Genesis goes through the creation and beginning of the earth. So many of the stories told since childhood can be found in this book. Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark, the Tower of Babel, and Sodom and Gomorrah are all found here. Numerous lessons and studies have been done on these stories. Reading through this, there were a few themes that really stood out to me.
1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
This verse is so well known, it's definitely in the ranks as one of the first thought of verses when looking into the Bible. And this begins the journey into Genesis, but other than learning just how we were created, what other lessons can be found?
1:4 - God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
1:18 - to govern the day and the night and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
The light was good. We as Christians should be a light in this world. We should strive to be a bright light, separated from the darkness. It's far too easy to be dimmed by the darkness. The darkness is always lurking, waiting to tempt us. Stay separate, stay a beaming light.
1:11 - Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
1:24 - And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.We need to be with our "same kind" in order to bear fruit in this world. Especially within our close relationships, whether it be your best friends or your significant other. If you choose those who don't believe, or don't want to truly follow God as your closest friends, you are bound to produce far less fruit in your life. It is too easy to forget the importance of building relationships with others close to God, wanting to follow Him.
1:22 - God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
1:28 - God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.
8:17 - Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you - the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground - so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.
9:1 - Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth."
9:7 - As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."This right here is our calling! We are blessed and should produce fruit and increase in number. This isn't saying we should go and produce lots of babies, but rather, we should go and spread the word. We should go and change the world, and help increase the number coming to God. We should be out there making a difference. We were created special and this shouldn't be wasted.
1:27 - So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them: male and female he created them.Have you ever wondered your personal value? The answer to what you are worth is right here. We are created in the image of God, who are we to ever devalue that? We all were worth that image.
2:3 - Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.This world is crazy, and all to often being busy becomes the norm. We go to work, we go to school, we complete housework. Workaholics are seen far too often. We forget to relax, we forget to take time off and enjoy what God gave us and to thank Him for it. This is something that shouldn't be forgotten. God rested after the work he had done. Why would we as humans think not to follow this example and rest.. spend a day with God resting. Allow yourself to simply relax in His peace.
2:17 - but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.
3:5 - "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."What is the tree in your own life? Drugs, alcohol, bad relationships, lust? Don't even taste these things. It's easy to feel like you don't know what you're missing if not trying it once. You don't need the knowledge of evil in order to know what is good. Tasting evil will certainly lead to death.. spiritual death, emotional death, and at times even physical death.
2:18 - The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."Humans are good together. We aren't meant to be total loners sitting at home. We need friends, family, and our significant others. God specifically made a helper for man, God made him company, someone to spend life with. Relationships are a positive thing, they were made to be together, to help each other, and work together for good.
2:23 - The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
Men and women become one once they are together. This is huge. Too often in relationships, the couple are separate. Yes, you are two individuals, but you are two individuals who are now bound together. And this is how people should be treated. Treat the one you're with as you would yourself, treat them with love. And allow yourself to be treated this way.
2:25 - Adam and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame.
There was no shame, no embarrassment. They were completely vulnerable to each other, completely open.
3:7 - Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
3:10 - He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."Sin makes you hide yourself. You have to cover up who you are because the truth is embarrassing. Sin brings shame, even around those you're closest to. Sin even causes you to hide from God, because if you show your sin to God, you have to admit the decisions, admit that it's time to change, admit you were wrong.
4:7 - If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."Sin is always looking to overcome us, it's so important to be aware of it in order to fight against it. With God, you can rule over sin, you don't have to let it devour you.
5:24 - Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.Enoch was taken away, he wasn't listed as "died".???
6:2 - the sons of God saw the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.Marriage NEEDS to be done between men and women of God, not between any man and woman. The beauty needs to lie within the heart.
6:7 - So the Lord said, "I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created - and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground - for I regret that I have made them."Be someone God won't regret having made. Strive to obey and please him.
8:21 - The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.Without God, we are evil from the beginning. We need God to overcome our evil hearts and desires.
9:16 - Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."The rainbow is still our continued sign of this promise made. Remember God's love and promise.
15:1 - After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."God is both our shield and our reward. Allow him to be these things. Do not be afraid of this world, because God is here to protect us. Trust in God to protect you, and keep your shield up. Protect your heart with God.
Prayer and Action
Pray to be one separate from the darkness in the world, allowing yourself to be a light to those around you. And allow your light to spread, to multiply. To make a difference in this dark world.
Pray that God brings those in your life who are your "kind", close to God, loving God and wanting to follow Him. Be surrounded by those who will help encourage you.
Pray to stay away from sin, don't even try it in order to not be devoured. Surround yourself by those who follow this as well.
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