Yesterday was really a blissful and memorable day. When I close my eyes and re run the day I feel happy.
Genesis 19
The angels reach the city of Sodom and Lot who is sitting at the city gates sees them. He knows the nature of people in Sodom - that if they see these handsome strangers, they might harm them. So he urges them to go with him to his house. Due to Lot's persistence, they go to his house.
In the night the people of Sodom surround Lot's house and demand him to send the 2 men outside. They want to have sex with them. Lot begs them to not do such a wicked thing. He says he will give his 2 daughters who are virgins instead.
This might be an argument against homosexuality. Lot clearly says that men having sex with the 2 men is wicked and that men having it with women is fine.
But the evil men outside do not listen. As they are about to break open the door, the angels come forward, pull Lot back into the house and strike all the men outside with blindness.
Immediately afterwards, the angels let Lot know the true objective of their arrival - the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They ask Lot to gather his belongings and relatives and flee. Lot tells this to his to be sons-in-law but they don't believe him. The angels try to hurry Lot but he hesitates. So they take Lot, his wife and his daughters by hand and lead them out of the city. They ask them to go to the mountains and be saved from the destruction. But Lot says mountain is very far and that they would be able to make it only to the small village of Zoar near by. The angels agree.
Once Lot and family reach Zoar, there is thunder lightning and rain of sulphur on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels had asked Lot and family to specifically not look back. Lot's wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt.
Early in the morning, Abraham looks down into the valley of Sodom and Gomorrah from the high place where he had stood with the Lord the previous day. He sees smoke coming out and knows that the cities didn't have even 5 good people and were destroyed.
Next day Lot and his daughters go to the mountains and stay in a cave. The daughters, may be because of their limited knowledge, think that the whole world is destroyed and tell themselves that there are no men in the world to marry them so that they could have children. They induce Lot to drink and in his drunken state sleep with him. Their children become Moabites and Ammonites.
The very fact that they made him drunk means that they knew Lot would not approve and it was wrong.There are other places in Bible where incest is condemned severely.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Day 18 - Genesis : Chapter 18
Today is our anniversary. It's been 2 years. Thanks to God Almighty. We got up early and prayed. A great coincidence was today's chapter being 18 !
Genesis 18
Abraham is sitting at the entrance of his tent. The time is afternoon. Suddenly when he looks up he sees 3 men standing there. Since it is hot, he invites them inside, asks Sarah to take the best flour and bake bread and one of his servants to take the best calf and get it ready for meal. He gets some water to wash the feet of the guests.
We come to know that one of the 3 is the Lord.
While they are eating, they ask about Sarah and when she comes, the Lord says to Abraham that in nine months, she will have a baby. Sarah laughs in her mind since she is very old and thinks it is impossible.
God asks Abraham why Sarah laughed at this
"Is anything too hard for the LORD? As I said, nine months from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son." [18:14]
She gets scared and denies.
After the lunch, the Lord and the angels (the other 2 men are angels), go to a high place where they can see Sodom. The Lord tells Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah have become so sinful that he is going to destroy the cities. Abraham gets worried and asks the Lord if he would spare the destruction if there were at least 50 innocent people. The Lord says yes. Then Abraham says what if there were only 45 ? The Lord says yes to this also. Abraham asks again and this way, he brings down the number to 5. The Lord agrees that even if there are 5 innocent people in the cities, he will not destroy them.
Genesis 18
Abraham is sitting at the entrance of his tent. The time is afternoon. Suddenly when he looks up he sees 3 men standing there. Since it is hot, he invites them inside, asks Sarah to take the best flour and bake bread and one of his servants to take the best calf and get it ready for meal. He gets some water to wash the feet of the guests.
We come to know that one of the 3 is the Lord.
While they are eating, they ask about Sarah and when she comes, the Lord says to Abraham that in nine months, she will have a baby. Sarah laughs in her mind since she is very old and thinks it is impossible.
God asks Abraham why Sarah laughed at this
"Is anything too hard for the LORD? As I said, nine months from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son." [18:14]
She gets scared and denies.
After the lunch, the Lord and the angels (the other 2 men are angels), go to a high place where they can see Sodom. The Lord tells Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah have become so sinful that he is going to destroy the cities. Abraham gets worried and asks the Lord if he would spare the destruction if there were at least 50 innocent people. The Lord says yes. Then Abraham says what if there were only 45 ? The Lord says yes to this also. Abraham asks again and this way, he brings down the number to 5. The Lord agrees that even if there are 5 innocent people in the cities, he will not destroy them.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Day 17 - Genesis : Chapter 17
Sore throat is slowly coming down. Got 'Getting Things Done' from the library yesterday. I've been wanting to read it for years. So here it is ! It's a good sign.
Genesis 17
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said that he will make a covenant with him that he will make Abram the father of many nations. Abram will be called Abraham and Sarai will be called Sarah. In return the Lord says Abraham and his descendants will have to keep a covenant with him - Every male child will have to be circumcised on the 8th day after birth. God also asks Abraham, his son Ishmael and his slaves to be circumcised.
God promises Abraham a son at the age of 100. Abraham laughs but God says it will happen and he will have to name him Isaac. God says that Isaac's descendants will form great nations. God also promises that Ishmael's descendants will make a great nation.
Abraham obeys God and gets himself, Ishmael and his slaves circumcised.
So circumcision is a sign of complete obedience to God and fulfillment of the covenant from the side of man.
In The New Testament, there is a passage from St.Paul that says , After Christ, circumcision is through spirit and not through flesh. - Romans 2:25 - 2:29
Genesis 17
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said that he will make a covenant with him that he will make Abram the father of many nations. Abram will be called Abraham and Sarai will be called Sarah. In return the Lord says Abraham and his descendants will have to keep a covenant with him - Every male child will have to be circumcised on the 8th day after birth. God also asks Abraham, his son Ishmael and his slaves to be circumcised.
God promises Abraham a son at the age of 100. Abraham laughs but God says it will happen and he will have to name him Isaac. God says that Isaac's descendants will form great nations. God also promises that Ishmael's descendants will make a great nation.
Abraham obeys God and gets himself, Ishmael and his slaves circumcised.
So circumcision is a sign of complete obedience to God and fulfillment of the covenant from the side of man.
In The New Testament, there is a passage from St.Paul that says , After Christ, circumcision is through spirit and not through flesh. - Romans 2:25 - 2:29
Monday, December 28, 2009
Day 16 - Genesis : Chapter 16
I started the day with a sore throat. It's become a vicious circle. Me getting cold, Ash getting it from me and then me getting it from her. So one of us is not-so-well at most times during winter!
Genesis 16
Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him any child and she was very anxious. So she followed the custom of the day and asked Abram to sleep with her slave Hagar. After sometime, Hagar gets pregnant. She becomes proud that she is going to bear Abram's descendant and Sarai is not able to do it. This upsets Sarai very much. She complains to Abram. But he says that Hagar is her slave and she can choose to do what she wants.
Sarai ill treats Hagar and forces her to run away.
Hagar runs away to the desert. An angel meets Hagar in the desert and speaks to her. He tells her that God has blessed her and her descendants will be countless. He asks her to name her son Ishmael. But tells her that he will live like a wild person. He will be against everyone and will live separately.
Abram is 86 years old when Ishmael is born.
Genesis 16
Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him any child and she was very anxious. So she followed the custom of the day and asked Abram to sleep with her slave Hagar. After sometime, Hagar gets pregnant. She becomes proud that she is going to bear Abram's descendant and Sarai is not able to do it. This upsets Sarai very much. She complains to Abram. But he says that Hagar is her slave and she can choose to do what she wants.
Sarai ill treats Hagar and forces her to run away.
Hagar runs away to the desert. An angel meets Hagar in the desert and speaks to her. He tells her that God has blessed her and her descendants will be countless. He asks her to name her son Ishmael. But tells her that he will live like a wild person. He will be against everyone and will live separately.
Abram is 86 years old when Ishmael is born.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Day 15 - Genesis : Chapter 15
Genesis 15
God tells Abram that he will give him a great reward.
But Abram asks him - What good is a reward if there is none to inherit from me ?
God answers him that the number of his descendants will be more than the stars in the sky.
Abram again asks him - How will I know ?
God asks him to bring a cow, goat and ram - each 3 years old and a dove and a pigeon.
Abram brings these, cuts the animals and places them in the altar. He doesn't cut the birds. He goes off to a deep sleep. When he wakes up, he hears God talking. "Your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land; they will be slaves there and will be treated cruelly for four hundred years" [15:13]
After the sun sets and it becomes dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appears and passes between the pieces of the animals.God makes a covenant with Abram that he promises to give Abram and his descendants the land from the border of Egypt across the whole land he sees.
God tells Abram that he will give him a great reward.
But Abram asks him - What good is a reward if there is none to inherit from me ?
God answers him that the number of his descendants will be more than the stars in the sky.
Abram again asks him - How will I know ?
God asks him to bring a cow, goat and ram - each 3 years old and a dove and a pigeon.
Abram brings these, cuts the animals and places them in the altar. He doesn't cut the birds. He goes off to a deep sleep. When he wakes up, he hears God talking. "Your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land; they will be slaves there and will be treated cruelly for four hundred years" [15:13]
After the sun sets and it becomes dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appears and passes between the pieces of the animals.God makes a covenant with Abram that he promises to give Abram and his descendants the land from the border of Egypt across the whole land he sees.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Day 14 - Genesis : Chapter 14
Yesterday's biryani was so heavy that I'd slept early. I guess it was so good that I ate a lot. Was in bed by 10. Got up around 4. For some reason was reminded of Paris travel earlier this year. Started writing about it. Day 1, Day 2 ... after 30 minutes, felt sleepy again and slept. Got up only by 10
Genesis 14
4 Kings attack Sodom and neighboring countries, take everything from Sodom and Gomorrah including Lot and his possessions and go away. A man who escapes from this, runs to Abram and tells him the whole story. Abram calls together all the fighting men in his camp forms an alliance with others (Mamre the Amorite, his brothers Eschol and Aner) and pursues the 4 kings. His army defeats the 4 kings, gets all the possession back and frees Lot.
The king of Sodom is so happy that he offers the loot that Abram gives back to him. Abram doesn't take any. He says he doesn't want anything but his allies should have a fare share.
Genesis 14
4 Kings attack Sodom and neighboring countries, take everything from Sodom and Gomorrah including Lot and his possessions and go away. A man who escapes from this, runs to Abram and tells him the whole story. Abram calls together all the fighting men in his camp forms an alliance with others (Mamre the Amorite, his brothers Eschol and Aner) and pursues the 4 kings. His army defeats the 4 kings, gets all the possession back and frees Lot.
The king of Sodom is so happy that he offers the loot that Abram gives back to him. Abram doesn't take any. He says he doesn't want anything but his allies should have a fare share.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Day 13 - Genesis : Chapter 13
It's Christmas day. Ash has a slight fever. It might be because of standing in the cold in Church yesterday night.
Genesis 13
By the time Abram returned from Egypt to Southern Canaan, he was a very rich man - lot of sheep, goats and cattle. Add silver and gold to that. Lot was also rich. It so happened that their servants quarreled against each other. So Abram decided that it was best for them to part. He asked Lot to pick the land of his choosing. Lot chooses the land in the east and Abram stays in Canaan.
The Lord speaks to Abram again telling him that he will bless him and that the number of his descendants will be so many that they will be more that the dust on earth. This to a man who is close to 90 and does not have a child yet. But Abram is a believer.
Abram moves to Hebron and builds an altar for God.
Genesis 13
By the time Abram returned from Egypt to Southern Canaan, he was a very rich man - lot of sheep, goats and cattle. Add silver and gold to that. Lot was also rich. It so happened that their servants quarreled against each other. So Abram decided that it was best for them to part. He asked Lot to pick the land of his choosing. Lot chooses the land in the east and Abram stays in Canaan.
The Lord speaks to Abram again telling him that he will bless him and that the number of his descendants will be so many that they will be more that the dust on earth. This to a man who is close to 90 and does not have a child yet. But Abram is a believer.
Abram moves to Hebron and builds an altar for God.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Day 12 - Genesis : Chapter 12
Christmas is almost here. Christmas tree looks fine. Waiting to attend Qurbana in the new Church in the evening. Waiting to eat meat after 25 days !
Genesis 12
The first verse in this chapter is about Abram's calling. Divine calling can come to a person at anytime. The moment it comes, you're a different person. God tells Abram to go from Haran to Canaan and says that he will bless him and make his name famous. Abram does exactly the same - Goes from Haram with his wife and Nephew Lot. Once he is in Canaan, he builds at altar for God.
While he is staying in Canaan, there is a famine and he has to move from there for survival. So he and Sarai go to Egypt. He knows that since Sarai is beautiful, Egyptians might kill him to take her. So he tells everyone that she is his sister. The court officials of the King see that she is beautiful and mention that to the King. King takes Sarai and gives plenty of gifts to Abram. But soon after, the land is filled with diseases. King understands that it is because he took another man's wife. So he give Sarai back to Abram and asks him to leave the country.
Genesis 12
The first verse in this chapter is about Abram's calling. Divine calling can come to a person at anytime. The moment it comes, you're a different person. God tells Abram to go from Haran to Canaan and says that he will bless him and make his name famous. Abram does exactly the same - Goes from Haram with his wife and Nephew Lot. Once he is in Canaan, he builds at altar for God.
While he is staying in Canaan, there is a famine and he has to move from there for survival. So he and Sarai go to Egypt. He knows that since Sarai is beautiful, Egyptians might kill him to take her. So he tells everyone that she is his sister. The court officials of the King see that she is beautiful and mention that to the King. King takes Sarai and gives plenty of gifts to Abram. But soon after, the land is filled with diseases. King understands that it is because he took another man's wife. So he give Sarai back to Abram and asks him to leave the country.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Day 11 - Genesis : Chapter 11
The issue got solved. We got the merge approval and everyone is happy. I'm mightily relieved !
Genesis 11
The chapter starts with the story of Babylon and how languages were created. The story goes like this. People came to a plain in Babylonia, settled there and said to themselves, "Let's build a tower so tall that that it reaches the sky. Then we could all be staying here and not be scattered". But as the saying goes, 'man proposes and God disposes' ! God decides that these people are filled up with so much of pride that he decides to spoil their plans. He mixes up their languages and they being not able to understand each other get scattered all over the world.
Next section speaks about Shem's descendants. Shem, as we saw earlier, was one of the sons of Noah. He is the ancestor of all the Hebrews.We see list of Shem's descendants till Terah who is the father of Abram (who will later be called Abraham).
Terah had 3 sons - Abram, Nahor and Haran. Abram has a wife Sarai. Haran dies at a relatively young age. Haran's son is Lot. Nahor marries Milcah, Haran's daughter. Sarai is not able to have children.
Terah takes son Abram and his wife and grandson Lot, leaves the city of Ur and goes to Canaan. Terah dies once they are in Haran (This is name of a place though it is same name as Terah's son. May be they settled in this place and named it after Haran.)
Genesis 11
The chapter starts with the story of Babylon and how languages were created. The story goes like this. People came to a plain in Babylonia, settled there and said to themselves, "Let's build a tower so tall that that it reaches the sky. Then we could all be staying here and not be scattered". But as the saying goes, 'man proposes and God disposes' ! God decides that these people are filled up with so much of pride that he decides to spoil their plans. He mixes up their languages and they being not able to understand each other get scattered all over the world.
Next section speaks about Shem's descendants. Shem, as we saw earlier, was one of the sons of Noah. He is the ancestor of all the Hebrews.We see list of Shem's descendants till Terah who is the father of Abram (who will later be called Abraham).
Terah had 3 sons - Abram, Nahor and Haran. Abram has a wife Sarai. Haran dies at a relatively young age. Haran's son is Lot. Nahor marries Milcah, Haran's daughter. Sarai is not able to have children.
Terah takes son Abram and his wife and grandson Lot, leaves the city of Ur and goes to Canaan. Terah dies once they are in Haran (This is name of a place though it is same name as Terah's son. May be they settled in this place and named it after Haran.)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Day 10 - Genesis : Chapter 10
Yesterday was bad. Not the worst though. A had already sent a mail saying we cannot meet merge approval. I couldn't just give up and had been trying to get things straight the whole day. Escalated to all levels, involved so many to resolve the issue. Came back home from office at 2 AM. Slept at 5 AM. The issue is still not solved. The deadline is 4 PM today !
Genesis 10
This whole chapter is completely filled with names of people - descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth. It is like a chapter from Chronicles has been lifted and placed here.
Genesis 10
This whole chapter is completely filled with names of people - descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth. It is like a chapter from Chronicles has been lifted and placed here.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Day 9 - Genesis : Chapter 7/8/9
The weekend was really terrible. Was down with flu from Friday night till Sunday night. Ash did remark that I work like a donkey day and night the whole week and crash on Friday night ! Barely recovered yesterday night to go to Church and do offshore call.
Genesis 7 / Genesis 8 / Genesis 9
These 3 chapters talk about the Flood and what happens after the flood.
The flood happens when Noah is 600 years old. As instructed by God, Noah takes 7 pairs of ritually clean animals and 2 pairs of unclean animals. 7 days after Noah put everything in the ark as God told him, the flood comes. It says water came from underground and above. The flood continues for 40 days. Even the highest mountains on earth are completely covered with water in the great flood. Rain stops after 40 days but the water doesn't come down for another 150 days.
Interesting to note that in the movie 2012, people come out of the 'ships' to see the outer world after 40 days !
At the end of the flood, the boat comes to rest on Ararat mountain ranges. After 40 days after the 10th month (land begins to appear at the end of 10th month), Noah sends a raven which just circles around and doesn't come back. Then he sends a dove which comes back since it doesn't find any land. He waits for another 7 days and sends the dove again. This time it comes back with the branch of an olive tree. Then he waits for another 7 days, sends the dove again. This time it doesn't come back.
After a year, earth starts to become dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.God tells Noah to come out of the ark with his family and multiply and fill the earth.
He also promises that he will never again put such a curse on Mankind.
God blessed Noah and his sons and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth. [9:1]. God says that he is placing all the animals and plants under the control of Noah. He says that now Noah can eat animals as well as plants. So it means before this man ate only plants ! So even though Cain gave an animal as offering, he didn't eat it ? May be. So man was a vegetarian first and then non-vegetarian. Vegetarianism is natural. Non-vegetarianism is advanced.
God also places Rainbow as a sign of his covenant with Noah. It is to remind us of his promise that he will never again bring such a big calamity on earth.
So Noah started his new life on earth. He planted a vineyard. Once it so happened that he drank so much that he lost consciousness and was lying down drunk naked. His son Ham saw this and told his brother. His brothers took a robe and covered him. When Noah woke and came to know this, he cursed Ham.
Noah died at the age of 950.
Genesis 7 / Genesis 8 / Genesis 9
These 3 chapters talk about the Flood and what happens after the flood.
The flood happens when Noah is 600 years old. As instructed by God, Noah takes 7 pairs of ritually clean animals and 2 pairs of unclean animals. 7 days after Noah put everything in the ark as God told him, the flood comes. It says water came from underground and above. The flood continues for 40 days. Even the highest mountains on earth are completely covered with water in the great flood. Rain stops after 40 days but the water doesn't come down for another 150 days.
Interesting to note that in the movie 2012, people come out of the 'ships' to see the outer world after 40 days !
At the end of the flood, the boat comes to rest on Ararat mountain ranges. After 40 days after the 10th month (land begins to appear at the end of 10th month), Noah sends a raven which just circles around and doesn't come back. Then he sends a dove which comes back since it doesn't find any land. He waits for another 7 days and sends the dove again. This time it comes back with the branch of an olive tree. Then he waits for another 7 days, sends the dove again. This time it doesn't come back.
After a year, earth starts to become dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.God tells Noah to come out of the ark with his family and multiply and fill the earth.
He also promises that he will never again put such a curse on Mankind.
God blessed Noah and his sons and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth. [9:1]. God says that he is placing all the animals and plants under the control of Noah. He says that now Noah can eat animals as well as plants. So it means before this man ate only plants ! So even though Cain gave an animal as offering, he didn't eat it ? May be. So man was a vegetarian first and then non-vegetarian. Vegetarianism is natural. Non-vegetarianism is advanced.
God also places Rainbow as a sign of his covenant with Noah. It is to remind us of his promise that he will never again bring such a big calamity on earth.
So Noah started his new life on earth. He planted a vineyard. Once it so happened that he drank so much that he lost consciousness and was lying down drunk naked. His son Ham saw this and told his brother. His brothers took a robe and covered him. When Noah woke and came to know this, he cursed Ham.
Noah died at the age of 950.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Day 6 - Genesis : Chapter 6
Today we need to complete My eBay integration. Otherwise, we may not get merge approval. I checked the FP in the morning and it still looks bad. Looks like unless I get into it again, it may not really happen !
Genesis 6
God looks at the world and is totally dismayed. It probably degenerated into a very bad place much soon that it should have been. He decides that people will not live longer. 120 is the maximum age. This chapter also warns strongly against wrong kind of intercourses. "Heavenly beings" mentioned here are probably people with great physique and personalities. Angels cannot marry humans. In fact angels do not marry at all. They are spiritual beings and not human beings. Read commentary in the link above for more explanation.
God tells Noah - "I have decided to put an end to all people. I will destroy them completely, because the world is full of their violent deeds." [6:13]
He also tells Noah to build an ark and gives the exact dimensions and material. Also tells him to put all kinds of animals in it.
Am reminded of the movie "Ewan Almighty" - It truly captures how people would have ridiculed Noah and how tough it would've been for him to construct the Ark. It was indeed a miracle.
Noah, a true believer, did exactly as God commanded.
Genesis 6
God looks at the world and is totally dismayed. It probably degenerated into a very bad place much soon that it should have been. He decides that people will not live longer. 120 is the maximum age. This chapter also warns strongly against wrong kind of intercourses. "Heavenly beings" mentioned here are probably people with great physique and personalities. Angels cannot marry humans. In fact angels do not marry at all. They are spiritual beings and not human beings. Read commentary in the link above for more explanation.
God tells Noah - "I have decided to put an end to all people. I will destroy them completely, because the world is full of their violent deeds." [6:13]
He also tells Noah to build an ark and gives the exact dimensions and material. Also tells him to put all kinds of animals in it.
Am reminded of the movie "Ewan Almighty" - It truly captures how people would have ridiculed Noah and how tough it would've been for him to construct the Ark. It was indeed a miracle.
Noah, a true believer, did exactly as God commanded.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Day 5 - Genesis : Chapter 5
It had been raining badly yesterday. Hope today would be fine.
Genesis 5
This chapter talks about the Descendants of Adam and about the extra ordinary number of years they lived.
Adam - 930
Seth - 912
Enosh - 905
Kenan - 910
Mahalalel - 895
Jared - 962
Enoch - 365 - He was such an excellent man that God takes him away. He just disappears and does not encounter death. The only other person who is taken up in flesh is Elijah.
Methuselah - 969 : Oldest man mentioned in The Bible
Lamech - 777
The chapter ends mentioning that Noah was 500 years old.
Genesis 5
This chapter talks about the Descendants of Adam and about the extra ordinary number of years they lived.
Adam - 930
Seth - 912
Enosh - 905
Kenan - 910
Mahalalel - 895
Jared - 962
Enoch - 365 - He was such an excellent man that God takes him away. He just disappears and does not encounter death. The only other person who is taken up in flesh is Elijah.
Methuselah - 969 : Oldest man mentioned in The Bible
Lamech - 777
The chapter ends mentioning that Noah was 500 years old.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Day 4 - Genesis : Chapter 4
We don't have approval to rollout code today. There are still some bugs pending. If we get quiet period approval today, we might be in trouble. Well, I'll just have to say that we cannot rollout today and give explanations. I promise self often that I will not check work the moment I get up but I did today. It was the thought that I got up with.
Genesis 4
This chapter begins with the story of Cain and Abel - children of Adam and Eve. Cain becomes a farmer and Abel a hunter. They give offerings to God and he accepts Abel's but rejects Cain's. Win of Non-Veg or Veg ? May be Cain's food was not cooked well. Anyway, since Cain is rejected he is furious, so furious that he kills his brother. God had warned him against this but he did it anyway. So God punishes him to be a wanderer but puts a mark of protection on him when he says that he could be killed.
Descendants of Cain are mentioned after this. First man to have 2 wives - Lamech is also mentioned at the end. He commits the second murder and says "If seven lives are taken to pay for killing of Cain, seventy seven will be taken for mine." Either he was too haughty or he had too much of favour from God.
Genesis 4
This chapter begins with the story of Cain and Abel - children of Adam and Eve. Cain becomes a farmer and Abel a hunter. They give offerings to God and he accepts Abel's but rejects Cain's. Win of Non-Veg or Veg ? May be Cain's food was not cooked well. Anyway, since Cain is rejected he is furious, so furious that he kills his brother. God had warned him against this but he did it anyway. So God punishes him to be a wanderer but puts a mark of protection on him when he says that he could be killed.
Descendants of Cain are mentioned after this. First man to have 2 wives - Lamech is also mentioned at the end. He commits the second murder and says "If seven lives are taken to pay for killing of Cain, seventy seven will be taken for mine." Either he was too haughty or he had too much of favour from God.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Day 3 - Genesis : Chapter 3
It's been a bad morning. I've gotten up with an enormous feeling of being highly over burdened. I know it will pass.
Disobedience of Man
Chapter 3 talks about the disobedience of Man. Snake tells woman that if she ate the fruit in the 'Tree of Knowledge', she would not die (this is what God had told the Man and Woman) but know what is good and what is bad. Well ! the snake didn't lie. The moment woman and man ate the fruit, they became aware of themselves - their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves.
God's Judgement
Snake would crawl on the ground.
Woman would have childbirth.
Man has to toil !
They are sent away from the Garden so that they don't eat from the Tree of life.
Greatness of God is that immediately after he pronounces the punishment, he clothes Adam and Eve.
3:21 And the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them.
Disobedience of Man
Chapter 3 talks about the disobedience of Man. Snake tells woman that if she ate the fruit in the 'Tree of Knowledge', she would not die (this is what God had told the Man and Woman) but know what is good and what is bad. Well ! the snake didn't lie. The moment woman and man ate the fruit, they became aware of themselves - their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves.
God's Judgement
Snake would crawl on the ground.
Woman would have childbirth.
Man has to toil !
They are sent away from the Garden so that they don't eat from the Tree of life.
Greatness of God is that immediately after he pronounces the punishment, he clothes Adam and Eve.
3:21 And the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Day 2 - Genesis : Chapter 2
My Friend, N had a baby yesterday (Actually today ! since it was around 1 AM). It was so nice to see a new born baby. Makes one wonder and appreciate God's miracle in the world.
Genesis 2
The second chapter tells 2 things
a. God took rest on the 7th day
b. God made man from dust and woman from his rib.
The second creation account can be viewed independently or as a detail of God's creation of Man. Here Man is the focus.
We have the famous quote that we see in Marriage invitations here
" That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. " Gen 2:24
God formed Man from dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils and he became a living being. God put him in the Garden of Eden. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The river from Eden separated into 4 rivers - Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates.
God tells 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." - Gen 2 : 17
Then God decides to make a companion for Man and creates Woman.
Why God created the Tree of knowledge if he knew that Man and Woman would eat it ? He knew that they would eat and be banished to suffering. May be it reminds us that all our suffering is due to a cause. For every suffering, may be we will ask ourselves the question, "what did I do ?". What if we didn't do anything ? God has a reason, better things are yet to come.
Genesis 2
The second chapter tells 2 things
a. God took rest on the 7th day
b. God made man from dust and woman from his rib.
The second creation account can be viewed independently or as a detail of God's creation of Man. Here Man is the focus.
We have the famous quote that we see in Marriage invitations here
" That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one. " Gen 2:24
God formed Man from dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils and he became a living being. God put him in the Garden of Eden. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The river from Eden separated into 4 rivers - Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates.
God tells 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." - Gen 2 : 17
Then God decides to make a companion for Man and creates Woman.
Why God created the Tree of knowledge if he knew that Man and Woman would eat it ? He knew that they would eat and be banished to suffering. May be it reminds us that all our suffering is due to a cause. For every suffering, may be we will ask ourselves the question, "what did I do ?". What if we didn't do anything ? God has a reason, better things are yet to come.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
List 1 - Creation Events
List 1 - Creation Events
Day 1 : "Let there be light".
Day 2 : Creation of Sky.
Day 3 : Creation of Water and Land.
Day 4 : Sun and the moon appeared in the sky regularly, seasons also became regular.
Day 5 : All kinds of living creatures on the sea and birds were created.
Day 6 : All kinds of living creatures on the land were created. Then, after all this, God created human beings.
Day 1 : "Let there be light".
Day 2 : Creation of Sky.
Day 3 : Creation of Water and Land.
Day 4 : Sun and the moon appeared in the sky regularly, seasons also became regular.
Day 5 : All kinds of living creatures on the sea and birds were created.
Day 6 : All kinds of living creatures on the land were created. Then, after all this, God created human beings.
Day 1 - Genesis : Chapter 1
It is a Sunday. It is 9.30 AM. Qurbana in Palli starts in exactly 15 minutes. I'm sitting at home feeling vacant since I'm not in the church. I have a really bad cold, throat pain and headache. Bad combination. This winter has been tough.
Read the first chapter of Bible. Genesis Chapter 1.
I've read this chapter countless number of times. Reading from "The Good News Bible" that I got as a gift after 10th standard in Sunday School.
Genesis 1
This chapter explains the story of creation - the first 6 days.
First day God commanded "Let there be light". So earth got light and darkness before anything else.
Second day, Sky was created. That means atmosphere as formed.
Third day, land was created. That would mean that earth was covered with water at first and then land began to emerge. Once land was formed, there were all kinds of plants. So plants were the first living things to be created.
Fourth day, Sun and the moon appeared in the sky regularly, seasons also became regular.
Fifth day, all kinds of living creatures on the sea and birds were created.
Sixth day, all kinds of living creatures on the land were created. Then, after all this, God created human beings. Viola !
God looked at everything and he was pleased !
Question
I wonder why God refers to himself as "us" or "we"
Common Verses
1:3 Then God commanded, "Let there be light"---and light appeared.
1:27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,
Read the first chapter of Bible. Genesis Chapter 1.
I've read this chapter countless number of times. Reading from "The Good News Bible" that I got as a gift after 10th standard in Sunday School.
Genesis 1
This chapter explains the story of creation - the first 6 days.
First day God commanded "Let there be light". So earth got light and darkness before anything else.
Second day, Sky was created. That means atmosphere as formed.
Third day, land was created. That would mean that earth was covered with water at first and then land began to emerge. Once land was formed, there were all kinds of plants. So plants were the first living things to be created.
Fourth day, Sun and the moon appeared in the sky regularly, seasons also became regular.
Fifth day, all kinds of living creatures on the sea and birds were created.
Sixth day, all kinds of living creatures on the land were created. Then, after all this, God created human beings. Viola !
God looked at everything and he was pleased !
Question
I wonder why God refers to himself as "us" or "we"
Common Verses
1:3 Then God commanded, "Let there be light"---and light appeared.
1:27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Robinson/Bible Project
Inspired by the Julie/Julia project, I have once again started reading The Bible.
I must have started this more than 10 times in the past so many years.
This time, I'm hoping to finish it - cover to cover. 1 chapter a day.
1189 chapters 1189 days. Hoping to complete this in a little over 3 years.
I must have started this more than 10 times in the past so many years.
This time, I'm hoping to finish it - cover to cover. 1 chapter a day.
1189 chapters 1189 days. Hoping to complete this in a little over 3 years.
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