Several years ago I read through the Bible in one year. I was so blessed by that adventure that it is time to do it again. So, leaving off from the middle of John, we begin in Genesis. About 3.4 chapters per week should do it.
The book of beginnings as it is known. Genesis. How it all began - at least what God was pleased to reveal to us about how it all began. And that of course is exactly what we need to know. What may be unclear to us is certainly not unclear to God. We may trust the Spirit of God to enlighten as we read. Digging deep as we are able. The gems are sometimes deep.
As we read through the first 10 chapters of Genesis we find the blazing beginning is stunned by the fateful choice of Adam and Eve. Satan deceived the beautiful couple by taking a portion of God's word and adjusting it to fit his own designs. Subtle. After chapter 3 we find instant and ongoing violence, failure and rebellion. God addresses the festering evil gripping humanity by putting up barriers / hindrances or red lights we might say.
First, we find the curses in Gen 3 - Satan is limited to the belly position eating dust and the awareness of coming judgment. Eve is held in check by pain in childbirth and tension with her husband. Adam is hindered by the struggle to provide food for himself and his family. Finally, God drove the couple out of the garden and put a big "red light" preventing them from returning. In Gen 4, Cain's judgment is to forever wander - the spirit of restlessness that we find in Satan himself (Job 1:7, 2:2). Gen 6-9 tells of the flood where God destroyed "all flesh" because they had corrupted their way on the earth. A very bright red light there. Gen 11 describes the great language barrier that God placed among men who were rebellious. Instead of spreading out to fill the earth as commanded in 9:1, they gathered and schemed their own plan to make themselves great in their own eyes. Stop this! Stop that! Check that! No further there! NO!
We love Daddy for this. But in this, we see the relentless drive of man to rebel against God and live for self.
Then, we read words the spirit of which we have never heard before. Our hearts breathe at verse one of chapter 12. God initiates. God does something. He speaks! He launches His plan of putting an end to all of this corruption seen in the human race . . in people . . in you and in me.
NOW, the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth . . and I will make . . "
The words will stand for all eternity. A green light! Where will the "Go" go?
(Thank you Lord)
