Genesis 7-9

The Creation stories are one of my favorite stories in all of the Bible. The flood in today's reading represents the destruction and sadness in our lives. Of course, the dove can represent the Holy Spirit who helps us find the bit of green (hope) in our despair. There is always hope no matter how dire the situation that we are in. The first time that the dove was sent out, he did not come back with anything, but Noah was persistent. After all, he needed to find dry land; he believed that the flood waters would recede. We will ask God for something, and He may not give us always what we desire the first time we ask Him. We must be persistent and believe that there is "dry land" in all of our problems. Noah had a lot of trust in God and that is why God made a covenant with him, the first covenant made in the Bible. Let's continue to be persistent. Noah needed to find dry land. In the same way, God knows that our most important needs need to be met.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:19).

(Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 10-12)

Gensis 4-6

Often, I have found myself wondering why God rejected Cain's offering while accepting Abel's. But, recently, I have realized that like anyone, and more so, God has the right to be selective. Revenge is such a great evil. And at the root of revenge is jealousy. From the beginning of time, this truth has manifested itself. Lucifer was jealous of Jesus, and his jealousy lead to revenge which lead to Lucifer's fall into Hell where he is now known as Satan. Satan continues to take revenge through mankind. God chooses Abel's offering and though this choice is not easily understandable, Cain does not have the right to murder his brother. Here is an interesting comparison that I found in the passage for today:

"If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times" (Genesis 4:24).

"Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:21-22 NRSV)

In our reading today, Cain's descendants are cursed 10x as much as Cain was for his sin. I can't help, though, but look into the future when Jesus tells Peter to forgive a person who has done him wrong 10x more.

The story is not over, though. In fact, it has only started. Adam and Eve have another child: Seth. Seth replaces Cain. Cain=destruction. Seth=hope. Seth's descendant is Noah, the one who brings in a new era, a new beginning. Lamech suffered terribly for his father's sins, but through Seth's descendant Noah, Lamech exclaims that "[Noah] will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed" (Genesis 5:29). Noah will save mankind from destruction. Sound familiar? Of course. Noah is the first of the many characters in the Bible that save people from doom. The greatest savior of them all being Jesus Christ.

(Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 7-9)