Archive for the ‘Major Stories’ Category
Genesis 9:1-17
August 8th, 2010
Quick Summary:
God blesses Noah and his sons, and the command is given to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. The fear of humans is put into all animals, and they disperse to do their own filling of the earth. Then God confirms his covenant with Noah and all his descendants (us) that he will never again destroy all the things on Earth with another flood. The rainbow is the sign of this promise.
Genesis 8:1-22
July 18th, 2010
Quick Summary:
God does not forget his promise to Noah, keeps him safe. As the waters recede the ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat. It takes months and months for the water to recede enough for dry land to show, and then for it to be dry enough to leave the ark.
Finally the Lord tells Noah to come out of the ark, a full year and 10 days after the rains began. God says to bring out all the animals so they will spread and out multiply on the earth. Noah builds an altar and makes a sacrifice of some of the clean animals, and the Lord then promises he will never strike down every living thing again.
Genesis 7:1-24
July 18th, 2010
Quick Summary:
Noah enters the ark wtih his wife, sons and their wives. Also entering the ark are 2 of every kind of animal (male & female) and 7 male/female pairs of the clean animals and birds of the sky. God tells Noah it will rain for 40 days & 40 nights… and once again Noah does everything he is commanded to do.
The great flood begins in Noah’s six-hundreth year with water coming from the watery depths as well as the sky above. The waters surge and grow until even the high mountains are covered with at least 20 feet of water. All that were in the ark were saved, but everything on dry land was wiped out (it doesn’t mention the fish). All human life was extinguished except for Noah and his family.
Genesis 6:1-22 – Mankind corrupt and warned
October 28th, 2009
Quick Summary:
Mankind has already deteriorated into sinful and evil ways. Those that were followers of God began freely mixing and marrying anybody they chose and quickly lost their distinction of being God’s followers.
The Lord was actually sorry that he had created man and expressed desire to wipe the Earth clean of their presence. But Noah found favor with God, who promises to save him, his wife & sons and their wives.
God gives specific instructions on the size and dimensions of the Ark that is going to keep them safe in the coming deluge. It is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet high with three decks! The reason for the size is that Noah will be sheltering at least two of every kind of animal (male & female). It says in the Bible, that Noah does everything asked of him.
Genesis 4:1 – 4:16 = “Cain & Abel”
September 3rd, 2009
Quick Summary:
Ouch! Chapter 4 in the Bible, and we already have the first murder. Cain is the firstborn son of Adam & Eve, and Abel is the second. Cain works the land and Abel is a shepherd. When Cain and Abel present an offering to the Lord, Abel’s is accepted and Cain’s is not. This makes Cain furious, and despite God warning him to master his sinful feelings, Cain attacks his brother in a field and kills him.
God curses Cain for his great sin, taking away the ability for Cain to grow anything from the Earth. Being a farmer-type, this takes away Cain’s livelyhood, and fearing for his life he pleads with God. Mercifully, God places a mark on Cain to protect him from being killed by others.
Genesis 3:1 – 3:24 = “Temptation and Fall of Mankind”
September 1st, 2009
Quick Summary:
Satan in the form of a serpent plays fancy with his words and tempts Eve into eating the ONE fruit in the entire garden that was forbidden by God. Adam goes right along with her and they immediately feel “naked” or exposed by their sin.
God comes down to ask what they’ve done and they each try to pass the blame: Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the snake… the snake slithers off? In any case, God explains the new hardships, challenges and difficulties they’ve brought upon themselves – including death.
Finally, because Adam & Eve sinned and now knowing good & evil they cannot have access to the Tree of Life and continue to live forever. They are banished from the garden of Eden, which is guarded by angels with flaming swords (not going back THAT way!)
Genesis 2:4 – 2:25 = “The Garden of Eden”
August 31st, 2009
Quick Summary:
Having just covered the grand scope of the creation week, we now backup just a little bit to focus in on the creation of mankind. First God makes man out of the dust of the ground and brings him to life with his breath. Next, God creats a special garden, the famously known “Eden”, and placed the first man in the garden.
The command is given to be fruitful & multiply, and man was given the task to work the garden and be its caretaker. However, God realizes Adam should not be alone, and so forms all the animals out of the ground and brings them to Adam to be named. But a suitable mate is not found for Adam.
God puts Adam into a deep sleep, removes his rib, and uses it in forming the first woman Eve. She is brought to Adam who recognizes her special significance “…bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh…” Having been made for each other, there is a unique bond.