Day 1 – Genesis 1-3
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.” (Genesis 3:7)
“And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)
Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves first in the best way they knew how, but it was not good enough. God showed them that He always knows a better way. God used garments of skin, and that’s all we know. The Bible doesn’t tell us that God went hunting and skinned animals and then tailored the clothes. This can be seen as the very first “animal sacrifice” as atonement for sin – an actual foreshadowing of the coming Christ.
“Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11)
Sin. Before sin, there was no shame. After they ate from the tree God told them not to eat from, now they know what sin is. And with sin comes all that follows. Sin introduces shame.
LORD in all CAPS ⚠️⚠️⚠️
LORD in all caps in the Bible is God’s personal name. Shows He wants a personal relationship with us. YHWH is the Hebrew word/spelling, sometimes pronounced Yaweh or Jehovah.
Day 2 – Genesis 4-7
Never realized this before and have read this passage a million times. Noah took SEVEN pairs of clean animals and ONE pair of unclean. In my mind, I always thought just “two of each”. The extra pairs were needed for sacrifice immediately after the flood (Genesis 8:20). Logically, they also provided a larger breeding population.
Why wasn’t Cain’s offering of fruit from the ground acceptable to God? (Genesis 4:3-5) 🤔
I found this video and article, and it made sense. It’s hard not to read ahead to Hebrews and Jude to think through the full answer to this question I have, but I’m tryna stay disciplined and learn what I learn when I learn it! 📝Note to self: Cain may not have offered his best crops, may not have given by faith, might have disregarded God’s instructions for sacrifice and tried to slip one by the Lord. We just don’t know. Genesis doesn’t fill in the blanks. But when God rejected his offering, Cain just got mad and didn’t try to repent from whatever rule he broke or sin he committed. I feel like that’s part of it. Cain didn’t try to make things right the Lord.
“Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with man forever, because he is also flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3)
Whatever this verse means, it probably doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit leaves mankind after the flood. He appears in many OT places like the stories of Samson and David.
Of course, I am using NASB, and “remain” is sometimes read “strive” in other Bible translations. So I guess that would mean more like any other relationship – the Spirit isn’t going to stay where He isn’t wanted.
Not sure what the 120 years part is about. ❓ Maybe because of the increasing wickedness of mankind and the increased evil brewing among men, maybe God had enough of their nonsense and decided He had delayed judgment long enough and would bring the flood in 120 years from that point instead of in 900 years or something. The point is – I do not know – but I’m thinking about it. 🤔
Is there any archaeological evidence that the land of Nod existed?
No. No archeological evidence of its existence. Some scholars think “Nod” may be a symbolic description meaning “wandering” rather than the name of a real place.
Is the mark of Cain related in any way to the “mark of the beast”, perhaps as an opposite or some sort of foreshadowing?
Probably not. That’s just me trying to find something nobody else has found in the Bible…. Both are “marks”, but they seem to serve opposite purposes. God gave Cain’s mark as an act of mercy and protection despite his egregious sin. The mark of the beast identifies allegiance to evil and results in judgment.
Nephilim, and that is all. All the Bible says is “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days….” (Genesis 6:4). Stop watching YouTubes▶️ from flat earthers in the middle of the night! They are not living underground in Antarctica! The Bible says Noah’s family were the only people who survived the Flood. And as far as I know, Noah was not a Nephilim…. The Hebrew word probably comes from a root meaning “fallen ones”, but scholars do not all agree on that.
In Genesis 6:6, it says God was was grieved. If God knew mankind would become evil, why would He be grieved?
Because, Jenny. It does not say that God was surprised. It says He was grieved. Like a parent who knows his or her child is making bad decisions, when the consequences arrive, the parent still grieves. Knowing something is coming doesn’t make it hurt less.
Genesis 6:9 calls Noah “blameless”. How can he be blameless so soon after Adam and Eve got voted out of the Garden? Aren’t we all sinful?
Again, Jenny. You think you know what WORDS mean! (I thought I knew what “meek” meant until I studied up on it. See Still Waters: Harnessed.) “Blameless” is not the same thing as “sinless”. Noah got drunk. We know this. Now that I’ve looked up what it actually means, to me, blameless looks like conviction, repentance, and faithfulness among other righteous things. Always making an effort to obey God, even though we are imperfect. If you tip over the apple cart, then pick up the apples, wipe them off, and try to set the cart back upright… that’s blameless. The only sinless man is Jesus.
Is God’s covenant with Noah the first covenant in Scripture? (Genesis 6:18)
It is the first time the word “covenant” appears, but lots of theologians (I can’t name any, but I’ll look that up, too…. later) believe God had an earlier covenant with Adam and call it the “Covenant of Works”. I’ll look into that when I have time. I was thinking of tracking the covenants, so that’s why I’m making that note here.
Why preserve unclean animals at all?
Well, duh. Because the Flood was about ridding the world of human wickedness, not unclean animals.
Unclean does not mean wicked. Words! Words and meanings!
Interesting to me that Noah already knew the difference between clean and unclean animals long before God formally gave those laws to Israel in Leviticus.
Is there any symbolism between the floodwaters and Jesus as the Living Water? 🤔
No. That’s me making stuff up again. But I thought it. So I wanted to ask it. And when I asked it, the internet told me “Nope”.
Day 3 – Genesis 8-11
Does archeological evidence of the ark exist?
No, not officially. There is some excitement (and lots of YouTubes and documentaries elsewhere that make claims), but nothing definitive has been found. The Durupinar Site in eastern Turkey is where the boat-shaped formation is that everybody talks about, but most geologists believe it’s a natural rock formation. Genesis says the Ark rested on the “mountains of Ararat”, which is a reference to a region rather than necessarily today’s Mount Ararat.
Since the raven was an unclean animal, I personally think it was a huge gamble to send it out first – like putting $1M on “red” at the roulette table in Vegas. 👀 If the raven died, then…. no ravens forever – and that means Joe Flacco never got the no-call “delay of game” in the playoffs against the Titans on January 10, 2009 (I was there! 👀) that allowed the kicker to win the game with a field goal. (Yes, I’m bitter.)⚔️🛡️ 🏈 I can’t figure why Noah sent the raven first when he had SEVEN pairs of doves and could afford to lose one.
The dove coming back with the olive leaf 🕊️was evidence that the earth was alive again and that vegetation was returning. It was basically a doorbell to the earth. Noah rang the doorbell, and the Lord said, “Come on in!”
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” (Genesis 9:6)
Legitimate case for the death penalty. First Biblical support for capital punishment. First time God delegates justice to humanity. Before the Flood, God dealt directly with Cain. After, He tells mankind to uphold justice.
The Rainbow Covenant. 🌈 – God will never destroy the earth with a flood again. Take that Greta Thunberg! And thank you … but I will be taking my rainbow symbol back now.
NOAH’s SONS:
Shem – Israel, Abraham, eventually Jesus
Ham – Canannites, Egyptians, Cushites, Philistines, etc.
Japheth – Many peoples to the north and west of Israel, often associated with Europe
We all descend from Noah’s sons. What up, cuz!?
Ham dishonored Noah. We’re not going down this rabbit hole. 🐰 ‼️That’s for a later time. But Noah curses Canaan (Ham’s son) and his descendants, not the land. The people, not the dirt. Interesting, too, that it is Noah who curses, not God.
First mention of Gaza (Genesis 10:19).
Occupied by Canaanites, descendants of Canaan, whom Noah cursed, long before God promised the same land to Abraham and his descendants. Not going down this rabbit hole 🐰 either. I love dogs, I dog-sit, and I have three of my own dogs, but I ain’t got a single dog in this fight….‼️‼️‼️🐶🐶🐶
Tower of Babel – people wanted to make a name for themselves, but God said, “Nahh.” Prime example of human pride.
Lots of genealogy that might be of interest to biblical archeologists. Maybe they find a stele with “Joktan” etched in it, then refer back to Genesis and say, “Oh look! Maybe!!” and trace it from there. That’s not me. For me and my purposes, this is where Abram enters the chat.
Many of Israel’s future enemies trace their lineage back to Ham (who dishonored Noah), especially through his son Canaan. This does not mean “every single descendant of Ham is an enemy”. Many, not all. It’s like every square is a rhombus, but not every rhombus is a square.
Day 4 – Job 1-5
Job 1:6 – first reference in the Bible to “Satan” specifically. Genesis 3 says “the serpent”, but not “Satan”.
🔗Genesis 6:2: “sons of God” interacting with humans
🔗Job 1:6: “sons of God” presenting themselves before the Lord in Heaven. This is also the first place where both “sons of God” and “Satan” appear together in the Bible.
Debatable whether the “sons of God” references in each place are the same group, but I think “probably yes”. Because God asks Satan where he’s been in Job, and Satan says he’s been roaming the earth. We know the “sons of God” were roaming the earth in Genesis having relations with human women. That’s my logic, but friendly reminder: I am not a theologian or a teacher. I am the student thinking out loud.
THE LORD GIVETH, AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. (Job 1:21) 🔥🔥🔥
Be grateful for it all. Thank the Lord for the corrections and the attention. Bless His name, love Him, and keep praying and talking to Him even when devastating things happen to you. “Behold, happy is the person whom God disciplines, so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17)
Ashes – Job sitting among the destruction and lamenting his loss; in the OT, sitting in ashes was a visible expression of deep sorrow; but I also wondered if ashes would help Job’s boil situation. 🤔 Ashes are dry and could help absorb moisture from his weeping sores. Just a thought. Not a definitive. I’m not a doctor, and I don’t even play one on TV, but I have had boils and used salt for this purpose.
Remember – through all this, Job never curses God. He toes that line, in my opinion. He curses his BIRTHDAY, and wishes he had never been born. But Satan thought he would cross the line and curse God, but he was wrong.
Job needs new friends. 😂 This foo basically says, “Good things happen to good people. These are not good things; therefore, you must not be good. If P, then Q – you are BAD. What are you hiding?” For seven days, his friends sat with Job in silence, but when they opened their mouths, it was all downhill from there. 📝📝NOTE to SELF! SHUT IT!📝📝
Day 5 – Job 6-9
Couple of dingers in today’s reading. Chalking these up on my Memorization Board.
“For the despairing man, there should be kindness from his friend; so that he does not abandon the fear of the Almighty.”
(Job 6:14)
“Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have done wrong.” (Job 6:24)
“fear of the LORD” ❓ – doesn’t mean to be terrified of Him. Means reverence, awe, respect and recognition of His absolute authority.
❌ God isn’t hiding behind a cloud with a lightning bolt in one hand and a city bus in the other waiting for us to mess up. We don’t have to step so lightly that we fear every misstep.
✅ God is magnificent and awesome. “Fear” of Him means recognizing He is the Holy King of the universe….and acting like it.
Wait …. what? They called it “Orion” and “The Bear” 4,000 years ago, too? (Job 9:9) I thought this was 16th century nomenclature… 🤯
Confirmed – the Hebrew words used here mean “The Bear”, “Orion” and “Pleiades”. I have been giving Copernicus entirely too much credit all this time. Sit down, Nic.
Wadi – Arabic word for riverbed or streambed. (Job 6:15) Not something we would normally hear here in the United States. Plus, “Cry Me a Wadi” and “Take Me to the Wadi” don’t have that same zing.
“Why have You made me Your target?” (Job 7:20)
What WE know: Satan is doing the afflicting; God has permitted it.
What JOB knows: Not that. He has no information about why these things are happening to him. He thinks he must have angered God somehow.
Second friend seems more hopeful and helpful than the first guy so far. I’d keep him. 😄
From Tara-Leigh Cobble’s TBR Day 5 video▶️: (paraphrased) “Sometimes our hard times are really not the result of our own sin. Sometimes they’re simply the result of living in a fallen world.” I thought this was worth remembering when bad things happen to us and we ask “why”. This might sometimes be the only real answer.
Day 6 – Job 10-13
We never learn Job’s last name in the book of Job, but I have a hundred dollars on him having an unmarried sister named Debbie.
Day 7 – Job 14-16
Today’s reading is not much different from the previous couple of days, but here is where my brain went.
We suffer in this life, period.
Possibilities of why we suffer:
😈Sometimes Satan is attacking us like here in the book of Job. If that’s the case, the hope we have is that God is aware and will limit Satan.
🌎Sometimes we suffer simply because we live in a fallen world. Disease, storms, accidents, etc. all entered the world because of sin’s effects on creation.
🤦Sometimes it’s because of our own stupid choices. Actions have consequences. Too many people link EVERYTHING to this, though, and that’s what I hope our friends and general society gets away from. Stop blaming people for their own suffering every single time. It’s not helpful.
🚗Sometimes we suffer because of other people’s choices. Like, say, a drunk driver.
❤️Sometimes it’s discipline from God.
🔗Sometimes we just perceive suffering. Sometimes it’s God directing us a certain way so we will end up in a better place. Job loss, for example. I lost a job in 2015 that I thought was my forever job-home, and it nearly killed me. But wow, did God have some amazing plans for me! That was God making me leave somewhere because He knew there was something better. I would have never left on my own. Thank you, God!
The thing is, we are not always told the reason for our suffering. God never told Job. The main thing is that there are several possibilities. It’s not always because “you must have done something”. Get away from that guilt and don’t let your friends or family shame you. Whatever the reason for our misery, don’t stray from God. He’s there.