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JANUARY 3
Genesis 5-7
God is still having Moses write about "beginnings" in
Genesis. There is a lot in these chapters, so enjoy reading and making notes of
observations. Then write down your questions. If you're reading this for the
first time, as these texts are read, a lot of questions will pop up that are
hard to answer. The questions are valid and they are what the Lord will use to
set your heart seeking for answers. It is how you begin to make this truth your
own possession. And reading this is how you slowly begin to learn to know, and
"internalize," who God is. This is by the Lord’s design.
Genesis 5
Vs. 1-2 This is the summary of the creation of man and purpose
statement for all the genealogies to follow. It is tracing only the godly line
from Adam that kept the faith and hope of the promise made to Eve. This is
tracing the plan of redemption in the very early days of mankind.
Notice that God blessed them. It is important to note that in every
beginning, there was a special blessing to get things going. There were
miracles and wonders and special provision in the beginning of the nation of
Israel. It went from the ease of birth for the Jewish women, to the birth of
Moses, to the manna in the wilderness, to the fact that the shoes and clothing
of the people never wore out. There was blessing in big and little things. The
same is true of the birth of the church in Acts. There were all sorts of
miraculous workings and little wonders that brought the church quickly to
growth and to organization. Here also there were blessings given to launch
mankind. All of these blessings were for those beginnings.
Vs. 3-4 For example, in today's reading it doesn't mention the births
of Abel or Cain, but Adam and Eve could have had many other daughters and sons,
before and after the birth of Seth, numbering possibly into the hundreds. We
can ask God when we get to heaven, but I'll bet that God made conception and
birth very easy processes back then. I'm thinking their hormone levels were
normal, fertility was high, and they didn't have TV, so what else did they have
to do?
Notice that God is only interested in tracing the line of Seth,
although it says that Adam and Eve had many other sons and daughters.
Vs. 4-31 As a fun sort of thing, try to figure out the actual time to
the flood using the ages, the births and deaths of the line of Adam. The
overlap of men up to the flood is interesting. If you do this right, you'll see
that a very famous guy dies the year of the flood, and that all of the other
godly guys were dead just before the flood. God does a good job of planning,
even planning funerals.
Obviously, brothers and sisters married. Notice that they married.
Cain knew his wife. That's a bit different than "had sex
with his sister." Lamech, who had rage issues like his great grandpa Cain,
also had 2 wives.
At the creation of Eve, Moses adds an explanation saying (my
paraphrase), "so now you understand where this phenomena came from, this
irresistible pattern engraved in the human race that a man will leave his
father and mother (one socially identifiable entity) and be joined (married
into another socially identifiable union) and become one flesh (have sex!)." This
order seems to have been established from the beginning - leave, marry, become
one flesh. God ingrained in them from the start, that the bond of marriage
happened in an identifiable manner. The woman was socially identified as a wife,
and the man, as a husband. Then, after that was established, they
could become one flesh, as the Hebrew expresses it, "to know" one
another. Under God, even from the beginning, there was no sex without marriage.
Later, God gives the law and forbids incest. But also, later, God put
the fear of man in the animals. Later, after the flood, the ages of men began
to shorten, drastically. Things changed, guided by God, to the situation we
have today.
V. 32 Notice that Noah was 500 when he had these three sons. That
doesn't mean these were the only sons he had, not to mention daughters.
However, these are the only ones who
followed the Lord. That makes for a very sad reality. The times must have
been terrible and God's punishment had to come to that culture.
Genesis 6
The knowledge of God became more distant. When God spoke to Cain, Cain
wasn't amazed. He was irritated. He 'knew' God. The progress of those
generations shows the drifting from God to the day of Noah. Only the line of
faith, those who looked for God's answer to the tragedy of the Fall, as
promised to Adam and Eve, are mentioned. Notice that in Genesis 4:26 that people began to call upon the name of the Lord, but which Lord (God)? The fact that the sons of God (fallen angels) mixed
with humanity (see Jude 1:6), speaks also to the openness and need of humanity
to seek and receive spiritual input, but not from the right god. Noah lived and
preached (2 Pet. 2:5) for 100 years and there were no "takers" apart
from his own family. Imagine how bad he must have felt about his preaching
ability.
As disciples we need to lead the way, thinking through this record of
fallen reality to give good sincere answers to people who ask. We need to
realize, following in Noah's sandals, that our job is to follow Christ and
proclaim His Word, not to be "successful" in anyone's eyes but His. Take
heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will
save both yourself and your hearers.
(1 Tim. 4:16)
Vs. 1-4 If you do a search on sons
of God it turns out they are angels. Job 1:6 and 2:1 show this. I have the
same question as you do, and I don't know how they could do it. Apparently the
angels who did were stopped and are mentioned in Jude 1:6.
V. 4 The Nephilim were giants, like Goliath.
Vs. 5-7 This is God's decision. He apparently locked up the angels that
did this and prevented this from happening again. Then He had to cleanse
mankind and begin again. Interestingly enough, this genetic line of the
Nephilim must have continued through Noah's wife or one of the wives of his sons
because the Nephilim are mentioned later. And if you add the sin nature to this
genetic material they were bringing in to the post-flood world, it wasn't a
completely clean start.
God was sorry, not in that He regretted His decision, but He was grieved
at the evil He witnessed. We say "evil," but I'm sure it defied the
imagination. We see what happens today. Back then it would have been as bad, if
not worse.
Vs. 8-10 Noah is in the godly line from Adam, looking for the
redemption of man through the promised child. Although Adam and Seth had died,
there were many men around Noah who would have personally known Adam. Because
we know that Noah was 500 when he had these three sons, it was very probable
that he had other sons and daughters, but the others had become part of the
culture and had no interest in the promise or in heeding their father's
message.
Vs. 11-22 Noah's Ark!
Don’t miss v. 22.
Genesis 7
Vs. 1-5 Notice how often Noah does what God commands. God spoke to Noah
and I'm sure there was a lot of encouragement along the way, especially when
the animals began to show up. On the other hand, no one listened to Noah. He
preached (2 Peter 2:5) for 100 years. Noah's only "success" was his obedience
and the ark.
Vs. 6-10 Noah worked on the ark 100 years.
V. 7 You would have thought that with all of the offspring of the godly
line, there would have been more people on the ark. Surely there were other
kids of Adam and Enoch and others of the godly line who were still alive. Apparently
sin was that bad. Also, there was a spiritual thing going on with the "sons
of God" and the rise of powerful leaders. It is very possible that Noah
had many other children who didn't follow God. The promise of redemption must
have seemed as unnecessary as worshiping the true God. I think this shows how
deep the evil was. Everyone but eight people was corrupted.
Vs. 11-16 This restatement shows that God was supernaturally taking
care of man and animal. Notice the very exact time reference in v. 11. God had
to have revealed this to Moses, especially since Moses was now using the new
dating system God gave them after the Passover. It is also here in v. 11 that
it is suggested that the protective layer of moisture in the atmosphere was
dissolved and added to the general disaster. The final verse is interesting. God
shut them in, protecting them, and shutting out all of the wicked.
Vs. 17-24 Notice the word prevailed.
Apparently the flood not only rose, but it lasted this long without
beginning to go down.
One of the questions is, “Why didn’t God just kill everyone but Noah
& Co. with some plague or just vaporize them?” Of course, because of the
flood we have great sermon illustrations, children's stories, movies and action
figures. But really, it had something to do with mercy, judgment and guilt. The
fact that Noah built the ark for 100 years gave everyone the opportunity to
come and inquire. The fact that no one came made the righteousness of the
judgment obvious. Also, it shows that God is patient but means business. Jesus
and Peter both referred to the days of Noah as being an illustration of coming,
inevitable judgment, patiently marching forward. (Luke 17:26, Matt. 24:37 and 1
Peter 3:20)
It is the same for us working in the harvest following the Lord. We do
what the Lord says, sharing His Word and making disciples. Chances are we won't
do worse than Noah, and God will bless us for following and obeying. He'll take
care of the rest.
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Matthew 3:7-17
Vs. 7-12 Talk about how not to "win friends and influence people.”
Note the contrast between the description of John (camel hair and locusts) and
the Pharisees and Sadducees who were rich and well-dressed. John unloaded on
them, but Luke 3:7 tells us John also addressed the multitudes of people who
were there for baptism. John saw the P&S, then turned to the people and
issued this blast. Here is the deciding factor in this very rough sermon. We
don't know what the P&S did, but the people responded in Luke 3:10, saying,
"What then shall we do?” The
Spirit led John to address the leaders and people like this. The people
responded with open hearts. The reason the Spirit led John to be so harsh was
to reveal and draw those who were spiritually hungry and thirsty. They kept
listening.
As disciples we should be tactful, where appropriate, but never hiding
the truth. John spoke like this and the people who were drawing near in faith
did not run; they came closer, unlike the people in Noah's day. Is it OK to
tell people about judgment and hell? Both John and Jesus did.
Vs. 13-17 Jesus' baptism is the first event that all four Gospels refer
to with the same specific detail, the Spirit descending as a dove and remaining
on Jesus. Properly understood, it was His anointing as King; and, just like
David, there was/will be time between His anointing and His earthly throne.
This anointing and presentation of the Messiah to Israel was the fulfilling of
the ministry of John the Baptist as seen in the Gospel of John, chapters 1- 3.
This might be behind the words of Jesus. To fulfill all righteousness, here,
was to have John fulfill his purpose in God's plan.
Matthew 4:1-11
Vs. 1-3 Dwight Pentecost mentions that one of the reasons for the 40
days might have been to make sure Jesus faced off with Satan. It took that long
to smoke Satan out. Jesus, the real ruler of humanity, confronted the present
ruler/guardian/rat. The Spirit was the aggressor. The temptation of man was in
the garden. Afterward Satan turned the world into a wilderness. Jesus is
challenging Satan in the wilderness. Another thought here regarding the
wilderness is that Israel was in the wilderness being formed into the nation
that was to reach the world; but as Paul says in that famous passage on
temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:5-13, they failed.
Nevertheless, with most of them
God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these
things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they
did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people
sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual
immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by
serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for
our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who
thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you
that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it.
V. 4 Notice that Jesus, unlike Eve, correctly quotes Scripture and uses
it against Satan. Interestingly enough, all of the Scripture Jesus quotes to
Satan comes out of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was written at the end of the
wilderness experience of the children of Israel.
Vs. 5-6 This temptation is in a different order between Matthew and
Luke. Personally, I would go with Luke, but I understand the Spirit having both
men place this in a different order. Matthew builds up to showing Jesus is the
Messiah, the King. Luke was painstakingly chronological and shows that Jesus is
God the Son and superior to Satan. In Luke you get the sense that Satan was
frustrated with Jesus quoting Scripture so he tried to trick Jesus by quoting Scripture
himself. Notice that Satan correctly quotes the verses, understanding their
meaning, but incorrectly applies them to that situation. That tells me that we
also need to know the heart of God and honor Him alone. That is why we are
reading the Word, not to promote ourselves, but to know and serve Him.
Vs. 7-11 Note that Jesus does not dispute Satan's claim to rule. There
is no room here for a long discussion, but just to say that the claim is
legitimate and supported by Paul's god of
this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and the world
rulers of this present darkness (Eph. 6:12, RSV).
Also, Jesus doesn't really have a discussion with Satan, He just quotes
Scripture and ends it. Maybe there is a godly stance before aggressive unbelief
that is simply silent, not giving dogs what is holy or throwing pearls before
swine.
V. 10 Notice that worship equals service. If you don't serve you are
not truly worshiping, because true worship leads to service. Jesus wasn't
tricked by thinking you could have one without the other.
V. 11 I don't think Satan understood the full impact of this
confrontation. When a demon possesses a person, it binds and dominates the
human spirit. It could be that Satan assumed there was a separate human spirit
in Jesus that was being dominated by the Spirit of God the Son, and he was
trying to get that human spirit to rebel against God.
I think that Satan and his angels saw the man Jesus, but assumed it was
the spirit of God the Son, merely dominating a human. That is how they work. In
that case the human spirit would not have been free to choose to die for
mankind. That possessed human would have been forced to do so. That would have
made God's plan invalid. I think that Jesus, as incarnate God, fully man and
fully God, was still veiled in mystery and hidden; for as Paul says in 1
Corinthians 2:8, None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they
had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Psalm 3
Vs. 1-2 I hate to say this, but I don't think you can grow past a
certain place as a disciple until you experience something like this. These are
only words until you have contended for God and been taken out by unfriendly
fire, whether from believers or unbelievers. Paul promised Timothy, All who
desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men
and imposters go from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived (2 Tim. 3:12).
Vs. 3-4 This is where you learn to truly cry out as a disciple and
where you truly realize that the Lord, and no one else, can save and satisfy.
Selah!
Vs. 5-6 You get the idea that David learned to trust and rest in the
Lord over time. He was in constant danger for years, yet he slept and rose and
God was still protecting him.
Vs. 7-8 Punishment comes to the rebellious. That is certain and David
could rest in that. Salvation comes from the Lord. That too was certain and
worth waiting for.
Proverbs 1:10-19
I think the message of Solomon to his son is "Beware of
shortcuts.” I know none of us is going to sneak up on someone and mug them for
their wallet. But there is a temptation, for the sake of God, to press the
"easy" button in relationships, money and honesty.
Jesus told His disciples to make sure they were on the right way. How
do you know which way is the right one? The gate is narrow, you are pressed
getting through it, and the way is hard. It takes work and focus. Honest work, paying
taxes, honoring city codes, telling the truth, honoring copyrights, being
authentic are all work. If our faith costs us nothing, it could be that we are
not following Christ in the harvest at all. We're just being good clean church
people.
For the sake of the Kingdom we get tempted to take shortcuts. We are
not to be in the company of, or enticed by, those who want to disobey God in
order to "serve" God and "build" His kingdom. Many
disciples have stumbled and many ministries have been destroyed by this
nonsense. Worst of all, Christ Himself and His church become held up to
ridicule by the behavior of His own people.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing
deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the
growth of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4
disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to
reach out and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most
universal and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here,
or what we are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us, as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His
harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be
willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their
growth as disciples, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
Anyone reading along with us is
welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own
observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition
or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any
point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as
I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement,
a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep
following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who
make disciples. Being in the Word every
day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential
essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow
Him in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
The daily installments of the Reading Notes can be found at http://fencerail.blogspot.com/
If you would like documents containing an entire month of the
Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full presentation of discipleship read Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with insomnia and would like a long
boring dissertation on disciple making, these can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis 2011
The One Year Bible © by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton
Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright ©
2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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