Category: Through the Bible Page 30 of 46

Dominion and Dread (belongs to God)

On March 25, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Upon creation, to Adam and Eve, who were made in the likeness of God, God commanded them to be fruitful and to multiply and to replenish the earth and subdue it. He gave them dominion over the other creatures – the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and every living land animal. (Genesis 1:26, 28).

After the flood, to Noah and his sons, God re-issued his command. God commanded them to be fruitful and to multiply and to replenish the earth, but this time, not only would man have dominion over the other creatures, but he would be deemed dreaded as well, for God told them that every animal (beast of the earth), and every bird (fowl of the air), all land animals (all that move upon the earth), and all the sea animals (fishes of the sea), shall be in fear and dread of him (man). Into man’s hands were all these creatures delivered.

To have dominion is to have the power to rule with authority. The word ‘dominion’ is derived from the stem of the word ‘dominio‘ which in medieval Latin means lordship.
To be dreaded is to be ‘in fear of ‘, according to modern definition, however, the archaic usage of the word ‘dread’ implied ‘reverence and awe’.

Points to ponder:
Man was commanded to lord (rule) over God’s creation, so that they had a reverential fear of him in awe. However, we must be careful to recognize that such dominion and dread is not given to man, so that he can misuse it, as we often see in others and ourselves.

We must also recognize that true dominion and dread belongs to God (Job 25:2). It is only God who is the Lord over all and the ruler of all creation (Psalm 22:28; Psalm 103:19). Only him must we (all creatures) be in fear and reverential awe (Psalm 119:120). Does God have dominion and dread over you and me?

Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV)
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 9:2 (KJV)
2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

Job 25:2 (HCSB)
2 Dominion and dread belong to Him, the One who establishes harmony in the heavens.

God’s command is re-given

By Mano Paul

On March 24, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

God gave Adam and Eve, the command to be fruitful, and multiply, and to replenish the earth. However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought about death into the world they lived in. Subsequently, wickedness and violence became rampant in the world, so much so, that God had to destroy it in a flood, during the time of Noah. After the flood waters receded, it was a new world and interestingly God gives Noah and his sons, the same command that he gave Adam and Eve. God’s command is re-given.

Points to ponder:
When we are believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and our citizenship is of a new world; of heaven (Philippians 3:20). God’s command (along with his blessing), is given, for us to be fruitful, and to multiply God’s kingdom by replenishing it others who believe in Jesus Christ. God’s command is re-given to us. How do we fare in regards to being fruitful and multiplying God’s kingdom, for God’s command to do so is re-given?

Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Genesis 9:1
1. And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

Revolution and Rotation

By Mano Paul

On March 21, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Year after year, comes summer and winter, cyclically, and seldom does one think about these seasons from a deeper perspective, than how it affects ones comfort, during those months. In like manner, the day and night, comes and goes in a period of 24 hours, cyclically, and most just view this in the motif of “life goes on”. However, Genesis 8:22 establishes that these seasons of summer and winter, and the day and night were promised by God for man, while the earth remains.

What causes these seasons? What causes the day and night cycle? The revolution of the earth around the sun causes the seasons and the rotation of the earth arounds its axis causes the day and night cycle. It is also interesting to note that the earth’s axis is inclined at an angle (23.5 degrees), causing the variations in the seasons and the length of the day and night.

Points to ponder:
Seasons in our life are only possible if our lives revolve around the Son of God, not standing erect on our own, but inclined (leaning) on Jesus Christ. When our lives are exposed to the Son of God, his light illuminates our as does the Sun at daytime and when it is not, our lives are like the dark of the night. How does your revolution and rotation look? While the earth, remains, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Genesis 8:22 (KJV)
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Are you Cold and Hot (for God)?

By Mano Paul

On March 19, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

A part of Genesis 8:22 states that “While the earth remains, cold and heat, shall not cease.” Cold and heat go hand in hand and one usually thinks of cold as the absence of heat. Here we see that these thermal states are infact a part of God’s promise to mankind, while we inhabit this earth. So if cold and heat are divine provisions, do they have any significance?

Cold preserves. At absolute zero (0 kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius), there is minimal molecular motion and at low temperatures, harmful agents cannot survive thus preserving items that are subject to the cold. Think of how the coolness in the refrigerator preserves the food items that we store in it. It is not the refrigerator itself, but the coolness within, that is the preservative. On the other hand, heat purges. Think of the dross that is purged by the heat of the fire when refining precious metals such as gold and silver (Malachi 3:2-3). It is the heat that purges.

Points to ponder:
Cold and heat are God’s promise to mankind. When we are cold in our Spirit to sin – the harmful and destructive elements of sin cannot survive in our lives, and we are preserved in God’s hands. When we are hot in our Spirit, he purges the sinful nature in us and makes us conform more toward the likeness of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Cold preserves and Heat purges. We need to be both, but not in between i.e., lukewarm (Revelation 3:15), for if we are neither cold nor hot, we are distasteful to God and he will spit (vomit) us out. Are your Cold and Hot (for God)?

Genesis 8:22 (KJV)
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Revelation 3:15-16 (KJV)
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Seedtime and Harvest

By Mano Paul

On March 18, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 8:22 states that while the earth remains, there shall be seedtime and harvest. While this indicates, God’s provisions unto man assuring mankind that there will be harvest, it is important to recognize also that these two, seedtime and harvest, go hand in hand. We live in a time that is result driven and many a times, some even seek to have results without any investment of efforts. God in his infinite wisdom has made it evidently clear that while the earth remains, the reaping (harvest) will succeed the sowing (seedtime).

Without sowing there is no reaping, but we must be careful to recognize that it is not our efforts that brings in the harvest. One can sow/plant, while the other can water, but it is God who gives the increase (harvest) (1 Corinthians 3:6). While the earth remains, we are to sow – sow the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 13), so that when God’s appointed time comes, he can harvest. It is seedtime now, but as the Lord has promised in his word, there will be a harvest (Revelation 14).

Points to ponder:
Are you seeking a harvest without spending any time seeding (seedtime) or are you a worker in the field, sowing during this seedtime, while the earth remains?

Genesis 8:22 (KJV)
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

While the earth remains

By Mano Paul

On March 17, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 8:22 reads as “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” This is a promise that God proclaims after he accepted the sacrifice of Noah. What is interesting to note is that while this verse speaks of the provisions of God in seedtime and harvest and the patterns of God in temperature (cold and heat) fluctuations, seasons (summer and winter) and a perpetual rotation of the earth on its axis making the diurnal (day) and nocturnal (night) cycle, it also speaks of a definite period of time that the earth will remain.

In other words, the earth as we know it will have an end, as we know it. It was destroyed once by flood (during the time of Noah), but it will be destroyed once and for all. by fire, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, as the Scripture indicates in 2 Peter 3:10-12).

Points to ponder:
Unfortunately many live today, while the earth remains, as if the present would be the model of the future, seeking and hoarding the ephemeral and earthly things, that will one day be burnt up. The present would pass for there is a definite time period for this earth to remain and no one else knows when the end shall be, except God the Father, who is in heaven, but there will be an end … so as the Scripture advises, let us not be ignorant (2 Peter 3:5) walking after our own lusts (2 Peter 3:3), but instead let us diligently look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; to the new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13), while the earth remains!

Genesis 8:22 (KJV)
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

2 Peter 3:4-14 (KJV)
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

God’s testimony – What is in man?

By Mano Paul

On March 11, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Sandwiched between the acceptance of Noah’s offerings and God’s vow to not curse the ground again or smite any living creatures of his, is what would seem like an unfitting statement. This reads “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” While this directly speaks to the just nature of God, meaning, that he would not punish the ground with a curse as he had done, on account of man, deeper scrutiny of the scripture reveals a hidden treasure about the very omniscience of God. God the creator, knew his creation (man). God knew the propensity of man to be continuously evil which was a result of the first Adam’s disobedience.

In the gospel according to John in chapter 2 verses 24 and 25, it is written that Jesus knew all men and he did not have the need for anyone to testify to him about men, for he knew what was in man. In man, is a heart that is inclined to wickedness for in sin are all humans conceived (Psalm 51:5). God knows that the source from which springs the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23), out of that very source proceeds things that define a man, such as evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies (Matthew 15:19-20). This is why we all ought to ask God to create in us a clean heart and to renew a steadfast Sprit within us (Psalm 51:10) so that we would have a heart that is after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

Points to ponder:
God knows what is in man – in you and me. If God was to see into our heart today, what would he say – what would be God’s testimony of you and me? Will he find a heart that is prone to perpetual evil or will he find a pardoned heart that is after his very own?

Genesis 8:21 (KJV)
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Matthew 15:19-20 (KJV)
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: …

Acts 13:22 (KJV)
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

For man’s sake

By Mano Paul

On March 10, 2014

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

Genesis 8:21 states that when God accepted the sacrificial offering of Noah, the LORD said in his heart that he would no longer curse the ground for man’s sake. The ground from which man was fashioned (Genesis 2:7) was cursed when Adam, the man sinned (Genesis 3:17). Now with the offering of a man, Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), being accepted, the LORD promised not to curse the ground again anymore, for man’s sake, even though God testified that every inclination of man’s heart was evil from his youth. This speaks of the magnanimity of God’s mercy to man and grace to his creation.

Points to ponder:
Despite the evilness in our hearts, God’s mercy is magnanimous, stretching not only to man, but to all of his creation – even the very ground from which man was fashioned. For man’s sake, God shall no longer curse the ground because he is a just, merciful and loving God. For your sake and mine, God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the man (1 Timothy 2:5), who preached righteousness (1 Peter 3:18-20), being righteousness himself (Jeremiah 23:5) and because of Jesus, he shall curse no more. Jesus had to become the curse for you and me, for it is written that cursed is every one who hangs on a tree (Cross) (Deuteronomy 23:21; Galatians 3:13). Jesus had to become the curse for you and me, for man’s sake.

1 Peter 3:18-20 (KJV)
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

From stench to a sweet savour (in God’s nostrils)

By Mano Paul

On March 5, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 8:21 starts out by saying that when Noah sacrificed a burnt offering as his worship to God, God smelled a sweet savour, which first and foremost establishes the fact that God is not some inanimate source of uncontainable power, devoid of human emotions and feelings … but instead he can smell i.e., he can feel. Infact, I believe that we have the senses (one of which is the sense of smell) because we are made in the image of the Creator and have his attributes (Genesis 1:27). Second, the sacrifice of Noah was a sweet smelling aroma to God. This made me wonder and ask “What was the smell in the land, at that time, before God smelled the burnt offerings from Noah?” If you allow me to indulge myself a little, I suspect that with the destruction and death, caused by the universal deluge (flood), rotting bodies of land creatures and mankind would have been sprawled around the world, and from their decay should have aroused the stench of death. So before God smelled the sweet savour in his nostrils, that came from the sacrifice, the stench of death would have prevailed, in the land.

Points to ponder:
Just like the offerings of Noah, Jesus who gave himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, which is once and for all, was a sweetsmelling savour unto God (Hebrews 10:1-10; Ephesians 5:2). Until Jesus’ offering and willful sacrifice, sin and its wages, which is death (Romans 6:23), along with its stench, prevailed. Now all who believe in Jesus Christ, who have confessed their sins and the Lordship of Jesus the Savior, that is in them that are saved, are indeed a sweet smelling savour of Christ himself to God (2 Corinthians 2:15). No longer is the stench of death on them that have believed for the gift of God is eternal life in and through and by Christ (Romans 6:23; John 3:16). The question is, on you will God smell the stench of death or a sweet savour?

Ephesians 5:2 (KJV)
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

2 Corinthians 2:15 (KJV)
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

Opening Up (to God first)

By Mano Paul

On February 21, 2014

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

Genesis 8: 13 reads “And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.”

What caught my attention was that Noah removed the covering of the ark and I wondered as to why this was the case. Obviously the Lord had shut the one door (Genesis 7:16) which means that Noah did not have the key to open the door, but would it not have been easier for Noah to open a side of the ark, for the ark had already rested on top of a mountain (Genesis 8:4), and the waters were dried up from the earth (Genesis 8:13-14)? What could be the reasons why Noah opened the top (covering) of the ark, before seeing the dry ground (firm foundation) on which he could stand? Your guess is as best as mine and we would never know until we see him in the city built by God and possibly ask him (Hebrews 11:7,10).

Although we do not know the reason why Noah opened the covering on top, there is a lesson, I believe, we could extrapolate from this incident. We must first open up to God, to the maker of the heavens and the earth, when we are in the ark. God first, then comes our mission of going forth of the ark.

Points to ponder:
We must open up to God for guidance and direction, first, when we are in Christ Jesus, the Ark, before looking around and seeing the firm foundation on which we can stand, and going forth with Christ in us. This not only applies for full time or part time missionaries, but to each Christ follower. Have you opened up (to God first)?

Genesis 8:13-14 (KJV)
13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.

Category: Through the Bible Page 30 of 46

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: