Volume 165: Rest in NOPE!

We are ten days in to reading Genesis, and WHEW what a book! Throughout the first 30 chapters, I have been drawn to the theme of God's faithfulness from the very beginning. Despite all the brokenness and sin...

NOTHING could stop God, the author of the story, from fulfilling His plan. 

Even when many attempts were made...

Things that would have absolutely crushed us, humans... We would have quickly thrown in the towel and given up... 

But God? He displays great grace and patience over and over and OVER and OOVVEERR again!

In the very beginning, we see God creates the world. Adam and Eve are living in the ideal garden, in close relationship with God and all is good. God gave them one command...

But... Adam and Eve eat of the tree, not trusting God and disobeying the one "rule"...

Oh man, that was quick! Would God give up on His creation???

Nope! He continues to provide for Adam and Eve and they have two sons. It seems the family line will live on! 

But then... Cain murders his brother, Abel...

Would God give up here, upset that the very first family is so broken???

Nope! Adam and Eve have another son - Seth!

Then we read, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth... And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth..." 

Oh dear... Would all creation be wiped out???

Nope! Seth's line leads to Noah. And Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord! 

God restarts with Noah and establishes a covenant with him. Noah has a son, Shem. Shem's family line leads to Abram! And Abram marries Sarai! But then Abram and Sarai are barren and are old...

Would this be the end?? Would God not fulfill his promise to Abram of making him a great nation???

Nope! Even despite Abram and Sarai's insertion of their own plan, God ultimately provides and gives them a son - Isaac!

A fulfillment of God's promise! But wait.... God tells Abraham to take Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering???

Would the story end here??? What a terrible ending!!

Nope! God provides a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's place!

Isaac goes on to marry Rebekah - a meeting that was exactly as God had said. They have two sons - Esau and Jacob. 

The brother relationships get messy.. Esau sells his birthright and later Jacob deceives their father and receives Isaac's blessing...

Oh no.. Would this mess up God's plan??? All this deception within the family???

Nope! Jacob flees to his Uncle, Laban, and meets Rachel, whom he loves.

But then Laban tricks him and sends Leah to him instead. And only Leah has kids at first. Rachel and Leah both have Jacob sleep with their servants (Bilhah and Zilpah) - Jacob's 12 sons are from four women.

Would all these different sexual relations disrupt God's plan???

Nope! Here comes Joseph! Whom would be thrown into prison but then rise to become Pharaoh's right hand man. Who would make the claim, "what you meant for evil, God meant for good!"

Thank you to Yellerton for my new perfect prints!

Would God's plan end with...

Joseph in prison??? 

Moses murdering an Egyptian???

David committing adultery???

Evil kings and judges??? 

Wars and violence???

Would God's plan end when Jesus is crucified on a cross???

NOPE!

There were so many things that got in the way. Human sin abounds! Moments of great darkness. But they eventually reached light. 

They all were A PART of God's plan, not a hindrance to be overcome.

Murder. Control. Corruption. Barrenness. Deception. Sexual relations.

Unfortunately, none of these seem new or crazy to us. Our world is full of darkness today.

Death. Suicide. Anxiety. Depression. Adultery. War. Division. Divorce. 

Will these things stop God from fulfilling His promises???

Nope! 

As seen on the cross, death has been defeated!
Light overtakes darkness!

As we live in this in between of redemption and restoration, waiting for the final fulfillment of Jesus's return, may we find comfort in the fact that the same God who overcame all the obstacles in Genesis is still working today. Nothing scares or intimidates Him! He's seen it all and He's greater than all! 

From the very first page of the Bible to the last, there's a constant theme of God prevailing. No matter what situation or circumstance arises, God is always writing His story!

We cannot see the bigger picture, but may we trust that each stroke is creating something beautiful! Something good!

Speaking of good, TODAY cROCS is up and running folks!!! And as Spotify states, they are unable to find anything like it!!! It's THAT special and unique! A practice of finding the good and bringing it to the forefront! 

Look! Josh Allred doing things in the kitchen! Isn't Jenna BLESSED!