Category Archives: Maggie’s Blog

From Bad to Worse – Genesis 6

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The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth,
and it grieved him to his heart.

Even though there were glimmers of light in the lineage of mankind, chapter 6 certainly lets us know the direction mankind was headed. It’s as if they could not put any controls on the choices they made. Instead, they built lies upon lies until they no longer knew the truth.

Years ago, I did a study on the emotions of God. I needed to answer for myself if God was just a “force” for good (like in Star Wars) or did he exist as a person, a personality, that was like mankind (or us like him) with emotions.

This chapter nearly broke my heart, as I am sure the condition of mankind was breaking God’s heart: his precious creation who he had created in his own likeness and given dominion over everything else he so lovingly created became so wicked in their choices that they no longer ever thought about having a relationship with him. It hurt so bad that he regretted he created man, and it grieved him to his heart. 

My heart breaks in compassion for God. I know how it hurts when one of my children rebels against me, but none of them have come to this hateful, wicked position. Everything mankind does is outside the will of God, the relationship he desired to have with them. Each generation had an opportunity to draw closer, but instead they challenged their identity with him.

Sometimes I look at the world today and wonder how much more sin God can allow without regretting blessings he has given? 

People worshipping the idols of money, power, even violence with no thought of their fellow human beings, much less a God who created them. People challenging how God created them, male or female, and asking others to join them, as if as a pure mob we could out-vote God Creator. People who think that if we say something often enough, it becomes truth.

Remember, “In the beginning, God…”

No matter what comes after, it does not negate the truth. God was before the beginning, and will be after the end. Whatever choices we make will never change it.

But we have to choose a relationship with him.

Victory over Death – Genesis 5

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This is the book of the generations of Adam.
When God created man,
he made him in the likeness of God.
Male and female he created them,
and he blessed them
and named them Man when they were created.

It’s almost as if God wants to remind us again that before separating choices were made, God really had provided the best. He created mankind in his likeness, with the ability to have relationship with God. He created them male and female, with the ability to relate to and complete each other. And he even blessed them and named then himself. They had all they needed.

And Adam and Eve did what God called them to do, to multiply and have dominion over the earth. 

This chapter details the lineage from Adam through Seth. Remember that Abel is dead, and because of his choices, Cain is separated from his family and included in a different linage. This lineage seems cut and dry until you come to Enoch.

Of Encoh it is written, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” 

Everyone else died. Everyone except Enoch, who made the choice to “walk with God.”

Don’t you wish you could have seen their relationship, heard their conversations, seen Enoch turn away from bad choices?

And this is the first time we get a glimpse that “walking with God” means victory over death!

The curse for sin on mankind is death. But God, in his grace, is larger than his curse. He sees into the soul of a man. And God has power over death.

Does it remind you of Jesus? Resurrection from the dead. Could this be the first hint of the redemption to come?

But as we head into Chapter 6, we see a very contrasting story… 

What Separation Looks Like – Genesis 4

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We catch the beginning of what broken relationship with God looks like at the end of Genesis 3, especially as we visualize Adam and Eve outside of the garden, angels protecting them from entering. And even though we see God lovingly provide them clothing by the blood of skins, we have a sense that nothing will be the same again. 

Chapter 4 reminds us that the sin was not just the sin of one person or one generation, but now would be a characteristic of all mankind.

We’re told the story of Cain and Abel, reinforcing the ramifications of our choices. We don’t know if Abel knew how to chose rightly with his sacrifice, but we do know that Cain knew his choice did not please God, and he chose to rebel not against God himself, but at someone who had a relationship with God.

Just like his father, Cain had a relationship with God where they talked. God even communicated concern for him and his emotions. God even warned him against making a choice to sin and encouraged him to “rule over” his feelings, just as God warns us today through our conscious.

But Cain did not listen and gave into the sin, just like his father. 

And just like his father, he didn’t repent but made God look for him, look for a relationship with him.  Just like his father, he shirked his responsibility for the sin, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” I can’t imagine God’s restraint at that moment! Of course he was his brother’s keeper — we were created to be “helpers” of each other, completing each other, working together with God in relationship!

God’s response to Cain shifts from “Where are you?” to “What have you done?” And Cain knew what he had done. 

Separation has new meaning. Sin has new consequences.

Not only would mankind have weeds and pain, but there is a special curse from the ground for Cain. The fields would fail him. He would be a fugitive and wanderer, without a home, without relationships.

For the first time, we hear repentance. “My punishment is greater than I can bear.” What Cain could not bear was the thought that, “from your face I shall be hidden.” What brought repentance was the fear that he would no longer have relationship with God.

What did God do? He put a mark on Cain so that no person would harm him. 

But also says that “Cain went away from the presence of the Lord.” I wonder if this was continued independence on his part or if God mandated it. But we do know that there was another degree of separation between man and God as a result of Cain’s choices. 

Again, I can’t help but wonder what the world would have been like if Cain had acted differently. When God warned him about the “sin crouching,” what if he had turned to God and said, “Oh no! Help me in my anger and unbelief!” What if he didn’t make the choice to kill Abel? What if he had run to God even after killing Abel, confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness? What if he had made different choices?

What if we make different choices? How does that change our life? How does it effect the lives of others, as well as our relationship to God?

Where Are You? Genesis 3

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Then the whole picture of perfection dissolves with one statement:

“Where are you?”

God created mankind like himself, in his own image, so there could be relationship, so there could be trusted dominion.

But God also left a door open to mankind. The birds, plants, animals, all followed God’s ways because of how they were created, without spirituality, without relationship that includes choice. But to mankind, he left open the door to choose to relate to him, to respond in gratitude and love, to be able to work on “dominion” together.

I have no idea of how much time passed between Adam’s creation and this choice. It must have been wonderful, God and man in perfect relationship. We get a little picture of just watching them name animals together. I imagine God bringing creatures before Adam, and Adam responding to each one in awe and admiration for what God had done. The vibrant colors, the intricate designs, the amazing ways of responding to heat and cold – they all must have amazed Adam and Eve.

And think about them in the garden, having dominion over them. Again, I don’t know completely what this means, but I would imagine the scene would have been more merry than Disney’s Goldilocks in the forest, playing with the creatures!

Then enters slithering doubt enters and everything grows dim.

I wonder if things would have been different if Adam had not tried to cover his sin with words or skins? What if he had run to find God, to confess his doubts, failings, and now new power? What if he had fallen on his knees, would have God extended forgiveness, grace and mercy in that moment?

We’ll never know, because it didn’t happen that way. No only did Adam sin, but he did not repent and ask forgiveness, blaming others who blamed others.

God, as he is all knowing, knew this was happen, but I can’t help but think it crushed his heart. He wanted Plan A to work and loved every minute that it did. But he also knew that eventually, he would need Plan B.

The rest of the Bible is Plan B, less than God’s perfection in relationship to man in his own image, and the road back to his perfection in relationship.

And he’s still calling us into relationship, “Where are you?”

How do we answer?

Helpers – Genesis 2

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Then the Lord God said,
“It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him a helper…

The story continues to unfold – out of a beginning, out of a God, out of a creation, out of a unique being created in God’s image.

This spiritual state in which God created mankind made him relational.

God is relational. Remember Genesis 1 – “Let us make man in our own image?” God is an “us” and “our.” It’s hard to wrap our heads around “us”, especially at this beginning point without the rest of scripture, but there are parts of God who uniquely relate to each other. They are one, but separate, and they fulfill each other.

In the same way, man/Adam desired something that was equal to him, who had a spiritual side, who could be one with him, relating to him, completing him. In all of creation, there was nothing like him. Only God, by creating from a part of Adam something that was “flesh of his flesh” and yet uniquely different (for completeness), was able to finish his creation of mankind “in his image.”

We are created for relationship, and just like Satan attacks the other foundational premises, he attacks relationships. He tears us apart and reinforces the thought that we would be better off as an island, alone. But even if as an individual we could be better off, mankind as a whole would not.

We were created to be “helpers” to each other.

How can I do that today?

Mankind – Genesis 1

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Then God said,
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
And let them have dominion…”

Creation has so many twists and turns, and there is a part of me that would like to inspect each nuance, but we would be here for eternity! In fact, I bet that part of what we will be fascinated with…for all eternity. 

But if I’m just hitting some high points, it’s got to be the creation of mankind. After all, the Bible is the story of God’s relationship with mankind. So we have to look at mankind’s beginning…

“Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.”

Much has been written about what this means, but with my limited intelligence, it seems simple to me. Mankind has a sense of God, of spirituality, that none of the rest of creation conceives. Mankind asks the questions, “Is that all there is?” and “Is there more beyond me?”

They long for a connection with their creator.

Some have argued that we don’t know if animals or plants want connection with God. They have a dependency on what God provides, but they don’t seem to be looking for relationship, unless we project our own emotions onto them.

And because man has spirituality within him, God gave him purpose, to have dominion over all the earth God just created. Now, we might debate if this was a good or bad decision but remember this was before sin. I’m sure God, creating man in his own image, had hoped that he would have continued in his image, with holy, responsible dominion over the earth.

God created mankind with a purpose, with a power, that the rest of the earth does not have…

Which is still true today.

In The Beginning – Genesis 1

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In the beginning
God
Created
The heavens and the earth.

So simple, yet so profound…

We have a beginning point, from which all things radiate. We don’t know exactly when it is, although scientistic have been trying to pinpoint it for centuries. In some form, the earth may have existed before this “beginning,” with this “beginning” being the part of creation that relates to mankind, who the Bible is written to. But there is a beginning point.

But before that beginning point, there is a God who existed. Before there was heaven and earth, there was God. Just as scientists have tried to pinpoint the beginning, they have tried to pinpoint who or what God is. And just like the nebulous “beginning,” they can’t seem to embrace who or what God is. Mankind just has an innate sense that something exists beyond their own knowledge and powers and is fascinated with trying to define (or dismiss) it.

This God, created. Things did not come into being randomly, without plan or design. They came with a designer. And with that design came systems of multiplication for a future.

Isn’t it interesting how the world pushes back on this “beginning,” this “God” who existed before the beginning, this “designer” of the present and the future? They even push back on maleness and femaleness saying we can choose what sex (or no sex) we want to be. 

It’s as if mankind is trying to take control over things that are so much bigger than them, in rebellion of believing in something so much bigger than them.

Wouldn’t it be easier to “cease striving?” Wouldn’t it be easier to just relax in the idea that there was a beginning, there is a God, this God creates?

I know some may think I’m unscientific or naïve, but I choose to rest in these simple facts. It answers so much for me, as the story unfolds. 

It gives me peace as I rest in something much bigger than myself.

What’s New?

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It’s hard to leave the old, the comfortable, in search of something new, even if we are excited about the new.

That’s how many of us are feeling about this new year. 2020 was a miserable year, a disruptive year, in so many ways I don’t want to depress myself recounting them!

But we did find a way to be comfortable in the midst, to even find “joy.” Joy came in the form of a kale and lettuce garden, drives in the mountains, spending time with one or two “safe” family and friends. Joy came in making masks, quilting Christmas gifts, doing audio editing for her.BIBLE – a million little things that made me feel I was connecting with the world “out there” with our leaving “here.”

And it was a joy to study Job and Philemon together. It’s hard for me to leave Philemon – like leaving a Covid friend! He’s become dear to my heart, and I will never forget him.

But it looks like we are entering, although slowly, into “new.” With the immunization coming, we can venture out into the world. I imagine there will be will be a return to some of the old, taking some new with us, entering into a world we’re still not sure we can trust. I wonder how much of this last year we will take with us?

So what’s next?

For me, I’m getting a hip replacement (yeah!) this Thursday (so please be in prayer). That will be something new – being able to walk without pain, I trust.

For a study, I was thinking about an overview of Genesis? “In the beginning,” everything was made new. And some people embark on Bible reading programs that begin in Genesis. I’ve been audio editing Genesis, so you can listen to it on her.BIBLE soon. If not, maybe I can cheat and give you little previews of what is to come.

What say ye? Will I see you in the New Year?

Grace – Philemon

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Epaphras, my fellow prison in Christ Jesus, send greetings to you,
and do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

This book begins and ends with grace, and grace is throughout the middle.

Remember, the greeting was, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And now we end with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

And the middle was the request for Philemon to extend grace, unmerited favor, to Onesimus, just as Jesus had extended grace to Philemon, and Paul extended grace as he discipled Philemon.

Grace is everywhere!

Sometimes I wonder how we get caught up in our uptight little worlds. We lack grace, unmerited favor, towards others. And we often lack it for even ourselves, instead of grace going before us, with us, and flowing through us.

So I guess I want to leave this study acknowledging that we are not alone. Others are with us in the journey, just as we have been together through this journey. 

And we are surrounded by grace. God’s grace. Grace to forgive others. Grace to believe better days are coming. Grace to give to ourselves and others.

God’s grace. 

Freedom – Philemon

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Confident of your obedience, I write to you,
Knowing that you will do even more than I say.
At the same time, prepare a guest room for me,
For I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Remember how we talked about how Philemon could “refresh” Paul’s faith? 

It was because Paul believed he already knew what Philemon would do. He had so much confidence that once Philemon wrapped his head around hearing what Paul was asking, he would do over and beyond.

Over and beyond.

I think of things God asked of me that I could barely squeak out. But Paul had the confidence that Philemon would do over and beyond.

And refreshed with what he believed Philemon’s faith would equip him to do, he began to believe boldly for himself — that soon he would be out of prison and enjoying the beautiful guest room he had seen in Philemon’s house when he was there for prayer meeting! 

Paul was able to believe that just as Onesimus would be freed, he would be freed.

And freedom would come through prayers, Philemon’s prayers. Paul knew Philemon’s choices would draw them together in fellowship as they followed the Lord. And Paul saw it as them being reunited.

By setting others free, we are set free.

Tonight, I prayed with two dear friends. Our hearts have been heavy. We haven’t been able to sleep, and we’ve all taken our turns with anxiety. But through prayer, we were set free. We helped set each other free, and in the process, we were freed.

Freedom – what a glorious feeling!