also creating the perfect provision for it. He will create a sun, moon, and stars, in part, to support a blade of grass, or an apple tree. How much more, and how much more bountifully, will He make the perfect provision for each of us?
"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Mt. 6:28-33
If we are struggling through these times, it is good to remember the incredible wisdom, knowledge, understanding and provision of Elohim as taught to us in Genesis 1.
Our Father reveals His provision in Genesis 1.
High Praise (Song of Job)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeORL0ZThWA
I remember very clearly the moment I was saved.
I was listening to a discussion on TV about prophecies in the Old Testament that were direct references to the Messiah, Jesus. I had never heard about Jesus being in the Old Testament.
So, being curious, I got my dusty Bible, given to me when I was 12, off the shelf, and tried to follow along with the verses being discussed. The final reference given was Isaiah 53. I found Isaiah, and began reading as the TV discussion continued, but faded away, in the background.
As I read this passage, something happened to me. I sat stunned. I think my mouth was hanging open. I had an experience, an encounter, that would be difficult for someone else to understand if they have never had a similar experience. After reading the chapter from Isaiah, there were three things I instantly "knew". In that moment, I knew these three things like I knew my name, and where I lived-with complete certainty. Those three things were:
- God is Who He says He is.
- Jesus is Who He says He is.
- Every word in this Book, the Bible, is true.
As important as it is that I now "knew" the first two things, I am so very happy that the Holy Spirit didn't stop there. It was very important, equally important, for me to know the third truth- that every word in the Bible is true. From that moment on, I was not satisfied until I had read every word of the Bible. I couldn't wait to find out all of this truth.
I know there are believers who have little interest in reading, or studying the scriptures. I don't understand that because of what I experienced. I'm glad that my Father in heaven made sure that I understood and received that third truth. My life has not been the same, and the depths and the riches of His written Word have meant everything to me. It has helped me, changed me, saved me, educated me, and the process continues.
It is too late for anyone to try to convince me that scripture is untrue, inaccurate, or outdated. I already "know" that these arguments are dismissable. Scripture does not need man to prove it true. It proves itself true over and over again. It has been proven true in my own personal experience, so I am not about to question its genuineness at this point. Scripture to me is not a fairy tale, nor a religious doctrine to be debated. It is something that I experienced. One cannot deny an experience.
However, I am concerned for those of faith who do not read the scriptures, and do not study them. When even religious leaders begin to say and write* that passages in scripture are not to be believed, nor taught as truth, how can some Christians ever keep their faith in God, and in Jesus? What god are they believing in? One that has given them a book of lies? Are they saying, "Yes, I believe in God, but not in what He said or did", or "Yes, I believe in Jesus, but not in the miracles He performed, nor the prophecies He spoke"? Which God and Jesus are they believing in then?
In a time when faith is questioned and criticized at every turn, at least "know" the God, the Jesus, in whom we profess to believe. We're going to need Him.
"I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name."
Psalm 138:2
Our Father has exalted His word even above His name.
Heavenly Father, God of Truth, teach us, lead us and guide us in Your Word. Your Son is Your Word become flesh. By Your word, the heavens and earth were created, and by Your Word, they are maintained in place. By Your Word, we know You, Your heart, Your will, Your promises. By the power and truth of Your Word, we are saved, healed, delivered. We are set free by the Word that we know. Give us a hunger, and thirst for Your Word, as well as for Your righteousness. Let our children be taught Your Word, so great will be their peace.
We thank You for the precious gift of Your Word to us, and teach us how to keep it in our hearts forever. In Jesus' name we ask, AMEN.
"This I Believe"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-m9sRRN9MA
"Your Love (I Have Been Touched, Changed, Healed)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feHkL_zuUwc
*referenced article
To borrow an expression, this is a tale of two cities. It is also a tale of two men, both called "righteous" in Scripture, who are on two different journeys, with two very different destinations in mind, even though for part of the way, over 1,000 miles, they walked side by side. The fact that their destinations were different, affected their futures.
The two who walked together for a time were Abraham and his nephew, Lot.
As they walked together they prospered. Because each of their flocks and herds had increased so greatly, they could no longer graze and water the two flocks together. Disputes and arguments developed because of the close proximity of the flocks and shepherds (Gen. 13:6-7).
Abraham told Lot to separate himself from him and he offered his nephew first choice of where he would like to move and settle his flock. Perhaps Abraham began to suspect that he and Lot were not looking for the same thing. Lot saw the distant green valley which looked like the best location, and made his decision (Gen. 13:10-13). Abraham went in the opposite direction. Abraham did not depend on the greenness of a location in order to prosper. He depended upon God. Lot was looking for a place of increase, and Abraham was looking for a place where he could continue to hear and see God, continue to be in His presence, which also happens to be a place of increase.
In this green valley that Lot chose, stood the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Others coveted this valley, and these prosperous cities as well, and war between kings broke out over them. In this large war between multiple kings, Lot was taken captive with many others, and their possessions were taken as well (Gen. 14:11-12). Abraham, with the help of God, rescued Lot, and all of his possessions. After this miraculous deliverance, Abraham came face to face with the supernatural priest, Melchizedek ("King of Righteousness"), King of Salem ("Peace"), a manifestation before His birth as Christ, the King of Righteousness, and Prince of Peace, Himself. Lot, on the other hand, had returned to Sodom ("burning, conflagration").
We know what happened in God's judgment of sinful Sodom and Gomorrah ("ruined heap, treat as a slave, tyranny"). Angels had to physically pull Lot and his family out of Sodom, in order to rescue them out of the judgment that was about to fall (Gen. 19:16).
Lot begged the angels to let him go to nearby Zoar, rather than into the mountain as the angels had instructed. From Zoar, Lot's wife looked back at the destruction of Sodom, and became a pillar of salt. The word "Zoar" means insignificance, to grow small, to become despised, mean. This place was Lot's preference.
Abraham also looked upon the destruction of Sodom, but he looked from the place where he had previously stood before the LORD in intercession: the plain, or terebinths, of Mamre.
The word "plain" or "terebinth" means great tree, oak grove. The root meaning is the word for the ram of sacrifice, the ram from whose skin the tabernacle of God would be constructed in the future, the strength of the ram, chief, mighty man. The root word also means pillar, door post, door jambs (imagery of Passover). "Mamre" means strength, also, and fatness. It means to flap the wings in order to hasten, lift up, and rise.
Ultimately, the difference between the two men was that Lot was looking for Sodom and Zoar. Abraham was looking for a city built by God, the place of his inheritance:
"For he looked for a city which hath foundations ("principles, system of truth established, set forth, ordained"), whose builder ("founder, bring forth, travail, be born, produce fruit from seed") and maker ("author, work, undertaking for a mass of people knitted together") is God." Heb. 11:10
Two righteous men, two cities, two outcomes. Abraham became the father of nations and the father of faith in God. Lot became the father of Moab ("seed of his father"), a son from incest (Gen. 19:36-37), and a nation that was a frequent opponent of Israel.
Though both men knew God, and were accounted righteous, their lives turned out very differently. Their lives were determined, in part, upon the spiritual city for which they searched. Lot's choices were based on the outward appearance of wealth and success. Perhaps he sought a life of comfort and convenience that these cities represented. Even though his choice resulted in his captivity, he went back to it. Although his soul was vexed deeply by the sin he saw daily in this city (2 Pet. 2:7-8), he remained until he was forced out by angels. His family, and his future generations, were threatened and ultimately destroyed by his choice. We look at Lot's life and we see the errors, and the fruit of the errors. We face the same choices everyday. We live in the midst of Sodom, ourselves. What will make our choices different from Lot's? Perhaps we need to keep Abraham in mind:
Abraham travelled to and remained in places where he stood before God, and interceded before God. His reliance was upon the covenant, provision, prophetic promises and strength of God. His generations were numbered as many as the stars in the sky, and the grains of sand by the sea. His life continues to teach us about faith, dedication, and obedience to God. Scripture tells us that he continually sought the City of God.
God allows us the ability to make choices, but once He has put the knowledge and direction of His City into our hearts, all of our choices should lead us there. All else is built upon sinking sand.
This is a tale of two men and two cities.
Our Father teaches us to look for His City.
