Genesis - parts 1 and 2

 We have been going through the Pentateuch in our study this summer, reading about 15 chapters a week, getting an overview of Israel in preparation for studying Joshua, Judges, and Ruth starting in September.  I've been so remiss in posting here, but feel like I should "catch you up" with our posts.

Genesis 1-15

Creation, fall, the beginning of the plan of redemption.  All these are included in these chapters.  These chapters cover more than a thousand years, but they show God's sovereignty in it all.  Throughout history, God has chosen men to be His.  Men who will, even in their failings, point people to Him.  Adam, Noah, Abram.  These are all men who sinned.  Men who failed.  But God still used them.  God still redeemed Noah, even though he showed himself far from perfect.  God still credited righteousness to Abram because of his faith, even though he lied and had trouble trusting God.  Abram learned to go back to God, to always go back to Him.  We need to learn that as well.  We will always have times of failure.  This is part of the sin nature that God is rooting out of us with sanctification.  It won't be totally rooted out of us this side of heaven.  We will sin.  We will doubt.  But we always need to go back to God in repentance.  The faster we go back, the less damage done to our relationship.  God wants us with Him.  That's why He sent Jesus.  That why He chooses to redeem us at great cost to Himself.  He sets the stage for Jesus from the beginning of creation.  This is the plan.  It was always the plan.  Because He loves us and wants us to be with Him.

Genesis 16-30

God continues to pull His people towards Him in these chapters.  Abraham shows both great doubt and great faith.  Isaac carries on.  Jacob takes the torch.  God promised Abraham that he would be a great nation.  A great nation through which God would bless the whole world.  God has a plan, and He carries it out with His chosen people - not perfect people, just chosen people.  God continues to build His nation and show Himself faithful.  Even when His people are faithless.  Even when Abraham's children and grandchildren only hold on to "the God of my fathers" rather than "my Lord and my God".  This nation is imperfect and there is much to learn about what NOT to do in these chapters, but God's faithfulness shines through.  The Bible is, after all, about God, not us.


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