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Posts Tagged ‘Genesis’

The Bible Genesis Chapter 5 is primarily a timeline showcasing the first 1,656 years after Adam was created, and before the Great Flood on the Earth, providing a genealogy ancestry slice from Adam to Noah and his three sons Sham, Ham, and Japheth. Like any history with many dates and people, understanding and picturing this can be a challenge. The Time-Spans Timeline^2 Squared chart presented here shows the timeline in a novel way to how it is usually depicted. This one-page chart highlights the (1) birth years (2) father & sons, (3) longevities (ages), (4) relative years since Adam was created, and (5) overlapping lifespans visualizations.

Genesis 5 Timeline Squared One-Pager

Genesis 5 Timeline Squared One-Pager

You can use the above timespan chart to answer numerous timeline based trivia questions, like the following:

Genesis Chapter 5 Trivia: // Besides other sons & daughters
(1) Who was alive when Enoch was on Earth?
(2) Who could Jared not get to know?
(3) Who was Enosh’s Grandfather?
(4) Who lived a longer lifespan than Adam?
(5) Whose disclosed lifespan was the shortest?
(6) Who died 1,290 years after Adam was created?
(7) Who was Jared’s Great Grandfather?
(8) How long after Enosh was Jared Born?
(9) Who would have had no chance to know Noah?
(10) Who lived at right time to know all mentioned by name?

The Bible Genesis Chapter 5, while primarily a written recorded textual timeline, also contains a few special verses outside the timeline.

Genesis 5:1 (ESV): 1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.

God re-iterated that humankind was created in his image, which means in the context of scriptures that people with God’s divine intervention, have the ability to be holy, loving, kind, generous, forgiving, and merciful like God. Jesus Christ who came as the Savior of the World, as the Son of God, who lived a perfect life, died to bear the sins of many people who are repentant and come to a living & enduring & growing faith. Jesus Christ is the way we come to know the truth about this life of ours, and come to know God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 5:2 (ESV): 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

Because God made humankind, starting with Adam and Eve, with the ability to reproduce, future generations of Adam and Eve are a result of the biological reproduction processes Our Creator established.

The Bible Genesis Chapter 5 lifespans illustrate an untapped scientific & behavioral opportunity to increase our lifespans to hundreds of years. At the time of this writing, many people considered to live a full life have lifespans ranging from 70 to 120 years. Whether humankind will find out the secret to longer life spans is presently unknown, yet God illustrated the potential exists. At this juncture, it is speculation on whether humankind in following God and searching the sciences will be granted access to this door to longevity.

Genesis 5:28-29 (ESV): 28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”

The statement of Lamech who fathered Noah, foreshadows the the importance placed upon the birth of Noah. As history unfolded after hundreds of years, God sends a great flood upon the Earth. God spares Moses and his wife, and his sons, and their wives, and pointed to a brighter future for humankind.

Genesis 5:24 (ESV): 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

To better understand the mystery of how God took Enoch, please see the related presentation on the Bible Genesis Creation Account at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account and the related post at https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/bible-genesis-creation-account-universe-tools-paradigm-comparison-literal-creator-days/, which covers Genesis Chapter 1 & 2 in the context of scriptures, and answers question about the time Our Creator used in designing, rending, and operating Our Universe. The key point is how Enoch walked with God can be thought of as similar to how digital application programs are ported from platform to platform. God is likewise able to port people to Eternal Life or Torment Forever, depending upon a righteous judgement based upon the life each person has lived. Like Elijah later, Enoch was taken & did not die. One wonders if all humankind, before our fall into sin with its’ death penalty, was originally to have this option to graduate from life on Earth to be taken by God to have a close relationship with God in Heaven.

You are welcome to download the Bible Genesis 5 Timeline Squared Presentation PDF, at https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bible-genesis-5-timeline-squared-pdf.pdf which also contains the answers to the trivia questions posed earlier.

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Life Parallels Courses & Course Tests & Course Coaching

There are many types of tests in courses, just as there are many types of tests in life. A few test types will be explored to gain insight into God’s expectations for us. As many subject matters are complex and tests are challenging, many schools & instructors utilize a variety of test taking approaches when assessing their students applied proficiency. Often even before taking a course, a vetting takes place to ensure proper background exists to maximize the chance to do well. Even during a course, often instructors and even others act as a coaches, furthering everyone’s ability to learn the material and pass.

Illustrative Test Types

Several instructors grade on a curve. Grading on a curve typically involves elevating the achieved grades’ assessment, relative to one’s peers. In other courses, grades received are without a curve, so scores relate directly to your own individual performance regardless of others’ current performance. When the class performance is low, some instructors allow more time study materials to re-take exams.

Parallels to Cain killing Abel

There are several parallels in taking a test, to the precursors to Cain killing Abel. Let’s examine them one by one to maximize our learning.

God Permits Retake over Curve

When Cain killed Abel, it was as if Cain thought God’s approval was curve based. As Cain learned directly from God, God allowed a re-take. God cheered for Cain’s success on the re-take, for Cain to pass life’s test with flying colors. As many addicts know, in some cases a re-take means staying several steps away from temptation, and from those people who’d bring them down. When you make a poor choice, remember God is cheering for you in this lifetime, to repent and re-focus on making choices in a way consistent with Jesus’ life & character.

God Ensures Appropriate Material Difficulty

God vetted the test, to ensure it was the appropriate level of challenge for Cain. God vets life’s tests, to ensure none are above our ability to meet them with a God-centered character. Jesus’ life shows us how to meet obstacles, enemies, hypocrisy, and even death with the proper mindset and care, even for those meaning one harm.

Coaches Availability & Encouragement

God also coached Cain, to maximize Cain’s chance to do what is right. God encouraged Cain by assuring Cain that Cain had the capability to pass the re-take, because God knew Cain did. Because Cain ignored God’s advice, Cain replaced a bad score, with an even worse one. When facing life’s challenges, this is an adverse outcome all of us must work to avoid, deriving assistance God put out for us to see.

Fellow Learners

Cain’s brother Abel actually provided benefits for Cain that were left untapped. What were these untapped benefits? They were (1) the added illustration on what God expected, and (2) the opportunity to seek to understand how Abel’s view of the world & God lead to a better decision & outcome.

Fellow Learners as Illustrations

Abel’s life example showed Cain what God expected. Our mind typically learns materials best when real world illustrations & stories accompany other instruction to enhance learning. God expected Cain to cheerfully give a portion of the best, trusting in God & showing appreciation for God. What can we learn from this? When looking at those in life whom God approves, look to learn from their example. God has provided many examples in life, from those listed in the Bible, to Jesus’ own life, to the life of the apostles, to those following God in our lives.

Fellow Learners as Fellow Helpers

When learning new materials, an instructors’ first pass often brings the learner a long way. This lays the important groundwork for a fellow learner to help get a classmate a step closer to successfully knowing the materials. Abel was there to be Cain’s helper. If only Cain had tapped Abel’s expertise too, to learn not only from Abel’s example, but also from the thought process than enabled Abel to make a better decision to achieve a superior outcome. Today, besides those you might personally know in life, God has provided life examples in blogs, podcasts, webcasts, books, conferences, seminars, and even by organizations helping out many in this world.

Extracting Insights

As you read the account of Cain & Abel, what other insights & parallels do you see? Which perspectives help you to come back and do better on life’s next re-take? Which viewpoints increase your likelihood to get God’s approval, which comes with an active living Faith in Jesus Christ?

Genesis 4:1-16 English Standard Version (ESV):

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said,“I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Reference:

Bible, Genesis 4:1-16, ESV Translation: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=ESV

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Bible Genesis Creation Account

Courtesy of CreationOpia, the Bible Genesis Creation Account has been studied for thousands of years, as mere mortals desire to understand further the mystery of how God Created Our Universe. Until Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools and technologies were available, our paradigm on how to understand the account recorded in Genesis 1 & 2 was limited. The Bible Genesis Creation Account presentation shown here steps through the Bible verse by verse, and challenges the reader to view Our Universe’s formation through a new lens. Thought provoking questions are asked along the way. The desire is that readers will find this new perspective refreshing and enlightening.

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

Bible Genesis Creation Account 1st

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

Bible Genesis Creation Account 2nd

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

Bible Genesis Creation Account 1st 2nd

To download, click the Bible Genesis Creation Account link for the Presentation in PDF format. Alternatively, view the Presentation At SlideShare at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account

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Sparks on dark water

Image via Wikipedia

There are many readings to Genesis’ first two Bible verses detailing God creating our Universe. Unfortunately, many reading are full of confusion and theological conundrums. In contrast, a very simple, clear, and precise understanding of this passage is also possible, either by applying an understanding of fundamental computer concepts, or by considering artistic tools by analogy.

This basic reading is that God created the “space” for our physical Universe and also created a rudimentary Earth in this “space.” Artistically speaking from the perspective of a painter, the heavens represent a large empty canvas and the Earth is the first object painted on this canvas. If you are an artist using computer tools to create drawings / animations, this is like a new drawing / animations file named “Our_Universe” which has “space” for lots of artwork to be created, with “Earth” as the first piece of artwork in this drawing / animation.

How does this basic reading of God creating the “space” in our Universe and then creating the Earth relate to further familiar computer concepts? Consider spreadsheets, database tables, or programming variables/  containers to make this easier to understand. As we know Our Universe has “space” dimensions of length, height, and width (x, y, and z for mathematicians / physicists), a simple model incorporates these three dimensions.

  1. Spreadsheet: The spreadsheet is named “Our_Universe” with columns to hold values of Space, such as its’ dimensionality.
  2. Database Table: The database table is named Our_Universe with rows  to contain values of Space like its’ X, Y, and Z dimensions.
  3. Variables / Containers: In programming, typically variables/containers are declared/defined, room is allocated for them, and they are populated/filled, either immediately, or at a later time.
    Let Our_Universe be a Container to hold Space objects with its’ corresponding values like dimensions.

Later in the Genesis creation account, God creates the sun, moon, and stars, to further fill this “space” with “materials”, beyond what was done on the Earth with its’ “materials”. The knowledge of what is created in later days like the sun, moon, and stars reinforces the above understanding that the initial creation of the “heavens” is the allocation of the container “space” in which our Universe resides.

God created the heavens, and also created a rudimentary Earth. From a computer programming perspective, one way to view Earth’s creation is that Our Universe was populated with an aggregate collection of values which together constituted our rudimentary Earth. By analogy, think of a web browser loading up an Earth web page, a smart device installing & starting a new Earth application, or a digital media player loading an Earth image/video.

Because God initially created the Earth, we know God also created the “rules” that government how “materials” (matter/items/values) in this “space” interact. The hunt to understand “space” better and to know these “rules” has been the treasure scientifically minded physicists have been diligently searching to understand, applying a diverse variety of complex models derived from theoretical reasoning, mathematical tools, and physical experimental data.

Read similar materials at the CreationOpia Blog at http://CreationOpia.WordPress.com

Genesis 1:1-2 (ESV):

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

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God grades on a cross and his commandments, not a curve. Cain killing Abel added another failed test to the first one. God sees us where we are and desires for us to choose wisely, to pass the tests life poses. Abel ably gave his best. Cain needed to too.

Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

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