Sermons on Genesis (Page 2)
Are there contradictions between Genesis 1 and 2?
What is the best way to clearly show that no inconsistency exists between the creation stories of Genesis 1:1-2:3 and Genesis 2:4-22?
Why does the ESV say Eve’s desire would be “contrary” to her husband?
In Genesis 3:16, God was talking to the woman, and most translations say that he told her that her desire would be FOR her husband. Why does the ESV state, “Your desire shall be contrary to your husband”?
Can Genesis 9 be used to justify slavery?
During the slave-holding past, pro-slavery proponents used Genesis 9:26-27 to justify slavery by saying that slaves were the descendants of Ham who were cursed to serve. The overall teaching of scripture supports the dignity of all humanity, and we can all agree that slavery is reprehensible, but . . . Noah seems to be at fault for drunkenness and nakedness, so why is Ham in trouble for seeing him? Is the problem one of disrespect because Ham told his brothers?…
Why were different numbers of animals taken onto the ark?
Concerning Genesis 6:19 and Genesis 7:2-3, 9, 14, why are there so many differences in the numbers of animals gathered to be added to the ark?
God’s Beautiful Story: Genesis 1-11
God’s beautiful story Act 1: God establishes his Kingdom: Creation Act 2: Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall Act 3: The King chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated Interlude: A Kingdom Story Waiting for an Ending Act 4: The Coming of the King: Redemption Accomplished Act 5: Spreading the News of the King: The Mission of the Church Act 6: The Return of the King: Redemption Completed Key themes in Genesis 1-11 Yahweh creates by bringing order and beauty out of chaos and…
Walking with Abraham: God’s Test
In so many ways Abraham’s life has always been moving here. It’s been 40+ years since God first appeared to him, making him the promise about a land, a nation, and a blessing. It’s been 15+ years since the promised son Isaac was born, and Abraham and Sarah have certainly been thinking about the future. All of their hopes were bound up in this young man. Or so it seemed. And now this. God asks the unthinkable. A human sacrifice?…
Walking with Abraham: Are You Serious?
It had been almost a quarter of a century since God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Now he’s 99 years old, and (one would think) he’s pretty much given up hope. What 99-year-old man and 89-year-old woman are able to bring a child into the world? But of course God’s timetable is different from ours, and for reasons only he knows he decides now is the time for the long-awaited promised son to…
Walking with Abraham: Faith, Not Sight
Broadly speaking, we look at the world in two ways: by sight and by faith. Looking by sight is viewing the world around us in an unspiritual way–the way most of the world looks at things. So we make decisions based on what makes us most comfortable, what’s the easiest, what will bring the most immediate and greatest pleasures, etc. Looking by faith is looking at the world through a spiritual lens. We look beneath the surface to the true…
The Tree of Life
One of the most amazing things about the Bible is its beautiful unity and cohesiveness . . . It tells one over-arching story about what God is doing in the world. One remarkable symbol of that is the Tree of Life, which is mentioned first in the creation narrative of Genesis 1-2. Then, after the Fall, God casts humanity out of the Garden of Eden and away from the Tree. But it’s interesting that we find subtle references to the Tree…