A Bible Study Blog
The beginning to ca. 1400 B.C.
My husband and I have raised five dogs thus far.
Most were usually quick to respond with obedience.
Our current dog, Meghan, in general is obedient except when told no.
Not that she is disobedient when told no.
Rather, she comes towards us with the question “why?” on her face.
Consider the following synonyms for the word laugh:
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: Noun
Did you get the pay raise or promotion when you were promised or are you still waiting?
How about promises made by friends or other family members?
What about promises you made to yourself?
Is there any value in being in a state of “still waiting”?
Continue reading “STILL WAITING”
For as long as I can remember, something inside of me wants to immediately prove people wrong when I they tell me no.
Especially if it is about something I deeply want or believe I can accomplish.
I have observed that a no response challenges most people.
Humans are not alone in this response.
Our eldest cat is quite brazen that no is an unacceptable response for her desires. Hissing, growling, meowing, and pouting in addition to repeated attempts to get what she wants are the normal response from her when told no. Giggling.
And our current dog comes toward us with a bewildered “why not?” expression on her face when told no. We realize it is not because she is stubborn or brazen like the cat though. She genuinely does not understand why usually. Giggling again.
But what about when God says no?
Continue reading “WHEN GOD SAYS NO”
I enjoyed a snow day on Sunday, January 16th.
Living in South Carolina snow is a rare treat for this Midwesterner.
Because snow days are so rare in this area our city shuts down except for emergency workers and those dealing with any power outages that occur.
Thankfully, my household never lost power. We were able to enjoy watching the snow fall from the safety of our warm home.
I chose to not work on a post yesterday because I wanted to cherish the snow day.
Today, as the winter storm has finished dusting the earth with this fascinating white frozen water and the sun is starting to melt it away, I decided to share with you some favorite references to snow from scripture.
Continue reading “SNOW DAY!”
Historically Sabbath rest is understood as a religious day of abstaining from work .
What do you learn about God’s view of practicing Sabbath from the passage below?
Exodus 16:22-30 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.'” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it.
25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” 27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
Continue reading “Sabbath Rest”While listening to one of my music students perform, I was asked by a former music teacher of my own which was easier for me, performing myself or listening to a student of mine perform. Without hesitation I replied that performing myself is much easier. If I made an error, it was on me to recover from it. When listening to my students I had to trust that they were prepared to recover from any error they might make.
Reading about Eve and Adam’s performance in Genesis 3:1-6 we observe that they have violated the only command they were given in eating from the tree of knowledge and evil. Have you ever wondered what God was doing while Eve was in dialogue with the serpent? Or when she gave the fruit to Adam he willingly consumed? We’re not told the answers to these questions in Genesis. What are we told?
Read Genesis 3:8-19
After covering themselves with leaves to hide their nakedness from each other, Eve and Adam hear God approaching them. Then they decide to hide from God.
Did you catch the important information here? God approached them. God came to them after they disobeyed his command. He went looking for them, but they tried to hide. God had created an abundant garden with purpose, beauty and sustenance for Eve and Adam. He gave them one rule to follow in their relationship with Him. After observing them disobey, He pursues them. Why?
What are the questions he asks them?
As the creator of the universe and ultimate law giver it is appropriate for God to issue some consequences for their disobedience (Review Genesis 3:14-19). Don’t miss the fact found in this passage that God is the one who seeks us after we sin in order to restore our relationship with Him.
What else do you learn about God in this passage? I’d love to hear from you!
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
A moment of decision arrives for Eve in Genesis 3:6. Will Eve eat or not?
ESV Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Having discussed the one and only command provided to her and Adam by God due to the serpent’s questions that raised uncertainty and doubt about God’s character and provisions for Eve, how does she now assess the prohibited tree?
How would you describe what is happening in Eve’s mind and heart as she gazes at the forbidden fruit tree?
Fixating on the forbidden attractive delectable fruit with the idea that it is the path to gaining wisdom, Eve decides to partake and gives some to Adam as well, who willingly partakes.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation as Eve and Adam? Fixated on something you have been told you can’t have?
Personally, I recall many times in my life where I’ve been told I couldn’t do, be or have something and my immediate response was “watch me, I’ll prove you wrong!” Sometimes that type of attitude is appropriate when interacting with our fellow humans.
But when it comes to our creator’s commands it is always the path to shame, guilt and negative consequences rather than a path to being wise if we have the “watch me, I’ll prove you wrong!” attitude.
What things can you do each day to keep your focus on God’s abundant provision for you no matter your current circumstance today?
Send me your thoughts!
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
In Genesis 3:1 the serpent appears to be seeking clarification from Eve about what God had commanded regarding eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. After Eve’s failure to quote God accurately the serpent reveals a more sinister motive:
ESV Genesis 3:4-5 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Look again at what God had commanded:
ESV Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
When striking up the conversation with Eve initially, the serpent had turned the abundance of fruit trees God provided for consumption into a complete ban of all fruit trees. (See 3:1). Now the serpent contradicts God by negating the consequences of eating from this one banned tree.
God warns “you shall surely die”. Eve interpreted this to the softer statement of “lest you die”. The serpent discounts both God and Eve saying, “you will not surely die”.
The serpent goes even further in discrediting God’s character by implying that the reason this tree’s fruit has been banned for consumption is that it will open Eve’s eyes to become like God.
Consider what is said though about the creation of man:
ESV Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Notice that mankind was already created in God’s likeness. Further, mankind was created to have authority over animals. But here in Genesis 3, it is the serpent, an animal, who is challenging God’s authority and integrity.
Next time we’ll study how Eve responds to this new challenge by the serpent.
Meanwhile, what else do you see in these verses that I haven’t mentioned? Send me your observations! I love to hear from my readers.
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn