So I’ve begun my #B90X challenge – reading the Bible in 90 days.
I finished day 2 this morning. It’s actually going quite well — I think. I’m using the TNIV version to read with right now, and a copy of it without chapter and verse references, which makes the reading so much easier — more like a novel. The readings seem to take about 45 minutes so far.
So here are some of my notes, questions that came up in Day 1. I’ll try and post these on a regular basis, but I make no promises.
Adam and Eve felt no shame. Imagine what that would be like. Even with full knowledge of grace, can we ever get to that point on this side of eternity?
He will crush your head – you will strike his heel. Why that order? Seems backward.
All of creation was cursed because of what took place in the garden — and we’re still living under that curse and the broken relationship with God.
Why was Abel’s sacrifice favored and not Cain’s? Didn’t they both give the best of what they had? Was there something else going on behind the scenes? Scripture never records God saying — you must sacrifice an animal — at least not before they made their sacrifices.
Cain worried about being killed. By who? His parents? How many other children and generations were born before Cain and Abel?
People called on the Lord after Seth was born. I wonder why.
The Nephilim always intrigue me. Some possible explanations via Wikipedia ::
- They were the hybrid offspring of fallen angels and human women.
- They were the offspring of descendants of Seth with those of Cain.
- Webster’s 1913 Dictionary defines the word simply as “Giant.” Thus, any especially tall, powerful, large, or mighty man would be described in ancient times as Nephilim. Nephilim may simply mean “giant,” champion, or strong man.
- The term might not refer to any specific race or group of people but is a label similar to “hero,” a legendary figure, or “great man.” The Bible itself describes the Nephilim as “Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.” In this view, the Bible tells us that Nephilim is a legendary or heroic figure, a mighty warrior, already renowned in legend by the time Moses wrote down Genesis. Using the Bible to define itself, Nephilim means a man of legend, one recounted in legendary tales.
- They are not historical figures and are ancient imagery with questionable meaning.
I wonder if Nephilim still walk the earth…
Before the flood, God regretted making men. That seems harsh. Seems to go against a God of love and grace.
Yet Noah was found righteous in his generation. What did that look like? How did he know what righteousness was?
“Every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.”
After the flood, when Noah became drunk he cursed Canaan. What was his sin? Was he punished for his father’s (Ham) lack of action? Why was Canaan cursed instead of his father?
Nimrod’s a funny name.
The descendants of Ham > Cush > Nimrod settled in Babylon, Uruk, Akkad, Kalneh and Shinar. Shinar is where the tower of Babylon was built. So it appears that it was the descendants of Canaan’s brother that built the tower.
What happened to the promise God made before the flood that men would not live past 120 years in age? It seems they live a lot longer for a number of generations after the flood.
When we come to Abram — God says “leave EVERYTHING behind.”
“I will bless you — and will bless all people through you.” We must be a blessing to others with the blessings we’ve been given.
Noah said Canaan would be the slave of Shem and Japeth. Ultimately Shem’s descendants, Abram, was called to the land of Canaan and promised that all the land he saw would be his.
Seems God kept Noah’s curse/promise long after Noah was gone.
After rescuing Sodom, Abram refused any gifts from the king. He refused to give the king any opportunity to say, “I made Abram rich.” I wonder if this was a matter of pride for Abram at the time or wanting to prove God’s goodness.
“Abram believed the Lord and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
May my belief prove to be righteousness as well. May I affirm the resurrection rather than deny it through my beliefs and actions.
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If you’re taking part in this, how is it going? Finding it difficult or easy?
