Shamed by a pagan king

Genesis 20:1-18
Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kedesh and Shur. For he afraid people do not fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife, so he said his wife, Sarah, is his sister, he is her brother.
King Abimelech sent for Sarah and took her.But God said to Abimelech in the dream, so Abimelech was afraid and returned Sarah to Abraham and gave Abraham a thousand shekels of silver to cover the offense against her before all who are with her.
Why?
During the fear, people is easy fall and do folly things. Even Abraham did it twice!
Many take this story as a duplicate of 12:10-20, though Abraham would not be the first to repeat a sin in testing circumstances. Nor is he the only person to have been put to shame twice before those with 'no fear of God' to guide their actions.
Abimelech comes out of this more honourable than the man of faith.
Once again we are held in suspense(懸念). will God allow Abraham's folly to wreck(destroy) his plan at the eleventh hour?
God's protection is always with Abraham, for God's plan is put on him.
How?
Do the right thing and trust in the Lord, don't be shamed by pagan. Honor name of the Lord!

Wicked will be justified with clear evidence

Genesis 19:1-38
Lot kindly treated the foreigner, travelers who were the angels, so angels may save Lot and his family life.
Sodom and Gomorrah had great sexual sin against the Lord.
Lot's sons-in-law, who heard the warning from Lot, but they thought he was joking.
Lot hesitated hurry to get out of the city, so the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughter and let them safely out of the city for the Lord was merciful to them.
'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them'. Every man in the city is implicated in this terrible intended gang-rape - not one supports Lot's protest against the infringement of the most sacred laws of hospitality, not to say humanity.
What happened? The catastrophe災難 was probably an earthquake and explosion of gases in this volatile揮發物 section of the Great Rift Valley. God's judgment takes the form of a 'nature' disaster, yet for Lot's sake God spares Zoar. 'I won't destroy that town. Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you get there'. Even so, Lot's wife drags behind, stopping to look, and dies - becoming a 'pillar of salt' not by magic but by being engulfed吞沒 in the suffocating令人窒息 rain of debris廢墟.
Moab and Ammon: Close kin to Israel, these two tribes occupying land to the east of the Jordan and Dead Sea worshipped other gods and were frequently denounced by the prophets.
Why?
God had clear evidence that the outcry against Sodom was justified.
Despite their sordid污穢 beginnings, alienation異化 was not inevitable必然, as the story of Ruth makes gloriously clear.
How?
God is merciful to everyone who has conscience and destroy all the wicked with clear evidence.

Keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just

Genesis 18:16-33
God does not hide from Abraham what he is about to do. For he has chosen him, so he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.
The Lord said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that has reached me."
Abraham argued with the Lord do not destroy those cities from if there were 50, 45, 40, 30, 20 to10 righteous men in it. The Lord answered him, "I will spare the whole place for their sake."
Why?
Abraham's prayer gives an insight into the quality of his relationship with God. No wonder 2 Chronicles 20:7 describes him as 'God's friend'.
God must know for himself the truth about Sodom and Gomorrah: hearsay will no do.
Abraham leaps(飛躍) to the conclusion that judgment is inevitable(必然), yet he knows it is against God's nature to condemn the innocent. He feels his way forward, not changing God's mind, but growing ever more certain that 'the judge of all the earth' will 'do what is just'. In the event, though Sodom could not produce even ten 'innocent' people, God saved four - Lot, his wife and two daughters.
How?
Keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.

Be generosity and share with others

Genesis 18:1-15
Abraham served three men standing nearby with food and drink. Now that you have come to your servant, let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way.
Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.
Abram welcomed a stranger and, all unknowingly, took the Lord himself into his home.
Why?
The lavish welcome and provision (despite the inconvenience of the visitors' arrival during the midday siesta) are typical of hospitality amongst nomadic游牧 desert people even today. The 'morsel一口 of bread' offered to the guests turns out to be a meal of fresh cakes, curds凝乳 and milk, and the best veal小牛肉.
The words 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' reveal the visitor's true identity, and Sarah's incredulous laughter changes to fear.
Generosity is one of good behavior to every Christian.
How?
Is anything too hard for the Lord? Be generosity, give to and share with others.

Nothing is impossible to the Lord

Genesis 17:15-26
God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him."
Twenty-four ears after the departure from Harran the birth of Sarah's son Issac is announced.
Circumcision was no new rite. In the nations around it marked admission to adult status in the tribe. Distinctively for Israel it was the outward sign - fro birth 0 of a special relationship with God; not simply a mark of ownership, but a token of the reality of all God's promises expressed in the repeated 'I shalls' of these verses. Circumcision also signified obedience to God on the part of his people.
Why?
God made impossible matter to possible, even Abraham was 99 years old. God has his time and his schedule. His word never fail.
Issac will success the covenant between God and Abraham, not Ishmael. God's promise is upon Issac.
How?
Nothing is impossible to the Lord, trust in Him. My God is the mighty God who created these world and gave us life and peace.

Everlasting covenant between God and us

Genesis 17:9-14
God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants.
The sign of the covenant between God and Abraham
Every male in his house must be circumcised, including those born in his household or bought with money from foreigner.
The covenant in their flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
The physical sign of circumcision gathers not only Abraham but also Ishmael and the whole multi-racial household into the covenant.
Why?
God made a physical sign as covenant between God and Abraham, his descendants.
Covenant be kept needs shed blood. Jesus Christ shed for us and made a new covenant between God and us.
How?
Our sign of Salvation is the Cross of Jesus and his blood.

Meaning of my name

Genesis 17:1-8
When Abram was 99 years old, God appeared to him said to him "I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and you will be the father of many nations. Your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."
When Ishmael was 13 years old. God appeared to Abram and told him he will have his own child.
God will change his name whom who chosen. For the name means His purpose of plan.
God confirms the covenant once again, giving new names to Abram and Sarai.
Why?
Most ancient peoples, including the Hebrews, attached great significance to the names of people and places. People names often said something about their origins, or expressed a prayer.
The change of name here indicates a new beginning. So Abram ('exalted father') is changed to Abraham ('father of many') .And Sarai becomes Sarah.
How?
My name means a light shinning to far places with heat and bright light, it is the light of life in this world. May my life could be one of God's light to the darkness.Let people in darkness sees the hope of the Lord.

Ishmale will live in hostility toward all his brothers

Genesis 16:7-16
Ishmael: means God hears. For the Lord had heard of your misery.
Hagar gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her."You are the God who sees me."
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. Ishmael means flesh.
The angel of the Lord: Mentioned a number of times in Judges as well as in other Bible passages (the Hagar story and the 'sacrifice' of Isaac in Genesis; Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3), the Angie always comes as God's representative, with a special message from God. He speaks in God;s name, often in the first person as God, and is virtually identified with God by those to whom he appears. Sometimes he show himself as an ordinary person, somethings as an awesome heavenly being. But no one who sees him is left in any doubt of his authority.
Why?
Ishmael will be a nation against everyone and everyone's hand against him and he will live in hostility敵意 toward all his brothers. It is the situation now in Mid-East Asia.
How?
God hears our pray when we pray in Jesus name. Ishmael is live in hostility toward all Christian. So we have to be aware of it, and let our heart focus on the Lord.

Do not compromise God's word

Genesis 16:1-6
Sarai suggested Abram take her Egyptian maidservant Hagar to build a family through her. Abram agreed and Hagar conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. May the Lord judge between you and me." Abram said, "Do with her whatever you think best."
Sarai mistreated Hagar, so she fled from her.
Compromise:
Sarai devises her own way of making God's promise come true. Childless herself, she falls back on custom, giving her slave-girl to Abram. (This provision could be written into the marriage contract: the resulting child becoming the wife's.) But human emotions in such a situation are complex.
Why?
Sarai used her way to make God's promise, but Abram agreed it either, both have responsible about this matter.
Abram seems did not take his responsibility to take care his family quarrels. Actually it is hard to resolve this emotional issue.
God's word is precised and not any space to compromise.
How?
Trust in word of God and his promise without doubt in any situation.

Be a righteous man as my goal in my life

Genesis 15:13-21
God made covenant with Abram when the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.
God said to Abram, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates..."
400 years : The word may also mean 'lifetime'. Abram is said to have lived for well over a century.
Revised English Bible at v16b, 'for till then the Amorites will not be ripe for punishment'. This helps a little with the order to destroy the Canaanite nations at the time of the conquest.  God gave more than four hundred years to show a change of heart. By Joshua's time they had reached the point of no return.
Why?
The covenant ritual: This is the way treaties were confirmed at that time. The penalty for breaking the agreement was death - symbolized by killing and dividing the animals. Here , significantly, it is only God who puts himself on oath by passing between the pieces. Darkness, smoke and fire mark God's presence, as at Mt Sinai.
God made covenant with Abram for God loves Abram and his righteous.
How?
Be a righteous man in this world, even there is no one righteous man in the world, but it is our goal to make it in my life.

Abram believed and was blessed; so all who believe are blesse as he was

Genesis 15:1-12
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
The Lord promised Abram, give him this land to take possession of it. Abram asked God 'How can I know that I will gain possession of it?'
The Lord said to him, "Bring me a heifer(母牛), a goat(母山羊) and a ram(公綿羊), each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."
God listens to Abram's doubts and fears - "I am childless'; 'How can I be sure...?' - and God's response is full of reassurance as he repeats his promises.
Why?
'Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness'. This is one of the most significant verses of Scripture, and in the circumstances a response of remarkable faith. Paul argues from this that Jews and non-Jews alike are put right with God through faith, not through keeping God's rules (since none of us can live perfect lives).
'Abram believed and was blessed; so all who believe are blesses as he was'
Offering of the first sacrifice was not like sin offering but a covenant assurance between God and Abram.
How?
All who believe in Jesus and the Lord as our savior,the blesses as Abram was will come.

I will accept nothing belonging to you

Genesis 14:13-23
Abram with Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Ehcol and Aner, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. They defeated Kedorlaomer and recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine to welcome Abram return. He was priest of God, Most High, and he blessed  Abram. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, and I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' - to Aber, Eshcol and Mamre, let them have their share."
Melchizedek:This is the only appearance of the rather mysterious king/priest of Salem (probably Jerusalem); the name means 'peace'. Melchizedek's authority( a tenth - the 'tithe' - was God's portion, so Abram treats this man as God's representative), his lack of any named ancestors or descendants (extremely important for any man claiming kingship or priesthood), and his dual role as priest and king, let later writers to see in him a foreshadowing of the Messiah.
Why?
Abram blessed from the Lord, his rich was not from anyone, but from the Lord himself. Same as I am, my rich will be from the Lord, Most Height, not from anyone from on the earth. Take what belongs to me, but let my helper take their shares.Them these friend may have good relationship with me and give them good witness.
How?
All I have was given from the Lord, I believed I will rich because of blessings of my Lord, Most High.

Loving the world leads to danger

Genesis14:1-12
Four kings defeated five kings army. They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
In Abrams day, although a semi-nomadic游牧 existence was common, there was also settled life in villages and walled 'cities'. These were ruled over by local 'sheiks', who in turn were often vassals附庸 of more powerful kings.
The overlords of the five Dead sea towns came from distant Elam and Babylonia, and from Anotolia. Trade-route made travel and communication between the land of Abram's birth and Canaan relatively easy.(The Elamites had considerable power in Babylonia. Ur was one of the cities they conquered and sacked at this time.)
Amorites: Abram's allies belonged to a tribe sharing the land with the Canaanites. They had good reason to support Abram, since their own people had been victims of the attack. Speed of pursuit and a surprise attack give Abram victory.
Why?
Lot original lived in the field with water, but he moved to the city where is more prosper and live easier.
How?
Loving the world leads to danger of the world.

God can made the worse to blessing

Genesis 13:1-18
Abram is elder than Lot but Abram let Lot chose the land he preferred. So lot chose the land people looks good land with water and like garden of the Lord.
Abram lived in the land of Cannan, Lot loved in the plain of Jordan and st out toward the east.
Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord. Third altar of Abram for the Lord.
Lot's choice: Increasing flocks an herds precipitate the lat break in family ties. Lot, generously given the choice by his uncle, selects the fertile pasture of the Jordan Valley.
Why?
Abram is humble before the men, and he loves his family so given the choice to Lot.
The place people looks good, but the blessing of the Lord is more important and human perspective. Abram believed that God blesses him.
How?
Focus on the Lord, it is more important than personal situation, God can made the worse to blessing.

Abram is ignominiously deported Egypt

Genesis 12:10-20
But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. Then Pharaoh gave order about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
Hunger drives Abram into Egypt. Under stress of fear and insecurity, this man of faith defends himself with a dangerous half-truth which puts God's whole plan at risk. God intervenes with plagues, Sarai is saved and Abram is ignominiously可恥 deported.
Why?
Under protection of God Abram got many property from Pharaoh and saved his life.
Promised land has famine either.
How?
People had faith may fall and promised land has disaster, but the Lord protects those who has faith in Him.

Witness to his faith and his lack of a settled home

Genesis 12:1-9
God called Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your fathers household and go to the land I will show you".
"You will be a blessing. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
So Abram left, as he Lord had told him. Abram traveled to the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him. So Abram built an altar there to the Lord.
Abram built an altar to the Lord when he went on toward the hills east of Bethel. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
Records God's command and premise to one man, Abram, and his obedient response.
Yet the consequences of this simple act were to spread like ripples on a pond, leading to the birth of a new nation and in course of time benefits for the whole world.
These was the second stage of the journey, travelling anther 700km south-west to Canaan, with Sarai, his child-less wife, his nephew Lot and their flocks and herds.
Why?
Abram listened God's word with simple heart and go to the land he unknown place.
No one like to leave his won country and his homeland.
Abram respect the Lord and remember God's word so he built altar twice here.
Abraham's lifestyle represents the life of pilgrimage朝聖: the altar and the tent bear witness to his faith and his lack of a settled home.
How?
Obey God's command is a blessing life. Abraham gave us an example of faith.

Genealogy is meaningful in the Bible

Genesis 11:10-32
Forefather of Abram is Shem.
Here again the list of names is selective, probably abbreviating the total length of time involved.
Noah's ancestors were considerably longer-lived than Terah's and the age of parenthood is now much younger.
When Terah's name is reached the list becomes more detailed. This is the family we are to concentrated on. Terah's three sons are names, and their home-town given as Ur of the Chaldeans.
The journey takes them 900km miles from Ur to Harran- like Ur, a centre of moon-worship.
From Adam to Noah there were ten generations, From Noah to Abram there were ten generations.
All the records in Bible is necessary, so genealogy is meaningful in the Bible
How?
How about my ancestor? I don't know, but more important is the Lord is my father.

Trust in the Lord is not religious

Genesis 11:1-9
Men said to each other,"come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly, build ourselves a city, with tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
But the Lord scatter them from there over all earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world.
Why?
Make brick: They try to learn God created man and woman.
Scatter: God hopes people can multiple on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it.
Religious is man search God, but it is hard to find real God except God comes to find us.
Man like to make nothing impossible, like God.
Babel: Babylon was a best Astronomy city in history, but only a few experts hold it, so Astronomy became Astrology after been distortion.(巴比倫的天文學最好，掌握在少數人手中，扭曲後成為星象學)。
How?
What we trust in God is not a religious but a truth

The descendants of Sham, Ham and Japheth

Genesis 10:1-32
Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
Jepheth: the ancestor of European people.
Ham: the ancestor of African.
    The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizriam, put and Canaan.
Nimrod: he was a hero, father of Babylonian, name of the Antichrist at evolution.
Semites: Sons were also born to Shem, who was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber. The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxas, Lud and Aram. Most are Asian.
Why?
The nations of the Bible world are all traced back to Noah's three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Shem's family comes last: these are the nations around which the next stage of the narrative develops. 'Eber' is the same as the name 'Hebrew'
How?
We are the descendants of Sham, I am son of the Lord.

Rainbow is the sign of the covenant between God and the earth

Genesis 9:1-29
Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth, which is the role of human being in the earth.
Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. God's judgement.
God established his covenant with Noah and with Noah's descendants. Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. God set rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between God and the earth.
Noah has three sons, Noah cursed Canaan for he save Noah's naked!  The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” He also said, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem" May God extend Papheth’s territory.
Why?
God hope human could be numerous, for God loves man.
Hand by hand, tooth by tooth. God wants people respect other's life. Respect other is honor the name of God.
Rainbow is symbol of covenant between God and the earth. There is not flood to destroy the earth anymore, but there will be fire to punish sinners on the earth.
How?
Rainbow, how beautiful it is, remember it is the covenant of God's love and judgement.

God remember us when we obey his word faithfully

Genesis 8:1-22
God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark.
Noah did not make decision by himself to go out of the ark, but listened to the word of God, even he has let raven and dove to checked the land is dry or not. Dove did not return, Noah knew the land is dried.
Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. God smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, 'I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth.'
Why?
Noah does exactly as God tells him. He honored God and had faith in the Lord, so Noah's altar was pleasing to the Lord.
God remembered: God loves the man and the earth, for all of these were his creations. After this flood, God won't curse the earth anymore, let the nature of the earth going on.
How?
Do what God told us, obey his word as Noah. Looks like fool to unbeliever but it is a blessing to the followers of God. God remember us when we obey his word faithfully.

God has a detailed rescue plan

Genesis 7:1-24
God said to Noah, take seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the not clean animals, the male and his mate, into the ark. For Noah is righteous before the Lord in his generation.
The waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.
Against  a background of judgement, the story focuses on God's saving act. Noah, 'the only good man of his time', the one human being who 'lived in folleowship' with God, will not go down with the rest.
God has a detailed rescue plan. He will provide a place of safety and refuge.
A lifetime of knowing and trusting God has prepared Noah for this moment. And he does exactly as God tells him.
Why?
God has detail rescue plan to save the people belongs to Him, like Jesus Christ for us. God has prepared the places for righteous man.
Clean animals have seven pairs, but not clean animals have a pair. Not clean animals is needed in this world for circulation of life. God let clean animals has numeral number.
How?
God has a detailed rescue plan to Noah, so God has plan to save us also, we have to do is believe Jesus Christ is our savior.

Looking for why it is being told 'the big message'

Genesis 6:1-22
The Lord said , "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh; his days shell be 120 years."
The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth.
"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. But I will establish my covenant with you, and your family." God said to Noah.
Different versions give 'sons of the gods' of 'sons of God' or 'supernatural beings.'
Why?
The human race, lost in violence and corruption, is bringing destruction upon itself. God reduces the life-span to 120 years. But that alone will not answer. Only an act of judgment will rid the world of sin.
As with creation, we should approach this account as story, expecting picture and symbol and pattern, looking for why it is being told, 'the big message.'
When people's every intention of the thoughts of his hearts are only evil, destruction will come upon him for their wickedness. But God gives opportunity to everyone to repent and turn from evil.
How?
Looking for why it is being told 'the big message'.

The reducing ages may be meant to suggest the cumulative effects of sin

Genesis 5:1-32
Adam lived were 930 years.
Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all of the days of Enoch were 365 years.
All days of Methuselah were 969 years, the most high ages.
Methyselah, he fathered Lamech. Lamech fathered a son Noah. Noah fathered Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Why?
The Bible often provides family trees similar to this one to define an important line of descent. Many of them are selective, sometimes is order to create a pattern of a certain number of names. We are not meant to add up all the figures and work out the length of time covered. (Ussher did this, arriving at 4004 BC for the date of Adam. Yet we know from Jericho and other cities, of a civilization going back to 7000BC, and that is not the  beginning of human history.)
In the ancient Near East numbers were often used to signify importance, rather than actual quantity. The reducing ages from Methuselah to Joseph may be meant to suggest the cumulative effects of sin.
Enoch's life of 365 years, a complete year's cycle of days, is worth special note.
The life-span assigned to these early ancestors is remarkable. It ranges from 777 years for Lamech to Methusleah's 969 years. Each of the ten records follows the same formula: When A was x years old he had a son B. He lived another y years and had other sons and daughters. He lived z years, and them he died.
How?
Most high ages of man now is about 120 years. The reducing ages may be meant to suggest the cumulative effects of sin

If you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door

Genesis 4:1-26
The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."
Cain killed his brother Abel. God punished Cain, "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Adam and Eve, after their expulsion from the fatten, have two sons:Cain, the farmer, and Abel, the shepherd. In due course each brings his offering to God. Abel's is accepted, but not Cain's. It was not what Abel offered, but his faith which made his gift acceptable. Cain's better  resentment shows a very different spirit.
Cain kills Abel - it is a short step from rebellion to bloodshed - and God condemns him to a nomadic life, but provides protection against death.
The last two verses give a glimmer of hope. Seth is born to Adam and Eve, and people begin 'to call on the name of the Lord.'
Why?
As the prophets will say again and again. God is not bought off by sacrifices. He wants the offerer also to 'do well'. True faith cannot be divorced from right behaviour.
How?
There is hope from Seth, and God wants man do well more than soffer sacrifices.

Desire and domination will hurt relations between the sexes

Genesis 3:1-24
Serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die, For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for good, and that it was a delight to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her.
She wanted simply to know as God knows, or to be God's equal.
The Lord said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life..."
And to Adam God said," Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field..."
The man called his wife's name Eve, "because she was the mother of all living."
Why?
Because of the serpent and Adam, Eve did not obeyed the commandment of God so there were curses to all livestock and beasts, and curses to the land.
Adam knew her wife ate the fruit of life tree, but he did not forbid her.
All of the sins are look good for man and made man delight, but the trap is behind it.
The woman will experience suffering - in childbirth. Man and woman are no longer at ease together. Desire and domination will hurt relations between the sexes. Adam's work will be sweat and toil.
Why?
Enter the serpent - a creature made by God and yet a rebel. Where does the bad come from in this good world? The story does not say. But clearly God has taken an enormous risk in giving his creatures the freedom to choose. What follows is brilliant insight into the psychology of temptation and sin: the attempt to shift the blame and eventual shame.
How?
Woman seems not only want to be wise but also like to be God's equal. Man has to be humble before the Lord and among other people.

True marriage is a unique and exclusive relationship

Genesis 2:4-25
The Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils鼻孔 the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
God commanded the man "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
The God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she as taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
It is focuses on the first two human beings and their relationship with God.
Significantly, God now has a different name. In the first story he was Elohim, God the Creator, the one High God. Now he is Yahweh (Jehovah) Elohim, the personal name by which he can be known.
Why?
Man was made from the dust of the ground so man will go back to the ground when he died.
You will surely die, is the really die in spiritual and physical for the sin; against the commands of the Lord.
So man and woman should leave his parent and be united, become one flesh. It is the unit of a family. They are naked, totally open to one another.
True marriage is a unique and exclusive relationship.
Adam in Hebrew is both a personal name and a word for 'mankind'.
How?
True marriage is a unique and exclusive relationship. God's name are Yahweh (Jehovah) Elohim.

God blessed the seventh day and made it holy

Genesis 1:26~2:3
God blessed man.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
From first day to the sixth day there was evening and there was morning.
Why?
This is not a chronological(年的)account. The separations of the first three days create the spaces which God them fills. We are not told when creation took place. Nor are we given details as to how God brought the earth and life into being - nor how long it all took.
The storyteller does not share the preoccupations of a scientific age. He is concerned with more important things.
The seventh day God did not described evening and morning for God was rested so there is not assignment for time and works, it is running automatically.
The seventh day is holy day so other matter is not important.
How?
Holy day is a day to meditate the creation of God and his love and blessing for man.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; Genesis 1

Genesis 1:1-25
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over every living creature that moves on the ground.
Genesis title means 'beginnings - the beginning of the world and the beginning of the a nation. It is important to appreciate the early chapters especially as story: concern with truth and meaning at the deepest level; delighting in pictures and patterns.
There are many heavens but only one earth.
How the books reaches their present form may be a matter of debate, but what is clear is that these stories express the deepest convictions of God's people that this world is the work of the one Creator-God, who is utterly good and who loves and cares for his creation. They had no need to argue for God's existence: they knew him for themselves.
The story, styled and shaped to a conscious pattern, make it clear that
1. The origin of the world and of life was no accident; there is a Creator - God
2. God made everything there is
3. All that God made was good
4. Of all God's marvellous creation, people are special; they alone are made in God's likeness and given charge over everything.
5. God's six days of creative activity, followed by a day of rest, sets the pattern for working life.
How?
God is the creator of everything, and man is God's special creation, they alone are made in God's likeness.