Friday, January 2, 2015

GENESIS 4-6:

Chapter 4 begins with the story of Cain and Abel. We see the first evidence of human jealousy and anger.

...but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.  So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  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 rule over it.(4:5-7)

Cain ignores the warning and kills Abel.  He is in turn driven from the land.
Chapter 5 covers the genealogy from Adam to Noah.
Chapter 6 begins the story of Noah and the sinful state of the earth.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time...So the Lord said, "I will wipe from the face of the earth the man race I have created - and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground...(5:5-7)

God commands Noah to build an Ark...

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.(6:22)  

MATTHEW 2:

Magi from the east see the star and travel to find whose birth it signals.  They come to King Herod and inquire.  Herod is disturbed and seeks the prophets to find what has been written, they report...

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."

He has them go to find the child and then report back to him.  The Magi succeed in locating Jesus but are warned in a dream to not report back to Herod.  Joseph is also warned and he and Mary flee to Egypt. Meanwhile Herod orders that every child two and under in the Bethlehem area be killed.

JOURNAL:

Jealousy: resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another's success or advantage itself. Mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness,etc., as in love or aims. Vigilance in maintaining or guarding something.

God warns Cain that sin is crouching at his door and it desires to have him.  Yet Cain is so consumed with Jealousy and anger that he pursues the only alternative that will relieve his anger...to destroy Abel...this pattern continues to the point that even Herod a King is jealous and fearful of a helpless baby.

I have two cats, watching them play is so entertaining.  Seeing how they hide and wait and then pounce...yet when I think that this is how sin pursues me, it becomes very disturbing.

I think it begins with doubt. It all starts when I start questioning God's love for me. I then start looking around to see who seems to have the love that I desire. We see it in the Garden, when doubt over God's love prompts Eve and Adam to disobey. The jealousy leads to rebellion and anger and ultimately all sorts of atrocities.

If I really think about it, subtle forms of jealousy infect all parts of my heart and life.  Anytime I wish for something better, wish a situation was different, or long for something I don't have...it's sin in the form of jealousy creeping at my door. God tells Cain he must rule over it...thankfully Christ conquers all that for me.  I must believe that God loves me and is the answer to all my longings, all my doubts and all my fears.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."(Hebrews 13:5)