- Today’s Reading:
- Genesis 5:1-7:24
- Proverbs 1:10-19
Genesis 5:1-7:24
I laughed a little bit when I opened the page to my reading and immediately found a generation list for Adam. It didn’t really answer my question from the other day, though. At least it told me there were more children besides Cain and Abel. I knew that, I was just hoping for a more quantifiable list. But since Adam had 800 child-bearing years, I assume there was plenty of time for colonies to arise before Abel’s murder. The actual point of that particular list was to show the lineage of Noah and lead into the story of the flood.
I found verse 6:4 interesting because it talks of giants being born. These giants were “the heroes and famous warriors of the ancient times.” Now that’s a pretty amazing statement. Could these heroes and warriors be what the ancient considered Greek gods, or perhaps the mortal of offspring of such? I don’t yet know the timelines or locations, or if that’s really a possibility, but if it IS a possibility, that’s a pretty profound statement. I could see how famous giant heroes could evolve into a god-like worship by people over time. Now that's no excuse for worshiping them instead of the Lord, but it just makes me wonder.
The reading then went on to talk about Noah and the flood. It has always stunned me that everyone on the Earth could be completely wicked -- wicked enough for God to destroy the entire world. I just can’t fathom a world where everyone in it is wicked, and no one has good thoughts or actions. I wouldn’t want to live in a world like that.
It also makes me wonder if we’re not living in a world that’s close to that ourselves, and we just don’t see it. I don’t believe I’m completely wicked. I know I have wicked tendencies, but I would like to think myself a good person who tries to have God’s favor. But if God were to chose to wipe the earth again, would I be one of the people he wiped out? I know that so much of that particular situation is gone, and replaced with that of salvation. So, when it comes down to it, I worry if I am really good enough to deserve, warrant, or be salvaged in the end.
The rest of the story pretty much went how I knew it. God flooded the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. What I didn’t know was that, in the beginning of the flood, “waters erupted from the earth” (7:11) in addition to the rains. I can’t imagine the fury of the underground waters erupting like that and the panic the people must have felt as it was happening. This passage also did not answer my question about whether or not this was the first time rain was experienced on earth. I guess I’ll just have to keep my eyes open for more about that as I continue to read.
Proverbs 1:10-19
These verses advise us to stay away from those who plot to ambush, murder and steal. It ends by saying “Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.” (1:19). That verse is so very true!
Conclusion
I am really happy with all I learned today while reading my passages. It’s amazing how stories and verses you think you know and/or have heard a million times can bring you new perspectives, thoughts, inquiries and feelings as you read them for yourself. I’ve always been so ashamed for never actually reading the bible. So on one hand it’s really hard for me to admit all these lurking (what I feel are “stupid”) questions, that I’m afraid to ask lest I show people my true lack of knowledge. Well, I’m changing that now – one day at a time!
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