Genesis is a book of firsts.
First of creation. First light, sky, land, water, birds, fish, animals. First world; perfect world. And God thought it was very good. First man and woman draw their first breaths. First marriage. First sin. First sacrifice. First curse. First births. First family. First murder. First messianic prophecy. First covenant.
Disciples’ perspective:
We also see our first building project, the Tower of Babel in Genesis. The construction project must have been so fulfilling and the owners must have been proud! They sought to make a name for themselves! The only problem was that it was in direct opposition to God’s instructions. Look back at Genesis 1:28, “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it . . .” Instead these men came up with the idea to “build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
This story is a great analogy for the church today. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples. . . ” and instead the church starting in 300 AD begins to build. That first gift from Constantinople that established a location for the church was the beginning of the end of the going church. Like the architects of the tower, church building projects have been motivated and fueled by all kinds of ambition, and a need to make a name. A people seeking to go do not first build a house, a tower, an auditorium or a dome. Will you go?
In the 2nd week of Bible reading we’re still in Genesis and the genealogies we see are also corroborated in Chronicles. Below is the reading plan for Week 2.
Bible Reading list – Jan 8-14
| DATE | READING | Commentary |
| Jan 8 | Genesis 25; 1 Chron 1 | Abraham’s Family |
| Jan 9 | Gen 26-27 | |
| Jan 10 | Gen 28-30 | |
| Jan 11 | Gen 31 | |
| Jan 12 | Gen 32-35 | |
| Jan 13 | Gen 36 | |
| Jan 14 | Gen 37-39; 1 Chron 2 | Joseph |