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Category: Through the Bible Page 29 of 46

Enslavement, Enrichment and Enlargement (All in the Family)

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On April 25, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 9:24-29 gives the account of the outcome of the sinful and saintly acts of Noah’s sons. Noah’s youngest son, Ham was disgraceful in dealing with his father’s shame, when Noah was inebriated, while the second born Shem and the oldest son Japheth dealt decently in covering their father’s shame, as Noah lay intoxicated and naked, in his tent.

When Noah woke up and he found out what had transpired, Noah cursed Ham’s son, Canaan, with the curse of enslavement. Ham’s descendants would perpetually be the not mere servants, but servant of servants (akin to slaves) to his brothers, Shem and Japheth. On the other hand, Japheth, the oldest, is blessed by Noah with the blessing of enlargement, and Japheth shall dwell in the tents of Shem. Shem, on the other hand, is not directly blessed. Instead Noah, blesses the Lord God of Shem and in due course of time, we see that Shem becomes the father of Abram, later renamed Abraham  (Genesis 11:10-32) who was given the blessing – in blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply you (Genesis 22:17). Eventually through the line of Abraham, Jesus Christ, the promised seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16) would be born, bringing about the blessing of God’s salvation to all mankind. In other words, the Lord God would enrich (bless) the generations of Shem through Abraham and eventually Jesus Christ.

Points to ponder:
Sin leads to the curse of enslavement while our act of not even looking at sin or its shame, as did Shem and Japheth, leads to enlargement and enrichment in and through Christ Jesus. Just as Japheth promise of enlargement is met with the condition of him dwelling in the tents of godly Shem, so also our enlargement is in Christ Jesus, not outside of him. Let our lives, bring about a blessing to the Lord God’s name, as Noah did of Shem. Can it be said of you, “Blessed be the Lord God of “?

Take a look at your life today and ask yourself the question … “If God was to look at me today, would I be given the verdict of being enslaved or enriched and enlarged (in Christ Jesus)?” Now answer it.

Genesis 9:24-29 (KJV)
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Disgrace or Decency

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On April 24, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 9:22-23 is an account of disgrace and decency in the first family that populated the earth after the flood during the time of Noah. Noah had lost self-control and was drunk with wine from his vineyard and as he lay in his tent, he was naked (uncovered). Ham the youngest of Noah’s son sees the nakedness of his father, and instead of covering the shame, acts disgracefully and goes and tell his other two brothers, Shem and Japheth. Shem and Japheth do the right and decent thing of taking a garment, laying it upon their shoulders, walking backward with their faces turned so that they would not see the shame of their fathers nakedness, and cover him.

From this account, we can learn a few important truths.
First, even after the flood, even from a family that was saved from being destroyed in the flood, we see the evidence of the effects of the sin of Adam. The evil one (devil) who was cast onto the earth was seizing every opportunity to make God’s people sin and like he influenced Cain (Genesis 4:7), he now influenced Ham, the son of Noah.
Second, sin leads to a life of disgrace and makes those who fall in it, treat it as a thing of little inconsequence – something that is to be gloated over and  gossiped about.
Finally, those who are godly will cover the shame that stems from sin and and turn their backs and faces to not even look at the shame of sin.

Points to ponder:
How do you treat sin and the shame that stems from it … disgracefully or decently?

Genesis 9:22-23 (KJV)
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

The sin and shame of Noah

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On April 23, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

Noah, was known to be a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), one who was found just and perfect in the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8-9) before the flood. But after the flood there was an incident that took place that shamed Noah. This is recorded in Genesis 9:20-21 which reads that Noah being a farmer (husbandman), planted a vineyard and drank of the wine, so much so, that he got drunk and uncovered (lay naked) in his tent.

While it may seem on the surface that the sin of Noah that shamed him was that he got drunk, the real sin of Noah was that he did not have self-control (fruit of the Spirit). He got intoxicated by the very produce of his land that he worked on.

Point to ponder:
When the fruit of our labor is consumed by us without self control, we give grounds for us to be uncovered and shamed. The lack of self-control is indicative that we are yielding to the flesh instead of the Holy Spirit of God, so much so, that we get drunk and exposed, even if it is in the privacy of our tents (homes).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that I will yield to the Holy Spirit of God and not to my flesh. Let me never lose self-control and be intoxicated with the pleasures of this world or the fruit of my labor, bringing shame not only to myself but to you as well. Lord, be in control of my life!

Genesis 9:20-21 (KJV)
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV [NLT])
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance [self-control]: against such there is no law.

I am Second

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On April 22, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

“I am Second” is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others; because God (Jesus Christ) is first.

Genesis 9:18-19 enlists the three sons of Noah that went forth of the ark, through whom, the whole earth was repopulated. It also gives the name of one grandson of Noah, who was Canaan, the son of Ham. What is interesting to note, is that the order in which the three sons are listed is Shem, Ham and Japheth, while Shem was actually the second son (Genesis 10:21); Japheth was the oldest and Ham the youngest.

Why would the second son be listed before the first? Apostle Paul in Romans 9 theologically debates this issue and demonstrates that God is not an unfair and unjust God, for having chosen Isaac over Ishmael, or Jacob over Esau, but is Sovereign in all of his doings. The last (second) Adam (Jesus) would be greater than the first Adam for the glory of the present house (Jesus’ time) would be greater than the former house (before Jesus’ time) according to the word of God through prophet Haggai (Haggai 2:9).

Points to ponder:
God is Sovereign and the glory of Christ Jesus supersedes all. We are second to none, except Christ Jesus. I am second!

Genesis 9:18-19 (KJV)
18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

The length of God’s covenant with his creation

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On April 9, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 9:12-17 speaks of the token of the covenant of God with man and all living creatures, to never again destroy them by flood. But what is interesting to note, is that these verses of God, establishes two vital points, apropos the length of God’s covenant with his creation (you and me, included). First, the Bible states that this covenant is for perpetual generations (Genesis 9:12) and secondly this covenant is an everlasting covenant (Genesis 9:16). This was reaffirmed through his prophet Jeremiah where God says that “I have loved you with an everlasting love, and with my lovingkindness, have I drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

Points to ponder:
The length of God’s covenant with his creatures, including you and me, is everlasting, spanning to not just our forefathers, but us and all subsequent generations. Such is the extent of the love of God  – it is perpetual and everlasting – in other words, to God’s love, there is no end. He has loved us with an everlasting love and with his lovingkindness he has drawn us. Have you drawn closer to God?

Genesis 9:12-17 (KJV)
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Rainbow Christianity – Token of the covenant

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On April 7, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 9:12-17 gives the account of God setting a token of his covenant with man and every living creature. The token of the covenant was a bow (rainbow) in the sky. Did you ever wonder about God’s painting in the sky? The colors of the rainbow start with Violet (or Purple), the color of royalty and ends in Red, the color of blood.

Points to ponder:
Just as the rainbow signifies God’s covenant to not destroy his creation totally, Jesus is the token of the covenant of God. On one end of this token is Red – the color of Jesus’ blood signifying the blood of Jesus that cleanseth all sins,and on the other end is Violet/Purple – the color of royalty signifying the Kingship of Jesus and whenever God sees Jesus, God will remember to hold back his righteous wrath and not destroy all of mankind or any of his creation.

Genesis 9:12-17 (KJV)
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

God’s covenant – all inclusive to …

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On April 4, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Professional Speaking, Through the Bible

Genesis 9:8-17 gives the account of God making a covenant of never again destroying (condemning) the world with water. What is interesting to note it that while we often think of this covenant as having been made between God and Noah, the account actually states that God made this covenant with not just Noah, but with Noah and his sons, and with their children (seed) after them (Genesis 9:8-9). Even more intriguing is that God does not limit his covenant with just man, but includes every living creature (fowl, beast) that came out from the ark (Genesis 9:10,16).

Points to ponder:
God’s covenant is not limited but all inclusive – not just to one generation but to generations that follow – for man and for all living creatures that came out from the ark. All those who came out from the ark were included in God’s covenant. Jesus Christ is the Ark of God who saves and all who are part of him are included in God’s covenant to be never condemned (Romans 8:1).  Are you included in God’s covenant? In other words, have you believed in Jesus Christ?

Genesis 9:8-17 (KJV)
8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
11 And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Bring forth abundantly

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On April 3, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

God blessed Noah and his sons and told them to be fruitful and to multiply and bring forth abundantly in the earth. Notice how God explicitly commands man to bring forth abundantly in the earth. Abundance implies that their is an excessive degree of plentifulness.

Points to ponder:
Just as Noah and his sons were commanded to bring forth abundantly, we are commanded the same as well. We need to bring forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and bring it forth abundantly. With The Seed i.e., Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16) who is sown in us, we must live a life that is pleasing to God, which brings forth, from within (Luke 17:21), thirty, sixty and a hundred fold (Matthew 13:23). Jesus said, that he had come to give life and to give it abundantly (John 10:10). He gave himself to us, so that we can give him to others, and bring many into the kingdom of God, abundantly. Are you and I bringing forth abundantly?

Genesis 9:7 (KJV)
7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

Matthew 13:23 (KJV)
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Sans Jesus’ Blood, Sans Life

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On March 31, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, The Blood of the Lamb, Through the Bible

One of American Red Cross’ mission is to get blood donors and they often promote their blood donation drives by banners that read – Give the gift of life; Give blood. So in a sense, life is in the blood. Medically, blood in one’s system is made up of four components – the red blood cells, the white blood cells, the platelets and plasma. The red blood cells are responsible for the transport of Oxygen, an element essential for life. The white blood cells help in fighting against pathogens and harmful threat agents. The platelets help with the prevention of excessive blood loss by aiding in the healing process and the plasma is used to transport nutrients, proteins and hormones to the cells for them to function as they should. So in essence, medically, one can say that life is in the blood. In other words, sans blood, sans life.

Interestingly, and not surprisingly, the Bible actually prescribes to this same notion as Genesis 9:4 forbids man from eating meat with blood still in it, for it states that life is in the blood. The Bible also teaches us that without the shedding of blood, their is no remission – remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22), and, only in the blood of Jesus Christ, through faith in it, is one declared righteous, through the forbearance of God (Romans 3:25).

Points to ponder:
Life is in the blood – the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ blood carries the life giving Spirit like oxygen into our life (John 6:56), when we believe in him. By his blood are we victorious against the harmful viles of the evil one (Revelation 12:11). It was the shedding of Jesus’ blood that brought us healing (Isaiah 53:5), and it is the blood of Jesus Christ, that gives us the power which is needed to grow in his grace and makes us complete for every good work (Hebrews 13:20-21) – to function as we should. Jesus donated his blood, and the Cross on which he was nailed was stained red by his blood. He donated his blood so that you and I may have life. Have you believed in Jesus, for without the blood of Jesus Christ, there is no life – no eternal life? Sans Jesus’ blood, sans life.

Genesis 9:4 (KJV)
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Romans 3:23-26 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Man becomes a carnivore, which means …

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On March 27, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In the article, “All the world’s a herbivore, until …“, I focused on the seed bearing aspect of herbs and trees so that they could propagate themselves and highlighted the providing nature of God to sustain life. Now as we go through the Bible, we come to Genesis 9:3 and learn that man becomes a carnivore as God includes in man’s diet, everything that moves as meat for him.

There are a few things that we can learn from this.
First, it is in fact, this verse that gives meaning to the verse preceding it, for Genesis 9:2 establishes that all the animals (beasts of the field), all the birds (fowls of the air), all sea creatures (fishes of the sea), and all moving things, shall have have fear of man. Until they came on the menu, they had no reason to fear man, but now they do. So God first made sure that the very nature of his creation changed, for their own safety, against their new predator – man. Hidden in this account is the treasure of knowing that God loves and cares for his creation, but even greater love does he have for man, for after the flood, it is plausible that with the green herbs and trees being scarce, God allows man to include meat in his diet.

Second, Genesis 1:27 establishes that God made man in his own image, and Ecclesiastes 7:29 proves that man was made upright (or perfect), meaning that there is no need for man to evolve, from, or to any other form, spiritually or physically, as evolutionists prescribe and promote vainly. Even some Christians subscribe to the idea, that the physical attributes, characteristics and capabilities of man, changed after his fall and in a sense evolved to adapt to their surroundings, but this is neither scripturally explicit nor supported. I believe that since man was made perfect, there is no necessity for such evolutionary gimmicks to make man who he/she is today.

Just take a look into your own mouth and you will notice that the relative number of crushing and grinding teeth (pre-molars and molars), which are more suited for a herbivorous diet, is more, when compared to the shredding or tearing teeth (canines), which is more suited for a carnivorous diet. But if man was to be a herbivore, then why would God fashion man with canines (even if less pronounced). This gives hint to us about the omniscience of God, who from the foundation of the world, knew of the propensity of man to fall away from grace. God, in his infinite wisdom, had made provisions in advance, for man to be able to survive pre- and post-flood; in the old world and the next.

Points to ponder:
God loves his creation, but he values you and me, much more.  Jesus himself said, that God gives more importance to us than the sparrows of the air, not implying that he cares any less for these fowls of the air, but that he cares for us, more than he does for anything else (Luke 12:6-8).
God knows of our propensity to fall away from grace, for though man was made upright/perfect, man has sought many inventions (Ecclesiastes 7:29), with every inclination of his heart being evil from his youth (Genesis 8:21). So God has made provisions for the sustenance of life, in this world and the one to come, in advance. Even from the foundation of this world, Jesus Christ, the lamb of God was slain (Revelation 13:8), and only those who take him in (as in communion) will have life – eternal and abundant life, on earth (this world) as it is in heaven (the one to come). God told man, “Take, eat”. Jesus said, “Take, eat” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Have you?

Genesis 9:3 (KJV)
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (KJV)
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

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