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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday August 26, 2018

THE CALL OF ABRAM

Genesis 12

   Abram, whose name GOD later changed to “Abraham”, was born and raised in the fabled city of Ur. Ur was located in the southern division of ancient Babylonia known as “Sumer” (SOO-mehr), which was situated between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (now southern Iraq). Sumer is the territory referred to as “Shinar” in the Old Testament (Genesis 10:10). It was a part of the kingdom of the great Nimrod who attempted to build the infamous “Tower of Babel” there.

   The Sumerians, developed the first “high living civilization” in the history of mankind, and Ur was the center of their rich culture. They were the first people to develop a writing style that consisted of “Cuneiform script”, which were “wedged shaped” characters that became synonymous with Persian and Babylonian culture and literature. They were proud of their vast wealth, monumental architecture, grand homes, music, and art.

    While living in this ultra “worldly” culture, Abram worshiped many gods (Joshua 24:2), however, when the real and true GOD spoke to him, he was willing to leave this enchanting atmosphere, and travel, “on faith”, to the unknown land of Canaan, where he would live a “nomadic” life in tents for nearly 100 years. He traded the fading glory that is inevitable in the world, for a personal, trusting, eternal relationship with GOD.

    Here in Genesis chapter 12 we see the literal “calling” of Abram by GOD, into a life-changing commitment of humility and dependence on the promises of the only wise, sovereign CREATOR of the universe. Abram was 75 years old when he first received instructions from GOD to leave the land in which he was born, including, leaving his relatives and the entire house of his father (v.1). Abram, in spite of those instructions from the LORD, decided to take his nephew Lot and all of his clan with him (v.5). This disobedience would later cause many problems for Abram as we shall see (Genesis 13:5-7, 14:11-16, and 18:22-33).

    We see beginning in verse 2, GOD reeling off a list of five promises to Abram that will not all be realized in his lifetime. Here HE tells Abram that;

·         I will cause you to become the father of a great nation

·         I will bless you and make you famous

·         I will make you a blessing to others

·         I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you

·         All the families of the earth will be blessed through you  

    And so Abram left Haran and traveled to the land of Canaan. While traveling through Canaan, he came to a place near Shechem where he set up camp beside the oak trees at “Moreh” (which means “teacher”). This is significant in that, the Canaanites had worship shrines already set up there in the area among the oak trees of Moreh, and this in fact may have been the site of one or more of their many cult worship centers. Ironically, it is here that the LORD appeared to Abram and informed him that “this land will be given to your offspring”. And so Abram built a shrine for the LORD, right there among the shrines of the pagans. Perhaps thus bodes as a symbolic gesture that the GOD of all gods was about to manifest HIS glorious presence in the cursed land of the Canaanites.

    Afterwards, Abram and his family traveled south, by stages, toward the Negev, the 4500 square-mile wilderness (desert) area of southern Judah. At that time there came a severe famine in the land, which forced them to travel down to Egypt and wait it out (v.10). Before crossing the border into Egypt, Abram reminded his beautiful wife, Sarai, of their policy (which is explained in Genesis 20:11-13) that, whenever they entered into a pagan land, to tell the occupants of that land that she is his sister, rather than say that she was his wife.

    Here (Vs.11-13), we see a scheme (human ingenuity) by Abram, that was born out of his fear of man, as his concern for his life, overpowered his faith and trust in GOD’s plan. Remember, GOD had already made a promise to him that he would live to become the father of a great nation of people, something that could not happen if he were killed. Here it appears that GOD’s promise to Abram may have been thrown into jeopardy, however, GOD, through HIS faithfulness to man, despite man’s unfaithfulness to HIM, would later rescue Sarai from their “self-imposed” predicament.

    In the ancient pagan world of monarchy, it was a universal practice by kings to set up “two stages” harems for the advancement of women, from the time of being chosen by the king, to actually being admitted, or summoned into his presence for marriage, and consummation of their marriage. Each woman chosen by the king to be his future wife would have to spend at least a year getting groomed and prepared to actually be his wife, and have personal or sexual contact with him as a wife (see Esther 2:12-14 for further understanding of this practice in the Persian dynasties).

    Also in pagan societies it was a common occurrence for men to be killed by other men, especially rulers, in order to take possession of their wives from them. However, it was also common practice for a man in any society, pagan or otherwise, to woe the father, or the responsible brother of a beautiful woman, in order to get permission from them to marry her. And so Abram, as any other man would, rationalized that this plan would be the safest way to go for both of them.

    When Abram and Sarai entered into Egypt, sure enough, Sarai, because of her beauty, was noticed by members of the king’s court, and they quickly informed the pharaoh of her presence in his kingdom. As a result she was immediately taken into his harem to begin her “preparation process”, before actually being brought to the king to be married, and consummated in marriage. Believing that Abram was Sarai’s brother, the pharaoh gave him many gifts, and in fact, he enriched Abram greatly with many sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and, male and female servants (Vs.14-16).

    Even though Abram was treated very well by the pharaoh, GOD sent a terrible plague upon the house of the pharaoh to get his attention, and to inform him of his unintentionally sinful plans regarding Sarai. At the same time, with this plague, the LORD instilled fear and respect for HIMSELF in the heart (mind) of the pharaoh, so that he might not seek revenge on Abram (GOD’s special servant),  for his deceit toward him, which was only successful because of his own lust toward Sarai. And so the pharaoh called Abram before him, rebuked him strongly, and sent him and Sarai out of Egypt under armed escort, along with all of their relatives and belongings (Vs. 17-20).

    And so GOD intervened and protected Sarai from her husband’s foolish plan because of his promise to Abram, and despite Abram’s unwitting failure to trust GOD at HIS word, the very first time his life came under duress from the world. We can all count our blessings that GOD’ faithfulness to deliver us, does not hinge totally upon our obedience to HIM, but rather, it hinges on HIS OWN mercy and grace, HIS reputation of faithfulness, and HIS prevailing, sovereign plan for HIS greatest creation, mankind.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

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BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday August 19, 2018

THE TOWER OF BABEL

Genesis 11:1-9

   At one time in human history (up until about 5 centuries after the Flood), the whole world spoke one language. As a result, they developed a “unity” that is unsurpassed by any generation since that time. Unfortunately, GOD the CREATOR was not at the center of that unity, but rather, their “pride” was. The people began to follow “the demon possessed heroes” like the great “Nimrod”, who had so impressed the world with their seemingly supernatural talents and abilities.

    In those days, man had began to believe only in himself and his own achievements (sound familiar) and this led them to take on a “GOD-complex” that would ultimately lead to their downfall and “scattering abroad”, which of course, was engineered by GOD HIMSELF. It was a move by GOD that was designed to save mankind from total demise at its own hands, as their ambitions had gone awry in a way that was reminiscent to that of a Heavenly Lucifer, who was able to pull a third of the angelic force in Heaven down with him, because of his pride, which led to his conspiracy against GOD.

    Here in Genesis chapter 11, verses 1-9, we see how man’s ambitions can lead to tragic results, if his plans don’t include GOD. By the sixth century following the Great Flood, the people of the world had, once again, firmly asserted their independence from GOD, and their attitudes regarding this was clearly being exhibited through their behavior under HIS watchful eye. Man was once again, unwittingly proving to himself that, without GOD, man can’t do anything right, for too long.

    As the people, under the rule of Nimrod, moved eastward, increasing their boundaries by force, they decided to settle in the plains of Shinar, or, Babylonia, an area that is located in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). There they decided to construct another city, calling it “Babylon”, one of many cities that had already been built under the leadership of Nimrod, their king.

    It was also there that they decided to build a monument to commemorate their own greatness as a people, one that would unify them permanently, and stand as a symbol of their commitment to each other forever. Unfortunately, it was their very desire to increase their unity and strength that, consequently, provided them with their greatest potential to do evil.

    GOD, through HIS wisdom, will never allow the achievement of “total unity” in the world, because, to allow that, would be to fortify satan against HIM, and all that represent HIM in the world. GOD will never allow “total unity” anywhere in the world except in “HIS Church” (the people whose hearts agree with HIM, through CHRIST JESUS), where HIS OWN greatness, and the greatness of CHRIST JESUS can be exalted.

    And so GOD came down, and HE disrupted the peoples’ idea of “worldly unity” by confounding their speech so that they could no longer communicate their GOD-less, evil ideas, among each other. HE then separated them physically into relatively small groups, and scattered them throughout the earth, giving each group a separate and distinct language, and thereby, greatly reducing their access to their wealth of “shared data”, and “self-destructive human ingenuity”, which they insisted on applying without taking GOD into account in their planning and application.

    This biblical account here in verses 1-9 depicts the city of Babylon as a dominant power in the world at that time, and as the epitome of an ungodly kingdom. It emerges as the first world power recorded in Scripture. Ironically, in their lust to make a name for themselves apart from GOD, and that was equal to GOD, they were successful only in making a mockery of themselves forever, becoming world renowned as the place where “mass confusion” quite literally, began, and, that fact will forever manifest itself in the name “Babylon”. It is a name, quite literally derived from the word “babel”, which means “confused”. It is where GOD confounded the languages of the world, and then scattered man throughout the face of the earth.

    The sin of the Shinerites was their “immense pride”, and after all, the very essence of any sin itself is “pride”. Here we see that the core of their sin manifests itself in the thought of “individualism”, which itself is something that finds its origins in pride, and as it grew, they eventually longed very badly to separate themselves, first from other people, and then ultimately, from GOD HIMSELF.

    Sin always occurs when people decide to “do what they want” instead of “doing what GOD wants”. This action always leads to an infestation of spiritual pride. Whenever a man’s ambitions began to promote an attitude of “my way, or no way”, it is always accompanied by “an inadequate view of GOD”, and “a heart that lacks allegiance to GOD and CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and SAVIOR”. It is the kind of ambition that is fueled by satan, and it causes a man to not hear GOD, or even when GOD makes HIMSELF heard to us, we refuse to believe HIM because “we so want to do what we want to do”. This attitude, over time, makes us impervious to GOD, and in fact, our words and actions show that we think we know better than GOD. We begin to say things like “Yeah, I know what GOD says about it, but HE won’t mind if I do it my way. After all, I am doing it for HIM, and besides, GOD knows my heart”.

    Whenever man’s “human ingenuity” to “rationalize the sin of ignoring GOD” becomes a habit, he is already in the final stage of “pride”, which comes just before the fall. Remember, there can never be a “right time” to do the “wrong thing”. The only way available to us, as Christians, to do GOD’s work is “by HIS rules”, not ours. Any other route that we choose to take, is always, “the wrong way to go”. Whenever we choose to do things our own way, especially in the Church, ultimately, we are going to end up in “the middle of nowhere”, separated from GOD, WHO wants to be “our source of provision”, “our source of protection”, and, “the source of all of our plans”.

       

FROM SHEM TO ABRAHAM

Genesis 11:10-26

   This is the “vertical” genealogical record that traces the line of descendants from Noah’s son, Shem, to Abram (later called Abraham). This list successfully shows the legitimate ancestry of the Shemites, and is generally used to trace the origins of that group of the human race, who would later be named by GOD as “HIS chosen people” (Israel), and, whom the world now knows as “the Jews”. This section of chapter 11, is an airtight chronology that distinguishes Abraham as the towering figure, to whom, all Jews trace their origin.

    Unlike the list in chapter 5, this chronology here in verses 10-26 of chapter 11, does not tell of the total number of years that each person lived, and at what age they died. Whereas the section of Genesis 5:1-6:8 stresses “death before the Flood”, here in this section of chapter 11, we see an emphasis on “life and expansion after the Flood”, even though the earthly lifespan of man had been decreased significantly by GOD, because of the onset of sin into “the human race”.

   

THE FAMILY OF TERAH

Genesis 11:27-32

   Here begins what is now known as “the Patriarchal Narratives of the Bible” (Genesis 11:27-50:26). They detail the history and origin of the Jews, beginning with Abram (later called Abraham), who was the son of Terah.

    Abram, had two brothers, whose names were Nahor and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot, whom would later become the responsibility of, and figure prominently in, the life and chronicles of Abraham. Haran died at an early age, while they were still living in their birthplace, which was called “Ur”, located in the land of the Chaldeans.

    Abram married Sarai, who could not bear children at that time, and his brother Nahor, married Milcah, one of the daughters of his deceased brother, Haran (Haran’s other daughter was named Iscah). After this, Terah, who was an idolater, moved his family, including his sons and their wives, and his grandson Lot, out of Ur, with intentions to move to the land of Canaan. However, they made a stop in a place called “Haran” (no connection to his dead son), which was known as “sin city”.

    Through spiritual eyes, one can clearly see this as an early attempt by satan, on a “paganist thinking person”, Terah, to interrupt the line of the coming MESSIAH into the world, through the line that GOD would later sanction to begin with Abraham and Sarah. It is something that can often be detected (satan’s evil strategies) throughout the annals of Old Testament literature. Terah lived out the remainder of his life (205 years) there in Haran with his family.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday August 5, 2018

THE DESCENDANTS OF JAPHETH, HAM, AND SHEM

Genesis 10

   In Genesis 10 we find chronicled, the history of the families of Shem, Japheth, and Ham, the three sons of Noah who became the origin of all the people that now reside on the earth today. This chapter is known to bible scholars as the “Table of Nations” and it traces the relationships between all the peoples known to ancient Israel. It explains their links to the sons of Noah, and the people of those nations are classified by language, land, treaty, and ethnicity. 

    Seventy descendants of Noah are listed here in this chapter, including 14 from Japheth, 30 from Ham, and 26 from Shem. In this table, the writer, Moses, uses two basic themes to lay out its framework, “bene”, which means “the sons of”, and “yalad”, which means, “he begot”, or, “was the father of”. The “yalad” verses of this passage probably suggests, or traces what may be important developments of personages, or, “people of note”, that exist within this Table of Nations, for example, Nimrod, the mighty hunter and great builder of cities.

    It is worth noting that this Table is a “horizontal” table, rather than a vertical one like in chapter 5, and later in chapter 11. In other words the list goes across the direct descendants who lived simultaneously, or who all lived during the same time period as natural brothers and sisters do. It starts with the sons of Japheth, Noah’s middle son. His sons and their offspring are the only ones listed, and so on with his brothers, and their sons:

THE DESCENDANTS OF JAPHETH

·         Gomer – Gomer, Japheth’s older son, is the father of the Cimmerians that are related to the infamous and feared Scythians, a barbaric race of people who lived in Scythia, an ancient region of southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is the site today known as the Soviet Union, or Russia. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah . All of their descendants settled in this area to the north, far away from where Israel is located.

·         Magog – the second son of Japheth, is father of the aforementioned Scythians who settled in the north. They settled in the land of Gog between Armenia and Cappadocia, southwest of the Black Sea, (the area of Russia and Persia, present day Iran). However, they were expansionists barbaric, expert warriors, who, always sought to widen their territory at the expense of others, much like 20^th century Soviet Union did, before their breakup in the early 1980’s.

·         Madai – is the ancestor of all of the Medes east of Assyria and southwest of the Caspian Sea.

·         Javan – was the ancestor of those of the Hellenic race, the Ionians of western Asia Minor. The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. They were all seafarers in various lands, each having its own language. They settled the entire area around the north Mediterranean Sea, the site of Paul’s hometown of Tarsus along the north shores of the Mediterranean Sea. They became great fishermen and shipbuilders, and were known for their vast wealth and prosperity.

·         Tubal – settled the area around Greece (became a military state)

·         Meshech – settled the area around Greece ( like Tubal, became a military state)

·         Tiras  - the direct descendants of Tiras are not mentioned in the bible, and they are thereby, not believed to be connected to the family of scribes who lived in Jabez that are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:55. His descendants may have become the seafarers around the Aegean Sea coasts. None of these northern tribes figure prominently in Israel’s history, however, they do occur frequently in prophetic writings, particularly in the book of Ezekiel.

THE DESCENDANTS OF HAM

    The, descendants of Ham settled in northern Africa, and also consists of the eastern and southern peoples of Mesopotamia.

·         Cush – The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. They settled in south Arabia and the area that is now southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia. Over time they intermarried with Semitic tribes who lived in the same area, thus, even today there exists a repetition of names among the nation of that region. Seba settled in northern Egypt, Havilah, which means “sand land”, refers to northern and eastern Arabia on the Persian Gulf (Ethiopian coast), Sabtah settled on the western shore of the Persian Gulf, Raamah and Sabtecah settled in southern Arabia.

Strangely inserted into this passage, verse 7b to be exact, we find mention the offspring of one of Cush’s sons, Raamah, who had two sons of his own, Sheba and Dedan. A quick study of their genealogy tells us that Sheba settled in southwest Arabia, and Dedan settled in nortern Arabia.

·         Mizraim – often referred to in the bible, literally, as “Egypt”, the name speaks for itself. He was the ancestor of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lahabites, the Naphtuhites, the Pathrusites, the Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from where the Philistines migrated. His tribes spread from northern Africa to Crete.

·         Put – This nation of people is mentioned in bible in connection with Egypt and Ethiopia. It was known for its great warriors, and probably refers to certain Libyan tribes west of Egypt.

·         Canaan – was the fourth son of Ham, the one who received and carried the “generational curse” that was prophesied by his grandfather, Noah, as judgment for what his father Ham did when he tried to make a mockery of Noah’s nakedness. He is the ancestor of the most notable enemies of Israel that are chronicled in the Bible. His descendants were dispersed into several distinctive tribes including the Sidonians, the Jebusites, the Amorites, and the Zemarites. He was also the ancestor of the Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, and Hamathites. They were known collectively as the Canaanites, the pagan inhabitants of the land GOD promised to the Israelites. The land of Canaan stretched from the Jordan River on the east to the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and from north to south it covered all of the territory between the Sinai Peninsula and Phoenicia. It covered the area from Sidon to Gerar, near Gaza, and to the, now-infamous, former homosexual strongholds of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, near Lasha.

NIMROD

   Nimrod was one of the sons of Cush and a grandson of Ham. He was a skillful hunter, warrior, and expert builder of cities. He became a powerful king and was the first man described in the bible as a “mighty hero”. He built many principal cities in his Mesopotamian kingdom, namely Babel, Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10).

    From the land of Babylon he went to Assyria, where he built the great city of Nineveh, and other cities. His name, “Nimrod”, finds its root in the Babylonian god of war and hunting, “Ninurta”, who was called “the Arrow, the mighty hero”.    

THE SONS OF SHEM

    The sons of Shem, the oldest son of Noah, are recorded last. Shem was the father of the Hebrews from which came the nation of Israel, the people GOD chose to represent HIM on earth in the most personal way, and to receive HIS word, and make HIM known to the unsaved world. He was also the father of all the people of the ancient Near East, in general. These are the descendants of Shem, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations;

·         Elam (Persia) – settled in the highlands east of Babylonia, an area bounded by Assyria and Media on the north, the Persian Gulf on the south, and Persia to the east and southeast.

·         Asshur (Assyria) – settled in the area of Assyria where Nimrod, the Hamite, founded several cities, including Nineveh.

·         Arphaxad (Chaldea) – settled in the area northeast of Nineveh. He was the father of Shelah, who was the father of Eber, who was the father of Peleg (which means “division”) and Joktan. Joktan begot thirteen sons Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. It was during their lifetime that the, now infamous, “Tower of Babel” was being built, moving GOD to anger, causing HIM to disperse the people of the world into different language groups, forever.

·         Lud (Lydia) – settled in the area that is now western Turkey.

·         Aram (Syria) – settled in the grassy plains of Mesopotamia. He is the ancestor of the Aramean people.

    These are the families that came from Noah’s sons, listed by nations, according to their line of descent. The earth was populated with the people of these nations after the Flood.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday July 22, 2018

GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

Genesis 9:1-17

   The historical writings in the Book of Genesis, not only tells the story of a “chosen people of GOD”, and how GOD acted upon the lives of the Jews (Genesis 12-50), but it also actually begins by telling the story of how GOD acted upon the lives of all mankind and all living creatures in general, as our Holy and sovereign CREATOR (Genesis 1-11).

    In the Old Testament, GOD is attempting to show us just how far we are from HIS high and holy standards. And in the New Testament, GOD sends us JESUS to try and show us just how we can move closer to that high and holy standard. The Old Testament also contains the stories of the many men and women of deep and powerful unbending faith such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, and the like, who all clung to their belief in the Almighty GOD.

    In this day and age, we too, can build, and embody the same measures of faith that those people exhibited in their lifetimes, but we, like them, must sincerely seek and honor GOD just as they did, in all that we do. We will never be required by GOD to come up with any ground-breaking methods, by way of our considerable “human ingenuity”, of serving HIM, but rather, we will always be expected by GOD to worship and obey HIM HIS way, not ours. And all of GOD’s ways, in which HE wants us to serve HIM, are already laid out in Scripture.

    Genesis is the first book of the Holy Bible, and, the first of five books accredited to the authorship of Moses. Moses is one of the most towering figures in Jewish history, and, the one who came to be known simply, as “The Law Giver”. He begins his writings with the telling of the “Creation Account” of all things, “the fall of man at the hands of Adam and Eve”, and “the subsequent intolerable wickedness of mankind”, which led to the “Great Flood” method of destruction by GOD.

    However, just as GOD always replaced the darkness of our ancestors existence, with the light of HIS presence in those days, so it is too, in these days of the twenty-first century. Over the next few lessons, we will focus on, and trace GOD’s covenant promises to HIS people, through, the annals of Old Testament biblical history, and we’ll began with this first account of GOD’s “Rainbow Covenant” with Noah. Noah is the first man in Scripture to be called “righteous” (Genesis 6:9), and he was the only righteous man on earth at the time of the flood!

    In Genesis chapter 9, verses 1-15, we take up this great man’s story at a time, immediately following the world-ending Flood. Here Noah and his sons are instructed by GOD, just as Adam and Eve were, in the beginning, to be fruitful and multiply (“male”-pronounced “maw-lay”, which means to “replenish”) and fill the earth with human life.

    In the beginning, we must remember that, GOD also instructed Adam and Eve to eat only the vegetation of the land. However, this order came with one restriction, “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, and after their disobedience to this command from GOD, HE quickly had to remove them from the “Garden of Eden” before they had a chance to eat from the other tree at the center of the garden, the eternal “Tree of Life”.

    Once again, here GOD gives man dominion over the animals of the earth, but this time, HE allows man the use of all animals for food. This is not a contradiction to Deuteronomy 14:3-21, because man in those days did not live under the “Law of Moses”, which did not exist at that time, and was put in place much later on, to distinguish the Jewish lifestyle, which started with Abraham, from the rest of human society.

    Some believe that the stipulations that were placed on the Gentiles during the “Acts 15 Council” in the first century (Acts 15), by the Church leaders at Jerusalem, find their origins comprised here within the Rainbow Covenant. Despite the fact that the distinction between “clean” and “unclean” animals already existed (Genesis 7:2), GOD, nevertheless, here allows for the consumption of all plants and animals, by man. However, GOD did issued one restriction, and that was, that, man not eat an animal with its “lifeblood” still in it.

    Because we bear GOD’s “spiritual image” (GOD’s Nature), in HIS eyes, every human being is irreplaceable. In verses 5-7, it is important that we clearly understand that, the “Death sentence” which GOD imposes upon those who kill other human beings, is neither “retribution”, and nor, is it a “preventative measure” to guard against murder itself.

    Each and every human life is so significant to GOD that no penalty less than death, provides an adequate measure of value. It is the only way to impress upon man, the ultimate worth of an individual, in the eyes of GOD. Apparently GOD saw the necessity for a covenant that not only came in the form of a promise from HIM, but HE also reasoned that, there must be an obligation from man that he not take life lightly after seeing the devastation of the flood.

    GOD did not want the example of the flood’s destruction to be taken as a sign that HE placed a “cheap value” on human life. This covenant was to show that life is sacred, and that man must not destroy that which is “made in the spiritual image of GOD”. Man also needed to learn how to govern himself with “human laws” that would ensure the stability of nature, and, that wickedness would not run amok like it had before the flood. And so here we see, quite literally, “the birth of government into human society”.

    In verses 8-17 GOD makes a covenant with Noah that has come to be known as the “Rainbow Covenant”. Unlike the “Abrahamic Covenant” (Genesis 15), and the “Davidic Covenant” (2 Samuel 7) that would come later, it is a covenant that concerns all mankind forever, and not just the Jews. Throughout the history of the world, GOD has always dealt with man through various covenants, and here in this passage, we find the very first one.

    The next time we look up in the sky and see a Rainbow that spans to connect the Heavens to the earth, remember GOD’s promise of security to Noah, that comes across the spans of time to lend to us also, that same assurance of security. It is reminiscent of the security that CHRIST JESUS gives us, when we accept the covenant that was ushered in to us by HIM many years later, and signed in HIS OWN blood. It is a superior covenant that, unlike the Rainbow Covenant with Noah, reconnects us with GOD, and secures our future in Heaven.

NOAH’S SONS

Genesis 9:18-28

   Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah who survived the Flood with him, became the progenitors of all people who are on the earth today. Ham is the original ancestor of the infamous “Canaanite Nation”, whose curse is pronounced here in this passage by Noah, because of his boastful mocking of Noah’s nakedness, while he was in a drunken state.

    After the Flood Noah became a farmer and he planted a vineyard. One day he decided to test some of the wine he had made, and as a result of too much testing, he became drunk and lay naked in his tent. His son Ham came in and saw him drunk and naked, and went out and, the original Hebrew suggests that, he may have been mocking or making fond of his father to his older brothers.

    In those days it was considered to be a serious breach of family ethics for a child to see either of his parent’s nakedness, and so apparently, his brothers did not share with Ham in his amusement. Instead, Shem and Japheth took a robe and walked backwards with it into the tent, so that they would not see their father’s nakedness, and with it, they covered up Noah’s body.

    When Noah woke up from his drunken stupor, his two oldest sons told him what Ham had done. In his anger and disappointment, Noah prophesied a curse that would soon come upon the descendants of Ham’s son, Canaan, that they will forever be servants to the descendants of Shem and Japheth. Then he blessed Shem and Japheth with growth and prosperity because of their obedient and respectful behavior toward him. Noah lived another 350 years after the Flood and he died at the ripe old age of 950 years old.

     The Bible teaches us, and we also learn from life experiences that the consequences of the sins of the parents, oftentimes carries over, to the children of the next generation. Here in this passage, Noah, through inspired prophetic foresight, pronounces the kind of impact Ham’s sinful behavior would have on his children, for generations to come. Since Ham showed such disrespect toward his father, here Noah is saying that Ham’s attitude would soon be passed on, or, had already been carried over to the next generation of his offspring. Then he prophesied that the obedient and respectful behavior exhibited by Shem and Japheth would be passed on to their offspring and be rewarded by GOD. Right reactions and attitudes brings blessings, while unrighteous actions and attitudes bring curses. We all have the same opportunities to make the right or wrong choices in life, and our choices always affect someone else either positively, or negatively.  

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday July 8, 2018

THE FLOOD COVERS THE EARTH

Genesis 7 and 8

   It has often been debated by Christians whether or not the flood that is chronicled in the Holy Bible’s book of Genesis (chapters 7-8) was a universal one that actually covered the entire surface of the earth. Some believe that, despite what the bible says, it was a limited flooding that only affected the areas that were inhabited by the human population. However, here in Genesis 7, verse 4, GOD tells a “righteous” Noah that HE will wipe from the earth, all living things that HE had created.

    Noah was 600 years old when the day finally came near for him to board the ark. The LORD told him, to finish preparations for an upcoming year of living on the ark, and to now separate himself and his family from the people of the earth. He was to begin by putting on board two of every kind of animal, one male and one female, of both the “clean” and the “unclean” variety.

    Then, Noah was to select seven male/female pairs of clean animals, which are those animals that have been approved by GOD for eating, and for sacrifice, and seven pairs of every kind of bird, and to load them all onto the ark. GOD said that there must be a male and female in each pair to ensure that every kind of living creature would survive the Flood. And then one week later, after Noah had finished loading the ark, the rains and the flooding began.

    For forty days the floods and rain prevailed, covering the ground and lifting the ark safely, high above the earth, while at one and the same time, devastating all living things and inhabitants that remained on the earth, including the GOD-forsaken giant nephilims who were the offspring of satan’s angels, who had sexually mixed with human women. Unfortunately, the “hybrid spirits” of those deceased nephilim became the “spiritual demons” that JESUS dealt with during HIS ministry here on earth, and, we still have to contend with today in our lives.

    We see again, in verses 21-23, of this passage of Scripture, GOD tells us that “All living things on earth died…. And that, “Everything died that breathed and lived on dry land. Everything on earth was wiped out, including the nephilim, humans, animals (both large and small), and, birds. They were all destroyed, and only Noah was left alive, along with those who were with him in the ark” (NLT).

    In addition, in verses 19-20 it is stated that “the waters covered even the highest mountains of the earth, standing more than 22 feet above the highest peaks on earth. And the waters covered the earth for 150 days before it began to recede, as the LORD, in HIS mercy for Noah, sent a steady wind to blow across the earth until all the waters had dissipated completed.

    This account of the Flood makes a powerful theological statement that GOD is the moral, sovereign ruler of the universe, who can and will, whenever HE wants to, exercise HIS power of judgment of sin, even in the form of a worldwide catastrophic event, and there’s  nothing that anyone, or anything can do to stop HIM.

    In Genesis 8, 150 days (approx. 5 months) after the rains and flooding began, the ark carrying Noah and his family and their live cargo came to rest on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey, however, the precise location of the landing remains unknown. After another 2 ½ months, other mountaintops began to appear, which was an obvious sign that the waters were receding.

     Forty days later, Noah opened the windows that he had made around the top of the ark just below the roof, and he released a raven, a strong bird that would continue to fly back and forth until the earth was dry. Then he sent out a dove to search for dry land, but because the waters were still too high, the dove was unable to find dry land anywhere. And so the dove returned to the ark and Noah drew it back inside with his hands (Vs.4-9).

    Seven days later Noah released the dove again, and this time the dove returned with an olive leaf in its beak, something that has now became known as “a symbol of peace and restoration”. It was a sign that GOD had now restored man back into a right relationship of friendship with HIM, and soon they would be able to start afresh, as the sins of the land had now been, quite literally, washed away. A week later Noah released the dove a third time, and this time, the dove never returned (Vs.10-12).

    Finally, after Noah had reached the age of 601 years old, some 10 ½ months after the Flood began, he lifted the cover of the ark back and seen that the waters had gone down considerably, and after another 2 months went by, finally, the earth had dried up. It was then that GOD told Noah to leave the ark, he and his family, and to set the cargo free so that they could perform their roles in the replenishment of the earth.

    And so, 377 days after they boarded the ark, Noah and his family, were now able to, once again, stand on dry land, this time as the recipients of GOD’s great Salvation from a sinful atmosphere and environment. And Noah built an altar to the LORD and used the select animals and birds that had been earmarked for sacrifice, and the LORD was very pleased.

    There at the altar, the LORD made a solemn promise to Noah that HE would never again curse the earth, destroying all livng things, even though HE knew man would quickly return to his sinful state of being, and that their every thought and action would be geared toward evil from the time of their childhood. But nevertheless, as long as HE decides to allow the earth to remain, it will continue to enjoy the seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), and the days, and the nights will return refreshed, at the appointed space in time, in perpetual intervals until GOD says, it is enough again.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

    

   

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website