QT 7/31/2025 Gen 7:1–10, Immense power, and yet sometimes we have to wait …

Genesis 7:1–10 (ESV) —

1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

 

NOTE: There are many arguments for and against Noah's flood in today's age. Leupold says the flood is "… an entirely adequate explanation for geological formations of every kind, as they are now to be observed." There is evidence of a diagonal strip of marine limestone located on Mount Everest between 25,000 feet and 27,000 feet(Constable). Personally, I doubt there were mountains (or at least not very tall) prior to the flood. I believe the flood created the mountains. The 40 days of rain is probably how long it took to empty the vast water vapor that made up the earth's atmosphere. The crust probably sat upon a large water barrier that opened up during the flood (7:11 and 8:2). The climate was most likely temperate, so gathering the animals would not have been impossible. Indeed, a supernatural hand could have made everything possible. It is not clear what the clean and unclean animals were during that day. Using the later Jewish definition, pigs would have been unclean and goats clean. But we don't know the answer, so it is possible that domesticated animals were gathered in groups of seven pairs, while "wild" animals were gathered in pairs. As for storage of food, a partial hibernation would have solved much of those problems. It is a giant event, completely orchestrated by God a year in advance, so it is assumed he also acted supernaturally in other areas besides just changing the entire climate and the face of the earth. I can't imagine what was happening to the geological plates under all that water pressed up against the outer mantle.

 

So what? Other than the incredible power of God to change a planet. He did not do it instantly but did it through a combination of natural change and supernatural power. Sometimes, that is the way he works in our life. Everything seems to happen naturally, but there is that one little incident or miracle that changes everything. Did it happen by coincidence or was it God's quiet hand? In one sense it doesn't matter because God has promised to bring good out of the events in our life (Rom 8:28). His definition of good is different than mine, so I must trust that what he is doing / allowing is good. He will bring it to good.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God?
2. Do I wait on him or do I try to change things naturally? Certainly, life requires prudent action on our part, but what is prudent and what is getting our sticky fingers involved to make things go a certain way?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a hard balance. I must trust and sometimes that means I must wait. But how long do I wait before it is time to ring the phone and check up on something? Father, I am in another of those situations. The person said he would get back to me in a day. It has been two days. I think I will wait until next week and in the meantime pray for your will.

QT 7/30/2025 Gen 6:9-22, Uncontrolled violence

Genesis 6:9–22 (ESV) —

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

 

NOTE: Sometimes on X (Twitter), I will come across videos of crowds attacking a person or small group of people. They are even kicking others while on the ground. They are brutal. One of these such attacks recently took place in Cincinnati, Ohio. And I wonder, why do we do such things? Racism is a poor reason, and only the dim propose it. It is violence and there is no reason on earth to attack another person. There is no excuse for an offensive attack. There is no justification. It is wrong. And even if there was a cause, and somehow the crowd was defending itself, why do outsiders add a kick to the head? I believe that society had degenerated into this type of violence where sin, yes that is what it is called, controls our actions. This is not a healthy society when mobs attack others. I am not at all surprised that God decided to destroy Noah's violent society. If God destroyed the pre-flood society, how close are we to being destroyed? God promised never to destroy the earth again in a flood, but there are other ways to destroy the violence on this planet.

 

PONDER:

1. Does violence control my actions?
2. Have I been guilty of road rage, where my anger and emotions controlled my actions?
3. Do I seethe because of another person's success or actions?

 

PRAYER: Father, the world needs transformation, we need Jesus. Only belief in Jesus can change a person from the inside out. Otherwise, things are only going to get worse. The world and its solutions only bring more and more violence, at every level. Our cruelty and hate needs to be washed out of our souls. Jesus' blood can transform. I know -- I have seen you transform me.

QT 7/29/2025 Gen 6:1-8, Finding real life in this mess

Genesis 6:1–8 (ESV) —

1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

 

NOTE: The biggest difficulty is identifying the sons of God. There are three possibilities. One, they could be angels (or former angels, i.e., demons), as passages in Job refer to them as the sons of God. Angels do not reproduce, so that does not seem likely. Two, they could be the godly line of Shem was intermarrying with the line of Cain, and being corrupted into sin (that would fit the context the best). Lastly, it could be rulers (upper class) who were taking all the beautiful women (lower class) to be their wives, leaving lower class men without options. In each case there is an argument why "sons of God" would be appropriate. Jude and even 2 Peter hint at angels, but do not explicitly say that they were having children.

 

I suppose I lean toward the second option. It says that God's heart was grieved (in pain). The woman's judgment for sin was pain in childbirth, but God was experiencing pain as well. The language says that God regretted (or some versions, repented) making man. I believe those are the best words to capture God's emotion. They do not mean that God did not know or that God was surprised but they do capture the heart of God. He was hurt because he knew what man needed to do to truly enjoy life, but man was only intent on sin.

 

God "starts over" with Noah, but the restart is a very different planet. Survival became much more difficult. Climate extremes were created, and catastrophic weather events started. The phenomena of a rainbow that was part of the changes set up as a reminder of man's rebellion toward God.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe that God really knows what is best for me?
2. Do I search the scriptures for God's truth, because I know it is good for me and will change me?

 

PRAYER: Father, we blew it and we continue making mistakes and rebelling against you today. We have broken your heart because you love us so much, and you know the things that make for peace but we would not have it. Much as Jesus cried in the last week of his life:

 

Luke 19:41–42 (ESV) — 41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

 

Father, open our eyes to see what real life is truly about.

QT 7/28/2025 Gen 5:1-2, Slow down

Genesis 5:1–2 (ESV) —

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

 

NOTE: I had not noticed the repetition of 1:26-27 in the past. I probably brushed by it as I looked at the ages of the early ancestors. Also the repeated names: Lamech, Seth's line is different than Cain's, is repeated as well as Enoch. The repetition, ties Man's creation to God, and then gives Seth's genealogy. I'm sure that is intentional. Cain's genealogy is tied to sin, lying, and murder. Seth's genealogy is tied to being made in the likeness of God. The image of God is emphasized here, as well as gender distinction, an issue my generation seems to not understand.

 

God blessed mankind at creation. I think that as sin has multiplied in the world, it is easy to forget that blessing, or to no longer see it. I was listening to a children's song this morning about the turtle and the hare as I drove to pick up my granddaughter. The message in the song (to the Hares) was to slow down and appreciate life. There is so much to see, to take in, to appreciate, but only when you take the time to look.

 

PONDER:

1. How often do I stop and take in life, appreciate all that there is?
2. Do I live my life hurried and hectic? That is a choice. It does not have to be like that

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to slow down and appreciate creation. Help me to stop and say 'Thank you.' I pray I would not just rush through life or miss the little moments by rushing to the next event.

QT 7/25/2025 Gen 4:17–26, Technology vs knowing God

Genesis 4:17–26 (ESV) —

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for striking me.

24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,

then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

 

NOTE: There are two main lines (Genealogies) in the early chapters of Genesis, Cain and Seth. In the line of Cain, we see the first person to marry two wives (Lamech) and then the first to kill a man in a conflict (also Lamech). We see men with musical talents, playing the lyre and pipe (Jubal introduces these). And we see new technologies as Tubal-cain forges instruments of bronze and iron. From a worldly perspective, the line of Cain is "advancing," throwing off restraints of marriage, using power to achieve goals, introducing new forms of music, and creating new technologies (metals) out of the ground.

 

In the next section, we will learn more about Seth, but we see hints of his importance in a seemingly obscure verse. Verse 26 says that at the time Seth had a son, people began to call on the name of the Lord. A relationship with God is far more important than technologies, power, sex, and music. These things are not necessarily evil, unless taken out of the context that God has provided, or used in ways to promote evil. Seth seems like a minor player compared to the worldly results of Cain' sons. Although technically, Seth's future offspring, Noah, is the one who will save the whole earth.

 

PONDER:

1. What do I value most: technology, power, fleshly pursuits, or my relationship with God?
2. Why do I value what the world values over my walk with God?

 

PRAYER: Father, The world is alluring, but after enough years of walking with God, I realize that what is really important is my time with you. I like many of the things of the world, but I understand that they cannot consume me. My focus needs to be on how you are using me in society for good.

QT 7/24/2025 Gen 4:8-16, Fighting the flesh

Genesis 4:8–16 (ESV) —

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

 

NOTE: It seems that the sin of bitterness or wanting what another has, ran deep in Cain. Not only does he kill his brother in the context of wanting a chat, but he then lies to God. His concept of God, for being a first generation believer is very weak (to believe he could lie to God). God had warned him earlier about his sin, therefore he should have known that God could see through him. And then he complains that his punishment is too great, what did he think his sin was? After the flood, God allows capital punishment when it is administered by a group. Cain complains that he might get killed (but he is allowed to kill!?). Cain's work in the ground is taken to a new level of frustration -- not only does he experience the frustration of weeds (Adam's punishment), but the yield is less than it could be for the rest of his life. He is marked man, and I am not surprised that he moves away from his family.

 

It is hard to say when this happened. Since the descendants of Adam lived long, 800-900 years, this could have happened at any time, even 300-500 years after the fall. God allowed Eve to be very fruitful and since the DNA had not been compromised by the environment yet, intermarriage did not cause certain birth defects or blood diseases. There could have been a fairly large population by the time of the event.

 

The bible does give some insight on this event:

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV) — 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

1 John 3:12 (ESV) — 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Jude 11 (ESV) — 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Abel was commended as righteous. Cain was evil, his deeds were evil, and he, like Balaam, was out for personal gain.

 

While hopefully none of us would ever consider murder, we are like Cain. We get bent out of shape when things don't go our way. We covet riches and gain. But we, Christians that is, also seek good and contentment because we know it is better for our soul. There is a battle going on within us between our flesh and the Spirit. The more we feed the Spirit, the better we do in living a righteous life. What does the Holy Spirit desire?

Colossians 3:16–17 (ESV) — 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We need to feed on God's word if we want to transform our mind.

 

PONDER:

1. How much time do I spend in God's word?
2. Do I meet with God in word and prayer each day?

 

PRAYER: Father, you alone have the power to transform us. Someday, we will be like you-although how I do not know. We will not have our sinful flesh to tempt us to sin. We will be free from temptation. But for now, we struggle against the flesh. Protect us from the evil one and his schemes. Use us for good in our area of influence.

QT 7/23/2025 Gen 4:1–7, Pride has no place in worship

Genesis 4:1–7 (ESV) —

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

 

NOTE: This begins the line of Cain, and pride dominates this lineage. Cain continues his Father Adam's occupation, while Abel is the first working with domesticated animals. Abel's job does not contradict God's command since we are to care for the creation. It is not clear why God does not regard Cain's offering. But there is something going on by God's instructions to Cain.

 

Genesis 4:7 (ESV) — If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

 

So what was Cain doing? In the case of Abel, the text is clear that Abel gave his firstborn of his flock.  As for Cain, the text only says that he brought an offering of fruit of the ground. Why does it not say the first fruits, unless it was not? By offering first fruits and firstborn, we declare our trust in God to provide afterwards. Being a man who has struggled with pride himself, I can see Cain calculating his needs and offering what he could afford versus what he should. I have worked hard to give more to combat that desire. Sometimes, for the prideful, their intellect gets in the way of their worship. And we need to let go of "calculations" and "questions" when it comes to worship; this is the place where a little bit of emotion is a good thing. For a logic guy, like myself, it may not be easy to say but I know that it is true.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I give based on what I can give or what I know I should give?
2. And when I say "should give," I do not mean tithe -- I mean,

 

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

How am I doing?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't like to think of myself as a type of Cain, although I may be related. Forgive me for my pride. Forgive me for calculating everything. Thank you for developing emotion in my life so that I can truly worship you. Help me to "do well" and to lead others well.

QT 7/22/2025 Gen 3:20–24, Learning from failures

Genesis 3:20–24 (ESV) —

20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

 

NOTE: The information is sparse, but it seems Adam has learned and is now taking leadership again. He continues his previous prerogative of naming, and gives Eve a name that represents his belief in her and God's word that she would give life to all that would ever live. He depends upon her as she also willingly depends upon him. The clothing is a reminder that they can never walk in innocence again because of their sin.

 

Of note, is that while God "made" the world in the first six "yom's," he now makes something else, a garment from animal skin. It is not said, but I assume there was a sacrifice of the animal to produce this covering (a mild reference to tabernacle). Later we will see Abel bringing forth an offering from his flock, so we can assume the practice started in the garden.

 

The garden is closed off, lest man eat of the tree of life and live forever (that was the original plan). There is something about the tree of life that was designed to rejuvenate our cells such that we would not age. I believe the earth was also protected by a heavier water vapor atmosphere than today, reducing the destructive effect of x-rays from space. Consequently, we see the early generations living to almost 1000 years. As sin increased in the world, life spans decreased, and after the flood (a true climate changing event), the decrease is dramatic.

 

Adam made mistakes but he learned from his failures and his sin. Sometimes, as men, we get off track, and when we do, we must not quit or say "well, that's the way I am." We have to pick ourselves up and go back to doing what we should be doing. We (men) are supposed to be leading our families spiritually and providing for them physically -- how are we doing?

 

PONDER:

1. How am I (a man) doing as a spiritual leader for the family? What do I need to do to get back on track?
2. If I am a woman, how am I doing supporting my husband in his role as spiritual leader of the family?

 

PRAYER: Father, I thank you that Jesus, through his death on the cross for sin, has restored some of the privileges that Adam enjoyed. We still await our new body, the millennial kingdom where you rule on earth, and access to the tree of life. But the process has started and your promises always come true.

QT 7/21/2025 Gen 3:14–19, Consequences of being our own gods

Genesis 3:14–19 (ESV) —

14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

16 To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,

but he shall rule over you.”

17 And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

‘You shall not eat of it,’

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your face

you shall eat bread,

till you return to the ground,

for out of it you were taken;

for you are dust,

and to dust you shall return.”

 

NOTE: A lot happens in this passage. Instead of a beautiful eternal existence on a lovely planet with relationships and purpose and meaningful work, everything changes. God starts with the serpent and proceeds in chiastic fashion back to man. The serpent is the only one who does not speak at all in this sequence.

 

Kenneth Matthews argues that the penalty for the serpent is humiliation and ultimate defeat by the women's offspring. For the women, the penalty is painful labor in childbirth (although I would add child rearing -- the pain (emotional and psychological) really never ends), and the ultimate defeat in her conflict with her husband. Finally for the man, the penalty is painful labor in his agriculture (I would argue frustration with work which was supposed to bring purpose and meaning), and his defeat is with the ground (he dies and returns to the earth as dust, as does all mankind).

 

One thing that hits me is how wonderful life was originally planned -- meaningful work, enjoyable relationships, and no death. If we are upset about the pain in life, the problem is not God (or an argument against his existence), but it was our rebellion. We wanted to be our own gods, and God let us choose the path with its consequences: pain, frustration, and death.

 

PONDER:

Am I still in rebellion with God? Or have I taken the first step in restoring the relationship by faith in Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, life is painful and that was our choice, not yours. I so look forward to the day when I will have a resurrected body like Jesus. But for now, as the story in Luke 19 teaches, I have been given a 'minas' just like everyone else who has believed in Jesus, and I need to use my 'minas' for the good and glory of the kingdom.

QT 7/18/2025 Gen 3:8-13, Failures versus sin

Genesis 3:8–13 (ESV) —

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

 

NOTE: I don't know where I heard this, maybe I made it up, but I have a saying, "When God asks a question, it is not because he needs information." Why is it that God asks questions that he already knows the answer? And why does God have Moses record these obvious questions and answers. I think it was very important for both Adam and Eve to hear the questions and for each to speak aloud. I don't think they understood the significance of the question until much later, such as, why did God ask me where I am? It is interesting question. They are hiding from their creator because …. They would then realize that their actions had separated them from God. They were hiding from God, God was not hiding from them. Even the sound of the good and gracious God scared them. Why? Because they had disobeyed God, and they certainly remembered the warning, "you would die." They did die that day spiritually. The physical body also started to die without access to the tree of life.

 

Man was guilty. He knew God's command. That is why God addresses him first. The woman was deceived by the serpent. She knew something of God's command from Adam, but she was still fooled.

 

The sin was the breaking of God's command regarding the fruit. But there were also failures. Adam had a series of failures, his rewording of the command, his failure to intervene, and his failure to correct the serpent. One can fail without sinning. But failure can create situations where sin is helped along. A failure to challenge someone who appears to be heading in the wrong direction, while difficult could be deadly to the individual.

 

PONDER:

1. Where do I fail in my role as a father, husband, and spiritual mentor to men?
2. What can I do to be more upfront and honest in my interactions with people?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see the balance between challenging someone and dealing with people gently. Help me to challenge gently but honestly. Help me to see the situations where I need to say something.

QT 7/17/2025 Gen 3:1–7, How life got so screwed up

Genesis 3:1–7 (ESV) —

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

 

NOTE: This single passage is so informative of the problem of mankind. Our first problem is that we have a REAL enemy who questions God's word. He does it in an "intelligent" manner, like he is a person of great wisdom: "Did God ACTUALLY say …." The question is intended to make you analyze God's word, almost looking for a flaw. The question is also a "you got to be kidding"-question, where it is made to seem ridiculous. That is how the enemy and the world frames their questions against Christianity: "you have to be kidding" or "it can't really mean that."

 

What makes this first attack worse is that Adam creates the world's first religion when he attaches words to God's word. God told Adam (not Eve, at least in the text) that he would die upon eating the fruit. Adam, apparently tells Eve, that she would die for even touching the fruit. That gives the enemy a toehold. The enemy, who speaks lies quite naturally, can actually be honest when he tells Eve she wouldn't die -- which is true, touching would not kill you. There is a huge step from touching something to biting into something, When she did touch the fruit (which is not as hard as biting it) and not die, she ended up proving Satan right and casting doubt on God's word.

 

The next verses are summarized in 1 John 2:15-16 as the three main categories of sin, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. She saw the fruit was good (the flesh would enjoy it). She saw the fruit as a delight to the eyes (it looks nice to the eyes). And she saw the fruit as making her wise (the pride of life). What she didn't realize was that by knowing good and evil, she would replace God by choosing for herself what was right and wrong (a basic tenet in our fallen world). By default she made herself to be her god. She gave up the Lordship of God to be her own god.

 

Not to leave Adam out of this, but verse 6 implies that Adam was there the whole time, but said nothing, the woman did all the talking. Adam's second failure was as a leader and a protector of his wife. He did not intervene. He did not correct the serpent. He did not take over. He just followed the woman's lead, and then in the next passage he will have the audacity to blame the woman and God ("… the woman whom you gave …").

 

In conclusion, the man and woman experience shame, the natural result of sin. Again, today's worldview wants us to throw off shame and guilt, and free us of the natural result that God created when we sin. The couple also tried to cover themselves (clothes) as well as hide themselves in the trees. When we sin, we naturally try to hide because of shame.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there a sin I try to hide? Do I experience shame?
2. Do I play games with God's word, doubting where he really said something, when the text is very obvious? The latter is especially true today in cases of adultery, sexual immorality, and homosexuality. We try to justify what God as clearly said with "did God really say …"

 

PRAYER: Father, this is our problem. This explains our actions. We do everything Adam and Eve did. Forgive us. Open our eyes to your truth, and help us to see the lies of this world's so-called truth. Pilate's question, "what is truth?" summarizes everything in life today. Truth is found in your word. The question can be answered if we go to the right source.

QT 7/16/2025 Gen 2:18–25, Saving your marriage

Genesis 2:18–25 (ESV) —

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.”

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

 

NOTE: This is another reason that I believe the days of creation represent ages. I just don't believe that man could understand aloneness in one day. Men are notorious at giving themselves to work. Caring for the garden and classifying animals would have consumed him for some time. And at some point he would realize that while all of the creation has a "pair," he did not.

 

In finding man a wife, God puts man in a deep sleep. I suppose this is the first arranged marriage. Of course, God does all the work in the creation and selection of Eve. Man speaks out loud for the first time in this passage, and we know that God would meet and speak with man in the garden. But the next person recorded to speak is the serpent, followed by the woman.

 

There is a lot of truth in this passage. A marriage is defined as a man and woman. Only a man and a woman can become one flesh. The man must leave his father and mother, and hold fast to his wife to make the marriage work. Not all men do this well. The man needs to communicate that the wife takes priority even over his family of birth.

 

PONDER:

1. It is good to stay in contact with your birth family (and to honor and respect), but for a man, he must be careful that he does not overdo his contact, especially with his mom or else he will hurt his wife. How am I doing?
2. A man needs to make his wife his new priority in life. Even when children come, both need to make their relationship the priority or they will destroy it over time. How am I doing at putting my wife first, even over our children?

 

PRAYER: Father, these truths are old but absolutely foundational for building a family. The husband and wife must become one flesh. The world does all it can to tear this bond apart and redefine it. Sin seeks to destroy that which is good and beautiful. Please help us to see our failures before we destroy our marriages.

QT 7/15/2025 Gen 2:10–17, Life was created with meaning and purpose -- the original heaven

Genesis 2:10–17 (ESV) —

10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

 

NOTE: Some of the rivers are known and some of the land masses are known. They do not line up completely with today's geography. That would suggest that the areas parted to some degree during the flood. It quite possible that during creation the land (crust) floated on a cushion of water that surrounded the mantle. The climate was mild due to the heavy water cushion in the air as well. The flood changed everything creating climate extremes as well as many areas where the crust directly interacted with the mantle, causing volcanoes and tsunamis today. The climate extremes are the cause of weather that probably didn't exist in the creation days like it does today.

 

The planet was different and so was work. God provided a pristine and beautiful garden. Man's job, to care for the garden, was enjoyable and purposeful. There were no weeds, work was not frustrating. There was one command (given to the man -- vs 1, and probably later passed on to the woman), a sort of test I guess, do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Otherwise, what we call sin today, did not captivate the senses. It was not even noticed. We were, in a sense, oblivious to evil. And we had eternal life from the get-go. This was heaven, beauty, purpose, abundance, and eternity. In the next passage, God adds sex and relationships to this perfect heaven.

 

PONDER:

1. If this was God's original idea for man eternally, why do some say that heaven will be boring?
2. Life had meaningful purpose. Why does God mention the gold and gems in the hills if not for the expectation of mining and creating?

 

PRAYER: Lord, earth while still beautiful in many parts today was glorious at creation. I know you will restore its beauty in the future. I look forward to your new creation and the purposeful lives you have planned in eternity.

QT 7/14/2025 Gen 2:4–9, Mind renewal is required for contentment

Genesis 2:4–9 (ESV) —

4 These are the generations

of the heavens and the earth when they were created,

in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

NOTE: So, I don't want to start any controversies, because I am perfectly fine with six 24-hour days. But this is the sixth day (or age) when God creates man. In this day, bushes and small plants had not sprung up. This would support the overlapping ages theory, where the third age has not finished yet and overlaps with four through six. Another theory suggests the first six days are divided into two similar triplets where the third day is like the sixth day. So if God created man on the sixth day, it would be harden to take care of the plants that are just starting to appear. But he could be working the ground in the garden, since it says that God planted a garden. Also God makes the trees spring up, which either occurs miraculously fully formed or their some time involved. The Hebrew word for spring up (vs 9), tsamach, means to sprout or grow, it does not mean "appear" or fully formed. So once again, the idea of a God-directed creation and an old earth does has support in the scriptures.

 

It is notable that all of the trees were pleasant to the sight and good for food. Later, as Eve moves to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the comment is made that Eve saw the fruit as good for food and a delight for the eyes (3:5-6) (with the additional temptation to be like God). So, Eve cannot argue that the forbidden tree was the only tree that was pleasant to the sight or good for food. God had provided good and pleasing food in many other trees.

 

So what does it all mean? Neglecting the fact that Eve did not have a sin nature when she fell, I think we all struggle (in our sin nature) with a couple of issues, contentment and thinking the grass is greener on the other side. Both issues are similar and yet different. The first causes us to forget to be thankful for all that God provides. The second issue causes us to covet things others have or experience. God provided a wonderful garden. What has God provided in our life that we have not thanked him?

 

PONDER:

1. Do I struggle with contentment? Maybe I need to watch Pollyanna to learn how to be thankful
2. Do I struggle with coveting other's things? Again, do I need to spend time in prayer thanking God for the good things I do have?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is no easy answer to the struggle of contentment and coveting. It requires an attitude change and a different way of thinking. Help us to search your word daily and allow it change our mind. Only the cleansing of the mind through the word of God can change us internally.

QT 7/11/2025 Gen 2:1–3, Rest is a good thing

Genesis 2:1–3 (ESV) —

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

 

NOTE: The seventh day, which has a number and the Hebrew word yohm, does not include the phrase, 'there was evening and there was morning,' suggesting the day has not ended and is not 24 hours like the other days (if you accept the argument that yohm combined with a number must be 24 hours -- I'm not convinced that it has to be). Leaving aside the "how" questions which are not as important as the "so what" question, God sets a pattern of rest, as an example to man. He does not command it although it will be commanded (a couple thousand years later) in the OT law. We do see observances of rest in the OT prior to the law. It is not mentioned in the NT as a command, although the principle is argued in Hebrews but with a different meaning. In the NT, we celebrate the first day of the week, the day of new beginnings for a Christian, Jesus' resurrection.

 

I've seen Christians take this to wildly different extremes. Some make a big deal because it is mentioned pre-law (although not as a command). Some believe that because it is one of the ten commandments, it is required. I reject all the required or 'command' theories. But I do think it is a good idea. Jesus taught the Sabbath was created for man, not man for the Sabbath (effectively nixing the "command" idea). God rested as an example. I doubt God needed rest or tired himself out from creation, so it would appear to be an example for us. Some try to spiritualize it too much, but it was about rest (meaning physical). Having said that, combining physical rest with spiritual communion with God is probably the best type of rest.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I rest? When do I rest?
2. Do I take a day to chill, or am I always on the go? Rest is a good thing

 

PRAYER: Father, rest is a good thing, but in the busyness of life it gets forgotten. This is another area where the enemy has twisted the first few chapters to Genesis. The enemy wants us to remain in a frantic state of work or doing things, never stopping to enjoy or appreciate his creation. I pray we would take time to slow down and decompress and hear you speak.

QT 7/10/2025 Gen 1:27–31, Foundational truths

Genesis 1:27–31 (ESV) —

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

 

NOTE: I read somewhere that "created" occurs three times in verse 27. I hadn't noticed that at first. In the previous verse, the pronouns were plural (us, our), but here the pronouns are singular (he), as well as the verb (created is singular in the Hebrew) but repeated three times. So, in the previous verse, God says "let us" and in verse 27, each of the members of the trinity create man. That might be a stretch in terms of an argument of the trinity, but it is interesting.

 

Also, we see that man is a vegetarian at the beginning of creation. Later, God allows man to eat meat. In fact, certain festivals incorporate eating meat. What do we learn from these changes? Some things can change because they don't have moral implications. Others are central to the issue of morality (like sex, marriage, the concept of creation, etc). Eating meat or not eating meat is not a moral issue. Later, the types of meat one could eat were part of the conditions of the covenant, and so became moral because they were used to set Israel apart (holy) from the others nations, and make a distinction that other nations might see. When that old covenant was nailed to the cross (as Colossians discusses), the type of meat was no longer a part of the covenant between man and God. The old covenant was replaced by a new covenant. The key is to note the critical moral issues laid out in Genesis.

 

PONDER:

The world no longer restricts marriage to a man and woman. The world suggests multiple sexes beyond male and female. The world does not accept that we are or were created by God. But, what do I believe, the world or God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do pray for a return to the foundational principles of life that are found in Genesis. Help us to see our own sin and recognize your word as truth. Help us to repent and turn to you for real life.

QT 7/9/2025 Gen 1:24–26, Created for community

Genesis 1:24–26 (ESV) —

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

 

NOTE: It is interesting that all of the rest of creation comes from the heavens, the earth and the waters, but in the case of man, it is only directly from God. There is no other intermediary mentioned in his creation. And man alone is made in "our image" and "our likeness." Now I understand that the word for God is plural, and many have argued it has to do with his majesty. But the usage of "our" is also clearly plural, and I believe it is a reference to the trinity. I think it also gives us some insight into "image" and "likeness." I think there is much that can be said about those two words and what they mean in our creation, but the one that stands out to me is the relational aspect of God. Yes, God is one but he is also three, and as such, God by definition is relational. God is the first definition of community, Father, Son, and Spirit. We are created to be relational and to live in community, and there is great danger when we move from community into isolation (television church as one example).

 

The enemy attacks all aspects of the first few chapters of this book, both directly (male and female for instance), but also indirectly. Our emphasis on technology makes us less relational, despite our long list of "friends" in Facebook. Relationships can occur over a distance, but the best relationships occur in close proximity. Seeing and hearing the person is better than just hearing (a phone call), and hearing is better than just text.

 

Technology has been a boon to many things but spiritually it has brought much hurt as well (pornography, tendency to isolate in a cocoon of screens, and isolation from humans).

 

PONDER:

1. Have I withdrawn from community and church through the use of technology?
2. Do I have close relationships where I actually see, even touch, another person on a regular basis?

 

PRAYER: Father, the traps and false teaching of the evil one are everywhere. It is so easy to get caught up in seemingly good things that are not good for our soul. Help us get back to the basics, how we were created, such as relationships and community. Speak to our hearts and open our eyes.