Genesis 15-17

“Abram was eighty six years old…” (Genesis 16:16). This verse ends chapter 16. The next chapter begins, “Now Abram was ninety-nine years old…” (Genesis 17:1). Thirteen years pass by here with no storyline. We are not given a reason for the silence and any offered is purely speculative. However, this is a lesson in patience for the next time we feel life just isn’t going anywhere too fast. There is a plan and sometimes “wait” is part of that plan. God had not forgotten Abraham, nor the promises made to him. Our heavenly Father has never forgotten any of His children, including you and me.

Genesis 12-14

“I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2). In writing to the Galatian church, Paul taught that every believer in Christ is an heir of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). The promise God made with Abraham is our promise as well. He promises to bless you and He promises to make you a blessing to others. We have been called to influence the world for good, to be light shining in the darkness. So go do that, be a blessing today to others.

Genesis 10-11

“Come let us build for ourselves a city… and let us make for ourselves a name…” (Genesis 11:4). The problem here is not so much that city-life is wrong or that being famous is wrong. The problem is that these acts were done “for ourselves”. This is pride, plain and simple. We can choose to do a lot of things in this life, but when we choose to do them “for ourselves” we’re just begging the Lord to come spoil our plans. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6).

Genesis 8-9

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.” (Genesis 9:6). In every culture, murder is wrong; this law seems to be written on our hearts. This verse explains the reason murder is wrong; it is because we are made in God’s image. To shed a man’s blood unlawfully is not only murder; it also shows disrespect for God Himself. Jesus taught that even to call someone a contemptuous name was an extreme sin (Matthew 5:22). Every person we will ever meet is someone for whom Jesus died to save.

Genesis 6-7

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9). A righteous man loves justice; he chooses to do the right thing even when it costs him. To be blameless did not mean Noah was perfect, but that he had integrity and spiritual maturity. Finally, Moses says Noah was a man who walked with God; he chose to go in the same direction as God, walking down the path of God’s choosing and not his own. This also speaks of the close fellowship Noah had with God. To walk with the Lord requires time on your knees.

Genesis 3-5

Genesis 3:8, “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” This wasn’t the Lord’s first visit, they recognized this familiar sound. God has always desired our fellowship. He walked with the first couple in their garden home. He dwelt with the nation of Israel in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Jesus came in the flesh to dwell among us as a man. His Holy Spirit dwells in each believer even now. And in heaven? There He will dwell eternally with the redeemed. The Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, delights in our presence.

Genesis 1-2

Genesis 1:27, “God created man in His own image.” Whose image? The triune God who has eternally existed in the family-like structure of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are designed to be part of a community; something larger than ourselves. We begin life in the nucleus of our family. We grow up and create another family and we begin participating in the larger society around us. Failure to have meaningful associations with others is a failure to thrive. Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”