Following a chronologically ordered Bible study by Skip Andrews, we'll now continue with a genealogical descendancy record:
(10) These are the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood. (11) And after he begat Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. (12) And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begat Salah. (13) And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. (14) And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber. (15) And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. (16) And Eber lived thirty-four years, and begat Peleg. (17) And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. (18) And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu. (19) And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. (20) And Reu lived thirty-two years, and begat Serug. (21) And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. (22) And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor. (23) And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. (24) And Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begat Terah. (25) And Nahor lived after he begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. (26) And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (27) Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. (28) And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans. (29) And Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. (30) But Sarai was barren; she had no child. (31) And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot, his grandson, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans, to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. (32) And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
This genealogy brings us to Abraham, but before we read about his life, we will turn next time to the story of Job, who probably lived at about the same time.
Showing posts with label genealogy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genealogy. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Sons of Noah Populate the Earth
In my Bible study, I am using a chronologically ordered study by Skip Andrews, and following the life of Noah is this genealogy of Noah's sons found in 1 Chronicles:
(1 Chronicles 1:5) The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (6) And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (7) And the sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. (8) The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. (9) And the sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. (10) And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be mighty on the earth. (11) And Mizraim begat Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, (12) Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and the Caphtorim). (13) And Canaan begat Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth; (14) The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite; (15) And the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; (16) And the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. (17) The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. (18) And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber. (19) And to Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. (20) And Joktan begat Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, (21) Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, (22) Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, (23) Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
Now we return to Shem and the direct line from him to Abraham:
(24) Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, (25) Eber, Peleg, Reu, (26) Serug, Nahor, Terah, (27) and Abram, who is Abraham. (28) The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. (29) These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael was Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, (30) Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, (31) Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. (32) Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. (33) And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. (34) And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.
Now we return to Genesis 10:
(Genesis 10:1) Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood. (2) The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (3) And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (4) And the sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. (5) By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided into their lands; everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
The isles of the Gentiles were not really islands, but those lands that were accessible to the Hebrews from the sea; they had to go by sea to reach these lands. They are generally thought of to be the countries of Europe and Asia Minor.
(6) The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. (7) And the sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. (8) And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. (9) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD". (10) And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (11) Out of that land he went forth to Asshur, and built Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, (12) And Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is a great city). (13) And Mizraim begat Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, (14) And Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim). (15) And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, (16) And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, (17) And the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; (18) And the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. And afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad. (19) And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. (20) These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations. (21) And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. (22) The children of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. (23) And the children of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. (24) And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. (25) And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. (26) And Joktan begat Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, (27) And Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, (28) And Obal, Abimael, Sheba, (29) Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. (30) And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, a mountain of the east. (31) These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations. (32) These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
(1 Chronicles 1:5) The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (6) And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (7) And the sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. (8) The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. (9) And the sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. (10) And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be mighty on the earth. (11) And Mizraim begat Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, (12) Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and the Caphtorim). (13) And Canaan begat Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth; (14) The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite; (15) And the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; (16) And the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. (17) The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. (18) And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber. (19) And to Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. (20) And Joktan begat Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, (21) Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, (22) Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, (23) Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
Now we return to Shem and the direct line from him to Abraham:
(24) Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, (25) Eber, Peleg, Reu, (26) Serug, Nahor, Terah, (27) and Abram, who is Abraham. (28) The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. (29) These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael was Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, (30) Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, (31) Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. (32) Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. (33) And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. (34) And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.
Now we return to Genesis 10:
(Genesis 10:1) Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood. (2) The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (3) And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. (4) And the sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. (5) By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided into their lands; everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
The isles of the Gentiles were not really islands, but those lands that were accessible to the Hebrews from the sea; they had to go by sea to reach these lands. They are generally thought of to be the countries of Europe and Asia Minor.
(6) The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. (7) And the sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. (8) And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. (9) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD". (10) And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (11) Out of that land he went forth to Asshur, and built Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, (12) And Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is a great city). (13) And Mizraim begat Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, (14) And Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim). (15) And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, (16) And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, (17) And the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; (18) And the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. And afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad. (19) And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. (20) These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations. (21) And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. (22) The children of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. (23) And the children of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. (24) And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. (25) And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. (26) And Joktan begat Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, (27) And Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, (28) And Obal, Abimael, Sheba, (29) Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. (30) And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, a mountain of the east. (31) These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations. (32) These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Satan Still Tempts in the Same Way Today as in the Garden of Eden
A study of Genesis Chapter 3 shows that things haven't changed in 6000+ years. Satan works in the exact same way he did back in the Garden of Eden, and people still fall for it.
Because my Bible study is following a chronological order based on "A Chronological Bible Reading Schedule" by Skip Andrews, I will begin with a genealogical preface:
(1 Chronicles 1:1) Adam, Sheth, Enosh, (2) Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, (3) Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, (4) Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
(Genesis 3:1) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Scheme #1 of Satan is to question God's Word. "Did He really say that?" No book in the history of mankind has been questioned more than the Bible!
(2) And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it; neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" (4) And the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die."
Satan's big lie: "You won't die." Is that not the real reason people don't come to Christ for salvation, because they don't really believe they will die an eternal death without Him? If people truly believed the Bible, everyone would be saved!
(5) "For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Is this line not straight out of New Age doctrine? Your eyes will be opened; you can be as God; you will have knowledge!
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Although it began with Satan's temptation and lie, the ego and human pleasure plays a huge part. As it is now, Eve wanted pleasant things, and she wanted to feel wise, and she wanted someone to go along with her. That always makes us feel better about doing something wrong, knowing that everyone else does it!
(7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" (10) And he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." (11) And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" (12) And the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
This part always amuses me. We always want to blame someone else; it's not MY fault. But in this case, Adam even insinuates that it's GOD's fault: "It's that woman YOU gave me!" That excuse is used even now, like the argument that God made homosexuals the way they are. "Homosexual" is an adjective describing an ACT; it is not a person!
(13) And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Eve passes the blame, too, as people still want to today. When we can't pass it back any further, then it's because of how we were raised or that Satan made us do it. But we each have a responsibility for our own actions. Sure, it may be more difficult because of how we were raised. Sure, homosexual tendencies may be stronger in some, but just as a kleptomaniac has a stronger desire to steal, we all have temptations to overcome and do not have to act on them.
(14) And the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. (15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
And certainly the snake is no longer a friendly familiar being to people, but slithering on the ground, striking at the heels of man, and one of the most hated creatures being frequently struck on the head to kill it. This scripture is also a prophetic reference to Christ: The woman's seed, a descendant, would ultimately trample Satan, although Satan would bruise His human form to the point of death.
(16) To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you."
John Wesley explained the woman's "sentence", as he called it, succinctly: "she is condemned to a state of sorrow and a state of subjection". The pain she experiences is not only in childbirth, but in sorrow and worry, she raises her children. Now rather than an equal helper to Adam, she is now put in subjection to him. "Your desire shall be to your husband". I have wondered if that meant your natural desire is to serve him, or whether you desire what your husband has, but he rules over you. Either way, it is subjection, and I suppose both could be true. The woman traditionally serves her husband, but the modern culture has made the woman very dissatisfied with that role, as she seeks to be "equal" to men.
(17) And unto Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it', cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. (18) Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. (19) In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
Man is sentenced to a life of toil and trouble. As I read this again, I am reminded of how we used to say as kids (and maybe as adults, too), "It's not fair!". Our parents told us life isn't fair. I've even heard, "Life's not fair, and then you die". Is that not the exact lot of mankind after Adam's sin: You WILL have toil and trouble all your life and then you'll return to the ground.
(20) And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (21) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (22) And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever; (23) Therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (24) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
I believe rather than interpreting that Adam had become as God, which is what a New Age religion would have us believe that we can be God, this is better interpreted that only in the knowledge of both good and evil, has man become like God. First he knew only good, all the good things God gave to him freely in the garden. Then when he was tempted and sinned by disobeying God, he came to know evil. Then, because he sinned, he lost eternal life, and was forever separated from the tree of life, and sent to his life of toil.
These are the decisions with consequences we make in daily life. Will we accept God's way and obey Him and enjoy His blessings, or will we believe the lie of Satan that we can be as God and in the end die forever separated from God?
Because my Bible study is following a chronological order based on "A Chronological Bible Reading Schedule" by Skip Andrews, I will begin with a genealogical preface:
(1 Chronicles 1:1) Adam, Sheth, Enosh, (2) Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, (3) Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, (4) Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
(Genesis 3:1) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Scheme #1 of Satan is to question God's Word. "Did He really say that?" No book in the history of mankind has been questioned more than the Bible!
(2) And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it; neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" (4) And the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die."
Satan's big lie: "You won't die." Is that not the real reason people don't come to Christ for salvation, because they don't really believe they will die an eternal death without Him? If people truly believed the Bible, everyone would be saved!
(5) "For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Is this line not straight out of New Age doctrine? Your eyes will be opened; you can be as God; you will have knowledge!
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Although it began with Satan's temptation and lie, the ego and human pleasure plays a huge part. As it is now, Eve wanted pleasant things, and she wanted to feel wise, and she wanted someone to go along with her. That always makes us feel better about doing something wrong, knowing that everyone else does it!
(7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" (10) And he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." (11) And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" (12) And the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
This part always amuses me. We always want to blame someone else; it's not MY fault. But in this case, Adam even insinuates that it's GOD's fault: "It's that woman YOU gave me!" That excuse is used even now, like the argument that God made homosexuals the way they are. "Homosexual" is an adjective describing an ACT; it is not a person!
(13) And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Eve passes the blame, too, as people still want to today. When we can't pass it back any further, then it's because of how we were raised or that Satan made us do it. But we each have a responsibility for our own actions. Sure, it may be more difficult because of how we were raised. Sure, homosexual tendencies may be stronger in some, but just as a kleptomaniac has a stronger desire to steal, we all have temptations to overcome and do not have to act on them.
(14) And the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. (15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
And certainly the snake is no longer a friendly familiar being to people, but slithering on the ground, striking at the heels of man, and one of the most hated creatures being frequently struck on the head to kill it. This scripture is also a prophetic reference to Christ: The woman's seed, a descendant, would ultimately trample Satan, although Satan would bruise His human form to the point of death.
(16) To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you."
John Wesley explained the woman's "sentence", as he called it, succinctly: "she is condemned to a state of sorrow and a state of subjection". The pain she experiences is not only in childbirth, but in sorrow and worry, she raises her children. Now rather than an equal helper to Adam, she is now put in subjection to him. "Your desire shall be to your husband". I have wondered if that meant your natural desire is to serve him, or whether you desire what your husband has, but he rules over you. Either way, it is subjection, and I suppose both could be true. The woman traditionally serves her husband, but the modern culture has made the woman very dissatisfied with that role, as she seeks to be "equal" to men.
(17) And unto Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it', cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. (18) Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. (19) In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
Man is sentenced to a life of toil and trouble. As I read this again, I am reminded of how we used to say as kids (and maybe as adults, too), "It's not fair!". Our parents told us life isn't fair. I've even heard, "Life's not fair, and then you die". Is that not the exact lot of mankind after Adam's sin: You WILL have toil and trouble all your life and then you'll return to the ground.
(20) And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (21) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (22) And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever; (23) Therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (24) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
I believe rather than interpreting that Adam had become as God, which is what a New Age religion would have us believe that we can be God, this is better interpreted that only in the knowledge of both good and evil, has man become like God. First he knew only good, all the good things God gave to him freely in the garden. Then when he was tempted and sinned by disobeying God, he came to know evil. Then, because he sinned, he lost eternal life, and was forever separated from the tree of life, and sent to his life of toil.
These are the decisions with consequences we make in daily life. Will we accept God's way and obey Him and enjoy His blessings, or will we believe the lie of Satan that we can be as God and in the end die forever separated from God?
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