A start to my 20th year of doing Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). Back in the fall of 1998 I started BSF, with my leader Madeline and teaching leader Kathy. I would eventually go through 6 teaching leaders- yikes, and partaking in BSF in 3 different states. This year, will mark my 4th time doing Genesis. Some could say, I should know this book completely, but I do not. I pick up new things every time I sit down and read my Bible. I think for me its why the Bible is fascinating to me. Each season of life that I venture through, I discover a new truth, a new perspective and sometimes it’s just an old reminder of that which has left my mind.

Genesis 1

I have discovered this beautiful creation story. Where God forms and fills the Earth. It’s a book written by Moses and God to the Israelites before they enter Canaan. Moses is writing this creation story to the Israelites for them to know who and why. I am so often caught up in the how and when. God doesn’t lay out His plan for me like a map because I would be there pestering Him asking, when and how. God wanted the Israelites to know then, what we need to know and understand now. The who– God and the why– because he loved what He created. It’s why at the end of creating man He says “it was very good” We are a direct product of God’s creativeness. Far too often I see myself in a light that is gloom and dark filled, while God sees and views me as His creation. The one whom, He created for such a time as this. Here in this first chapter we get to see something made out of nothing. We get see the roots of beginnings that will become the shoots of faith. We see the trinity. “In the beginning, God”, “Spirit of God hovering over the waters”, “Let us make mankind in our image”

Genesis 2

The 7th day of creation, where God blesses it , making it holy and rests. One key set of repeated phrases are missing from this setting. “And there was evening and morning” An unending Sabbath day with God, a day meant to go on and on of God’s creation worshipping Him. We are being offered an invitation by God to embrace this ongoing day and trust the story of God. Some, have asked did God need to rest? Did he need a break? No, of course not. Why, then did God rest? Perhaps God rested on the 7th day to teach the Israelites to rest and in turn teach us to rest. The Israelites, were God’s chosen people and for years they were slaves to Pharoah. Their job was to make bricks- hard, manual labor. So much of the Israelites daily tasks were built upon being hard, labor workers, and God wanted them to rest. To rest in His embrace. The same way He wants us to rest in His embrace.

I recently listened to a speaker talking about how our society views and measures a persons worth. A persons worth is far too often defined by their title, degree, salary and so on. The Israelite who could make the brick the fastest, his worth was of greatness to Pharoah. I have often thought if I were an Israelite, even though I probably could not be a brick maker because, I am a girl. I am confident I would be the best brick maker there was-why? Not because I needed to be found worthy, but because I am just that competitive. But, I think if you pick apart the Israelites you will see we are all the same, it’s just our surroundings that have altered. I, am a degree-less person and there are numerous times I am overlooked or reminded how others have something I don’t have. As if to say my worth is directly associated with a degree. This is just the thing that God was wanting to break in the Israelites. They were worthy, loved, wanted, and valued not by what they could produce, but because of who they were. And you and are the same. We are fighting the same fight.

This fall, I started taking classes at a community college, and I am not even sure why. I would get the kind of statements you may need to hear occassionaly. The “I am proud of you” or the “you will love the successful feeling of accomplishing this” All well -meaning statements, but a few weeks in, I kept asking myself “What am I doing?” I am not even passionate about what I am studying. And I had this day, where I sat outside this beautiful tree, the one pictured above. And God and I had a conversation. I conversate everywhere with God, in the car, at the store, in the house, and yes out loud. A blessing and curse gifted to me from my grandmother. And I remember sitting there in this moment and thinking well does this mean those well meaning statements are now false. Those faces won’t be proud because I won’t accomplish the degree that should define my success? And as the breeze passed over my body, I heard- your value is in who you are not in what you do. Although, degrees are nice they usually include higher paying jobs, which equates to making more money, which leads to many other fine things in life. But me, I am just that girl that is pretty content living the life God has called me to where ever that may be. But here is the thing about God, when I get caught in the middle of my mess, He ever so gently reminds who I am to Him. And while the seeds of disappoint may fight their way to the surface, I can cling to the One where my soul finds rest.

Genesis 3

Adam and Eve and a garden. A garden of perfection planted out of God’s great love for them, and one for Adam and Eve to enjoy, delight in, and find pleasure. But this chapter is about the fall. Sin enters. God asked them to do one thing- do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Somedays, I can sit and think, truly how hard could it be to not eat from that tree when you are in paradise. BUT, my husband and I am sure a few others who attest that if they tell me to go left, I will go right, if you tell me I can’t do something, I will do it, just to prove you wrong. I am just that way.

The part I pull out of these verses truly is the idea of how Eve was deceived, but going further its the same form of deception we see today. Words are twisted, manipulated, removed, or added to bring about a different meaning or question what we know and think about God and scriptures. It often reminds me of how blessed I have been to have been taught young to not just memorize scriptures but to understand them, apply them, recite them and use my Bible as the resource of all. So when confronted or even challenged, I use my Bible as the backbone to all. The reality of this first sin is this: Eve listened to the serpent, Adam, who by the way was just standing next to her listened to the serpent and then to Eve, and no one listened to God. And that day- they died spiritually and were driven out of paradise. Eve in a moment doubted the goodness of God.

God described His creation with the word “good” And I tend to think He used that word, “good” because it is a building block to faith. In the beginning God, and in the beginning God is good. All of what He created was good. And we need to know above all else we serve a good God, a good father, a good creator- God is good. And just like when I struggle and see disappointment, I am struggling to see that God is good. The image of God is in me, it’s a part of me, it’s in my created being. And I need to see that I am good. I am where God wants me, who He wants me to be, and I need to trust in Him who created me.

Genesis a book of beginnings. An eye opening account of God’s creation. A book that is more than just a story. It is intimate look at God’s love for His creation.