I'm back to Bible Journaling after a brief foray into the Tao of Pooh. And a few days off while I finished my paper and presentation for my research proposal. 🙂 Woot! Also, Kem Gambrell, PhD, at Gonzaga, is one of the best professors I've ever had. She managed to make research exciting.
I created a reading plan through scripture for Advent. It is looking at birth stories. I'm using Torah and Gospels as my focus. (Old Testament and New Testament). I know there are some great birth stories in the Qur'an too! But I cannot readily flip to them. Maybe you'll share them?
Onward!
Advent 3: Genesis 4
Daily haiku and Bible journaling
First in show
Given without reservation
Primal offering
12-4-2018: Advent 3: Genesis 4
Surgery is done! I have an arm that functions like a T-Rex arm. But all will be well.
Today's reading is the birth of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 along with their attendant separation. The text is very interesting. There are things in it that I have wondered about and I'm going to raise them up.
First Cain and Abel are born. Then they grow up really fast and are doing their jobs, Cain working in the fields and Abel working with the animals. They give an offering to God. And then Cain gets rejected while Abel is accepted.
Things I want to know
Where they learned to make offerings! Additionally Cain killing Abel--we all know that story--Cain is sentenced to the Land of Nod. Nod literally mean wanderer, exile, or fugitive. Remember to be suspicious of cities or towns or places that people are sent to that just happen to have the perfect name to describe what they're doing. Also God told Cain he would be a Nomad and then sends him to a city. #contradictorymuch?
Anyway, he goes to Nod and meets people--there's people there! Where did these people come from?
In Christian scripture, in Hebrew 3 or 4--I can't remember, it says that Abel's offering is done in faith. It doesn't say anything about Cain's offering. By making the offering in faith, Abel's name lives on. Of course Cain's name also lives on because we can't say Able without talking about Cain.
We have our first murder--and punishment is not death. Can I get an Amen? We then have our second murder by Cain's Great-great grandson, Lamech. I suppose an underlying message is that violence is within us.
Ooo...I nearly left out another thing I noticed. In Gen 1, God makes people vegetarians. In Gen 4, suddenly we're herding animals? I assume for eating! So there is that. A HUGE jump from Gen 1.
For leaders, I suppose the leadership offering is to know that if we give preferential treatment to one person, other people will grow resentful. Be mindful of how you allocate your presence among people and what that means to others.
Peace,
Terri
Reading Plan:
| Birth Story | Scripture | |
| Birth of Cain and Abel | Genesis 1-2:4 | Birth of the Cosmos |
| Genesis 2:5-2:26 | Birth of families | |
| Genesis 4:1-16 | Birth of Cain and Abel | |
| Jeremiah 33:14-16 | Prophecy | |
| Birth of Ishmael & Isaac | Genesis 16 | Hagar and Ishmael |
| Genesis 17 | God's promise to Abraham and Sarah | |
| Genesis 18:1-15 | Isaac's birth foretold | |
| Genesis 21:1-21 | Isaac's birth and eviction of Hagar and Ishmael | |
| Malachi 3:1-4 | Prophecy | |
| Birth of Moses | Exodus 1:8-22 | Midwives |
| Exodus 2:1-10 | Birth of Moses | |
| Proberbs 8:22-31 | Wisdom | |
| Birth of Samuel | 1 Samuel 1:1-19 | Birth of Samuel |
| 1 Samuel 1:21-28 | Dedication of Samuel | |
| 1 Samuel 2:1-11 | Hannah's Song | |
| Birth of John the Baptist and Jesus | Isaiah 7:10-16 | Isaiah's Prophecy |
| Luke 1:1-25 | John's birth foretold | |
| Luke 1:26-38 | Jesus' birth foretold | |
| Luke 1:39-45 | Mary & Elizabeth | |
| Luke 1:46-55 | Mary's Song | |
| Luke 1:56-66 | Birth of John | |
| Luke 1:67-80 | Zechariah's Prophecy | |
| John 1:1-18 | Word | |
| Christmas Begins | Luke 2:1-20 | Jesus' birth |
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