Two nights ago my husband and I decided that we wanted to study the old testament together. It wasn't that these were things we did not know anything about or were familiar with, but things we wanted to look closer into...to let God reveal new things to us. We made the decision that in the morning we would begin this little journey. So yesterday morning we began....in the beginning....where it all started: Genesis.
Now, Genesis one to me was always about "creation". I mean, it starts right off by saying "In the beginning, God created..." so it seems only fitting, right? Well, after about 2 and 1/2 hours (yes, it's almost 1 and we are just now taking showers and brushing our teeth...thank the Lord it's summer vacation!)...Corey and I got a whole new perspective. Genesis one is about way more than just creation....it's about separation. Separation. Now, Webster's dictionary has several definitions for this word but I especially like the following: a point, line, means of division, a gap, an intervening space....from the very beginning God separated us. From the VERY beginning! He separated darkness and light....He separated the waters from the land....He separated the birds and the creatures of the sea...He separated the reptiles, beasts, and humans...He separated it all! But even more than just naturally looking at this....He separated man and created man in His (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) likeness and image. Genesis 3:22 in the Amplified Bible reads, "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us [the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], to know [how to distinguish between] good and evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" As we carefully broke apart all of chapter one, we began to discover (maybe more like bring to memory....for this wasn't necessarily all new revelation) that the cross-referenced words proved God had a designed plan from the beginning...He knew what was going to happen (which we know, like I said....He knew the end from the beginning)....but the awesome thing is that there was intention and purpose behind it all...there IS intention and purpose behind it all.... The early cross-referenced words reveal what God gave...what He instilled in humanity from the start. God gave man complete authority over everything that creeped on Earth, even the serpent! But as Ecclesiastes points out, we're the ones who've made a mess of things: Ecclesiastes 7:26- 29The Message "One discovery: A woman can be a bitter pill to swallow, full of seductive scheming and grasping. The lucky escape her; the undiscerning get caught. At least this is my experience—what I, the Quester, have pieced together as I’ve tried to make sense of life. But the wisdom I’ve looked for I haven’t found. I didn’t find one man or woman in a thousand worth my while. Yet I did spot one ray of light in this murk: God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things." Even from the beginning God separated us. He called us to live a life of separation. Genesis 9:6 says that we are here for LIFE not death.... Deuteronomy 4:19The Message "You saw no form on the day God spoke to you at Horeb from out of the fire. Remember that. Carefully guard yourselves so that you don’t turn corrupt and make a form, carving a figure that looks male or female, or looks like a prowling animal or a flying bird or a slithering snake or a fish in a stream. And also carefully guard yourselves so that you don’t look up into the skies and see the sun and moon and stars, all the constellations of the skies, and be seduced into worshiping and serving them. God set them out for everybody’s benefit, everywhere. But you—God took you right out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to become the people of his inheritance—and that’s what you are this very day." Regardless of all that was given, His Son still would be sent...because He knew, from the beginning....that this life of separation would be a challenge....and though we STRIVE for perfection, because HE Himself is perfect...and He created US in His image...we must thank God that His mercy is new every morning....despite our short-comings....how GREAT is the Father's love for us. Psalm 136:7-9Amplified Bible "To Him Who made the great lights, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever-- The sun to rule over the day, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; The moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever." Separation. He has called us to live a life of separation. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." {Matthew 6:34} He has a plan.
He will see that plan to its completion. I am part of that plan. We are part of that plan. |
{mrs}I am a wife, newly stay-at-home-mommy, daughter, sister, teacher, worship leader, photographer, craftster, baker, & artist. All I want...is to be simple. Categories
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