Adam to Noah

Last time in Bible Understanding, we were introduced to Seth. Adam's family line is traced from this child born to him and his wife Eve. Here we see what Gods design is for man, that He created us in His likeness. "He  created them male and female, and blessed them. And when they were created He called them "man." Cain has been banished from the family~our eyes turn to Seth for the thematic unfolding of the Bibles message. Hundreds of years pass with family being enumerated as they lived outstandingly long lives and grew large families. They lived, they died. There is one stand out name, Enoch who was noted as one who "walked with God". After an extended life of 365 years, "Enoch walked with God, then he was no more, because God took him away." This means Enoch did not experience death, he was taken by God. This marvellous passage in the Bible is exciting. Clearly, God makes and breaks the rules as He sees fit and this fellow, Enoch, had some kind of endearing qualities, some kind of love and loyalty for God that was handsomely rewarded. Running parallel to this story are the indulgent family members of Cain who are growing their own brand of humanity. The intrigue continues, next time, in Bible Understanding. 

Lineage

Last time in Bible Understanding, we learned that Eve bares another son and she states "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." At this point, we learn that Seth has a son and names him Enosh, meaning man. On the heels of the announcements of Seth and Enosh's appearance in the world, The Bible states: At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. Since we know the history of the brothers Cain and Abel, we begin to also see a foreshadowing of what is to come. The good vs evil, dark vs light, kindheartedness vs murderous natures, gratitude vs entitlement, lastly, honouring God vs self worship. We see two distinctive and separate paths with proud self reliance characterizing Cain's lineage contrasted with dependence on God found in Seths family line. Is this far fetched? Look around you, what is YOUR family like? As we travel through The Bible, we shall see that Gods redemptive plan is firmly in place through His chosen ones, the ones that know from whenst they came and honour Him with their thoughts, words and actions. Until next time in Bible Understanding...from Adam to Noah.

Good & Evil Clarity

Last time in Bible Understanding, God sends Cain out from His presence to become a "restless wanderer on the earth" and Cain is concerned for his life saying "whoever finds me will kill me". God says "Not so, if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over". Cain's suggestion that he would be killed as a wanderer infers that others perhaps populated the earth...this is not the focus of the story, the focus is man against man, man against God and ultimately, mans rejection of God as Sovereign and his banishment from Fatherly protection and creature comforts as punishment for sin. God allows life to continue for Cain and then puts a mark on him so that "no one who found him would kill him". Cain then leaves the Lords presence to live in the land of Nod, East of Eden. The story is accelerated, telling us "Cain lay with his wife and she became pregnant" and Cains lineage is described. Generationally speaking, Cain breeds children of contemptible nature, with a great great grandchild proclaiming proudly "I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times." The selfish indulgence of revenge for injury by killing another is utter rejection of God as Creator, Judge and Jury. Cain's legacy is arrogance and violence, a frightening self justifying lot of blood thirsty people. Next time in Bible Understanding, Adam and Eve have another son in place of Abel, and he is named Seth. 

Cain's Curse

Last time in Bible Understanding, God confronts Cain after he has murdered his brother Abel. Cain denies responsibility and lies to God. God responds: "Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receiver your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." I don't know about you but I am hopeful at this point of the story, my heart holds out for some hint, some sign of regret or remorse on Cain's part. Alas, this is Cain's response: "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." The self indulgence of Cain's response to the curse is appalling, with no sign of conscience or pretence of having committed a wrong, let alone having murdered his brother. Cain is not sorry and he resents Gods curse, clearly, the punishment does not fit the crime (at least humanly speaking). There is one acknowledgement in Cain's self seeking response, and that is his future lack of access to Gods presence, his alienation from God. God is allowing Cain to live, his life is spared, at least for the time being. More about the curse of Cain when next we meet, in Bible Understanding. 

Abel's Blood Cry

Last time in Bible Understanding, Cain murdered his brother Abel. Following this, God asks Cain "Where is your brother Abel?". Cain responds, "I don't know, am I my brothers keeper?". Cain had deliberately tricked his brother by inviting him out into a field with the intention of killing him and with callousness after the fact, he lies about knowing where his brother is and suggests to God that his brother really isn't his responsibility. Of course God knows what Cain has done and questions "what have you done?". This is not an inquiry, this is Gods way of pointing Cain to acknowledgement of the heinous crime committed. Cain's unwillingness to confess, despite the recent shedding of his brothers blood, has dire consequences and is a foreshadowing, a fortune telling of the evil that exists in man and the resultant destiny that follows when Gods created are murdered. With disregard for life and a hardened jealous heart, man is capable of killing and God as Creator has the final word: "Listen! Your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground." There is something horrific and eerie in Gods instruction to LISTEN...I invite you to listen and to see with your minds eye the shock, the pain of realization and perhaps the desperate cries from Abel as his own brother shamelessly betrayed his trust and with murderous intention, laid his hands on Abel, thieving him of his life. Alas, regret and remorse are not to be for Cain and we learn just how calloused a man he is, when next we meet in Bible Understanding. 

Murderous Heart

Next up in The Bible, Adam and Eve lay together and Eve becomes pregnant and gives birth to Cain. Eve declares "With the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a man." Now this statement is intriguing to me~something magical happens to Eve, a first of firsts and without a biology lesson, Eve knows that her baby making abilities are well, limited as it were. While Adam & Eve shared the intimacy of intercourse, I'm pretty confident that the end result, a baby, was an interesting surprise...the imagery delights the imagination. Back to the story. Later, she gave birth to Cains brother, Abel. The two brothers had different pass times or occupations. Abel kept flocks while Cain worked the soil. Over the course of time, Cain brought fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. Theses are gestures of appreciation, a form of giving thanks to God for His provisions, an acknowledgement that what was produced for human consumption had been first provided by the Hand of God. The reception Abel and Cain received proved to be quite different and the natural dispositions of each of these men becomes apparent as God points out to each what He reads in their hearts. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. This angered Cain and his face was downcast. Cains downcast disposition is challenged by God who asks "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it." This admonishment from God is a foreshadowing, a warning about actions and intentions being praiseworthy and alternatively, reproachable. God is a hungry God, not for field produce and animal fats, He is hungry for man to honour Him. There was clearly something reprehensible in Cains offering, a withholding of gratitude and perhaps some pride in having worked the field and owing no one, including God, for what the earth had yielded him, that threatened to become his master, leading him in the direction of sin. Anger at Gods lack of appreciation for his offering coupled with jealousy over Gods favour being directed toward his younger brother made for an ugly concoction and stirred up hatred and murder in Cains heart. The reprove from God went unheeded and instead, Cain says to his brother "Let's go out into the  field". While in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Thusly we leave off, Until next time in Bible Understanding, when we learn what becomes of Cain, notoriously known as the first murderer. 

Come, follow Me

Is it in our human nature to hedge our bets, take the path of least resistance, make life easier on ourselves in the moment without a view for long range impact? This is for me to ask myself, for you to ask yourself, can you see the horizon from your view point, or is the tip of your nose getting in the way. Fear, that dubious not to be trusted ever present companion, has its way with many of us that live in the here and now and the temptations that present themselves to endulge in immediate gratification. Fear has a way of saying if not now, then when? What if this opportunity never comes back my way and it was my ONLY chance? Take what you can get and you only live once are the short legged lies that fear can use to ensnare its victim. Shortsightedness can shortchange and the price for indulgence can be hefty monetarily and in all ways of the pysche and soul. Angry words, reactionary responses, doing what feels good rather than what is honourable and just, white lies that take on shades of grey turning to black...traps, all of them. My mind, it is occupied with One Man, the perfect Lamb of God. I persue Him, the image of Truth, Light, Love. He is my example, my measuring stick. Seeing with the eyes of love, that is my ultimate goal and my Teacher takes me by the hand and is leading me there. He has His hand extended to you too, with the welcome of "Come, follow Me". Will you accept His invitation? 

Death Undeniable

Last time in Bible Understanding, God spoke harshly to the humans He had created and the crafty snake that took them down the wrong garden path. God meaded out what appears to be punishment after judging the man, woman and snake for their disobedience and deception. Next, we have Adam naming his wife Eve, the name means living and we see that God has given the couple the gift of continuance, as the original parents of the human race, Eve as mother. God makes garments for the man and woman from skins, clothing them. God stated this next: "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good from evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." Man is then banished from the garden with cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life. This sounds fantastical and yet, I find it vastly entertaining as a delightful explanation for the human condition, as we are born and from that day forward, we march toward death with nary a pill, surgery or fountain of youth to keep us alive forever. Man can search high and low, declare his strength power and might all he likes and yet, he has not a chance against death, the bell tolls for everyone, no matter how much they protest! I grin, loving the undeniability of human frailty and dependancy upon God, whether or not it appeals to human ego or logic. Whether the Garden of Eden is fact or fiction, part of historical mans beginning in life or a wisdom filled metaphor, some facts remain, death is one of them and for this to be true, life also must be a measureable truth, a fact. According to The Bible, God breathed the breath of life into His creatures, into man and woman~He could withhold this gift of life and yet, He allows continuance, procreation, and propegation through Adam & Eve, a give of organic nature combined with Godly grace. Until next time in Bible Understanding, when we meet two brothers, Cain and Abel...we also learn of the first recorded murder, a story of jealousy and rage indulged, and Gods response to man's dark side. 

Last time in Bible Understanding, God's attention was turned to the serpent after he had slithered his way up to the humans and sneakily deceived them out of their garden splendour by convincing them that they would be like God if they ate the forbidden fruit. The humans fell into his snaky trap and God has something to say to him in the form of a curse: "Because you have done this", "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life, and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." God isn't done with His cursing and it is to the woman he next turns: "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing, with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." It is interesting to note that God cursed the woman with an increase in childbearing pain-the suggestion I make is that she was in a position to bear children painlessly before the breaking of Gods command. Easy living with food and physical freedom and pleasure is replaced with enmity between the snake and the woman, the woman and the man, and ultimately, between the woman and God. God isn't done with the commandment breakers and He turns to the man with this statement and resultant curse: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you. 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorn and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Heavy penalties were extended for breaking the one and only commandment God had for the beings He created. Childbearing is still painful, land is cleared with great toil and you and I, when we die, we simply disintegrate and disappear, like we never were. Indeed, the curse of death, as promised, was and is the ultimate penalty for disobeying a creative and benevolent God...the snake, he too is held accountable for his deceptions and there is foreshadowing in Gods curses and a whisper of what to look for in the future. Exciting captivating intrigue, more next time, in Bible Understanding.

It Wasn't Me

Last time in Bible Understanding, the man and his wife had just sewed together some fig leaves to cover themselves after having eaten from the forbidden from human consumption fruit tree. The clothing was their futile and feeble attempt to hide their shame and their loss of innocence. Following the sewing and covering, they hear the sound of the Lord God as He walked through the garden in the cool of the day. They hide among the trees, like two knowingly naughty children, fearful of God. God calls out to the man with a rhetorical question "Where are you?". The man answers with a quick confession that he heard God walking in the garden and was afraid because of his nakedness and so, he hid. God wants a full confession, a fessing up and He asks the man "Who told you that you were naked?" and "Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?". Think of a child who was asked not to eat candy before dinner, with chocolate all over their face and the parent giving the child the opportunity to come clean, so to speak...the parent wants the truth, offers truth telling opportunities and alas, it is up to the child to choose how to respond. The man, he knows he has done wrong, that he had it all and broke Gods trust in him and yet his response is this: "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Two things come up in the explanation presented by the man, number one, it would appear that he is perhaps blaming God for providing him with the woman as his companion and secondly, he is more than happy to pass responsibility and guilt onto the woman for handing him some fruit. God then asks the woman "What have you done?". She too, is given the opportunity to explain the choices she made and her response is this "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Sadly, both the man and the woman decided that blaming another for choices they had each made was better than simply admitting the truth, they had betrayed God and set the tone for what their new relationship with God would look like...Until next time in Bible Understanding, when God deals with the serpent for what he has done.