Christmas
I was reading in the book of Genesis today and was reminded with a devotional video today on the importance of taking a encompassing view of the book as a whole. When we look at the book of Genesis we can see that it is generally speaking broken into 2 major parts Chapters 1-11 deal with God and the world, 12-50 deal with God and his dealings with Abraham and his family.
In Chapters 1-11 we see the formation of all things, including man. It is here that we see man's relationship with God and the sinful nature of man emerge and taint God's good creation. In the Garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve that they may eat of any tree in the garden save one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave man freewill to obey and trust his judgment of good and evil, but freewill is only free will with a choice, hence the forbidden tree. I personally don't think there was anything significant about the tree, other than it represented a choice to trust and obey God, or to be rebellious and serve self. We all know that Adam and Eve chose to each from the tree. God warned them that they would know death if they ate of the tree, we also see that shame entered the world, that man's perception of good had changed. Adam and Eve cover themselves becoming aware of their nakedness and suddenly it has changed from a good thing to one of embarrassment and shame. Fast forward post garden to Cain and Able, we see a progressing downward spiral with each of these snapshot stories in human history as sin rampages through mankind and mankind become more and more twisted and evil.
This kind of crescendo of evil is described throughout the pages culminating in the Great Flood in chapter 9. God is so pained by mankind and so sorrowful he regrets creating them and decides to purge the earth. And yet, one small spot of hope is found in Noah, a follower of God, Yahweh. God tells him to gather his family and the animals he specifies and saves mankind through Noah's family. But even after this mercy, we begin to see the crescendo and creep of sin all over again, even with Noah himself. Again there is a smaller crescendo that starts post flood and is continuing to this day.
Enter the end of Chapter 11 and the beginning of Chapter 12. Here we are introduced to Abraham, who God has chosen and makes a covenant with him. It is right here in the transition, where the two sections meet that we see the overall theme of the book emerge. In the midst of the turmoil and tragedy of sin, God provides a path to restore the world through a family.
The realization of this promise is found in what many in this country will celebrate tomorrow, Christmas. 2000 years ago in Bethlehem the culmination of the mission begun in the Garden of Eden, the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham began with the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, God's only son. In a manger, in the dark of the night, the Son of God, the King of Kings, the God-Man Jesus, was born, he was laid down amongst the animals without fanfare. With the arrival of Jesus everything changed and the Kingdom of Heaven had drawn near and walked as a man!
So from the very first Chapter to the last the Bible is the story of Christmas and Passover. The arrival of Jesus, his death, and resurrection. It is in the life of our dear Savior that our hope is found in a restored relationship with God! May you have a Merry Christmas!
Chris
In Chapters 1-11 we see the formation of all things, including man. It is here that we see man's relationship with God and the sinful nature of man emerge and taint God's good creation. In the Garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve that they may eat of any tree in the garden save one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave man freewill to obey and trust his judgment of good and evil, but freewill is only free will with a choice, hence the forbidden tree. I personally don't think there was anything significant about the tree, other than it represented a choice to trust and obey God, or to be rebellious and serve self. We all know that Adam and Eve chose to each from the tree. God warned them that they would know death if they ate of the tree, we also see that shame entered the world, that man's perception of good had changed. Adam and Eve cover themselves becoming aware of their nakedness and suddenly it has changed from a good thing to one of embarrassment and shame. Fast forward post garden to Cain and Able, we see a progressing downward spiral with each of these snapshot stories in human history as sin rampages through mankind and mankind become more and more twisted and evil.
This kind of crescendo of evil is described throughout the pages culminating in the Great Flood in chapter 9. God is so pained by mankind and so sorrowful he regrets creating them and decides to purge the earth. And yet, one small spot of hope is found in Noah, a follower of God, Yahweh. God tells him to gather his family and the animals he specifies and saves mankind through Noah's family. But even after this mercy, we begin to see the crescendo and creep of sin all over again, even with Noah himself. Again there is a smaller crescendo that starts post flood and is continuing to this day.
Enter the end of Chapter 11 and the beginning of Chapter 12. Here we are introduced to Abraham, who God has chosen and makes a covenant with him. It is right here in the transition, where the two sections meet that we see the overall theme of the book emerge. In the midst of the turmoil and tragedy of sin, God provides a path to restore the world through a family.
The realization of this promise is found in what many in this country will celebrate tomorrow, Christmas. 2000 years ago in Bethlehem the culmination of the mission begun in the Garden of Eden, the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham began with the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, God's only son. In a manger, in the dark of the night, the Son of God, the King of Kings, the God-Man Jesus, was born, he was laid down amongst the animals without fanfare. With the arrival of Jesus everything changed and the Kingdom of Heaven had drawn near and walked as a man!
So from the very first Chapter to the last the Bible is the story of Christmas and Passover. The arrival of Jesus, his death, and resurrection. It is in the life of our dear Savior that our hope is found in a restored relationship with God! May you have a Merry Christmas!
Chris