I find it "interesting" for lack of better words, in Genesis 6:2, the author writes "the sons of God and the daughters of humans..." One could rationalize that since women (back in the day) were of lower status, that's why the author chose these words. It still does't make it right!
Nephilim are the offspring of "sons of God" and "daughters of men" They are supposedly giants and may give rise to the Phillistines (Goliath) later. The name may come from the Hebrew word for fall, which is nphl meaning that these are immediate descendants of the original fall of humanity.
For many generations, people had gone against God, and God decided to rid the world of humanity and start over again. Noah and Noah's family was left to repopulate. One may wonder what would have happened if Adam and Eve didn't eat the fruit and Cain and Abel got along...would the flood had happened? Any thoughts?
We know the story of Noah, and how he responded to God. How would you have responded? Has God "contacted" you and told you to do something?
How does Psalm 12 settle with you? Are there good people in the world today? Does God "keep the needy safe and protect us from the wicked" (v 7). I sometimes wonder!
Paul speaks to the Gentiles in Ephesus and invites them into the family of God (Ephesians 3:6) How often do you "invite" others to the family of God? Paul seemed to really be faithful in his evangelism...why aren't we so faithful? Paul wants the people to realize the depth and height and breadth of God's love for all people (v 18). I think it is hard for us to sometimes realize that deepness of love that God has for us. Why is it so tough? What prevents us from full grasping onto the love that God gives freely to us?
Comments??
Reading for Wednesday: Genesis 7-8, Ephesians 4
I think I finally got in. I am using a New Century Version.
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn...I use the New Century Version for most of my Sunday messages at LM. I like it-- relatively easy to read and understand. When I prep for Sunday, I read several versions to see how different the texts are. Sometimes word use can really alter a passage!
ReplyDeleteAs far a Cain and Abel was Cain's offering bad or was God jus testing Cain as he tested Adam and Eve? Perhaps Cain felt as we sometimes do like "Mom liked you best"? God sent the flood to destroy the people but why did he not send Jesus at that time the save the people as he did later? Just thinking!
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Hi Clara...sorry...missed your post! There is much discussion around why Cain's sacrifice wasn't accepted by God. We could spend hours talking about it! Maybe Cain was jealous of the relationship between God and Abel, maybe it was a test. Jesus, the Trinity, was always present. Maybe God was trying to give people a chance on their own to worship/honor/love before Jesus was given to us. There is lots of discussion on that aspect too!
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