Chapter One
GENESISVITAL STATISTICS
PURPOSE:
To record God's creation of the
world and his desire to have a
people set apart to worship him
AUTHOR:
Moses
TO WHOM WRITTEN:
The people of Israel
DATE WRITTEN:
1450-1410 B.C.
SETTING:
The region presently known as
the Middle East
KEY VERSES:
"So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he
created them." (1:27) "'I will
make you into a great nation
and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will
be a blessing. I will bless those
who bless you, and whoever
curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be
blessed through you.'" (12:2, 3).
KEY PEOPLE:
Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob,
Joseph
BEGIN . start . commence . open
There's something refreshing and optimistic
about these words, whether they refer to the dawn
of a new day, the birth of a child, the prelude of a
symphony, or the first miles of a family vacation.
Free of problems and full of promise, beginnings
stir hope and imaginative visions of the future.
Genesis means "beginnings" or "origin," and it
unfolds the record of the beginning of the world,
of human history, of family, of civilization, of
salvation. It is the story of God's purpose and plan
for his creation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the
entire Bible. It reveals the person and nature of God (Creator, Sustainer,
Judge, Redeemer); the value and dignity of human beings (made in God's
image, saved by grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and conesquences
of sin (the fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise
and assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah).
God. That's where Genesis begins. All at once we see him creating the
world in a majestic display of power and purpose, culminating with a man
and woman made like himself (1:26, 27). But before long sin entered the
world, and Satan was unmasked. Bathed in innocence, creation was shattered
by the fall (the willful disobedience of Adam and Eve). Fellowship
with God was broken, and evil began weaving its destructive web. In rapid
succession, we read how Adam and Even were expelled from the beautiful
garden, their first son turned murderer, and evil bred evil until God finally
destroyed everyone on earth except a small family led by Noah, the only
godly person left.
As we come to the Abraham on the plains of Canaan, we discover the
beginning of God's covenant people and the broad strokes of his salvation
plan: salvation comes by faith, Abraham's descendants will be God's
people, and the Savior of the world will come through this chosen nation.
The stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph which follow are more than interesting
biographies. They emphasize the promises of God and the proof that
he is faithful. The people we meet in Genesis are simple, ordinary people,
yet through them, God did great things. These are vivid pictures of how
God can and does use all kinds of people to accomplish his good purposes
. even people like you and me.
Read Genesis and be encouraged. There is hope! No matter how dark the
world situation seems, God has a plan. No matter how insignificant or
useless you feel, God loves you and wants to use you in his plan. No matter
how sinful and separated from God you are, his salvation is available. Read
Genesis . and hope!
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your
sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with
you-the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground-so they
can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the
birds-everything that moves on the earth-came out of the ark, one kind after
another.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals
and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the
pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because
of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.
And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
NOAH
The story of Noah's life involves not one, but two great and tragic floods. The world in
Noah's day was flooded with evil. The number of those who remembered the God of
creation, perfection, and love had dwindled to one. Of God's people, only Noah was left.
God's response to the severe situation was a 120-year-long last chance during which he
had Noah build a graphic illustration of the message of his life. Nothing like a huge boat
on dry land to make a point! For Noah, obedience meant a long-term commitment to a
project.
Many of us have trouble sticking to any project, whether or not it is directed by God. It
is interesting that the length of Noah's obedience was greater than the lifespan of people
today. The only comparable long-term project is our very lives. But perhaps this is one
great challenge Noah's life gives us-to live, in acceptance of God's grace, an entire
lifetime of obedience and gratitude.
Strengths and accomplishments:
Only follower of God left in his generation
Second father of the human race
Man of patience, consistency, and obedience
First major shipbuilder
Weakness and mistake:
Got drunk and embarrassed himself in front of his sons
Lessons from his life:
God is faithful to those who obey him
God does not always protect us from trouble, but cares for us in spite of trouble
Obedience is a long-term commitment
A man may be faithful, but his sinful nature always travels with him
Vital statistics:
Where: We're not told how far from the Garden of Eden people had settled
Occupation: Farmer, shipbuilder, preacher
Relatives: Grandfather: Methuselah. Father: Lamech. Sons: Ham, Shem, and
Japheth
Key Verse:
"Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22).
Noah's story is told in Genesis 5:29-10:32. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:3,
4; Isaiah 54:9; Ezekiel 14:14, 20; Matthew 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Hebrews
11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2.5.
MATTHEW 15:33
33 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote
place to feed such a crowd?"
34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves
and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the
disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward
the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left
over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and
children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to
the vicinity of Magadan.
Religious Leaders Ask for a Sign in the Sky
(106/Mark 8:11-13)
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to
show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the
sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and
overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot
interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a
miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then
left them and went away.
Jesus Warns against Wrong Teaching
(107/Mark 8:14-21)
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful,"
Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and
Sadducees."
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring
any bread."
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking
among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't
you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you
gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls
you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about
bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Continues.
Chapter One
GENESISVITAL STATISTICS
PURPOSE:
To record God's creation of the
world and his desire to have a
people set apart to worship him
AUTHOR:
Moses
TO WHOM WRITTEN:
The people of Israel
DATE WRITTEN:
1450-1410 B.C.
SETTING:
The region presently known as
the Middle East
KEY VERSES:
"So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he
created them." (1:27) "'I will
make you into a great nation
and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will
be a blessing. I will bless those
who bless you, and whoever
curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be
blessed through you.'" (12:2, 3).
KEY PEOPLE:
Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob,
Joseph
BEGIN . start . commence . open
There's something refreshing and optimistic
about these words, whether they refer to the dawn
of a new day, the birth of a child, the prelude of a
symphony, or the first miles of a family vacation.
Free of problems and full of promise, beginnings
stir hope and imaginative visions of the future.
Genesis means "beginnings" or "origin," and it
unfolds the record of the beginning of the world,
of human history, of family, of civilization, of
salvation. It is the story of God's purpose and plan
for his creation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the
entire Bible. It reveals the person and nature of God (Creator, Sustainer,
Judge, Redeemer); the value and dignity of human beings (made in God's
image, saved by grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and conesquences
of sin (the fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise
and assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah).
God. That's where Genesis begins. All at once we see him creating the
world in a majestic display of power and purpose, culminating with a man
and woman made like himself (1:26, 27). But before long sin entered the
world, and Satan was unmasked. Bathed in innocence, creation was shattered
by the fall (the willful disobedience of Adam and Eve). Fellowship
with God was broken, and evil began weaving its destructive web. In rapid
succession, we read how Adam and Even were expelled from the beautiful
garden, their first son turned murderer, and evil bred evil until God finally
destroyed everyone on earth except a small family led by Noah, the only
godly person left.
As we come to the Abraham on the plains of Canaan, we discover the
beginning of God's covenant people and the broad strokes of his salvation
plan: salvation comes by faith, Abraham's descendants will be God's
people, and the Savior of the world will come through this chosen nation.
The stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph which follow are more than interesting
biographies. They emphasize the promises of God and the proof that
he is faithful. The people we meet in Genesis are simple, ordinary people,
yet through them, God did great things. These are vivid pictures of how
God can and does use all kinds of people to accomplish his good purposes
. even people like you and me.
Read Genesis and be encouraged. There is hope! No matter how dark the
world situation seems, God has a plan. No matter how insignificant or
useless you feel, God loves you and wants to use you in his plan. No matter
how sinful and separated from God you are, his salvation is available. Read
Genesis . and hope!
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your
sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with
you-the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground-so they
can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the
birds-everything that moves on the earth-came out of the ark, one kind after
another.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals
and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the
pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because
of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.
And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
NOAH
The story of Noah's life involves not one, but two great and tragic floods. The world in
Noah's day was flooded with evil. The number of those who remembered the God of
creation, perfection, and love had dwindled to one. Of God's people, only Noah was left.
God's response to the severe situation was a 120-year-long last chance during which he
had Noah build a graphic illustration of the message of his life. Nothing like a huge boat
on dry land to make a point! For Noah, obedience meant a long-term commitment to a
project.
Many of us have trouble sticking to any project, whether or not it is directed by God. It
is interesting that the length of Noah's obedience was greater than the lifespan of people
today. The only comparable long-term project is our very lives. But perhaps this is one
great challenge Noah's life gives us-to live, in acceptance of God's grace, an entire
lifetime of obedience and gratitude.
Strengths and accomplishments:
Only follower of God left in his generation
Second father of the human race
Man of patience, consistency, and obedience
First major shipbuilder
Weakness and mistake:
Got drunk and embarrassed himself in front of his sons
Lessons from his life:
God is faithful to those who obey him
God does not always protect us from trouble, but cares for us in spite of trouble
Obedience is a long-term commitment
A man may be faithful, but his sinful nature always travels with him
Vital statistics:
Where: We're not told how far from the Garden of Eden people had settled
Occupation: Farmer, shipbuilder, preacher
Relatives: Grandfather: Methuselah. Father: Lamech. Sons: Ham, Shem, and
Japheth
Key Verse:
"Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22).
Noah's story is told in Genesis 5:29-10:32. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:3,
4; Isaiah 54:9; Ezekiel 14:14, 20; Matthew 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Hebrews
11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2.5.
MATTHEW 15:33
33 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote
place to feed such a crowd?"
34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves
and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the
disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward
the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left
over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and
children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to
the vicinity of Magadan.
Religious Leaders Ask for a Sign in the Sky
(106/Mark 8:11-13)
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to
show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the
sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and
overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot
interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a
miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then
left them and went away.
Jesus Warns against Wrong Teaching
(107/Mark 8:14-21)
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful,"
Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and
Sadducees."
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring
any bread."
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking
among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't
you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you
gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls
you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about
bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Continues.
Chapter One
GENESISVITAL STATISTICS
PURPOSE:
To record God's creation of the
world and his desire to have a
people set apart to worship him
AUTHOR:
Moses
TO WHOM WRITTEN:
The people of Israel
DATE WRITTEN:
1450-1410 B.C.
SETTING:
The region presently known as
the Middle East
KEY VERSES:
"So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he
created them." (1:27) "'I will
make you into a great nation
and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will
be a blessing. I will bless those
who bless you, and whoever
curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be
blessed through you.'" (12:2, 3).
KEY PEOPLE:
Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob,
Joseph
BEGIN . start . commence . open
There's something refreshing and optimistic
about these words, whether they refer to the dawn
of a new day, the birth of a child, the prelude of a
symphony, or the first miles of a family vacation.
Free of problems and full of promise, beginnings
stir hope and imaginative visions of the future.
Genesis means "beginnings" or "origin," and it
unfolds the record of the beginning of the world,
of human history, of family, of civilization, of
salvation. It is the story of God's purpose and plan
for his creation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the
entire Bible. It reveals the person and nature of God (Creator, Sustainer,
Judge, Redeemer); the value and dignity of human beings (made in God's
image, saved by grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and conesquences
of sin (the fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise
and assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah).
God. That's where Genesis begins. All at once we see him creating the
world in a majestic display of power and purpose, culminating with a man
and woman made like himself (1:26, 27). But before long sin entered the
world, and Satan was unmasked. Bathed in innocence, creation was shattered
by the fall (the willful disobedience of Adam and Eve). Fellowship
with God was broken, and evil began weaving its destructive web. In rapid
succession, we read how Adam and Even were expelled from the beautiful
garden, their first son turned murderer, and evil bred evil until God finally
destroyed everyone on earth except a small family led by Noah, the only
godly person left.
As we come to the Abraham on the plains of Canaan, we discover the
beginning of God's covenant people and the broad strokes of his salvation
plan: salvation comes by faith, Abraham's descendants will be God's
people, and the Savior of the world will come through this chosen nation.
The stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph which follow are more than interesting
biographies. They emphasize the promises of God and the proof that
he is faithful. The people we meet in Genesis are simple, ordinary people,
yet through them, God did great things. These are vivid pictures of how
God can and does use all kinds of people to accomplish his good purposes
. even people like you and me.
Read Genesis and be encouraged. There is hope! No matter how dark the
world situation seems, God has a plan. No matter how insignificant or
useless you feel, God loves you and wants to use you in his plan. No matter
how sinful and separated from God you are, his salvation is available. Read
Genesis . and hope!
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your
sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with
you-the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground-so they
can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the
birds-everything that moves on the earth-came out of the ark, one kind after
another.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals
and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the
pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because
of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.
And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
NOAH
The story of Noah's life involves not one, but two great and tragic floods. The world in
Noah's day was flooded with evil. The number of those who remembered the God of
creation, perfection, and love had dwindled to one. Of God's people, only Noah was left.
God's response to the severe situation was a 120-year-long last chance during which he
had Noah build a graphic illustration of the message of his life. Nothing like a huge boat
on dry land to make a point! For Noah, obedience meant a long-term commitment to a
project.
Many of us have trouble sticking to any project, whether or not it is directed by God. It
is interesting that the length of Noah's obedience was greater than the lifespan of people
today. The only comparable long-term project is our very lives. But perhaps this is one
great challenge Noah's life gives us-to live, in acceptance of God's grace, an entire
lifetime of obedience and gratitude.
Strengths and accomplishments:
Only follower of God left in his generation
Second father of the human race
Man of patience, consistency, and obedience
First major shipbuilder
Weakness and mistake:
Got drunk and embarrassed himself in front of his sons
Lessons from his life:
God is faithful to those who obey him
God does not always protect us from trouble, but cares for us in spite of trouble
Obedience is a long-term commitment
A man may be faithful, but his sinful nature always travels with him
Vital statistics:
Where: We're not told how far from the Garden of Eden people had settled
Occupation: Farmer, shipbuilder, preacher
Relatives: Grandfather: Methuselah. Father: Lamech. Sons: Ham, Shem, and
Japheth
Key Verse:
"Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22).
Noah's story is told in Genesis 5:29-10:32. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:3,
4; Isaiah 54:9; Ezekiel 14:14, 20; Matthew 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Hebrews
11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2.5.
MATTHEW 15:33
33 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote
place to feed such a crowd?"
34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves
and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the
disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward
the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left
over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and
children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to
the vicinity of Magadan.
Religious Leaders Ask for a Sign in the Sky
(106/Mark 8:11-13)
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to
show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the
sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and
overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot
interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a
miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then
left them and went away.
Jesus Warns against Wrong Teaching
(107/Mark 8:14-21)
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful,"
Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and
Sadducees."
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring
any bread."
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking
among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't
you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you
gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls
you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about
bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Continues.
Chapter One
GENESISVITAL STATISTICS
PURPOSE:
To record God's creation of the
world and his desire to have a
people set apart to worship him
AUTHOR:
Moses
TO WHOM WRITTEN:
The people of Israel
DATE WRITTEN:
1450-1410 B.C.
SETTING:
The region presently known as
the Middle East
KEY VERSES:
"So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he
created them." (1:27) "'I will
make you into a great nation
and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will
be a blessing. I will bless those
who bless you, and whoever
curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be
blessed through you.'" (12:2, 3).
KEY PEOPLE:
Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob,
Joseph
BEGIN . start . commence . open
There's something refreshing and optimistic
about these words, whether they refer to the dawn
of a new day, the birth of a child, the prelude of a
symphony, or the first miles of a family vacation.
Free of problems and full of promise, beginnings
stir hope and imaginative visions of the future.
Genesis means "beginnings" or "origin," and it
unfolds the record of the beginning of the world,
of human history, of family, of civilization, of
salvation. It is the story of God's purpose and plan
for his creation. As the book of beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the
entire Bible. It reveals the person and nature of God (Creator, Sustainer,
Judge, Redeemer); the value and dignity of human beings (made in God's
image, saved by grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and conesquences
of sin (the fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise
and assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, promised Messiah).
God. That's where Genesis begins. All at once we see him creating the
world in a majestic display of power and purpose, culminating with a man
and woman made like himself (1:26, 27). But before long sin entered the
world, and Satan was unmasked. Bathed in innocence, creation was shattered
by the fall (the willful disobedience of Adam and Eve). Fellowship
with God was broken, and evil began weaving its destructive web. In rapid
succession, we read how Adam and Even were expelled from the beautiful
garden, their first son turned murderer, and evil bred evil until God finally
destroyed everyone on earth except a small family led by Noah, the only
godly person left.
As we come to the Abraham on the plains of Canaan, we discover the
beginning of God's covenant people and the broad strokes of his salvation
plan: salvation comes by faith, Abraham's descendants will be God's
people, and the Savior of the world will come through this chosen nation.
The stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph which follow are more than interesting
biographies. They emphasize the promises of God and the proof that
he is faithful. The people we meet in Genesis are simple, ordinary people,
yet through them, God did great things. These are vivid pictures of how
God can and does use all kinds of people to accomplish his good purposes
. even people like you and me.
Read Genesis and be encouraged. There is hope! No matter how dark the
world situation seems, God has a plan. No matter how insignificant or
useless you feel, God loves you and wants to use you in his plan. No matter
how sinful and separated from God you are, his salvation is available. Read
Genesis . and hope!
15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your
sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with
you-the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground-so they
can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the
birds-everything that moves on the earth-came out of the ark, one kind after
another.
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals
and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the
pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because
of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.
And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
NOAH
The story of Noah's life involves not one, but two great and tragic floods. The world in
Noah's day was flooded with evil. The number of those who remembered the God of
creation, perfection, and love had dwindled to one. Of God's people, only Noah was left.
God's response to the severe situation was a 120-year-long last chance during which he
had Noah build a graphic illustration of the message of his life. Nothing like a huge boat
on dry land to make a point! For Noah, obedience meant a long-term commitment to a
project.
Many of us have trouble sticking to any project, whether or not it is directed by God. It
is interesting that the length of Noah's obedience was greater than the lifespan of people
today. The only comparable long-term project is our very lives. But perhaps this is one
great challenge Noah's life gives us-to live, in acceptance of God's grace, an entire
lifetime of obedience and gratitude.
Strengths and accomplishments:
Only follower of God left in his generation
Second father of the human race
Man of patience, consistency, and obedience
First major shipbuilder
Weakness and mistake:
Got drunk and embarrassed himself in front of his sons
Lessons from his life:
God is faithful to those who obey him
God does not always protect us from trouble, but cares for us in spite of trouble
Obedience is a long-term commitment
A man may be faithful, but his sinful nature always travels with him
Vital statistics:
Where: We're not told how far from the Garden of Eden people had settled
Occupation: Farmer, shipbuilder, preacher
Relatives: Grandfather: Methuselah. Father: Lamech. Sons: Ham, Shem, and
Japheth
Key Verse:
"Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22).
Noah's story is told in Genesis 5:29-10:32. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:3,
4; Isaiah 54:9; Ezekiel 14:14, 20; Matthew 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Hebrews
11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2.5.
MATTHEW 15:33
33 His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote
place to feed such a crowd?"
34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves
and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the
disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward
the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left
over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and
children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to
the vicinity of Magadan.
Religious Leaders Ask for a Sign in the Sky
(106/Mark 8:11-13)
16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to
show them a sign from heaven.
2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the
sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and
overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot
interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a
miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then
left them and went away.
Jesus Warns against Wrong Teaching
(107/Mark 8:14-21)
5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful,"
Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and
Sadducees."
7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring
any bread."
8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking
among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't
you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you
gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls
you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about
bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Continues.
