Unknown to the English reader, the original Hebrew words for Gen. 2:25 and Gen. 3:1 contain a word play with root words translated as “naked,” “ashamed,” “serpent” and “cunning.” Some have made fun of this description as one of the first nudist colony or claimed that the first couple were really clothed with light. Yet there is a vital lesson in the nakedness.
Category: Torah
God created things in the physical world to explain what happens in the spiritual world. What is the spiritual teaching behind “rest,” “mist” and “breath” in Gen. 2:1-7?
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Genesis 1-2 — ‘made’ vs. ‘created’
Is there a distinction between use of Hebrew words translated as “created” and “made” in Genesis 1-2? If so, why is that distinction there?
Gen. 1:6 describes God’s action of creating the “firmament” by creating an expanse. In the original language, this process was “beating out,” like with metal or dough. What does God want to “pound out” in our lives to create what He wants in the world?
There are language cues in Acts 3 that strongly suggest that it is a description of an event on the afternoon of Pentecost. Thus this is a continuation of the events of Acts 2. The Spirit of God is on display in the temple with power, a display meant to prompt Israel to “turn back” from their rejection God’s Messiah and be restored by God’s Spirit.
Many say that God is all about unity, bringing people together. Yes, He wants to reconcile rebellious mankind to Himself. Yet, why is He continually setting people, behavior and things apart — making them holy?
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Genesis 1:4 — ‘it was good’
Why is there the repetition in Genesis 1 of “God saw ____ and it was good”? When God repeats Himself, take notice of something important. When He repeats Himself seven times in the same chapter, get ready for something amazing. Richard leads a discussion of what was so good about the light and everything else God created.