Category: Bible & Theology
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 14:1-17:27 Focus: Genesis 15:1 – 21 As we enter into this stage of Abraham’s life, he had just fought against the Canaanite kings (think clan chieftains rather than national kings) after his nephew Lot was captured in a recent battle (see Genesis 14). At the end of this battle, one of the kings offered Abraham his portion of the war spoils but Abraham refused having taken an oath before God. (It’s not like Abraham was poor anyway!) Here, at the beginning of Genesis 15, God appeared to Abraham with the promise: “Do not be afraid,…
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 9:18-13:18 Focus: Genesis 12:10-20 Abraham, father of the Promise, man above men, good ol’ father Abraham… When we think of Abraham, we think of a man who left his family heritage, followed God’s call and lived a life of obedience. -cough- Quite the contrary, Abraham isn’t as great as we make him out to be. God had called Abram (before named Abraham later), “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Such obedience is unquestionable, Abram obeyed the call of God and set out.
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 5:1-9:17 Focus: Genesis 9:1-7 The story of Noah marks a milestone in God’s story of Creation because, metaphorically speaking, it is a new creation. We know the story, humankind sins escalated and God’s anger was roused; God decided to wipe out humankind and called Noah to build the Ark and save a remnant from utter destruction. After almost a year of the beginning of the Flood, Noah walked on dry ground. It is here on a new day that God makes a covenant with Noah (and all humankind) with words which ring back to the…
Cover to Cover Reading: Genesis 1:1-4:26 Focus: Genesis 3:1-5 The story of Genesis—that is, literally, “the beginning”—is a story many people are familiar with. The seven days of creation, God’s creation of humankind, the story of Adam and Eve and their subsequent fall, the introduction of sin and the consequences of sin in human life (beginning with the murder of Abel by his brother Cain). However, I wonder if we realise the reality that continues to plague us even today. The beginning of Eve’s temptation and one of the continuing enemies in our battle with sin—deception.
