The Whole Bible in a Year?! (Genesis 1-3)

Have you ever read through the entire Bible in a year? I know I certainly haven't! But what a great way to start out a new decade, eh? I once had a good friend tell me that "if you can't find a good reason not to do something, you should do it." So, what's holding you back from reading the entire Bible this year? There truly is no good reason to say "no!" On the contrary, there are a hundred good reasons to say "yes." Reading through the Bible in an entire year keeps you accountable (because you can't get behind, or you're doomed!), allows you to read biblical texts that you probably would never have read otherwise, and gives you a great picture of the entire storyline of scripture. This year, I'm following the ESV's chronological Bible plan. If you've never read through the entire Bible in a year, this is a great plan to start, as we are walking through the Bible in the order it actually happened! I hope you decide to join me. Here's the link: ESV Chronological Bible Plan

Oh, and one more added bonus to reading through the Bible in a whole year with me, you get daily devotions on the texts we will read! Now, I am certainly not promising to provide you with a comprehensive devotional on every text of scripture, that would be impossible. Furthermore, I certainly won't be able to post a devotional every day this year (however, I do plan on being more consistent than I have been lately--a big apology for my more loyal subscribers who have been lacking in their reading lately due to my lack of devo's!). However, the majority of my devo's this year will be going through the Bible reading plan posted above, although I'll certainly be doing special things here and there. Nevertheless, let's get started, because we're already a day behind!!

Genesis 1-3 is our text for this morning. In this text, we find ourselves at the beginning of creation. In six days, God created everything that we now see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. There is nothing that came into being that did not come into being by God's own creation (John 1). Furthermore, in the beginning, all was perfect. There was no death or pain, everything was "very good." On the sixth day, God created man as rulers over his creation. Don't forget this, it is very important to realize the dominion that God originally designed and give to man, for it will come up in later points of scripture. God gave man rights over all of the earth, that is, except for one tree: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God rested on the seventh day, and creation was completed.

In chapter 3, a creature by the name of "serpent" enters the picture. Scripture tells us that the serpent was "more crafty" than any other beast of the field. He deceived the woman into thinking that it would be good for her and her husband to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, even though God had told them to not do so. Thus, sin was brought into the world after that first crunch of the forbidden fruit. Instantly, they were aware of their nakedness, and sought to hide from God. However, to try and hide from God is like trying to kill a lion with a toothpick--it is impossible. Thus, God finds them, hears their story, and in his own righteous judgment curses the entire world for the punishment of sin.

At this point in the story, let us realize God's mercy--a facet in this story that is often overlooked. God promised that if Adam and Eve at of said fruit, they would "surely die" (2:16). And although they certainly did die, their death did not happen immediately, though it certainly deserved to be. Don't get me wrong, God stayed true to his word and promised man that he would die (3:19). Yet amidst that curse, God provided hope. Read Genesis 3:15 with me: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Theologians tell us that the underlined portion here in Genesis 3:15 is a direct prophesy of Christ. Although it is certainly obscure, there is implicit hope for man here in the devil's curse as it is promised that there would be an offspring of man who would crush the serpent's head. Due to the rest of biblical revelation that we now have, we understand that Jesus Christ did this very thing on the cross as he "crushed the serpents head" by taking the punishment of death for all mankind and rising again the third day, and furthermore will "crush the serpents head" entirely when he comes back again and throws the serpent into the pit of fire.

At the end of Genesis 3, we find man being thrown out of the Garden of Eden. God's perfect plan for humanity had been destroyed by one sinful act. However, amidst the chaos and brokenness, God has a plan for restoring his perfect kingdom presence with his people, and as we walk through the other hundreds of chapters of scripture, we are going to find how God restores his creation.

So, do you realize today that there is a righteous, restoring, Creator God? From Genesis 1-2, we find that God is the sovereign creator. From Genesis 3, we find that he is the righteous judge who must punish sin. However, amidst all the chaos, God has a plan to restore humankind to himself through the person of Jesus Christ. Stand in awe of this this morning, as well as full obedience to your Lord, as you realize his creative power, his righteous character, and his redemptive spirit. Amen!