Of course, that's not me in the picture; that lady doesn't have arm flaps. I'm not exactly a serious swimmer, but more a treader/crawler. The idea is to keep moving, right?
Easing into the water of the "walking lane" this morning, I looked forward to going by the next warm water jet. Those jets feel really good as you get used to the water, but they also create a tiny current. Later when my arms tire and it's just my feet fluttering, that current nudges me into the lane marker. Drift is easy without a strong forward motion.
That's what I'm learning in Genesis.
It's helpful to check the rearview mirror, and so in checking out the first eleven chapters, a pattern is emerging in my Genesis study. The GOD COLUMN might include words like planned and created, initiated and revealed, sought and comforted, taught and empowered, forgave, loved and provided. The MAN COLUMN was shorter....chose unwisely and drifted. See if you notice the same pattern...
GENESIS ONE
Jehovah God spoke creation into being
and our minds-eye catches glorious images of His power and creativity.
GENESIS TWO
and our minds-eye catches glorious images of His power and creativity.
GENESIS TWO
The intentional God formed man from the dust of the ground.
Then He met Adam's need for a helpmate
by taking a rib from the man to create Eve.
Then He met Adam's need for a helpmate
by taking a rib from the man to create Eve.
GENESIS THREE
We are chagrined to watch the enemy taunt and the garden-dwellers fall.
Adam and Eve took a spanking, yet the Faithful God reminds them how
they may come to Him...while speaking hope for all men
in a Genesis 3:15 promise to send a coming Rescuer!
Adam and Eve took a spanking, yet the Faithful God reminds them how
they may come to Him...while speaking hope for all men
in a Genesis 3:15 promise to send a coming Rescuer!
GENESIS FOUR
The next generation comes up to bat as Cain and Abel leave us two patterns.
Their hearts are revealed as they define worship...and they show sin's sway
as the green-eyed pride monster led to murder and lying and self exaltation.
Cain chose to avoid repentance AND God's presence; he drifts far from God.
Their hearts are revealed as they define worship...and they show sin's sway
as the green-eyed pride monster led to murder and lying and self exaltation.
Cain chose to avoid repentance AND God's presence; he drifts far from God.
GENESIS FIVE
Adam's descendants were carefully recorded as each entry
tells when they were born, how long they lived, and when they died.
God shows that His eye is on each individual, and another of Satan's lies
("surely you will not die") was debunked.
tells when they were born, how long they lived, and when they died.
God shows that His eye is on each individual, and another of Satan's lies
("surely you will not die") was debunked.
GENESIS SIX
The Just God observes the huge drift of all mankind.
He selects one man, the godly Noah, to preach for 120 years
as he constructs a floating haven, which pictures salvation in Christ.
He selects one man, the godly Noah, to preach for 120 years
as he constructs a floating haven, which pictures salvation in Christ.
GENESIS SEVEN
There was no response to Noah's plea.
The first great judgment against mankind is described
as the flood waters cover the earth. God reboots
as everything is washed away except eight people and the ark animals.
The first great judgment against mankind is described
as the flood waters cover the earth. God reboots
as everything is washed away except eight people and the ark animals.
GENESIS EIGHT
The flood recedes and Noah's first act in the new world is worship.
His animal sacrifice soothes God's wrath;
God promises to preserve the earth until His people are saved.
His animal sacrifice soothes God's wrath;
God promises to preserve the earth until His people are saved.
GENESIS NINE
The God-Who-Moves-First kindly declares
an unconditional covenant with man (in spite of man's sinfulness)
and hangs a comforting rainbow in the sky as a reminder.
an unconditional covenant with man (in spite of man's sinfulness)
and hangs a comforting rainbow in the sky as a reminder.
GENESIS TEN
Noah's post-flood descendants repopulate the earth
and we understand the ethnic origins of nations. The earth population
includes the ungodly ones who drift far from God...as well as
the ones in Shem's line who choose to follow God.
and we understand the ethnic origins of nations. The earth population
includes the ungodly ones who drift far from God...as well as
the ones in Shem's line who choose to follow God.
GENESIS ELEVEN
Man's memory of judgment fades quickly as corruption ushers in
the second worldwide judgment...the confusion of languages @Tower of Babel.
Then at the end of the Chapter 11, we are introduced to a man from Ur named Abram.
the second worldwide judgment...the confusion of languages @Tower of Babel.
Then at the end of the Chapter 11, we are introduced to a man from Ur named Abram.
Chapter 12 will tell us "God came down" and the idolater Abram got to see God's glory. We wonder what THAT was like. God gave Abram spiritual sight and changed his name to Abraham. Now the Lord will use Abraham's family group to explain Himself to the world.
Through the first 11 chapers, God consistently demonstrates His love and provision for man, and then man consistently chooses his own way. The definition of sin is "going our own way".
In my swimming experience, if my arms aren't moving like my feet...I stall out and get to drifting. In my spiritual experience, if my feet are not running toward God, then I may think I'm in neutral, but really there is no such thing. I'm drifting.
"God came down" for Abraham and then at a later time, He came down in the person of Christ. What else could He do to show His love?
"But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law...so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights." Galatians 4:4
"God came down" for Abraham and then at a later time, He came down in the person of Christ. What else could He do to show His love?
"But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law...so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights." Galatians 4:4
No comments:
Post a Comment