"Origin, Creation, or Beginning"

So I've read Genesis before, in fact it's one of the few books of the Bible that I've read more than once (hence my present goal to read through the entire bible). It's title in both English and Hebrew means "the beginning". I think it is appropriately titled since it is the home of several beginnings. Here is a list of the beginnings I've counted. (the first few are divided up based on the first 6 days of creation found in Gen 1 the chapter reference will be noted if it differs from the previous item on the list).

1. Light and Dark (Gen 1)
2. Sky and Sea
3. Land and Plants
4. The Sun, Moon, and stars
5. Fish, and Birds
6. Animals and Man
7. Rest (Gen 2)
8. Marriage
9. Sin (Gen 3)
10. Labor and Toil
11. Death
12. Great pain in child birth.
13. Submission of wives
14. Strife among men (Gen 4)
15. God setting things right (Gen 6)
16. God's covenant relationship with men (Gen 9)
17. Nations (Gen 10)
18. Languages (Gen 11)
19. Abram's part in the story & of God's chosen people (Gen 12)
20. Circumcision as a sign of God's people (Gen 17)
21. Abraham's Fatherhood (Gen 21)
22. Isaac as a family leader (Gen 25)
23. Jacob's preference over any others (Gen 27)
24. Tithing as initiated by Jacob (Gen 28)
25. The family of Jacob (Gen 29)
26. ISRAEL (Gen 32)
27. The Removal of Pagan items from among God's people (Gen 35)
28. The association of Israel with Egypt (Gen 37)

So that is the list I've made. I don't claim it to be all inclusive but it is what I've found. The only one of these that really caught me off guard was number 24. The text says this in 28: 20-22:

"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

So often we talk about the tithe as something God instituted, but it says right here that the first use of this sacrifice is begun by Jacob! A man institued the tradition of giving a tenth of all we have been given to God. That made my view on tithing change. This isn't God saying, "Give me your money," it is Jacob (a fellow flawed human being) saying, "God, I owe you so much and this is part of how I will show my appreciation to you."

As far as other things that caught my attention, the first reference to giants or "The Nephilim" is found in 6:4, and their presence is significant later as the Israelite spies see them (or their decendants) and are so scared that they suggest avoiding the promised land.

When Israel died he asked to be buried with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and Leah (who were all buried in a tomb together). This is note worthy because all of the story of Jacob's relationship with his wives and family, puts Leah (and her children) second to Rachel (who was buried elsewhere in Bethlehem). In fact when Jabob is going out to meet Esau he is so fearful of his response that he basically lines up his family from the least important at the front to the most important at the rear. This placed the made servants and their childrem up front, Leah and her offspring next, and finally Rachel along with Joseph at the end. From the first moment he met Rachel she was the apple of his eye. Leah was an unforeseen hinderance to him getting to Rachel. And yet he specifically mentions Leah on his deathbed an honor Rachel does not receive. I find it interesting that this is how it worked out. God made the last first.

He carries that pattern through out the text. Abel's offering was better than Cain's; Isaac was the son of promise not Ishmael; Jacob received blessings over Esau; Joseph goes from a lowly prisoner to first among Pharaoh's men; Benjamin (the least of the son's in age) is considered most prized by his father; Jacob blessed Ephraim over Manasseh. The younger son's get preference, and all of this to show that God doesn't care what the world or tradition says about who should be chosen God decides who is the best to be chosen.

I think I will include a list at the end of each book of questions that linger with me. They aren't necessarily important and I will try to also post the chapter from which the question comes. So here it is:

Genesis Questions:

• What about the tower was a problem to God? (Gen 11)
• How did Melchizedek become a priest if the priesthood as we know it did not yet exist? (Gen 14)
• What is the significance of the smoking pot and torch God passes between the animals? (Gen 15)
• What does it mean when it tells us that "The Lord appeared"? is this different from a Messenger (angel) of the Lord appearing? Is this Christ who appeared (as an Amplified version foot note suggests)? (Gen 18)
• Why tell us the story of Judah and Tamar? (Gen 38)
• What do the individual statements/predictions of Israel about his sons mean? are they prophetic? Are they confusing because little is known of the individual character of these men? (Gen 49)

If you have any comments regarding anything I've posted do let me know. I don't know if every Bible thoughts post will be this long but I won't promise that they won't be. Please keep my efforts to continue reading, since they are under continuous attack by a busy life and a cluttered mind.

-matt

***edit***

A long time family friend Paul Fry sent me this link which offers some great insights into my question about Genesis 15.

Thanks Dr. Fry,

-matt