THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREEYEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to take youthrough the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help yougain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will beconcerned with only the major emphases and context of theScriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted,beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chaptertwenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as itappears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request thatdevotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) foreach page to:

Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 69
Columbia, LA 71418

The commentaries for Genesis through Mark are available.
Just send $7.50 per book plus shipping and handling (about $2.00)
to the address above. Be sure to tell which book(s) you desire.

GENESIS
CHAPTER FOUR

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. (Cain:that is, Gotten, or, Acquired) 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

The first children resulted in the first shepherd andthe first farmer. Someone once said, jokingly, that as soon as Adam and Eve left the garden they began to "raisecain."
Cute; but they also raised Abel. Both of these boys grew and became men, capable of earning their own way in life.

Notice that Eve recognized that the child was a gift from God.

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

After they had completed their first year as self-employed individuals, they came to the time when an offering should be made to God in thanksgiving.

We should, at the end of each year, assess how much we are earning, and be sure that we offer back to God the right amount of our tithes. We should also assess how much we can give God ABOVE that for an offering of thanksgiving for the ability to earn a living.

Now God accepted Abel's offering, but he did not accept Cain's. Often the question has been asked why did God accept Abel's offering and not Cain's.
Perhaps Hebrews 11:4 gives us more insight to this question.

"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellentsacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."

Maybe the question should be rephrased to ask why God accepted Abel's offering at all.

It was a witness from God that Abel's heart was right with God.
Now THAT speaks volumes to my heart!
Whatever we give to God should be given willingly, ungrudgingly,and not in competition with our brother.

6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Cain was very angry about his offering not being received. Perhaps this showed that his heart was not right with God in his offering.

We can see that something was wrong in Cain's heart by what God said to him.
God said, "...sin lieth at the door.."

In other words, Cain was allowing something to tempt him.
But notice what else God said. "..unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

1Cor. 10:13 says,
"There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

God never allows us to be faced with temptation without giving us power to "rule over" that temptation!

Sin always lies at the door of our heart. We "do well" when we listen to God, and allow Him to guide us the right way.

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother'skeeper?

Cain did not accept the promise that God gave him of being able to overcome the temptation. And Cain became the first "murderer" in the Bible.

Notice the question that is still posed today, "Am I mybrother's keeper?"
Jesus answered that question. ((See Matt. 19:19, Matt. 22:37-40))

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. (blood: Heb.bloods) 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. (or, Mine iniquity is greater than than it may be forgiven) 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Here again, God acts in mercy as He gives justpunishment.
Cain would no longer have the privilege of being a "farmer."
From now on, he would be a"fugitive" and a "vagabond."

Sin, though it may be forgiven of God, requires punishment on earth.

However, God - in mercy - provided protection for Cain.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Lots of critics have asked the question (in derision),"Where did Cain get his wife?"
God is the "Giver of Life." Maybe He MADE Cain a wife!

But that truth is not divulged to us in the Bible. We do not KNOWwhere Cain's wife came from. That doesn't detract from the truth of God's Word. This Bible has never been proven wrong. And by just casting doubt on something, one doesn't prove it wrong!
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those
things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever."
((Deut. 29:29))

We should concentrate on the TRUTHS of the Bible, and not try to cast doubt on it.

18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. 19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah,she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. 23 AndLamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Here we find that corruption breeds corruption.

Soon a son was born named Lamech. He was the first "bigamist" in the Bible.

Lamech became a murderer like Cain. But in bragging he used God'sWords out of context. He said if God would avenge Cain, he surely would avenge Lamech. (see vss 23-24)

We must realize that some of the promises of the Bible were made to specific persons for specific times. For instance, can just anyone claim the promise God gave to Solomon? God promised he would be the wisest man ever in the world! (see 1Kings 3:12) Can anyone ELSE come along and claim that promise? NOPE!
Be careful how some people will advise you lay claim to promises that may not apply to you!
Lamech perverted God's promise!

In the middle of all this corruption, God is still endowing the world with GIFTS!
Vs. 20 - the gift of shepherds,
Vs. 21 - the gift of musicians,
Vs. 22 - the gift of blacksmiths.

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

God provided Adam and Eve with another son. From him, God would develop a line of people who "called upon" the name of the Lord.

Just look back over the events here. A man has committed murder,and humanity is now shuddering under this great burden. Virtually every family is tainted by sin.

Now God develops His miraculous plan to work through the agency of sinful man and bring a REDEEMER.

GENESIS
CHAPTER 5

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: 4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Adam's generation is shown. He and Eve had Seth when they were 130 years of age. WOW!
Then they lived another 800 years producing sons and daughters!

But then Adam DIED!
Yes. The end result of sin is DEATH.

6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: 7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: 8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. 9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: 10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: 11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. 12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: 13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. 15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: (Jared: Heb. Jered) 16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. 18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: 19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: 26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 28 And Lamech lived an hundred eightyand two years, and begat a son: 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

Now there is a lot of information here to the diligent Bible student.
But let us just look at a couple of things that are very interesting.

First - note that Enoch was translated. He didn't DIE!
WHY? Look at verse 24. It says, "..Enoch walked with God..."
Now I've heard it said that Enoch's walk was so close to God that one day God said, "Enoch, you are closer to My house than yours. Why don't you just come on home with Me?"
OH! How we need to walk CLOSE to God!

Second - note that Methusaleh died in the same year of the flood. Hmmmm!
Methusaleh was born in Enoch's 165 year. Methusaleh lived 969 years (vs 27).
Methusaleh had a son in his 187th year (Lamech). And Lamech had a son named Noah in his 182nd year. Now 187 + 182 = 369 years.Right?

Now Genesis 7:11 says, "In the six hundreth year of Noah's life, ... were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
That means in the 969th year of Methusaleh's life the great floodcame!

Did Methusaleh die in the flood? We don't KNOW!! But one thing is implied here: A man can live a long life and not knowGod!!
By the way, Lamech, Methusaleh's son and Noah's father, died 5 years BEFORE the flood.

Third -- Just a note about Noah's name. It means "comfort to man by the grace of God."
Amazing isn't it?

30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: 31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Noah was 500 when God first spoke to him about a flood. He already had three sons and they were all married.

What has God revealed to you about Himself today?
God deals with man in MERCY.
God has a plan for redemption of man that works even through the sinfulnessof man.
God gives gifts to humanity even in the midst of our corruption.

Please continue with us in Bible study tomorrow.