Bible in a Year… Day 1 (Genesis 1-3)

Well, today’s the day… day one of my commitment to read through the Bible in a year. As noted in my previous post about this, I intend to post about each day’s readings here.

That’s the most difficult part about this… the writing. I know I’m going to read certain passages and not really know what to say. So the disclaimer… if I’m boring you to death with obvious observations or trivial thoughts… bear with me. I’m sure there’ll be some good devotions that come out of this along with this from time to time.

So, today’s thoughts, in bulleted form…

• In Genesis 1, I find interesting the order of creation. While no doubt necessary to prepare the world for mankind (after all, what would Adam’s existence been like those first few days had God’s creative handiwork been taking place all around him?), God’s creation of us last brings to mind a common habit of many people… saving the best for last. Mankind was (and is) the crown jewel of God’s creation. He saved the best for last.
• Genesis 1:26-27 presents some opportunities for deep thought as well… the idea of being created in God’s image. Just what does that mean? On the surface, there’s the idea of our physical being… do we look like God? A little deeper, there’s our mind… we’re creative beings, with ability to think, reason, feel, etc… just how like God are we in that regard? Even deeper, there’s our spirit… eternal (at least from the point of our creation), like God. Then there’s our position in creation… given dominion over all things (1:28), similar to how God has dominion over everything. I would imagine there are weeks worth of Bible study packed into this one verse.
• I really wonder what the tree of life and tree of knowledge of good and evil were like. My mind envisions all sorts of things, but I guess we’ll never really know just what they were.
• Genesis 2:18… “It is not good for the man to be alone.” I like how from the very beginning God emphasizes relationship.
• The concept of husband and wife being one (Genesis 2:24) still boggles my mind… even though Nancy and I have been married almost nine years and I’ve seen how that manifests itself in many ways. I’m not sure I’ll be able to explain it even when we’re far into old-age.
• I can’t help but laugh in response to some of the things I read in Genesis 3… Adam and Eve hiding from God, and God calling out, “Where are you?” (like He doesn’t know?)… it just cracks me up.
• What’s with Adam in Genesis 3:12? “The woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit…” Where were you when this happened? And weren’t YOU the one the command was given to?
• I really want to kick Adam and Eve for their sin, especially after reading Genesis 3:17-19… Work. We see why it’s a four-letter word. Thanks guys.

Is anyone reading along with me? Any thoughts?