The Bible group I study with re-read Genesis recently.
Here we go again.
How many books have you read more than once? Typically, we read a book. When we are finished, take it back to the library. Give it to a friend or put it in a book box. The really good ones might end up on a bookshelf. Maybe ten years from now, as part of a conversation, you can say “yeah I read that.”
Granted, I am the first to whine when reading assignments are given out. BUT I JUST READ THAT! Whine. Pout.
Amos 8:11-12 English Standard Version
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. 12 They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,but they shall not find it.”
I’m thankful God hasn’t removed his word from us. We still have the opportunity to learn.
Re-read Genesis. Insert eye roll here. “Okay.” Stubborn huff. Here we go again.
But I did. And you know what? I’m thankful for that. I discovered a couple new things.
First, I got stuck on a word. Funny how that happens.
Genesis 6:9, English Standard Version
“9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
The KJV says Noah was ‘perfect in his generation’. This sent me down a rabbit hole. And I’m not going to send you down that same hole.
Some of you might be scratching your heads right now. Noah blameless? But he got passed out drunk. Honestly, who among us can throw shade at Noah? He just watched the whole world get destroyed (except the contents of a boat) by a flood. I’m shocked he didn’t do more than just get drunk.
I just want to encourage you that if you find something in the Bible that confuses you, keep digging. God will lead you to an answer. Gurd your loins, it might not be the answer you want to hear.
And the second thing I learned was the true definition of forgiveness from a human standpoint through Joseph.
Gen. 50 English Standard Version
19 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
Are you kidding me? You’re just gonna let years of being an Egyptian slave ride?
People are always looking for a character to be like from the Bible, Joseph might be the ticket. In his youth, he could have been an arrogant, spoiled little whelp. My co-workers just had this big conversation about how brutally honest children can be. They tend to hurt our mature feelings. Maybe Joseph was too honest. That’s a story for another time.
Poetry & More 