My Daily Bible Study - Genesis

[Frances]

Genesis 1 - 2:3
What did I learn of God? - On the first day - Everywhere was dark. He Created the Heavens and Earth. At His Word light was created. He called the light 'Day' and the darkness 'Night'.
On the 2nd day - He created an expanse, which He called 'Heaven', to divide the waters above it from the waters below.
On the 3rd day - the waters under heaven, which He called 'Seas' were moved together and dry land, which He called 'Earth' appeared - He was pleased. He created Trees, Grasses and Herbs each with the ability to produce seed bearing fruit. God was pleased.
On the 4th day - He created the Sun and Moon in the heavens to divided Day from Night, Seasons and Years and to give light to earth, and He also made Stars. He was pleased.
On the 5th day - God created many large and small Creatures to swim in the waters and Birds to fly across the sky, all with the ability to be fruitful and multiply.
On the 6th day - He created all kinds of creatures to live on the earth. He made Mankind, male and female, in the image and likeness of God. He blessed them and told them to be fruitful and fill the earth and subdue it. Everything God made was very good.
On the 7th day - God rested. He Blessed and Sanctified that day.

What did I learn of myself?- God Created my first ancestors.

What did I praise God for? - The Power and Authority of His Word.

What did I pray for? – To be true to Him.

What does this say in one sentence? – God Created the universe and everything in it in 6 x 24 hour days, and rested on the 7th.

[Frances]

Genesis 2:4 - 25 (a more detailed account of God's creation)

What did I learn of God? - He caused a mist to rise from the earth that watered all the ground. He made Man from the soil and breathed life into his nostrils. In Eden He planted a garden, watered by a river and put the man there to care for it. God told the man (Adam) he could eat fruit from every tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil, because if he did he would die (be separated from Life). God brought every creature and bird He had made to the man for him to name; then having caused the man to sleep He took one of his ribs and created a female, who Adam called Woman because she was taken out of man. Therefore a man and his wife shall cling together and become one flesh. They were not ashamed to be naked.

What did I learn of myself?- I am a product of God's Creation, to be 'one flesh' with one person of the opposite sex.

What did I praise God for? - His perfect (very good) Creation.

What did I pray for? - Greater understanding of His Will for me.

What does this say in one sentence? - In 6 days God Created the Heavens and the Earth and everything in them, to 'be fruitful and multiply' and fill the Earth. God rested on the 7th day and Blessed and Sanctified it (set it apart for His use)

Query:- If I choose not to believe God Created the universe, and everything in it, in 6 x 24 hour days can I really be believing in the Jesus of the Bible – as John 1 says ‘nothing was made without Him?

[Frances]

Genesis 3

What did I learn of God? - He made the serpent that tempted Eve. He made mankind and the serpent hostile to one another. He increased Eve's ability to conceive and also her sorrow, including pain in childbirth, and said she would desire her husband and he would rule over her. Because Adam disobeyed Him, God cursed the ground so he had to work hard to get food among the thorns and thistles, until he died. He made Adam and Eve clothes of animal skins (so He sacrificed animals to cover the guilt of their Sin) and sent them out of the Garden of Eden, putting Cherubim to guard the Tree of Life with a flaming sword.

What did I learn of myself? - I am descended from Adam and Eve. I have inherited from them the sentences of hardship and death.

What did I praise God for? - Being true to Himself - not allowing His Power and Authority to be compromised by anyone/anything He Created.

What did I pray for? - His Mercy when I submit to the temptation to disobey Him.

What does this say in one sentence? – The serpent tempted Eve who, with Adam, disobeyed God, so He Cursed the ground and threw them out of the Garden of Eden to work for a living, suffer pain and die.

Note:- If I yield to temptation once too often will I risk being thrown out of God’s Kingdom?

[Frances]

Genesis 4

What did I learn of God? - He accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's. He told Cain his offering would be accepted if he did what was right and Sin would control him if he did not rule over it. God asked Cain where Abel was although He already knew he'd killed his brother. God cursed Cain, saying he'd always be a fugitive and vagabond, and marked him so no one would kill him. God allowed Eve to have another son, Seth .

What did I learn of myself? - If I please God he will accept me and my offerings. I must rule over Sin that seeks to control me. My descendants are likely to commit the same Sin's I give in to.

What did I praise God for? - Punishing Sin (including mine) to encourage living to please Him.

What did I pray for? - His Strength to resist all temptation to Sin.

What does this say in one sentence? - Cain was jealous of Abel and killed him, so God cursed him to be a fugitive and vagabond; (his descendant also killed a man) meanwhile Eve had another son - Seth - when his son Enosh was born people began to call on the Name of the Lord.

Query – Is it possible for me to please God if I don’t trust Him in every way for everything?

[Frances]

Genesis 5What did I learn of God? - He Created Mankind male and female, in His likeness and Blessed them.

What did I learn of myself? – God has Blessed each child born with the opportunity to have eternal Life – including me.

What did I praise God for? - Ensuring only the generations from Adam to Noah were accurately recorded (so we wouldn’t be confused by too many names).

What did I pray for? - That I never compromise the Truth of His Creation, to appear acceptable to those who don’t trust God’s Word.

What does this say in one sentence? - The genealogy from Adam to Noah, their meanings are (Quote:- Chuck Missler):-

Adam means Man
Seth " Appointed
Enosh " Mortal
Kenan " Sorrow
Mahalalel " The Blessed God
Jared " Shall come down
Enoch " Teaching
Methuselah " His death shall bring
Lamech " the despairing
Noah " Rest and Comfort
(read meanings from Adam to Noah as one sentence)

[Frances]

Genesis 6

What did I learn of God? - He set the limit of human life to 120 years. Then because of the great and continual wickedness of mankind He was so grieved that He decided to destroy all mankind except Noah and his family and a pair of each kind of creature and bird, so told Noah to build an Ark with separate compartments, covered inside and out with pitch. The Ark must be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high, with 3 decks, with a window and a door; to preserve the lives of Noah, his 3 sons and all their wives as well as 2 of every living creature and bird - and all the food necessary for them.

What did I learn of myself? - I am descended from Noah. I’m doubtful whether my faith in God would survive for 100 years of humiliation. . . without His direct intervention.

What did I praise God for? - His Faithfulness to those faithful to Him. . . and also giving every opportunity for Sinners to repent before Judging them.

What did I pray for? - Strength to always be obedient to Him in all circumstances.

What does this say in one sentence? - God's patience regarding Sin came to an end, but He was Gracious to Noah and told him to build an Ark, for which He gave detailed instructions, to save Noah's family and 2 of every kind of creature and bird that He would send to Noah.

Quote:- (John Foster Dulles)” We are establishing an all-time world record in the production of material things. What we lack is a righteous and dynamic faith. Without it all else avails little. The lack cannot be compensated for by politicians, however able; or by diplomats, however astute; or by scientists, however inventive; or by bombs, however powerful.”

Query – Will God’s patience with me run out if I don’t make every effort to obey Him, and sincerely repent when I fail?

[Frances]

Genesis 7

What did I learn of God? - He told Noah to take into the Ark 7 of each clean animal, male and female, and a male and female of every unclean animal - for after 7 more days He would cause rain for 40 days and nights and would destroy all living things. God brought a male and female of all clean and unclean animals, every sort of bird and all flesh into the Ark and He shut them in . . . He destroyed all living things except those with Noah in the Ark.

What did I learn of myself? - I am descended from Adam through Noah.

What did I praise God for? - His Salvation.

What did I pray for? - To serve Him as faithfully as Noah.

What does this say in one sentence? - God preserved mankind, through Noah and his family also all other creatures and birds in the Ark, because Noah was obedient to Him.

[Frances]

Genesis 8

What did I learn of God? - He stopped the 'fountains of the deep' and closed the 'windows of Heaven' and stopped the rain. He allowed the deep water to subside. God told Noah to leave the Ark with every living thing 1 year and 10 days after it began to rain - so they might all be fruitful and multiply on the earth. The Lord promised never to curse the ground again, even though mankind are evil. God promised that while earth remains natural cycles (eg. seedtime and harvest) will not stop.

What did I learn of myself? - My ancestors were on the Ark, I owe my life to God.

What did I praise God for? - That He always keeps His Word.

What did I pray for? – That I will not allow what God considers Evil to control me.

What does this say in one sentence? - The Flood went down, the earth dried, God Promised not to destroy everything again while Earth lasts.

Note:- Although there are many local floods (eg. tsunami) there has never been one covering all the earth’s surface at one time again.

[Frances]

Genesis 9

What did I learn of God? - He Blessed Noah and his sons, telling them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. He said everything that lives was food for them, except flesh with blood (it's life) in it. If an animal or man kills a person they must be killed. God established His everlasting Covenant - that never again will there be a flood to destroy the whole earth; the sign of this Covenant is the rainbow.

What did I learn of myself? - Every plant and creature is suitable for food (it is mankind's contamination of some of it, in some way, that makes it unsuitable for my body)

What did I praise God for? - His Covenant and rainbow.

What did I pray for? - To be guided to uncontaminated sources of the food and water He so generously provides.

What does this say in one sentence? - God Blessed Noah and his family, made a Covenant for which the rainbow is the sign; and the re-establishment of sin.

Quote:- (Bishop Leighton) “Sin is first pleasing, then it grows easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then confirmed; then the man is impenitent, then obstinate, then he is resolved never to repent. And then he is ruined.”

Note :- It is suggested that Ham used his father sexually while he was insensible – hence the curse..

[Frances]

Genesis 10

What did I learn of God? - He knows every detail of family trees.

What did I learn of myself? - Each person in my family tree, right back to Noah, has been recorded and is important to God.

What did I praise God for? - His infinite Wisdom and Compassion.

What did I pray for? - To appreciate His many Blessings more.

What does this say in one sentence? - Peoples of every nation are descended from Noah, whether their skin is black, white or any shade in between.

[Frances]

]Genesis 11

What did I learn of God? - He confused the language of Noah's descendants, who were building a city at Babel, so they did not understand each other and became scattered over the whole earth (as He originally commanded [ch.9])

What did I learn of myself? – Could I be too inclined to stay with those I know instead of investigating new places?

What did I praise God for? - His Wisdom.

What did I pray for? - Understanding.

What does this say in one sentence? - The account of how God stopped the tower of Babel being built by changing the language of the people, so they couldn't understand each other - and a list of Shem's descendents including Abraham and his nephew Lot.

Quote:- (Irenaeus) “God did not make the first human being because He needed company, but because He wanted someone to whom He could show His generosity. God did not tell us to follow Him because He needed our help, but because He knew that loving Him would make us whole.”

Note:- Abraham was born about 2166 BC.

[Frances]

Genesis 12

What did I learn of God? - He told Abram to leave his country and family to go where He directed. He told Abram He would Bless him and make him a blessing; his descendants would be a great nation; He would Bless those who blessed him and Curse those who cursed him, and through him all families on earth would be blessed. As Abram went through Canaan God said He was giving that land to Abram’s descendants. When there was a famine Abram went further south to Egypt, where his wife, Sarai, was taken to Pharoah's house, so the Lord plagued his household until he returned her to Abram .

What did I learn of myself? - If I obey God He can be relied on intervene on my behalf too.

What did I praise God for? - His Faithfulness to those who obey Him.

What did I pray for? - Faith in God equal to Abram's

What does this say in one sentence? - Abram obeyed the Lord following where He led, was promised Canaan for his descendants (after they'd been oppressed 400years) and had his wife returned due to the Lord's intervention.

Note:- Abraham left Haran in, or near, 2091 BC.

[Frances]

Genesis 13

What did I learn of God? - He regarded the men of Sodom exceedingly wicked. He told Abram who was in Canaan (after Lot had gone), to look North, South, East, and West, because all the land he could see God was giving to him and his descendants - who would be too many to be counted.

What did I learn of myself? - Apparently good circumstances don't necessarily mean God's Blessing, and hard situations cannot prevent them. Whatever my situation I need to worship God (for my benefit). Difficulties that separate me from family and friends may be a means of my receiving Blessing. I must keep every promise I make to God, as Abraham did.

What did I praise God for? - His Faithfulness to Abraham's descendants – and to me.

What did I pray for? - Peace in the Middle East - and particularly in Jerusalem.

What does this say in one sentence? - Abraham and Lot left Egypt, Lot choosing to go to the good ground by Jordan near Sodom; so Abram went to Canaan and God gave him all he could see in every direction for ever - and Abram worshipped the Lord.

[Frances]

Genesis 14

What did I learn of myself? - Not everything in the Bible may relate to me personally, but is necessary for the 'complete picture' of the history of mankind, Sin and Salvation.

What did I praise God for? - Every detail in His Word.

What did I pray for? - Greater understanding..

What does this say in one sentence? - Two groups of kings fought each other and the winner took Lot captive; Abram took his army of 318 and rescued Lot, the other captives and all their goods, of which he gave Melchizidek - a priest of God - a tenth (tithe) of the goods and the rest to the king of Sodom.

[Frances]

Genesis 15

What did I learn of God? - He told Abram He was his 'shield and exceedingly great reward'; that he would father a child who would be his heir, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Because Abram believed/trusted in what God had said He 'accounted it to him as Righteousness'. God also said Abram's descendants would be strangers and ill-treated in a foreign land for 400 years before leaving with great possessions after God Judged that nation. He made a Covenant with Abram giving him all the land between the Nile and Euphrates rivers.

What did I learn of myself? - When I believe/trust in what God says He accounts it to me as righteousness as well.

What did I praise God for? - He can always be trusted.

What did I pray for? - Increased faith, to trust God regardless of my own or other's 'wisdom'.

What does this say in one sentence? - God told Abram He would care for him and he would have uncountable descendants, as Abram believed Him God counted it as Righteousness; God also said those descendants would be mistreated for 400y ears but would leave with great possessions, to inhabit the land God gave them between the Nile and Euphrates.