Genesis 8:1-19

Genesis 8:1-19

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1. Should we be completely fearless?

Yes, we should fear absolutely nothing. Fear is bad.
No, we should have a healthy fear of God. However, by trusting in God, He gives us freedom from our fears in this life.

2. Who was saved from God's punishment?

Noah, his wife, Ham, Shem, Japheth and their wives, and 2 of each animal and bird that God told Noah to take.
Noah, Ham, Shem, Japheth, and 2 of each animal and bird that God told Noah to take.

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Genesis 8:1-19

Paraphrased: God recalled Noah and all the animals in the ark, and he made a wind blow for the waters to subside. The rain stopped by God's command, and the waters began to recede. At the end of 150 days, the waters decreased (about 5 months). The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to decrease until the 10th month; in the tenth month, on day one, the tops of the mountains were showing (2 1/2 more months passed).

***Interjection*** Notice the timeline. Many assume the flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights. The "rain" lasted 40 days and 40 nights, but the "flood" lasted additional 7 1/2 months, plus 47 more days (see next).

40 more days passed and Noah opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven. It went out and about until the waters were dried up. He also sent out a dove, to see if the waters had subsided from the ground. She returned to the ark, as there was no place to set her foot. So he put out his hand and took her back. He waited 7 more days and set him out again. The dove came back in the evening with a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah Knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. He waited another 7 days and sent out the dove, and she didn't return to him anymore.

***Interjection*** Have you ever wondered why a dove was a symbol of peace? Well here you go, the classic understanding of the dove and the olive branch comes from this story of Noah and the ark. Apparently the raven wasn't doing the job, so Noah sent out the dove. The olive branch signified that trees were coming up from the land.

In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters dried up. Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked and the face of the ground was dry. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out. Then God said to Noah, "Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and son's wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh- birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth - that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.

***Interjection*** At God's command all of them went out from the ark. Notice that God told Noah exactly when the rain would start and when to go into the ark, but he never told him when the flood would subside. It became almost 9 months for them in the ark. This must have been a period of growing in faith and trust in God that the land would eventually reappear.

Notice God told Noah when to leave the ark, yet Noah still sent out a raven and a dove out of curiosity. Have you ever done this with God? You trust Him to come through for you, but you just need to peek. I do this all the time. I just want to peek ahead, but God's way is always perfect and on time. A nugget of truth that I take away from this is the need for patience. God is not an app on your phone, like an instant download. When you pray, He works, but not on your time. We live in a world where everything is instant: instant coffee, fast internet, and instant EVERYTHING on your mobile device (you can even start your car from your phone!). The storm took 40 days and 40 nights, but the process for peace took another 8 months! Will you trust Him through the process? This is the most crucial time for your faith. It can either grow or fade and the choice is yours. You will either seek God and find peace as the flood subsides over time, or you will slowly take your eyes from God and find pain and turmoil, as only He can satisfy whether you are in a time of peace or in the time of a storm. I choose God in every time.

Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books likely written by Solomon, the wisest and richest man who every lived. I'd like to end with his understanding of seasons:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Next week: We will study Genesis 9. God will make a covenant with Noah and we will see what the real reason that God gives us a beautiful rainbow. Sometimes he sends two a the same time :)

I will answer on the next lesson.

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My pastor at Commissioned Church will be my accountability.

Please come check us out if you live in the northern VA/DC area. We are meeting at Newington Forest Elementary School and service starts at 11am.

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Genesis 7:11-24

11/16/2015

Genesis 7:11-24

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1. When did Noah and his family and all the animals go into the ark?

2. Jesus is the only way to get to God and to be free from sin and death.

True
False

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Genesis 7:11-24

Paraphrased - When Noah was more than 600 years old, the rain waters came down heavily. It rained for 40 days and nights. Noah, his wife, three sons (Ham, Shem, and Japheth) and their wives entered the ark. 2 of each beast, livestock, creeping thing, bird, winged creature, male and female, each went into the ark as God commanded. And the Lord shut them in.

17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubitsd]" style="box-sizing:border-box; font-size:0.625em; line-height:22px; position:relative; top:0px; vertical-align:top">[d] deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

Wow! If these passages don't give you reverence (meaning great fear) for God, then I'm not sure what will.
Remember what Matthew Henry said about Christ being like the ark. Anyone outside the ark was subject to God's judgement. It was unescapable. It will be the same for anyone outside of Christ.

There is so much fear in our day. But the problem is not fear itself, it's the object of our fears. We live in a day where people fear everything BUT God. Reverence for God has been lost, and an abundance of sin has grown. We can see from the flood that God could wipe us from the face of the earth in an instant. Yet the devil has so deceived many to fear everything else but God.

Top 10 Human Fears
10. Losing your freedom
9. The unknown
8. Pain
7. Disappointment
6. Misery
5. Loneliness
4. Ridicule
3. Rejection
2. Death
1. Failure

The interesting thing about all of these fears is that the outcome is temporary. Without Christ, the outcome is permanent. God's judgement for sin is permanent. Without God's grace through Christ's sacrifice, none of the above will matter for all of eternity.

And with Christ, all of the above is expelled. Fear no longer has control over us.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:17

“But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Next week: We will study Genesis 8. We will watch the flood waters subside and see how Noah tests to see if it's safe for them all to leave the ark.

I will answer on the next lesson.

Miss a Lesson? - Click here

My pastor at Commissioned Church will be my accountability.

Please come check us out if you live in the northern VA/DC area. We are meeting at Newington Forest Elementary School and service starts at 11am.

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Genesis 7:1-10

11/3/2015

Genesis 7:1-10

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1. What was the size comparison of Noah's Ark to the Titanic?

2. What type of wood did Noah use to build the ark?

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Genesis 7:1-10

7 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals,a]" style="box-sizing:border-box; font-size:0.625em; line-height:22px; position:relative; top:0px; vertical-align:top">[a] the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairsb]" style="box-sizing:border-box; font-size:0.625em; line-height:22px; position:relative; top:0px; vertical-align:top">[b] of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thingc]" style="box-sizing:border-box; font-size:0.625em; line-height:22px; position:relative; top:0px; vertical-align:top">[c] that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

***Interjection**** God told Noah to gather the animals and his family and to go into the ark 7 days before he would send the flood. Why do you think He told them to go into the ark an entire week before the flood? Theologians suggest this as a grace period. A period where the people were given another chance to repent. However, this did not happen. See Luke 17:27 - People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Does this sound familiar? It sounds a lot like the second coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 says For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
This is referring to OUR day. The second coming of Christ has not happened yet, so be sure that you are ready. You are ready if, "you have repented of your sins and asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life." Remember, God is the one who provides the way to Him. You just have to receive the gift. There's nothing that "you" can do to make yourself holy. Take His gift of eternal life and say thank you.

We see throughout Scripture that the grace of God is always available. God always makes a way to Him, but man does not always choose God.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

I really like Matthew Henry's commentary:
"Christ is an ark, in whom alone we can be safe, when death and judgment approach. The word says, Come; ministers say, Come; the Spirit says, Come, come into the Ark. Noah was accounted righteous, not for his own righteousness, but as an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, Heb 11:7"

God's grace is available to you and me. We have to receive it and walk in it. Just by praying and giving thanks to God for all the little things in our life, will pour joy into our life regardless of what we are going through.

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for who you are and for always providing a way for us, despite our short comings. I pray that you will continue to work through me and my family. I also pray for everyone doing this study, that our faith will grow together. Because we know through Scripture that faith is what pleases you.
In Your Name we pray.

Next week: We will study Genesis 7:11-24. We will see the details of God's judgement on the earth with 40 days and nights of rain.

The water will prevail upon the earth 150 days.

Miss a Lesson? - Click here

My pastor at Commissioned Church will be my accountability.

Please come check us out if you live in the northern VA/DC area. We are meeting at Newington Forest Elementary School and service starts at 11am.

Two questions that were submitted to me:

1. I have read/heard that Nephilim were angels?
The Nephilim (נָפִיל (nĕphiyl)) were the offspring of the sons of God and daughters of men. If the sons of God were angels, they were fallen angels. Therefore they would have been demons.
The Hebrew Lexicon says:
It means excellent, nobel, skillful. Giant. Rebels, apostates, fallers. - the etymology of this word is still uncertain

2. Why would God be "sorry" he made man if he's omniscient and He knew exactly what we would be doing when we got here???

Well this is why God is the one who provides our way for salvation. He knows and knew that we are not capable of choosing good. You will find God's favor in faith in Him alone. Noah found favor because He trusted God. The others had become so evil and corrupt, the Lord was sorry He made man. Remember that we are made in the image of God. Think about Jesus on the earth. Did He feel emotion? Yes! Remember when Lazarus, his best friend died? Even though Jesus knew that He would bring him back to life, He wept. It's the shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35). Jesus literally shed tears of grief.
Yes God knew that man would become corrupt, but He also knew that Noah would continue in faith. Some of this is hard for our little minds to completely understand, especially God's omniscience.

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Genesis 6:9-22

11/1/2015

Genesis 6

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1. What were the two ideas of the meaning of sons of God?

2. Who found favor with God?

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Genesis 6:9-22

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

****Interjection****
Later we will see how God declares one blameless in His sight. It is by faith and trust in Him.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

***Interjection***
God is going to tell Noah exactly how and with what material to make the ark to survive the flood. Gopher wood is sometimes translated, Cypress. However, it is likely that it is not cypress, as gopher wood is possibly extinct in our day. Pitch is a term that means, something like what we know as asphalt.

15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits,c]" style="box-sizing:border-box; font-size:0.625em; line-height:22px; position:relative; top:0px; vertical-align:top">[c] its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roofd]" style="box-sizing:border-box; font-size:0.625em; line-height:22px; position:relative; top:0px; vertical-align:top">[d] for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.

****Interjection****
Cubit is a measurement of roughly 18 inches by measuring of the forearm. It is a unit of measurement in ancient times.

You can actually purchase the "to scale" model for $750! Or get the large model for $1,900! It is much longer than I imagined.

The Titanic was twice as large as Noah's Ark!

17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

****Interjection**** Later in chapter 9 we will see the details of the covenant God made with Noah and every living creature after. We see that Noah was to save a male and female of every creature (wild animals too). No wonder the ark had to be so big! The titanic could sustain life for 3,547 people, and it was about double the size of the ark. The ark had to fit and sustain life for 8 people, and 2 of every type of creature, and all of their food for a year.

When God tells you to do something, you do it. You will not be disappointed if you obey Him. I haven't shared this publicly:
My husband and I put a deposit on a house and signed an agreement. We were going to build this townhouse in Gainesville, Virginia to be completed in February. A couple of months later, the Lord kept speaking to Matt to leave the contract and lose the deposit. So Matt prayed that the loan process would be denied. God told Matt, "I want you to obey me; I'm not going to do it for you." So the loan was approved, and Matt came to me with it. I supported him 100%! He told the builders and we lost a big chunk of money. About 2 months went by and God literally dropped a house from His hand that has everything we need and want and it's close to our friends and church. We didn't think it was possible to get a house closer in at the price we could afford. And we were right.... humanly speaking. But when we walked forward and did what God told us to do in obedience to Him, then He does the rest, the impossible.

Next week: We will study Genesis 6. We will see how man has become so corrupt that God will flood the earth. Stay tuned!