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Genesis Chapter 1 to 3

GENESIS 1

The Beginning

Commentary

GENESIS 1 – 3

Genesis is the book of beginnings and in the first three chapters, we are introduced to the beginning of the universe, the beginning of all types of life on earth, the beginning of man, the beginning of marriage, the beginning of sin and death, the beginning of the redemption plan and most importantly the introduction to the Ones who created everything; The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.

Come on a journey as we experience the awesome creation account and see first hand the work that went into what we call our world today. Look at the creative power of God manifested as He speaks things into being where there once was nothing. Stop for a moment and consider a few amazing facts: if we were as close to the sun as Venus, the heat would be unbearable, if we were as far away as Mars, every region would experience snow and ice nightly. Water solidifies at 0 degrees Celsius, but if the oceans were subject to that law, the amount of thawing in the polar region would mean that we would all be living in the Ice Age. To prevent this, God put salt in the sea to alter its freezing point! Now how’s that for a day’s work? Everything is just right, just so, just perfect, created by the God who knows all things for man.

We move on to see the man made in God’s image exercising his creative muscle in naming the animals, the innate ability of God manifesting in His creation. But God considered it not good for Adam to be alone and then Adam is given a ‘helper’ to complement him, to ensure he is not alone, and he knows at first sight that she is perfect for him, because of the One who made her. There is apparently a Jewish saying that woman was not taken from man’s feet to be under him, nor from his head to be over him, but from his side to be beside him along the journey of life. God’s blueprint for life is clear.

Now we arrive at the temptation and the fall, and we see the deception of Eve, and the conscious sin of Adam (1 Timothy 2:14). Through them the pattern for deception that still holds true today is displayed – the initial casting of doubt over what God has said, the doubt over the consequence of sin, and finally the portrayal of the forbidden as something to be desired. Each must bear the consequence of their choices and the stage is set for the awesome power and wisdom of God to be displayed for all to see.

As we start 2011 and embark on this journey it would seem pertinent to remember a few things:

The first few days of the year are often spent planning and setting goals. As you do so, remember the One who knows all things and ask – what are His plans for you?

The entire Bible is the intricately designed, inspired word of God. There are so many wonderful things to be discovered if you would only plumb its depths. Ask God to show you things you have never seen before and deepen your relationship with Him as he draws you nearer.

It’s all about Jesus – every part of the word, points to the Living Word. God has skilfully interwoven signposts to His Son along the way. For example Eve, the bride of Adam was taken from his side, a foreshadowing of the piercing of the side of Christ for his bride, the Church. As you walk along the path, put markers down that you can come back to, to remind you just what it’s about.

Happy New Year!

Psalm 92:1

1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,

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80 years of HCJB Global

From humble beginnings in Quito Ecuador 80 years ago HCJB Global has expanded its work to more than a hundred countries

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The Fall

Fri, 31/12/2010

Genesis 3 and 4

¹ Now

Commentary

From the scripture reading we observe the process satan uses to entrap us into sin. Firstly he begins by sowing the seed of doubt -

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

and then followed by outright contradiction to the word of God. This process was repeated in the temptation of Jesus Matt 4:3 "If you are the son of God".

Once the seed is sown, it can only take root if it is received and pondered. Eve 'saw'; the word saw is a primary root word "raah" which is used to mean "to see, perceive, regard, look at, consider". Eve consider the words of the devil and 'saw' which led to a desire to eat of the tree for which God had said they should not eat from. This is confirmed by James in James 1:13 - 15.

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”