Monthly Archives: October 2023

GENESIS 5 MAN’S LONG YEARS OF LIFE

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GENESIS 5 MAN’S LONG YEARS OF LIFE

November 1

GENESIS 5

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. 6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. 9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. 12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

                                                                            – Genesis 5:1-17

GENESIS 5 MAN’S LONG YEARS OF LIFE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When God created man, he wanted them to live long with him

His original purpose for humans was to be with him in bliss

Despite Adam’s sin, the Lord still gave them long years

God’s patience with mankind manifests his faithfulness

The Lord God gave them over nine-hundred years to live

God’s steadfast love is overflowing despite man’s sins.

What a faithful God we have, who is devoted to bring mankind to his original purpose for living. He gave them all the years that they will eventually serve him and be in constant relationship with him. Because God made humans in his likeness, it was probably painful to watch them change the way he made them. Man’s life expectancy was almost a thousand years which show’s God’s desire for them to serve him long.

REFLECTION

  • How does God’s faithfulness manifest in the life expectancy of Adam’s offsprings?

GENESIS 4 MORE DESCENDANTS FOR ADAM & EVE

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October 31

GENESIS 4

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.23 Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. – Genesis 4:17-26

GENESIS 4 MORE DESCENDANTS FOR ADAM & EVE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Cain left Eden and settled in the land of Nod

He bore Enoch and also built a city which ha named after his son

Enoch bore Irad and then Mehujael fathered Methushael

Lamech was born from Methushael and his wife

Lamech had two wives and one of them gave him Jabal and Jubal

While the other wife gave birth to Tubal-cain and daughter, Naamah

At this time Eve gave birth to another son, Seth who also bore Enosh

This was the beginning of people calling upon the name of the Lord.

It is interesting to hear an account of the first people after Cain and Abel and what the aftermath of Cain’s murder brought about.  Humans were multiplying in number and yet the aftermath of Cain’s murder of Abel is being carried out to his descendants. The sinful nature is passed on to his children.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think genealogies are included in the bible?
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GENESIS 4 THE FIRST MURDER

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October 30

GENESIS 4

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

                                                                            – Genesis 4:8-16

GENESIS 4 THE FIRST MURDER

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After the Lord rejected Cain’s lame offering, he got so angry

Out of his anger and jealousy over God accepting his brother’s offering

He rose up against Abel and plotted to kill him

Thus, the first murder happened after Adam and Eve sinned.

As a result of this heinous sin, the ground will no longer yield fruits

He also won’t see God’s presence as he settled in the land of Nod

Cain began to fear that he will be sought after to be killed

But the gracious God still protected him from those who’ll attack him.

We get to witness the first murder when Cain killed his brother. Notice that when God asked what he had done, he answered with “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Hiding and deflecting responsibility usually follow when we disobey God. Shame is responsible for this. We were made to have an open relationship with God, but sin closes that.

REFLECTION

  • Why does one sin always lead to another? How do we prevent it to worsen?

GENESIS 4 THE FIRST OFFSPRINGS

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October 29

GENESIS 4

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gottena man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”  – Genesis 4:1-7

GENESIS 4 THE FIRST OFFSPRINGS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Adam and Eve were oust in the garden of Eden

They bore their first offsprings: Cain and Abel

Abel was a shepherd and Cain worked tending the land in agriculture

They both gave God an offering from the fruit of their labor.

Abel chose the best of his sheep to offer to the Lord

But Cain just took his harvest without even selecting the best

As a result, the Lord rejected Cain’s offering which made him mad

But God received Abel’s well selected the first born of his flock.

In the following account, we witness the birth of Eve and Adam’s first children, Cain and Abel. One tended sheep and the other cultivated the field. They both gave an offering to the Lord, but interestingly, God only accepted Abel’s offering. If you don’t know the character of God, you will not understand why God had preference as to which offering to accept. But if you know that God is the Creator and Maker of all things and deserves all the honor and the best of what you have received from him, then you will understand why the Lord rejected Cain’s offering. When Cain didn’t care to give the best to God, he didn’t honor the Lord with what he received. God doesn’t need anything, but Abel’s act of selecting the best for the offering manifests his love and honor and praise for God.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to offer to the Lord our best harvest from our work?

GENESIS 3 THE NAMING OF EVE & AFTERMATH OF THE FALL

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October 28
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GENESIS 3
20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:20-24
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GENESIS 3 THE NAMING OF EVE & AFTERMATH OF THE FALL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After our first parents fell into sin, Adam called his wife Eve
Despite their disobedience, God still covered them with grace
Rather than destroying them, he made garments to cover them
But after believing the lies of the serpent, things have changed.
Adam named his wife Eve as it means “mother of the living”
He hoped that someday God will restore their former status before sinning
The fear of not knowing when they will see God again was shattering
What used to be freedom and life now seems bondage and death.
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The name Eve is literally the word “living” in Hebrew, haw’wāh. Do you ever wonder how Adam came up with that name when their disobedience caused them death (a separation from God and his paradise). Even though we assume that Eve had her name when she was made from Adam’s ribs, it was only after the fall that she was given her name Eve. Female and helper were the names alluding to her before the fall.
According to some commentaries, the naming of Eve is a declaration of faith of Adam. That after their disobedience, he hoped that one day, they can have life restored again. In giving her this name, she is looking at future generations of humans to come. It sounds like a prophetic statement that foresees that the virgin birth will restore man’s status with God as he provides the solution for the appeasement of his wrath over their sin.
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REFLECTION
• How do you think Adam and Eve feel when verse 24 was happening?

GENESIS 3 THE CURSE ON MAN

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October 27
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GENESIS 3
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it, ’cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” – Genesis 3:17-19
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GENESIS 3 THE CURSE ON MAN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When Eve asked Adam to eat the fruit
Instead of taking authority and saying “no”
Adam disobeyed and dismissed God’s prohibition
Thereby, man received God’s wrath for doing so.
Adam could no longer enjoy freely the fruit from the ground
He now has to toil in pain to be able to reap the fruit
If he doesn’t do the work, he won’t be able to eat
Because he came from the dust, he also shall return to it.
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Can you imagine if Adam took his role and authority seriously as the head of his wife and told her “No, we were forbidden to eat from that tree!”? There will be no such thing as “work.” Man didn’t have to toil so hard to put food on the table. We won’t be addicted to work and performance. We would just be contented with what God has already given and provided for us. We will be thankful and satisfied that He fulfills our needs. No wonder we humans can easily make “work” an idol (to glorify our own efforts). This idol of “work” results to our “busy-ness” which the enemy uses so we forget to be content and to thank the Lord and praise him for his providence.
As a result of the disobedience of Adam, man have a tendency to avoid their roles and responsibilities as head of family. They become absorbed with working to build up their reputation and neglect their authority and responsibility as the spiritual head of his family.
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REFLECTION
• How can man reverse that curse into a blessing?
• What is the consequence of man neglecting his authority over his family?

GENESIS 3 THE CURSE ON THE WOMAN

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October 26
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GENESIS 3
16 To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.” – Genesis 3:16
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GENESIS 3 THE CURSE ON THE WOMAN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When Eve caved in to the temptation of the serpent
She had no idea what she had done that caused a ripple effect
Because of her disobedience and her lust for knowledge
God gave her the curse that was passed on to all women.
All women will suffer labor pains when they give birth to their child
Thus, all of those mothers-to-be will go through that same birth pains
Women will also have this natural yearning to go against her husband
But it will be futile because God directed men to be the head of their wives.
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To all women, can you imagine what it would have been like if Eve didn’t give in to the temptation of the serpent? Birthing a child would probably be painless and we will have no tendencies to control our husbands. It was the woman that the serpent targeted to victimize first. Imagine if the serpent went straight to the man? It would have been different.
In our world, it is usually the weaker ones that become the aim of the enemy to prey on.
It was the vulnerable that the serpent slithers his way into enticing them to sin. So many weaker beings are used by the enemy so that his tactics will be less obvious. The longer he hides it from his actual target, the more victims will he catch.
It took me awhile to understand why a lot of women including myself have this tendency to oppose our husband and take control of some things in our marriages. I didn’t understand why my mother dominated my father often. Until I read these verses on the curse of women, it finally dawned on me that it was in women’s nature to do so.
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REFLECTION
• How can we as women believers go against this nature to control our husbands?

GENESIS 3 THE CURSE TO THE SERPENT

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October 25
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GENESIS 3
14 The LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:14-15
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GENESIS 3 THE CURSE TO THE SERPENT
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When the serpent manipulated Eve to disobey God
He had to be punished for the evil he had done
As a result of that sly move to corrupt their minds and hearts
He received the curse of God that he will crawl on the ground.
He will always struggle to win because he will be on his belly
His defeat is what is to be expected because of his lowly tactics
Satan will be defeated by the promised Son of the woman
His head shall be crushed by the power of God himself.
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The serpent must have been a beautiful creature before he tempted Adam and Eve because the curse made him crawl on his belly amongst the dust all his life. He must have been above the ground before the fall of man. This is probably why the devil’s way of tempting is in a slithering and sneaky way because he wants to prey on his victim unannounced. He manipulates his way into a man’s mind and heart so cunningly that if you don’t really know and fear God, you will fall into it, but his head will be crushed too. God cursed him with defeat all his time on earth. He will always lose in the end.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to know how the serpent works as a believer?

GENESIS 3 SHAME IS THE AFTERMATH OF SIN

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October 24
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GENESIS 3
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” – Genesis 3:8-13
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GENESIS 3 SHAME IS THE AFTERMATH OF SIN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s prohibition of the tree
They quickly knew they were naked and felt shame by what they did
Their once pure minds became corrupted with selfish ambition
They began to crave for more than what was already given.
When we open our hearts and minds to give in to cravings
We begin to experience guilt and shame creeping in
We hide and make sure no one knows what we did
Then we protect ourselves from anyone who exposes it.
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Shame is prevalent in our world. In this following account, we see the birth of shame in mankind. Oftentimes we do not easily recognize our sins because it is in our nature. When our first parents caved in to the serpent’s temptation, we inherited such tendencies to sin. We are inherently bent towards our desires and pleasures which lead us to sin. There is a sure way to recognize sin. Shame is the aftermath of sin. Since God created us in his image, we also can be pure and holy like him, but sin corrupted that holiness. Shame makes us lose our moral compass and leads us further away from being loyal to God. Thus, we ought to expose shame so we can confess the sin and repent and renew our hearts.
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REFLECTION
• How can we get rid of shame in our lives as we serve the Lord our God?

GENESIS 3 THE BIRTH OF SIN

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October 23
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GENESIS 3
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. – Genesis 3:1-7
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GENESIS 3 THE BIRTH OF SIN
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
God created the man and woman without blemish, just like him
But the appearance of a sly serpent came into the Garden of Eden
His cunning ways brought forth a desire in the woman to be tempted
She knew that they can consume fruits from all trees except the forbidden tree.
The manipulative tactics of the serpent using appetizing visual stimulation
Worked its way into the heart of the woman who began to eat what’s forbidden
The lure to have knowledge of what God has worked its way into her heart
Thus, the birth of sin came about in this paradise and shame got them.
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In these verses, we witness the cunning ways of Satan. Because he was kicked out of heaven, he had to do everything in his power to get as much people to feel the shame that was the aftermath of his self-love and pride. Sin is born when we entertain a desire to have more than what we already were given.
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REFLECTION
• How did James 1:14-15 explain the birth of sin and its consequences to our lives?