Prayer Requests:
Macy and Manny Miller
- home flooded due to appliance malfunction.
Merilee
? (Minnie Belle's co-worker) - cancer found in lymph node
Darcy Dargan
(Jennifer's friend) - still doing home care for father (terminal cancer)
please pray for strength for her and her family (2 kids who really need
mom back!)
Jeremy Juniper
- beginning new job next week
David's
mom - new diagnosis of emphysema
Kevin's grandma -
difficulty recovering from recent bout with kidney infection (going on 2
weeks out)
Praises:
Cynthia
Simpson - major upgrade at work last weekend (63 hours long!) was very
successful!!
Billy Bostic (son
of Bob and Betsy) - back to himself after hospitalization for croup
Garin Golightly's
dad - heart cath went well - one blockage found and fixed - praise that
if not caught and repaired, Dr reports that a heart attack was imminent.
Christopher
family - Catherine's tonsillectomy went well, and she is recovering
nicely
Summary of our Bible study (Note
to web page searcher: In this section of the E-letter the teacher can
summarize the previous Sunday's lesson and discussion whatever
curriculum is being used in the class. The notes that follow are simply
illustrative of what might be included in the newsletter. Notes below
are not intended to be used for or substituted for your regular
curriculum.)
On
Sunday, we read most of Genesis Chapter 2 and looked at the creation of
man. We talked about the new aspect of God that is revealed in verse 4
– here we notice that God is now referred to as LORD God. The Hebrew
language has many names for God. One of those names, Yahweh, refers to
God in special relation to His covenant with his people – a personal
relationship. Elohim, another name of God, means the Almighty God of
creation. Putting the two names together, Yahweh Elohim, means LORD
God…in other words, this is where the Almighty God of creation got
personal!!! We talked about how man came from lowly origins, according
to vs. 7, where he is “formed” from dust. Yet when God breathed into
him, he became alive!! He contained a part of the divinity of God! The
verb “formed” in Hebrew usually referred to a potter gently molding
something from clay – this implies that God gently and lovingly formed
that first man with great attention and care. We talked about how this
mirrors our spiritual rebirth when we are “reborn” once we are indwelt
with the Holy Spirit.
In vs. 8-14 we talked about the provisions God made for Adam – a home,
food to eat, even a job! We recognized that we fail to recognize and
properly thank God for the provisions that make our lives pleasant –
tending instead to take pride in what “I” have accomplished! We read
John 15:5 and 2 Corinthians 9:8 to remind us that all we have comes from
God.
Part of the description of the Garden referred to four rivers that
flowed there. Two of those rivers exist today – the Tigris and the
Euphrates, which are located in current day Iraq. Some commentators
believe this is the site of the original garden of Eden - others
believe that the original rivers were washed away when the earth was
flooded and the rivers that emerged after the waters receded were named
familiar names by the people. Just an interesting thing to consider…
We read on into vs. 15-17 and talked about the responsibility given to
Adam to care for the earth and then the command to not eat from the Tree
of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We asked the question – why did God even
put the tree in the garden and then forbid it? Didn’t he know what
trouble it would bring?! The answer lies in “choice.” I read aloud a
paragraph written by a pastor I know who said that “the proof of any
great love is commitment to that love. Commitment is measured with a
choice. God wants committed lovers, not robots.”
Vs. 18-20 tell us that God said man needed a helper. Then he paraded
all the animals in front of Adam to name them. Why did he do this
instead of just naming them himself? We discussed three reasons God may
have had for doing it this way: first, for Adam’s education regarding
the animals; second, for Adam to realize his own position with regard to
the animals and the responsibilities involved, and third, God caused
Adam to realize that none were like him – God planted the seed of desire
for companionship within Adam. He fostered that desire and then
fulfilled it by creating Eve and bringing her into an environment where
Adam was waiting to love her. We looked at some verses that clear up
any confusion about the role of “helper” – Satan and the world today try
to make this role seem demeaning to women – something of lesser value.
We read verses where God refers to HIMSELF as a helper – this is NOT a
role of lesser value, ladies – we are in good company!!! The verses
were Exodus 18:4 where Moses son is named Eliezer, meaning God is my
helper (no frogs in this one, Jim!!). Others were found in the Psalms –
27:9, 28:7, 33:20, 40:17, 54:4. Why did God make Eve from Adam’s body
instead of forming her from dust also? One person speculated that it
was so Adam could get used to the pain!!! HAHAHA! We discussed that
Eve was taken not from his head to be superior, not from his feet to be
under him, but from his side to be equal, close to his heart, and under
his protection.
We ran out of time at this point and agreed to finish up the discussion
of God’s original plan for marriage this Sunday. We will also study the
Fall of Man. Please read ahead into Chapter 3 – there’s some good stuff
here!!
I
know this was a long “summary” but I thought you guys brought up so many
good discussion points up that I wanted to include them all!!
Love to you all – see you Sunday!
Sharon
