Genesis 4 is about Cain and Abel and the evidence of the sin nature which descended down to all mankind as a consequence of the "fall". Cain acted out of jealous anger and indifference to the Lord in the murder of his brother. Cain's hardened behavior and response to the Lord's correction lead to even greater punishment, yet the Lord showed compassion and grace in His protection of Cain's life. The chapter closes with the birth of Seth, "God has granted me another son in place of Abel, the one Cain killed". We are told that Seth had a son, Enosh, and "during his lifetime the people first began to worship the Lord".

Genesis 3 is "the fall" account that details the first sin of mankind, which destroyed the perfect fellowship that man had originally been privileged to experience with God and all creation. The consequences of betraying God affected each of the relationships that were initially ideal (Gen 2), but now were cursed. Adam and Eve had given in to the temptations of Satan and were fooled into believing that their way was better than God's. As a result, all of mankind became thereafter "fallen" and in need of God's grace and forgiveness to restore fellowship with Him.

Genesis 2 elaborates the creation events, especially in regard to man's role and purpose. The emphasis of this chapter seems to center around four new relationships: between man and his Lord, man and the earth, man and the animals, and finally man and his wife (marriage). In this chapter God is referred to as "LORD", reflecting a more personal relationship that has been established. God "breathed into (man's) nostrils the breath of life", illustrating the beginning of this intimate relationship. His Lord planted a garden where He made all kinds of trees "that were pleasing to the eye and good for food" and He placed man in the garden "to work it and take care of it". Then the Lord formed all the beasts and birds and every living creature and brought them to the man, yet for him "no suitable helper was found". So, the Lord made a woman and brought her to the man, since God found that it was "not good for the man to be alone". The "man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame", since they had an entirely transparent relationship with nothing to hide and they shared a complete oneness described as "one flesh". So, man had a very special intimate relationship with God and all of creation in the garden, and enjoyed perfect fellowship. Then God gave him one command, that he must not eat from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil", thus giving man a choice to obey his Lord.

Genesis 1
There were five aspects of this opening chapter of God's word that became more evident to me as I read the familiar account of "the beginning". The first can be summed in just one word as my thoughts all centered around the idea of "order". Our eternal God created all that we know from a formless empty darkness. Throughout the chapter God puts together, much like a puzzle, all of creation in a way that science still can't explain, but yet it is extremely orderly. Secondly, God's infinite power and command over all things is exhibited in the eight "Let" verses. Here we see for the first time in scripture that God is in control of everything and he can do anything according to His will and purposes. Next, God is intentional and careful about how he acts --- it's obvious in this chapter that He is not careless in the order or the purpose of each action he takes in creation. Another aspect is the sense of God's role as the provider for all creation. He doesn't just leave them without meeting their needs. He says, " I give" in verse 29 and 30 , speaking of providing for their need of food. Finally, the creation story is a great illustration that God is good. After each step of creation, we learn that God "saw that it was good". God is the source of everything good.

daily content will resume next year

Micah 5
He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

Luke 2
.. the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord.

Micah 5

2 [a]But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,
one whose origins are from the distant past.

Luke 2
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.