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Archive for the ‘Old Testament’ Category

Firsts in Genesis 4

Posted in Bible, Genesis, Old Testament, tagged , , on September 22, 2012|

There is a reason Genesis is called the book of beginnings.  We are now in the 4th chapter of Genesis and still finding firsts.

verse 1 – First record of intercourse (“Adam knew Eve”)

verse 1 – First record of conception

verse 3 – First record of an offering to the LORD

verse 4 – First record of God respecting an offering

verse 5 – First record of God not respecting an offering (first time we find “unacceptable” worship)

verse 8 – First recorded murder/fratricide

verse 16 – First time someone is described as going “out from the presence of the LORD.”

verse 17 – First record of a city being built

verse 19 – First recorded incidence of bigamy

verse 21 – First record of music/musical instruments

verse 21 – First record of craftsmen working in bronze and iron.

verse 26 – First record of men calling on the name of the LORD.

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Firsts in Genesis 3

Posted in Bible, Genesis, Old Testament, tagged , , on September 3, 2012|

As we mentioned in 2 previous posts, the book of Genesis, is a book of origins or beginnings.  We found many origins or “firsts” in Chapters 1 and 2, but there are more to be found in Chapter 3:

First misrepresentation of God’s word (by Satan verse 1)

First sin (violation of God’s clear command)

First invitation to another to sin (Eve gives Adam to eat)

First religious act (cover themselves to approach God)

First time nakedness becomes an issue

First time man hid from God

First time fear is mentioned

First time a husband blames a wife for his sin

First time a wife blames the devil for her sin

First curse on an animal

First curse on a person

First curse on the ground

First mention of childbirth

First time Eve’s name is mentioned

First animal sacrifice (verse 21 – God made skins to cover them)

First mention of leaving the garden

First mention of eternal life

First mention of Adam working the land to eat (farming)

First mention of Cherubim

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Firsts in Genesis 2

Posted in Bible, Genesis, God, Old Testament, tagged , , , , on August 20, 2012|

As we mentioned in the last post, the book of Genesis, is a book of origins or beginnings.  We found many origins or “firsts” in Chapter 1, but there are more to be found in Chapter 2:

Verse 7 – First record of rest

Verse 8 – First garden

Verse 9 – First record of Tree of Life and Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Verse 10 – First record of a river

Verse 11 – First record of a job (Adam was to tend and keep the garden)

Verse 16 – First record of God giving a command to Adam.

Verse 20 – Origin of the names of animals

Verse 21 – First surgery

Verse 22 – First woman

Verse 23 – First words of Adam

Verse 24 – First Marriage

Verse 25 – First husband and wife to wear matching outfits

If I missed one, post a comment and let me know.

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Firsts in Genesis 1

Posted in Bible, Genesis, Old Testament, tagged , , , , on August 19, 2012|

It is not surprising that a book entitled “Genesis” , which means origins or beginnings, has within it, many important “firsts.” For example, in verse 3 we have the origin of light. In verse  5, we have the first morning and the first day. In verse 6, we have the first atmosphere (firmament). In verse 9, we have the first appearance of dry land. In verse 10, we have the first seas. In verse 11, we have the first grass, the first herb that yields seed, and the first fruit trees. In verse 14, we have the origin of the stars and seasons. In verse 16, we have the origin of the sun and the moon.  In verse 20, we have the first sea creatures and the first birds. In verse 22, we have the first blessing recorded. In verse 24, we have the first land creatures. In verse 27, we have the origin of man.

Those are all I saw.  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know if I missed any.

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Genesis: Book of Origins

Posted in Bible, Genesis, Old Testament, tagged , , , , , on May 18, 2012|

According to Dr. Henry M. Morris, in his book The Genesis Record, the following are some of the origins that are given in the book of Genesis:

  • Origin of the Universe
  • Origin of order and complexity
  • Origin of the solar system
  • Origin of the atmosphere and hydrosphere
  • Origin of life
  • Origin of man
  • Origin of marriage
  • Origin of evil
  • Origin of language
  • Origin of government
  • Origin of culture
  • Origin of nations
  • Origin of religion
  • Origin of the chosen people

As you are reading through Genesis, consider what God says about these various subjects.

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Easter in Numbers?

Posted in Bible, Crucifixion, Easter, Old Testament, tagged , , , , , on April 1, 2012|

Easter can surely be seen in Numbers, the 4th of the 5 books of the Pentateuch as the books of the law are often called.

Serpent on a pole

In Numbers 21, when the people had spoken against Moses and God, God sent fiery serpents among the people.  The serpents bit the people and many died.  When the Moses prayed for the LORD to have mercy on the people, God told Moses to make “a fiery serpent and put it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.”   It was just as God had said.  God provided an antidote to save those who were otherwise doomed.

We know that this story speaks of the Son of Man because Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3 “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”   This time God was offering up His own son on a pole to save the lives of those who would believe.

The idea of a serpent on the pole being able to heal those who look on it seems too simple.  It is the same with the cross.  How simple is it?  Jesus said that whoever believes in the Son of Man, will have eternal life.  The cross was the way to get the attention of the lost and dying.  “Look up here!”  He said.  “You can be saved!”

Jesus foretold his own death by crucifixion.  In John 12, it is recorded that Jesus said, “If I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all peoples to Myself.” It goes on to say in the verse following, just so no doubt is left in the reader’s mind, “This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” 

Easter in Numbers.

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Easter in Genesis? There’s more . . .

Posted in Bible, Blood, Easter, Old Testament, tagged , , , on March 23, 2012|

The need for Easter began with man’s expulsion from the garden, but Genesis (and much of the history of Israel as it is documented in the Old Testament) chronicles the depravity of man and the righteous judgments of God.

These stories are warnings to the heart of man which says, ” God is dead” or ” God forgets” or “God doesn’t care” or “God is only love”.  The truth of the heart of God is that He does care, He is righteous and holy, and He wants none to perish, but some will perish.  The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  Psalm 1:5-6.

Consider evidences of the judgment of God in Genesis alone:

  • The flood
  • Tower of Babel
  • Sodom & Gomorrah

Just as He has judged the wickedness of man before, so He will judge again.  In the final judgment, only those who are covered in the blood of Jesus will stand.

Easter is about the blood of Jesus poured out for a lost and dying world.

Does the blood of Jesus cover you?  If not, how will you stand in the judgment?   It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.  Hebrews 9:27

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Easter in Genesis?

Posted in Bible, Easter, Genesis, Old Testament, tagged , , on March 21, 2012|

It is no mystery to the student of scripture that every book of the Bible has a little Easter running through it.  Easter is all about love, God’s love.

The heart of Easter pre-dates creation.  Before man was in need of a Savior, the God who loves enough to give us Easter was.

The need for Easter, however, can be found squarely in Genesis.  When man violated the one rule God had given him, man’s perfect fellowship with God was broken.  Easter represents man’s only hope, his one way back into that fellowship with God.

God is holy.  He alone is holy.  Sinful man* cannot approach or have close relationship with a holy God without dealing with his or her sin problem.  Sin is an abomination to God.

Just as darkness and light cannot co-exist in the physical realm, so holiness and sin cannot co-exist in the spiritual realm.

The promise of Easter is found in Genesis 3:15.  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

*For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.  James 2:10

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Me, a priest?

Posted in Bible, Bible Study, Church, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged , , , , , on January 12, 2012|

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.   1 Peter 2:9

high priest

Peter, for all his awkwardness during the earthly ministry of Jesus, definitely pulled things together when he wrote his epistles.  This verse in his first epistle is just marvelous.  The whole section in 1 Peter 2 is worth an in-depth study.  The mention of us (the church) being a priesthood is especially interesting given its very “Jewish”  flavor.

Of course, there is nothing new under the sun and Peter lifted this imagery, probably very intentionally, from Exodus  19:5-6 where Moses is given this to tell the children of Israel by God:

 ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

A couple of quick observations:

  • Priests in the Old Testament had privileges that no other member of the society Israel, namely they were the only ones with access to God and the only ones allowed to make sacrifices to God
  • The limited access to God of the Old Testament was represented by the separations in the Tabernacle (Gate, Court, Holy Place, Most Holy Place) and later the temple.  The veil represented the separation between God and man.  Only the High Priest could go past the veil into the Most Holy Place and then only once a year to make atonement for the people
  • When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn and the separation between God and man was removed
  • We have access to God by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross
Peter reminds us from whence we have come:  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  1 Peter 2:10  It is good news!

As a final thought, let us consider our purpose as this “chosen generation,”  “this royal priesthood,” and “this holy nation.”  For Peter does tell us the why:  “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9

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Finding Genesis in the Christmas story

Posted in Bible, Books of the Bible, Christmas, Genesis, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged , , , , on December 19, 2011|

Don’t look so surprised.  Genesis is not some lofty preamble to the Bible, but rather it is its spine, giving support and reinforcement for many of the later events which are recorded in other books of the Bible.

In Luke 1, starting in verse 26, we read of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary and announcement of God’s plan for her life, a plan that would be the salvation of all.  In the exchange between Mary and Gabriel regarding this baby that she was to bear, we see a glimpse of Genesis 1.

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.”  Luke 1:34-35

In Genesis 1:2, we read “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”    Just before He created the world, God hovered.  Then in a moment, God spoke and the world was created.  It was His glory shown forth.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.  Psalm 19:1

And so it was with Mary.  The Holy Spirit came upon her, the power of the Highest overshadowed her and the glory of God was once more shown forth.  God became man.  The Christ was born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and a Great Light came to those in darkness.  Promises kept.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.  1 Timothy 3:16

Jesus is the glory of God shown forth.  It was the glory of God to not spare His own son, but deliver Him up for us all that we might have the chance to know God, to fellowship with God, to live in the glory of God forever.

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.  Revelation 21:23

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