“Enoch” Genesis 5

Genesis 5 covers a lot of time and, we suppose, a lot of events.  Who knows what kinds of drama and conflict, joys and heartaches played out over those centuries?  However, in all of that time, only one thing was interesting enough to record in scripture.  A certain man named Enoch had a close relationship with God.  Throughout his [...]

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“The Sacrifice of the Heart” Psalm 51:16-17; Mark 12:28-34

God cares about our hearts.  He is jealous for our hearts to desire him, because that is what will, in the end, truly satisfy our souls.
David writes that the sacrifice that God accepts is “a broken and contrite heart.”  God delights when our hearts recognize their need for him.
Jesus says that the most important commandment [...]

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“Lip Worship vs. Heart Worship” Isaiah 29:13-24

Cain is the ancestor of all those of whom God says, “they honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”  Cain went through the motions, but his heart was not right before God.  No form of worship means anything to God if it is isn’t offered with a heart that longs for God, thanks [...]

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“Two Family lines” Genesis 4:17-26

Cain now sets out on his life of separation from people and God.  The first thing we read is that he starts a family of his own.  By today’s standard, Cain’s line may seem rather successful.  Cain himself becomes a city builder and his offspring include many talents and skills including animal husbandry, metalwork, and [...]

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“My Brother’s Keeper” Genesis 4:8-16

Cain just can’t say No to the desire to take out his anger on his brother.  His desire leads unchecked to the act of murder.  Then he, like his parents, tries to cover his guilt by avoiding a straight answer to God’s simple question.  He can’t even keep his tongue from shooting back a sarcastic [...]

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“Acceptable and Unacceptable Offering” Genesis 4:1-7

This short passage has always bothered me, ever since Sunday School days. The question that came to my mind was always, “What was it that God didn’t like about Cain and his sacrifice?”
Had God specifically told them to sacrifice an animal? There is little evidence of that in the text. Later Scripture [...]

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“Covered & Cleansed” Psalm 85

“You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins,” writes the Psalmist.  This is good news
Even better news is what we read in Hebrews 10:22, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having [...]

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“Blessed Covering” Psalm 32

 Psalm 32:1  How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
The young couple knew the shame of their sin.  As best as they could they fashioned a covering for their shame out of leaves.  But, in his grace, God provided an appropriate covering out of skins.  As they entered the world, being [...]

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“Approaching God” Leviticus 16

God forcibly banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, placing a sword-wielding angel at the entrance. Because of sin, man was sent away from the presence of God.
Getting back into God’s presence was no small event. Did you read Leviticus 16?
God starts off by having Moses tell Aaron not to be [...]

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“grace in punishment” Genesis 3:20-24

God is just and loves justice.  For him not to punish sin would violate his character.   That is why he banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden.  This also explains why Jesus suffered and died.  God had to punish our sin.  God could not declare us innocent without satisfying his justice; therefore someone had to be punished.  Jesus [...]

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